Rental nailers are kind of a gamble in my book. I’ve been on jobs where the rental ones ran all day, no problem, and then I’ve had others where you’re basically praying it’ll make it through the afternoon. One time I got a Bostitch from a local shop—looked decent, but halfway through the bundle it started double-firing. Ended up swapping it out, lost an hour, and still had to hand-nail a few rows while waiting. Not the end of the world, but it throws off your rhythm.
I don’t know if it’s super common for them to just die mid-job, but I’d say maintenance at some of those rental places is hit or miss. It’s not always “bad luck”—sometimes those tools are just beat to death from everyone using them rough. If you get one that’s been cleaned and oiled, you’re probably fine. But I’d always check the trigger and feed before heading up on the roof. Got burned once, learned quick.
That double-firing issue is the worst—totally messes up your pace, and you end up spending more time fixing jams than actually getting shingles down. I’ve had better luck just buying a mid-range nailer and keeping it maintained myself, mainly because I got tired of rolling the dice with rentals. Curious if anyone’s found a rental shop that actually keeps their tools in good shape? Or is it just a matter of luck no matter where you go?
ROOFING NIGHTMARE: IF YOU COULD ONLY PICK ONE NAILER...
Man, I hear you on the double-firing. Last summer, I rented a nailer from a shop that looked like it hadn’t seen daylight since the Clinton administration. First hour in, it started rapid-firing like it was auditioning for a spaghetti western—three nails for every shingle, and half of ‘em sticking out at weird angles. My helper was laughing so hard he nearly fell off the roof. I spent more time pulling bent nails than actually roofing.
Honestly, I’ve given up on rentals unless I’m in a real pinch. Maybe it’s just my luck, but every time I rent, the thing’s either gummed up with old tar or the trigger’s so sensitive you’d think it was wired to a hairdryer. I did find one place out in the suburbs that kept their stuff halfway decent, but even then, you’re rolling the dice. Sometimes you get a nailer that works like new, sometimes you get one that sounds like it’s chewing gravel.
Bought myself a mid-range Bostitch a few years back—nothing fancy, but I keep it clean and oiled and it’s never let me down. Sure, it cost more upfront, but at least I know what to expect every morning. Plus, if something goes wrong, I’ve only got myself to blame (and maybe the guy who borrowed it and “forgot” to mention he dropped it off a ladder).
I get why folks rent—if you’re only doing one roof every blue moon, makes sense not to buy. But if you’re up there every week like me, nothing beats having your own gear. At least then when things go sideways, you know exactly which curse words to use.
Anyway, if anyone’s found a rental shop where the tools don’t look like they survived a tornado, let me know... but until then, I’ll stick with my own battered-but-reliable nailer and keep a magnet handy for all those stray nails.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ll admit, as a first-timer who just tackled my own roof last fall, I actually had a decent experience with a rental nailer. Maybe I just lucked out? The shop near me (small town, Midwest) keeps their stuff in surprisingly good shape. The guy behind the counter even showed me how to oil it and check for jams before I left. Didn’t have any double-firing or weird noises—just a sore arm by the end of the weekend.
That said, I totally get the appeal of owning your own if you’re up there all the time. For me, though, dropping a few hundred on a tool I might use once every decade didn’t make sense. If I had to do it again soon, maybe I’d reconsider. But for now, renting worked out and saved me some cash.
Guess it really depends on the shop and how often you’re climbing up there. If my local place ever starts handing out nailers that look like they’ve been through a war zone, I might change my tune...
I hear you—renting can be a solid move if you’re not planning to do roofs regularly. I’ve had mixed luck with rental tools, but sounds like your local place actually cares about their gear, which is half the battle. For me, I ended up buying because I do a couple roofs a year (family and neighbors keep me busy), but if I was just doing my own once in a blue moon, I’d probably rent too. The only thing I’d add is, if you’re using recycled shingles or working with any eco-friendly materials, some nailers handle those better than others... just something to keep in mind if you ever go that route.