For years, Atlanta Roofing Specialists has made it a point to never use nail guns on any roof.
Nail guns are used in most levels of the construction business and in most cases are great for the job. Used on a roof however, not so much.
It’s not that we are technophobes or are even old-fashioned, the fact is, in every case we’ve found in our decades of experience, nail guns cause more problems then they solve when used on a roof.
Consider the following:
The nails themselves differ. The head of the hand nail is bigger, thus you get a stronger roof against wind force. Conversely, the head of the nail for a Nail Gun is smaller in order to fit more nails into the coil that is reloaded repeatedly into the nail guns.
When it comes to securing your roof, bigger is better.
We hand hammer every single nail that goes into your roof, no exceptions. This ensures that the nails are applied correctly; straight & flush with the shingle.
In contrast, on every roof applied with a nail gun, 100% of the time, there will be nails that:
1. Go into the shingle too far (penetrate the shingle)
And/Or
2. Do not go far enough where the nail will be sticking up enough to wear a leak hole
3. There will be nails driven at an angle where the head cuts through the shingle because the roofer is swinging the nail gun.
It happens all of the time and is such an issue, it is only recently that manufacturers are coming to the realization that using nail guns on a roof is guaranteed to cause problems.
For example, GAF, North America’s Largest Roofing Manufacturer, has issued a Technical Advisory Bulletin that warns of dangers caused by pneumatic coil nail guns. Driving another nail (if you will) into the coffin of the argument that nail guns are a suitable method to cut time and costs.
With all the problems associated with nail guns one would wonder why any reputable roof contractor would use them on their roofs. Frankly, we have no idea, they may claim otherwise but the evidence is overwhelming, hand nailing is FAR superior.
For more information and photos please see “Why We Hand Nail”.
Atlanta Roofing Specialists has been serving Metro Atlanta’s Residential and Commercial communities roofing needs since 1993! For a free estimate on your roof call 770-419-2222 today!