Nail pops can often be found dotted across drywall ceilings and walls in homes, even though these protrusions may only appear occasionally. Though not common, these protrusions can pose serious health risks if left untreated.
Popped nails are a roofing defect caused by changes in wood roof sheathing that expand and contract over time, forcing nails upward. As it warms up, this sheathing expands, forcing nails upward into your shingle covering and into your home through leaks in your shingles – potentially creating holes which allow water in.
Call a Roofing Expert
Although roof nail pops may seem harmless, they should never be ignored as they can lead to serious leaks and structural damage in your home if left unattended.
Most often, nail pops result from improper roof installation. While every mistake cannot be prevented entirely during a roof installation project, using best practices will help to minimize problems.
Nail pops may also result from using nails that are too small or large for their task, leading to non-attachment of roof shingles and subsequent lifting up and popping of nails. Incorrect nail sizes often result in failure to support roof tiles properly, leading to them lifting off.
As it’s always best to use an experienced roofing expert for inspection and repairs, it is always advisable to call in professional services for inspection and repairs of your roof. If you opt to do it yourself, ensure you follow proper safety regulations with regard to ladder and tool use in order to guarantee both your own wellbeing as well as quality repairs on the roof. Ultimately, choose an affordable professional for optimal results!
Remove the Shingles
Roof nails often pop-up unexpectedly and must be dealt with immediately as soon as they appear; otherwise they could lead to water penetration under the shingle or strong winds blowing it off completely, potentially resulting in leaky roofs and interior damage that is quite costly to repair.
One common cause of nail pops is improperly fastened roof shingles and sheathing. Most builders use an OSB (Oriented Strand Board), designed specifically to accept nails; if these nails are improperly placed they will eventually loosen over time and move loose from their positions on OSB sheathing as temperature fluctuation affects it causing changes in temperature to cause expansion and contraction, which in turn pushes nails through.
With the right roofing tools and experience, repairing nail pops should be straightforward. First, climb onto your roof to locate the affected shingle; use a crowbar to pry back its sheets until you find the nail that has come loose; hammer it down and seal it in its place before finishing up.
Patch the Shingles
Roof nail pops may appear harmless at first, but left unattended they can lead to leaky roofs if left unfixed. With the right tools and roofing knowledge you could save money by fixing these yourself instead of paying roofer fees for professional services.
Upraised nails present an aesthetic issue, creating bumps and humps on your roof that distract from its overall appearance. But these back-out nails may also force the shingles up, creating a pathway for wind-driven rain to enter through roof sheathing and enter your home through leaky roof seams.
To repair a roof nail pop, take steps using a ladder and inspecting from below the damaged shingle. If it appears that part of it has lifted up, apply one half tablespoon of asphalt cement directly under each nail hole before pressing a 4-by-2-inch square of felt onto it with some pressure.
Reinstall the Shingles
Roof nail pops occur when roofing nails that secure shingles push upward through them, becoming loose from their attachment points and pop through into the shingle itself. As soon as these pop-ups appear it is important to address them immediately as they may indicate other issues with your roof that need attention.
Nail pops are typically caused by the constant shifting in humidity levels causing your wood roof sheathing to expand and contract cyclically, pushing nails through their respective shingles at an uneven rate and forcing the nails outward through your roof sheathing, leading to nail pops or dislodging of shingle material resulting in leakage points in your roof.
To resolve this problem, begin by removing any damaged or missing shingles using a pry bar with its flat end to lift them up and expose their nail row for removal. Next, slide in a new shingle in its place nailing its nails differently than before.