The Attic Behind the Nail Pops Corey’s feature on what’s up above, and what it means for your roof.
What’s up above your ceiling decides how long the roof over it lasts. That’s the lesson behind a feature written by Oliver Olinger for Asphalt Life, the homeowner magazine from Atlas Roofing, built around one of Corey Thrush’s inspections.
A nearly new roof was failing, and nothing outside explained why. The answer was in the attic. Here’s the story in our own words, what we learned from it, and how to check what’s up above your own home. Read the original feature.
A New Roof, Popping Its Nails
Recapped from Asphalt Life · Original by Oliver Olinger
Corey was inspecting a roof that was fairly new, yet covered in nail pops. Nails that back out push up on the shingles above them and can crack or tear them. From the outside, nothing else looked wrong.
So he asked the homeowner a simple question: could he look in the attic? That’s where the problem was hiding. The attic held more than three and a half feet of insulation, even after it had settled, while the recommendation for that part of Ohio called for roughly 16 to 20 inches.
Worse, no baffles had been installed at the eaves, so the insulation had buried the soffit vents completely. With no intake air, summer heat built up under the roof deck with nowhere to go. Over time it buckled the shingles and pushed the nails up.
The roof wasn’t the problem. What’s up above it was. That’s why every inspection we do includes the attic, not just the shingles.
“Using the correct amount of insulation is crucial to a balanced and efficient roof system.”Asphalt Life, “The Lowdown on What’s Up Above”
- 3½ ftof insulation found in the attic, after settling
- 16–20 inrecommended for that area at the time
- 0baffles at the eaves, so soffit vents were blocked
What’s Up Above: Found vs. Fixed
Toggle between the attic Corey found and the way it should work. The difference between the two is the difference between a roof that ages early and one that lasts. Most homeowners never see inside their attic, so here it is.
What Corey found
- Insulation piled past the target. More than three and a half feet deep.
- Soffit vents buried. No baffles, so no intake air at the eaves.
- Trapped heat. Summer heat had nowhere to escape.
- Nail pops and buckling. The shingles paid the price.
The fix
- Insulation at the recommended level. Enough to protect the living space, no more.
- Baffles at every eave. A clear channel from the soffit up under the deck.
- Exhaust at the ridge. Hot, moist air leaves at the top.
- A roof that can breathe. Cooler deck, healthier shingles.
Insulation and Ventilation Work as a Team
Insulation keeps conditioned air in the living space. Ventilation keeps the attic close to outdoor conditions. When either one fails, the trouble shows up what’s up above first, then on the roof, then inside.
Summer
A vented attic moves super-heated air out, which protects the shingles (ENERGY STAR). A trapped attic bakes them from below.
Winter
Outside air keeps the attic cold and reduces ice dams. Warm, moist air leaking up can condense on the roof deck. See ice dam prevention.
Reading the R-Value Ruler
R-value measures how well insulation resists heat flowing through it. Most of the Miami Valley sits in climate zone 5 (Climate Zone 5A), where ENERGY STAR recommends these attic levels:
Source: ENERGY STAR recommended R-values. Depth depends on the material, so the target is an R-value, not a pile.
Keep in mind that loose-fill insulation settles over the years, and older homes often have uneven coverage: deep in the middle of the attic, thin or missing near the eaves where it’s hard to reach. A good contractor measures in several spots, not just next to the hatch.
Learn more about materials in cellulose insulation and fiberglass vs. spray foam.
Five Rules for What’s Up Above
The Asphalt Life feature closed with advice for contractors. These rules apply whether the attic is being insulated for the first time or topped off after years of settling. Here they are, in our words, as the checklist we use when we look at what’s up above a Miami Valley home.
Fill every bay
Insulation should fill the spaces between joists completely. No bare ceiling drywall should show anywhere in the attic.
Keep the vents open
Insulation never covers soffit vents. Baffles hold it back at the eaves so outside air can flow up under the roof deck.
Don’t compress it
Insulation squeezed into tight spots loses much of its ability to slow heat. Loose and lofted is how it works.
Hit the target, not past it
More isn’t automatically better. Piling insulation past the recommendation can choke airflow and trap moisture.
Match the material to moisture
Around pipes and ducts where moisture is likely, use insulation that tolerates getting wet, such as rigid foam boards.
A Ten-Minute Look at What’s Up Above Your Ceiling
You don’t need tools to learn a lot about what’s up above your home. Grab a flashlight, open the attic hatch, and stay on the joists or a walk board. Never step between them, because the ceiling below won’t hold you.
- Measure the depth. Push a ruler straight down into the insulation in a few spots. Write the numbers down; we can turn them into an R-value for your material.
- Find the eaves. Shine the light toward the low edges of the attic. You should see daylight or baffles where the soffits are, not a solid wall of insulation.
- Look up at the deck. Dark stains, frost in winter, or rusty nail tips all point to moisture that isn’t leaving the attic.
- Feel the air. On a hot afternoon, a stifling, still attic tells you exhaust or intake isn’t doing its job.
- Snap photos. Pictures of what you find help us give you a clear answer before we ever climb a ladder.
The Spray Foam Debate
Spray foam on the underside of the roof deck is one of the most discussed choices for what’s up above a house. Both sides have a point.
Energy savings
Foam’s high R-value can make living spaces cooler in summer and warmer in winter, cutting heating and cooling costs. That’s why many builders and utilities favor sealing the whole attic, rafters included, instead of insulating only the attic floor.
A roof that can’t breathe
Foam on the deck can seal off attic ventilation and make inspections difficult. If water ever gets past the shingles, closed-cell foam can trap it against the deck where nobody sees it.
Our take: if you’re considering foam, talk to your roofer first and check the shingle manufacturer’s current warranty terms, which vary by product. Read more in fiberglass vs. spray foam.
Looking Past the Shingles Since 1960
Being featured in a national roofing magazine was an honor, but the habit behind it is ordinary for us: look what’s up above before you decide what a roof needs. Thrush & Son® has been family-owned since 1960. Read the family story in family-owned.
We’re a GAF President’s Club Contractor with an A+ BBB rating and homeowner reviews across the Miami Valley.
What’s Up Above: FAQs
What does what’s up above mean for my roof?
It means the attic. Insulation and ventilation under the roof deck control heat and moisture, and both affect how long shingles last. A roof can look fine outside while the attic quietly shortens its life.
Can too much attic insulation hurt a roof?
Yes, when it buries the soffit vents or blocks airflow. In the Asphalt Life feature, an attic packed with more than three and a half feet of insulation and no baffles trapped so much heat that the shingles buckled and the nails popped.
How much attic insulation do Miami Valley homes need?
Most of the Miami Valley is in climate zone 5. ENERGY STAR recommends R60 for an uninsulated attic there, or R49 when you already have three to four inches.
What are baffles?
Baffles are channels installed between rafters at the eaves. They hold insulation back from the soffit vents so outside air can flow up under the roof deck and out the ridge.
Does spray foam on the roof deck affect shingle warranties?
It can. Warranty terms vary by manufacturer and product, so check the current shingle warranty before foam goes on the underside of a roof deck.
Something else on your mind? We have answers.
Let Us Check What’s Up Above
Every inspection we do includes the attic: insulation depth, baffles, intake, and exhaust. We’ll photograph what’s up above and explain what we find. Explore roofing, ventilation options, or our roof owner’s manual.
