Hand Nailing Shingles

egg, I never seem to be as articulate and poetic as you always are. So I thought I'd try to put it to rhyme.

There was a hand nailer in the hood With practice he got really good. When young he would put on show. As he aged he got rally slow. Now he just wishes he could.

:blush:>>>

Way to go! GAK I agree with T-Lock also.>>>

Slater I understand your view point on a certain level. In another forum there is a discussion about our rapid-fire lifestyles, we are squandering our most valuable resource: "the capacity for deep, sustained, perceptive attention-- , where you might be missing it....wisedom , cultural progress . My take on your level of roofing ..is centered around the " deep sustained perceptive attention " On this level I understand you. I know in the past we have been at loggerheads . I'm not sure that will change . With a new perception of The Real Slater . Understanding comes in different ways and patience is the key. Jed if you don't know , Real Slater makes statements from a single perspective. The pole was a pole and survey of one.>>>

Air has its place, but i think a roofer should start out hand nailing and get good at that before picking a gun up.i have hand nailed for over thirty years and never had a problem with my roofs ,i live in wyoming,where we are famous for our wind. my 2 cents is hand nailing gives you a better roof.>>>

Does it make for a better job?

Yes, I can't see how anyone can argue that. Better control of placement and depth. I don't require my guys to hand nail. I think it takes a bigger toll on your body over time. I only hand nail but anymore I cannot swing a hammer all day like I used to. My arms get numb at night and my joints ache too damned badly. It is a dying art, too many guys who grew up with a gun. I make sure new guys learn with a hammer before they get to use a gun. But this is not saying that you can not get a perfectly good roof with a gun. It just requires that the applicators are paying attention to the pressure on the compressor and how they are applying them. In my opinion when you hire subs or pay piece work you will run into problems because speed determines the paycheck more than quality does.

In general, how much slower is hand nailing than using a gun?

I think that depends on the hand nailer. A fast hand nailer can keep up with an average gunner especially on the more cut up roofs but a fast gunner will beat a fast nailer. I can't say how much slower it is.

Are their many/any S.O.B.'s hand nailing shingles?

Not that I see in the Midwest. It is all guns and speed. We just came in from a blowoff repair that was gunned high. They will continue to blow off this house every time we get a big wind until it's reroofed in the future.

How difficult do you think it would be to sell the idea of paying more to have a roof installed with hand nails?

Shouldn't be too difficult if you can sell. It is more difficult to find the skilled nailers. But like I said before, there is no reason that you can't get consistently good roofs done with guns and it takes less of a toll on the body.>>>

RS "but no-one expects much out of an asphalt roof down here."

That's an extensive poll you conducted, or reference I presume?>>>

since i'm a slater, i'm used to hand nailing so i hand nail everything. i believe it makes for a much better job. especially with wood shakes and shingles. in a place where asphalt is more prevalent i'm sure you could get someone to appreciate hand nailing but no-one expects much out of an asphalt roof down here.>>>

I use the Stanley fat max sheetrock hammer for shingling,and a red handled 22 oz estwing straight claw hammer for sheathing/framing>>>

I've built my business on hand nailing. The last time I ever used a gun was in 1996. My prices are probably the highest in the city per square and and for the past 3-4 years have had a 6 month wait list. Just completed a 570 square re-roof, 1 layer off and 40 year GAF Timberlines on at $412.00 a square. I use a 22oz Estwing claw hammer to nail with. :laugh:>>>

An estwing sheetrock hatchet is ideal for shingling primarily due to it's balance and length, the angle of the head allows you to "tap and bang" far more easily than with a claw hammer. If you gotta use a claw, try a straight one.>>>

I nominate egg for RCS poet laureate. :P>>>

Nailing by hand is grand. Nailing by gun is fun. Nailing by rock is primeval. I did that once. When I was over half drunk. By the time it was over It stunk. But so did I. Oh me oh my.

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Quote...Robby Every time i see a roofer using a claw hammer,it makes me laugh. Or are you sinking 3 1/2" ? ie( framing)

I have a framing hammer for those....nah...I use a light wieght claw hammer to pull nails and such, use a banana knife. I have no use for a shinglers hatchet or East-wing.

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I think hand nailing brings out the animal, or the primeval tendencies in you, once you have that groove on, you can really fly. the only thing i can say about hand nailing, is not to grab too many nails @ one time, ultimately you should only try to grab no more than 5 to 6 nails @ time, and when your step shingling you don't have to lift up that last tab.(not that i like to step shingle) i usually go from eve to ridge.Today if the compressor goes down all the newbies are lost, i'll say so let's hand nail, and they all shake there heads, what's up with this new generation of roofers i think there such puzzies, in my day you hummped it blood sweet and tears, and if you went home at the end of the day in one piece that was a good thing. :woohoo: P.S oh ya H.O.P. you may most certainly charge more for hand banging, it's an easy sell. It's all in how you throw the pitch.>>>

Robby Every time i see a roofer using a claw hammer,it makes me laugh. Or are you sinking 3 1/2" ? ie( framing)>>>