Blistering Roof Membrane

Vapour from contact bonding adhesive.

Blistering roof membrane.

Fixing bubbles and blisters in an epdm roof. Bonding of the membrane to the substrate is of concern at perimeter areas particularly at low profile edges to eliminate probability of roof blow. This can occur for two main reasons. In summary blistering and bubbling are common coating problems that occur for several different reasons.

Expanding trapped air within the roof structure this is the other main source of bubbling it can occur on warm deck roof designs where the epdm membrane is fully bonded onto either a timber deck or directly onto the insulation. Membrane systems are most susceptible to blistering because blisters are formed by voids between the plies or at the point between the substrate and the membrane. A roof blister is a pocket of air trapped between the layers of a roof membrane between the components of a roof assembly or within a layered roofing product such as an asphalt shingle. Bonding adhesives are used to attach epdm membranes to upstands and around the roof perimeter.

If the membrane is not weathered or cracked repairs are typically not required. They happen when your immune system attacks your skin and mucous membranes the lining inside your mouth nose and other parts. Whilst bubbles or blisters on a one piece epdm roof can be unsightly they will not cause the rubber membrane to fail. All conventional low slope roof systems can experience blisters in some form.

Blisters on adhered single ply membrane systems are typically caused by lack of adhesion at the point of application. Blistering sometimes results in cracks but unlike alligatoring the cracks caused by blisters are usually follow the length of the blister rather than forming a pattern. Membrane roof cut away the membrane that has lost adhesion replace any wet insulation with like material and replace the membrane with overlapping edges at least 6 inches wide. Blistering is a different phenomenon in which bubbles form underneath the roof s membrane.

Vapour from bonding adhesive. Bitumen roof if the membrane is in good condition your contractor can simply cut an x shape into the blister to access the layer underneath. Flat roof blisters typically start as lamination voids within the system or product and grow larger due to the thermal expansion and. In the most severe cases the membrane may need to be peeled back and re bonded.

There are differing opinions as to the damage that can result from blisters and bubbles. While this article presents and discusses the osmotic mechanisms that produce blisters bubbles have several causes. These bubbles of trapped air moisture can be caused by a variety of issues which are all avoidable if the roof design is correct and the membrane is correctly installed.