Nail Gun Vs Hammer Roofing

A roofing gun does not give you this sensory feedback.

Nail gun vs hammer roofing.

Using a compressor highly pressurized air shoots nails out of the nail gun at high speeds. This is critical for performance and for a manufacturers warranty. 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. 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.

When you use a roofing hammer you can feel in your hand when the nail strikes the wood of the roof s decking. Sure they are faster but you still have to lug a hammer around to drive things into proper position anyway. I use nail guns to hang shear roof sheathing things like that but when it comes to framing its all about the hammer. 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.

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. Improper nailing will void your warranty and cause problem later. A nail gun is exactly what it sounds like. Click here to view my recommended gear page to see which roofing hammer and tools i believe are the best.

I feel like i m the last carpenter to believe the hammer makes a tighter cleaner frame than a gun. An amateur roofer is more likely to place their nails incorrectly whether they re using a hammer or a nail gun. 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 it will take a little longer that doesn t bother me.

What matters most during roofing installations is the experience of the roofer. This allows you to be sure the nail is properly secured. Having spent a good part of my life framing houses i would argue that for framing nail guns are of little value. On the other hand a roofer that s succeeded in producing years of quality results that last that s the type of professional you want on the job.