Roofing Nails

If your roof uses shingles of any kind, roofing nails become an essential. The concept of a roofing nail appears simple: lay down a shingle, pound in a few nails around the edges, and repeat. But there is so much more to a roofing nail than that. Different types of roofing nails are used for different types of shingles. A roofing nail must also be properly placed, or else is likely to loosen.

Types of Roofing Nails

Asphalt and fiberglass shingle nails are double hot-dipped galvanized nails designed to securely hold asphalt and fiberglass shingles for new construction and re-roofing work. Their ring and spiral shanks provide extra holding power, which is essential in high wind regions like those that experience frequent hurricanes. Shingle nails with zinc coating offer corrosion-resistant security in salty regions.

When it comes to cedar shingles and shakes, using nails that are slender and stiff will prevent splitting and bending. These specialized nails use extra sharp points to stick into the shakes and shingles with ease. As in every case, a nail should be long enough to penetrate the sheathing by at least three quarters of an inch. Do not use more than two nails per shake or shingle, and be sure to drive the nail flush. Be careful, however, not to crush the wood with the nail head.

For copper flashing and slating, copper nails are best. They are the most compatible with copper flashing, and should have full, three eighths of an inch heads that give them good bearing pressure on both the roofing and flashing material. A diamond point and smooth shank are preferred insofar as they make driving the nails easier.

Roof deck nails are essentially asphalt shingle nails, but much longer in make. They are used to hold a structural roof deck to wood trusses and rafters. They are also useful on roof decking, where shingles are applied over stiff foam insulation. The large heads on these roofing nails prevent pull-through, and the ringed shanks offer great holding power.

Loose nails

Your roof goes through a heating and cooling cycle every day, which, along with changes in moisture, cause a great deal of expansion and contraction. This constant movement can work on roofing nails by pushing them out. If a nail is not placed correctly, or not long enough, there may not be enough wood to hold it in place. The best thing to do when you see roofing nails backing out of shingles is to remove them completely. Check to make sure they are coming through the underside at least three quarters of an inch, and that they are not hitting a seam. If the nails are long enough, but still backing out, remove them from the shingle, move them up about an inch, and then hammer them home.