The nails on my deck have raised up. I've hammered all but whats under the bannister?

Question

What is the best way to get these down. There's about 3-4" between deck & bottom rail. I thought of laying something long flat & hard on top of the nails from deck side to off the deck & hammer it down from the sides. But not sure how to secure. Any ideas?

Thank you wrangler, good idea! I am not an overly-eager "handy woman". Just trying to get the job done in front of me. . . maybe in the future if I don't sell. Anyway, just wanted them nails knocked down where I have no angles, etc to get a hammer on them.

Answer 1

Well, if all you want to do is get those nails under the bannister knocked down... use a flat bar. This is commonly referred to as a flat prybar, or "WonderBar" (one brand name). You can lay one end, or where the bar curves, on top of the nail, and hit the bar with a hammer, and place the other end on a small block of wood, so as not to damage your deck. This way you will not have to try to hold the bar, and absorb the shock of hitting it with a hammer, while holding out beyond the deck. ;)

Please note, this is only a temporary fix. Like so many of the others here have already mentioned... the only real way to stop this from re-occuring, is to replace the nails with deck screws. For those screws that would need to go under the banister, you can run them in at an angle, or perhaps use a screwgun with an angle attachment, also known as a 90 degree, or elbow angle driver. Another option would be a "flex extension" Ive provided a link to what these look like...the site also has several choices in deck screws, and other ways to attach decking.

Have Fun!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

The expansion and contraction of the wood with temperature and weather will generally make the nails come out. You might try driving them in at an angle but, this will still not work. The only sure way to stop this is to use a wood screw. If you use a batter powered drill and counter sink the screws just a little bit, I think you will have success. In addition, if you want to use nails, you can for the assembly, but once assembled, a single screw in each board will keep it in place and likely keep the nails from coming out.

Answer 4

Put a crow bar on top of the nail and then hit the bar with the hammer. Sounds like your wood is drying or maybe wasn't cured well or some problem when it was installed. Best wishes.

Answer 5

Yep,,,go with the Screws answers, even if only one at a time in replacing the loosened lifting nails. It seems silly to damage decking, by pulling nails that are still secure.

Rev. Steven

Answer 6

Go purchase some good quality Decking screws and replace those nails, otherwise you will be hammering for the rest of your life. Or cutting your feet up all of the time. I screwed my deck, and couldnt be more relieved.

Answer 7

You're doing a live crucifixtion demostration at Disney Land, inspired by an issue of Vanity Fair, using the goldfish as 'Jesus', while reading Al Gore's memoirs.

Answer 8

if you insist on using nails, take a claw hammer, set the end of the claw as square as possible on the head of the nail, take another hammer and whack the head of the first hammer at the best angle. Lotsa luck.

Answer 9

I'm a guy, and individually, I don't like long nails. I know a lot of like very long, painted nails cause they're "so pretty", but I don't like them.

Answer 10

A little bit of toe nail is fine... but I agree along with you. Long nails are kinda gross.