Roof Nails Vs Staples

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Roof nails vs staples.

Local codes residential say that either 2 nails or staples can be used and that s for roof and wall sheathing. Mainly because they do not roof everyday. Note the differences in the specification and length of the fasteners as well as the nail staple patterns. The preferred fastener is galvanized roofing nails with a minimum 12 gauge shank and head diameter of at least 3 8 inch.

The staple will have a double prong unlike the brad meaning that it can transfix two pieces of wood at the same time. After all it s no surprise roofers loved staples for attaching shingles to roofing. Coil nail guns are literally fed with a coil of nails and the holder for the nails makes the gun much bulkier. Staples cost less than nails offer exceptional holding strength and cover a greater area of space with a more versatile and compact collation.

Staples are far less prone to jamming up in a gun than nails. From my understanding properly places staples vs properly placed 2 nails have little to no difference in holding power the argument is that staples will break easier. Staples are much more compact. When properly installed a staple grabs and holds more material than the small head nail could ever hope to.

Staples also offered excellent holding strength and could be installed over a larger roof area quickly. They are an accepted fastener by shingle manufacturers such as sbc and maibec. In the past when it came to the debate of roofing nails versus staples the industry was split down the middle. Although staples are allowed in some jurisdictions they do not provide the same holding power.

For one staples cost less than nails adding to their profit per roof. Hand naming will not do it. Similarly 19 32 osb roof sheathing would be 8d common box or casing nails at 6 on center at the panel edges and 12 on center in the field or 2 16 gage staples at 4 on center at the panel edges and 8 on center in the field. I have never had to repair a stapled roof but the nail advocates all claim that staples are garbage.

Remodelers may roof by hand because they are not willing to invest in the equipment. Staples are the method used years ago that gave machine roofing a bad name. Roofing staple guns were light and easy to use over the newer and heavier roofing nail guns that were coming onto the market. In my experience staples have much better holding power than nails.

Staples cost less money. Theoretically staples should hold just as well as nails but with a wider coverage hold down area. Staples while the staple can also be used in finishing wood projects they are not nails. A roofer can hold a bunch of sticks of staples in their pocket and reload their gun very quickly.