If you have a business with a flat commercial roof, then you probably have a membrane one. Membrane roofs can develop some issues over time and one of the more common problems is the formation of blisters. If you want to know what blisters are and how you can prevent them from forming, keep reading.

What Are Blisters?

Flat roof membrane blisters are small raised areas along the membrane that look similar to blisters that form on the skin. They are slightly raised and may protrude several inches from the roof surface. These blisters are spots where the membrane no longer adheres to the roof. This raised area is typically filled with air. However, over time, moisture can make its way underneath the membrane and fill the area with water. Once water blisters develop, the blister is likely to fill with more and more water.

Blisters that fill with water can burst. This will leave an open area in the membrane where water can leak into your business. Membranes that leak must be repaired as soon as possible. If you wait to make the repair, then you may end up with a damaged underlayment.

How Can You Prevent Blisters?

There are a few things that you can do to prevent membrane blisters from developing:

Make sure that your contractors are working in warm and dry weather conditions when your roof is initially installed. This is something that you can do when you need a replacement or when a repair is made to the roof. This helps to ensure that the membrane adheres properly.

You also want to make sure that the roof is ventilated properly and that rainwater is able to drain away from the roof. This means having drains placed along the edges of the roof ledge and also ensuring that the roof is angled so water cannot pool in the middle. If you see pooled water during your inspections, then you should contact your roof contractor immediately so the flat or dipped area can be adjusted for better drainage.

During inspections, you also want to look for things like membranes pulling away from one another and seams that are coming apart. Any physical signs of extensive wear, as well as the release of gravel from the roof surface, are signs that a blister is more likely to form soon.

If you want to know more about flat membrane roofs and the development of blisters, speak with a roofing business, such as WNC Roofing.