What Types of Nail Guns are Best for Roof Work?

Fancy yourself a DIY-er? A roof nail gun is your new best friend. These tools are designed to make light work of any roofing project. 

Not sure which is the right nail gun for your next roofing job or how it can help you? Read on to find out.

What Is a Nail Gun?

Roofing materials – be it metal sheets or asphalt tiles – require fixing down to your roof structure. There are some styles (like clip-lock roofing) that have their own in-built fixtures, but mostly, you’ll need good old-fashioned screws and nails. 

Nail guns take the hard work out of hammering nails into hardwoods and metals, allowing you to drive nails faster which can save you time and a lot of effort. Nail guns can also prevent you from taking risks with a hammer and hurting yourself.

How Do Roof Nail Guns Work?

Nail guns work like regular guns – they fire a nail into your roofing material. They can use either electricity or pneumatic force.

What Do You Use a Roof Nail Gun For?

You can use your nail gun to speed up your work if you fancy yourself a DIY-er. Hammers are never as fast or accurate – and they can regularly cause injuries.

Nail guns are a more heavy-duty option, used for roofing, framing, hardwood flooring and even putting furniture together, offering much holding power .

What Are the Different Types of Nail Guns for Roofs?

Choosing the right nail gun isn’t black and white. There are plenty of different roof nail gun options.

Framing Nail Gun

A heavy-duty option, framing nail guns are good for tough woodwork. They can usually use nails up to 9cm.

Finishing Nailers

Generally used for finishing carpentry work or jobs where you have a visible nail. Finishing nail guns can usually use 1.5-6.4cm nails.

Brad Nailers

The brad nail gun is popular among DIY-ers and the best choice when precision is needed, for instance, furniture making or finishing tasks. They use brad nails, which are 6-6.3cm long and thinner. These are often headless or have narrow heads to embed themselves in the material. 

Pin Nailer

Pin nailers are the most delicate choice. Used for precision work, pin nailers require long pin nails. They don’t have much strength and are used for installing trims rather than holding the material together. You’re unlikely to need pin nail guns for your roof, which will require a more robust type.

Other Types of Nail Guns

Here are a few other nail guns you might come across:

• Roofing nailers are heavy-duty guns for professional roofers

• Flooring nailers are specifically designed for laying floorboards

• Staple guns fire staples rather than nails, and are typically used for upholstery and fitting carpet

How to Choose a Roof Nail Gun?

Picking the right nail gun type depends on what you’re going to do with it. You’ll want a heavy-duty one if you’re looking for a gun for roofing only. But you might want to consider other options if you’re going to use your nail gun for a range of projects.

Corded or Cordless?

Electric corded nail guns must be plugged into a power source; corded air nail guns plug into an air compressor with an air hose. Cordless nail guns use a battery or gas canister.

What’s the difference between corded and cordless nail guns? The former tend to be smaller and lighter – but can be tricky to plug in when you’re up on your roof. Corded nail guns are suitable for small jobs with an easy-to-reach power source. Cordless nail guns are heavier and might not have a long battery life, but a reliable cordless tool might be more handy to take with you onto your roof.

Air, Electric, or Gas?

Air nail guns are connected to an air compressor with a hose. The force of the air pushes the nail out of the gun when you pull the trigger. These are often safer than electric guns in damp conditions.

Electric nail guns use a battery or plug-in power source. The motor releases a spring which hammers the nail when triggered.

Gas nail guns use a rechargeable battery and gas canister to run. An electric spark ignites the gas, which creates pressure to push the nail. Gas guns are flexible and can be used anywhere. They’re also particularly good for heavy-duty work as they can drive large nails into hard surfaces.

Angled or Straight Magazine?

Like a regular gun, all nail guns have a magazine. This is the bit where the nails are loaded. The magazine can be angled or straight (don’t worry; this won’t change the direction your nails fire in). The angles can vary from gun to gun, but the higher the angle, the more you’re able to squeeze the gun into tight spaces for maximum mobility, and the more nails the gun can take.

Features of a Roof Nail Gun

Each nail gun will have its own spec, but here are a few features to look out for:

• Nail adjustment means the gun can take different nail sizes

• Depth adjustment allows you to adjust how deep the nail goes into the material

• A jam feature helps you clear jammed nails

• A connector can help you swivel hoses connected to air canisters

• The larger the trigger, the more comfortable it is to hold for long periods

What Type of Nails Should Be Used for Roofing?

There are different roofing nails for different jobs.

• Aluminium nails are rust-resistant and lightweight

• Copper nails are durable and resistant to chemicals and rust

• Stainless steel nails are versatile and long-lasting

• Galvanised steel nails are durable and able to cope well with changing temperatures

• Screw shank nails are designed to twist into the material

• Ring shank nails have circular threads to improve purchase

• Smooth shank nails have no thread but use friction to maintain their holding power

• Clout nails are thick and short with a large, flat head to stay secure in timber

Final Thoughts on Roofing Nail Guns

Roof nail guns can speed up small fixes and large roofing projects, whether it's an installation or repair. They can take the hard work out of hammering while minimising risks to yourself and improving accuracy. There are both electric and pneumatic tools, but the right roof nail gun depends on the job at hand.

FAQs

Is Hand Nailing a Roof Better Than a Nail Gun?

It’s up to you whether you prefer to hammer manually or use a nail gun. The former can mean greater control and prevent hammering the nail in too far or splitting wood. However, nail guns are more efficient and safer to use – especially for bigger jobs.

Do All Nail Guns Use the Same Nails?

Different nail guns take differently-sized nails with specific gauges and lengths. The higher the gauge, the thinner the nail. Likewise, each gun can only use one type of nail (e.g. framing guns can’t use brad nails).