Vent: I keep seeing guys use a 3-inch nail for framing when a 3.5-inch is code here in Tacoma. It's not just a small thing, it's a safety issue.

3 comments

3 Comments

Whoa, hold on a second. I get where you're coming from but I've seen plenty of houses in Tacoma framed with 3-inch nails that are still standing 50 years later. The code exists for a reason but sometimes it's about overkill rather than safety. A 3-inch nail in the right spot with proper nailing pattern is way better than a 3.5-inch nail that's crooked or spaced too far apart. I've had inspectors sign off on 3-inch nails in certain engineered trusses where the manufacturer spec actually called for them.

fionat5524d ago

It's like people skipping steps everywhere. They figure close enough is good enough until something fails.

dakota_miller9324d ago

3 out of 4 times I've seen shortcuts backfire in home wiring... @fionta55 you hit the nail on the head. People skip the ground wire or use the wrong gauge just to save 5 minutes. Then a breaker trips or something catches fire and they act surprised.