Welcome to Best Roofing Nailer Reviews and Buying Guide of 2023. One of the most common DIY projects many homeowners undertake is roofing repairs and maintenance. This can range from a simple paint job to a complete roof replacement. Having the right tools will ensure that your DIY project is completed in time and within budget. One of the essential roofing repairs and maintenance tools you should invest in is a roofing nailer. The best roofing nailer is a powerful, efficient and durable tool that will give you a fair return on investment in the long term. Many units will cost less than hiring a general contractor and, can be used on future repairs and remodeling jobs.
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If you’re looking for a new roofing nailer for your DIY jobs or for your general contractor business, there are hundreds of models to choose from. Best Roofing Nailer Reviews and Buying Guide of 2023 will look at the top 5 nailers on the market plus offer exclusive advice on what to consider when buying your next tool. Each of the roofing nail guns in this review has been selected on a number of factors including useful features, brand and customer satisfaction.
Comparison Table For Top 5 Best Roofing Nailer
Roofing Nailer | Power Source | Operating Pressure | Magazine Capacity | Shipping | Editor's Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hitachi NV45AB2 7/8-Inch to 1-3/4-Inch Coil Roofing Nailer (Side Load) | Pneumatic | 70-120 psi | 120 nails | FREE Shipping | (4.4 / 5) | See on Amazon |
BOSTITCH RN46-1 3/4-Inch to 1-3/4-Inch Coil Roofing Nailer | Pneumatic | 70-120 psi | 120 nails | FREE Shipping | See on Amazon | |
Factory-Reconditioned BOSTITCH U/RN46-1 3/4-Inch to 1-3/4-Inch Coil Roofing Nailer | Pneumatic | 70-120 psi | 120 nails | See on Amazon | See on Amazon | |
WEN 61782 7/8-Inch to 1-3/4-Inch Coil Roofing Nailer with Magnesium Housing | Pneumatic | 70-120 psi | 120 nails | FREE Shipping | See on Amazon | |
MAX CN445R2 SuperRoofer Roofing Nailer | Pneumatic | 70-100 psi | 120 nails | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
Top 5 Best Roofing Nailer Reviews
Hitachi NV45AB2 7/8 Inch to 1-3/4 Inch Coil Roofing Nailer Review
Hitachi NV45AB2 – One of the popular roofing nail guns from Hitachi, the NV45AB2 is a pneumatic tool that offers balance between performance and ease of use. Its air operation mode ensures that you can use it in all worksite conditions without fail. This pneumatic tool has an operating pressure range of 70 to 120PSI. It’s a coil type air gun and can fire nails of between 7/8” and 1-3/4” length and has a capacity of 120 roofing nails. The coil magazine is side loaded making it easy to reload. Weighing just 5.5 pounds and made from high quality metal, this is one of the lightest and most durable units in the market today. The body has a rubber coating which keeps it from slipping off roofs when not in use. Its worth pointing out that the body has plastic parts which might break if accidentally dropped. This nail gun’s non-slip rubber covering prevents accidental drops when you’re working on your roof.
What customers are saying?
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Bostitch RN46-1 ¾ Inch to 1-3/4 Inch Coil Roofing Nailer Review
Bostitch RN46-1 – Possibly one of the most sought after pneumatic roofing nail guns from Bostitch the RN46-1 features in many roofing nailer reviews. A powerful nail gun, the RN46-1 will generate forces of up to 410 in/lbs when operating at 100PSI and up to 100 nails per minute. This roofing nailer can fire nails of lengths between ¾” and 1-3/4”. It’s a coil nailer with a magazine capacity of up to 120 nails. The coil canister is side loaded for fast reloading. A zero nail lock feature prevents dry firing when the magazine is empty saving on air pressure and notifying you when you need to reload. It’s a lightweight tool weighing 4.8 pounds. One feature that makes the rn46-1 roofing nailer from Bostitch stand out is the two firing modes. You can choose between contact trip and sequential trip firing depending on precision and speed needed to complete the task at hand. A small design flaw we noticed is that the exhaust direction isn’t adjustable. It’s not something that will affect the tool’s performance. However, caution must be observed to avoid pointing it at your face.
What customers are saying?
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Factory Reconditioned Bostitch U/Rn46-1 ¾ Inch to 1-3/4 Inch Coil Roofing Nailer Review
Although the Bostitch U/RN46-1 coil roofing nailer is a factory reconditioned tool, it easily competes against many of the available band new nailers from top brands. It comes in a compact 10X6X11 inch magnesium frame that weighs 4.9 pounds. Like most roofing nail guns, it has a coil canister magazine that accommodates nails of lengths between ¾” and 1-3/4”. It has a single action side load canister that makes it easy to reload nails. The zero nail lock feature prevents dry firing when the magazine runs out of nails and indicates that you need to reload the canister. This powerful air powered roofing nailer is capable of delivering 410 in/lbs making it a good option for a variety of jobs. Other features include tool free depth control, rubber grip handle and shingle guide. Being a reconditioned tool, its possible that the tool you get might have defects such as leaking air. If so, it’s advisable that you return it for repair, replacement or refund.
What customers are saying?
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WEN 61782 7/8 To 1-3/4 Inch Coil Roofing Nailer with Magnesium Housing Review
The WEN 61782 roofing nailer comes in a strong magnesium body that can withstand harsh working environments. It’s an air powered roofing nail gun with an operating pressure of 70 to 120PSI. This coil nailer has a high capacity magazine that can hold up to 120 roofing nails of 7/8” to 1-3/4 inch lengths. The nail gun has adjustable depth control allowing you to control how far in the nail goes. Adjustable exhaust helps to clear dust and debris from the working area. This tool operates in contact trip mode only which is ideal if safety and precision are more important compared to driving in nails fast. A no nail trip mechanism also ensures that you know exactly when to reload the magazine. One issue that users pointed out is that it might require patience getting used to the double fire trigger.
What customers are saying?
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Max CN445R2 SuperRoofer Roofing Nailer Review
The CN445R2 SuperRoofer is a pneumatic roofing nailer with an operating pressure of 100PSI. Weighing 7.7 pounds, this roofing nail gun will fire nails of lengths between ¾” and 1-3/4”. It’s a coil nailer with a canister magazine capacity of 120 nails. One reason why this tool features in many roofing nailer reviews is a patented maintenance free end cap filter. This captures tiny dust and debris particles thus extending the nailer’s lifespan. It also has a patent pending tar resistant nose which is designed to resist tar up to 4X longer than competing tools. This ensures that the roofing nailer remains as easy to maintain as possible. One issue some users point out is that although its one of the most efficient roofing nailers they own, it’s a bit heavy. You can avoid fatigue by taking short breaks if you’re working on large roofing projects.
What customers are saying?
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Top Ranked Roofing Nailers Summary
Roof repair and maintenance is one of the most common home restoration jobs home owners do. Investing in the best roofing nailer will ensure that you complete the job at had fast and safely. Roofing nail guns are designed to be lightweight, easy to use, durable and extremely efficient. As you might have noticed many are air powered tools with high capacity coil magazines.
Each nailer is however unique based on the features the manufacturer includes. If you want the best tool, it’s important that you find the one with the best features from the 5 best roofing nailer reviews above and match it with your budget.
Others Bestseller Roofing Nailer Reviews
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Click here for Others Bestseller Roofing Nailer ReviewsBenefits of using roofing nailers
Roofing nailers are a necessity when it comes to roof installation, repair and maintenance. Compared to using the traditional hammer, the nail gun has several advantages which include the following.
- A roofing nail gun completes the job faster. Depending on the firing action you choose, the roofing nailer will significantly cut down on the time spent on a job. It takes a single squeeze on the trigger to fire a nail through the roofing material. On the other hand, it takes a few hammer swings to achieve the same. Some nail guns are designed to fire up to 100 roofing nails per minute. This is much more than you can achieve with your hammer.
- Roofing nailers are designed to be safe. Many of the roofing nail guns on the market today have undergone rigorous research, design and testing to make them safer. Some will only fire a nail when the nose comes into contact with a surface. In addition, in case of a jam, these nailers are designed to make removal of the jammed nail safe and easy.
- Many of the roofing nailers feature a high capacity coil canister. If you were using your hammer to fire nails, it would require hauling a bucket of nails onto the roof. The roofing nailer makes it easy to carry your “hammer” and nails within one unit.
- The roofing nail gun usually comes in a compact body. This makes it easy to work in tight spaces where swinging your hammer at an angle would be impossible.
- When using a hammer to fire nails, it’s difficult to accurately control depth. Roofing nail guns feature adjustable depth which gives you better control over the results the tool delivers.
Types of roofing nailers
Roofing nailers work more or less the same way. In addition, they’re designed to fire nails with lengths between ¾” and 1-3/4”. You can however differentiate among nail guns on the basis of their power source (electric or pneumatic). Here are the main differences, advantages and disadvantages of electric and pneumatic roofing nail guns.
- Electric roofing nailers are powered by DC power sources. DC roofing nail guns run on batteries. The common battery voltages are 24V and 18V. These cordless nailers are lighter and easier to maintain compared to their pneumatic counterparts. Besides being lighter, the other main advantage electric nailers have over their pneumatic counterparts is that they’re usually ready to use out of the box. Simply charge the battery and you’re ready to start working. One major disadvantage is that the batteries will require regular charging especially when working on large jobs.
- Pneumatic roofing nailers operate on pressurized air that’s supplied by an air compressor. Many of these units have an operating pressure range between 70 and 120 PSI. This makes them compatible with many of the portable air compressors on the market today. Compared to electric nailers, these air powered tools are lighter and more durable. They’re also easier to maintain since they don’t have electric components which can easily heat up during use.
Many pneumatic nailers are also more powerful compared to their electric counterparts. The major disadvantage of pneumatic nailers is that they might require investing in an air compressor, hoses and couplers before you can use them.
Besides categorizing roofing nailers on the basis of power source, they can also be categorized based on the magazine type. Majority of roofing nailers have coil canister magazines. However, you can also find units with stick type magazines.
How to choose the best roofing nailer
The roofing nailer is a power tool designed to fire ¾ inch to 1-3/4 inch nails. It’s specially designed for roofing jobs that include installation of siding, shingles and trims. Many of these tools are designed to be powerful enough to fire nails through a variety of materials including wood, asphalt and metal.
Investing in the best roofing nailer has two major advantages. First, its one of the essential tools you’ll need for any major roof installation or repairs job. Second, this tool is usually cheaper than what you’d otherwise spend hiring a general contractor. You can use it for future roofing jobs without having to spend more money. So what should you consider before you buy a new roofing nail gun?
Electric vs. pneumatic
Electric roofing nailers run on batteries. They’re highly portable and usually lighter compared to pneumatic nailers. This convenience however comes at a price. They’re less powerful and usually more expensive. On the other hand, they’re ready to use immediately you charge the battery. Air powered nailers require you have an air compressor with the recommended PSI rating to operate.
Coil vs. stick magazine
When it comes to roofing nailers, coil magazines are preferred over their stick magazine counterparts. Coil magazines usually have a higher nail capacity and tend to jam less. They are however often difficult to load in many instances. This shortcoming has been uniquely addressed by some of the top brands like Bostitch which has a single action side loading coil magazine. Still on the magazine type, you should also consider the magazine capacity. A higher capacity magazine enables you to operate the roofing nailer longer. However, when fully loaded, it makes the tool heavier.
Nailing speed
Roofing nail guns can fire up to 100 nails per minute. However, this rate depends on a number of factors which include the material you’re fastening, type of nails you’re using, the nail gin’s power and the firing mode you’re using among others. If you want to alternate between fast nailing speeds to accurate but slower nailing, a roofing nailer with dual firing modes is recommended.
Weight and design
Today’s roofing nailers are being designed to be lighter and more compact. Remember that you might be using your tool for extended periods and on elevated surfaces. You’ll therefore want to invest in a compact unit that’s lightweight and ergonomically designed. You’ll suffer less strain when working for extended periods and, be assured that the nail gun will get the job done. Another important design feature is the handle and the tool’s weight distribution. Look for tools with ergonomic rubber coated handles. These are more comfortable and have a firm grip. Also, look for units with their weight evenly distributed across the frame. For example, a magazine that’s placed closer to the handle than towards the nose offers better balance and less strain on the arms.
Safety and self maintenance features
Every tool if not handled well is dangerous. With that said, your roofing nail gun should include features that make it safe to use and, protect it from premature damage. Many of the nail guns on the market today will only fire when the nose is in contact with the roofing material being fastened. Another good safety feature to look out for is the anti dry firing which locks the tool when the magazine is empty. This makes it easy to know when to reload the magazine and also prevents unnecessary loss of power by draining the battery or drawing pressurized air from your compressor. You should also look at how easy it is to remedy nail jams in a particular unit.
Brand and pricing
The brand of the roofing nailer will affect a number of important factors such as the quality of the tool, useful features installed, accessories if any included and the warranty offered. If you want the best roofing nailer, it’s important that you invest in a reputable brand. Each brand might have a number of models on the market. You can make use of the best roofing nailer reviews to get the top model based on real customer feedback. Price is another factor you’ll need to consider before buying your roofing nailer. Some of the leading units are quite expensive. If you’re on a tight budget but want the best quality, you might consider investing in a factory remodeled tool.
Tips for using a roofing nailer
Like with any power tool, the lifespan of your roofing nail gun depends on how well you use it. The following are basic tips for using your roofing nailer.
1. Make use of the user manual
Each roofing nail gun comes with its user manual. The user manual works like your personal guide on how to use the tool. Even if you own tow seemingly similar nailers from the same brand, make sure to use each model as per its user manual. The manual is usually supplied along with the tool. If you happen to misplace yours, you can get one from the manufacturer’s website.
2. Oil your pneumatic nailer often
If you own an air powered nail gun, you’ll need to lubricate the moving parts often. This keeps everything moving smoothly. The main area that need lubricating is the air fitting. Only use oil tool lubricating oil or any light oil for the job. If you don’t use your tool often, lubricate it prior and immediately after using it.
3. Use air compressors with the recommended pressure output
If you’re using an air powered roofing nail gun, be sure to check its operating pressure. For example, if your nail gun is rated at 100 PSI, you’ll need to use a compressor with 100 plus PSI rating. Remember that you might be using the nail gun for extended periods so a compressor with a large capacity is recommended for continuous use.
4. Tighten screws and bolts often
Roofing nailers vibrate when in use. This can loosen the screws and bolts that fasten its different parts together. It’s essential that you periodically tighten them every once in a while to ensure that the tool doesn’t fall apart when in use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Where can I buy the best roofing nailer?
2. Should I buy an electric or pneumatic roofing nailer?
3. What does the warranty cover and how long is the warranty period?
4. I ordered a roofing nailer and it arrived damaged. What should I do?
5. Are reconditioned roofing nailers inferior to brand new ones?
Conclusion
Finding the best roofing nailer can be a tough task given the numerous brands and models on the market today. It requires considering different factors such as the type, price, features and warranty provided.
Each roofing nail gun comes with unique features which make it stand out from the others. To make it easy for you, we’ve included the 5 best roofing nailer reviews based on price, customer satisfaction, efficiency and number of unique features. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find the right tool for your roofing installation and maintenance jobs.
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