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finally ditched staples and my roof survived a storm
Just wanted to share a quick win - after years of stubbornly using staples for roofing (because, you know, they're quicker and cheaper), I finally switched to roofing nails last summer. Well, we had a pretty nasty storm roll through last weekend, and guess what... not a single shingle budged. Honestly, kinda kicking myself for not switching sooner. Curious if anyone else had a similar experience after switching methods?
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2 replies
The storm result is encouraging, but the fastener change only works if the nails are installed correctly too. They need adequate penetration into the roof deck, sit flush without cutting through the shingle, and follow the manufacturer’s specified fastening pattern. A few misplaced or overdriven nails can still leave shingles vulnerable, even when using proper roofing nails.
I’d push back a little on the idea that the fastener change explains the whole result. Correct nail placement and penetration matter, but storm performance also depends heavily on:
- Shingle age and condition
- Roof slope and how readily wind can get under the edges
- The quality of the original installation
- How exposed the roof is to prevailing winds
A newer, well-installed roof on a sheltered slope might ride out the same storm even with less-than-ideal fasteners, while an older or poorly installed roof can lose shingles despite using proper roofing nails. The switch was still a sensible improvement, but it’s probably one factor among several.