Attic Ventilation is a very important and very delicate science, even though to the untrained eye it looks like someone randomly poked a hole in your roof and put a plastic over over the top of it. There is a science behind how to vent an attic, but we won’t go into that here. We will say that a poorly calculated attic ventilation system can lead to many problems in your property, from excessive energy losses, ice dams, mold, rot, and lots of unnecessary issues.
In a cold climate, the primary purpose of ventilation is to maintain a cold roof temperature to avoid ice dams created by melting snow and to vent any moisture that moves from the conditioned living space to the attic.
In a hot climate, the primary purpose of ventilation is to expel solar-heated hot air from the attic or roof to reduce the building’s cooling load and to relieve the strain on air-conditioning systems.
A well-ventilated attic offers four benefits:
- It prevents mildew growth in your roof by reducing moisture buildup.
- It helps prevent ice dams in winter by keeping your roof colder.
- It extends the life of your shingles by keeping the roof cooler in hot weather.
- It reduces cooling costs in the warm season.
Ventilation is much more than a simple breeze blowing through your house. It’s a process that provides a steady, high volume of air movement. Proper ventilation requires an entire system of components, expertly designed to provide constant intake and exhaust of air.
Shingle manufacturers require proper attic ventilation in order for their shingle warranty to be valid.
There are various ways a roof can be properly ventilated. There are different attic ventilation types, there are specific methods on how to calculate attic ventilation requirements, and at Watershed Roofing & Exteriors we know how to do this the right way so you don’t have to worry.
Call Watershed Roofing & Exteriors or email us any time Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. Our repair services are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Accepting Major Credit Cards
