Why is Roof Ventilation So Important? Discover benefits of Roof Vents
The ROOF and ATTIC, two vital areas of the house where homeowners dare to enter, or care to look at – until the problems start.. If you’ve ever had a new roof installed in the past, your roofing contractor may have insisted that you install some type of roof ventilation and soffit ventilation system. However, some homeowners feel that there roofer might be trying to pull a fast one by having you spend extra money on some kind of magical upgrade. In fact, roof ventilation isn’t all hocus pocus and magical card tricks, but, really do play a crucial role in extending the life of your roofing shingles, reducing ice dams, lowered cooling bills in the summer, etc..Old home Vs new home roof ventilation
You’ve probably caught an episode or two of This Old House, or some show on HGTV and have learned that older homes tend to have little, to any kind of roof ventilation and inadequate insulation, but their roof seems to be holding up just fine. The reason for this, older homes lack window and door insulation, vapor barriers, and are generally not as airtight by today’s standards. This causes drafty homes and higher energy bills, but, also helps fight the lack of roof and soffit ventilation by having continuous air circulation in your home.
In newer homes, home builders have energy efficiency on their minds when building houses. Starting with proper roof ventilation, vapor barriers, window and door insulation, to name a few. This keeps heating/cooling bills low and a longer lasting roof.
Roof Ridge Vents – How Can I Tell If I Need Any?
The best way to tell if your roof isn’t properly ventilated, is in extreme climate months – summer and winter. Have you ever gone up into your attic on a hot summer day and said “HOLY S###, IT’S LIKE A SAUNA IN HERE!” – I wonder how my photo album is holding up??? In the winter, you might see Ice dams forming on top of your roof. Ice dams on your roof can cause a lot of problems, from roof shingle damage, to roof leaks causing mold and rot to occur.
If you need to have roof ventilation installed in your home, consult with a professional in your area. I wouldn’t advise any homeowner to get up on their roof to install ridge vents. There’s also a proper way to install ridge vents. For example, you need to calculate the total area of your attic for vent/to air flow ratio’s to ensure proper air-flow and the list goes on. So, consult with a roofing contractor to see what you need to have done.
If you’ve any questions, drop me a comment in the comment box and I’ll do my best to answer any and all roof ventilation questions..
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