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Nailing rules

What Are the Roof Nailing Requirements in Florida?

Florida code calls for corrosion-resistant roofing nails, at least 12 gage with a 3/8 inch head, driven 3/4 inch into the deck, with at least four per strip shingle. On a re-roof of a wood deck, existing nailing must be strengthened, commonly with 8d ring shank nails 6 inches apart.

By Josh Hildebrand, owner of Coastline Roofing · Florida license CCC1331076 ·

Nails are small, and a roof depends on them. Here is what Florida code and the shingle maker require, layer by layer.

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The basics

What are the roof nailing requirements in Florida?

A shingle roof has three kinds of nailing: deck nails that hold the plywood down, shingle nails, and the smaller nails for underlayment and drip edge. Each has its own rule.

Most people think of one set of nails. A roof really has layers, and each layer is fastened differently. The plywood or boards of the deck are nailed to the trusses or rafters, which are the roof framing. The underlayment, the water-shedding sheet over the deck, is nailed to the deck. The shingles are nailed through into the deck last.

The Florida Building Code (8th Edition, 2023) covers shingle nails in the Residential volume, Sections R905.2.5 and R905.2.6, and covers deck nailing on a re-roof in the Existing Building volume, Section 706.7. The shingle maker's installation instructions add more rules, and the maker's warranty depends on following them. Local building inspectors check the work, and the roofer does it.

Why so strict? Hurricane winds push up on a roof, and the nails are what hold it down. The nail pops page covers what a single raised nail does. This page covers the rules for all of them.

Wondering if your roof was nailed right?

Coastline inspects shingle roofs and gives you a written photo report. If nailing is the problem, we repair it. If the roof is at the end of its life, we replace it.

Call (941) 896-7793 or text your town and a photo.

Deck nailing

How is a roof deck nailed on a Florida re-roof?

When the old roof covering comes off a wood deck, Section 706.7.1 of the Existing Building volume requires the deck to be strengthened with added nails if it does not already meet the standard.

Many Florida homes have decks that were nailed under older, weaker rules. Florida's Division of Emergency Management warns that common nail sizes and spacing in plywood and OSB decks, especially in the middle of each sheet, have often been too little to resist hurricane uplift, and that staples do not hold sheathing down well at any spacing.

So the code says that when a roof covering on a wood deck is removed and replaced, the deck attachment must meet Section 706.7.1. There are two paths. Plank decks of sawn lumber up to 12 inches wide pass if each plank has at least two 8d nails into every framing member it crosses. Plywood and OSB decks follow a table (Table 706.7.1.2) that sets added fasteners by design wind speed. Alachua County's guide describes the added nails as 2 1/4 inch 8d round head ring shank nails, 6 inches apart along the supporting framing, and says existing 8d nails of clipped head, round head or ring shank type count toward that spacing.

Nail types on a shingle roof
NailWhere it goesWhat the code or maker says
8d ring shank deck nailThrough the deck into the trusses or raftersAdded nails must meet ASTM F1667 RSRS-01: 0.113 inch shank, rings at least 0.010 inch over the shank, 16 to 20 rings per inch, a full round head at least 0.280 inch, rings extending at least 1 1/2 inches from the tip, and a length of at least 2 3/8 inches
Existing 8d nail that countsAlready in the deckMust be at least 0.113 inch across and 2 1/4 inches long, whatever its head shape
Roofing nail for shinglesThrough the shingle into the deckAt least 12 gage with a 3/8 inch head, corrosion resistant, long enough to go 3/4 inch into the deck (R905.2.5)
Cap nail for underlaymentThrough felt type underlayment into the deckAnnular ring or deformed shank with a cap at least 1 inch across (R905.1.1.1)

The wording matters. An 8d ring shank nail grips the wood along its whole length, which is why it resists pull-out better than a smooth nail. The page roof deck, roof-to-wall and SWR on the 1802 form shows how the wind form grades the result.

Shingle nailing

What are the rules for shingle nails?

The code sets a floor. The shingle maker usually asks for more, and the warranty follows the maker's sheet.

Material and size

R905.2.5 says galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum or copper roofing nails, at least 12 gage with a 3/8 inch head, meeting ASTM F1667. Atlas, our default shingle maker, asks for 11 or 12 gauge corrosion resistant nails with a 3/8 inch head.

Length

Long enough to go through the roofing and at least 3/4 inch into the deck. If the deck is thinner than 3/4 inch, the nail has to go all the way through. Atlas adds a minimum length of 1 1/4 inches for a new roof and recommends 2 inch nails for a roof-over.

How many

R905.2.6 says at least four per strip shingle or two per individual shingle, or more if the maker requires it. Atlas calls for 4 nails per shingle on a standard slope.

Where

Atlas puts the nails 7 inches up from the bottom edge, one about 1 inch from each side and the other two spaced evenly between. High nailing can cause the shingle layers to separate. Nails may sit in the sealant line.

How deep

Driven straight with the head flush to the shingle, never cutting in and never left standing high. Atlas says nails must not be visible on the finished roof.

Steep slopes

Above 21:12 the code hands the job to the maker. Atlas requires six nails evenly spaced along each shingle, plus six spots of asphalt cement, on slopes steeper than 21:12.

Wind and warranty

Does the number of nails change the wind rating?

Yes. Atlas warrants Pinnacle Pristine, our default shingle, to 130 mph with its standard 4 nail installation, and says wrongly placed nails void the wind coverage.

Atlas says its Pinnacle Pristine shingles are warranted against manufacturing defects and wind gusts up to 130 mph with standard 4 nail installation, for shingles carrying its HP42 technology designation. Its sheet adds that incorrectly placed nails void the wind coverage of the warranty. The point is simple: the rating on the wrapper only holds when the nailing matches the maker's sheet.

Insurance forms look at nailing too. On the Florida wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, the inspector records the weakest roof deck attachment on the roof. Insurers use that answer to decide which wind credits to give, and the form notes that some items may not qualify for a discount.

How the OIR-B1-1802 form grades deck attachment
AnswerWhat the deck has
A, weakest7/16 inch plywood or OSB nailed with staples or 6d nails at 6 inches on the edges and 12 inches in the field, or an equivalent that tests lower than the options below
B, middle7/16 inch plywood or OSB nailed with 8d common nails at most 12 inches apart in the field, or an equivalent
C, strongest nailed option7/16 inch plywood or OSB nailed with 8d common nails at most 6 inches apart in the field, or planks with two nails per board, or an equivalent

A licensed qualified inspector fills out and signs that form. The form lists home inspectors with hurricane mitigation training, building code inspectors, general, building and residential contractors, engineers and architects. Coastline's license is not on that list, so we coordinate a licensed inspector and do not sign the form ourselves. See wind mitigation inspection savings for what the credits can look like.

Small parts

What are the nailing rules for underlayment and drip edge?

Underlayment and drip edge each have their own spacing, and the spacing tightens where winds are high.

Underlayment under shingles is not just stapled down. For the two layer felt method, Section R905.1.1.1 asks for annular ring or deformed shank nails with metal or plastic caps at least 1 inch across, spaced no more than 12 inches apart across the sheet and 6 inches apart along the end and side laps. Metal caps, at least 32 gage, are required where the ultimate design wind speed is 170 mph or more. The cap nail also has to go through the sheathing or at least 3/4 inch into it. Self-adhering membrane methods follow the maker's directions instead. Read synthetic underlayment vs felt to compare.

Drip edge is the metal strip at the roof edge. Section R905.2.8.5 requires it to be fastened mechanically no more than 12 inches apart, and no more than 4 inches apart where Vasd (the allowable design wind speed) is 110 mph or more, or where the mean roof height is over 33 feet. It must lap at least 3 inches. More in drip edge on a Florida roof. For the wind speeds in our area, see design wind speed in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

How to check

How can I tell if my roof was nailed right?

Look for signs on the roof, then ask your roofer for photos from before the shingles went down.

Shingles cover the nails, so most of the evidence is hidden once the job is done. Here is what you can do:

  1. Look for warning signs

    Raised bumps under shingles, shingles that will not lie flat, nail heads showing, or tabs lifting after a windy day can point to nails that were driven high, low or at an angle. See nail pops and ridge caps blown off.

  2. Ask for photos before the cover-up

    A permitted re-roof gets an in-progress inspection. Alachua County says the inspector looks at the deck mitigation after the old roof comes off, and the contractor confirms it on a roof inspection affidavit. Photos of the deck with new nails are the next best record.

  3. Ask which manufacturer sheet the roofer followed

    The warranty and the wind rating both depend on it. Ask to see it. Alachua County asks for the manufacturer instructions to be on the job site for the inspector.

  4. Get a written photo report on an older roof

    If a roof is a few years old and acting up, a written photo report shows what the surface looks like. Coastline does these inspections, and Josh reviews every job.

Related reading: shingle wind ratings in Florida and what to expect during a roof replacement.

Reviews

What homeowners say about working with Coastline

★★★★★
"From beginning to end the roof was done in 2 days. One night the crew stayed until 8:00. Each evening before leaving the crew ensured the yard was cleaned. We are so happy, and our roof is beautiful!"
Sharon T.Roof replacement
★★★★★
"Russell was great to work with. He was prompt in coming out to assess our roof and very knowledgeable. ... The job was complete in 2 days once work began."
Bryan S.Roof replacement
★★★★★
"Josh was especially amazing. He was professional, patient, and took the time to explain everything clearly so I felt comfortable and informed throughout the entire process. You can tell he genuinely cares about his customers and takes pride in his work."
Madison T.Roofing customer
Keep reading

Related guides

Roof Replacement

How Coastline replaces shingle, tile, metal and low-slope roofs.

See our roof replacement →

Nail Pops on Your Roof

What a raised nail does to the shingle above it.

Read about nail pops →

Florida Building Code Roofing Requirements

Where the roofing rules live and what they ask for.

Read the code overview →

Also see roofing over existing shingles in Florida and the best shingles for a Florida roof.

FAQ

More questions

Does Florida code require six nails per shingle?

No. Section R905.2.6 sets at least four fasteners per strip shingle or two per individual shingle, or more if the maker requires it. Six nails are required by makers in some cases, such as Atlas on slopes steeper than 21:12.

What is an 8d ring shank nail?

It is a nail with rings along its shank, which makes it harder to pull out than a smooth nail. The code spec for added deck nails is 0.113 inch across, at least 2 3/8 inches long, with 16 to 20 rings per inch and a head at least 0.280 inch across.

Can staples be used on a roof deck?

Florida Division of Emergency Management guidance says staples do not hold sheathing down well at any spacing. On the wind mitigation form, a deck held by staples or 6d nails at 6 inches on the edges and 12 inches in the field falls in the weakest category, answer A.

Do shingle nails go in the sealant strip?

Atlas says its nails may be placed in the sealant line. The bigger issue is height: Atlas puts nails 7 inches up from the bottom edge, and warns that high nail placement can separate the shingle layers. Placement rules vary by maker, so follow the sheet for the shingle being installed.

How do I know if the deck was re-nailed?

Ask the roofer for photos of the deck after the old roof came off. Many counties inspect the deck at an in-progress inspection and ask the contractor to sign an affidavit. Alachua County describes both. Your county may do it differently, so ask your building department.

Sources

  1. Alachua County Building Division: Roofing Replacement, Residential, quoting FBC Residential R905.1.1.1, R905.2.5, R905.2.6, R905.2.8.5 and FBC Existing Building 706.7 (2023)
  2. FRSA: New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition Is Now in Effect (February 13, 2024)
  3. Atlas Roofing: Pinnacle Pristine Installation Instructions (Fastening, Steep Slope)
  4. Florida Division of Emergency Management: Hurricane Retrofit Guide, Reroof Soon page
  5. Florida OIR: Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802, roof deck attachment question
  6. Florida OIR: OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) with edits shown, as published by Insurance Journal

Want your roof looked at properly?

Coastline gives you a written photo report and a straight answer on whether your roof needs a repair or a replacement. We work all over Florida, from our base in Palmetto.

Call (941) 896-7793 Text (941) 345-0072
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