Roof nail pops can be unsightly and lead to water leaks in your home, forcing shingles upward and creating pathways for wind-driven rain to reach your sheathing and enter.
Nail pops should be addressed immediately by an experienced roofing expert, who can assess your entire roof system to find its source and address its root cause. In many instances, doing this will address nail pops as well as prevent future ones from occurring.
1. Remove the Nail
Nail pops are tent-like rises in roofing shingles caused by nails or fasteners poking through the sheathing, commonly found on asphalt shingle roofs. While seemingly harmless, nail pops may lead to leakage issues or structural damage if left unchecked and can even lead to roof leakage and even collapse if left untreated.
Nail pops can be caused by numerous factors, including fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels as well as improper roof installation or nails that are too short.
Ladder accessing areas where nail pops occur is hazardous, and should only be attempted by qualified professionals. When trying to repair nail pops on your own, carefully inspect your roof to identify loose nails by visual inspection or gently tapping with a hammer; refrain from hammering back in existing nails as this creates an entryway for water, further damaging your roof.
2. Place a Felt Square
Nail pops are most often caused by poor workmanship during roof installation. Nails may have been installed at an incorrect angle or driven crookedly; or using low-grade wood can contribute as it expands when wet, leaving nails vulnerable against being held properly by their sheathing.
Nail pops are caused by moisture that penetrates an attic during the day and then condenses on cold nails at night, creating an avenue for wind-driven rain to reach sheathing material and enter through ceiling. Shiners create pathways through which rain enters through.
Professional roofers are an invaluable way to avoid nail pops during roof installation. Inattention can lead to serious underlayment damage and costly water leakage issues; and attempts at repair using tools such as hammers or renailers may even leave holes that allow water leakage through.
3. Add Asphalt Cement
Nail pops may seem minor at first, but they can lead to leaks that have costly repercussions for your home. Therefore, it’s essential that any nail pops are addressed as soon as they appear; an experienced roofing expert can inspect and address them swiftly so as to save costly repairs in the future.
Most nail pops are due to improper installation. Nails may have been driven too deeply into roof decking and come loose. Furthermore, if the wood was wet during installation it will swell and push nails out of their holes.
Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can also cause nails to come tumbling out of their holes, which can result in water infiltration leading to interior damage, mold growth, or structural damages. Nail pops can be fixed by applying asphalt cement directly to the roof surface – two quarter-sized dots under each tab of three-tab shingles and four similar spots on laminated shingles will do.
4. Replace the Shingle
Nail pops should always be addressed quickly and effectively to prevent their destruction of roof decking materials, and eventual water penetration and degradation that requires expensive roof replacement or extensive home repairs. If left unattended, nail pops could expose roof decks to water penetration that necessitates costly roof replacement or extensive home repair costs.
Roof nail pops typically stem from two issues. First, moisture can seep under the shingle and cause wood expansion that forces nail rings off or wears them down, causing them to lift upward and pop off the nail shanks.
Nail pops are also often caused by high winds or storms dislodging shingles, improper roof installation practices by roofing contractors, or just poor home care practices in general. When left unaddressed immediately it can become very easy for rain to get under raised shingles, leading to leakage in your home and possibly water damage from leakage underneath raised shingles if not taken care of promptly. Addressing nail pops is usually relatively easy and cost effective: simply replacing outworn nails with new ones while sealing down existing cracks when necessary.