Why Proper Ventilation is Important for Your Home’s Roof

You may not think about it too much, but the roof on your home is actually a brilliant example of advanced innovation. This roof doesn’t just keep the elements out, but it’s designed to maintain a climate inside your home that’s malleable enough for you to control. One of the ways it does this is with ventilation.

Roof ventilation can be a bit complicated, but it is essential for proper functioning of any proper house. Be thankful that you live in the 21st century as the need for roof ventilation wasn’t properly documented until the mid 20th century. Learn why proper ventilation is important for your home’s roof and discover how Orange Roofing can help with all your roofing needs.

Basics of Roof Ventilation

Before we dive into the importance of ventilation, you can enjoy a brief overview of what ventilation is. At its core, ventilation is merely airflow through the roof, but your roof can be a bit more complicated as the systems vary based on size and shape.

The first kind of vent you’ll find is an exhaust vent. You’ll have to look pretty hard to find them, but they’re typically hidden between roof planes. These vents allow air to escape so your attic won’t get too hot or cold from air buildup. Intake vents are usually hidden under the edge of the roof and allow fresh air in while the old gets pushed out of the exhaust vent.

Temperature Extremes

If you ever wonder why the second level of your home might feel very different than the bottom level, a poorly ventilated roof could be the culprit. Without proper ventilation, hot air can build up in the attic and that spreads to the surrounding areas including your top floor.

When temperature extremes build up in your attic and subsequently spread through your home, it can cost significantly more to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. This means spending considerably more on energy which not only hurts your bank account but hurts the environment as well.

Roof Damage

When you think of roof damage, you probably think of damaging weather or simply the passage of time, but without proper ventilation, your roof could be damaged from the inside out. In the winter, ice dams can be a major problem. Ice dams are collections of ice on the edges of your roof. Hot air gathered in your attic heats up your roof causing the bottom layer of snow on top to melt. It gathers at the end of your roof and begins to freeze again.

However, this causes the water to back up and it can slip underneath your roof panels. When you have proper ventilation, ice dams never form because the roof is never hot enough to melt the bottom layer of snow. The hot air escapes through the vents and cold air is brought in instead from the intake vents.

Roof Ventilation with Orange Roofing

Now that you know why proper ventilation is important for your roof, it’s time to make sure your roof has all the ventilation it needs. Give Orange Roofing a call and get your roof inspected. If we find any problems at all, we’ll be more than happy to take care of it for you whether it’s ventilation or something else entirely. Make sure your roof is ready for the winter and the upcoming warmer months. Contact us today!