How To Cover Those Nails Sticking Into The Attic

Fill small nail holes with silicone caulk or roof cement.

How to cover those nails sticking into the attic. The dry air evaporates the frost. Smaller nail holes will be permanently fixed by this method standard roofing nails would be either 3 8 inch or 1 2 inch making a hole. Silicone or acrylic latex caulk caulk gun for sealing small holes 1 4 inch or less several cans of expanding spray foam insulation for filling larger gaps 1 4 inch to 3 inches special high temperature heat resistant caulk to seal around flues and chimneys. Unless you live in your attic the protruding nail heads shouldn t be a problem.

Hammer a new nail into the roof about 1 inch above the hole from the previous nail. It must be remembered you must have great soffit ventilation so the air travels through your attic as a constant breeze. If you have a friend in the attic ask him to direct you to a sturdy spot where the nail can bite into the wood. One possible solution would be to increase the thickness of the soffit with extra wood or vinyl materials as in essence a nail base.

If you are using an approved roof sheathing that is less than 3 4 like 7 16 osb or 3 8 plywood then the nail must go all the way through. Old houses didn t have frost. If you use your attic for storage and need protection buy an insulating foam and have it sprayed against the walls. No more nails in the head.

A point often overlooked is old houses didn t have this frost on nails problem. Speak directly with a supervisor at the roofing company explain your position and ask for options. If you are using roof sheathing that is 3 4 or thicker then the nail must penetrate 3 4 min.