Roofing tool review
BOSTITCH RN46 Roofing Nailer Review
Buy the BOSTITCH RN46 if you are re-roofing a shed, a garage, a porch or a small simple roof and you want the nailer professional crews have used for years, because its side-load canister and zero nail lockout make it fast and hard to jam. Skip it if the job is your house, because roofing is the one common home project where the tool is cheap, the material is cheap, and the fall is the thing that costs you everything.
BOSTITCH RN46 Coil Roofing Nailer
about $198
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| Spec | BOSTITCH RN46 Coil Roofing Nailer |
|---|---|
| Nail range | 3/4 inch to 1-3/4 inch coil nails |
| Housing | Lightweight aluminum |
| Loading | Patented single-action side load canister |
| Dry fire protection | Zero nail lockout indicates when to reload |
| Nosepiece | Carbide inserts for long life |
| Depth control | Quick-set adjustable depth guide |
| Shingle spacing | Adjustable shingle guide |
| Protection | Wear guards and skid pads for abrasive surfaces |
Specs come from BOSTITCH's published product bullets returned by the Creators API. Price is approximate.
Why depth adjustment is the feature that decides your roof
A roofing nail driven too deep cuts through the shingle mat and the fastener no longer holds; driven too shallow it stands proud and telegraphs through the course above. Shingle manufacturers are specific about this, and improper fastening is one of the most common reasons a warranty claim is refused. The quick-set depth guide on the RN46 is therefore not a convenience feature, it is the thing that makes the difference between a roof that lasts and a roof that lifts in the first serious wind. Set it on a scrap and check it again when the compressor pressure changes.
The compressor is half the purchase
This is a pneumatic tool, so the $198 price is the nailer alone. You also need a compressor with enough capacity to keep up with continuous nailing, a hose long enough to reach the ridge, and fittings. A pancake compressor kit is the usual pairing and adds meaningfully to the total. Factor that in before comparing this against a cordless roofing nailer, because the cordless version costs more up front and less overall once you count the compressor you would not otherwise own.
Repair or replace, and where the tool fits
Buying a nailer only makes sense if you are actually installing shingles, and that is a bigger decision than the tool. Our roof repair vs replacement cost comparison works through when patching is genuinely enough and when it is money spent twice, and the roof replacement cost calculator and roof repair cost calculator price both paths. If you are choosing material rather than method, metal roof vs asphalt shingles and tile roof vs asphalt shingles move the budget far more than any tool does.
The job it is genuinely right for
Sheds, detached garages, porch roofs, dormers on a single story, and the low-pitch outbuildings that a roofing company would rather not send a crew to are exactly where this tool earns its price. Those roofs are close to the ground, simple in shape, small in area, and cheap in material. A homeowner with a stable ladder, a helper and a weekend can genuinely do them well. The same person on a steep two-story roof is not doing a bigger version of the same job, they are doing a different and much more dangerous one.
The honest weakness: it will happily drive nails badly
The RN46 does not know whether you have hit the nailing zone of the shingle, whether the nail went through a lap correctly, or whether the depth is right. It is fast, and speed is exactly what turns a small error into four hundred repeated small errors across a roof. Owners also report that the tool is unforgiving of poor air supply: as pressure sags with continuous firing, nails start standing proud, and unless you notice the change you will nail an entire course badly. It is also a pneumatic tool tethered to a hose on a sloped surface, which is a trip hazard people underestimate.
What owners consistently report
Published owner reviews describe the RN46 as reliable, easy to load and hard to jam, with the side-load canister the most praised feature. The most common complaints are weight after a long day and sensitivity to air supply. Several long-term owners note that the carbide nosepiece inserts are what keep it usable across many roofs, and that keeping the tool oiled per the manual is the difference between a decade of service and a seized piston.
Who it suits
- Sheds, garages, porches and outbuildings
- Low-pitch, single-story, simple roof shapes
- Anyone who already owns a compressor
- Owners doing a tear-off and reroof over a weekend with help
Who should skip it
- Steep or two-story roofs, which should be a professional job
- People without a compressor who only have one roof to do
- Anyone working alone with no fall protection
- Roofs with structural problems, which need assessment before covering
Should you rent instead?
If this is one shed roof and you do not own a compressor, hand nailing is genuinely viable at that scale and a hammer costs nothing. Where the roof is bigger, a nailer and compressor rent together for a weekend for far less than buying both, and the rental counter version is usually a professional-grade tool that has been serviced.
Safety, stated plainly
Falls from roofs and ladders are among the most common causes of serious injury in home improvement, and they do not require height to be life changing. Set the ladder on firm level ground at roughly a four to one angle, extend it three feet above the eave, tie it off, and never step on the top two rungs. On anything steep, or above a single story, use a roof anchor and a harness or hire a roofer. Never work on a wet, frosty or windy roof. Treat a nailer as loaded at all times, keep your free hand behind the tool, never disable the contact trip, and disconnect the air before clearing a jam. If your roof is older than 1980 and the material is unknown, some older roofing products contained asbestos and disturbing them is regulated work for a licensed abatement contractor. Any sign of rot, sag or structural damage in the deck is a question for a structural engineer before anything is nailed to it.
Alternatives worth comparing
about $179
The same maker and the same nail class for slightly less, sensible when you want a Bostitch tool for a single roof and do not need the RN46 feature set.
View on Amazonabout $107
Roughly half the price for a tool that will comfortably do one shed or garage roof, which is the honest choice if the alternative is never using it again.
View on Amazonabout $249
A pneumatic nailer is useless without air, and a 6 gallon pancake compressor is the standard pairing that also runs framing, finish and brad nailers on later projects.
View on AmazonHow we researched this
We did not test the BOSTITCH RN46 Coil Roofing Nailer in person, and nothing here is written as though we did. This review is drawn from the manufacturer's published specifications, the product's own documentation, and the consensus of published owner reviews, which is summarised as exactly that rather than presented as our own use. Specifications are sourced as noted under the table above, and prices are approximate and move. Cost figures elsewhere on this site are 2026 estimates, not quotes. This is researched information, not professional advice: anything touching electrical, gas, structural, roofing or hazardous material work should go to a licensed professional and through your local permitting process. For the cost side of this decision, see Repair vs Full replacement.
Frequently asked questions
Should I roof my own house?
For a shed, garage or porch, often yes. For a steep or two-story roof, the honest answer is no. Falls are the risk that does not scale gently with height, and roofing crews carry insurance, fall protection and the speed to get a roof watertight before weather arrives. The tool is the cheap part of this decision and the least important one.
What size nails does the BOSTITCH RN46 take?
Coil roofing nails from 3/4 inch to 1-3/4 inch. The correct length depends on the shingle and the deck thickness, and the nail must penetrate the deck fully or extend at least the required amount through it. Follow the shingle manufacturer instructions, because incorrect fastening is a common reason a warranty claim is refused.
Do I need a compressor for a roofing nailer?
Yes, this is a pneumatic tool. A 6 gallon pancake compressor is the usual pairing and needs to keep up with continuous nailing without the pressure sagging. If air supply drops, nails start standing proud, which is why depth should be rechecked periodically rather than set once at the start.
Can I nail new shingles over old ones?
Many jurisdictions allow one additional layer and prohibit a third, and some prohibit any overlay. It also hides deck problems you would otherwise find during tear-off, and it adds weight. Check local code and the shingle manufacturer instructions, and if there is any sign of sagging or rot, get a structural opinion before adding load.
How do I set the nail depth correctly?
Set it on a scrap piece before you start and check that the nail head sits flush against the shingle without cutting into the mat. Recheck after changing compressor pressure or after a long continuous run. Overdriven nails cut the shingle and lose holding power; underdriven nails stand proud and telegraph through the course above.