Toe-nailing or nailing closer than 1 inch from the edge is not recommended. If this is absolutely necessary, then the material must be pre-drilled first.

Fastening ALTWOOD^® with nails or screws feels different than wood. It starts tough, then feels progressively easier/softer... this is normal. Heat generated by the friction of driving a screw or nail softens the material. As soon as the material cools down (within a minute or so), it will shrink around the fastener creating a very strong bond. It requires 600 lbs to withdraw a nail with 24 rings embedded! See Technical Specifications for more info. We recommend practicing nailing and screwing a few times with a piece of scrap before beginning installation, especially if you are planning to use a power screwdriver or nail gun.