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Construction Hardware Glossary

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Updated February 17, 2020

Construction hardware makes structures safer and stronger, and are required by building codes. These metal connectors are fastened to different surfaces in your home's structure to protect you and your home against wind, seismic activity and other natural forces.

Pieces of wood joined with angle and straps.

Angles and Straps

A gold-coated angle.

Angles and straps are most often used to connect joints between two wood members. Available in many lengths, widths and gauges, this broad category of hardware reinforces joints of all shapes and sizes. Angles and straps can be fastened using nails or screws.

Commonly used angles and straps include: angles, framing angles, stair angles, deck post ties, holdowns, pipe rail ties, stud plate ties, wall ties, coiled straps, foundation straps, L-straps, masonry straps and twist straps.

Caution
If you're using stainless steel construction hardware, don't use galvanized steel fasteners. Mixing galvanized steel with stainless steel will cause corrosion. Be sure to use a stainless steel fastener with your stainless steel construction hardware.

Base and Cap Hardware

A wood to concrete base.

Base and cap hardware both deal with posts, securing the ends — base at the bottom and cap at the top — to beams. Recently, these pieces have received more visually appealing finishes, as they're visible in certain applications. You can use nails or screws to fasten post base and cap hardware.

Post-base hardware and post-cap hardware are the only types of this hardware.

Hangers

A joist hanger being drilled into a wood slab.

Hangers are connectors that are used on joists, trusses, beams, headers, posts, columns and walls. You can create a much stronger mechanical connection by using a hanger instead of toe-nailing, which will help keep your structures safer as wood warps. Most hangers are fastened with nails.

Different types of hangers include top-mount hangers, face-mount hangers, deck ties, stair stringers, double clips, U-clips, corner ties, lateral load connectors, tension ties and concealed stringer hangers.

Mending and Nail Plates

A galvanized nail plate.

Mending and nail plates are metal connecters used to repair or strengthen joints in many household connections. Mending plates are laid onto the surface of the area to be joined, repaired or strengthened and then screwed into place. Nail plates are self nailing and made to be hammered into whatever joint it’s bridging.

Different types of mending and nail plates include stud shoes, mending plates, nail plates and protection plates.

Truss and Rafter Ties

Gold coated steel rafter tie secured to wood beam.

Ties are structural connectors that help your roof maintain its integrity. These little metal pieces ensure the roof over your head is structurally sound and safe in certain dangerous conditions like strong winds. You can fasten truss and rafter ties with screws or nails.

Types of ties include rafter ties, roof truss ties, ridge rafters, truss spacers and truss anchors.