Still, I’m convinced some nails just burrow down and wait for the perfect moment to reappear.
That’s exactly how it feels. I remember after a siding job, I did three passes—swept, then used a rolling magnet, then even went through by hand in the flower beds. Thought I’d nailed it (pun intended), but two weeks later, a tenant found one with their bike tire. Drives me nuts because I’m pretty methodical, but it’s like they migrate or something. Maybe it’s just gravity and rain moving them around, but sometimes I wonder if there’s a secret stash underground...
I’ve run into the same thing after tear-offs, especially on older roofs with those tiny ring-shank nails. Even after dragging a magnet across the yard in every direction, I’ll still get a call weeks later about a stray nail in the driveway. I’m convinced some get buried just below the surface and work their way up after a good rain or when the soil shifts. It’s frustrating because you can be as thorough as possible and still miss a few. Maybe it’s just part of the job, but it never stops bugging me.
I’ve noticed the same issue, especially after inspections on properties with older roofs or when the original fasteners were those small ring-shanks. Even with a strong rolling magnet, there always seem to be a few that slip through the cracks—literally. I’m not entirely convinced it’s just about nails working their way up from below, though. Sometimes, I think the treads on car tires or even lawn equipment can drag them out from spots you’d never expect.
One thing I’ve wondered is whether the type of soil or landscaping makes a difference. In clay-heavy yards, nails seem to disappear and reappear months later, almost like magic. Sandier soils might let them sink deeper, but then they're harder to find in the first place. Have you ever noticed if certain ground conditions make clean-up harder? Or maybe it’s more about the age and type of underlayment that gets torn up during removal... Curious if anyone’s tracked patterns like that over time.
It’s wild how nails seem to have a sixth sense for hiding, especially after a reroof. I swear, my backyard turns into an archaeological dig every spring—just when I think I’ve found the last stray, another one pops up by the garden hose or under the grill. I’ve got mostly clay soil and yeah, those nails really do disappear for months, then reappear like some kind of rusty magic trick.
I’m with you on the landscaping angle too. Mulch beds are the worst for me—they just swallow everything. And don’t get me started on pine straw... might as well be a black hole for metal bits. As for underlayment, when we ripped out the old felt stuff last year, it was like someone dumped a hardware store in my flower beds. Maybe it’s a mix of all these things—soil type, old underlayment, and maybe just plain bad luck.
My theory? Nails have a secret club somewhere underground and only come back up when you’re barefoot or mowing in sandals.
