What is the nail line or nail zone?

HOW ARE SHINGLES COMPRISED?

Roofing shingles are typically comprised of two halves which are glued together to give you a dimensional look. Where these two halves overlap is where the shingle is double the thickness. Manufacturers distinguish this area with a line or set of lines to show the installer where to put the nails. It is vitally important that the nails are in this line or zone so that the shingle has the strength to stay in place during severe weather. This area is where the manufacturer requires the nails to be placed to have a valid warranty. If the nails are not placed withing this area the manufacturer could deny a warranty claim.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

This is important because when placing around 10,000 nails in the average roof the installers are bound to miss here and there. When a shingle manufacturer uses only one line or a small area to show where the nails must go, it increases the chances of missing that area because the target for the installer is smaller. When the manufacturer makes the shingle in such a way that the double thickness portion is wider they can then widen the target zone of where the nails can be placed which in turn increases the chances of the installer putting the nails in that zone every time.

Some manufacturers use a small nail line, which is near impossible to hit every time and some use a nail zone that is upwards of 1.75” in width. If I am the homeowner guess which shingle I want on my roof? You guessed it, I want the one with the large area so that the chances of all the nails going into that and having my warranty intact are much higher. If I am the installer, I am also going to want to use the shingle with the larger area because it gives me peace of mind that I am going to hit the right spot every time and it helps me nail the shingles in place faster as well as see exactly when a nail is outside that zone.

At Roof HQ we have our faith in and recommend Malarkey Roofing Products. Malarkey manufactures their shingles in a way that gives a nailing zone of 1.75” with the entire zone being double the thickness. The result is a true 1.75” nailing zone, a zone that makes missing a nail almost impossible. If you are looking for a great shingle for your new roof, consider Roof HQ and Malarkey Roofing Products.