Cap nails are typically made of steel and feature a plastic cap to prevent roof leaks hence their name.
Roofing felt nails vs staples.
Staples cost less than nails offer exceptional holding strength and cover a greater area of space with a more versatile and compact collation.
For one staples cost less than nails adding to their profit per roof.
On an 8 12 or flatter staples are fine.
Staples are not recommended by hodges roofing and most industry organizations.
In the past when it came to the debate of roofing nails versus staples the industry was split down the middle.
This sketch points out that mis driven nails can also lead to shingle wind damage live link given below.
The reason they want you to use felt nails is to prevent blow offs if left exposed or high wind areas.
In the past roofers preferred staple guns for attaching shingles to roof sheeting.
Many roofers will tell you that staples are fine for installing the synthetic underlayment.
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 also offered excellent holding strength and could be installed over a larger roof area quickly.
Research on use of staples vs nails in asphalt shingle roofs.
Both options often depend on the slope of the roof itself.
Typical wood frame home with osb wall and roof sheathing.
After the house is roofed it does not matter what he used.
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.
Caps hold the felt better and hence on a steeper slope the felt will hold better to the house while he is roofing it.
Roofing staple guns were light and easy to use over the newer and heavier roofing nail guns that were coming onto the market.
Others will tell you that cap nails are more effective.
Staples for shingle applications are staples recommended as fasteners for asphalt shingles.
Staples can be used for tacking it down but not recommended to hold.
The purpose of the caps is not for it to perform better.
Similarly 19 32 osb roof sheathing would be 8d.
When the shingles are installed the felt is not going anywhere.