If they aren't sheetrock screws, you may not have to replace them. Obviously you want galvanized screws holding the hangers, so if that isn't what you have then you definitely need to pull and replace. I don't see any reason why you can't use screws though; there's framing-duty screws to be had and you should be able to use those. There's even framing screws intended for the new pressure treatment formulations, so that's all good. I wouldn't rely on nails to hold a ledger, though. Not now that you can't easily get above them to drive them at a downward angle. Stick with screws. If you're pulling a few rows of decking so you can work from above, however, well that makes things a lot easier but I'd still stick with screws. Pullout resistance is pretty important to me.
As for the nails, well, you already know they can't stay that way. Simpson makes a shorty nail that has the diameter you're looking for, but in a length appropriate for going into a single thickness of 2x lumber for securing hangers. Look for 'em.
Good luck with it.
anything but galvanized should not be used in treated lumber. Then there are a lot of structures out there that DO USE regular nails in treated lumber. The treated lumber is for to reduce wood rot from happening (as it is a form of fungicide). (the treatment is dipping in arsenic.) Wood rot is caused by fungus. Fungus needs to be wet to grow. The treatment slows down the rate of rot and the only wood that really rots is the wood in contact with soil.
I suspect your deck is going to get a coat of deck paint on it, or have a roof over it or something to that nature. Yeah, well you will be dust by the time that falls apart as is.
. If "framing nails" are good enough to hold the house together...then what is a deck? Nothing more than an add on to the house. Go have a beer and compliment yourself on your handiwork.
Or if you are going to do the work, then pull out the nails and put in lag bolts.
You can be twice buried and rotted away before the sucker falls apart.
Why pull the nails? Just add a few nails or screws.If you used deck screws, they are fine.
I built my deck a short while ago and realized a made a mistake after it was all said and done. I used joist hangers to set the floor jois. But the mistake I made was I used regular 12d common framing nails :'( to toe nail the hanger to the joist. I also used screws to secure the hanger to the ledger. So my question is what is the best way to fix this. I thought about backing the screws out and using either a 10d 3in or 8d 2 1/2 nail to secure the hanger to the ledger and pulling out the common nails and re toe nailing with a 16d HDG nail since anything but galvanized should not be used in treated lumber....Thanks guys in advanced for your help!
