Roofing staple guns were light and easy to use over the newer and heavier roofing nail guns that were coming onto the market.
Roofing felt nails vs staples.
For one staples cost less than nails adding to their profit per roof.
For example according to the table 7 16 osb oriented strand board wall sheathing may be fastened with 6d common box or casing nails or 1 3 4 16 gage staples at 6 on center at the panel edges and 12 on center in the field special conditions apply for shear walls.
Staples are not recommended by hodges roofing and most industry organizations.
Back in the day all i used was staples and or roofing nails now plastic tops are the norm.
The roofing nail sketch of common roof shingle nailing errors shown here is a detail from fema s asphalt shingle roofing for high wind regions 2.
The reason they want you to use felt nails is to prevent blow offs if left exposed or high wind areas.
Typical wood frame home with osb wall and roof sheathing.
Staples also offered excellent holding strength and could be installed over a larger roof area quickly.
Staples cost less than nails offer exceptional holding strength and cover a greater area of space with a more versatile and compact collation.
Caps hold the felt better and hence on a steeper slope the felt will hold better to the house while he is roofing it.
In the past roofers preferred staple guns for attaching shingles to roof sheeting.
Cap nails are typically made of steel and feature a plastic cap to prevent roof leaks hence their name.
When the shingles are installed the felt is not going anywhere.
Others will tell you that cap nails are more effective.
This sketch points out that mis driven nails can also lead to shingle wind damage live link given below.
After all it s no surprise roofers loved staples for attaching shingles to roofing.
On an 8 12 or flatter staples are fine.
Similarly 19 32 osb roof sheathing would be 8d.
Both options often depend on the slope of the roof itself.
In the past when it came to the debate of roofing nails versus staples the industry was split down the middle.
The purpose of the caps is not for it to perform better.
Staples for shingle applications are staples recommended as fasteners for asphalt shingles.
After the house is roofed it does not matter what he used.
Many roofers will tell you that staples are fine for installing the synthetic underlayment.