3 Reasons Roof Ventilation is Important
What you need to know about commercial roof maintenance, RRG Roofing is here to give you the 3 reasons roof ventilation is important for your home. The basics of ventilation are probably familiar to you. The ventilation process refers to the movement of air through a system of intakes and exhausts. The purpose of ventilation is to extend the life of the roof, reduce energy costs, and reduce indoor temperature extremes.
Before the early-20th century, there was no documentation of roof ventilation.
In that era, organizations such as ASHVE and Forest Products Laboratory realized that poor roof venting could cause building condensation problems.
Let’s dive deeper into the topic of ventilation for your home.
How does roof ventilation work?
In your attic, proper ventilation prevents your attic from becoming overheated and creating moisture by allowing air to flow. Only air can function as ventilation. Attics are ventilated in two primary ways: mechanically and naturally.
1. Mechanical. Power source required.
2. Natural. The roof is ventilated naturally whenever possible. In addition to the stack effect, the wind effect is also responsible for natural air circulation.
High pressure in the attic is caused by hot air rising and creating the stack effect. Exhausting hot air causes high pressure. A cooler, low-pressure inlet is essential for escaping the hot air. Intake is the term for cool air entering.
A roof’s wind effect is caused by the wind blowing against the outside and increasing the volume of intake and exhaust. Well-ventilated attics have air flowing naturally from intake and exhaust.
3 Reasons Why Roof Ventilation is Important for Your Home
In addition to extending roof life and reducing energy costs, roof vents serve to reduce extreme temperatures indoors. Roof vents also prevent shingles from cracking and deteriorating.
1. Extends the life of your roof
When there are icicles on roof edges and gutters, have you ever noticed them? This buildup of ice is called ice damming. It is possible to see the icicles, but it is not possible to see the damage they do to the edge of your roof.
As the roof warms up, snow and ice melt on your roof due to heat from your attic combining with sun heat. The resultant water begins to refreeze when it reaches the edge of the roof. Ice and water can build up at the edges of your roof and cause damage to your whole roof system, your attic, and even some of the walls inside your home as they back up behind/below the roofing materials.
It is important to ventilate your roof properly to prevent this warm air from melting the snow and ice on your roof. You can easily see a well-ventilated roof during the winter months. The roof is still covered in snow, but no icicles are visible.
It is also beneficial to have a ventilated roof during hot weather. A roof’s temperature can nearly double when the outside temperature rises. Poorly vented attics with a hot roof result in very hot attics.
Why? The heat that accumulates in an unventilated attic has no way out. When heat builds up inside your roof, your shingles can be damaged. By having an evenly vented roof, you can keep your roof and attic cooler by allowing hot air to escape.
2. Reduces energy costs
Everyone wants to keep cool when it gets hot outside. Your air conditioner will work less hard if your roof is properly vented. You’ll pay less for electricity if you run your air conditioner less.
3. Reduces indoor temperature extremes
Have you ever stepped into your living room and thought it was at least 10 degrees warmer than your upstairs? You may notice that though you aren’t feeling cool in your ranch-style home, your feet are as cold as ice.
Often, extreme indoor temperatures are caused by poorly vented roofs. In addition to being more comfortable year-round, your home will be more comfortable once your roof is properly vented so that the hot air can escape, and the cool air can enter the attic.
How many roof vents do you need?
A roofing contractor can help you determine how many roof vents you need for your roof if you have a vapor barrier in your attic. In the absence of a vapor barrier, 150 square feet should be covered.
How we can help you vent
The roof ventilation techniques used by RRG Roofing are the most advanced available today. You can enjoy the advantages of a well-ventilated roof for the next fifty years or more. For more information about this subject, contact RRG Roofing at 678-325-6949 in Dahlonega, Blairsville and Hiawassee, GA and Murphy and Franklin, NC.