We use hot dipped, galvanized, ring-shank nails for most all of our construction fastening needs. We did offer fence construction with coated screws, but found that when the ACQ pressure treated pine is used, the highly corrosive chemicals used in treating the pine quickly resulted in failure of a significant number of screws, even when the screws where specifically coated for use with ACQ lumber.
Also, the amount of time it takes to build with screws is at least three to four times that of nailing, thus resulting in higher labor costs.
We have found no problem in the holding power of ring shank nails. As a matter of fact, ring shank nails will frequently stay attached to the stringer and actually be pulled through a cedar picket when prying off the picket.
