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Life span of nail-gunned galvanized nails (50 yrs?)
Q. My GC is installing the roof on my new home in the next few weeks. The material is Royal Building Product's "DuraSlate", with a 50 year warranty. (This is a rubber roofing product, that looks exactly like slate from more than a few feet away.)
I am having the GC use all copper flashing, but he wants to use galvanized nails. He apparently can't get copper nails that can be nail-gunned, and does not want to have to hand nail each shingle. I want the fasteners to last the life of the roofing material.
1. Will galvanized nails hold up for the 50 years the roofing product is warranted for ?
2. Are there particular ones to use, or conversely, avoid using ?
The alternative is to make him hand nail with all copper nails. I really don't want to ever have to think about this roof again for the rest of my life. I plan to live in this home for the rest of my days. (I'm 44 now ...) Am I being too picky on the fasteners ?
Timothy Conwayhome owner - Highland Park, New Jersey
2004
A. It's your home, you can make him do it your way, just offer to find another GC that will do what you want, he will probably change his tune. Now, the effects of aging on zinc plated nails is an iffy thing, it depends on how well the surface held up while being hammered into your roof. If the finish is damaged it will probably hold up for about 10 to 15 years. Good brass or bronze nails will hold up for hundreds of years. Your GC said that he can't get Bronze nails for his nail gun, well I found some after about thirty seconds of looking on the internet. I'm thinking he's being lazy, I am generally biased against GC's due to some bad history. He might be a great guy, and if so I apologize for my bitterness in regards to my attitude. Anywho, just in case here's some links to bronze nails for a nailgun.
www.stainless-nails-brads-staples.com/Product_list_nails.htm
www.stainless-nails-brads-staples.com/Products_List.htm
Now keep in mind, bronze nails cost more. Decide if you are willing to foot the cost for the more expensive and reliable fasteners (the two sites I listed are for marine use nails, very high salt resistance). Well good luck.
Marc Banks- Elizabeth City, North Carolina
2004
Q. I understand that Duraslate can't be walked on and that installers work in buddy systems and are wearing harnesses while installing Duraslate. On a roof containing approximately 80 squares of coverage and with roof pitches either 8/12 or 12/12, what do you think the magnitude of difference would be between installing architectural shingles such as GAF 30yr Timberline and Duraslate synthetic slate shingles?
Dean Wickline- Annapolis, Maryland, USA
2005
A. Don't allow gun driven nails unless you are wiling to suffer overdriving of the nail and occasional shattering. Stainless steel nails are also available (higher in cost than zinc chromate plated or galv) and can be "gunned" and so corrosion resistance is not the only factor. The nails also can warp the shingle. Rubber slate needs care and the right touch; when installed otherwise, it can curl and lift. The nail gun application encourages carelessness by its nature but a careful installer will not make such mistakes.
Francis M. De Simone- Framingfham, Massachusetts
2007
A. Here's the opinion of a real slater who has installed plastic slate as well, yes gun wired nails are available in almost any kind of metal. hand nailing is absolutely essential with natural slate and I hand nailed the plastic roof I did as well. most of the time I can give someone a natural slate roof for almost the same price as a plastic one and natural slate has been proven to last 100+ years (properly installed) and they are non-toxic unlike ALL of the plastics on the market. roofing contractors make a much higher profit selling synthetics and don't have to use skilled workers. most of these plastics began to flood the market in the late 90's and in the last few years we've started to see a tidal wave of failures. folks are looking to these "50 yr warranties" only to find nothing but fine print. I recommend anyone considering even a slate looking roof should look much further than their local roofing contractor for truth. with slate, a simple internet search will unveil a wealth of information on the subject.
Branden Wilson- Delray Beach, Florida, USA
October 20, 2008
Q. Hi, I work for a developer On Maui Island in Hawaii. I am in charge of all home owner warranty claims. I have a home owner who has complained that all the nails on the framing of his 2nd floor deck rails have rusted. The contractor who built the deck @ 8 years ago has since gone out of business, so I cannot ask him about the framing nails he used. Our company specs call out for hot-dipped galvanized nails for all ext framing. I brought our current framing contractor to the older jobsite to try remove a nail and check if the proper kind were used. He was unable to remove a single nail from any part of the deck post framing without it crumbling into a pile of rust in his hand. The pieces that came out were corroded and disintegrated to the size of a push pin/thumbtack. We do have high exposure to salt air here - I'm wondering what the average life span of a hot dipped galvanized nail should be for this application. This H/O has performed excellent regular maintenance such as caulking and painting, yet his framing nails have rusted through. I am wondering if this is something that we as the developer should remedy. Our homes have a 10 year warranty against "structural" defects, and these nails affect the structural integrity of the deck rails. I am concerned about safety and liability for injury, should the deck rails fall. I would appreciate any insight and or a lead/website link to speak to a manufacturer of hot-dipped galvanized nails. I have been unable to find information on how to reach/communicate with a few manufacturers - "Senco"? "Stanley Bostich" ? Thank you for your help!
Michelle RichardsWarranty Rep - Hawaii Div. - Kahului, Hawaii, USA
November 15, 2010
A. Hi, Michelle.
I don't know how to reach those people except by starting with customer service and seeing what you can achieve.
Meanwhile, I can say that hot dip galvanized nails are much better than electrogalvanized (zinc plated) nails, and I would think that 10 years is doable, But the newer pressure treated woods are murder on nails because of their copper content, which causes galvanic corrosion, and I don't see any reason to expect that galvanic force to lessen or give up -- so a life of much over 10 years doesn't sound plausible to me. A final but expensive option is stainless steel screws or nails; since stainless is as noble as the copper in the pressure treated wood, I don't see why stainless would not last almost forever.
I think you will find the entry from roofer Kent C. from Leland, NC on Letter 15142 helpful. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 15, 2010
Q. Last May we had a new steel Futureroof slate-look roof installed. I thought that I researched everything, even to the point of having several companies send sample shingles. Futureroof recommends galvanized roofing nails as fasteners unless installation is in high wind or salt water areas. Both the installer and the factory say this. I believe that the nails used are electro-galvanized with barbs on the top portion of the nails. The nails are concealed. Should I be concerned if the nails are not hot-dipped? The roof pitch is 6-12 and ventilation is a very good soffit and ridge system. In all respects they appeared to do an excellent job. I am hoping that these nails don't cause problems later.
The specs from the company say that " All fasteners are to be supplied by Futureroof, but emails to the company indicate that the installer can provide their own fasteners.
Thanks, RgN
- Youngwood, Pennsylvania, USA
February 2, 2013
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