Q. I’m getting bids on a new roof and some of the roofers want to use a nail gun to install the shingles. Is this a good idea? I’ve also heard stories about inferior galvanized nails that don’t hold ...

Q: I’m getting bids on a new roof, and some of the roofers want to use a nail gun to install the shingles. Is this a good idea? What type of nails would you use when installing shingles on your home ...

DEAR TIM: I’m getting bids on a new roof and some of the roofers want to use a nail gun to install the shingles. Is this a good idea? I’ve also heard stories about inferior galvanized nails that don’t ...

Dear James: We live by a pond, and the weather stays humid. I plan to replace some wood siding myself and don’t want nail rust stains. How should I do it this time? — Daryl C. Dear Daryl: Rust stains ...

Question: I am doing some remodeling projects in my older house. Much of the old lumber and decorative wood are still usable. What is the best method to extract the nails so that I can reuse the wood?

How long a nail should you use for a 1-inch board or a 2-inch board? Eight-penny or 16-penny? The accepted rule of thumb is the nail length should be 21/2 times the thickness of the wood you are ...