Cap Nails or Staples? Stinger Cap nailer review 

I've been using a stinger cap staplers (The air ones) for the last 3 years and the air nailer this year. I can dry in a roof faster (Completely by myself) than 3 of my guys doing it by hand. The air stapler feels much more durable but once the driver starts to wear it will misfire occasionally. The air nailer feels like it's going to break when using it under normal conditions (I haven't broken it yet) but so far other than that it's been flawless.

I started working as a roof laborer in 1986... when I was 16. When synthetic underlayment came out, I was skeptical, thought it would be slippery... it wasn't, now it's all I use I love learning new ways of doing things if it's good, effective and speeds things up. I'm considered a great Roofer, I'm also a NRCA certified trainer, but I can always learn more and improve more. Nobody is perfect I like chalking lines, because I like being as perfect as possible, especially on long runs Problem with staples on synthetic, especially after chalking every other course, the underlayment is more likely to shift on you when you walk on it using staples. This is not an issue with the plastic caps, but they were slower to nail in. Then I bought the Stinger hammer tacker with plastic caps... loved it, but over time, it began to ware out. So I bought the Stinger pneumatic , and OMFG, fast. and it has a depth adjustment know (they could improve that with a dial). No more chasing underlayment when the wind gusts up. I can leave it on for a few days and everything stays dry inside. And unlike classic Felt or the fiberglass felt paper, it didn't expand or swell when it got wet with the moring dew or over night showers. Also, it's not slippery when wet either, and least those hacks at GAF make good underlayment in their felt buster and tiger paw. Just say'n When it's wet, It can take a bit of time for it to dry off, but I always have a squeegee with me, which gets 90% of the water off, then I finish with a gas powered leaf blower. the only issue I have with synthetic underlayment is it's impossible to see frost on most brands, so on those cold crisp mornings, have a look around, if you see frost on the neighbors house, there's probably frost on your underlayment too if it's been installed the day before Sorry Dmitry, I talk to much, as a woman and a roofer and Atheist, I always feel I have to prove myself

I have an air stapler cap gun. Tried 1/4”. Too easy to pull out. 5/8 “ are perfect. We’re very happy with the air stinger. If you have to leave underlayment overnight it’s a must. Cost about 30.00 $ a house extra over regular staples. It does look impressive to customers.

I hate walking on synthetic underlayment when it is stapled on. On steep pitches it's a death trap. I agree with you, cap nails all the way.

Yes I totally agree we must improve. Improvements makes us move forward. With no improvements we move backwards

15 lb roofing felt will seal around the staples or nails because it is an asphalt product. I worked for a builder who would leave the felt on the roof over winter and shingle in the spring. We had to lath it down for the wind. We had no noticeable leaks all winter. I just tore off some 32 year old 3 tab shingles and the felt paper underneath was still intact. There was some rot near the eves where ice shield would have helped there. Now I am changing with the times and started using synthetic felt and bought a stinger cap hand stapler. My concern with that is that the staples are only 1/4 inch long. We always used 3/8"long staples with felt years ago. Since I will be doing a lot of time consuming sheathing replacement and I am 3o years older and 30 pounds heavier, I seem to only feel like working a 1/2 day, so I want to weather in the roof and that means the underlayment will be what I depend on for wind and rain protection for quite some time. I don't mind the hand stapler by stinger, but I do want to use longer staples if I can. This is why I am here, to learn something about these new tools.

You never explain why cap nails are better than staples.

Love the slap staple stingers because they are faster because you can use one in each hand with no air. I do love the stinger nail guns. I am a 7 year roofer and I was basically raised on synthetic. We used roofing nails in new construction. But I have used tin cap and 30 pound felt too. I have seen synthetic shrink in valleys. They make it a lot better now.

I’m just a little bit confused. Are you saying you prefer nails over staples? Or any caps over regular staples. In the video you keep showing the stinger cap stapler. Do you just recommend any caps or do they have to be nailed Caps not stapled caps?

The GAF TigerPaw paper stipulates, in big letters all over the place, to use plastic-capped fasterners ONLY. End of story! I caught my roofing foreman & crew using capless staples (early, thankfully for them) and I ordered the foreman to cover up erroneous areas with more TigerPaw and plastic capped fasters. Yeah, I'm the kind of owner who occasionally got atop the roof to inspect progress. The foreman had the orange-plastic-capped nails, at the job site the whole time. He tried to explain away the transgression by saying they used staples regularly... which only deepened his transgression in my eyes.

I work for a roofing company in Cali that subcontracts to a solor company and we have to use cap nails however we do tack the edges so that it is nice and tight then we go over it with cap nails

Note, the bostich cap stapler has a small hole in the center and staple doesnt go through it so if you use it to dry in it will leak

Underlayment left open overnight or longer = Cap nails, underlayment shingled over same day = staples or cap nails (slap stapler faster & cheaper)

Continuous Improvement is key! Always good info in your videos. Keep it up! From Houston

Great video! I loved the way you included a marketing lesson in a product review video. Very unexpected and nicely done!

All I wish for is a cap nailer battery please,I like your video too

I live in Eugene Oregon where it's raining right now.... I can tell you synthetic felt leaks when you staple It I've had it happen.

I personally believe that using cap nails is overkill for underlayment. I always use staples, but I also always try to get it nailed the same day.

Your Stinger must be broken like the one I have model CH38A. Looking at the video your stinger CH38A is missing the automatic feeder plate. After only a few uses the automatic feed plate for the caps broke at the weld. Very cheap welding. The only thing holding the plate. NO reinforcement. This is suppose to be a "hammer" stapler. This is not for clerical office. Bought over 30 days ago. Noticed that there is NO warranty for this product. It made the work faster for only one roof at the end of the laying the underlayment on the back side of house the automatic feeder plate broke! The CH38A is poorly engineered for longevity. I looks like the CH38 model maybe better. They at least it has a buy back program for this model.

Really it depends on many factors; 1) what's the pitch of the roof? 2) what underlayment is used? 3) length of staples? 4) amount of staples.

Would like to see the difference in a tear out between the two

I am a DIYer and doing cap nails by hand is tedious. If you can get a pneumatic cap nail gun it will save a ton of time. I installed a roofing foil by hand and wow, it was so time consuming.

I am convinced - use cap nails. Best way to install cap nails? Use a stinger brand nailer.

My opinion after using all types of fasteners and felts over the last 5 years. Magnetic hatchets and cap nails is the way to go. Requires more skill but you can't beat the reliability. Larger buildings like church's or apartments make sense to have pneumatic stapler and the tool will pay for itself on one job in labor savings but residential is too small and workers who get dependant on technology are no good. I can do a better breakdown but you get the idea.

Also, is there a way we can talk privately? Some questions I would like to ask and get some advice from you on. I love your video's and your take on roofing, especially because you're up north. I'm in NC

So shingle nails put a ton of holes on the underlayment. So i struggle to get why cap nails make any difference.

Great video

We use cap nails, but hand nail the cap nails with the AJC Hatchets. I value your roofing product review video's. However, when I comment please do not take it as hating or putting ya on blast...but as a roofing salesman myself, if I were the homeowner...I completely understand that Storm Group prefers to use stinger button cap nails over staples, I understand the efficiency of your product of choice here, but I want to know why using staples is NOT your go to. Your reasoning in the video is just product efficiency/aka quickness when drying in the roof. What is the con's of using staples though, why NOT use them? I mean when we look at the tools in the video, the staple is as easy as the button cap if using a pre-loaded tool rather swinging a roof hatchet...why not staples? Again, I've never in my life used staples for underlay or shingles, however, when using synthetic tear resistant underlayment should the staple or button cap matter...really? Again, not trying to be a smart ass....I'm just asking for your rebuttal to why not staples besides what efficiency it has for the installers.

Stapler would be fine for me as I'm just fixing up my own home.

If the guns weren't 300+ dollars and the caps expensive too I'd buy them...my guys are pretty dang fast with a magnetic hatchet and cap nails by hand so to buy 4 of them and on top of that more for caps I couldn't justify...my supplier told me he could get them to me for 150 and I ordered 4 and then he said "oh nvm that was the wrong price" -_- I was mad haha

esti foarte bine. tu esti Romanesti? I am a diy homeowner and have to replace rotted longitudinal trim boards 1' x 10" s on house corners. The trim butts up next to vinyl siding. I was thinking of installing tyvek over the corners. Not sure if it has tar paper, but thought I would place this over the tar paper with staples and tape the area where the staples with tvek tape. I don't want to invest in a nail gun only because it is a small job. What are your thoughts for this application?

I would like to know why you're saying cap nails are better instead of just saying cap nails are better

why are cap nails better than staples? Once you have the metal roof attached and if you walk on a cap nail will it leave a convex dent on the the metal roof? Thanks for your answer... Do caps nails have very flat heads to prevent upward dents when walked on?

I've been doing it for 30 plus years and hand nailing is the best and Staples are the best. If you don't know why I'm saying this your not a roofer. Here's why Hn leaves nails at proper position. Paper Staples and I'm talking about the small ones are just temporary so the wind doesn't blow it off the shingles and nails hold it when they are installed. Y'all come up on the roof and first show me how you test off then we'll see how passes my test. Fuck anybody elses write test or bullshit. We aren't on that hot ass environment writing the wife a love poem. I'll never pass any written because fuck that I won't do it. All real roofers know what to do.

What is better, a cap staple or a cap nail? And why?

Good vid! I no longer put on roofs for a living .But I will be building my home this summer. Working alone. I used to hand nail plastic cap nails. But it is a SLOW process. I'm researching which plastic cap system is the most dependable. I would prefer one that I can do felt+ building wrap. And 1" foam board insulation with. But baring that. The Stinger looks like the most dependable of the bunch. Any suggestions as to a dependable plastic Nailer ? Thank you.

can cap nails be put on top of purlins and under steel roofing without dimpling the steel

Man I appreciate your videos but to me this was an over the top sales pitch to the point of being misleading. 1. Capped Staples or Nails on synthetic are both approved and personal preference. I'm a nail guy in all things because I do more structural work *BUT* on synthetic, especially where we are walking, I'm wanting the most points of contact without tearing so it's staples for many of us. 2. 6:30 you put cap staples, which are per the manufacturer, with roofing nails, which are not.

What is the life on the stinger plastic collated caps

I want one!

Let’s be honest it’s a money grab, those caps cost 5x more than staples. You need to buy the tacker along with it. Staples work fine.

agreed.

what are the TOP 3 synthetic underlayments????

I always use caps.

i question whether synthetic feltpaper is even a good product - period. i just opened up siding on a house with some kind of synthetic feltpaper that had turned into a net with holes and totally failed BEHIND the vinyl siding. who knows how long that crap even lasts

pricing is ridiculous, they're more expensive than roofing guns!

It is not about yes or no. This is code requirements

Thanks, Dmietry! I was hoping you'd compare the profile of a staple vs cap nail. Do they penetrate the plywood or OSB by the same amount?

Wet Oregon roofer..... 30# and hammer tacker all the way!! I was given a stinger by a fellow company and have yet to use it, but don’t fix it if it ain’t broke!! Who cares if a plastic sheet doesn’t tear... put your felt on right and it will be a better seal... IMO.... it’s under a sheet of fiberglass and asphalt!! Paper trumps plastic!! Unless you enjoy a garbage patch!!

Hey you need help installing

Imagine if we would of been driving the model t because it worked lmao people are just cheap and don't like being told what to do or what's better

I want videos of your install, so I can learn. Pull your pud as you wish, but don't post it