You may have wondered about proper roof ventilation and how it could impact your home. If a previous contractor or even a DIY homeowner decided to install ventilation improperly, it could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. That reason alone gives us enough reason to teach our customers about proper roof ventilation. Let’s take a look at the most important things about roof ventilation.
#1: Prevent Roof Condensation
Proper roof ventilation lets the air flow up into the attic and out through the vents to keep moisture from getting trapped between the insulation and the roof. This issue causes roof condensation that may cost around $400 if you catch it quickly. If you don’t catch it in time, roof condensation will cost up to $2,500.
Many times, this issue looks like a leak, and you can often spot it because the walls appear to be sweating without cause, and this creates damage throughout the home. Especially look out for this problem during the winter to early spring when the cool air meets the hot air. Condensation will begin to form.
#2: You Need a Ridge Vent or an Attic Fan
Attic fans push out the hot air from the inside and suck in the cool air. In the summer season, this prevents the hot air from penetrating the home and raising the temperatures. That will lower your cooling or heating bill because it keeps the temperatures comfortable.
Keep in mind that you should only keep either the ridge vent or an attic fan on hand. They will work against each other if you keep two of them. With a ridge vent, the hot air naturally rises out of the ridge vent.
All of this ventilation adds up to give you the following benefits:
- Extra roof life
- Lower energy costs
- Reduced indoor temperature extremes
Every home will have its own unique ventilation system because of factors like home design, climate, code requirements, and roof and ceiling design. They must fit all the pieces of the puzzle together.
Usually, Delaware roofing companies can tell you how much ventilation you would need, but the agreed-upon rule of thumb is one vent for every 300 square feet. This is only if you have a vapor barrier in the home. If you don’t have a vapor barrier, it is every 150 square feet.
#3: Ventilation Prevents Damage
At RGB Construction, we have worked on homes where they had no ventilation whatsoever. You need ventilation because it can damage your roof in a wide variety of ways. Generally speaking, Delaware sees little snow with only 15 inches every year, which makes it less vulnerable to the winter. Still, a lack of ventilation will create hot spots on your roof because you can’t cycle the air out.
When the heat melts the snow, it turns to ice. This will create a situation known as ice dams where the melted ice enters as water through the eaves. On flat roofs, it becomes particularly treacherous because of how it can stop drainage altogether. Either way, you want to call Delaware roofers because it costs less to install ventilation compared to repairing the damage after the fact.
Hiring someone to install a roof vent will cost you anywhere from $300 to $550 on average.
#4: Know the Drawbacks of Poor Ventilation
We would like to highlight how poor ventilation will impact more than the roof. For example, you can expect poor air quality due to dead air in the attic. The attic may suffer from moisture as well, which often accumulates with colder temperatures outside. This happens because the air gets trapped in the attic and has nowhere to escape without ventilation.
The extra humidity in the home can lead to a buildup of mold on the walls and floors. You may see either green or black spotting in the home and a musty smell.
The other danger comes from a buildup of carbon monoxide in the home. An estimated 430 people die of carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States and an estimated 50,000 visit the emergency rooms every year, according to the CDC.
#5: Never Cover the Vents
Many people mistakenly cover their attic soffit vents, which renders them useless. The whole purpose of putting cracks and gaps into the home is to give it the proper ventilation. Every once in a while, you may even want to check to see that nothing impedes the vents. While you may know to keep objects away from the area, someone else in the home may cover them without your knowledge. Installing soffit vents can prevent costly damage to your roof because as heat builds up in the attic, the shingles will break down faster and either require repairs or a total replacement of your roof.
Final Thoughts
Good roof ventilation requires a knowledgeable contractor like RGB Construction. You want someone who understands how to make your roofing ventilation the most effective. We can also answer any roofing or ventilation questions that you might have before we start a project. When the air flows better, it will promote a better home, and it ensures that the roof you invested in will last for as long as possible.
Call us today if you’d like to vent! You can reach us at 856-264-9093.
