nails: Storm chasers and defective roof installations - 07/16/12 08:21 PM
Have you ever noticed roofs with shingles popping up all over the place?  A common reason for this is the use of nails that are too short.  When there are popped nails all over the roof, it might be the sign of a defective roof installation; specifically, short nails.

The minimum fastener length for an asphalt shingle roof in Minnesota is 1-1/4".  This requirement comes from section R905.2.5 of the 2006 International Residential Code, which is part of the Minnesota State Building Code.  I underlined the part of this section that specifies the minimum fastener length.
R905.2.5 Fasteners. Fasteners for asphalt … (17 comments)

nails: Improper Shingle Nailing = Defective Roof Installation - 04/30/12 08:11 PM
One of the most common defects I find with asphalt shingles is improper nailing.  The manufacturers of asphalt shingles give specific instructions on how to fasten shingles, and they're all pretty much the same.  Unfortunately, following those instructions seems to be a difficult thing to do for a lot of roofers in Minnesota.  The two most common nailing defects that I find with shingles are overdriven nails and improperly located nails.
Overdriven Nails Most roofers use pneumatic nail guns to nail down shingles.  When the pressure is set too high, the nails get driven in to the shingles too far, plain … (34 comments)