Should Roofing Nails Go Through The Sheathing?

Is it time to get a new roof? It is probably not one of your favorite things to do. Even if you are not the one actually doing the work. You still have to be there for all the noise and mess. But what if the roofing nails are sticking through the sheathing? Is that normal?

Yes, your roofing nails should go through the sheathing. It’s important to use roofing nails that are long enough to penetrate the sheathing. With the shingles and 1/2-inch sheathing, the nails should protrude about 1/4 inch through. It is best to use 1 1/4-inch nails for the job.

If you use one-inch nails on ½-inch sheathing, they will likely work their way back out. Even if the tips of the nails stick through, that is not enough. If they are not penetrating at least ¼-inch, the contraction and expansion of the sheathing over time can push the nails back up through the roof.

When nails back up out of the roof, it makes the shingle tabs push up. This causes the shingles to become loose and eventually you are going to start losing shingles when the wind blows. And once that starts happening, your roof will start to leak.

Almost all roofers use nail guns to make things go faster. Using a nail gun is also beneficial because the pressure on each nail is exactly the same. As long as the roofer tests the pressure on the gun before using it, there should be no problem.

However, many roofers feel that hand nailing is better because it gives them more control. They can feel if the nail is deep enough and placed in the right spot if hand nailing. If the nail misses the wooden plank sheathing, those using a hammer can feel it. Faster is not always better.

You can have up to two layers of shingles on your roof. There are many reasons why this can be a great idea. But there are also reasons why it is not such a great idea.

The Cost is Much Lower: First of all, it is much less expensive. Roofers charge to remove the old shingles and to get rid of them for you. Labor costs are cheaper because they do not have to work as long.

Less Time and Aggravation: Because there is less to do, that means it will not take as long. That cuts down on the aggravation of having that noise going on all day.

It Does the Same Job: If your roofers do the job properly, installing the new over the old is just as good. They will look just as nice and last just as long as if you were to redo the whole thing.

The Warranty is Just the Same: The materials are still covered for the same length of time that they normally would. It does not matter whether you have it put on over the old shingles or not. As long as it is done by a professional, the warranty is still the same.

You Get Double Protection: Even if some of your old roof was… old, that additional layer of shingles is like double protection. If one or two of your shingles come loose in a storm, the layer underneath will protect you.

Whether a metal roof is better than shingles depends on your budget and needs. A metal roof is lighter and more energy-efficient, but it costs more. The traditional asphalt shingle roof has many more varieties, but it is not as durable. Here are some of the other pros and cons

The Pros of Metal Roofs

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Although many people still prefer the traditional asphalt shingles, metal roofs are growing in popularity. Shingles are easier to install and have more of a variety. But metal roofs last about 50 to 70 years, which is a big difference from shingles, which only last about 20 years.

That means even though the metal roof will cost you more at first, it will make up for the cost in the end. You would have to replace the shingle roof about three times in the length of time that a metal roof lasts. And that does not count any repairs or replacement from storms over the years.