Roof Nails Sweating

If shingles get lifted or torn from high winds the damaged shingle exposes nails holding the shingle below it.

Roof nails sweating.

Condensation is usually first noticed on your windows and skylights because they are the most visible areas of your house. When the attic heats up a bit during the day the frost melts and drips then the nails frost up at night again and so on. Remember the last hot and humid day you were sitting outside drinking a cold beer iced tea soda or glass of ice water. Sometimes you can spot this if you climb up into your attic on a cold night.

It s important to realize frost is in your attic for a few reasons. Condensation is a common sign of inadequate insulation and or ventilation. Use a 10d box 0 128 inch by 3 inch nail as a spacer to gauge 1 8 inch edge and end spacing between panels. Frost on nails is frozen condensation.

Condensation in the home a warning sign. If your roof deck or insulation is developing water droplets chances are your forehead is too. It should to a degree. Condensation is more apt to occur in climates where the average temperature is 35º f or colder.

Metal gets cold faster than other items so condensation begins on metal first. Roof nail leaks can happen when roof nails have been loosened slightly from high winds or have simply pulled out over time. Condensation happens when moisture filled air contacts anything that is below the dew point temperature. These nails will eventually rust.

Frost on nails in attic spaces may frighten you. Before hurricane andrew devastated south florida in 1992 roof sheathing was generally attached using 6d nails spaced at 6 inches along the edges of the sheathing and at 12 inches along interior. Although moisture problems in the roof assembly can be due to waterproofing deficiencies don t neglect the effect of condensation. The nails will look white because they re frosted.

It can lead to roof leaks even if rain has not occurred for several days. But with proper design and maintenance principles you don t have to sweat roof condensation issues. And just one rusted out nail can cause your roof to leak every time it rains. Moisture that escapes into the cold attic from the rooms below often condenses on cold nails.