Spotted some nail heads popping out your roof? It’s best to get them sorted out quickly to avoid any bigger issues down the road.
This handy guide has all the easy-to-follow steps you need to tackle raised nails. We’ve also thrown in some helpful tips for preventing the problem in the future, too!
6 Simple Steps to Fix Exposed Roof Nails
Here are the essential steps to fixing exposed roof nails:
1. Carefully Inspect Your Whole Roof
Spotted one exposed nail on your roof? Odds are there’s probably a bunch more poking out. Carefully walk the entire roof, ensuring you wear boots with good traction to prevent slipping. Keep your eyes peeled for broken shingles, cracked areas around nails, upraised shingles, rising nails, nail pops, and loose nails – especially around the ridge cap.
2. Lookout for Tell-Tale Signs
While inspecting your roof, pay close attention to areas where you notice nails popping out or exposed nail heads. Corroded caulk and roof leaks are key clues that you’ve got a loose nail somewhere. Check out your vent stacks, slashing, and seams for shingle nail pops too – these are common areas for improper nailing.
3. Remove or Tap Down Exposed Nail Heads
Once you’ve spotted all the exposed nail heads on your roof decking, grab a hammer and gently tap them back into place. If any nails look rusty or damaged, don’t try hammering them back into your roof because they might break or pull through the shingle and create even bigger nail holes.
Instead, take them out and seal the holes up. Simply applying a cement sealant over nail holes is not a long-term fix because sun exposure and weather will just wear it out over time. The best thing for open nail holes is filling them with roofing cement and then putting a silicone caulk over it for extra durability.
4. Replace Broken or Damaged Nails and Seal Nail Heads
If you’ve had to remove a few nails from one area, you’ve got to replace them to ensure shingles stay put and future leaks don’t happen. Once you’ve added brand new nails to your roof, the work’s not over — you must remember to seal or cement them. If you forget this step, you’ll be faced with a repeat problem of loose nails and roof leaks.
Roofing cement is one of the best cement sealant options for exposed nail heads. If your nail heads are firmly in place, but just poking through, you needn’t replace them or knock them down more; a cement sealant should do the trick to keep them in place and prevent moisture from seeping through your roof.
For areas with high-moisture, a silicone caulk is a great sealant. These give added waterproofing to prevent pesky leaks.
When sealing nail heads on your roof decking, make sure the finish is completely smooth by firmly pressing down with a putty knife or gloved finger. Keep even pressure so that everything is uniform and spread out.
5. Replace Broken or Damaged Shingles
If you’ve had to remove a few nails from one area, you’ve got to replace them to ensure shingles stay put and future leaks don’t happen. Once you’ve added brand new nails to your roof, the work’s not over — you must remember to seal or cement them. If you forget this step, you’ll be faced with a repeat problem of loose nails and roof leaks.
6. Address Underlying Causes
There are a bunch of culprits that cause nail heads to rear up. The type of shingles you’re using, old residential roofs with aging asphalt shingles, and improper installation could be the problem. By understanding the root cause of the problem, you can proactively prevent nail pops, reduce roof leaks, and avoid repeat issues with every repair.
Tips for Preventing Exposed Nail Heads
To stop nails peeping through your roof, try these expert tips:
- Choose Longer Nails: Longer nails will penetrate deeper into your roof decking, creating a firmer anchor.
- Nail Properly: Try not to hit nails too hard or too soft – it’s all about balance.
- Invest in Top-Notch Quality Shingles: While they might cost a bit more, quality shingles will definitely save you the hassle and expense of restorations and replacements.
- Seal Every Nail: Never forget to seal every single nail head to protect them from wear and tear.
- Perform Routine Roof Inspections: Get up on your roof every so often to check that everything is in place, especially after storms.
- Swap Out Damaged Shingles: Don’t leave damaged shingles because they’ll only worsen and cause more issues.
When to Call a Professional
If nail pops, roof leaks, or lots of damage to your roof structure are constant issues on your hands, it’s time to call on a trusted expert for a roof repair. Getting up on your roof is already a tricky and risky task, especially if you’ve got any mobility limitations. So, it’s always best to get a trained professional with the right skills and access tools, like ladder roof hooks, to come over and inspect your roof.
An expert pair of eyes will be able to spot what you might otherwise miss, like hidden water damage, poorly installed shingles, or structural flaws. If you overlook these issues, you’ll run into some serious long-term effects, like mould and rotted roof decking, giving you no choice but to replace your whole roof.
Calling a professional early on will save you thousands in the future and ensure your roof lasts much longer.
FAQs
What’s the Best Sealant for Exposed Roofing Nails?
Roofing cement and silicone caulk is a solid sealant combo that will seal nail heads in place and provide long-lasting waterproofing.
Do Nail Pops Mean You Need a New Roof?
A nail pushing through your roof doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got to replace your whole roof. But if you spot broken/damaged shingles and leaks in addition to widespread nail pops, you should call an expert to assess the problem.