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Pros and cons of nailing with a nail gun
Roofing contractors who use a nail gun often believe that this pneumatic tool provides the same level of precision as hand nailing a shingle. But it’s important for the roofers to always test their tools before using them.
Over-pressured or under-pressured nail guns can cause over-driven nails. This brings potential risk and damage to your shingle roof. Nails that are applied too deep can cut the fiber-mat inside of the shingle, which can reduce their resistance to withstand high winds. In some cases shingles can even slide down the roof. Under-driven nails are too high and can cause a lift up of the shingle above, which might result in blow offs or cuts through the upper shingle.
The positive side is that roofers who are using nail guns can complete the whole project much faster, resulting in a lower cost for the homeowner. However there is a higher cost for the investment in power tools. A nail gun is a tool that has a magazine or tray that stores coiled roofing nails. One by one these fasteners are driven through the bituminous roof shingle and into the roof deck by a supply of air.
There is also another type of nail gun on the market where the power is supplied by gas fuel and ignition from the battery. The compressor needs to have a continuous supply of air pressure from 90 – 120 PSI. It all depends of the type of gun, the roof shingle used, the thickness of the roof deck and the outside temperature of installation. The set of tools, nail gun and compressor will bring the roofer more benefits in the long term. IKO has a very close cooperation with Stanley Black & Decker and during our Roadshows we deliver product demonstrations for Bostitch and DeWalt roofing nail guns.
What’s more important than tools? Experience!
The most important aspect during the roof installation is the experience of the roofer. An amateur roofer is more likely to place their nails incorrectly, whether they are using a hammer or a nail gun. The key is having well trained and skilled roofers using nail guns that can produce quality roofs meeting and exceeding all the requirements for local building codes and manufacturing specifications.
IKO organizes roofer trainings during our Roadshow season in winter where we demonstrate the basic techniques of shingle installation and how to operate nail guns and other power tools. Want to learn more about the correct shingle application? Read our application guide or take a look at our basic installation video.
So choose the roofing tool that fits you the best, but most of all remember: “It’s not the tool but the person using it that makes a good quality roof”. Good luck!
Interested in the product mentioned in this blogpost?
Do you have an extention at your house with a low roof slope that is connected to a standard roof slope? Or are you planning to add an extention of a winter garden, an open-air kitchen or a garage to your existing shingle roof? Let us show you how to install a low slope roof and extended flat roof that is connected to a shingle roof with a standard slope.
First some basic information:
Standard shingles can be used on roof slopes from 15° to 85°. If the slope of your extension is higher than 15°, you can install any type of shingle you prefer or use the one that is installed on your existing main roof. Take a look at our roofing tutorial, which shows the installation of any type of IKO shingles.
If the roof slope of the extension is between 9,5° and 15°, then Cambridge Xtreme 9,5° is what you are looking for. This aesthetic laminated shingle can be installed on slopes from 9,5° up to 90°. For such a low slope installation, the roof deck has to be made of OSB boards of at least 22 mm thick. On this roof deck IKO Armourbase Pro PLUS or Armourbase STICK underlayment needs to be installed. Then install the roof according to the general installation instructions for the Cambridge Xtreme 9,5° shingles. The change of roof pitch between the low and higher slope should be made with metal flashing.
For attached roofs with a slope of less than 9.5° you have to use full torched asphalt rolls. You should also use asphalt rolls for extensions with a slope below 15°, on which you do not want to use Cambridge Xtreme 9.5° shingles. Asphalt rolls are being torched on each other, which ensures resistance to all weather extremes on low roof slopes.
