When Do You Need Roof Ventilation

Every house needs proper roof ventilation. It improves air circulation around the house, and it’s essential to the longevity of any roofing system.

But despite those benefits, many people are still having doubts about installing proper roof ventilation in their house. That’s why in this article, we will talk about the reasons why you need to have roof ventilation in your house. Can roof ventilation benefit you in the long run, or it’s just another expense? Let’s find that out!

Why Do You Need Roof Ventilation?

But before we talk about when you need roof ventilation, let’s first discuss the reasons why you need it. 

It’s necessary to have roof ventilation if your house has an attic, an unheated space in the basement, or an upper floor attached to the roof. It will help in correcting the air conditioning of your rooms.

For example, the ventilation helps in cooling the roof during summer. While in the winter, the roof vents will keep your roof cool. This occurrence can prevent snow from melting on top of the roof and freezing again in your rain gutters. Those snow would produce an ice dam that can create leaks and water damage. Even if the snow doesn’t cause leaks, its weight can cause structural damage to your roof.

When Do You Need Roof Ventilation?

It doesn’t matter whether it’s summer or winter because you definitely need roof vents. They can benefit you in the long run–they can help you save money. To give you an idea about it, here are instances that make you decide that you really need roof ventilation:

• If you want to extend the life of your roof

Like what we’ve said earlier, roof vents can adapt to the weather. During the summer period, the vent will help in cooling the roof to prevent a buildup of heat in your attic. Heat buildup can damage the shingles from the inside out.

The same thing would happen during the winter. The vents can help in preserving your roof. For instance, the roof vents will stop ice buildup. Ice dams can cause serious damages to your whole roof system, attic, and even inside the walls of your house.

• Reduce energy cost

If you want to reduce energy cost, roof ventilation can help. During the summer, the temperature in your attic will increase. However, a proper roof vent allows the heat to escape easily. This process will lessen the workload of your air conditioner. If your air conditioner is not running on its full power, you will then have a lower electric bill.

• Eliminate moisture buildup

Moisture buildup in the attic is a perfect environment for mould and rot. Mould loves to grow in damp attic insulation, and damp insulation is more likely to clump, which lessens its effectiveness. Meanwhile, rot affects the framing and the roof decking. When this happens, you will end up having a sagging roof. Sagging roofs open up more house problems. Fortunately, you can stop all of them from happening if you have roof vents. Proper roof ventilation will release steam from your shower and clothes dryer quickly to avoid condensation.

How Much Ventilation You Need?

There is no correct answer to that question because it depends on the size of your house. Usually, homeowners are required to have one square foot of roof vent for every 300 square feet of ceiling space. However, there are other factors to consider before you could really determine the exact number of vents you need. To know more about this, be sure to contact a roofing company or a reliable roofing specialist.