Getting a quality roof is vital. Trusting its installation to an experienced, professional roofing company is of the essence. But your considerations don’t stop here. You still have plenty of enemies to face, plenty of battles to give. And it all has to do with the attic ventilation. Whether or not the attic is ventilated and how well the ventilation is will make a difference to the roof’s performance. It will make a difference to whether or not you will deal with ice dams, roof leaks, high energy bills, structural problems. Simply put, with proper attic ventilation, your roof will perform well for years and your life will be a lot easier – safer, too.
Let’s see how attic ventilation works
Let’s start by saying that there’s a difference in the way you vent a finished and unfinished attic. With that out of the way, the main intention is to keep the attic ventilated. And here’s the paradox.
You pay lots of money to keep the house insulated, but then the fresh air or the heated air goes to the attic and eventually, this part of the home becomes the place with the highest humidity and heat, both of which must be somehow exhausted. And here’s where the value of attic ventilation is revealed.
In unfinished attics, the roofers install intake vents at the lowest part of the room and exhaust vents at the peak. The intake vents allow cool air in and the exhaust vents allow hot air out.
In finished attics, they install rafter vents to create small gaps that will allow fresh air to go from the soffit vents to the roof’s peak.
The importance of attic ventilation to the roof system
When the heat and the moisture in the attic is controlled, roof problems are prevented. Let’s see what happens when the attic is not ventilated.
• Roof damage due to heat
When it’s hot outside, it gets really hot in the attic too. Excessive and continuous heating can and will affect the roof shingles. The heat will make them warp and distort, while it will also make the whole house warmer and thus, you will need to use the cooling system to the full – hence, paying more. When it comes to the roof, you need roof repair sooner than later.
• Shingles damage, perhaps leaks due to ice dams
And then, the winter comes and when you thought, the shingles won’t be affected anymore, the formation of ice dams comes to prove you wrong. During the cold days, the homes are heated. That heat travels upwards and ends up in the attic. The warmth in the attic makes the snow in the roof melt. But as it runs off, it refreezes and ice dams are born. They are usually formed around the eaves, blocking the rest of the runoff melted snow and so, more ice dams are created putting great pressure on the shingles with the risk of damaging them. Or, the water ends up in between the shingles with the risk of causing internal leaks. The roof’s components will eventually be saturated.
• Roof/mold damage due to condensation
There’s usually enough moisture in the house to fill the whole attic – so to say. Home moisture is usually generated by showers, cooking, laundry, etc. When moisture finds its way to the attic, it meets with the cooler air and creates condensation. That’s bad for the attic, the roof, the structure and your health. Why? Because condensation creates mold. If this an unfinished attic – practically, never visited, mold will grow. It will spread fast, especially if condensation will be a norm and not the exception. And this will not only destroy the roof but the entire building, while it will also make you sick.
Attic ventilation installation can save the roof and the house
With attic ventilation installation, all the above is avoided. Roofs last longer, perform better and will hardly need any repairs for years. At the same time, your home is healthier. Your energy bills will go down. And you won’t worry about the building’s structure. Aren’t those some good reasons for considering the installation of attic ventilation?
