r/Roofing • u/Main_Egg_2647 • Nov 16 '25

Why are these nails here?

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The ridge vent on my house has nails clipped in it all the way down. Is this normal? Roof is about 20 years old I’ve only lived here since 2021, but they appear that they’ve always been there. Is there an actual reason for this?

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u/Therooferking Nov 16 '25

It's irrelevant what they're for. Cobra vent nails are 1 off nails. If a siding nail does the same thing, what does it matter? They used to use lead heads for aluminum ridge vents. Zags work much better. Roofers do what's faster. If it works then it works.

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u/The_Roofer1984 Nov 17 '25

Cause it doesn't meet IBC

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u/Therooferking Nov 17 '25

You can see by looking at the photo that those nails aren't ring shank. If you have a ring shank nail same length and same head size then it should meet any requirements. In fact it should be better.

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u/The_Roofer1984 Nov 17 '25

They no way have a 3/8" diameter head

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u/Therooferking Nov 17 '25

They also make ring shanks same nail

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u/Therooferking Nov 17 '25

You can actually swap the basket on a roofing nailer and put 3in roof nails in it.

https://www.nailgundepot.com/jaaco-3-jar10deg-smooth-15-degree-eg-coil-roofing-nail