Introduction
When it comes to ensuring that your roof lasts as long as it should, it is important to understand that proper ventilation is an essential piece of the puzzle. Roof and attic ventilation can come in a variety of forms, but ultimately the goal is to make sure that these two vital parts of your home receive the care they need. In this article, we hope to express just how important ventilation is to the longevity of your roof.
The Importance of Vents
Air will enter into your attic through the soffit vents, commonly located near your fascia, spanning the perimeter of your home. Soffit vents can be found on the underside of your roof and typically rest underneath the roof’s overhang. Outside air will travel up through your soffit vents into your attic and will need to exit your attic via the ridge vents or turtle vents on your roof. The type of roof vent sufficient for your home will be determined based on different factors of your roof and your home’s structural components such as the amount of ridge line your roof has. If there is not proper air circulation in your attic, hot air can become trapped and can cause shingle blistering that results in premature aging of your shingles. During a roof replacement, our experts at Advanced Roofing & Construction will help you determine whether ridge vents or turtle vents are sufficient for your roof to have proper airflow and balanced ventilation overall. Knowing the difference between these types of vents are essential to understanding how they help ventilate your attic.
Ridge or Turtle
Ridge vents are very commonly used and many roofing contractors consider them as one of the best kinds of ventilation methods. They ventilate the roof efficiently, they blend in with your roof more effectively than turtle vents and their design makes it harder for water to get into your attic through them. However, ridge vents are not a one-size-fits-all answer. There are multiple types of ventilation. Other types of roof vents include dome vents (both electric and static), 750 and 550 turtle vents, solar vents, wall vents, gable vents and more. Each roof should be examined to determine which vent or combination of vents will work best for ventilating the roof and prolonging its life. Though ridge vents are considered to be a superior vent in most situations, turtle vents are still effective, especially in certain circumstances. Turtle vents may already be installed on your home. Keeping existing turtle vents can be a cheaper option for homeowners who want to save some money. It may also be a better option if your roof does not have enough linear feet of ridge line to allow for ridge vents to replace the turtle vents. For ridge vents to do their job correctly, there needs to be enough of them installed along a roof’s ridge line in order to allow enough attic air to escape. At Advanced Roofing & Construction, we will calculate the amount of ridge vents needed to properly ventilate your attic, taking into consideration the amount of soffit vents you have on your home and balancing the intake with the outtake. One may ask, why not use both vents? The answer is that these vents function differently from one another in more ways than one. You need a uniform system of vents to ensure that your attic is properly ventilated and having two different types of vents functioning simultaneously would ultimately be more harmful than helpful. There are times where different vents can be used together, but it is imperative that you consult a professional roofing contractor like Advanced to find out what kind of ventilation would best suit your attic and roof.
The Benefits of Proper Ventilation
There is no denying that a properly ventilated attic can save you money. Proper ventilation ensures that your shingles last longer and prevents shingle blistering. Shingle blistering occurs when excess heat or moisture builds up under the shingles of your roof. When this happens, your shingles will expand to deal with the increased heat, which ultimately causes them to blister. Shingles with blisters are unattractive to look at and they can cause more structural damage to your roof by allowing rainwater to seep in. A properly ventilated attic can save you a ton of money on fixing damaged shingles or replacing your roof. Not to mention, having a cooler attic will lower the general temperature of your house overall. This will ensure that your HVAC system isn’t running anymore than it needs to. Proper ventilation can save you money where you expect it the least, from savings on your electric bill to prolonging the life of your roof and preventing unnecessary leaks.
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Conclusion
Though it may seem like a small detail in the grand scheme of owning a home, proper attic and roof ventilation are extremely important. This is especially true in Huntsville, AL where our summers get hotter than hot! Understanding the importance of proper ventilation will help you in many ways when it comes to maintaining your home. If you allow the temperature of your attic to skyrocket, you can end up spending money needlessly and paying out of pocket for something that was avoidable. Don’t allow hot air trapped in your attic to cause damage to your roof and increase your electricity bill. If you have questions or concerns about your roof and attic ventilation system, call us at 256-603-9171. Now is the best time to make sure you understand and address your home’s current ventilation system in order to avoid unknown issues that can cause costly problems in the future.