Framing Nails used as Roofing Nails?

[Bill Smith]

The length of the shanks of these nails protruding through the sheathing in the attic is much longer than the shank of any roofing nails I've ever seen. The roof itself was inaccessible due to snow and ice, so I couldn't get up there to check if they were roofing or framing nails. The shanks look like framing nails. Has anyone ever heard of roofing nails this length?

[Larry D. Kage]

It looks like they may have used some 2 1/2" roofing nails for the ridge cap like are used with shingle over ridge vent...

[Curtis M. Vilt]

I have seen roofing nails 3" long. The gauge of those look like roofing nails. When I lived up north I saw them looking like snowballs from poor ventilation and way too high humidity in the home. In one of you pics it looks like they are concentrated at the hip. It is normal for a roofer to use longer nails at the hip but that is longer than needed. I believe proper penetration is 1/4" through the deck. I hope you didn't get stuck in the head.

[Bill Smith]

Good responses - thanks guys. I was extra careful up there - I don't have much in the way of "follic" protection - LOL

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

I do not know if they are roofing nails. I can not see the ring tailed( racoon ) upper part and they are longer than 2.5 inch to me..
even for framing, the nails are not spiraled.
I rarely use common nails anymore. Every Article or component in framing system has a specific nail or fastener to use.
It is a shame the roof was completed that way..It is a safety issue.
Look roofing is the second easiest trade to accomplish. IE: meaning that I became a journeyman roofer after 2000 hours.
It attracts hard men in need or wanting of good money with the smallest of educational skills.
The easiest is demolition.

Nail Specifications (Units in inches) Box Length Diam. Common Length Diam. Cooler Length Diam. Gypboard Length Diam. 2d 1 0.067 2d 2d 1 0.062 2d 3d 1.25 0.076 3d 3d 1.125 0.067 3.25d 1.1875 0.080 4d 1.5 0.080 4d 4d 1.375 0.080 4d 1.375 0.080 5d 1.75 0.080 5d 5d 1.625 0.086 5d 1.625 0.086 6d 2 0.099 6d 2 0.113 6d 1.875 0.092 6d 1.875 0.0915 7d 2.25 0.099 7d 7d 2.125 0.099 7d 2.125 0.099 8d 2.5 0.113 8d 2.5 0.131 8d 2.375 0.113 8d 2.375 0.113 9d 2.75 0.113 9d 9d 2.625 0.113 9d 10d 3 0.128 10d 3 0.148 10d 2.875 0.120 10d 12d 3.25 0.128 12d 3.25 0.148 12d 12d 16d 3.5 0.135 16d 3.5 0.162 16d 16d 20d 4 0.148 20d 4 0.192 20d 20d

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Framing nails are not galvanized, roofing nails are, so that's one way to tell. Nails used for roofing should be corrosion-resistant. Framing nails are usually vinyl-coated sinkers. They may also be bright (no coating). If non-galvanized nails are used, the roof may fail prematurely and the manufacturer's warranty is probably void.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Nice touch Ken.
I will remember.

[Randy L. Mayo, PE]

Bill

If they are framing nails the smaller head size will result in less hold down capacity than the normal large headed roofing nails.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

...and unless a flush-nailing device was used, framing nails are more likely to have blasted most of the way through the shingles, reducing wind resistance even further.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Even there spacings or pattern ( nail ) are not orientated properly.
IE: meaning to where a properly nailed shingle nail would represent if it had been ( the over sized nail ) used instead of properly sized roofing nail. 1 1/4 to 1 1/2.
Make sense. Any comments?

[Roland Littlefield]

It could also be that someone was trying to renail the deck and was a terrible shot and did not go into the attic to see all the shiners (too lazy??). There is no holding strength where the 2-3 nails are in between the deck boards anyway.
The distance seems too far from the hip to be cap nailing.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

I miss the point about the deck.
My conclusion is the it might be a galvanized apron or some other furious or non forums metal because of excessive ice or snow buildup.
http://www.design-technology.org/CDT...properties.htm
It is the work of the do-it-your-self person and has all the tell tale distinctive marking of someone that knows little about framing.
From wrong nails for the job to missing there intended mark.