Seal Roofing Nail After Installing Shingle

Although the sealant when fully activated does a good job of sealing the shingles together it is possible to carefully separate the bond with a flat bar.

Seal roofing nail after installing shingle.

Use roofing cement and two nails to secure it to the roof deck. Too much makes the shingles susceptible to sagging cracking or blowing off in high winds. Also place the nails high so the next course of shingles will cover them. For most shingles with sealant on the top surface place nails below the sealant strip but above the area that will be visible after the roof is complete.

Once the kick flashing and first piece of step flashing are secure you have to apply a shingle. The end of a roof s shingles should only overhang off your roof between 0 5 and 0 75 inches if drip edge is installed. This is best done in cooler weather. Too little overhang directs water into the fascia boards.

Once the bond has been separated the nails can be removed and any shingle adjustments can be made. If you find any nail heads that are sticking up from the roof hammer them down and then coat the head with roofing. Some roofers install a layer of waterproof shingle underlayment wsu over the existing shingles at the eave end as would be done for a roof laid on bare sheathing. If your decking is less than 3 4 inch then a 1 1 2 inch nail will suffice.

For dimensional shingles being installed over a layer of existing dimensional shingles you should always use a 1 1 2 inch roofing nail. This provides added protection against ice dams. Place the nails on the base of the step flashing piece so you re nailing into the deck. However installing new flashings including special drip edge flashings made for reroofing will ensure a tight seal and a long life.

Wear gloves when working with sticky roofing cement. Apply a heavy bead of asphalt cement. Nail at the four corners to the end of the ridge and always add a little dab of tar to cover the nail heads. Dot the cement under and around the edge of the last ridge shingle where you removed the nail line.