I started doubling up at the seams and corners, but honestly, cap nails seem to work better if you can swing it. The only downside is they take longer and my boss grumbles about “wasting time.”
That’s been my struggle too. Cap nails just seem to hold better, especially when the wind picks up, but yeah—the extra time adds up. I’ve tried a few “grip” synthetics and honestly, none of them feel totally safe on a steep roof once there’s grit or morning dew. One trick that’s helped me a bit is sweeping off the dust as I go, but that’s not always practical when you’re racing weather. At the end of the day, I’d rather move slow and stay upright than risk a tumble... no underlayment is worth a trip to the ER.
At the end of the day, I’d rather move slow and stay upright than risk a tumble... no underlayment is worth a trip to the ER.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen too many guys try to rush with those “fast install” synthetics, only to end up sliding halfway down a 10/12 pitch. Cap nails are a pain, but after patching up wind damage on jobs where folks cut corners, I’m not convinced any shortcut is worth it. Bosses grumble, but they’re not the ones footing the hospital bill or warranty call.
Cap nails are the bane of my existence, but I’d rather deal with sore thumbs than a busted hip. Had a guy try to “save time” with peel-and-stick last summer—he spent more time sliding around than actually working. Slow and steady wins, especially on a steep roof.
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—seen that too many times. Peel-and-stick sounds easy but on a hot day, it’s like working on a slip-n-slide.“he spent more time sliding around than actually working”
- Cap nails are a pain, but I’ll take a bruised thumb over a worker’s comp claim.
- Tried synthetic underlayment last year on a 12/12 pitch. Held up better than felt, especially after a week of rain delays.
- For me, it’s all about safety and longevity. Fast isn’t always better, especially when you’re managing multiple crews.
