Today’s roofers use roofing nails for fastening shingles to the roof deck. Historically, roofers have been known to use staples, but it has since fallen out of fashion. In today’s post, the roofing contractors at Renovation Team explain why roofers prefer to use nails rather than staples.
Staples were used as fasteners if one wanted to keep their roofing costs low. Staples were much cheaper to produce than nails, and staple guns were widely available by then. They’re fairly easy to operate and lightweight, which made them ideal for roofing work. Comparatively, nail guns were more difficult to use because they’re heavier. Traditional installation methods that require hammering roof nails by hand took more time and raised the labor cost.
Despite its advantages, roofing staples have limitations. For one, it can’t penetrate thick materials. If the homeowner wants laminate shingles or wood shakes, then nails will have to be used. If installation time is a factor, the homeowner’s choices will be limited to three-tab shingles or other thin roofing materials.
Roofing nails have always yielded better results because they anchor the outer roofing material to the decking. The reason why staples aren’t used as much anymore — though some roofers still use them — is because nail guns have become more compact, to the point where weight became negligible. This means homeowners wouldn’t have to make a compromise with the installation time. Also, today’s nail guns are far less prone to jamming, unlike older models from years ago.
It’s important to note that building codes in many areas require the use of roofing nails, which means roofs installed using staples usually lead to do-overs. For the homeowner, this could impact not just the installation timeline, but also its cost. If your local building codes do not mention roofing fasteners, it’s best to take the safe route and choose nails.
Ready to replace your roof? Give our roofers at Renovation Team a call at (636) 939-1061. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve communities in St. Louis, St. Charles, and Creve Coeur, MO.