When you look up at your shingle roof, do you see certain shingles that look like they have puffy spots in their middles? If so, your shingles are blistering. While this is not an extraordinarily common roof problem, it is not uncommon, either. Keep reading to learn what causes shingles to blister and what you need to do about your blistering shingles.
What causes shingles to blister?
Shingles usually blister when two conditions combine: extreme heat and poor ventilation. Usually, you see blistering shingles in really hot and sunny climates. Roofs in these areas need to be really well-vented in order to allow heat to escape from the attic. Without enough vents, that heat won't leave the attic; it will instead go right through the shingles. As such, the roof will be getting hot from both the interior and exterior surfaces. This can cause the shingles to become so hot that the top, granule-packed layer separates from the underlying asphalt layer. This usually happens first toward the middle of the shingle, causing a blister.
Are blistering shingles a problem?
Yes, blistering shingles are a problem for your roof. Once a blister bursts, which happens quite often, water can enter the blister and come into contact with the middle layers of the shingle. The moisture gets partially caught inside the blister. Since the middle layers of the shingle are not really designed to stay wet for an extended period, this moisture exposure can cause the shingles to deteriorate further and start leaking. You may not have a leak now, but if you have blistered shingles, you will before long. Venture up into your attic, and look for these signs of tiny leaks:
- Drips of water on ceiling joists
- A musty odor
- Mold growth on insulation or building materials
If you see signs of a leak, contact a roof repair company ASAP.
What should you do about blistering shingles?
Even if you do not yet see signs of a leak, you need to have a roof repair company come look at your roof. They can remove and replace blistering shingles. They may also improve your roof vents so that this does not happen to you again. They may add a vent along the ridge of the roof or some small soffit vents under the roof's eaves.
Now you know the basics about blistering shingles. You'll be well prepared to deal with this issue if it happens to you.
Contact a local roofing company, such as Upside Roofing & Siding, to learn more.
One day when we were all sitting in our living room, I thought I felt a drop of water fall onto my arm. At first, I figured it was my imagination, but when the second one fell, I knew we had an issue. Although it wasn't raining that day, it had rained the day before, so I started looking for the source of the problem. After looking in my attic, I could tell what the problem was, and I knew I had to fix it. I started looking for ways to stop the water immediately, but it just wasn't working for me. Fortunately, roofers came out, fixed the problem, and showed me what I needed to do to clean up the mess. Read more on this blog.