What Does a Roofing Nail Look Like

All roofing nails have wide, flat heads and short shanks. The tips of the nails are sharp and pointed for easy insertion so you don’t break the shingles or damage the wood when driving the nails through. Different roofing materials require different types of roofing nails.

What type of nails are used for roofing?

• Smooth Shank. The shank of the nail is the part of the nail that punctures through the material you are nailing. …
• Ring Shank. A ring shank nail is also called an annular roofing nail or corrugated roofing nail. …
• Square Cap. …
• Steel. …
• Copper. …
• Aluminum.

Should you be able to see roofing nails?

Yes, and there are two types of nails that are normal to see in an attic: 1) The ring-shank nails used to secure asphalt shingles to the plywood or OSB roof sheathing typically penetrate into the attic 1/4” or more.