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Hot-dipped galvanized, aluminum and stainless steel fasteners are all corrosion-resistant and can be used to fasten Western Red Cedar. Other types of nails are not recommended because they can rust and disintegrate and react adversely with the natural preservative oils present in cedar resulting in unsightly stains and streaks. Copper nails also react with cedar and should not be used. Stainless steel nails are your best choice, especially if you intend to finish the wood with transparent or semi-transparent stain. Use No. 304 stainless steel for general applications and No. 316 for seacoast exposure.

Large fences and some gates may require timber connectors other than nails. Bolts, lag screws and custom-made hard-ware are sometimes used in fences, gates and landscape structures where the joint's strength must be greater than that which could be achieved with nails. These types of connectors should be corrosion-resistant or painted to prevent corrosion.