Galvanized - Metal For Stairway Construction
Galvanized metal is created from a process that creates a corrosion resistant metal that can be used on the exterior of almost any building. The picture below provides you with an excellent example of a galvanized framing anchor that's going to be used to connect a stair stringer to the floor framing.
Using Galvanized Nails
If you're going to be building a deck, stairway or other project on the
exterior of your home, I recommend using galvanized nails. You can
always use stainless steel, but the price could be ridiculous.
About 15 years ago I was introduced to zink coated nails and used plenty
of them, before I realized that I was having problems with them. The
nail guns I was using to drive the zinc coated nails into my stair
treads, decking and even siding, were starting to rust.
I contacted a few other professionals until I found someone who had the
answer, I didn't want to hear. It appears that the nail guns were
chipping part of the zinc coated covering off of the nails.
The moment the nail guns driver pin, struck the head of the nail, in
order to drive the nail into the wood, it seemed to chip off a small
section of the zinc coating, on some of the nails.
Once the zinc coating was removed from the steel nail, it started to
rust. The rusty nails bleed right through the painted exterior building,
providing the building with a machine gun finish.
It looks like someone took out a machine gun and strategically shot each
piece of siding with a rusted bullet. In other words, these buildings
look like crap.
The moment I found out about this problem, I drove around to a few of
the job sites that I had worked on and about half of the zinc coated
nails that I used, we're showing signs of corrosion.
Another lesson learned and passed on to the readers of this website. For
more helpful information about construction, make sure that you check
out the rest of this glossary and website.
Stairs / Stair Glossary
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