Roof or attic ventilation is vital to keeping your roof in good condition, especially in winter. Without adequate ventilation, the warm air rising from the lower floors can’t exit your home. If warm, humid air is trapped inside your roof or attic, several roofing issues might soon emerge. Adequate roof ventilation then will help you avoid certain issues.
Below, professional roofing contractor Empire Roofing & More lists the roofing issues caused by inadequate roof ventilation and shares some essential facts about roof or attic ventilation:
Mold Growth
Trapped humid air in the roof or attic creates a damp environment that’s the perfect breeding ground for mold, which can easily affect other parts of your home. Mold is a problem because it eats away organic materials, potentially weakening your roof’s structure. Not to mention mold spores—which can cause allergy flare-ups and aggravate respiratory conditions—pose a health risk. And since you’re spending more time indoors in winter, it’s important to maintain indoor air quality.
Ice Dams
One thing you should remember about roof or attic ventilation is that it always goes hand in hand with insulation. If there isn’t enough ventilation in your roof or attic or there are gaps in the insulation, trapped humid air in the roof or attic will increase the temperature of your roof’s surface and increase the risk of ice dams. Ice dams form when the melted snow sliding towards the colder edges of the roof freeze and deposit ice near the edge of the roofline.
How Much Ventilation Does Your Roof or Attic Need?
More roof ventilation isn’t necessarily better. The amount of space dedicated to air intake must be the same as the space dedicated for air exhaust. As a rule of thumb, there should be a square foot of net free area (NFA)—the area through which air can pass through—every 300 square feet of floor area for attics with a vapor barrier. If you’re not sure if your roof or attic has enough ventilation, have a contractor from a roofing services company conduct an inspection.
Looking for reputable roofers near you?
Empire Roofing & More is a trusted exterior contractor that offers professional roofing and siding services. To request a free quote, call us at (412) 999-7135 or (412) 414-1570 or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in Township and Pittsburgh, as well as the surrounding PA communities.
