When people think of roofing materials, they usually think of shingles first. Not many think of the other hero that keeps our roofs safe and sound: the roofing nails! Roofing nails are just as important, if not more so, than every other part of the roof. Did you know that a nail that’s not properly nailed into your roof can actually cause a leak? Yikes! Today, we’re going to go over the different types of roofing nails and why the quality of your nails matter.
These nails come in a special shape where the nails are attached to each other in coils, which can be fed through a nail gun. Because a single shingle is attached with at least 4 nails to your roof, this makes a roofer’s job a lot faster and more efficient!
These are the most common types of roofing nails, as well as the most inexpensive. These nails are protected by a zinc coating, which slows down the rusting process.
While a galvanized nail has a smooth surface, ring shank nails have ridges, similar to a screw. This allows more resistance when installing shingles. Although they’re a bit more expensive, they’re worth the upgrade.
The most expensive of roofing nails, stainless steel nails are top of the line. They are usually used in areas that have higher moisture. You will never need to worry about them rusting.
Sometimes we’ll need to use special nails in different areas of your roof. Here are some common specialty nails you might see our roofers use.
Aluminum nails are most commonly used for metal roofing. One thing to note is salty air can cause these nails to rust easily, making them less suitable for coastal areas. A better alternative to this would be stainless steel nails.
You can’t mix and match different metals, so copper nails are necessary when your roof has other copper accessories. These nails are also very commonly used in slate roofing.
Plastic cap nails help better secure certain roofing materials, such as underlayment, base sheets, and vapor barriers. When used properly, they will also help against leaks and water intrusion.
These are just some of the common types of roofing nails you might see in a roofer’s inventory, but just as important as using the right type of nail on your roof is the application. When your roof isn’t properly nailed, your home becomes more susceptible to leaks, missing shingles, and other types of damage that could be otherwise unavoidable!
Our roofers at IBEX Roof are committed to installing high-quality roofs to all our customers. We never subcontract so that you can feel confident that a true professional is working on your roof. Give us a call today for your next roofing project!
