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Roofing nails lifting

S

Stan in Oly, WA

Well-known Member
I was on the roof of a house today checking the condition of the 3-tab roofing. It looked all right for a 14 year old roof, but I noticed a few places where roofing nails had popped up, pushing up a tab or producing a bulge. When I roofed it, I remember stripping off more than one roof, but apparently I was more satisfied with the condition of the sheathing---1X8 shiplap---than I should have been. The fasteners are 7/8" H.D. galvanized roofing nails, which are great for the job, but the sheathing is too old and dry to be good at holding on to them any more. What is a good way to deal with this? Pounding the nails back down, and putting a dab of roofing tar on top of them is clearly an exercise in wishful thinking.

Thanks,

Stan
 
Stan, you're not going to like this answer, but you have another roofing job in your future. It's just a matter of time before a storm tears off a big chunk of roofing.

In the meantime, here's what I would do: Carefully lift up the tabs, using a Wonder Bar or similar tool to separate the glue strip. Then drive a 1-1/4" nail next to the existing nail. If the old nail is loose, pull it and replace it with a longer nail. Once you've renailed all the singles, reglue the tabs with a bit of roofing cement under each tab. Of course, this is almost as much work as a new roof, and you'll probably tear a few shingles in the process.

I never much cared for 7/8" roofing nails. Although they don't poke so far through the sheathing, they don't hold as well either. And hand-nailing 7/8s is brutal on your thumb.

When you finally do re-roof, nail a layer of 7/16" OSB over your existing sheathing, nailing it to the rafters. Use 1-1/4" nails for the shingles.
 
I used the Wonder Bar to lift the shingle on a hot day and then removed the nail and put in a shot of roofing tar from a tube and caulk gun. Pushed it back down and that was it. I only had to do about three dozen spots though.
 
First off, do away with the 7/8" nails, next time use at least a 1 1/4" nail. They will hold much better. For the present problem probably a new roof is in order.
 
I always use a mason's pointed trowel to force between the shingle layers and brake the seal between the shingles. Works better inthe morning when tar is more brittle.
 
The nails are pulling out do to wood movement. Wood expands and contracts and more so on the outerside. This movement is walking the nails out. Also when you drive a nail in it forces the wood fibers apart tightly holding the nails. Over time the fibers form around the shape of the hole and the stress it had in the beginning that held the nail is greatly reduced over time. In some cases you can pull the roofing nails out with your fingers. If you used barbed roofing nails they would hold better.
 
A roofing nail will hold a lot better if it goes all the way through. The fibers that it pushes out act like teeth to grip the nail. It needs to be long enough so that the tapered point is all the way out. I know, they collect frost and you should wear a hard hat if you ever go up in the attic, but it's the right way!
 
Rarely do I get nail pops on shingles. Seen more of that with the old metal roofs.

If I just have one nail pop, I'll pull the nail, use a tube of tar and glue it down. Use a brick to hold it down until the tar hardens. Just pounding them may not work, hole may be too big, not grip.


Many times the nail holding the shingle that pops may be in the rafter and the freezing will pop it.

I shoot roof decks with pneumatic nailer and coated nails that are like glued in with the friction greated by the nailer. Try to pull one and usually you pull the head of nail off first.

I inspect all my roofs once a year or so, expecially after our harsh winter. Out of the hundred of thousands of nails in the roofs, I'm lucky to find one.

There is a law to remember, when using tar, you are going to end up wearing some of it.
 
Thanks Mark. It may not be as bad as you describe---only a few nails (<5) have popped up. But if you're right, it's not going to be fun. I'm getting too old for roofing.

In what may be a matter of mild interest to you, if nailing any size of roofing nails causes a sore thumb, you're not doing it right. The roofing nail goes between your index and middle finger with your palm up. That way you can also hold extra nails in your palm and shake the next one into your fingers. It's much faster and much less painful.

Stan
 
Stan, that's a good tip. These days I stick to an air nailer for all but the smallest jobs. I keep saying I'm too old to roof, yet it seems there's always just one more job to do.
 
I agree. The 7/8 nail probably isn't all the way through the sheeting - at least in some spots. With only 1/2" or less of the nail in the plywood cold and wind will make it very easy to pop out.
 
"There is a law to remember, when using tar, you are going to end up wearing some of it."

Yeah, and you might as well smear a blob of it on your truck seat when you open the can, cause it's gonna get on there before you get done.
 
Agree, The same law applies to a grease gun. The grease will some how jump on you. Transferring gas from a can, you will smell like gas for the rest of the day. Changing oil, the oil will always find it way on you and the garage floor. You will always find the oil plug in the used oil pan.

Got any more to add to the list?
 
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