You’ve just finished a roof repair project with Roof Coatings when you notice blisters appearing on the newly coated surface!
What do you do?
Start over? Cut them? Cover them? Do nothing?
Blisters may look ugly, but they are rarely a sign of a serious problem. In this post, we look at blisters, why they form, and what to do about them.
Blisters – Setting the scene
If you cover a roof, you are likely to get regular blisters, which happen all the time.
Every roofer knows how damaged a roofing surface can be. Roofing substrates are subject to many adversities, as weather, moisture, grime, and grime build-up over the years and years can have a significant impact on a roof’s performance.
Putting a roof covering on any substrate completely changes the dynamics of the surface and the building.
A roof cladding’s job is to restore the performance of this damaged surface, prevent leaks, and help protect the building for years to come. It requires the creation of a durable, seamless membrane that is breathable, waterproof, and permanently flexible.
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What causes blistering on roofs
Most blisters are caused by the same thing: moisture.
When sheathing a roof, it seals the moisture inside the substrate. It is now trapped under the upholstery, with nowhere to go. When the roof heats up, either from the sun or from the building’s internal heat, this moisture evaporates and becomes water vapor which expands up to 1300x its volume.
As this hot vapor rises, it collides with the newly applied roof lining, applying significant pressure. When this pressure becomes excessive, it causes small sections of the liner to uncouple and a bubble is formed.
To check a blister, press lightly with your foot. If your blister is hard and doesn’t release air or splashes of water, you have a blister with steam inside.
Blisters – How to fix roof blisters
So what needs to be done about these blisters? The answer, in most cases, is nothing!
Most blisters are a cosmetic problem. If the coating around a blister remains adherent to the substrate, blistering should not affect the performance of the roof. When using a product that allows moisture to escape, such as GE Enduris roof covering, the problem is likely to correct itself over time.
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Never cut a blister.
Drilling or cutting a blister ruins the seamless finish of the veneer, creating a natural weak spot in the restoration. It increases the likelihood of the coating loosening and can reduce both the performance of the roof and its durability.
How to minimize blisters
One of the simplest ways to reduce the impact of roof blistering is to use a high-quality product with a good perm rating, such as the GE Enduris roofing liner.
With permeance of 9.3 perms, the GE Enduris 3500 roof liner allows accumulated vapor and trapped air to escape, flattening the bubble.
Another way to minimize blistering is to use a cold roofing coating, such as GE Enduris coating in white. Using a white-colored coating will help keep the roof temperature low. This will reduce the development of water vapor, decreasing the incidence and severity of blistering.
Roof Blistering – Take-away Keys
The key messages when it comes to blister lining are:
Blisters are common
The vast majority of blisters are caused by trapped moisture
They are usually nothing to worry about
Most blisters are a matter of aesthetics rather than performance
Most blisters will vent over time with the GE Enduris roof lining
NEVER CUT A BLADDER
Repair and protection – with GE Enduris roofing coating
For roofing renovations and new roofing projects, GE Silicones Enduris Roof Coatings offer a complete silicone coating system that can significantly extend the life of your roof.
The application of GE Enduris roofing coating couldn’t be simpler – and a single layer can provide up to 20 years of additional protection **. This 100% silicone solution requires no mixing and no primers and is available in a range of standard and custom colors to suit virtually any project.
Applied directly to a variety of substrates, including TPO, PVC, EPDM, Mod-Bit, metal, and SPF, with spray, roller, or brush – creates a waterproof, durable and seamless barrier against leaks to extend the service life of the roof and reduce the need for maintenance.
