Nail pops are dangerous because they can lead to leaks, expose the roof system to damage, and create entry points for water entering through damaged shingles. They must be treated quickly before they cause further harm or leaks appear in your roof system.
Fixing nail pops early is relatively straightforward when detected early. By addressing the source of the issue, Up Top Exteriors offers you lasting solutions for nail pops.
1. Remove the Damaged Shingles
Nail pops can pose significant problems to a roof system when left unaddressed, including wind driven rain getting under raised shingles and seeping through holes, as well as wear down weakening your deck, weakening it further and potentially leading to interior damage or roof leaks. If left unrepaired or sealed in time, nail pops could cause further harm by weakening or wearing down roof shingles over time, leading to further leaks and interior damages from interior flooding or water intrusion through holes.
To avoid these complications, it’s essential to promptly address nail pops by removing damaged shingles, replacing with new nails and resealing. In order to do so, it will require climbing onto your roof (with appropriate ladder access and shoes with good traction) and prying away at shingles surrounding the nail pop.
Apply a flat pry bar underneath the damaged area and slowly and firmly loosening nails and adhesive, working towards loosening all shingles in an orbit around it until close to where there’s damage has occurred. Loosen them gradually as you near the damaged shingle in a circular fashion until finally coming closer to removing it entirely.
2. Remove the Loose Nails
Roof nail pops may be caused by poor ventilation, leading to swelling sheathing that loosens nails holding it down, as well as improper roof installation or repairs. They could be an early indicator of leakage – water staining on ceiling may indicate further problems with roofing materials or installation work.
Roofers use long, ring shank nails to secure each shingle and help hold the roof together. In order to secure them properly, these nails must fully penetrate the sheathing; otherwise they could come loose. Unfortunately, damaged or warped sheathing or repairs made may no longer provide sufficient surface for nailing purposes, thus not fulfilling building codes requirements for solid nailable surfaces.
Step one of roof nail pop removal involves identifying them either visually inspecting affected areas or tapping with a hammer. Once identified, these nails can be pulled out using either a claw hammer, flat bar, or 2×4 block of wood as leverage.
3. Reattach the Shingles
Nail pops are not only unsightly, they also increase the risk of water leakage and moisture infiltration. This is due to nails protruding from your roof no longer anchoring securely to its sheathing or roofing material – leaving raised shingles vulnerable against strong winds that could strip off entire layers and blow it off entirely, potentially costing more in repairs later.
DIY solutions may be suitable for less severe nail pop issues; however, professional roofing contractor such as Up Top Exteriors would likely be better placed to identify and provide lasting solutions.
Start by prying up the shingle above the nail pop with a screwdriver, and removing its popper nail. Next, hammer in new nails that are 2-3 inches longer than its predecessors; apply some joint compound or spackling and let dry until ready for sanding.
4. Apply a Waterproof Sealant
Roof nail pops are more than an inconvenience; they can lead to serious water damage in your home and structural damage as a result. Furthermore, if not addressed quickly they may require extensive repairs or even complete replacement of your roof.
Nail pops are caused by temperature fluctuations causing expansion and contraction in roofing materials, as well as improper nail driving or sheathing thickness being insufficient. Furthermore, nails may become dislodged if improperly driven into place or with insufficient sheathing thickness.
Steel nails can corrode easily when exposed to moisture, increasing their susceptibility to backing out and potentially becoming unfastenable.
For complex or frequent nail pops, professional roofers such as On the Roof Contracting are best. Their experts possess both industry knowledge and the experience to address underlying issues, ensure proper fastening, comply with building codes for repairs, identify potential leak sources and conduct a comprehensive inspection of all roofing systems.