what size nails for roof felt

However, this is a detriment to the roofs performance. It is versatile, strong, and affordable. Tack the next course or layer into place. Most roofing installation processes include attaching roofing felt ( roofing underlayment or tar paper) to the roof deck as recommended by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). This means that using a staple to nails is four staples to 1 nail. Double that value and you have the full roof area. This inarguably depends significantly on the type of nails used. The felt should be trimmed flush with the edge or 1/2 past to wrap the edge when the drip edge is placed. Construction stapler or plastic washer nails. 1. (Follow Correct Way)Continue. Penetration. This goes a long way to bring to light how durable nail roofs are. Square cap nails are typically used for fastening felt underlayment and not asphalt shingles. Roofing and reroofing are two of the most common home improvement projects. Common nails, or even wood screws, may be acceptable nails for OSB roof sheathing. To calculate the slope or grade of your roof, youll need to measure the rise and run of your roof. Paper can be fitted around vent pipes by cutting a slit and then putting it over the pipe. That depends on the exposure and coverage of your shingles. On the flipside, if you rush through the initial steps, the felt installation can be compromised by sloppy oversights such as stray nails. The International Building Code requires that roofing nails have a minimum 12-gauge shank and a 3/8-inch diameter head. At the gable ends trim flush to the decking or leave 1/2 to 1 to wrap the edge when installing the drip edge. IKO assumes no responsibility for errors that may appear on this website. He is passionately interested in home improvement, renovation and woodworking. Not felt to timber. Leave about 5cm between each nail, and ensure the sheet is pulled tight and sitting in line with the roof. You can adjust the firing depth of nails with an easy depth-setting wheel on the head of the tool, and clear jammed nails with the quick-release compartment aside the . They are widely used and have been recognized as effective methods of holding roofing felt or underlayments and can be used for several small-scale buildings or larger building projects. The layers of felt should be overlapped by 1 inch as you work toward the roof ridge. Ask your dealer for the correct amount of nails for your size roof, in the length you specify. You may find roofing nails identified by their penny length. Roofing nails with gaskets are intended for metal roofs. This makes them more likely to rust and break over time. But at the same time, you have a lot of jams on the felt paper while working with nail guns, roofers who use staples any form of jam. The actual process of putting down the underlayment will be one of the fastest parts of the entire roofing process. In addition, the chances are that You can install staples incorrectly or inaccurately. This makes it 320 nails per square foot. Proper roofing practices call for a plywood roof deck at least one inch thick, 3/4-inch galvanized nails, and 3/8-inch head nails. in normal wind zones. Felt nails are usually made from galvanized steel, which is corrosion-resistant. Mark every 34 or 33 and snap a line across the deck for 2 or 3 overlaps on slopes greater than 4/12. When you arrive at the rake, the paper should be cut flush with a knife and then adjusted to line up with the chalk line. Add 10% to the shingle estimate to account for waste. Overlap the end of a roll about 4 inches with the start of a new roll and fasten both pieces to the decking. Nails will also be required for any roofing project. For irregularly shaped roofs, break it down into smaller rectangles or triangles to calculate the areas. This means they will last longer and not rust as easily as staples. There are two ways to measure the size of a roofing nail diameter and length. The average roll of 15-pound roofing felt covers about 400 ft2, or 4 squares, while the average roll of 30-pound roofing felt covers about 200 ft2, or 2 squares. Leave the top portion of the paper loose. It is required to block any rain that gets under or between shingles from penetrating into the wood decking. (Must Read This), Pressure Treated Lumber For Roof Rafters (Lets See), Roof Sheathing Horizontal Or Vertical (Must Read). The heavy-duty felt or paper is saturated or coated with bitumen. Is it necessary to use adhesive? Nails and staples have several significant differences. Drip edges on the eaves, any valley liners and all flashing should be installed before the tar paper is laid. Haring holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri. Fasten panels with a minimum of 8d Common (0.131-inch by 2-1/2-inch) nails spaced a maximum of 6 inches on center at supported panel ends and edges. Never mount the felt paper on wet sheathing. An excerpt of Table R803.2.3.1 is shown below. Nail shank diameter should be at least 11-12 gauge for roofs. It is available in rolls of 15 and 30-pounds per hundred square feet. However, remember that you get what you pay forthe added durability of nails may mean they last longer and save you money in the long run. Tack it in place at the corner, with the end flush with the end of the roof and the bottom edge of the roll right along the bottom of the roof deck, over the drip edge. You should use 12-gauge or thicker. However, the cost varies depending on the size and brand of the product. Any stray roof tacks, pieces of old felt, or general debris should be cleared off. Prevent Ice Dams Synthetic underlayment comes in 10 square rolls, while regular #15 felt comes in 4 square rolls. This is because there is more surface area for the nail to grip. Visit the officia. Then they nail it along the edge every 6 to 10 inches. The roofing nailers are designed for driving 12-gauge nails up to a depth of 1 inch whereas the framing nailer shoots large 16d nails to a depth of 3 inches. For low slope roofs mark every 17 and snap a chalk line from gable to gable. well overall size is 15x8 and from ground to pitch of the roof it should not be more than 10 feet.I am thinking front 15 feet wide wall will have a higher side of roof and back 15 feet wall . However, you may need to replace staples more often than felt nails. . Roofing felt nails or staples are effective roofing methods or options that can go well with very soft materials. This can cause your roof to leak. The best roofing nails for 7/16 sheathing are 3/8-inch to 7/16-inch diameter. Head: flat round. $7.18 $ 7. Length: 1" - 3". Use a construction stapler or a hammer. When you get to an end shingle in a course, nail it in place so its edge overhangs the corner. Uneven strips and wrinkles can allow dust, moisture and mold to develop. Tar paper is infused with tar, and roofing felt with a bituminous substance granted, a semantic difference as both are petroleum-based products. The three types are: Asphalt, tar, or bitumen-saturated felt, Synthetic or non-bitumen underlay, and Rubberized asphalt underlay. In high-wind areas, more fasteners may be required. The T-50s are compatible with most brands of staple guns or hammers. Head diameter: 0.55" - 0.79". For a 30lb felt, you should use T50 staples which generally have inch wide crowns and a length variation that include , , , and inches. Use only plastic cap, corrosion-resistant nails or staples with plastic caps. Highly visible alignment lines. Dont tack the upper edge as it will be tacked down with the overlapping next course. As a bonus, roofing staplers are easy to handle and do not require many repairs. (Explained), Or Drywall For Ceiling (All You Need To Know), How To Overlap Or Hang Drywall On 45-Degree Corner? The RSRS designation indicates the fastener is a ring shank roof sheathing nail. Ensure theyre long enough to penetrate through the felt and the roof decking. To install roofing felt, you need nails that have very wide heads to keep the felt . A 2d nail is 1 inch long, for example, while a 16d nail is 3 1/2 inches long. If you have any further unanswered questions or want to know more about the best roofing nails for your project, don't hesitate to get in touch. If you were considering using screws for their extra security, consider ring shank nails instead. Some suggest you fill this hole with roofing cement, but this repair option must be done carefully to maintain the roofs water-shedding performance. Measure up the roof and snap chalk lines where the upper edge of each course will go. Upper lengths of edge flashing should overlap lower lengths by a minimum of 6. Do not simply hammer the nail down, renail it in the same spot, or use the same shingle. To ensure we feature the products available in your area, please select your country and state/province. Add more felt if required Most of the time, staples do not hold down the roofing felt paper or materials well enough in such areas. Installing the roofing felt does take care, but can go very quickly. Nail metal drip-edge flashing, which bends over the roof and down the edge of the facing board, on all roof edges. Divide the total footage by 100 to determine the number of "squares" in the roof. Another benefit of roofing staples is that they cause less damage to shingles than nails. Before laying roof felt, all rotten decking must be replaced. This step is vital to the success of your new roof and must not be shortchanged in any way. Valley, ridges and hips should have a 6 inch overlap of paper. This is because the staples are smaller and have a smaller head, which means they pierce the shingle less. The caps help prevent tearing and are helpful for keeping the felt in place if it is windy, or if there will be a delay laying the shingles. In this case, youll want to use roofing nails made of robust materials such as steel or aluminum. Sheradised Square Twist Nails are invalueable when working with timber construction. Use a utility knife or hook-bladed knife to cut the felt. So, with rounding, youll need 10 rolls of 15 pound felt or 20 rolls of 30-pound felt. Check the requirements for the roofing material that will go over the felt. Estimating your roofing materials is key to your success, so youll want to know how many nails youll use in a square. We have the following; 3/8 x "3/8 7/16 x 1 - 1/2 1/2 x 5/16 1 x 5/8 For galvanized roofing shingles, they make use of a 16 gauge shank. The roofing felt should be applied in layers that overlap. To calculate the appropriate roofing nail length, add the thickness of the shingles and underlayment to the thickness of the sheathing. What Size For Roofing Felt? The roof leg has one to three ridges to slow moisture movement, the smooth vertical leg sheds water, and the kick-out pushes it away from the facia. In addition, staples create a neater finished look. To determine how much felt is required for a roof, find the area of the roof deck to be covered. When nailing shingles, proper penetration into the roof deck is essential to ensure the nail and shingle remain secure. For nail spacing requirements, an online calculator will give you a breakdown of the minimum nails per square footage that is required for your roof. Starting at the eave, 36-inch-wide (914 mm) strips of underlayment felt shall be applied overlapping successive sheets 19 inches (483 mm) and fastened sufficiently in place. This website uses cookies to provide necessary functionality and to improve your online experience. 5 Energy Efficient Roofing Materials To Use. If there are hips, valleys, or dormers, increase the total by 10 to 25%. Staples can be used for tacking it down, but not recommended to hold. Shed Roof vs. Gable Roof Comparison Guide. It is important to note that local building and fire codes may require cap nails instead of staples, so check the fine print. Once you understand what it does, and you know which one you need, you are ready to lay the underlayment for your roof. Roofing felt nails are made of galvanized steel or aluminum, which resists corrosion better than standard steel staples. Do the other side of the roof the same way, also with an overlap at the peak. Nails should have a minimum, nominal shank diameter of 11- or 12-gauge, and a minimum head diameter of three-eighths of an inch.