Roofing 101: Why worry about ventilation?
Roofing 101: Ventilation
Welcome to Roofing 101. In this series of blogs, we’ll teach you the basics of a roofing system in detail. Our hope is that with this knowledge, you will be better equipped to make a well-informed decision when it comes time to address the needs of your roof, and maybe even impress someone with your newfound roofing knowledge.
To start off, we’ll discuss your roof’s ventilation. What pops into your mind when you see the word “ventilation”? If your response involves some zippers located in the armpits of your jacket, you’re on the wrong track, but luckily you’re in the right place. Let’s discuss further.
Ventilation, as you might guess, allows your roofing system to “breathe”. No, your roof isn’t trading carbon dioxide for oxygen, but it is allowing air flow into the roof via an intake vent and out through an exhaust vent near the ridge, (Hint: if the bolded terms are unfamiliar to you, see our Ventilation Glossary of Terms in the Resource Center).
An improperly-vented house can cause problems year-round. During warmer months, hot air will linger in your attic space, causing heat to radiate through the rest of your house. If your house is air-conditioned, your energy costs will skyrocket from your air conditioner trying to overcompensate for all the heat seeping through your house from the attic. If you don’t have air conditioning, you’ll definitely wish you did. Also, if the heat from the sun is captured and stagnant in your attic, the hot air rising to the roof can cause your shingles to deteriorate rapidly, possibly jeopardizing the warranty on your roof.
Conversely, during winter months you risk the buildup of condensation in your attic – where the warm, moist air from household activities such as showering and cooking meet the colder air sitting on the roof outside. This condensation will cause a few problems: 1) your insulation in your attic will become wet and damp, causing it to be ineffective at keeping your house warm. Even 5% moisture saturation will reduce the effectiveness of your insulation. Your heating/energy bill will rise as a result of this. 2) the condensation forming in your attic will create ideal conditions for mold spores to grow, which can cause allergy problems and other illnesses. The cost to eliminate mold in an attic can be high, and is sometimes not covered by homeowner’s insurance.
If attic ventilation is something you hadn’t thought about, or if you’re noticing the problems we’ve talked about in this blog, feel free to contact us for a consultation. We’ll be happy to take a look and offer a customized estimate based on your home’s structure and location.
