A residential roof replacement project in Lahaina requires hurricane-rated shingles. Calculate the required nail penetration depth for 7/16-inch OSB sheathing with architectural shingles.
Correct Answer
C) 1-1/4 inches
Hurricane-rated installation requires nails to penetrate at least 3/4 inch into sheathing. With 7/16-inch sheathing, total nail length should be 1-1/4 inches minimum (7/16 + 3/4 = 1-3/16, rounded up).
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Hurricane-rated shingle installation requires nails to penetrate at least 3/4 inch into the sheathing (not merely through it). With 7/16-inch (≈0.4375-inch) sheathing, the nail must pass through the sheathing and continue 3/4 inch beyond — but since the sheathing itself is thinner than 3/4 inch, the total minimum nail length is approximately 7/16 + 3/4 = 1-3/16 inches, which rounds up to 1-1/4 inches as the next standard nail length.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 1-1/2 inches
1-1/2 inches exceeds the minimum requirement. While providing greater holding power, it is not the minimum specified by the hurricane installation standard for this sheathing thickness.
Option B: 1 inch
1 inch is insufficient. Even if the nail fully penetrates the 7/16-inch sheathing, only about 9/16 inch of penetration remains beyond the sheathing surface, which falls short of the required 3/4-inch minimum penetration depth.
Option D: 3/4 inch
3/4 inch is too short. A 3/4-inch nail would not even fully penetrate 7/16-inch OSB sheathing plus the shingle layers — far below the required total length.
Memory Technique
7/16 sheathing + 3/4 penetration = 1-3/16, round UP to 1-1/4. Think: sheathing thickness plus required bite, then round up to the next standard size.
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