Whether you are installing a brand new roof or replacing only a few shingles, your major concern will be securing the roof. What are you going to use, staples or roofing nails? Around the U.S. roofing industry, this is a common question you are bound to hear. Which is better? Is there a "right" answer when choosing between nailing or stapling roofing shingles? Keep reading to get expert advice on both options.

Learn All About Roofing Staples

Many contractors swear by using staples. Why? Roofing staples cost less than nails, offer exceptional holding strength, and cover a greater area of space with a more versatile and compact collation. There's more. Roofing staplers are typically easier to handle than a coil nailer, as well as the fact that a stapler is less complex to repair. When you look at all of this, it's easy to see why using roofing staples is often the preferred method for fastening shingles.

Learn All About Roofing Nails

Within the last two decades, the roofing industry has shifted its preference toward the roofing nail. This is in spite of the fact that it can easily be argued that the staple has better holding power compared to the nail. The strongest argument in favor of using roofing nails doesn't actually involve the quality of either fastener option, but rather depends on the end user. The problem with attaching a shingle to a roof using staples is that if the staple is not positioned parallel to the shingle and aligned with the glue tab, the holding strength is greatly compromised. Staples are also more difficult to get exactly correct. Staples can easily be over-driven or under-driven, both of which can lead to holding issues. With roofing nails this issue doesn't exist, because the nail has a round head. All you need to do is make sure the nail gets driven straight into the shingle.

Other benefits to using coil roofing nails include the option for ring shank which maximizes holding power, adjustable depth of drive on most roofing nailers, and the simple fact that nearly all roofing nails maintain a universal design. This makes compatibility a non issue.

It's also worth noting that the decision may not actually be yours to make. In some areas of the U.S., like Florida, staples have even been banned from shingle to roof installation. This is due to the likelihood of improper installation and the fact that they can't stand up to a hurricane if installed incorrectly. They just don’t have the resistance to uplift in a storm comparable to nails. Depending on your region, other regulations may dictate the type of galvanization or coating. Some coastal regions even require stainless steel roofing nails. 

Order Roofing Nails and Staples From our Online Catalog

When estimating nail or staple usage for your roofing project, you should budget 400 nails or staples per square. Breaking it down further, you'll typically use four fasteners per 3-tab shingle. The only left left to do is actually order your needed products, whichever one you end up choosing.