Roof ventilation and un-vented roofs
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Somewhere in the region of $12 billion is spent every year on new roofs. Three quarters of this work is caused by water damage, which is everything from soaked insulation, rotting wood and condensation, which can be so bad you think your roof is actually leaking! Some of these things are really easily preventable too and can be prevented or fixed by roof ventilation. Roofs need to vented properly and remember that not all ventilation is good ventilation.
Roofs are one of the most important things in your house. They’re fighting a constant battle, the heat during the summer and the cold and wet during the winter. The roof will draw moisture from the living areas in your home into the loft, which will condense on the roof and in the insulation. This will at the very least mean your insulation does work very well, but can extend through to rot through extensive moisture. Wind driven rain can also be forced into the roof space, where it can freeze causing ice dams as well as general water damage.
It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that moisture in the attic is the fault of the roof, you actually need to look at the rest of the house too, eliminating moisture all the way through. In the same way, installing roof vents doesn’t automatically mean that the damp problems will go away. Interestingly enough the best protection against moisture in the attic is a dry basement and airtight ceilings.
New roofs are actually designed to avoid the moisture problems without using a ventilation system at all. However unvented roofs are expensive - they work by moving the loft into the conditioned space of your home. This basically means that the air barriers and thermal boundaries are on the underside of the roof, rather than on the ceiling of the room below. This has loads of benefits. Your home will be better protected against storms and these new un-vented roofs actually help slow the spread of wildfires. However, these roofs are more expensive and if you’re working on a budget it can be tempting to go for a more traditional roofing/venting system. Just remember that once the roof is on, it’s really very difficult to change it’s design.If you still don’t know which solution is best for you, talk to a professional, they will be able to advise you of the best solution for you and how best to implement it.
You really should get your roof inspected by a professional once a year anyway. They will be able to look at your roof and lay out your best options for roofing solutions, venting as well as the general condition of your house. A good roof is not a luxury item - it’s what keeps you warm and dry.
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Very nice blog! After reading this, I realize that Roof is the part of a house that gets beaten up every day whether its the suns damaging heat or from the harsh rain. We should really take care of it.
over a year ago by Jones Roofing
Roofing Quotes
from local roofers
