QA

Question: How Far Should Roofing Nails Penetrate

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.

Should roofing nails go through the sheathing?

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.

Are 1 inch roofing nails long enough?

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.

How long should nails be for roof shingles?

If you’re using typical architectural shingles and 3/8-inch-thick sheathing, you’ll need 1‐inch nails. If your building codes require thicker sheathing, you’ll need 1 ¼-inch nails. When installing thicker shingles, you may need to use a longer nail in order to penetrate the OSB beneath fully.

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.

Should roofing nails be visible 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.

Can a roofing nail be too long?

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

How many nails do I need for roofing?

Roofing Nails Generally, you should use four nails per shingle in the field of the roof, and 5 nails per starter shingle. For regular three-tab shingles, this would require 320 nails per square for field shingles.

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.

How many nails should be in a shingle?

In most cases, 4 nails are adequate. Position the nails appropriately according to the shingle installation instructions. Align shingles properly to avoid nail exposure.

What is high nailing of a shingle?

A high nail is a nail installed above the nail line on the shingle. High nails cannot be seen as they are covered by the next course of shingles but they can cause big problems. When the shingle is nailed too high the nail does not penetrate the shingle below it.

Is it OK to put a second layer of shingles on a roof?

Adding a second layer of shingles will make your roof hotter because heat gets trapped between the shingle layers. Increased temperatures can lead to premature aging of the shingles. Layering new shingles on top of old ones, which might be curved or damaged, can result in some visible imperfections on your roof.

How do you hide exposed nails?

Seal the exposed nails with roofing cement. When your roof is installed, the roofers should cover the last row of nails with shingles. However, this doesn’t always happen. If you see exposed nails on your roof, coat all around each nail with a thick layer of roofing cement or roofing caulk.

How many nails do you put in a 3 tab shingle?

NAILING: Use galvanized (zinc coated) roofing nails, 11 or 12 gauge, with at least 3/8″ diameter heads, long enough to penetrate through plywood or 3/4″ into boards. Use 4 nails per shingle placed 6-1/8″ above the butt edge, 1″ and 13″ in from each end and 1/2″ above each cutout.

How many sq ft are in a bundle of shingles?

Standard shingles are 12 by 36 inches and come 29 to a package. Most shingles come 3 bundles to a square — which is equal to 100 square feet. So, each bundle provides about 33 square feet of coverage.

How many roofing nails are in a 5lb box?

Approximately 140 of these nails make a pound, reveals Tree Island’s nail weight chart, so you need about 2 1/4 pounds of them to install a square of shingles in normal conditions and about 3 1/2 pounds in windy conditions.

What nails do you use for roofing felt?

Galvanised nails can be used in a wide range of applications, but are most commonly used in the installation of asphalt shingles and felt on outbuildings, sheds and more – wherever adverse weather conditions are common, galvanised nails are a good choice.

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 GAF shingle application instructions for our entire product line specifically state that that film does not need to be removed. Note: 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.