Roofing Glossary
High Nailing
High nailing is the installation defect of driving shingle nails above the manufacturer's nailing zone — too close to the top of the shingle. It is one of the most common shortcuts in roofing, and one of the most consequential.
Nails driven high miss the double-thickness reinforced area and may catch only the top edge of the shingle, or miss the shingle below entirely. The result: shingles held by a fraction of their designed fastening, prone to slipping down the slope and blowing off in wind that a properly nailed roof would shrug off.
High nailing is usually a speed shortcut — nail guns fired quickly without aligning to the zone. It also voids manufacturer warranties, since the installation does not match the tested assembly.
Why It Matters
Entire slopes of high-nailed shingles can fail in a single storm, and the defect is invisible from the ground. It is a workmanship issue, which means the contractor's quality control — not the shingle brand — is your protection.
Questions about your own roof? Request a free estimate or call Nucci Brothers Roofing at (301) 458-1003.
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