There is much speculation surrounding whether or not you can use roofing nails for siding. People often get the wrong nails for a job, it may turn out to be quite a troublesome task. In this article, we will discuss whether you can use roofing nails for siding. So without further ado, let’s read ahead to learn more about it.
Can you use roofing nails for siding?
You can use roofing nails for siding. A 1-¾ inch roofing nail is great for installing a siding, especially a vinyl one. As long as you can make sure that the nailheads are not visible on the surface of the siding, it’s all good. You can use a 3/8 inches nail head with ⅛ inches aluminum nail.
Yes, you can definitely use roofing nails for siding, we don’t see a reason why you might not. But there are some important factors that you will need to keep in mind.
For example, when you’re using a roofing nail for siding, you will have to ensure that the nail is not visible. It looks terrible if the nail head is visible. To ensure this, you can use a nailhead of ⅜ inches for a nail of diameter ⅛ inches. This will make sure that the nailhead is not visible and the siding has been nailed alright.
Vinyl siding:
Yes, you can use roofing nails for vinyl siding. Vinyl siding is a very durable and sturdy plastic exterior for your home and it is growing increasingly popular among homeowners nowadays.
In order to ensure proper vinyl siding, you can use roofing nails without any worry. In fact, the roofing nails will ensure a very good installation of the siding.
It would be best if you can use galvanized roofing nails for your roofing though. This will bring the most siding success for your vinyl siding.
Hardie siding:
You can install Hardie siding with roofing nails without any trouble. You can use air-powered nailers for the task. You can also opt for hand-driven roofing nails to get the job done.
Attaching Hardie siding to your home is quite a task. It takes a lot of your time and effort. But the end result will surely turn out to be a very strong and sturdy home structure.
Note that you can ring the nails. You can also smoothen the nails. But just make sure that you are hitting the studs in the wall while working with Hardie siding.
Fiber cement siding:
You can also use roofing nails for fiber cement siding. But you will need to be a little sensitive while working on this project. Make sure that you have ringed and smoothened the nails.
In addition, you do not want to show the nailheads. So pay attention to the sizing of both the nails and the nailheads. Visible nailheads will terminate all the beauty of the project.
To complete this project smoothly, you may opt for air-powered nailers. You may also use hand driver roofing nails to get the job done quickly and neatly.
Are roofing nails and siding nails the same?
No, roofing nails and siding nails are not the same. But you can sometimes use one in the place of another. While it would be ideal to get separate nails for these two tasks, you can often use one in place of another in case of an emergency. The replacement works just fine.
But you will always need to keep the specifics of your installation in mind. Take the type of your siding into consideration and decide on the type and size of the nail that you will need.
Roofing nails are designed to be nailed fully into the wall. The shingles in roofing nails do not expand or contract as easily as the ones of siding. So you will need the roofing shingles to be tight, which the roofing nails can ensure.
Roofing nails are also designed to be taken out any time you like. They have a nail head that you can use to take out the nail. On the other hand, siding nails are meant to stay in the installation for a lifetime. They lack the nail head, so you will have to keep it inside for as long as they are good.
Can a roofing nailer be used for siding?
No, you cannot use a roofing nailer for sliding. The design of roofing nails is different from that of siding nails. They cannot accommodate siding nails.
The roofing nailers are specifically designed to accommodate roofing nails. And roofing nails vary in shape and size from the siding nails. So you will not be able to use a roofing nailer for siding with siding nails.
However, you can use the roofing nailer if you are using roofing nails for the task. You can work on a siding project with roofing nails without any worry. But you will have to be careful about the installation. Make sure that the nails have set right and the nail heads are not showing.
Can you use roofing nails in a siding nailer?
No, you cannot use roofing nails in a siding nailer. The roofing nails and siding nails are much different in size and shape. So one nailer will not be able to accommodate a nail of another kind.
Make sure that the nailer that you’re using is designed to accommodate the nail of its kind. A roofing nailer is designed to carry roofing nails alone. On the other hand, a siding nailer is designed to carry only the siding nails.
While you can replace one nail with another for a particular job, given that the specifics of the project support it, you cannot replace the nailers.
What’s the difference between a siding nailer and a roofing nailer?
Let’s now discuss the difference between a siding nailer and a roofing nailer. While they look similar in shape and size, they have different sets of tasks in your home projects. Let’s take a look at their key differences:
Size:
One of the key differences in these nails lies in their sizes. The siding nails tend to be a little longer than the roofing nails. The siding nails also stand at a higher price point.
So if you need long nails, you will always need to opt for siding nails. On the other hand, the roofing nails are a bit short. You will have to opt for roofing nails if you are looking for shorter nails.
Roofing nails come out, siding nails do not:
The siding nails are not meant to come out of the installation. These nails are designed to stay put. They are designed to carry sturdy sidings for a lifetime. So these nails are naturally built for a great hold.
On the other hand, the roofing nails are designed to come out. Roofing nails come with nail heads which will allow you to pick out the nails anytime you want. So these nails are great for a temporary establishment.
What size of roofing nails for siding?
You can use electro or galvanized roofing nails for siding. For siding, the ideal size of roofing nails is ⅛ inches in diameter. Alongside it, you can opt for a nail head that measures about ⅜ inches or larger.
What type of nails to use for siding?
Let’s now take a look at the type of nails to use for a siding. Read ahead to learn about the specifics:
Vinyl siding:
The ideal nails for use in vinyl siding are galvanized steel nails or aluminum nails. You can also go for any other type of nail that is corrosion-resistant.
In this case, the ideal size of nails for this task would be between 1 ¼ inches to 2 ½ inches. Also, note that the nailhead of the nails should be roughly ⅛ inches for this job.
Hardie siding:
Corrosion-resistant nails would be best for a Hardie siding. The nails that are made of galvanized steel or aluminum nails are the best for Hardie siding.
Wood siding:
For wood siding, you will have to use hot-dip galvanized nails. This would be a good nail for this project and would hold the siding up for a long time.
Cedar siding:
For cedar siding, you should opt for hot-dipped galvanized nails. You may also choose a sturdy set of aluminum or stainless steel nails.
Final thoughts
You can definitely use roofing nails for siding. But you will have to use the roofing nailer for this job. Make sure that the nail head of the roofing nail is not visible on the surface. It would be ideal if you can use corrosion-resistant nails for the job.