what size nails for roof felt what size nails for roof felt

Roofing felt underlayment before installation often corresponds with the local building codes and makes it easier to keep insects, vectors, and even dust particles away from the building. As a result, roof nails can last for over 50 years, and most last for more extended periods provided the building is still standing. With higher coverage, youll lay down fewer shingles in a square and therefore use fewer nails. However, the process can be tedious, as you must constantly stop and reload the nail gun, adding more time to your roofing project. Ultimately, it is best to refer to your building codes and roofing manufacturer for more specific guidance. Felt nails are more expensive than staples. Running a flat bottom shovel along the roof decking will help you find any stray nails that should be pulled. It starts with installing solid decking, usually plywood or oriented strand board, but that is not waterproof. The variation in the lengths of the T50 staples entirely depends on the thickness of the felt and the density of the wood beneath it. The roof leg goes under the underlayment and should be nailed every 8 to 12 along the deck with 1 aluminum or galvanized roofing nails. They may or not allow staple roofing felt. There are three basic types of roofing nails: The shank of the nail is the part of the nail that punctures through the material you are nailing. Determine the bundles of shingles needed to cover the roof. Roofing nails that are 11- or 10-gauge are also allowed by most building codes as they are thicker and sturdier. Unroll the start of the first course, align with the edges and chalk line, and tack down the gable edge. Chalk lines should be snapped 33 5/8 above the eave line. Place your nails in a plastic cap or one with nails. It is important to note that local building and fire codes may require cap nails instead of staples, so check the fine print. The most pronounced advantage of the staple over the nail is that roofing staple guns can install four staples at once while nail guns can not. There are a couple of different ways to attach felt. Be sure you to use the correct nail length and place it properly. The most common include galvanized roofing nails and aluminum roofing nails, but you can also find copper and stainless steel roofing nails. Because they are less secure than nails, staples are more likely to lose over time. Use a construction stapler or a hammer. Start at the lower edge of the roof, nailing the batten into place at the centre of the rafter. He is passionately interested in home improvement, renovation and woodworking. For all Owens Corning shingles, roofing nails should penetrate into the wood deck by a . The most distinguishing feature of a roofing nail that sets it apart from other types of nails is the size of its head. Materials used to make the natural and synthetic underlayment include; wood cellulose, polyester, and fiberglass. (on center) on both head and end laps. Copper is strong and naturally resists rust and corrosion. The average roll of 15-pound roofing felt covers about 400 ft2, or 4 squares, while the average roll of 30-pound roofing felt covers about 200 ft2, or 2 squares. The differences between the stable and nails are visible. In terms of durability, felt nails are more durable than staples. On the other hand, Roof nails have a more substantial and extended holding strength. Roof nails are available in 12-, 11- and 10-gauge. Successive courses repeat the 19-inch overlap. When you get to an end shingle in a course, nail it in place so its edge overhangs the corner. If you are on a budget or are looking for a fastening system that is easier to install, staples may be the right choice. Of course, as your nails will be on the exterior of a home, they must have rust and corrosion protection. Replace any damaged decking and sweep the deck clean of sawdust and debris. For more tips on roof installation and tools, read our article about choosing between a nail gun and a roofing hammer. However, remember that you get what you pay forthe added durability of nails may mean they last longer and save you money in the long run. Ensure theyre long enough to penetrate through the felt and the roof decking. -A 3/12 roof measuring 20x48 per half is 960 for a total area of 1920sqft. We have the following; For galvanized roofing shingles, they make use of a 16 gauge shank. Type 304 Stainless Steel Nails - These are the middle of the road and also only recommended for indoor use, as they are rust-resistant but not rust-proof. As a result, they are less susceptible to jamming and easily reload. So, with rounding, youll need 10 rolls of 15 pound felt or 20 rolls of 30-pound felt. Roll out about 10 feet of felt and fasten with staples or roofing nails with plastic washer heads. 5 Energy Efficient Roofing Materials To Use. Common nails, or even wood screws, may be acceptable nails for OSB roof sheathing. To install roofing felt, you need nails that have very wide heads to keep the felt . 1 8d nail i like ring shank will help with a nail pop later 2 roof felt staples or plastic cap nails and rolled roofing aluminum 1 1/4 roof nails. It is versatile, strong, and affordable. This point is expertly designed to keep the decking intact when it punctures through. One IKO test found that ring shank nails have 300% more strength than smooth shank nails. This inarguably depends significantly on the type of nails used. Most of the time, staples do not hold down the roofing felt paper or materials well enough in such areas. At intermediate supports, fasten panels 12 inches on center. However, in recent years, like in the last two decades, staples have been banned as an option for roofing and shingles because of fear of an incorrect installation. . The overhang to the next strip should be 3/8 inch. However, this doesnt rule out staples entirely. Start at the lower gable edge of the roof deck and work upward. Shank diameter. Are you looking out for ways of preserving your roof rafters to enable them to stand the test of time? The lower edge will need to be trimmed to the drip edge. Nails will also be required for any roofing project. It takes 3 bundles to cover a square if you use 3-tab shingles, the most common type. You may be tempted to reuse these to save on costs. Nail every 8 to 12 and about 1-1/2 in from the outer face of the drip edge. The paper should then be nailed in or stapled every three to four inches across. In addition to these, nail felts are made from steel and used only to secure the roofing felt underlayment. Sheathing that gets wet before the roofing material can go on should be allowed to dry thoroughly before continuing. The roof decking should be completely clean and dry. The rolls are typically either 50 or 100 feet long. In high-wind areas, more fasteners may be required. The best roofing nails for 7/16 sheathing are 3/8-inch to 7/16-inch diameter. Thicker and stronger than other organic underlayments, #30 Asphalt Saturated Underlayment paper offers superior tear strength and more secure footing for roofers, especially in steep-roof applications. Roof Felt. IKO strives to accurately reproduce the screen images of the shingle swatches and house photos shown. Pack Size. Ideally, the roof should be done when there is a forecast for several days without a lot of rain. Some roofers recommend laying a strip of adhesive rubberized membrane over the drip edge at the eave as an added protection. of the shingle tabs where the bottom edge of the tab meets the top of the cutout. But at the same time, you have a lot of jams on the felt paper while working with nail guns, roofers who use staples any form of jam. On low slope roof decks between 2/12 and 4/12, the recommended overlap for roofing felt is a minimum of 19-inches. Unfortunately, when it comes to asphalt shingle roofs, they fall short in having enough holding strength. It must be covered with waterproofing membrane, usually "roof felt," also called tar paper. They require high skills and concentration when used, and any mistake or inaccurate placement can cause severe damage to the entire roof. They are also available in both hand-drive and pneumatic versions. It effortlessly discharges up to 1500 staples per single 1.5Ah battery charge and has a power adjustment for different materials. Not only is this roll affordable, it's also slip-resistant. Uneven strips and wrinkles can allow dust, moisture and mold to develop. Cut the extended eaves drip edge flashing between the roof leg and vertical leg at a 45 or 90 angle to the rake edge. Roll out the rest of the course, tacking along the center as you go. These applications are ideal for flat roofs or protective surfaces under roof-level decks. The caps help prevent tearing and are helpful for keeping the felt in place if it is windy, or if there will be a delay laying the shingles. Therefore, settling to use any of your options depends mainly on the slope of the roof of the building they are being installed on. Most domestic shed roofs will require at most two runs of felt before they come to the ridge. This step is vital to the success of your new roof and must not be shortchanged in any way. Galvanized nails are also available in a variety of lengths and sizes. Factors such as type of fastener, accurate installation, placement, holding strength, and local building authority codes all influence why people choose nail or staple fastener for their roofing felt underlayment. An excerpt of Table R803.2.3.1 is shown below. They are waterproof or water-resistant and provide additional protection and a barrier against moisture penetration. For asphalt shingle nails, a galvanized roofing nail with at least 12 gauge shank and head diameter 3/8 inch, while the stapler requires a 16 gauge staple gun. Galvanization adds a layer of zinc onto the steel that significantly inhibits rust and corrosion. In areas where you can use extreme weather conditions, such as wind-driven rain, ring shank copper nails to seal or resist strong winds blowing over the roofs. The first course commonly extends past the lower edge of the sheathing by 1/2 or to cover the drip edge. In this case, youll want to use roofing nails made of robust materials such as steel or aluminum. They are made from galvanized or stainless steel for durability and rust resistance. IKO assumes no responsibility for errors that may appear on this website. On the flipside, if you rush through the initial steps, the felt installation can be compromised by sloppy oversights such as stray nails. When installing thicker shingles, you may need to use a longer nail in order to penetrate the OSB beneath fully. Mark every 34 or 33 and snap a line across the deck for 2 or 3 overlaps on slopes greater than 4/12. The chalk line provides a parallel reference line for aligning the felt courses. . Repeat as necessary. The manufacturing process of felt nails is more complex than staples. Lay it over metal flashing edges around vents and pipes. Staples also have lower holding strength when compared to nails. The size and complexity of the roof decking affect how long the task will take, but regardless of size, most felt installs are similar. Qualities such as good waterproof ability even in every kind of weather, especially in areas with very high wind and a tendency for wind-influenced rain. While it is common to find nails with a shank diameter of 13 inches, they cannot be smaller than 12 gauge (2.67mm) and still comply with the IBC. Check the weather. Bitumen is a waterproof mixture of coal-tar pitch or asphalt and other viscous and sticky organic liquids. Each run of shed felt should overlap the next by at least 7.5cm. Eugene has been a DIY enthusiast for most of his life and loves being creative while inspiring creativity in others. The added depth that roofing nails provide makes them less likely to come loose over time. While all tar paper comes in rolls, you do have some control of what size roll you will purchase. Installing roof felt is a two-person job. Measure the width and height of each section separately. A roof certification is a significant component of the overall roof maintenance management and significantly benefits homeowners. Haring holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri. One IKO test found that ring shank nails have 300% more strength than smooth shank nails. For roof slopes greater than 4/12, multiply the area by 1.10 to account for the 2 overlap and potential waste. At the gable ends trim flush to the decking or leave 1/2 to 1 to wrap the edge when installing the drip edge. The seams between sheets use nails at 5cm spacing. By the end of your read, you should know how to install felt underlayment for asphalt shingles. It is available in rolls of 15 and 30-pounds per hundred square feet. You cannot use screws for roofing shingles, only roofing nails are approved fasteners. 1. High wind areas and other types of shingles may need more. The average 3-tab shingle needs four nails per shingle. Roofing nails with gaskets are intended for metal roofs. This is because the staples are smaller and have a smaller head, which means they pierce the shingle less. Rolled roofing (or roll roofing)also known as MSRcomes in rolls of 100 square feet. Use stainless steel to T50 staples or 12-gauge shank 7/8 to 1-1/2 hot-dipped galvanized or aluminum roofing nails with a 3/8 head diameter. Instead of using lighter-weight 15-pound felt, use the heavier 30-pound felt as it will last longer too. Roof felt is often called tar paper and is commonly used in similar ways, however, they are different. Measure the size of your roof in square feet. Roofing felt is a type of underlayment that professionals install beneath a roofs shingles. You may prefer to use copper roofing nails on a roof with other copper accents. Professional Professional Tools & Support. Square cap nails are typically used for fastening felt underlayment and not asphalt shingles. Both felt nails and staples are great fastening systems for roofing projects. This is important since asphalt is a relatively soft and flexible material. For asphalt roofing shingles, use galvanized nails. However, this is a detriment to the roofs performance. Consult your local building department for specific nailing applications. The downside of roof nails is that they are bulkier and prone to multiple jams while working with them. Tack or fasten roofing felt using stainless steel " to " T50 staples or 7/8" to 1-1/2" hot-dipped galvanized or aluminum 12-gauge shank roofing nails with a 3/8" head diameter.