Hand-Nailed vs. Gun-Nailed Roofs

Hand-Nailed vs. Gun-Nailed Roofs: Which Do You Want Over Your Head?

Nowadays, we like things to happen quickly. From our morning coffee to the results of a test to our internet connections, we expect speed. We love speed.

Unfortunately, speed can lead to inaccuracy. Sometimes, that doesn’t matter. If a speedy barista screws up your coffee order, you can ask for another one (as long as you haven’t left yet). Of course, you lose the benefit of the speed at that point, but at least it’s an inexpensive correction.

However, sometimes inaccuracy as a result of speed can cause enormous inconvenience and expense, and that’s the case when it comes to roofing.

Gun-Nailed Roofs

There are a couple of benefits to having a gun-nailed roof. The roof will likely be completed more quickly, and you might save some money because the roofers won’t be working as long. It also pays to note that both gun and hand nailing are acceptable as per manufacturer specifications.

However, inaccuracy is a major problem with using a nail gun. The nails can go in crooked or too deep (Over Penetration), resulting in leaks, shingles falling and roof damage. You might end up shelling out more money to fix the roof you thought you already fixed!

Hand-Nailed Roofs

This Q&A on Angie’s List points out that “many highly rated roofers on Angie’s List tell me their preferred method is to hand nail roofs.” The precision you can achieve by hand is worth the extra time and labor, and a skilled roofer can still work fairly quickly by hand.

At Scro’s Roofing Company, we use the old-school method of hand-nailing to ensure accuracy and precision in order to meet our own high standards for roofing and to deliver a roof that lasts you for years. While the manufacturers demand a minimum of four nails on each shingle, we use four – six; with 23 years of roofing experience, you know we’re handy with that hammer! Our roofers are certified and highly trained, and each nail they use on your roof will be expertly placed and driven. Whether you need a small repair or a brand new roof, contact us to get started.

We had significant hail damage due to the May 2016 hail storm in Cary, and warded off all the storm chasers that came through our area for 2 months after. I called Scro’s Roofing after the insurance adjusted had written off the roof, and they worked us into their busy schedule. Amazing job done by an amazing and hard-working crew. I was impressed by the way they used tarps to protect the landscaping around the house, and Patricia was pretty particular about cleaning up after the crew. Danny was a pleasure to work with, and he provided several improvements to our roof like a installing a chimney cricket and ridge vents. We used Moire black shingles and the roof looks...

Larry O. | Cary, NC

In life you get what you pay for and this is certainly true with Scro’s Roofing. There are so many “fly be night” roofing companies out there who do not have the long standing customer service and support that a local roofing company can offer. Everyone should take the time to educate themselves about the roofing process and the track record of the company, as this is a very larger investment and an area where you don’t want to cut corners. The team at Scro’s Roofing provided me with many educational links and never pressured me into a sale. They wanted to ensure that I fully understood the process and trusted that I would make an intelligent decision. This sharing...

Kevin A. | Wake Forest, NC

Scro’s Roofing installed a new roof on our home and everything went exactly as planned and scheduled. The installation crew covered all our plants and deck when removing the roof and then cleaned up perfectly when the job was done. We were kept informed all along the job from start to finish so we knew how and when everything would be done. I’ve never experienced a contractor, a company or an owner like Danny who worked with us on every detail. Further, we had gotten several other quotes with Scro’s being the best. This project couldn’t have been done more smoothly… We greatly appreciate Danny the owner and Sarah our scheduling contact. They both were there for all and every...

Joe V. | Cary, NC

We just had our roof done by Scro’s Roofing, and we are very happy with the results. Danny and his office were very helpful in answering all of my questions. I did a good bit of research beforehand, and after talking with Danny, I had a lot of confidence that they are up to date on best practices and latest materials. In particular, I liked that they hand nail the shingles, use a synthetic underlayment instead of tar paper, install a drip edge, and provide a 10-year labor warranty. The thing about getting a new roof is that most people may not find out whether the installer did a bad job or used inferior materials for 5-10 years when they...

Matt B. | Cary, NC

The big hail storm of May 2, 2016 did extensive damage to our roof (and Leaf-Guard gutters as well). Our insurance company appraised the roof and said it all needed to be replaced. My first choice was again Scro’s Roofing. I was not about to use one of the “storm chasers” that descended on our neighborhood like carpetbaggers from who knows where. Danny, the owner of Scro’s Roofing looked up my record from seven years ago and was able to give me an estimate almost immediately from the information he already had on file. Their estimate was within a couple percent of what our insurance had already written a check which made the decision to go with Scro’s Roofing again...

David C. | Cary, NC

I had a great experience working with Danny and his team. Danny even recommended a less expensive roofing product based on our needs. Sarah was so helpful and accommodating throughout the process. I wish all home repairs/renovations were this easy and professional. A wonderful company to work with!

Kate L. | Cary, NC