What Are Roofing Nails?

What roofing nails are

A roofing nail looks like a short, stubby nail with an oversized head. That big head is the point.

A shingle is thin, and in a strong wind it tries to lift and slide over whatever holds it.

A wide head spreads the grip over more of the shingle, so the shingle is less likely to tear free.

The building code is specific about them. For asphalt shingles, it says the fasteners must be roofing nails made of galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum or copper ¹.

The shank, the long part of the nail, must be at least 12-gauge, which is 0.105 inch thick. The head must be at least 3/8 inch across.

The nails must also comply with ASTM F1667, a standard for driven fasteners that the code names ¹.

Roof fasteners is the wider term. It covers nails, screws, staples and plates used across all kinds of roofing. Metal panel roofs often use gasketed screws, and some wood shingle roofs may use staples.

On most homes with asphalt shingles, though, the fastener is a roofing nail. That is why this page covers roof fasteners as a group but puts nails first.

How nails hold a shingle down

A shingle is held two ways. The nails hold it to the deck. A strip of factory-applied sealant, warmed by the sun, glues each course to the one below. The nails do the work until the sealant sets, and they keep doing it if the seal ever lets go.

Each nail has to grab two things. It must pass through the shingle layers and bite into the deck.

The code says nails must be long enough to go through the roofing and at least 3/4 inch into the sheathing.

If the sheathing is thinner than 3/4 inch, the nails must go all the way through it ¹.

Most decks are 7/16 or 1/2 inch, so on most homes the tips should poke through into the attic. Our roof sheathing guide explains deck thickness.

Shingle makers add their own detail. IKO's instructions for its Cambridge shingle ask for 11 or 12-gauge corrosion-resistant roofing nails with at least 3/8-inch heads, at least 1 inch long. They say nails must go at least 1/8 inch through decks thinner than 3/4 inch ².

How the nail is driven matters too. The Owens Corning instructions say nails should be driven straight and flush, so the whole head sits on the shingle without cutting it.

They warn that a badly set nail gun can leave raised nails, which can cause sealing failure, raised tabs, leaks or blow-off ⁴. IKO's sheet shows the same thing in pictures: perfectly nailed, underdriven, overdriven and crooked ².

Types of roof fasteners

Different roofs use different fasteners. The code sets rules for each kind ¹.

Coil nails are roofing nails joined by wire into a coil for a nail gun. Hand nails come loose in a box. Both are fine if the nail itself meets the rules above.

Can staples be used on shingles?

Not on asphalt shingles under the 2021 IRC. The fastener rule for asphalt shingles lists roofing nails of four metals and says nothing about staples ¹. A new asphalt roof built to the 2021 IRC uses nails.

Wood is different. For untreated wood shingles and wood shakes, the code says the fasteners are box nails, and it allows two 16-gauge stainless steel staples as an option, with a crown of 7/16 to 3/4 inch ¹.

The crown is the flat top of the staple. Near the ocean the code asks for stainless steel. If your quote names staples on an asphalt roof, ask why, and ask the roofer to show the code or maker rule they are following.

Four nails or six

The code sets a floor, then hands the details to the shingle maker.

Section R905.2.6 says shingles must have the number of fasteners the maker's approved instructions call for, but never fewer than four per strip shingle or two per individual shingle ¹.

On very steep roofs, over 21 in 12, the code says to follow the maker's instructions ¹.

Makers often ask for more in tough spots. IKO's Cambridge instructions show four nails for a standard application and six for steep slopes and high wind areas.

They say to use six nails per shingle in high wind areas or on slopes of 21:12 or more, and to seal each shingle down with three spots of roofing cement ².

This matters for the warranty, not just the code. IKO says that to be covered under its High Wind Resistance Limited Warranty, starter strips must be used at all eaves and rakes, the extra nails must be used as specified, and the shingles must be able to seal or be sealed by hand ².

Other makers have their own rules. Ask your roofer which pattern they will use and which warranty it supports.

Worked example: checking the nails on a quote

Say your house has a 7/16-inch OSB deck, you live in a windy area, and the quote names IKO Cambridge shingles. Here is how the rules line up ^{1 2}.

Put those six points in writing with the quote. If the roofer says four nails, ask whether that still meets the maker's rules for your wind area and the warranty you were promised.

Where nails go on a shingle

Every shingle has a nailing zone, a band set by the maker where the nails must go.

On many shingles it sits just below the sealant strip, so the next course covers the nail heads.

IKO marks a nail line and says it is critical to use it as a guide for all applications ².

Nails also must miss the joints. IKO says no nail should be within 2 inches of a joint or cutout in the shingle below ². A nail in a joint can let water reach the deck.

The ridge and hips use a different pattern. Hip and ridge shingles are nailed near each side, and the nails at the end of the ridge are left exposed and covered with roof cement.

Owens Corning's 2024 ProEdge sheet puts one nail on each side, 1 inch from the side edge and 7 1/4 inches from the exposed end, and warns not to nail through the sealant strip ⁴.

IKO's UltraHP uses two nails, one each side, 3/4 inch back from the notch ³. Our asphalt shingles guide shows how the field shingles fit together.

What good nailing does

• Keeps shingles on in wind before the sealant strip sets
• Holds the shingle flat so the sealant can bond to the course below
• Keeps nail heads covered by the next course, away from rain and sun
• Meets the code minimum and the maker's count, so the roof passes inspection ¹
• Supports the wind warranty when the maker's high-wind pattern is used ²
• Resists rust when the right metal is used, so the nail keeps its grip for the life of the roof

Limitations

• Nails are only as strong as the deck. Rotted or thin decking cannot hold them well.
• Every nail is a hole. One in the wrong place can leak.
• A nail gun set too hard cuts the shingle; set too soft, it leaves a raised head ⁴.
• The code minimum may not match the warranty. The maker's count can be higher ¹.
• Nail placement is hidden once the next course is on, so mistakes are hard to spot later.

What drives the cost of nailing

We do not list prices. Nails are a small part of a roof bill, but the choices around them can move it. For a full estimate, try our roof cost calculator.

• Nail count. Six nails per shingle means more nails and a bit more labor than four.
• Metal. Stainless or copper nails cost more than galvanized steel.
• Hand sealing. High-wind patterns may add roof cement under each shingle, which takes time ².
• Roof size. Nails scale with area, measured in roofing squares.
• Deck repair. If the deck cannot hold nails, bad sheets must be replaced first.
• Coastal rules. Local rules near salt water may call for stainless fasteners on some roofs ¹.

How nailing fits into the job

A licensed roofer does this work. These are the steps you can expect and check, not a how-to.

• The old roof comes off and the deck is checked and repaired.
• Underlayment and starter strips go on. IKO's high-wind warranty needs starter strips at all eaves and rakes ².
• The crew sets nail guns for depth and checks a few test nails for flush heads.
• Each course is nailed on the maker's nail line with the count the maker asks for.
• Hips and ridges go on last, with their own nailing pattern from the cap maker ⁴.
• A supervisor or inspector checks nailing before the next course hides it, where local rules call for it.

Nails over the life of the roof

You do not service roof nails. You watch for signs that they have moved. A nail that backs out lifts the shingle above it and leaves a bump. Rain can then follow the nail into the deck. A deck that swells and shrinks with moisture is one possible cause.

From the attic, the nail tips poking through the deck should look dry. In cold weather, frost on the nail tips is a sign of damp attic air, and the drips when it melts can stain the deck. Better attic airflow helps. Our roof ventilation guide explains the code rules.

Exposed nail heads, such as at the last ridge cap, are covered with roof cement when the roof is built ⁴. Over time that cement can dry and crack. A roofer can check it during a routine visit. Do not climb on the roof yourself to look.

Nailing mistakes and their risks

• High-nailing. Nails above the nail line miss the layer they should hold. IKO says high-nailing above the nail line can void its limited warranty ².
• Overdriven nails. Heads cut into the shingle, which weakens the hold ⁴.
• Underdriven nails. Raised heads stop the shingle from sealing and can wear through the course above ⁴.
• Crooked nails. Part of the head lifts and the grip is uneven ².
• Too few nails. Below the code or maker count, shingles can blow off ¹.
• Short nails. Nails that do not reach 3/4 inch into the deck, or through a thin one, can pull out ¹.

Many of these only show after a storm. If shingles blow off a fairly new roof, ask the roofer to check nail placement on the pieces that came loose. See storm damage and insurance for what to do next.

What the code requires

These rules come from the 2021 International Residential Code, as adopted in Maryland and read at UpCodes. Your state or city may use a different edition or change parts of it.

Sources: [1]

Nails and wind ratings

A shingle's wind class is a lab result for the shingle when it is put on as the maker says.

The code asks shingles to be tested to ASTM D7158 and labeled for the design wind speed where you live ¹.

NRCA explains that D7158 sorts sealed shingles into Class D, G and H, for basic wind speeds of 115, 150 and 190 mph ⁵.

That rating assumes the shingles were nailed the way the maker tested them. Put the nails in the wrong place, or use too few, and the roof on your house is no longer the roof that was tested.

That is a HyreRoof reading of how the tests work, not a maker's promise. It is also why makers tie wind warranties to nail count, starter strips and sealing ².

Sources: [1] [5] [2]

Roofing nails vs other fasteners

Common misconceptions

Myth Nail tips in the attic mean the nails are too long.

Reality On decks thinner than 3/4 inch, the code wants nails to go all the way through ¹. Seeing tips is normal.

Myth Four nails is always enough.

Reality Four is the code floor for strip shingles. The maker can ask for more, and IKO calls for six in high wind areas ².

Myth Any nail will do if it holds.

Reality The code sets the metal, shank, head and standard for asphalt shingle nails ¹.

Myth Staples are fine on asphalt shingles.

Reality The 2021 IRC lists only roofing nails for asphalt shingles. Staples are allowed for wood shingles and shakes ¹.

Myth Higher nails hold better.

Reality Nails above the nail line miss the right layers, and IKO says high-nailing can void its warranty ².

Local rules and climate

Each state or city adopts its own code edition and can add to it. Your building department decides which rules apply, and some areas inspect nailing during the job. Wind is the biggest local factor.

The required shingle wind class depends on the design wind speed for your area ¹, and makers often ask for more nails in high wind areas ². The code's map of design wind speeds and any local high-wind rules are the place to start.

Salt air is the second factor. The code asks for stainless steel fasteners on wood shingles and shakes installed within 15 miles of salt water ¹. Even on asphalt roofs, many coastal roofers choose heavier corrosion protection. Ask your roofer or building department what applies at your address.

What to ask your roofer

• What nail will you use: metal, gauge, head size and length?
• How many nails per shingle, and does that match the maker's rule for our wind area?
• Which warranty does your nailing pattern support, and what does the maker require for it?
• How do you check that nails are on the nail line and driven flush?
• Will the nails go through our deck, and is the deck sound enough to hold them?
• Are you using nails or staples, and which rule allows that?

Keep going

• Roof replacementNailing is set at install
• Choosing a rooferCompare how crews install
• How a roofing project worksWhat happens day by day
• Roofing cost guideWhat moves the price of a new roof

Related terms

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are roofing pieces made from a fiberglass mat coated with asphalt and topped with mineral granules, laid in overlapping rows so water runs off the roof.

Roof Sheathing

Roof sheathing is the layer of plywood, OSB or wood boards nailed across the rafters or trusses.

Roof Wind Uplift

Roof wind uplift is the upward pull that wind puts on a roof as it flows over and around a building, lifting shingles, panels or the whole deck away from the framing below.

Ridge Cap

A ridge cap is the row of shingles bent over the peak of a roof, and over its hips, to seal the joint where two roof planes meet.

Architectural Shingles

Architectural shingles are asphalt roof shingles made from two or more layers bonded together, so each shingle is thicker than a flat strip shingle and gives the roof a textured, three-dimensional look.

Roofing Screws

Gasketed screws used to fasten exposed-fastener metal panels. The rubber washer seals the hole and wears out over time.

Manufacturer Warranty

A manufacturer warranty is the shingle maker's written promise to repair, replace or pay toward its products if they fail from a manufacturing defect within a set period.

Roof Warranty

A roof warranty is a written promise to repair or pay for certain roof failures for a set time.

Also referenced from: Roof Sheathing, Roof Underlayment, Ridge Cap, Hurricane Roofing