Are exposed nails on a new roof acceptable?
Spotting exposed nail heads on a newly installed roof immediately sparks worry about future leaks. Because it is hard to tell if missed nails are unavoidable or a valid complaint, people struggle to demand a resolution without fear of being fed a line of BS.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Are exposed nails on a new roof acceptable?
- 1Applying roofing tar or sealant directly over the exposed nail heads as a temporary fix.Did this help you?
- 2Calling a professional roofer back out to properly place the nails under the tabs and re-seal them.Did this help you?
- 3Asking online forums for an outside perspective before complainingDid this help you?
- 4Asking the foreman or contractor in charge to explainDid this help you?
- 5Having contractors pull or cut the missed nailsDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“New roof just installed. These shingles are just below the dormer and show the nail heads exposed.”source ↗
“I’m worried the nails will eventually leak over time.”source ↗
“Are the missed nails something unavoidable or should i be asking them to resolve?”source ↗
“This is my first time dealing with a roof replacement so I’m trying to figure out what is acceptable.”source ↗
“Otherwise it can be hard to tell if my complaint is valid or not. I could get fed a line of bs and be none the wiser.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Shingles lifting around chimney flashing
- 5Is a gap in roof sheathing at the ridge okay before shingling?
- 21Uneven shingles and bulges after new roof replacement
- 3Exposed wood corner where new and old roof meet
- 9Roofers left loose nails everywhere
- 9How to clean dark roof stains without ruining the shingles