Pop Rivet Gun

Pop rivets (technically called blind rivets) are one of the most common fasteners in roofing and guttering work. A pop rivet consists of a tubular rivet body and a mandrel (a thin rod that passes through the body). The rivet is inserted through the pre-drilled holes in the two sheets being joined, and the rivet gun pulls the mandrel, which deforms the back of the rivet body to form a bulge (or "buck tail") that clamps the sheets together. The mandrel then snaps off at a predetermined breaking point, leaving a clean, flush finish on the tool side. Pop rivets used in roofing are typically 4.0mm or 4.8mm diameter aluminium rivets with a steel mandrel, though stainless steel rivets are used in corrosive environments. The rivets provide a permanent, vibration-resistant joint that does not loosen over time like threaded fasteners can. They are used extensively for joining gutter lengths at overlap joints, attaching gutter stop ends and angles, fixing downpipe joiners, and securing flashing overlaps. In Gippsland, Town & Country Roofing uses pop rivets in conjunction with appropriate sealants for all gutter joints, ensuring watertight connections that will not separate or leak. The rivets are spaced at regular intervals along each joint and are typically sealed with a bead of neutral-cure silicone or a gutter sealant tape beneath the overlapping surfaces before riveting.