Do You Need Roof Ventilation for Your Home?
Yes, you do. Every home, cottage, and business should have a properly ventilated roof. However, you may be curious as to why and how to check if your roofing system has ventilation underneath.
Knowing the signs will help you confirm that you’ll get the roof ventilation you want before you need to repair your roofing system.
Why is proper ventilation important for roofing systems?
First, insulation in your attic will reduce your energy bills. However, you will still lose heat. Hot air can build up in your attic without adequate ventilation and cause mold growth. Lack of roof ventilation or improper ventilation can lead to ice damming in winter. Ice damming occurs when your attic heats up more than the air outside. It results in snow melting on your roof and your trough. This major problem can cause enormous damage to your roofing system and also causes a lot of headaches.
What are the signs that your house needs more roof ventilation?
Your attic should generally maintain a temperature of around 0 degrees outside. It is simple to see that this is not often the case, even for the novice. Take some time during winter to check your attic. If the rafters are wet or frosty, your roof ventilation problem could be severe. A lack of ventilation can worsen the issue of black mildew growing in your attic.
Mildew growth is more likely to thrive in warmer temperatures, so you must be aware of this during the season. Make sure to wear gloves and a mask when separating your insulation. Your attic insulation may appear flattened or clumpy as it could indicate that there is moisture in your attic. You should contact a professional roofing contractor if your attic shows ice buildup.
How can lousy ventilation lead to problems?
Your roof may sustain severe damage from ice damming. You may experience this if you do not promptly address your attic ventilation problem, as ice can cause irreparable damage to your trough and roof. It may also affect your building materials, such as curling, lifting, and other serious issues. You may not realize it, but ice damming can seriously affect your roof, trough, and attic. Leaving this melting ice unattended for a long time may cause severe damage to your ceiling or drywall and lead to costly interior repairs.
How ample should your attic ventilation be?
There should be one unit of attic ventilation for every one hundred fifty square feet of attic housing. Equal numbers of exhaust and intake vents should be available. Your intake vents must be close to the roof’s edge, just like the side. The exhaust vents must be as close to the roof’s peak as possible. If you cannot get the same amount of emanation, you will need more intake vents. The amount of desired attic ventilation will vary depending on the slope of your roof and the size of your attic house. This is why it’s a good idea for you to consult a skilled roofer, such as Framingham Roofing Services.
Attic insulation and attic ventilation are directly proportional. Insufficient attic insulation can increase heat loss and render your roof ventilation ineffective. On the other hand, less-than-optimal attic ventilation can lead to the same severe problems as the one mentioned. Therefore, if you’re faced with the possibility that you will need value-added roof ventilation, it would be wise to get an attic exam done to see if further insulation is necessary.