Imagine you’ve had a roofing crew at your house for the last two days. As you pull up after work and jump out to inspect the job, you expect a finished roof ready to protect your home for years to come. Instead, you see random nails exposed all over the roof. Should it be that way?
The answer is no, definitely not. But the sad reality is that the number one reason homeowners see exposed nails on their roof is poor installation. Failure to inspect a roof after a repair or replacement is a mistake that can cost homeowners the protection against water damage they thought they were investing in. Although exposed nails may seem like a small detail, they can lead to big issues if ignored. In this guide, we’ll explain why exposed nails indicate the roof needs attention, why they can appear (both during installation and over time), and the serious risks they pose. More importantly, we’ll review the remedies to address them. Together, we’ll discover how to spot and fix exposed nails early to protect your home and extend the roof’s lifespan.
Why You Should Inspect Your Roof for Exposed Nails
Your home is not a home without a roof. Providing shelter from the elements and a comfortable living space, roofs are a critical component of our homes. After taking the initiative to have a roof replaced, many homeowners assume that the work is done once the contractor leaves the property. And for the most part, it should be, except for the post-installation inspection.
After a roofing contractor completes a home replacement, homeowners should always conduct an up-close inspection within the first few weeks of project completion. When inspecting, look for exposed nails on the roof’s exterior. This inspection should include the shingles and ridge caps. A proper roof installation includes nail zones, which are the areas where nails are driven into the shingles, and the above shingles overlap them, covering the nail heads. Catching exposed nails early allows homeowners to address the issue before larger problems arise and to contact their roofing company to resolve it.
After a roof replacement, homeowners should periodically check for exposed nails. Over time and due to general wear and tear, nail exposure can occur. Whether due to a missing shingle or “nail popping” caused by expansion and contraction, exposed nails require immediate attention. Let’s turn for a moment and learn how exposed nails happen, even on a new roof.
Common Reasons Roofing Nails Become Exposed
Exposed nails can occur at any point in a roof’s lifespan. However, the leading cause of exposed roofing nails is improper installation. Homeowners expect a professional roofing contractor to follow manufacturer guidelines, but shortcuts, errors, and poor workmanship happen. Starting with poor installation, we’ll look at the most common reasons roofing nails become exposed:
- Improper Installation: Many different things can go wrong during a roof installation, leading to nail exposure. Incorrect nail placement, overdriven or underdriven nails, and failure to cover these fasteners are leading causes of nail exposure.
- Vulnerable Areas: Some areas of the roof are more susceptible to nail exposure than others. The ridge and peaks of a roof are endpoints with no overlapping shingle layer to cover the nail zone. These areas require special attention and techniques that, if not applied, leave the nails exposed.
- Time and Weather Stress: Time takes its toll on everything, so it is no surprise when aging gutters begin to show signs of deterioration. In states like Michigan, where temperatures fluctuate widely, roofs expand and contract, causing nails to move. Eventually, the nails will loosen until the nailheads are exposed.
- Cost Savings: Homeowners who choose to work with an inexperienced, untrustworthy, or unlicensed roofing contractor to save money on a new roof are taking a risky gamble. Cheap roof work often comes at a high cost.
- Temporary or Faulty Repairs: Sometimes, nails are left exposed when quick fixes are used for roof repairs, whether by DIY methods or by a non-professional roofing company.
While understanding how nails become exposed is helpful, it’s even more important to recognize the risks.
The Risks of Exposed Roofing Nails
An intact roof helps maintain a home’s safety and security, and while an exposed nail might seem like nothing to worry about, it can lead to very serious issues. Bottom line, exposed nails are a point of water leakage, especially problematic in wet climates like ours in Traverse City. The following are several serious issues that can arise from exposed nails on the roof:
- Water Intrusion: Each nail hole is a potential entry point for water (which is why all nails must be covered). Even if nails are sealed during installation, they remain vulnerable to cracking, which can lead to leaks.
- Rust and Corrosion: Rust and corrosion are accelerated in the presence of water. Once rust forms, nails lose their grip, accelerating deterioration.
- Interior Water Damage: When exposed nails are left unaddressed, each time it rains or snows, water can seep into the house, leading to ceiling stains, mold growth, and wood rot. This can cause structural damage and pose health risks from mold in the home.
- Shingle Damage and Loss: Nails protruding from the roofing material and loose nails make the shingles vulnerable to wind uplift and to sliding off with melting, sliding snow.
- Voided Warranties: When materials fail prematurely, homeowners with a warranty expect the warranty to cover the unexpected expenses. However, improper installation can void warranties, so homeowners should conduct a post-installation inspection.
- A Shortened Lifespan: With repeated exposure to moisture from exposed nails, the lifespan of the underlayment, decking, insulation, and roof as a whole is reduced.
The above risks underscore the costly reality of visible nails on your roof, even new ones. Fortunately, there are several remedies homeowners can use to address the problem.
Solutions for Exposed Roofing Nails
Fortunately for our roofs, most exposed nails can be repaired, at least temporarily (without a full roof replacement), if addressed early. Below are several suggestions for solving exposed nail issues, depending on the circumstances of the situation (new roof or aging roof):
- Contact a Professional: If exposed nails are present immediately after a roof replacement, contact the original roofer first. Most reputable contractors will provide post-installation warranties and repair any issues that arise immediately after installation. If the original roofer is unreachable or you have lost confidence in their workmanship, work with a roof repair company in Traverse City to re-nail, replace, or seal nails.
- Temporary DIY Repairs: Using caution, homeowners can address exposed nails if they are easily accessible. Using a hammer, gently tap the nails down if they are protruding, clean the area with a cloth, and seal with an appropriate sealant. Common sealants include roof cement, silicone, and polyurethane sealants.
- Periodic Inspections: If you have had issues with exposed nails in the past, or if your roof is simply aging, periodic roof inspections help homeowners monitor the roof’s condition and identify exposed nails. Catching protruding nails early is critical for timely repair and to avoid water damage.
Don’t Delay, Address Exposed Nails Today
Roofing nails are a very small component of the roof, but they play a leading role in its function. When nails are exposed, they can quickly cause leaks, damage, and costly degradation of your home’s integrity. If you see exposed nails, take it as a warning sign of water problems to come. Taking the time to inspect your roof and apply the right remedies, either by yourself or by working with a roof repair company, you can keep your roof working the way it was intended.