How To Seal Roof Nails

The shingles are asphalt backed and this asphalt forms an adequate seal around the nail.

How to seal roof nails.

These grip rite roofing nails are for installing asphalt these grip rite roofing nails are for installing asphalt roofing shingles. Remember to seal over the nail heads. Make sure the roofing cement extends to each side of the nail head covering it completely. However they can cause leaks particularly if you have an asphalt shingle roof.

They can also be used to apply insulation board and felt to wood substrates. It will smooth out once it dries. Don t worry if the glob looks a bit thick. Apply a glob of roofing cement to the spatula or putty knife.

Repeat these steps for each of the exposed nail heads. Wipe the glob of roofing cement over the nail head. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures. I ve always considered it necessary to caulk any exposed nail heads on a shingle roof there shouldn t be many.

For loose nails that have yet to push through shingles you can lift up the shingle and hammer the rising nails back down. Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. Remove nail lift shingle and apply a small dab where nail penetrated shingle then push the overlapping shingle down and your done. Fill small nail holes with silicone caulk or roof cement.

Roofing nails sticking up called nail pops might look like an unimportant issue. I would suggest to remove the nail and put a urethane sealer which can be found at any home store to seal the hole from underneath. The nails might have popped. Alternatively or in addition you can drive a new nail nearby for a fresh stronger hold into decking.

I must admit i ve seen many builders that do not seal the nail heads. They are electro galvanized to help resist rust and corrosion. I heard an opposing opinion recently.