Hi,
I’ve roofed a house or two and am no professional by far. However I worked with a crew this weekend on my own house and the nailing pattern they used, I had not heard of. I thought (perhaps incorrectly) that when two folks are nailing shingles, one runs side to side while the other goes up. So the first course would go the full length of the roof and by the time you come back, the second roofer has already nailed a few in, and you continue on.
This crew worked vertically, naling one shingle over the other (staggered of course) straight up towards the ridge line. The second guy was doing the same right beside him.
The advantage I can see to this method is that there is less walking side to side along the roof, especially if it’s only one person, perhaps it’s easier to just work your way up instead of going side to side.
The disadvantage is that every other course, you have to tuck the new shingle in over an existing one, and then nail both.
These guys were nailing by hand while I had a pneumatic nailer. They sat on their knees as they worked up the roof while I mostly stood on my feet and bent over to nail (which would make more sense given that I was going side to side).
I know there are many ways to skin a cat, I’m just curious which method most roofers use.
Replies
Pro's work up the roof, either a rack as those guys were using or a stair pattern. Side to side wastes too much energy and time + too much traffic on the singles. Depends on the pitch, but most shinglers kneel or sit on a piece of foam. Few roof for long bending at the waist and you can only do that on low pitch roofs.
I noticed, as you pointed out, that they moved much less while working. When I was working beside them, I tried sitting as well, but due to my inexperience, I always found my materials too far away from me. The hammer was 4 feet away, the shingles were too far to reach, nail gun is over there. Since I was frequently getting up to retrieve the materials, it was easier to just stay standing, although I did have a very sore back at the end of it. For the most part, I did a three point stance like a footballer.
Another thing I noticed is that they never wore gloves, even when ripping off the old shingles. I gave everyone a pair during the tearout, but half an hour later they had all removed them. It made me wonder about using gloves when hand nailing. They would have a handful of nails and while hammering one, they would be twirling the next one into position. Can you do that with gloves on? I guess they've built up rawhide skin
With more than two on a crew, one person "throws" shingles to the others. Working alone, I stock rows of shingles barely out of the way, but within reach on a pitch where they won't slide. Steeper roofs, I put a bundle in my lap. The gun goes in your lap when you're not shooting it.
Put your hammer in your tool belt when it leaves your hand. Leave it laying in my way and you get to retrieve it from the ground.
Gloves slow twirling down and they get nailed to the roof.
That is te primay method I used most of my roofing career.
Think about it - you are moving your body five inches or 36 inches. Which takes more work? Which will weart you out and slow you down more?
Only when it gets below zero