What is Causing the Ridges in Your Roof and How to Fix It

Have you noticed ripples in your roof and keep wondering what could be causing them? If your roof has ripples, you should be concerned. This could be a sign of a bigger problem in the future. Rippled shingles can quickly over time lead to a leaking roof. Ripples can also expose the wooden portions of the roof to moisture that could lead to deterioration as well as rotting. Understanding the core of the problem and how you can fix the issue is important.

Moisture

Moisture is the number one detriment to your roof. When the sheathing or the plywood underneath the shingles absorb moisture it expands. If the sheathing is not well spaced, the gaps might close due to expansion causing the rippling effect on the shingles above it. Lack of adequate ventilation could lead to moisture being trapped in the roofing system. The sheath absorbs this moisture causing it to ripple.

The poor ventilation can be as a result of higher insulation levels since today’s homes are built tighter. If you have a leak that you do not address immediately can have the sheath exposed to moisture from the atmosphere. This can have the same effect as it expands and wrinkles.
Mistakes during installation

If your roof was poorly installed it could have the same rippling effect. Rippling due to poor installation can show up after a year or even two after you get your roof installed. Due to temperature changes, the sheathing will expand and contract. If the contractors did not leave enough space in between the sheathing it can expand pushing the shingles upwards causing them to ripple.
If during the roof installation sealing was not done using foam or it was done improperly it could be problematic in the future. Moisture from the house will get in between the panels and absorbed by the felt. The felt with then expand and wrinkle pushing the shingles up causing the rippling effect.

Solution to Rippling

It is unfortunate that there is no quick fix to rippling shingles. The process of correcting can be quite a process since the primary problems are not the shingles but the sheathing underneath. To correct the problem, the affected roof area has to have the shingles stripped so that the sheathing can be replaced. During the process, other issues such as leaks and poor ventilation must be fixed. If these issues are not fixed, the roof will wrinkle up again. However, if the cause of the wrinkling is the lack of enough spacing between the sheathing, the whole roof might need to be replaced. Areas of the roof that are not rippled will eventually have ripples if left for long enough.

When it comes to roofing, the sooner you have a problem fixed the less it will cost you. If you notice a leak and decide to not fix it, it will not only cause the rippling effect on the shingles but might also cause the roof to rot. In which case you have to replace the whole roof. As seen above, moisture and poor installation of the roof are the primary causes of rippling on your roof. Let the experts in the field handle the problem. For more information on how you can restore your roof, contact All-Nu Construction today.