Staples are not recommended by Hodges Roofing and most industry organizations. Staples made of at least 16-gauge galvanized steel with a minimum crown of 15/16” have been and continue to be used by some applicators to install shingles. If staples are used to install GAF shingles, the manufacturer’s limited shingle warranty will remain in effect. However, any problems resulting from the use of staples, including wind blow-off, are not covered by the warranty.

What Should Be Used?
To fasten GAF shingles to acceptable decks use zinc coated steel or aluminum; 10-12 gauge; smooth, barbed or deformed shank roofing nails with heads 3/8” to 7/16” in diameter. The nails must be long enough to penetrate at least 3/4″ into wood decks or just through plywood or OSB decks. Hodges Roofing only uses nails.

Does Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Recognize the Use Of Staples?
UL, which historically used staples for wind speed testing…  up to 60 mph, did so only because properly installed staples had no bearing on wind performance up to those speeds. Since building codes have been increasingly requiring the use of nails, specifically for high- wind areas, UL has begun to perform its higher wind speed testing only using nails. Many current UL wind listings are based on using nails.