Roofing Nailer

[MFortie]

Greetings!

The better half and I are about to close on a piece of property with a couple of fixer-upper houses (and a garage!)

We'll need to re-roof two of the structures and re-side all of them (currently T111 & asphalt shingles).

We're planning on replacing the shingles and using Hardie Plank for the siding -- I'm wondering what the best roofing nailer would be for both?

Thanks!

Mark

Here's a pic of the garage:

 

[trboxman]

Unfortunately roofing nailers and siding nailers are two different things. The fasteners aren't similar enough to allow a single nailer to adequately do both jobs.

 

[5lima30]

Hitachi is one of the "industry standards". JMHO.

 

[trboxman]

Hitachi is one of the "industry standards". JMHO.

Yes, but unless he's going to be doing a lot of roofing or siding it probably doesn't make sense to spend that kind of money.

He needs to make the same kind of decision on cost vs. use that you made in selecting your HF impact gun.

 

[machine_punk]

I'm watching this one too...I need to do my roof in a little over a year. I'd also be interested in knowing which nailers would be good brands to pick 'used' on CL or eBay. (I wouldn't mind buying a great nailer used, over buying an 'OK' nailer new).

M_P

 

[MFortie]

Hmmm...

I presumed because the install instructions on Hardie's site state: 11ga. roofing nail (0.121" shank x 0.371" HD x 1.25" long), I could use a roofing nailer? EDIT: It also recommends a flush mount attachment for a pneumatic tool...

And I'm not adverse to spending the money for a quality tool -- collecting tools is one of my hobbies! (Ask my sons; they are more than happy to see me buy good tools! LOL!)

EDIT#2: Talking about cement board siding -- who makes the best shears?

Thanks again!

 

[FITO]

I have both. If you had your location posted I would know if it was worth while to offer them for you to borrow.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought a Porter-Cable RN175A when I started to work on the house. I've used it over at the neighbors and a garage addition for a buddy. It hasn't let me down yet.

You're going to re-roof two houses minimum, buy something decent and name brand. You'll be happy you bought a roof nailer, the amount of time it'll save you is great.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

 

[KMR Construction]

Check out the Max nailers. Lightweight and reliable. I have a 7x16 trailer loaded with there guns

 

[trboxman]

Hmmm...

I presumed because the install instructions on Hardie's site state: 11ga. roofing nail (0.121" shank x 0.371" HD x 1.25" long), I could use a roofing nailer? EDIT: It also recommends a flush mount attachment for a pneumatic tool...

And I'm not adverse to spending the money for a quality tool -- collecting tools is one of my hobbies! (Ask my sons; they are more than happy to see me buy good tools! LOL!)

EDIT#2: Talking about cement board siding -- who makes the best shears?

Thanks again!

Sorry...I'm wrong on the nailer. You're right, Hardi does recommend roofing nails. I haven't worked with cementitious siding so I don't have anything useful to offer here....

 

[MFortie]

I have both. If you had your location posted I would know if it was worth while to offer them for you to borrow.

Thanks for the offer. San Diego is a little far from KC...

Oh, and I fixed my locale!

 

[elmo771]

I just bought a Grip Tite off of ebay, it was almost brand new, for 95.00. Work's great and there sold at Home Depot for 239.00 new.

 

[camarotoolman]

Try to find a deal on a used 1, then sell it when your done. hopefuly you can get all your $ back. I have alot of stainless sreel siding nails that I will sale, we used Hilti guns for them. hilti guns are good.

 

[Underdog]

Check out the Max nailers. Lightweight and reliable. I have a 7x16 trailer loaded with there guns

+1
Have a Max roof nailer. Put on 250 Squares , never one hiccup.

 

[yost69]

Ive got a senco that is about 7 years old. It has done, if I had to guess, about 400- 500 squares of shingles. Been put through hell and still works flawlessly.

I dont have a bad thing to say about their roofing nailers.

 

[PBCampbell]

I bought a Stanley a few(several) years ago for $50-$60. Its had to have done at least 100 squares and been used by some roughnecks who could bust a bowling ball in a sand box and still works fine. I guess what I'm trying to say is unless you're doing production work I wouldn't be too worried about going with a less than professional brand.

 

[trboxman]

I bought a Stanley a few(several) years ago for $50-$60. Its had to have done at least 100 squares and been used by some roughnecks who could bust a bowling ball in a sand box and still works fine. I guess what I'm trying to say is unless you're doing production work I wouldn't be too worried about going with a less than professional brand.

Did you buy that Stanley from Amazon? I bought a Stanley in that same price range from Amazon about that same time...just to note it's not a Stanley/Bostich gun but mine has held up very well, I've laid about 400 squares or so with it over the years for various things.

 

[PBCampbell]

Exactly! I presumed , presume its an older (discontinued) bostitch design built with more plastic.

 

[Justanoldguy]

that I will sale

A bit OT here but does anyone in America use the word SELL?
Hard to figure (down under) why sale would be used in this context.

 

[trboxman]

A bit OT here but does anyone in America use the word SELL?
Hard to figure (down under) why sale would be used in this context.

Yes, many of us use the word in it's proper fashion. Many of us don't...

 

[Nick M]

Paslode. have one that has been going for around 25 years. have framers that are around 35 years old, still work great, just heavy, and a brand new one that is great (and light). All made in USA.

 

[91bronc300]

I did my roof last fall. About 28 squares of architectural shingles. First roof I have ever done. I just bought the HF nailer because I figured it would be my last roof too. It was a frustrating experience because about every fifth or sixth nail the nail head would end up a quarter inch above the shingle or it would overshoot and dig too deep into the shingle. I could never get it dialed in correctly. It got the job done, but I recommend you overlook harbor freight for both your nail gun AND your hammer tacker.

 

[MustangRick]

I used a Bostich and a HF on my roof last summer. The Bostich is about 6 years old but I think it has only been used on 2 roofs. The HF was in similar shape. Surprisingly, the HF needed less maintenance then the Bostich did during the job. I believe the HF required more oil to keep it working correctly (manual oil bottle, no inline oiler.) The Bostich had cleaner lines and I am sure was 2-3 times the price, but you would be hard pressed to prove it was worth the price.

 

[GrantCee]

We'll need to re-roof two of the structures and re-side all of them (currently T111 & asphalt shingles).

We're planning on replacing the shingles and using Hardie Plank for the siding -- I'm wondering what the best roofing nailer would be for both?

A few years ago I was in exactly the same boat. After a lot of research, I bought a Bostitch RN46. (Bostitch, on their website, even states that it's suitable for cement siding.)

I've put on several roofs and a bunch of Hardie siding, and am generally happy with the performance. My only complaint is the bump-firing; great when roofing, but a serious issue when trying to precisely place nails when hanging siding.

The nailer bounces a lot more off a very hard surface (like cement siding, nailing horizontally) than it does off of a roof where the shingles are a little more forgiving (and the tool is a lot closer to vertical.)

I've had many instances of doubled nails that required me to grab the hammer and remove the top nail. Worse, I've actually blown holes through HardiPanel being attached directly to studs on outbuildings when it bounced from the first, precisely-placed nail. If I could switch it to non-bump mode, like I can with their framing nailer, it would be a lot closer to perfect.

I've found that 1-3/4" ring shanked nails, either galvanized or stainless, are best for Hardie. They're also impossible to find locally, so I end up ordering them from Amazon.

 

[MFortie]

Thanks for all the replies!

Regards,

Mark

 

[1320stang]

A few years ago, I bought a brand new Hitachi coil roofing nailer off eBay for cheap, still in box, still had the plastic strapping. Used it to roof my addition. But before roofing it, a hail storm came thru and got the rest of my house. I roofed the addition with my dad, but at 69 and my only good help, he wasn't up to doing the whole house (frankly, neither was I).

I bought the shingles and paid to have the house roofed (pocketed a couple hundred) and traded the nailer to the roofer to knock some off my bill (knocked off more than I paid for the nailer) #winning!!!!

It was a really nice nailer, adjustable depth, I'd by another if I needed one.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I too have a Senco and I would guess its pushing 500 squares. It still works like new even though it does not look it. I don't even now how many times its been loaned out in the dozen years that I have owned it. I've also used Bostitch and Hitachi coil roofers and they worked well.

Quality brands I would look at would be Bostitch, Hitachi, Paslode, and Senco.