Is there a nail that is neither galvanized or aluminum that is acceptable for nail-gun roofing? The roof I saw today was put on with common nails, sorry, no pics. Is anyone else seeing this in new construction and calling it out?
They had shot the nails right through some of the ridge cap, so one shingle had blown off already. New home, fiberglass shingles, looked great from the ground! 
Was it just the ridge cap? many time the long nails are missing from the the roof vent package so the roofers may have used long gun nails to finish the job. Either way I would call it out for repair.
The nails should not be exposed, so I don’t think it matters what they are made of. However, they should not be common nails, but roofing nails with the wider head in my opinioin. If the heads are exposed, no matter if they are galvanized or not, I recommend sealant.
We hope it was just the ridge cap nails, no other nails were visible. The builder arrived at the end of inspection, said he would get the roofer back to fix the problems. This was not a ridge vent installation which requires special long nails, just roofers cutting corners. :roll:
Are you sure they were not electro-galv nails. (bright shinny gold color) just asking? no pic ya know
It’s hard to fit normal nails into a roofing nailer but I ran across a roof with about 1/3 of it done with normal stick nails; owner said it was a replacement done by a really good price outfit with Texas license plates on their trucks; this is New Hampshire, about 1500 miles from Texas??? Anyhow; what size heads are showing: big ones like roofing nails or little ones like framing nails?
Any exposed roofing nails, whatsoever, need a dab of roofing tar applied over the exposed heads.
Harry, has anyone invited you to a chapter meeting. We have them at the Yard over in Londonderry. We have on coming up at the end of March, you should come.
Yes this is my question. These were big head nails, sorry not common nails as stated above, but they were neither gold nor grey zinc-coated.
John,
I know of no such animal. I believe you are dead on for calling this out.
John, maybe they were 2" aluminum nail that are commonly used in re-siding projects where the installers would need the longer nails to go through the new siding, foam backer board, the old siding and into the sheathing.
Peter,
I think you just, as the saying goes, hit the nail on the head. That ws the first thing I though when I read this.
That is possible, Peter, but these were a shiny silver, big head nail, what you would call a “bright”, which got me wondering. The heads have a thin sharp edge which cut thru the shingle when shot in on an angle. I plan to go shopping for roofing nails first chance I get, see what they got in the way of plated nails for nail guns. 
John, they really sound like aluminum siding nails to me. When you go to the lumber yard take a look at them.
Let us know what you find out.
Peter, they may have been coil nails similar to the plated nails in the bottom right of the pic. If so, they are indeed said to be “galvanized” by the suppliers, just not the hot-dipped variety we expect to see.
For some installations, hot-dipped or stainless is specified, so it would seem that the electro-plated nails are inferior, but still better than plain old bright nails. Time will tell if they’re a good choice for a roof. :mrgreen:
Any small magnet will tell you, a magnet does not stick to aluminum.
I use one to confirm valley material on the roof too./
…Cooke
Good tip, Roy. Good for IDing stainless as well.
