Shingle nail pops are roofing nails that have worked up out of the deck and lift the shingle above them into a small bump. The usual causes are nails that barely grip the deck, miss the framing, were not driven flush, or sit in decking that swells and shrinks with the seasons. The signs are small bumps and tears, and the right repair is a new fastener in a fresh spot, not hammering the old one back. Left alone, the nail head can tear through the shingle and let water in around the shank. This page is general information; your roofer makes the final call on your home.
On this page: Signs · Causes · What to check · Repairs · Code basis · When to call
Signs of nail pops
- Small raised bumps in the shingles, sometimes in a regular line across a slope.
- Small holes or tears where a nail head has pushed through.
- Drips that show up at random spots on the ceiling, not under a vent, chimney or wall.
- Lifted shingle edges near a raised nail, which can let wind get underneath.
Why roofing nails back out
- Too short. A nail that does not reach far enough into the deck has little to hold.
- Missing the deck or framing, or landing in a gap between boards.
- Under-driven nails left standing above the shingle surface.
- Deck movement. Wood decking expands and shrinks with moisture and temperature. Over many seasons that movement can work a weak nail loose.
- Old plank decking with wide gaps, common on older homes that were re-covered rather than re-decked.
What you can check
- From the ground, scan each slope with binoculars for bumps and small dark holes, especially on slopes that get the most sun.
- In the attic, look at the underside of the deck. Nail shanks that missed the rafters or are rusted are common, and a wet stain around one nail is a strong clue.
- Match the drip to the spot. A stain with no vent, chimney or wall above it fits a nail pop.
Do not walk the roof to press on bumps; you can crack the shingle and fall.
The repair, from one nail to a whole slope
| Repair | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Unseal the shingle above, remove the backed-out nail, drive a new fastener in an adjacent spot, seal the old hole and hand-seal the shingle | A few scattered pops. This is the method ARMA describes. |
| Replace shingles that are torn or cracked | The nail head wore through the shingle. |
| Re-nail or replace deck sheathing | Fasteners will not hold in the existing deck. |
| Replace the roof with new decking where needed | Fastener failure is widespread and the deck is the cause. |
Fixes that fail: hammering the nail back down, dabbing sealant over the exposed nail head, and face-nailing through the shingle.
Code and manufacturer basis
The 2024 IRC, section R905.2.5, calls for galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum or copper roofing nails of at least 12 gauge with a 3/8-inch head, long enough to go at least 3/4 inch into the roof sheathing or all the way through it. Section R905.2.6 requires at least four fasteners per strip shingle, or the manufacturer’s count if higher. Owens Corning’s Duration instructions say fasteners must penetrate at least 3/4 inch into the wood deck, or through the deck by at least 1/4 inch. ARMA lists repairing incorrectly seated or backed-out fasteners among normal shingle repairs.
When to call a roofer
Call when you see several bumps, any tear, or a stain without an obvious source. A few nail pops are a short repair. A roof with pops on every slope may be telling you something about the deck or the original nailing (see swollen or buckled decking and high-nailed shingles), and that is worth knowing before the next storm season. If your shingles are also shedding granules or forming bubbles, see granule loss and blistering. For leaks at a vent, see pipe boot leaks. The roof problems guide lists everything we cover.
Ask us about nail pops
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. We lift sample shingles, photograph the nailing and tell you whether this is a repair or a pattern. Colorado Springs area: (719) 488-2800 or a free inspection. Denver metro: (303) 209-0152 or a free Denver inspection. Austin: (512) 610-5897 or a free Austin inspection. Same-business-day reply.
Sources: 2024 IRC Chapter 9, sections R905.2.5 and R905.2.6 (UpCodes); ARMA, Asphalt Shingle Roofs Are Repairable; Owens Corning Duration installation instructions (fasteners).
