Remember To Ventilate: Let Your Roof Breathe

You undoubtedly learnt at an early age that heated air rises in a closed environment. Hot air balloons are able to raise hundreds of pounds of weight off the ground and fly into the sky because they are able to harness the rising force of lighter, hotter air. With that being the case, it shouldn’t come as a Union Roofing surprise to realize that hot air rises within structures as well as outside. In order to reach the highest point of the building, warm air will strive to ascend. Nonetheless, if this heated air is not properly vented out via your attic and roof, the subsequent heat accumulation may have a variety of harmful consequences.

• It is more difficult to keep your house cool in the heat

The higher the temperature of your roof as a result of solar exposure, the higher the temperature of your attic. Furthermore, when the temperature in your attic rises, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a comfortable indoor living area. As a consequence, your air conditioning system will have to run more often and for longer periods of time, resulting in increased energy consumption and higher monthly costs – not to mention increased wear and strain on your air conditioning system. It is true that although while certain roofing materials, such as metal, are reflective and tend to keep your home cooler than other roofing materials, the truth is that your roof and attic may still become rather warm on a sunny day. All of the stored heat simply has nowhere to go if the ventilation system is not functioning properly.

• The building of ice dams throughout the winter

When it comes to winter weather, the capacity to retain warm air may seem like a positive thing; in fact, it might serve to lessen some of your indoor heating requirements when the temperature outside lowers. Unvented roofs, on the other hand, have certain detrimental consequences during the winter months, as discussed below. Every time snow or ice accumulates on your heating Union Roofing and begins to melt, the liquid may swiftly condense on and around your roof overhangs, causing damage. This may result in the formation of ice dams, which can be hazardous and destructive. Roof ice dams may be prevented from developing entirely if the proper roof ventilation is in place on the building.

• The possibility of internal condensation problems

Some roofing materials, known as conductive cooling, may cause inside condensation if they are not properly insulated and ventilated. This is referred to as “sweating.” This accumulated moisture may also lead to the growth of harmful mold and mildew, which can lead to roof structural damage over time. Adding to this is the fact that activities such as bathing, cooking, and laundry may produce a significant amount of moisture inside your interior living area. This moisture will not be able to escape unless the roof and attic are properly ventilated.

Your roof must be able to breathe

Proper attic ventilation is critical in order to keep your roof’s climate cooler and drier throughout the year. Regardless of whatever roofing material you pick for your roof replacement, it’s still crucial to allow your roof to breathe by including a well-designed roof ventilation strategy in your project. As part of this, make certain that there is an appropriate balance of intake vents for fresh air to enter from below and exhaust vents for heated air to depart from the top.

Roof Ventilation Done Right

Forcing air through your attic is possible, but most roof ventilation systems are based on a static basis. Because it allows for a natural flow of air, static ventilation does not need the use of forced airflow. Vents put in your roof allow rising warm air to flow both heat and moisture through your attic and off of your roof. The most important thing is to ensure that the intake and exhaust vents are evenly distributed. It’s not enough to just install some exhaust vents; optimal airflow need corresponding intake vents as well. Balance and flow are the watchwords when it comes to effective roof ventilation! Among the most important kinds of vents in a well-designed roof ventilation system are the following:

Many Union Roofers systems employ ridge vents, which are positioned along the whole length of the roof ridge. Some roofing materials contain ridge cap flashing as well as vents at the roof’s eaves, depending on the style of roof that is installed. Large quantities of warm and damp air may be expelled from your roof by using this ridge venting system.

Vents for Intake

Ridge vents aren’t adequate on their own. You won’t be able to effectively ventilate your roof without an appropriate air intake system. Therefore, the lower edge of the Union Roofing is often use to insert soffit vents or drip edge vents. Make sure you have enough intake vents so you don’t run out of space for the ridge vents.

Vents in the Gable

Side gable vents may have gable vents positioned at the top for intake or exhaust purposes. When combined with a well-balanced ridge-and-eaves vent system, extra ventilation via the gable is possible. Many homeowners appreciate the visual appeal that gable vents give to the outside of a roof.