You nailed it (pun intended) with the scavenger hunt comparison. Even after years in storm cleanup, I’m still surprised by how many nails keep turning up long after you think you’ve got them all. Wet ground just swallows them whole, and magnets only get what’s on the surface or just below. I’ve had folks swear by leaf blowers to clear away grass before sweeping, but honestly, there’s always a few that slip through. It’s annoying, but you’re definitely not alone. At least you’re catching them before they end up in a tire or someone’s foot.
I’ve tried just about every trick in the book, and I’d still bet there are a dozen nails hiding out in my backyard somewhere. The magnet-on-wheels contraption does a decent job, but like you said, it’s only as good as the ground lets it be. Once those nails get worked into wet soil or thick grass, they might as well be in another dimension. I’ve even gone so far as to rake the area first, which helps a little, but it’s never perfect.
Funny thing is, I once thought about using a metal detector—like the kind folks use on the beach for coins—but it turns out most of them don’t pick up smaller bits like roofing nails unless you’re right on top of them. Not exactly efficient. Leaf blowers are great for clearing away the loose stuff, but I’ve had more luck with a shop vac, believe it or not. The suction pulls up debris and sometimes those sneaky nails hiding in the thatch. Still, it’s a process.
What gets me is how nails seem to migrate. I’ll sweep an area clean, and then a week later, one will turn up in a spot I know I already checked. Maybe it’s just the ground settling or rain moving things around, but it’s like they’re multiplying when I’m not looking.
I’m not convinced there’s a foolproof method—short of digging up the whole yard. At this point, I just accept that cleanup is an ongoing battle. At least finding the stragglers before they find a tire is a small victory... though I’d rather not have to keep playing hide and seek with hardware every time the grass gets mowed.
I hear you on the nails showing up where you swore you already checked. I did a shed rebuild last summer and even after dragging a magnet every which way, I still managed to step on a rogue nail a month later—right through my flip-flop, of course. I’ve tried the shop vac trick too, but it feels like overkill for my yard size and the cord always gets caught up. Honestly, I’ve kind of given up on perfection. At this point, I just do a quick pass every couple weeks and cross my fingers the mower doesn’t find one before I do. Maybe I’m just too cheap to spring for one of those heavy-duty magnets, but I’m not convinced it’d make a huge difference anyway.
Man, I swear nails have a sixth sense for hiding in plain sight. On my first tear-off job, we spent half a day with those rolling magnets—thought we got every last one. A week later, the homeowner calls about a flat tire in the driveway. Sure enough, it was a roofing nail. I get what you mean about the heavy-duty magnets too. They’re decent, but unless you’re doing a big site, they don’t always justify the cost. Plus, if the grass is thick or the ground’s uneven, stuff still slips through.
I’ve started keeping a cheap magnetic sweeper in my truck, but honestly, I still find strays weeks later. It’s like they work their way up from underground or something. The only trick that’s helped a bit is doing a sweep right after rain—seems like the nails are easier to spot when the dirt’s settled. Still, I wouldn’t bet my boots on catching every single one.
I’ve wondered about this too, especially after my own roof replacement last fall. The crew did a pretty thorough sweep, but I still found a couple of nails in the grass months later—one even turned up in the garden bed, which is nowhere near the work area. I’m starting to think they migrate or something. Maybe it’s just the way the ground shifts with rain and mowing?
I like your idea about sweeping after rain. Makes sense that the wet ground would help nails stand out more, but does it actually make a big difference? I’ve tried going out with a magnet after mowing, thinking maybe the vibration brings them up, but honestly, I’m not sure it helped much.
Has anyone tried those magnetic shoes or boots? I saw them online and thought it looked kind of gimmicky, but if they actually pick up strays while you walk around, it might be worth a shot. Or is it just another tool that sounds better than it works?
Also curious if anyone has tips for finding nails in gravel driveways. That’s where I’ve had the most trouble—magnets seem to grab everything except what you’re looking for, and sifting through rocks gets old fast.
Is there some trick to making sure you’ve really got them all, or is this just one of those things you have to accept as part of homeownership?
