Hand Nailing Shingles

i hand nailed for 25 yrs before i got a gun. it was a real adventure at first, a lot slower and many nails in the wrong placess. i am not into speed , rather have it done right the first time. i average about 2 1/2 sq an hour on a straight roof and thats ok by me. never liked the anti-vibe hammer-that head seams of to me, changes your point of aim. i still like a 20 oz eastwing the best>>>

I been hand bangin since 1988 " Good Year" thats my nickname round here, I believe a good hand nailer makes for a good gunner! gotta crawl before ya walk! no what i mean vern!!!!! >>>

Wywoody What is anti-vibe ? Back in the day and still going I have seen installs with a gun on cement tiles. worked out great . The gun as opposed the hammer set the nail in safer straighter and without cracking or touching the tile. The hammer would break loose the battens if to bouncy. The battens were installed over no decking and thermal layer . When using the gun you were assured a good grip and no splits.>>>

Just a hand nailer here. :cheer:>>>

cough cough so ahh what be dooh problems. :S :S>>>

Real Slater I've gained an understanding of your perspective . It is a good one . One of the things I admire about you is the quality and concentration. An in depth perception of your craft . I don't necessarily attribute craft to shingles. I does deserve that title at times in defence . I can understand why you hate to reply to my post. It is not everyday I get threats that someone is going to come to my office and drag my arse out and well you know what shock and awe imagination you thought you were going to do in front of my family......... I can only guess as to why you reacted with such hostility . Was it when I turned the light on you not having a Roofing lic. I was only trying to protect you . I hope you have fixed that . I'm a really patience guy . I think I've had a real break through concerning .. your perspective . That is cool to me . So maybe you don't have to be so aggravated . Get over it man. Slater don't be such a hater. That supposed to be humor , in case I'm not being clear again. Just being square with ya.>>>

jed, i'm only talking about the tri county area where i live. palm beach, broward and dade county. there is not much asphalt down here. i wasn't trying to talk down about shingles again, just stating fact. i'm from mi and i remember how much people think of shingles when you're in an area covered in mostly asphalt. people actually expected 30yr shingles to last 30yrs! i'm just saying as someone who installs roofs every day down here that i have never met anyone here with those same expectations out of an asphalt roof. folks here are used to a ten to fifteen year lifespan out of asphalt based on experience. they don't feel ripped off though, everyone here knows asphalt is the cheapest, most temporary roof allowed by code here. probably not everyone but like i said, the majority.

ciak, i hate to even respond to you. looks like we still can't get along. i'm not going to argue with you cause there's no point. i just finished a slate roof in tampa and i got a chance to look around and talk to neighbors. i can see how you don't see my point of view. tampa reminded me and my partner of mi, asphalt everywhere! and i talked to a few people who are about to re-roof, a couple were going shingle and a couple going metal. both were convinced of everything they were being sold. i didn't even attempt to discuss life-cycle costing cause it was obvious that was going to be impossible when there's beautiful homes all around them covered in asphalt. context ciak, take what i say into context. the average roof-replacement in my area is 800-900 per square. these folks don't shop for shingles and i'm not too far off convincing them to go permanent. i have no expectations of ever doing another slate roof in tampa, didn't even see very many clay roofs! i salvaged 80yr old slate from a home in palm beach for that job and the homeowner lives here. you can talk all the crap you want about slate and me but i'm still installing slate every day and my work is flawless. someone like yourself should respect quality craftsmenship but we all know that has nothing to do with production.btw tampa is cold as #%&*!>>>

Way to go! GAK I agree with T-Lock also.>>>

Slater I understand your view point on a certain level. In another forum there is a discussion about our rapid-fire lifestyles, we are squandering our most valuable resource: "the capacity for deep, sustained, perceptive attention-- , where you might be missing it....wisedom , cultural progress . My take on your level of roofing ..is centered around the " deep sustained perceptive attention " On this level I understand you. I know in the past we have been at loggerheads . I'm not sure that will change . With a new perception of The Real Slater . Understanding comes in different ways and patience is the key. Jed if you don't know , Real Slater makes statements from a single perspective. The pole was a pole and survey of one.>>>

Air has its place, but i think a roofer should start out hand nailing and get good at that before picking a gun up.i have hand nailed for over thirty years and never had a problem with my roofs ,i live in wyoming,where we are famous for our wind. my 2 cents is hand nailing gives you a better roof.>>>

since i'm a slater, i'm used to hand nailing so i hand nail everything. i believe it makes for a much better job. especially with wood shakes and shingles. in a place where asphalt is more prevalent i'm sure you could get someone to appreciate hand nailing but no-one expects much out of an asphalt roof down here.>>>

I've built my business on hand nailing. The last time I ever used a gun was in 1996. My prices are probably the highest in the city per square and and for the past 3-4 years have had a 6 month wait list. Just completed a 570 square re-roof, 1 layer off and 40 year GAF Timberlines on at $412.00 a square. I use a 22oz Estwing claw hammer to nail with. :laugh:>>>

I nominate egg for RCS poet laureate. :P>>>

Nailing by hand is grand. Nailing by gun is fun. Nailing by rock is primeval. I did that once. When I was over half drunk. By the time it was over It stunk. But so did I. Oh me oh my.

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I think hand nailing brings out the animal, or the primeval tendencies in you, once you have that groove on, you can really fly. the only thing i can say about hand nailing, is not to grab too many nails @ one time, ultimately you should only try to grab no more than 5 to 6 nails @ time, and when your step shingling you don't have to lift up that last tab.(not that i like to step shingle) i usually go from eve to ridge.Today if the compressor goes down all the newbies are lost, i'll say so let's hand nail, and they all shake there heads, what's up with this new generation of roofers i think there such puzzies, in my day you hummped it blood sweet and tears, and if you went home at the end of the day in one piece that was a good thing. :woohoo: P.S oh ya H.O.P. you may most certainly charge more for hand banging, it's an easy sell. It's all in how you throw the pitch.>>>