Ring shank nail
Ring shank nails have annular rings around the shaft that grip into the substrate. Required by AS 1684 for decking, sheet flooring, roof battens. Don't back out.
Ask Chalkline about this →Ring shank (also called annular thread) nails are nails with rings of slightly-larger diameter formed around the shaft at regular intervals. The rings push the timber fibres aside on the driving stroke, then the fibres spring back over the rings, mechanically locking the nail into the substrate. The result: much higher pull-out resistance than a smooth-shank nail of the same diameter.
Where ring shank is required:
- Decking boards (treated pine and hardwood): AS 1684 requires ring shank or screw fixings for decking because smooth-shank nails back out under the cyclic load of foot traffic and seasonal wood movement.
- Tongue-and-groove sheet flooring (plywood, particleboard): ring shank or screws into joists.
- Roof battens on metal-roof and tile-roof systems where wind uplift on a smooth-shank fastener would pull out.
- Sub-floor lining (foil-faced sarking under flooring): required for full coverage retention.
- Cement-sheet flooring as a substrate or wet-area underlay.
- Bracing ply when used in lieu of metal bracing in some configurations.
Where smooth-shank is acceptable:
- General framing studs and noggings: smooth-shank is the volume default. Nails are typically loaded in shear, not tension.
- Roof framing rafters to top plate: where the framing detail includes tie-downs (Z-strap, T-strap, hold-down), smooth-shank skew-nailing is enough.
- Internal lining work: where the lining is removed and re-attached over years, smooth-shank simplifies maintenance.
Comparison:
| Property | Ring shank | Smooth shank |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-out resistance | High (typically 2-3x smooth-shank in same timber) | Low |
| Shear resistance | Similar to smooth shank | Similar |
| Driving | Harder; needs more energy | Easier |
| Withdrawal for rework | Difficult; often damages the work | Easier |
| Cost | Slightly higher | Standard |
| Code requirement | Mandated by AS 1684 for many applications | Default elsewhere |
Common defects:
- Smooth-shank in decking: nails back out within 1-3 years. Cosmetic and trip hazard. Rectification is re-fix with proper fasteners.
- Wrong nail length: ring shank that doesn’t penetrate the substrate fully gets the rings into the substrate but the head is proud. Compromised.
- Galvanic corrosion in coastal: galvanised ring shank in coastal locations corrodes within 5-15 years. Use stainless steel ring shank for coastal decking.
- Reused ring shank: pulled-out ring shank nails are damaged at the ring; do not reuse.
For builders:
- Spec the fixing type by application in your scope or order, not “nails” generally. A decking subbie left to use generic nails will use whatever’s in the bag.
- Confirm length and gauge per the AS 1684 fixing schedule. Length must be at least 2.5× the thickness of the material being fixed.
- Use the right shaft material: galvanised or stainless steel as the application demands. ACQ-treated decking requires stainless or HDG ring shank; standard galvanised corrodes.
Also known as: annular thread nail, ring nail, annular nail.
Category: Materials / fixings / nails.
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Last updated: 2026-05-14. Verified: 2026-05-14.