Nails 101 - Nail Sizes and Types Around the Home

Common nails are the most widely used nail used in general construction and are the nail type used where building code requires certain framing construction. These nails have a thick shank and are made from iron wire. They are most commonly used with dimensional lumber (e.g., 2x4 framing). The common nail has a wide head having a smooth or textured surface and has a sharp diamond shaped point. In some applications it makes sense to actually dull the nail tip to prevent splitting wood.