Other Ways to Secure Roofing Shingles Without Nails

Staples

• Staples installed with a pneumatically powered tool is an option in some situations. Use 16-gauge staples. These staples are 15/16-inch across and penetrate 1 1/4 inch into the roof deck surface. Use the same placement for staples as with roofing nails. This commonly calls for four nails or staples per shingle. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions during the installation of the shingles, however, and use the fasteners recommended for the shingles.

Roofing Tar

• Use roofing tar to hold small sections of shingles in place. The roofing tar might be used for the shingles around the chimney or a roof vent. This holds the shingle in place without penetrating the flashing, providing a watertight seal. Roofing tar is also applied to seal the edges of the shingles around vents and chimneys.

Problems with Staples

• Engineers do not recommend staples for shingles exposed to high wind situations such as hurricanes. High wind roofs require special fasteners connecting the roof decking to the rafters as well. Place waterproof membranes over the seams of the roof decking plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) to provide water protection if the shingles are blown off the roof.

Roofing Paper Staples

• Apply roofing paper, sometimes called tar paper, over the roof deck before the installation of the shingles. Fasten roofing paper in place with 1/2-inch staples. The fasteners used for the shingles penetrate the tar paper and help hold the roofing paper in place. The staples used for the roofing paper are largely responsible for holding the material in place until the shingles are placed.