It is known that nails and staples have been in use for many years. However, in regards to staples, there is no absolute certainty about their efficacy. To elucidate on this, staples can be able to stand against a small upload provided they are properly sealed. It is prudent to mention that staples are not highly recommended in areas that usually experience intense winds hence there is usually no guarantee that such a roof will be highly resistant to some wind blow-off.
Are Staples Strong Enough?
When staples are installed accordingly, they can be able to stand against fast winds rising to as high as 60 miles per hour. However, sometimes the staples might tend to be quite feeble against ferocious winds hence necessitating a further upgrade. This entails fastening them with the use of nails to render them more secure. The adhesive bond may not be ample and this implies that it might be wise to hand seal the shingles again to ensure that the staples are perfect and indestructible.
Are Staples Approved in Building Codes?
Staples have been in use for a while as mentioned above. However, even if they are still allowed and acknowledged as an appropriate fastener on housing, they have faced a huge problem over the years. This is because they are still not approved in many residential building codes as an acceptable shingle fastener. Many reviews done over the years by reputable entities have depicted that many manufacturers and building codes do not approve the use of staples on roof shingles. They do not recommend them for roofing on residential housing and they exclusively state that roofing nails are more fitting especially in areas with very adverse weather conditions. It is vital to mention that staples have been prohibited in several places such as Minnesota for quite some time.
Why Do Some Roofers Still Prefer Staples?
They might be deemed an inferior and prohibited mode of attachment but there are a few reasons as to why roofers prefer using staples on roof shingles. The guns used are very small hence stable and perfectly balanced compared to the bulkier nail guns. They have an impeccable holding strength. Staples are versatile and cover a vast area of space. They do not have the technical issues that are normally present in a nail gun, which encounters a lot of jamming. More so, staples are relatively cheap than nails and they are famed for their compactness. This implies that a roofer can reload their gun more quickly when using staples than when using nails, which require some delicate approach as they consume more space.
What Are the Disadvantages of Using Staples?
They might be ideal for roofers to use but staples do not translate to a better installation. They are often installed improperly and for this reason, they can become wobbly and detach easily. This is because many roofers have a knack for installing and driving them at very unsuitable angles. It is therefore common to find the shingles blowing off constantly and this means that you might need to replace your roof covering. Some experts cite that they might not be replaced always but this only means that you will likely face some regular and niggling roof problems.
In the past, staples were preferred for the abovementioned reasons but the cons are also very clear to see as illustrated in the article. However, in the modern contemporary world, roofing nails have become overly dominant and there has been a transition and increased inclination towards nails than staples. This can be attributed to the nails design and universal compatibility. Even though nails are costly, they are very effective and can rarely void a warranty compared to staples. Many areas have therefore banned staples from being used in roof installation. It is therefore preferable to use nails than staples, which will cause you have some never-ending incessant repairs. If you are still undecided, you might want to reach out to a roofing expert for help on the same.