Fixing solid oak skirting - screws versus nails

L

LMIBMY

Guest
I intend to use solid oak skirting on my self build.
Various carpenters have stated that using a compression gun (as their preference, for speed of fixing obviously) to effectively project nails under high pressure into the wood (and the masonary to the rear) will/ should NOT cause the oak to split/ crack.
My instinct says to me (as have a couple of non carpenters) that screws should be used instead.
Any ideas from carpenters or otherwise would be apreciated?

/Barry.
 
There's also the issue of covering up the nail/screw head.

For a screw, you'll need to drill holes through the skirting and countersink, for a nail you can nail in and counterpunch.

Then fill both with appropriately coloured filler.

I've had to do both with my pine skirting - I prefer the nails as they have a neater finish, but the distance to the uprights in the wall sometimes means I have to use screws (TF house - so your block situation differs somewhat!).

You could always glue them on?
 
Have you considered using glue. Unless you foresee the need to take them off again sometime in the future glue will alleviate all your problems.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top