Roof nail pops are a common roofing problem that may result in leakage. By identifying which conditions cause these nails to pop, insurance adjusters can perform more accurate claims assessments.
Nail pops are caused when nails come undone from their original penetration in roof sheathing and shift outward. Most roofing contractors use long ring shank nails to attach shingles to sheathing; however, over time these can wear down and loosen over time.
1. Remove the Damaged Shingle
An effective solution to nail pops is removing the damaged shingle and replacing all nails, followed by application of roof sealant to reseal the area. A roofing professional should safely lift and reposition this section before applying roof sealant resealer.
Wind-driven rain can penetrate holes caused when nails back out, leading to slow leakage or sheathing rot.
Professional roofing technicians often employ a cat’s paw prybar to carefully lift the shingle layer above a damaged area, giving them access to the wood beneath. If soft wood surfaces, roofing professionals may hammer in new nails designed with rings around their shanks that grip tightly onto wood structures to prevent leaks. But older sheathing may have soft spots which won’t accept nails.
2. Hammer the Nail Back in
Every asphalt roof consists of individual shingles attached to its decking with nails. Skilled roofing contractors use long ring shank nails with gripping rings around their shank for additional gripping power and flat heads for water infiltration prevention. When moisture seeps into shingles, it can cause the wood sheathing to expand, pushing loose nails up against it or any that are smooth (not ring shank) nail heads outward.
Over time, this can result in nail pops protruding through the underside of a shingle, applying pressure and wearing away at it, leaving holes for wind-driven rainwater to penetrate underneath and pool in those holes, leading to roof leaks that insurance adjusters frequently come across when reviewing claims for roof damage.
3. Set the Nail or Screw Deeper
Roof nail pops can do more than look unsightly; they also open your home up to damage from wind-driven rain. Because nail pops push shingles upward, creating pathways for rainwater to access the wood roof sheathing and enter your house.
Nail pops are caused by repeated pressure fluctuations that loosen nails over time, loosening them cyclically. This occurs because wood decking – typically plywood or OSB – swells during daytime heat and humidity before contracting when night comes around; repeated cycles of this swell/contract process work the nails loose and push them upward, eventually resulting in visible nail pops.
Nail length also plays an integral part; longer nails with ring shanks tend to pull loose more often than smooth-shank nails; this is why building codes stipulate that sheathing be nailed securely to joists.
4. Apply Spackle or Joint Compound
Roof nail pops can be more than an aesthetic problem; by forcing up the shingle and creating an entryway for water penetration and wind-driven debris to enter, they present an opportunity for water penetration into your home and an entryway for debris into it. Therefore, it is imperative that any nail pop be addressed as soon as you discover it.
Apply spackling or joint compound (commonly referred to as drywall mud) using a putty knife, scrape away any excess, and sand until smooth and even. This will make sure that any nail pop is hidden from view as well as prevent further damage to shingles and ceiling underneath it. Though nail pops may not always cause roof leaks directly, being aware of them as such can assist insurance adjusters in providing more accurate assessments as well as improving maintenance in future years.
5. Paint the Area
Nail pops may seem like a minor concern, but they could actually be indicative of larger roof issues. When nails aren’t held firmly enough in place, moisture can seep into the shingles and cause roof leaks.
It happens for several reasons; wood shrinks and expands with weather changes, eventually loosening nails over time. Also, nails could have been underdriven or used incorrectly during initial installation, possibly leading to their upward movement as the wood expands and contracts. Another contributing factor can be worn-down rings around nail shanks that become worn or rusty and permit upward movement when the wood expands or contracts.
To cover nail pops with paint, first clean the area using trisodium phosphate cleaning solution or household bleach/water mix. When dry, touch-up with high-quality latex paint using a feather touch-up technique; feather the brush as you feather out past affected area to blend the touch-up seamlessly into its surroundings.