Best Roofing Nailers - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide
by Scott Miller Updated on
Putting in a new roof is not something that is done frequently and if you want to do this, you will require a very good tool.
If you are a professional you need to have a high quality tool, but if you plan to work with roofing nailer occasionally, then you can make an easier choice.
You can pick a roofing nailer designed to handle the shorter, flatter headed nails used in roofing.
We have tested some of the models available and made a short description of those that we considered the best.
What we paid special attention to was the tool’s application, features, and price and we put together a buyers’ guide with additional information related to it.
We will consider the tools designed for DIY user, and our top pick has everything he/she might want in a roofing nailer.
The Hitachi NV45AB2 has enough power and consistent quality.
Being that working on a roof is actually working on a tricky environment, and the dropping of the tool might mean climbing down a ladder while thinking whether it broke or not, the producers of the NV45AB2 had that in mind when creating this lightweight and well balanced model which is ideal for easy handling.
Reloading it is easy and it is very quiet making this tool rightfully the best of the best.
This is combined with quality performance and reliability, but it comes at a pretty high price.
The runner-up is the Bostitch model which is claimed to deliver professional results.
What is even better, it comes at affordable price.
The RN46-1 model has everything a roofing nailer should have and is available to the majority of users without having to worry too much about their budget.
Its performance and easy usage on the roof is almost the same as our top pick’s.
Furthermore, it is a lightweight tool which is well balanced and easy to load.
The great feature is a lockout mechanism to prevent inadvertent firing.
Now, you are wondering why it is not our top pick.
The reason for this is the nose which is too touchy that you need to be a professional to really prevent double fires.
It also blows out the trigger pretty easily and this will not be an issue for professionals, but can be irritating for occasional users.
As we mention DEWALT, we expect the tool to be among the first two, but this is not the case with the DeWalt DW45RN.
This tool does not come with a couple of features that ought to be considered standards for roofing nailers which caused it be only number four on our list.
The tool is pneumatic, meaning that it requires an air hose and an air compressor.
In the past, cordless models were pretty unreliable but that is not the case anymore, being that it is quite risky using a pneumatic nailer on the roof.
The tool lacks safety hook and sequential fire mode.
When the performance is in question, it has to be said that it is of high quality.
The Freeman PCN45 is a good roofing nailer but the fact that it is on the last position proves that its performance is not as great as it is the case with other models.
The tool is very affordable for a roofing nailer and the low price is usually followed by the lack of quality and durability.
We can say that this tool is not worth considering as it inaccurate, prone to misfires and will not shoot short nails.
Our conclusion is that this is a terrible roofing nailer and should be avoided.
Not everyone needs a roofing nailer, and if you are reading this, you are probably in need of one.
Buying a roofing nailer is a big decision as the safety is very important when it comes to it and we decided to give you more information about which factors to consider when purchasing it.
Roofing nailers are specialized tools built around nails specially designed to handle roofing.
We are sure that with all the information gathered here you will get the tool which will be worth the money and something that you will not have to think about for a few years.
How to determine which is the right nail gun for the right roof?
A roofing nailer is the tool used for roof replacing and you have to think about which one will be useful for your roof.
It is believed that your roof is going to remain the same size and in the same place over the next period of time, so you should have in mind the access to and the size of your roof to be able to determine what kind of roofing nailer you need to buy.
Which one is better: cordless or pneumatic?
If you are thinking which one to buy, a pneumatic or a cordless model, we can offer you a short comparison of them and you will be able to decide which one suits you best.
Pneumatic roofing nailers use compressed air so they require a hose connecting the gun to the source of the compressed air.
On the other hand, a cordless roofing nailer uses canisters of butane gas to fill an internal chamber so the gas pushes a piston onto the nail head.
Pneumatic nailers would provide consistent pressure over a longer period of time, while the other type requires a constant change of gas canisters.
The tool is frequently used on high locations so getting the air compressor up to where you are working can be dangerous.
If you work with cordless roofing nailers you do not have to worry about the location of the hose.
What should I know about the versatility of materials?
When it comes to the versatility of materials, you have to be aware of the material your shingles are made of as it is usually determined by the climate you live in and you will be in need to find a roofing nailer that can accommodate the ones you will install.
A roofing nailer is a pricey tool, and we suggest that you look for models that offer more versatility, as the producers might make something more developed in the near future.
How important is the ease of loading?
When the shopping of nail guns is in question, it is important to make sure that it will not be a difficult task to load.
The more time consuming it is, the slower the work will be done.
Especially if you plan to work at height, ability to easily pick something up that you have dropped can be of great significance and would make your job more efficient and faster.
Do weight and comfort go together?
The roofing nailer is designed for on-the-roof portability, so it has to be light enough and compact at the same time.
You can determine whether it is comfortable enough by testing models in the local store.
What about the price?
Roofing nailers are tools which can be pretty expensive, especially if you are looking for a quality tool.
We would suggest you get the quality tool rather than a less expensive one.
Those tools which are low cost are not designed for a professional, so if you know what key features are that you need, you can get the best deal possible.
Conclusion
If you take into consideration our opinion, we can say that the Hitachi NV45AB2 is the best among roofing nailers.
It is definitely the tool which will give excellent results.
The Bostitch RN46-1 has great quality while the WEN 61782 is a great backup or front-line nailer if you have just a section to replace.
We have also mentioned the DeWalt DW45RN – a pneumatic nailer in a cordless world.
Since you have gone through the reviews, we believe that they were useful to you and that you will be able to determine which one is the best roofing nailer for your needs.