The reason they want you to use felt nails is to prevent blow offs if left exposed or high wind areas.
Roofing felt nails vs staples.
Others will tell you that cap nails are more effective.
For example according to the table 7 16 osb oriented strand board wall sheathing may be fastened with 6d common box or casing nails or 1 3 4 16 gage staples at 6 on center at the panel edges and 12 on center in the field special conditions apply for shear walls.
For one staples cost less than nails adding to their profit per roof.
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.
Staples also offered excellent holding strength and could be installed over a larger roof area quickly.
On an 8 12 or flatter staples are fine.
Staples are not recommended by hodges roofing and most industry organizations.
Roofing staple guns were light and easy to use over the newer and heavier roofing nail guns that were coming onto the market.
After all it s no surprise roofers loved staples for attaching shingles to roofing.
In the past roofers preferred staple guns for attaching shingles to roof sheeting.
Staples can be used for tacking it down but not recommended to hold.
The purpose of the caps is not for it to perform better.
After the house is roofed it does not matter what he used.
Caps hold the felt better and hence on a steeper slope the felt will hold better to the house while he is roofing it.
Research on use of staples vs nails in asphalt shingle roofs.
The roofing nail sketch of common roof shingle nailing errors shown here is a detail from fema s asphalt shingle roofing for high wind regions 2.
Similarly 19 32 osb roof sheathing would be 8d.
Many roofers will tell you that staples are fine for installing the synthetic underlayment.
In the past when it came to the debate of roofing nails versus staples the industry was split down the middle.
When the shingles are installed the felt is not going anywhere.
Typical wood frame home with osb wall and roof sheathing.
Cap nails are typically made of steel and feature a plastic cap to prevent roof leaks hence their name.
Staples cost less than nails offer exceptional holding strength and cover a greater area of space with a more versatile and compact collation.
Both options often depend on the slope of the roof itself.