Why Roof Ventilation is Important

About Me
Roofing Encyclopaedia: Tips For Repair, Maintenance And Replacement

Hello there! I'm glad you dropped by. As the manager of a body corporate agency, I deal with a range of problems every day. Unwanted pests and burst drains are everyday occurrences. Sometimes, there are more unusual situations. Once, I had to deal with a tenant who was keeping a horse in his fourth-story unit! The most common problems I face are related to roofs as poorly-maintained roofs can cause leaks, fires and flying debris. Since I am always encouraging body corporates to maintain, repair or replace roofs before major hassles occur, I have become a bit of a roofing encyclopaedia. I can speak with reasonable knowledge about the best materials, techniques and tradespeople in the industry. I thought others out there might be seeking information about roofing repairs and benefit from my know-how. I hope these entries prove helpful. May you always stay dry!

Why Roof Ventilation is Important

17 December 2015
 Categories: , Blog

You should pay very close attention to the ventilation of your roof if you recently bought an older home and you are conducting roofing renovations. This article discusses some of the benefits of proper roof ventilation.

It Reduces Fire Risks

A properly ventilated roof allows hot air to escape from your attic and into the atmosphere. This prevents heat from accumulating inside the attic. Excessive amounts of heat in the attic can cause the insulation of electrical wires to wear out. Once that insulation deteriorates, a fire can break out when the wires short. Thus, effective roof ventilation helps to keep such a fire risk at bay.

Condensation and Moisture and Kept Out of the Roof Deck

A lot of moisture is generated inside the house. This moisture can come from your kitchen and the bathroom. That moisture rises with the hot air within the home and finds its way into the attic. Roof vents allow that moisture to escape from the attic space. Without proper roof vents, the moisture can cause the roof deck to rot over time. Consequently, the roof may collapse because its supports have deteriorated.

It Improves Energy Efficiency

Another key benefit of proper roof ventilation is that it makes the attic space cooler. This can reduce how much you spend on cooling the home during the hot months of the year. This is because the HVAC pipes will not become hot because of the ambient heat in the space where they run. Trapped heat in the attic can cause the walls of your home to heat up. Such heat can be  radiated from the walls, and thereby raising the temperature inside your home. This will cause your HVAC system to work harder to regulate the temperature in the home. Proper roof ventilation prevents this added load to your cooling system.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Proper roof ventilation allows stale air to escape from the interior of your home. It also prevents the growth of mould and mildew since condensation will not accumulate within the attic of your house. Thus, your family members will be less likely to suffer from conditions resulting from poor indoor air (such as allergies).

Ask the roof contractor to assess the effectiveness of the roof vents before he or she renovates that roof. The roof contractor should incorporate the addition of extra vents into the design of the renovated roof if the ventilation is found to be inadequate.