Nail pops are a serious nuisance on any roof and should be addressed quickly to avoid further issues. Not only are they unsightly, but they can allow rainwater into your home through holes in the shingles.
Nail pops occur when nails used in shingle roof construction fail to grip securely onto the decking, either due to poor nailing techniques or using smooth shank nails instead of ring-shanked nails.
Identifying the Nail Pops
Roof shingles are attached with nails hammered into your roof’s sheathing. Professional roofing contractors usually opt for long ring shank nails with grip rings around their shank for easy handling and flat heads to minimize water penetration.
As part of their installation, these nails should be driven down flush with the sheathing. However, changes in weather and humidity may allow moisture to penetrate wood sheathing which then expands, pushing upward the nails that should have been driven flush against it. Over time rings on nail shanks may wear down or rust away leaving an unmarked smooth nail which also pushes upward.
Nails that pop create a path for wind-driven rain to penetrate roof sheathing and eventually enter your home, so any nail pop should never be ignored; rather it should be addressed promptly by professional roofers as a sign that there may be serious problems with your roof and addressed as soon as possible.
Identifying the Source of the Nail Pop
Nail pops can cause your shingles to revert up into place, creating an entryway for water penetration. They also leave them vulnerable to being caught and blown off by strong winds resulting in more extensive and costly roof repair costs.
Nail pops are more commonly found in older homes constructed with larger roofing nails as opposed to drywall screws, although new construction may also experience sheathing movement and settlement issues that cause nail pops. They appear as small bumps on walls with circular center points; many mistake them for cracked paint!
As soon as a nail pop occurs, it should be addressed immediately for easier repairs. By being proactive about these issues early, homeowners can avoid expensive repairs while meeting code compliance. Depending on its complexity, hiring professional repairs services may be required in order to complete them safely and efficiently.
Removing the Nail Pop
Roof nail pops can be more than an aesthetic problem; when one ‘backs out and pushes upward against a shingle, it breaks the sealant bond between them and allows wind-driven rainwater into your home as leaks.
As an easy fix for nail pops, simply pulling and repositioning it should do the trick; however, understanding and treating its cause could prevent future incidents and keep nails from coming loose again.
Nail pops are an extremely common issue that affects both new and older homes alike, though repairs are generally straightforward. Although handling them yourself might seem straightforward, it’s wise to contact a professional roofing contractor immediately in order to prevent further damage and costly repairs later. Working together, an inspection and repair of your roof by one is the key way of maintaining its durability and retaining its value in your home.
Repairing the Nail Pop
Nail pops may seem minor, but they could be telling signs of roof damage and potential leakage. Responding quickly can save money while also protecting interior walls against further interior damage.
Every day your roof undergoes a heating and cooling cycle with changing humidity levels causing wood sheathing to expand and contract, potentially causing nails that were initially driven flush into it to back out through shingles and protrude further out than intended.
While it may be tempting to force the nail back in, it is always wiser to contact a qualified roofer. Unskilled attempts at roof nail pop repair could result in further damage and invalidate your warranty, while only experienced roofers have the expertise required to safely remove, replace, and seal damaged nails in an effective manner, so as to prevent water penetration underneath shingles leading to future leaks. It should also be noted that nail pops may be prevented through regular inspections by professional roofing contractors as part of regular maintenance schedules – which would also include regular roof inspections by qualified roofing contractor!