What size roofing nails should you use?

Roofing nails should be 1-1/4 to 2 inches long to ensure that it sufficiently penetrates and embeds in the roof sheathing. To calculate the appropriate roofing nail length, add the thickness of the shingles and underlayment to the thickness of the sheathing. Nail shank diameter should be at least 11-12 gauge for roofs.

What is the most common size roofing nail?

Roof nails are available in 12-, 11- and 10-gauge. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the nail. Under most building codes in North America, 12-gauge is the minimum thickness of nail allowed on a roof. Roofing nails that are 11- or 10-gauge are also allowed by most building codes as they are thicker and sturdier.

What size nails do roofers use?

The International Building Code requires that roofing nails have a minimum 12-gauge shank and a 3/8-inch diameter head.

Can I use 1 inch roofing nails?

In southern parts of the country where they don’t need to deal with snow loads, it’s acceptable to use 3/8″ roof sheathing, which means it’s also acceptable to use 1″ roofing nails on asphalt shingles. A 1″ nail will fully penetrate through 3/8″ roof sheathing, but it won’t fully penetrate 1/2″ sheathing.

How long are roofing nails supposed to be?

The length of each nail must be a minimum of 1¼ inches long, and for roof-overs, Atlas recommends a nail length of at least 2 inches. Nails of the proper length should penetrate three-fourths of an inch into the roof deck.

Can roofing nails be too long?

Yes, they can. If they are too long, they will protrude through the sheathing at the roof overhang and be visible.


Should roofing nails be exposed in attic?

Yes, and there are two types of nails that are normal to see in an attic: 1) The ring-shank nails used to secure asphalt shingles to the plywood or OSB roof sheathing typically penetrate into the attic 1/4” or more.

How many nails should be in a shingle?

Most shingle manufactures recommend using four nails per shingle on the main area of your roof and five nails per square in the first row of roofing. This adds up to an average of 320 nails or 100 square feet. If you have high wind areas, you will want to use five nails pers shingle, equating to about 480 per square.

Are roofing nails supposed to go through?

It is crucial that roofing nails of the correct length were used to secure the shingles. The sharp tip of the roofing nail should pass through and extend approximately 3/8-inch past the underside of the roof sheathing. It is possible that your roof sheathing might consist of numerous tongue and groove 1-by-6 boards.

How long should the nails be in an asphalt shingle roof installed over 1 2 OSB sheathing?

Whatever fasteners are used, they have to be of adequate length. Nails should penetrate a minimum of 3/4-inch (19mm) into the sheathing, or just through the roof sheathing if it’s 1/2-inch plywood or OSB.

Should roofing nails go through the decking?

Roofing nails should be long enough to penetrate the roofing material and go 19 mm into OSB, solid wood, plywood or non-veneer wood decking, or through thickness of decking, whichever is less. … Some situations allow nails with less penetration above exposed soffits if extra nails are used.

How do you hide roofing nails?

Using Corks to Cover Roof Nails in Attic to Protect Your Head! – YouTube

How far should roofing nails penetrate the sheathing?

Nails should be long enough to penetrate 3/4 of an inch into a roof deck, if a roof deck is less than 3/4 of an inch, nails should be long enough to penetrate and extend at least 1/8 of an inch through the roof deck.

Can you nail through shingles?

A roofing system is designed to keep water out of your home. … If you drive even one nail into the top of your roof, you may compromise its entire system. That one nail will puncture the shingles and underlayment of your roof, creating a hole through the whole system.

How far should shingles hang over the edge?

Yes. Shingles should not extend more than 3/4” (19 mm) past the drip edge. If shingles overhang the edge of the roof by more than 3/4” (19 mm), then they are not supported and may crack and break off. In addition, the wind resistance at the roof edge may be compromised.

Are you supposed to remove the plastic strip on the back of shingles?

The film strips on the back of each shingle are to prevent sticking together of the shingles while in the bundle. Their removal is NOT required during application.

How many sq ft are in a bundle of shingles?

Calculating the number of bundles, you need is simple if you are using shingles that come three bundles to a square. Each bundle covers 33.3 sq. ft. of roof area—which is close enough to the 32 sq.

What kind of nails do you use for roofing?

The standard, cheapest and most commonly used roofing nails are smooth shank nails. They are generally made of aluminum, stainless steel or copper, and they’re not as strong. The shank length you need depends on the roofing material.

How long should nails be for 2 layers of shingles?

Layers. If you are putting a layer of asphalt shingles over an existing layer of asphalt shingles on to a 3/4-inch deck or a plank deck then you should be using 1 1/2-inch nails. If your decking is less than 3/4 inch then a 1 1/2-inch nail will suffice.

How do I put nails on my roof?

How to : Roofing – Where and How to Nail a Shingle – YouTube

Should I paint the underside of my roof?

To provide the maximum protection for a roof overhang and to reduce future peeling, the area should be painted with two coats of primer or undercoatings containing protective additives designed for these areas that resist contaminant buildup.

How do you cover nails in the attic roof?

Leave a hardhat or bump helmet (lighter version of a hardhat) by the attic hatch. Put it on when you enter, take it off when you leave. I stick a wine cork on each nail. Thin (1/4″) plywood or OSB across the bottom of the rafters would work well.

Where should you nail shingles?

How to Nail Roof Shingles – IKO – YouTube

Why do roofing nails back out?

When the temperature changes, expansion and contraction can cause the nails to pop up and lift the shingles. … Other causes of nail pops can be that the shingles were not nailed tightly when the roof was installed. Additionally, the installers could have used nails that were too short.

Should shingles overhang gutters?

Most shingle manufacturers recommend a 1/4 to 3/8 inch overhang over your eave, which is where your roof ends by your gutter. In many cases, and particularly as the home ages and settles, the roof edge at the eave edge can wave in and out by more than this amount.

Should drip edge go over gutter?

It is recommended that gutters are placed under or ‘behind’ the drip edge of your roof. … If gutters are installed below the drip edge, water can drip behind the gutter and cause damage to the wood supporting the gutter system.

Is a drip edge necessary?

The 2012 International Building Code (IBC) requires drip edges for that type of roof. Regardless of the kind of roof you have, we highly recommend installing drip edges. Keep in mind that improper installation of any roofing component can create gaps, rendering any waterproofing solution useless.

Should shingles be glued down?

As asphalt shingles get older, their corners often begin to curl downward or upward. If you notice a shingle starting to curl, you can forestall the inevitable curling by gluing down the curled section. Use a caulking gun to apply a dab of roofing sealant (about $4 per 10-oz. tube) under the corner.

Do you peel tape on shingles?

The shingle release film — you DO NOT need to remove it!

The plastic does NOT have to be removed – which saves a lot of trouble and plastic flying around the yard.

Is starter strip necessary?

The starter strip is crucial because it adheres to the shingles on the edges of your roof and protects them from the elements. Without starter strip shingles, a gust of wind would have no trouble sneaking under the shingles on the edges of your roof and blowing them up, and perhaps even off, your roof.