QA

Question: How Many Nails Per 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.

How many nails should you use per 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.

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 boxes of nails do you need for a square of shingles?

Shingle manufacturers recommend using four nails per shingle in the main part of the roof and five nails per shingle in the first row, says Owens Corning. This amounts to an average of 320 nails per square, or 100 square feet. In high-wind areas, you need five nails per shingle, or 480 nails per square.

How long should your nails be for 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 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 do 30 year architectural shingles really last?

The truth is, a 30-year shingle will not really last 30 years. The expected service life of a 30-year product, if properly cared for, is approximately 25 years. If it’s not cared for properly, that 30 year shingle will only last 12 to 15 years.

How many bundles of shingles do I need for a 12×12 shed?

As a rule of thumb, there are 3 bundles to a square, assuming that you are using three-tab strip shingles. There are also 29 standard-sized shingles (measuring 12 inches by 36 inches) in each one of these.

How many shingles do I need for a 1200 sq ft house?

You will need anywhere from one to two shingles per square foot, depending on the type and size of shingle you choose.

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.

Do shingles need to be nailed?

But virtually all manufacturers agree that nails should be installed below the adhesive strip. If you nail too high (above the adhesive strip), the nails may miss the top of the next shingle underneath. Most people don’t realize that each nail holds down two shingles at once.

Is it better to hand nail shingles?

While air gun nailing might seem faster, a well-trained hand nailer can do it almost as fast. The key difference between the two is accuracy. Hand driving nails into shingles allows for the roofer to place the nail on the proper nail line and then drive the nail in.

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.

What’s the difference between 3-tab and architectural shingles?

3-tab shingles are flat, and they have a single tab shape and size. Architectural shingles are also referred to as dimensional shingles. This is because they provide a more dimensional look to the roof. Each shingle appears more dimensional because it is; multiple layers of materials adhere to the base.

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.

What size nails do you use for roofing shingles?

NRCA does not recommend the use of staples for fastening asphalt shingles. Roofing nails should be round-headed, sharp-pointed 11-gauge galvanized steel or the equivalent corrosion-resistant roofing nails. Nail head sizes recommended are 3/8-inch to 7/16-inch diameter. Nail heads should be low profile, smooth and flat.

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.

How do you calculate shingles for a roof?

To estimate how many shingles you’ll need, first estimate the total square footage of your roof’s surface. To do this, measure the length and width of each plane on the roof, including dormers. Then, multiply length x width to get the square footage of each plane.

How do I figure out how many roofing sheets I need?

Divide the total roof area by the effective area of a single sheet and round up the result to the next whole number. The result is the number of sheets required.