Roof Nails Vs Staples

We are talking nails hand or gun.

Roof nails vs staples.

Staples cost less money. I have never had to repair a stapled roof but the nail advocates all claim that staples are garbage. Coil nail guns are literally fed with a coil of nails and the holder for the nails makes the gun much bulkier. Click to enlarge any image.

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. After all it s no surprise roofers loved staples for attaching shingles to roofing. The staple will have a double prong unlike the brad meaning that it can transfix two pieces of wood at the same time. Theoretically staples should hold just as well as nails but with a wider coverage hold down area.

The preferred fastener is galvanized roofing nails with a minimum 12 gauge shank and head diameter of at least 3 8 inch. For one staples cost less than nails adding to their profit per roof. A roofer can hold a bunch of sticks of staples in their pocket and reload their gun very quickly. Although staples are allowed in some jurisdictions they do not provide the same holding power.

Hand naming will not do it. Make no mistake we are in business to make money. Roofing staple guns were light and easy to use over the newer and heavier roofing nail guns that were coming onto the market. Staples while the staple can also be used in finishing wood projects they are not nails.

They are an accepted fastener by shingle manufacturers such as sbc and maibec. Staples also offered excellent holding strength and could be installed over a larger roof area quickly. Mainly because they do not roof everyday. When properly installed a staple grabs and holds more material than the small head nail could ever hope to.

I can t see them being of any lesser quality than roofing nails. Staples are the method used years ago that gave machine roofing a bad name. Remodelers may roof by hand because they are not willing to invest in the equipment. 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.

Note the differences in the specification and length of the fasteners as well as the nail staple patterns. Local codes residential say that either 2 nails or staples can be used and that s for roof and wall sheathing. Staples are much more compact. Staples cost less than nails offer exceptional holding strength and cover a greater area of space with a more versatile and compact collation.