What are the types of roofing nails?
Short answer. Roofing nails are grouped by material, shank and format: electro-galvanized and hot dipped galvanized steel for most shingle work, stainless, aluminum and copper for long-life or specialty roofs, smooth or ring shanks, and coil nails for guns versus loose nails for hand driving. Plastic cap nails for underlayment and screws for metal roofs round out the fasteners on a typical job.
By material
- Electro-galvanized steel: a thin zinc coating. The everyday choice for asphalt shingles inland.
- Hot dipped galvanized steel: a thicker zinc coating for better corrosion resistance, preferred near salt air, with treated lumber, and for long-life work.
- Stainless steel: the most durable steel option, used on tile, slate, cedar and coastal homes.
- Aluminum: for aluminum roofing and trim, avoiding galvanic corrosion.
- Copper: for copper flashing and slate, where it matches the long life of the material.
By shank
- Smooth shank: the most common for shingles.
- Ring shank: rings along the shank resist withdrawal, useful for decks, high wind areas and softer woods.
By format
- Coil nails: wire-collated for pneumatic roofing guns. What crews use.
- Hand-drive nails: sold loose by the pound for repairs and small jobs.
Specialty fasteners on a roof
- Plastic cap nails and cap staples: for synthetic underlayment.
- Slating nails: copper or stainless, for natural slate.
- Screws with sealing washers: for metal roof panels.
- 8d framing nails: for attaching decking to rafters, with ring shank versions for storm-hardened roofs.
Minimums for shingles
For asphalt shingles, the IRC requires corrosion resistant roofing nails with at least a 12 gauge shank and a 3/8 inch head, long enough to reach 3/4 inch into the deck or through it.