Toledo Roofers: Article About Roofing Fasteners
Ballast refers to any material used to weigh down roofing and pin it in its proper location. Typically, some form of gravel will be used, but stone pavers and plant life are also sometimes used as ballasting material.
Toledo roofing experts answer a FAQ: Why is it important for roofing nails to have exceptionally pointy tips?If the tip of a nail is too wide or too dull, it will tend to create too much pressure on the area surrounding its entry point. This excess pressure can cause wood shakes, asphalt shingles and other roofing materials to crack or experience other forms of damage.
One of the less often thought of factors, perhaps, when it comes to choosing a new roofing material is how that new roof membrane will be securely fastened to the building. A basic requirement such as this tends to escape the consideration of many homeowners, but it is a much more complex question than it might at first appear. When seeking expert
Toledo roofers to firmly attach a new roofing membrane, one should take the time to inquire concerning the attachment method.
The most common roofing fasteners are nails but not just any nails. Roofing nails will use wide heads to secure shingles and underlayment and will have relatively pointy ends, which will easily pierce through the material. Most roofing nails are one to two inches long, which works well on asphalt, but some are as long as six inches. Sheet metal and tile roofs also generally use short nails, the longer shanks being important with wood shakes, which are relatively wide where they overlap.
Smooth shanked aluminum nails are cheapest, but in coastal areas with high chemical and salt exposure, stainless steel is superior. In zones with high winds, ring shank nails with very large heads are a big plus. In many wood roofs, screw shank nails, which have a twisting pattern and a diamond tip, help to minimize shingle loss.
The roofing experts from Johnson Roofing of Toledo would be happy to answer any questions you have about residential roofing or commercial roofing.
For the highest rust resistance, one should consider zinc coated galvanized steel.
Asphalt shingles also utilize adhesive strips to keep themselves in place. These strips can be on the top, bottom or even the back of each shingle. This system essentially creates a situation where each shingle supports the other in an interlocking manner.
Modern thermoplastic options like PVC and TPO have their very own fastening systems. Specially formulated sticky coatings, mechanical fasteners that run through the membrane and into the roof, and ballast materials can be used. Certain recent versions of thermoplastic roofing now allow fastening via welding the membrane to strategically located fastening plates. In many cases, one can even choose more than one of these options for a firmer attachment. The seams of PVC and TPO are incredibly strong, being heat welded with hot air blasts until one continuous roofing membrane is formed.
The recent multiplication of available roofing materials has had a corresponding impact on available fastening options. A roofing contractor with sufficient experience will know how to match the fasteners with the materials and to adjust them to other important variables as well.
