We recently had craftsmen build a deck for us. It was finished in June this year.
We now see that the nails used have already started to rust. It's a bit difficult to see since the nail heads are about 5mm below the surface because a nail gun was used, but if you look closely, you can see that almost all the nail heads are rusty and some are really gross.
Is it supposed to be like this?
Is it a problem, or do they need to tear it down and use galvanized nails instead?
We now see that the nails used have already started to rust. It's a bit difficult to see since the nail heads are about 5mm below the surface because a nail gun was used, but if you look closely, you can see that almost all the nail heads are rusty and some are really gross.
Is it supposed to be like this?
Is it a problem, or do they need to tear it down and use galvanized nails instead?
Probably the galv has released on the nail head, but it will probably heal itself. If you're unsure, you can put an extra screw in each place, but it shouldn't be necessary.
Are you referring to the studs or the decking, I assume the studs?
Are you referring to the studs or the decking, I assume the studs?
Galvanized nails shouldn't rust so quickly. It's possible they used non-galvanized nails (they're a bit cheaper). Do you have the opportunity to pull out a nail to check?
Btw, the nail shouldn't be driven in as deep as five mm into the wood. The head should be at most flush with the wood. If you drive it in too deep, the wood fibers just get torn apart and water can also collect in the hole, leading to rot or frost shattering.
Btw, the nail shouldn't be driven in as deep as five mm into the wood. The head should be at most flush with the wood. If you drive it in too deep, the wood fibers just get torn apart and water can also collect in the hole, leading to rot or frost shattering.
As mentioned, it shouldn't rust that quickly, but regular hot-dip galvanized rusts quickly in pressure-treated wood when there's a lot of moisture that dissolves the salts in the wood... and 5 mm pits are excellent for collecting water, so it's not entirely surprising. There is actually stainless steel nail for nail guns... even though it costs a bit more than the galvanized ones. I have stainless A4 nails in the house siding because we used iron vitriol on the facade... the regular hot-dip galvanized nails that got vitriol on them became significantly rusty in just a few weeks...
