How to (Properly) Nail Shingles to Your Roof [Homeowners Guide]

Knowing how to properly nail asphalt shingles is crucial in ensuring that your roof’s shingles remain in place and perform optimally over time.

HOW TO (PROPERLY) NAIL SHINGLES

Unfortunately, improperly placing and overdriving nails are among the most common mistakes DIY’ers and even some more experienced roofers may make when nailing shingles. However, you can take some simple steps to avoid these issues and help your roof withstand the test of time.

SELECT PROPER ROOFING NAILS

First, read the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the proper nails for your shingles and the recommended number of nails per shingle.

• (Tip: Purchase more nails than recommended to account for any mistakes where you’ll need to replace an improperly positioned nail.)

As a rule, your roofing nails should be corrosion-resistant and made of:

• Stainless steel,
• Galvanized steel,
• Copper, or
• Aluminum

Nail Size: Roofing nails should have a minimum shank diameter of 12 gauge, and the nail heads should have a diameter of 3/8ths of an inch.

Nail Length: The nails also need to be long enough to penetrate a minimum of 3/4-inch into the roof deck. If the deck’s thickness is less than 3/4-inch, the roof nails should be long enough to penetrate and extend through the deck by at least 1/8-inch.

When determining appropriate nail length, you’ll need to account for:

• The thickness and number of shingle layers
• Underlying wood decking (We’ll touch on this below)
• The thin metal flashings that direct water away (e.g., chimneys)

EVALUATE THE CONDITION OF YOUR ROOF DECKING

When considering the proper roofing nails, don’t forget the importance of evaluating the plywood or other wood beneath your shingles. The roof’s framing holds up the decking, but it’s the decking that essentially serves as the roof.

Rotting plywood due to moisture is unable to support a roof’s weight when compared with healthy wood. It also cannot appropriately grip the roofing nails. Further, because rotten roof decking absorbs moisture more readily than healthy wood, the roof shingles will probably begin to allow in moisture, and water will ultimately leak into the attic.

If you’re using a roofing contractor, ensure your contractor thoroughly inspects the condition of your decking from the inside of your attic if it is accessible. Your contractor should replace any decking sections that show damage.

Otherwise, if you place new shingles onto a damaged or rotting roof deck, your shingles will easily become damaged, causing water pooling in sagging areas and leaks. Check out our blog post & learn how to spot the 5 major signs of a roof leak in your home.

The roof may also begin to shift, resulting in more leaks. Further, the roof nails will not hold, which in turn can result in the loss of large sections of shingles secondary to gravity or wind.

PROPERLY POSITIONING AND DRIVING ROOFING NAILS

The manufacturer of your shingles will provide you with specific instructions on how to nail shingles, including appropriately placing and driving your roofing nails. Unfortunately, some roofers don’t follow these instructions, resulting in misplaced and overdriven nails. You’ll also need to follow local building code regulations.

In addition, follow these tips:

• Align your shingles appropriately before nailing.
• Position the roofing nails per the shingle manufacturer’s specifications.
• Keep the nail straight at 90 degrees to prevent the nail’s head from breaking the shingle’s surface.
• Drive the nail straight and flat so that it’s flush with the shingle surface. Otherwise, you’ll risk underdriving or overdriving the nail.
• Immediately correct improperly positioned or driven nails.
• Never drive nails into cracks or knot-holes in the roof deck.
• Always nail the shingles going from one side to the other to keep your shingles flat.
• If using a nail gun, take extra care to ensure accuracy.
• Never use staples to fasten your roof shingles.

PREVENTING IMPROPER DRIVING AND PLACEMENT OF ROOFING NAILS

When a nail is overdriven, its head goes right through the shingle’s mat. Using nail guns increases the likelihood of overdriving nails.

For example, if you’re using a pneumatic nail gun and have set the pressure too high, that pressure will drive the roof nails directly through the shingle. Rather, roof nails should be flat and flush with the tile and properly penetrate into or through the deck, as discussed above.

Overdriven nails reduce the shingles’ resistance to wind, increasing their risk of loosening and blowing right off the roof. Overdriven nails will also void your manufacturer’s warranty, meaning you’ll be responsible for the cost of purchasing new and placing new shingles.

Nails that are correctly placed capture and secure the top edge of the shingle that lies underneath. Yet, if you’ve placed your nails too high up, they won’t capture and secure the shingle below.

Further, improperly secured shingles:

• Are less wind resistant
• Tend to slide out of the nails holes
• Can blow off the roof
• Void the manufacturer’s warranty
• May necessitate retiling the entire roof

FIXING ROOF NAIL MISTAKES

Of course, it’s best to try and prevent improper roof nail placement in the first place, but mistakes can happen. If any errors occur, it’s vital to fix them immediately. Follow these tips to remedy roof nail mistakes:

• Underdriven nails: Tap them into the appropriate level with a hammer
• Crooked or overdriven nails: Remove the nails and fill the holes with asphalt roofing cement
• Additional security: After removing any nails, a new roofing nail must be hammered in a nearby spot to secure the shingle. If this isn’t possible, the whole shingle should get replaced.

GET YOUR FREE ROOF ESTIMATE TODAY!

If you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, local building codes, and the simple guidelines above, you’ll be able to avoid common pitfalls and properly nail asphalt shingles to your roof. Everyone in your neighborhood will agree that “you’ve nailed it!”

Even still, the only way to guarantee a successful roof installation is by trusting an educated and experienced contractor. Roofing is a dangerous job, and it’s always best to hire an expert than to risk an injury (or an expensive do-over).

Red Canyon Roofing is the most trusted roof replacement and repair company in Northern Colorado. Contact us today to get your free estimate!