Hitting the nail on the head: Designing a roof that lasts with wood nailers

By Jenny Yu. 

Learn about the importance of wood nailers for a long-lasting roofing system. 

In an episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast, host Karen Edwards met with Eric Younkin, leader of the product and engineered services team for Carlisle Architectural Metals (CAM), to discuss everything wood nailers: their purpose, material alternatives and sustainability for an enduring roof. 

Wood nailers are blocks of wood placed along a wall, roof deck and roof edge in order to provide structural support, insulation and a stable surface for connecting other materials like membranes or coping. Precisely installed nailers are especially critical in severe weather conditions.  

“When you look at roof failures that are caused or associated with wind, it is estimated that 60 plus percent of those failures are attributed to perimeter edge metal,” Eric shared. “You could have the best edge metal system, but if that nailer is compromised or if it's not done right, you could have a problem.” 

Winds are among one of the greatest threats roofs face across the country, making it all the more imperative for property owners and contractors to closely monitor what’s going on beneath the roof’s surface and ensure all parts are well-maintained. 

Karen and Eric also discussed the differences between the types of materials nailers can be made of, including metal alternatives. Eric said, “You ask an old-timer like me, wood is not the same as it was before. So I think having these [metal] alternatives that give sustainability options for the longevity of the building is just a part of the evolution of the industry.” 

According to Eric, sustainability includes protecting a roof from failure and making roofs last years beyond their life expectancy. That’s why he is passionate about educating others about what may go overlooked.  

“We realized that there's a gap here,” Eric stated. “We might talk about the chemistry behind a roofing product or what it might be with something else, but we realized that there's a gap and a need for education to our design community on these wood nailers, how they're done and then also the alternative solutions.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the full episode to learn more about wood nailers, alternative materials and how they lay the foundation for sustainable roofs.