Basements, Attics and Crawl Spaces - Furring Strip problem

I nailed 2x2 furring strips to the concrete basement walls using a .22 cal nailer. The problem is...the nail head sticks out about 1/4" from the wood. I tried everything to get them flush but it isn't happening. I can cut the nail heads off and the boards are still pretty tight to the wall but I don't want any surprises later on. Can I just cvut the heads off and apply some "liquid nails" to each spot? Any ideas?

There are 5 different loads and several nail sizes available. Absent further info from you, i'd say you had too light of a load or too long of a nail.
Once you saw they were not going in all the way either use the next higher load or a shorter nail.

It sounds like you plowed ahead anyway. Have you tried a small (3-pound) sledge? You must hit the nail squarely or it won't work.
Another option is to drive a couple more nails in, using a length/load that works. Then cut the heads off of the offending nails.

BTW - next time don't use furring strips. Build a regular 2x4 stud wall.

I used the shortest nails possible (2 1/2") and the strongest powder load available (#4 Yellow). Any other ideas going forward rather that blasting away at what I have already done?

As I recall, and its been a couple of years, green was the highest load available. Yellow was the next highest.

FYI...I did build a standard 2x4 stud wall. Only used furring strips for a very small part where a 2x4 wall was not feasible. The 3lb sledge hammer didn't work well, it either broke the concrete apart or the wood itself. What if I cut the nail heads off (which I've done quite easily) and put a coat of "liquid nails" over it....?

I doubt if liquid nails is a suitable replacement for a nail head. I think you are justified in worrying about how well it will hold if you cut off all the nail heads. Other than the suggestions already offered, I can only suggest that you might nail some 1/4" shims (perhaps strips cut from 1/4" plywood) to the furring strips you have in place so that the nail heads will no longer protrude.

John has the best answer. I wouldn't cut the nail heads off.

I would say that cutting the nail heads off is a bad Idea. I would 1st go with using some tapcon screws. they seem to work the best and you can get them in 1.5" or 2". If you use them make sure that you buy the tool that they sell to put them in. after you have put these in you can remove the nail heads and put you wall up. good luck and let us know how it worked out

FYI...heaviest powder load available is a #4 and it is in fact yellow. Green is #3

I checked the local big box last week. There IS a 5th load, not just 4. Green was #3, yellow was #4. There was a fifth, red.

Here's how I solved that problem while doing my basement subfloor - Load another cartridge into your gun, place the barrel over the protruding nail, and 'shoot it again'. All the sledge will do is bend the nail or knock it loose.

I had this problem in several places using 'green' charges, and even with 'yellow' near my footings when I was putting my subfloor in. What worked for me was 'yellow' everywhere, and leftover 'green' (or lighter) to double-hit the nails that wouldn't seat properly.


Dan