One of the most common reasons why we call a roofing contractor to conduct roof repair is blister formation on asphalt shingles, which often gets mistaken for hail damage. In this post, Renovation Team discusses the causes of blisters on asphalt shingles and what you can do to prevent them.
Causes of Asphalt Shingle Blisters
Asphalt shingles are made of three layers. The backing material is either made of recycled paper (also known as “organic”) or fiberglass. The outermost layer is the granules with the roofing colors, as well as other features like reflectivity and algae resistance. Asphalt is sandwiched between these layers. Sometimes manufacturing errors result in trapped moisture between these layers. As these shingles get exposed to heat from the sun, the moisture expands and forms blisters.
According to trusted residential roofing services providers, blister formation can also be caused by poor attic ventilation. Heat from the attic can raise the roof deck temperature, enough to form blisters at the top. It’s worth noting that blisters are a minor problem compared to other effects of poor attic ventilation. These problems include ice dams, damage to attic insulation, and, if not addressed in a timely manner, structural damage that leads to unplanned roof replacement.
How to Prevent Asphalt Shingle Blisters
Roofing manufacturers such as GAF and CertainTeed® have high manufacturing standards and tight quality control. Choosing their products for your next re-roofing project reduces the likelihood of blisters forming on the roofing shingles. These manufacturers also have exceptional warranties, and will likely cover known manufacturing defects such as those that cause blisters.
Poor attic ventilation is a far more serious problem that should be addressed as soon as possible. Adequate attic ventilation requires exhaust and intake vents of equal size. Since hot and moist air tends to rise, the logical placement of the exhaust vents is at the ridges. A properly built roof should have ridge vents, supplemented by exhaust fans, certain types of which are solar-powered. The same roof should likewise have properly-sized intake vents at the soffits. If done properly, these should create continuous airflow that keeps the attic cool, and the asphalt shingles blister-free.
Renovation Team is the company to call for your roof repair and maintenance needs, as well as exterior siding installation. Give us a call at (314) 200-2228 or fill out our contact form. We serve clients in St. Louis and St. Charles, MO.