Proper Roofing Nails

A large nail head and heavier shank gauge provide greater holding power.

Proper roofing nails.

The one to two inch roofing nails are suitable for most types of roof shingles. Nail the roofing down every 3 inches. However leave one edge of the roofing unnailed. When installing roofing nails always make sure the nail is flush to the shingle.

When nailing shingles proper penetration into the roof deck is essential to ensure the nail and shingle remain secure. Roofing nail should have a barbed shank until the head which eliminates nail pops blow offs and roof leaks. If you need bigger nails including pikes you may need to place a special order at the hardware store. The most commonly used roofing nails range from one to two inches in length.

Wood shakes minimum 3 4 sheathing wood shakes nail type minimum length 18 straight split 5d box 1 3 4 18 and 24 handsplit and resawn 6d box 2. This is the side that the next sheet will be overlapping and should be nailed down only after this new sheet is on top. Roofing nails are made of galvanized steel to protect them from the elements. The international building code requires that roofing nails have a minimum 12 gauge shank and a 3 8 inch diameter head.

The length of each nail must be a minimum of 1 inches long and for roof overs atlas recommends a nail length of at least 2 inches. A countersunk nail will rip the shingle and a nail that is not completely nailed down will eventually work its way out. More than 1 layer of roofing not recommended over 3 8 sheathing. Nails should have a minimum nominal shank diameter of 11 or 12 gauge and a minimum head diameter of three eighths of an inch.

Nails of the proper length should penetrate three fourths of an inch into the roof deck. For all owens corning shingles roofing nails should penetrate into the wood deck by a minimum of inch or completely through the roof deck by a minimum of 1 8 inch.