Picture this: it is winter. There is snow on the ground, the trees, and the houses. You pull up outside of your home, and you notice that the snow on your roof has melted from the center but remains at the edges. Icicles have begun to form on your eaves and now hang over your door! Maybe it is summer, and you are running the air conditioning at full blast, but your house is STILL HOT! All of these things are signs that you have poor ventilation in your roof and attic space.
What do roof vents have to do with icicles and A/C?
When most people hear vents, they think of kitchen or bathroom vents. There for the purpose of getting unwanted air out of a room! These are called exhaust vents. However, vents can also let air in; these are called intake vents.
Intake and exhaust vents work together on your roof to create a ventilation system that helps to keep the climate in your home more manageable and consistent. This is accomplished by creating a path of air flow that stops unwanted temperatures from building up below the deck of the roof and inside of your attic.
A properly balanced ventilation system will also help cut back on moisture accumulation, helping to avoid mold growth or rot from water damage.
How much ventilation will my roof need?
The amount of ventilation your roof will require depends on the size and design of your roof. Generally, for every 300 square feet of floor space in your attic, you want 1 square foot of ventilation.
Where does the ventilation go?
On some roofs, there may be a requirement for the addition of box vents, turbines or gables, but most homes in Livonia will find more than enough ventilation with a ridge and soffit ventilation system.
Let your attic breathe
When you are interviewing contractors for your roofing project, make sure to find out what their plans are for your ventilation system. It will not only help to keep you comfortable, but it will also extend the life of your roof.
No comments:
Post a Comment