How do you remove roofing nails from corrugated metal?
Why nails fail on metal
Older barns, sheds and porch roofs in Georgia were often nailed rather than screwed. Daily expansion and contraction work nails loose, washers dry out, and wind slowly lifts the panels. That is why nailed metal roofs are commonly refastened with screws.
Tools
- Cat's paw or nail puller to dig under the head.
- Flat bar and a scrap wood block as a fulcrum.
- Locking pliers for heads that snap off.
- Gasketed metal roofing screws for refastening.
Method
- Work from a secure position; corrugated metal is slippery and may not hold your weight between supports.
- Seat the cat's paw under the nail head without denting the rib.
- Place a wood block under the bar so leverage pushes on the block, not the panel.
- Pull straight up in short motions. Ring-shank nails resist, and patience beats force.
- If a head breaks off, grip the shank with pliers or drive it flush.
After removal
Do not leave open holes. Either install a new screw with a rubber washer into solid wood, often an oversize screw in the old hole or a fresh hole into the framing nearby, or seal unused holes with a compatible sealant and a small patch. Whether fasteners go through the high rib or the flat depends on the panel; follow the panel maker's instructions.
Is it worth it?
If panels are rusted through, heavily dented, or the wood underneath is rotten, refastening is only a short-term fix, and replacement is the better spend. See metal roofing in Georgia and common causes of roof leaks.