I'm redoing the plywood decking on my garage roof this weekend and got into a bit of a debate with my neighbor about screws vs nails. He swears by nails, says they're quicker and hold just fine, but I've always felt screws give a tighter hold and less squeaking down the road. Um, anyone have experience with this? Curious if screws are worth the extra hassle or if I'm just overthinking it...
I've done a fair bit of roofing and honestly, screws are worth the extra effort. Nails might be quicker upfront, but screws grip tighter and reduce movement over time, meaning fewer squeaks and less chance of plywood lifting later on. Had to redo a section of my shed roof a few years back because nails loosened up after a couple harsh winters—lesson learned. Curious though, are you planning to use standard deck screws or something specifically rated for roofing?
"Had to redo a section of my shed roof a few years back because nails loosened up after a couple harsh winters—lesson learned."
Glad you mentioned this... I'm tackling my garage roof soon and was leaning toward nails for speed, but your experience makes screws seem worth the extra time. Probably gonna look into proper roofing screws now—thanks for the heads-up.
I'm tackling my garage roof soon and was leaning toward nails for speed, but your experience makes screws seem worth the extra time. Probably gonna look into proper roofing screws now—thanks for ...
I've always been a bit skeptical about screws for roofing plywood, mostly because they're more brittle and can snap under stress. Nails have some flex, which helps them handle seasonal expansion and contraction better. That said, your point about nails loosening after harsh winters is valid...
If you're set on screws, make sure they're specifically rated for roofing or structural sheathing—deck screws won't cut it here. Also, consider using ring-shank nails if you haven't already; they're designed to resist pull-out and might be a good compromise between speed and durability.
I've done a couple roofs myself, and honestly nails are probably your best bet if you're watching your budget. Screws that are actually rated for roofing or structural sheathing aren't cheap, and from what I've seen, ring-shank nails hold pretty solid without the premium price. Had them on my shed roof for years now, zero issues with squeaks or popping up. Save the screws for decking or framing projects where they're really worth the extra cash.
