Description

Key Features

Double-Shear Strength

The double-shear nailing design helps the Simpson Strong-Tie LUS28Z Face-Mount Joist Hanger deliver strong wood-to-wood connections while using a practical fastener pattern for field installation.

Faster Positioning

Built-in speed prongs help hold the hanger in place before full fastening, which makes layout and installation easier when you are working overhead or in tight framing bays.

ZMAX Protection

The ZMAX coating adds corrosion resistance for exterior work and treated lumber, so this face-mount joist hanger makes more sense for decks, outdoor framing, and exposed wood connections.

Overview

The Simpson Strong-Tie LUS28Z Face-Mount Joist Hanger is a face-mount joist hanger built for connecting a nominal 2×8 joist to a wood header. This is a face-mount joist hanger designed for wood-to-wood framing connections. Model Number: LUS28Z. If you are framing a deck, floor system, porch, or general structural wood assembly, this connector gives you a clean, code-compliant way to support the joist from underneath instead of relying on toe-nailing alone.

What matters here is how the LUS design saves time without giving up strength. Simpson’s double-shear nailing pattern is meant to improve load transfer while keeping installation straightforward. In real terms, that means the hanger is designed so the joist nails drive at an angle into the joist, helping create a stronger connection than a basic straight-nailed layout. The built-in speed prongs are another small feature that pays off fast because they temporarily hold the hanger in position while you line it up and start fastening.

The Simpson Strong-Tie LUS28Z Face-Mount Joist Hanger is made from 18-gauge steel and uses a ZMAX finish. That combination makes sense for common framing work where you need a balance of strength, cost, and corrosion resistance. The hanger is sized for a 2×8 joist, with a listed height of 6-5/8 inches and width of 1-9/16 inches from Simpson’s model table. It is part of the broader LUS series, which is known for covering common lumber sizes without requiring field bending or modification.

For outdoor and treated-lumber jobs, the finish is a big part of why this model matters. The ZMAX coating is intended for added corrosion resistance, and the product data specifically calls out use with treated lumber and ACQ-approved applications. That makes this joist hanger a better fit for deck framing, exterior stairs, covered structures, and other places where moisture and preservative-treated wood can be harder on standard metal connectors.

On the jobsite, this connector is also practical because it supports multiple approved fastening approaches. Product data indicates installation can be done with 10d common nails or with Strong-Drive connector screws in the specified sizes and locations. That gives framers and remodelers some flexibility based on the job, access, and preferred fastening method. The main thing is that the correct fasteners must be installed in the correct holes to achieve published load values.

This is not an adjustable or field-modified hanger. Simpson specifically states the LUS hanger cannot be modified, and tabs should not be bent or removed. That is worth knowing up front because this product is for standard, planned framing connections, not improvised fixes. If your layout is straight, your lumber size is known, and you want a tested, load-rated connector, this is the right kind of part. If you need skewed, sloped, or custom geometry, you should be looking at a different hanger style.

Who should buy it? Contractors building decks and floor systems, remodelers tying new joists into existing framing, and serious DIY users who want a proper structural connector instead of a shortcut. The Simpson Strong-Tie LUS28Z Face-Mount Joist Hanger is a good call when you need a 2×8 joist hanger with better corrosion resistance and a faster install layout than a bare-bones connector.

Built for Outdoor 2×8 Framing

If you are using treated lumber outside, the finish matters. This hanger is made for that kind of work, where standard connectors can take a beating from moisture and chemical treatment.

• ZMAX finish adds corrosion resistance for exterior and treated-wood applications
• Approved for wood-to-wood connections and ACQ-related use per product data

Install Faster in Tight Framing

The LUS layout is designed to make real framing work easier, especially when access is limited and you do not want to fight the connector while holding a joist in place.

• Speed prongs help temporarily position and secure the hanger before full fastening
• Compatible with specified nails or Strong-Drive SD connector screws depending on installation method

Strength Where the Connection Counts

A joist hanger needs to do one job well: carry the load through the connection. The LUS series is tested, load rated, and code compliant, which is why it is used so often in residential framing.

• Patented double-shear nailing design is intended to provide greater strength with fewer nails
• Designed for nominal 2×8 joists, with maximum size listed up to 2×10 in product data

Simple, Standard Connector Geometry

This is a straightforward face-mount hanger for standard framing layouts. No bending, no field modification, no guessing where it is supposed to go.

• 18-gauge formed steel construction
• Simpson states the hanger cannot be modified and is not designed for welded or nailer applications

What’s in the Box

• (1) Simpson Strong-Tie LUS28Z Face-Mount Joist Hanger

Fasteners are not included.

Key Specifications

Tool Type	Face-Mount Joist Hanger
Material	Steel
Finish	ZMAX
Gauge	18 ga
Joist Size	Nominal 2 x 8
Height	6-5/8 in
Width	1-9/16 in
Seat Depth	1-3/4 in

Compatibility

Materials Connected

Designed for wood-to-wood connections.

Joist Size Range

Nominal joist size is 2×8, with product data listing minimum size 2×8 and maximum size 2×10.

Approved Fastener Types

Install with 10d common nails or specified Strong-Drive SD connector screws. Published example: header uses (6) 0.148 x 3 in nails or (6) #9 x 1-1/2 in SD screws, and joist uses (4) 0.148 x 3 in nails or (4) #9 x 2-1/2 in SD screws.

Treated Lumber Use

Suitable for treated lumber applications, with ACQ approval noted in product data.

Built For

Deck Framing Floor Framing Porches Outdoor Wood Structures General Contracting Remodeling DIY / Hobbyist Wood Framing Repairs

Pro Tip

Use the speed prongs to hold the hanger on your layout line first, then verify the seat is fully supporting the joist before driving all fasteners. On this style of hanger, using the wrong fastener in the wrong hole is the fastest way to miss the published load values.

Warranty & Support

Limited lifetime warranty.

Tool Nut’s Take

Tool Nut’s Take

Why the Simpson Strong-Tie LUS28Z Face-Mount Joist Hanger Earns Its Spot

This is the kind of connector you buy when you want the framing done right the first time, especially on outdoor 2×8 work where corrosion resistance actually matters.

• Who it’s for: Deck builders, remodelers, framers, and serious DIY users tying 2×8 joists into wood headers.
• Why it stands out: The double-shear layout, speed prongs, and ZMAX finish make it more useful than a basic hanger when you want easier installation and better outdoor durability.
• Worth knowing: This is a fixed connector, not a field-bend part. Use the specified nails or connector screws and do not modify the hanger if you want the rated performance.

Common Questions

• What size lumber is this hanger made for? It is designed for a nominal 2×8 joist, and product data lists a minimum size of 2×8 and maximum size of 2×10.
• Can the Simpson Strong-Tie LUS28Z Face-Mount Joist Hanger be used with treated lumber? Yes. Product data notes treated lumber use and ACQ approval, and the ZMAX finish is intended for added corrosion resistance.
• Is this hanger adjustable? No. Product data lists it as non-adjustable, and Simpson states the LUS hanger cannot be modified.
• What fasteners does it use? Product data lists installation with 10d common nails or specified Strong-Drive SD connector screws. The exact fastener type and location must match Simpson’s published requirements.