One last question about my new shed construction...

I decided ( after some advice from people on this site) to use "Cemboard" which is a brand of cement/fiber type board. It is only 5/16" thick and grooved like T-1-11. The guys at the lumber yard said I wouldn't need sheeting just for a shed. My question: What type of nails would be appropriate to use? Size? Strength? Probably want something not too big of a head?

Thanks again to all who submit. Mike

-- Mike in W. PA (smfine@yahoo.com), August 23, 2001

Answers

Cement nails in the lightest guage you can find come to mind. Experiment on some scrap and see what works without splitting the Cemboard, I gather it is too expensive to waste on trial and error!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), August 23, 2001.

Our contractor used drywall screws. (I use 'em more than duct tape for fastening things!

-- rick K (rick_122@hotmail.com), August 23, 2001.

The drywall screws are the correct answer. You can set the head if you decide to finish the cement board. And nails having to be hammered in sometimes breaks the area around the nail and makes it not as strong. Anyway that is the way we do it in comercial construction. dale

-- dale (dgarr@fidnet.com), August 23, 2001.

Cement nails are too much(I think). Drywall screws are not exterior screws so how can you use them for siding?? Are you saying exterior wood screws are best?

-- Mike in W. PA (smfine@yahoo.com), August 24, 2001.

Actually, this is on the backburner.... Last night our ceiling fell in on our living room!! My wife somehow jumped out of the way...by the grace of God. Terrible problems to deal with before I continue the shed. Talking w/ the insurance company now. Started as a crack, got a little bigger then, without warning, BAM!

Anyway, if anyone has old plaster that is cracked, and the crack is getting wider/bigger please beware!

-- MIke (smfine@yahoo.com), August 24, 2001.

When you get back to the shed use galvinized dry wall screws. And Finishing washers.

-- Ernie in central Ky. (BellyAcresFarm@kyk.net), August 25, 2001.