QA

Quick Answer: What Size Are Roofing Nails

Roof nails are available in 12-, 11- and 10-gauge. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the nail. Under most building codes in North America, 12-gauge is the minimum thickness of nail allowed on a roof. Roofing nails that are 11- or 10-gauge are also allowed by most building codes as they are thicker and sturdier.

What size are standard roofing nails?

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. Nail shank diameter should be at least 11-12 gauge for roofs.

How long should roofing nails be?

The length of each nail must be a minimum of 1¼ inches long, and for roof-overs, Atlas recommends a nail length of at least 2 inches. Nails of the proper length should penetrate three-fourths of an inch into the roof deck.

What size are shingle nails?

The International Building Code requires that roofing nails have a minimum 12-gauge shank and a 3/8-inch diameter head.

What kind of nails are used for roofing?

The standard, cheapest and most commonly used roofing nails are smooth shank nails. They are generally made of aluminum, stainless steel or copper, and they’re not as strong. The shank length you need depends on the roofing material.

Can I use 1 inch roofing nails?

Roofing nails are available in lengths ranging from one to two inches. Roofers seek to use just the right length of nail so that the decking (or OSB) is completely punctured by the nail. The puncture must be complete so that the whole diamond tip is past the wood.

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.

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.

Do roofing nails go through the plywood?

Not at all. But they will hold the underlayment in place until the shingles are attached. The staples also hold the underlayment flat so folding that could affect shingle placement doesn’t occur. Staples also lessen the chance of water actually getting to the decking.

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.

Are roofing nails supposed to go through?

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. It is possible that your roof sheathing might consist of numerous tongue and groove 1-by-6 boards.

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.

Do roofing nails need to be galvanized?

Roofing nails tend to be galvanized, a process that makes stainless steel resistant to rust by coating it in a layer of zinc, which does not rust. Galvanization is very important when it comes to roofing nails, but even here you need to be careful because there are different types of galvanization.

Can roofing nails be used for drip edge?

The drip edge is nailed in place using 1-1/2 galvanized roofing nails. A felt-tip marker works great for marking cuts. And, again, prying open the end with a small flat bar allows the pieces to overlap cleanly.

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.

Are roof nail pops normal?

It really is not uncommon to have a few nail pops, but left unattended, the roofing system will be compromised, and water will penetrate the wood causing leaks and interior damage. There are lots of reasons why nail pops can occur, but the important thing is to take care of them as soon as you notice raised shingles.

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.

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.