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In the field of building waterproofing engineering, roofing felt, as a traditional and reliable waterproof material, has long protected the dryness and safety of roofs and floors. The key "supporting role" that enables roofing felt to function effectively—roofing felt nails, though small in size, undertakes the core mission of securing roofing felt and ensuring the stability of the waterproofing system. They are indispensable basic components in waterproofing construction.

I. The "Customized Design" of Roofing Felt Nails: Born for Waterproofing

Roofing felt nails are not ordinary nails. Their structure and material are customized to meet the needs of "adapting to roofing felt and resisting moisture," with every design detail serving the reliability of waterproofing projects.

1. Material: Rust-Proof for Long-Term Durability

Roofing felt is in long-term contact with rainwater and moisture. If the nails used for fixation rust, they will not only lose their fixing force but also the rust may damage the waterproof structure of the roofing felt. Therefore, roofing felt nails are mostly made of two types of corrosion-resistant materials:

• Galvanized steel: Through hot-dip galvanizing or cold galvanizing processes, a zinc layer is formed on the surface of the steel nails, isolating moisture and air. This greatly improves rust resistance, making them suitable for most ordinary waterproofing scenarios.

• Stainless steel: Made of 304 or 316 stainless steel, it has stronger corrosion resistance. Even in harsh environments prone to moisture such as high humidity areas and coastal regions, it can maintain performance for a long time, making it suitable for projects requiring long waterproofing life.

2. Shape: Adapted to Roofing Felt to Avoid Damage

Roofing felt has a relatively soft texture. Improper nail design can easily pierce the felt or cause uneven local stress, leading to water leakage risks. The shape design of roofing felt nails solves this problem effectively:

• Nail cap: Adopts a round or disc-shaped large nail cap, usually with a diameter of 10-15 mm, which is 2-3 times larger than that of ordinary nails. The large nail cap increases the contact area with the roofing felt, preventing the cap from pressing into the felt and causing damage. At the same time, it enhances the stability of fixation and prevents the edges of the felt from curling up.

• Nail shank: Mostly designed with threads. The threads can increase the friction between the nail and the base (such as wood boards and concrete), making the fixation more firm. Even in case of slight vibration or temperature changes, it is not easy to loosen. The length of the nail shank is adjusted according to the thickness of the roofing felt and the base material, ranging from 15 mm to 50 mm. This ensures that it can penetrate the roofing felt and go 3-5 mm deep into the base, avoiding the problem of "only fixing the felt without rooting in the base."

II. Application Scenarios of Roofing Felt Nails: Where Waterproofing is Needed, There They Are

From building roofs to underground spaces, as long as roofing felt waterproofing construction is involved, roofing felt nails play the role of "fixers." Although the application logic is consistent across different scenarios, there are specific focuses for each.

1. Roof Waterproofing: The "First Line of Defense" Against Wind and Rain

The roof is the area directly exposed to rainwater, and the fixing effect of roofing felt directly affects the waterproofing life of the roof. In roof felt laying, the use of roofing felt nails must follow the principle of "dense edges and key joints":

• During laying, along the long side edge of the roofing felt, drive one roofing felt nail every 20-30 cm; since the short side edge is the joint of the felt, the interval should be shortened to 15-20 cm to prevent rainwater from seeping in through the joints.

• For sloped roofs, due to the gravity effect that may cause the roofing felt to slide down, in addition to edge fixation, a row of roofing felt nails should be added every 50-60 cm in the middle of the felt to enhance the overall fixing force and prevent the felt from shifting.

2. Floor Moisture-Proofing: Protecting the Dryness of Underground Spaces

Floors in basements, garages, warehouses, and other places are easily affected by underground moisture. When laying roofing felt moisture-proof layers, the role of roofing felt nails is to prevent the felt from shifting due to floor settlement, personnel movement, or equipment rolling:

• In floor construction, the spacing of roofing felt nails can be appropriately widened to 30-40 cm, but it is necessary to ensure that each corner of each piece of felt is fixed with nails to prevent moisture from seeping in due to curled corners.

• If the base is concrete, longer roofing felt nails (30-50 mm) should be selected to ensure they can penetrate the concrete surface and be firmly fixed; if the base is wooden flooring, shorter nails (15-25 mm) should be chosen to prevent the nails from penetrating the wood and affecting the underlying structure.

3. Temporary Repairs: Quickly Containing Water Leakage Risks

When the roofing felt has local damage (such as small cracks or holes), roofing felt nails can be used for temporary repairs: cut a piece of felt patch slightly larger than the damaged area, cover it on the damaged part, and fix it along the edge of the patch with roofing felt nails. This can quickly prevent the water leakage problem from expanding and buy time for subsequent formal maintenance.

III. Common Misuses of Roofing Felt Nails: These Mistakes Will Render Waterproofing "Invalid"

Many construction workers ignore the details of using roofing felt nails, leading to hidden dangers in waterproofing projects. The following three common misunderstandings need to be avoided:

1. Random Nail Selection: Replacing Roofing Felt Nails with Ordinary Nails

Some people use ordinary iron nails or cement nails instead of roofing felt nails for convenience, but they are unaware that ordinary nails have no anti-corrosion design and will rust in a short period. This not only makes them lose their fixing force but also the rust will corrode the roofing felt, forming new water leakage points. In addition, the small nail caps of ordinary nails can easily pierce the roofing felt, directly damaging the waterproof structure.

2. Chaotic Spacing: Both Too Sparse and Too Dense Are Problematic

• Too sparse spacing: Insufficient fixing points will cause the roofing felt to bulge and shift under the influence of wind and temperature changes, and rainwater will seep into the base from the bulged parts.

• Too dense spacing: Excessive nails will create a large number of holes in the roofing felt. Even if the nail caps can cover them, water leakage may still occur in the long run due to aging and loosening of the nail caps.

3. Improper Operation: Hitting Too Hard or at a Slant Angle

• Hitting too hard: Will cause the nail cap to break the roofing felt or bend the nail shank, making it impossible to be firmly embedded in the base and prone to loosening later.

• Hitting at a slant angle: The nail enters the base at an angle, which greatly reduces the fixing force and may pierce the side of the roofing felt, forming hidden water leakage risks.

IV. Purchase and Storage of Roofing Felt Nails: Choose and Store Properly for Peace of Mind

To ensure roofing felt nails play their best role, attention to details is required in every step from purchase to storage.

1. Purchase: Choose Based on Scenarios and Check Quality

• Select material according to the scenario: For ordinary roofs or dry environments, galvanized steel roofing felt nails are sufficient; for coastal areas, high-humidity environments, or underground spaces, stainless steel roofing felt nails are preferred.

• Select length according to the base: For wooden bases, choose short nails of 15-25 mm; for concrete bases, choose long nails of 30-50 mm to ensure the nail shank can go deep enough into the base.

• Check quality: When purchasing, check whether the nail cap is flat and free of deformation, whether the threads on the nail shank are clear, and whether the galvanized layer or stainless steel surface is free of scratches and missing plating. Avoid buying low-quality products.

2. Storage: Keep Moisture-Proof and Prevent Collision

If roofing felt nails are not stored properly, they are prone to rust or deformation. The following points should be noted during storage:

• Store in a dry and well-ventilated warehouse. Avoid direct contact with the ground or walls; place them on wooden boards or plastic boards to prevent moisture.

• Stack them by specification and seal them in plastic bags or cartons to prevent dust and moisture from entering. Avoid stacking too high to prevent the nails below from being crushed and deformed.

Roofing felt nails, though seemingly insignificant, are actually the "lifeline" of the roofing felt waterproofing system. Every link, from their design, selection, and use to storage, directly affects the quality and service life of the waterproofing project. In building waterproofing construction, only by attaching importance to these "small nails" can roofing felt truly play the role of a "waterproof barrier" and protect the dryness and safety of the building.