If the same slope keeps shedding shingles after every North Texas wind, high nailing shingles is one of the first causes a roofer will look for. When nails are driven above the manufacturer's nail line, they miss the shingle underneath, so each piece is held by one layer instead of two and peels off in moderate gusts.
Tired of picking shingles out of the yard? Call Cannon Roofing at (940) 627-1045, open 24/7, or send a note through our contact page and we will find out why they keep coming loose.
What high nailing actually means
Modern architectural shingles are made in two laminated layers. Manufacturers print or mark a narrow nailing zone, often a reinforced strip, a short distance above the exposed edge. A nail driven in that zone goes through the top shingle and also through the top edge of the shingle below it, where the two overlap. That double catch is what the wind rating on the bundle assumes.
A high nail sits above the zone. It still pins the shingle it goes through, but it misses the course underneath. The lower shingle is then held only by its own nails and the sealant strip. Once the sealant lets go, the tab can lift, flex and tear loose.
Why installers nail high
Usually it is speed. A nail gun held at a comfortable arm's reach lands wherever the installer's hand falls, and on a steep or hot roof that drifts upward. Occasionally a crew is unfamiliar with a shingle whose nailing zone sits in a different spot than the product they used last month. Either way, it is an installation defect, not a shingle defect.
How high nailing shingles show up on your roof
High nailing hides well. From the street, the roof looks normal until the wind finds it. Common patterns include:
- Shingles blowing off in winds that leave neighbors' roofs untouched.
- Repeated losses on the same slope, usually the one facing the prevailing storm wind.
- Tabs lifting at the edges and flapping, even where none have gone missing yet.
- Shingles that slide down slightly, leaving an uneven line across a course.
- Replacement shingles from a past repair coming loose again.
If one or more of those sounds familiar, our write-up on repairing missing shingles explains the short-term fix, but the underlying nail placement still has to be checked.
How a roofer diagnoses it
High nailing cannot be confirmed from the ground. It takes a careful look on the roof.
Looking at the blow-off spots
Where a shingle has already torn away, the course beneath is exposed. A roofer can see exactly where the nails went. Nail holes or nail heads sitting well above the marked zone, with no holes where the zone should be, tell most of the story.
Lifting a few sealed shingles
On undamaged areas, a roofer gently breaks the seal on a small number of shingles across different slopes to check nail position. This has to be done carefully, especially in cooler weather when the sealant is brittle, and the shingles are resealed afterward.
How many samples tell the story
One high nail is a mistake. A pattern of high nails across several slopes means the whole roof was installed that way. That distinction drives the repair decision below.
Ruling out other causes
Blow-offs can also come from sealant strips that never bonded, overdriven nails that cut through the mat, or aging shingles that have lost flexibility. A good diagnosis separates these, because the fix differs.
Repair or reroof? Making the call
The answer depends on how widespread the problem is and how old the roof is.
When a targeted repair is enough
If high nails are limited to one slope or a past patch, a crew can replace the affected shingles and hand-nail every course correctly within the nailing zone. On a young roof with otherwise healthy shingles, this is a sensible, lasting fix, and it is exactly the kind of work our roof repair team handles.
When the whole roof needs replacing
If the pattern runs across the roof, there is no practical way to re-nail thousands of sealed shingles without damaging them. Repairs will keep chasing blow-offs every storm season. In that situation, replacement with correct nailing is the honest recommendation.
Warranty and insurance angles
Shingle manufacturers publish nailing instructions, and installation outside those instructions can affect manufacturer coverage. Insurers may also view repeat blow-offs on a poorly installed roof differently from true wind damage. Keep photos of every blow-off and the date it happened.
How Cannon Roofing installs to prevent it
Since 1994, Cannon Roofing has sent factory-trained crews onto roofs across Decatur, Bridgeport, Rhome and the rest of Wise County. Every employee carries the Technician Seal of Safety, meaning background checked, drug tested, factory trained and insured. Our crews follow the manufacturer's nailing pattern for the specific shingle on the job, and we stand behind our work with written warranties. If you are comparing contractors, ask each one how they verify nail placement during installation.
Frequently asked questions
Can high nailing shingles be fixed without a new roof?
Yes, if the problem is isolated to a small area on a roof in good condition. Widespread high nailing across all slopes usually means replacement is the only durable answer.
How do I know if my roof was high nailed?
Repeated blow-offs in ordinary wind are the biggest clue. A roofer confirms it by examining exposed courses where shingles have torn away and sampling sealed shingles.
Is high nailing the same as wind damage?
No. Wind is the trigger, but high nailing is an installation defect that makes the roof fail in wind it should have handled.
If your roof keeps losing shingles, call Cannon Roofing at (940) 627-1045, day or night. We will inspect the blow-off areas, check nail placement and give you a free estimate with a clear recommendation. You can also reach us through the Cannon Roofing contact form.