Nail Gun Vs Hammer Roofing

Having spent a good part of my life framing houses i would argue that for framing nail guns are of little value.

Nail gun vs hammer roofing.

A framing hammer used to be the tool that every home builder kept at their side in time however a new tool for framing has become the standard. I use nail guns to hang shear roof sheathing things like that but when it comes to framing its all about the hammer. Click here to view my recommended gear page to see which roofing hammer and tools i believe are the best. Sure it will take a little longer that doesn t bother me.

However most manufactures claim that either method is a viable option. What matters most during roofing installations is the experience of the roofer. When hand nailing the head of a hammer is much larger and when it hits the nail it lands flat on the roof s surface. A roofing gun does not give you this sensory feedback.

Never use a nail gun on a roof and do not hire contractors that use a nail gun for everything it shows they want to be fast also nail guns are very dangerous to everyone near them cause leaks in shingles do not catch wood blow threw soft spots and most of the time they break down bend nails explode air hoses and make a hell of a lot of noise you can be sued by the person using the gun if he shoots himself or someone else no one shoots there self with a hammer with a hammer you can feel the. When you use a roofing hammer you can feel in your hand when the nail strikes the wood of the roof s decking. Improper nailing will void your warranty and cause problem later. An amateur roofer is more likely to place their nails incorrectly whether they re using a hammer or a nail gun.

This is critical for performance and for a manufacturers warranty. Hand nailing shingles is better than using a nail gun or a pneumatic nailer because it allows the roofers to feel the nail placement and ensure optimal installation. Sure they are faster but you still have to lug a hammer around to drive things into proper position anyway. The hammer head is larger than the driver in a nail gun so an overdriven nail is rare for the hand nailer because the hammer stops at the surface of the roof.

It s very uncommon to have nails that have been over driven when hand nailing simply because they don t have the pressure from the compressor like the air guns do. This allows you to be sure the nail is properly secured. Nail guns vs hammers like any tool pneumatic nail guns can be misused. A nail gun is exactly what it sounds like.