How to Put in Roofing Shingles – Should You Use a Hammer Or Nail Gun?

If you’re seeking for facts on how to install roofing shingles, you’ve arrive to the ideal place. But first, a small story…

22 years ago I produced a job alter, likely from a cushy desk job doing work in air-conditioned convenience to roofing in the sweltering heat of Southwest Florida in August.

My first task was installing a next layer of shingles on a compact home in Cape Coral, Florida. After the manager was content that I understood how to install roofing shingles effectively, he allow me do the occupation by myself.

I am certain he experienced no idea that it would take me as very long as it did. I experienced a few items going in opposition to me…

To start with off, I was out-of-condition and not used to working outside in the heat. 2nd, I was as well fussy, capturing for perfection in its place of excellence.

But my largest difficulty was installing thousands of roofing nails with a hammer since I failed to have a nail gun. Speedy hand nailing is an art and I was no artist!

So each working day the boss stopped by to see how I was undertaking. The high quality was high-quality, but my development was painfully slow. Having said that, I was on piecework, so it failed to definitely make a difference substantially to him how lengthy it took.

But as working day soon after working day went by, it became a huge joke. Not only did the manager end by, but other roofers and close friends of the boss stopped by. None of them could believe how lengthy it was getting me to set up roofing shingles and each individual of them just experienced to see it for on their own. I bear in mind them trying to conceal their smirks.

Ultimately, immediately after nine times the occupation was complete. As the boss paid out me the $200 I had coming, he questioned if I was sure I desired to install roofing for a living. When I informed him I did, he stated he much better get me a nail gun… since I was heading to starve at that price!

Considering that I experienced a wife, three youngsters and a major property finance loan, I could not have agreed far more.

The upcoming job went a lot quicker and easier, many thanks to the pneumatic roofing nailer. I observed I could set up roofing nails six instances quicker with the nail gun than with my hammer.

If you might be going to roof your individual property, you stand to save 1000’s of pounds… but it really is a tough job. You ought to be equipped to justify having the applications that will make the task go quicker and simpler. And no instruments will aid you put in roofing shingles speedier and less complicated than a nail gun and compressor.

There are numerous very good products accessible, but my preference is a Hitachi NV45AB2 for the nailer and a Porter Cable 150 PSI pancake compressor.

You could hire them, but the rates have occur down so a lot, you will in all probability be greater off purchasing. That will also let you to perform at your personal pace and you could offer the tools right after the work, recouping much of their expense.

Some old timers however favor hand nailing due to the fact they say a nail gun encourages putting the nails in the mistaken area. But I say you can place the nails in the ideal put or the improper position with both instrument.

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