Roof Ventilation

The attic is an often forgotten part of the house. Some homes use it functionally but most don’t give it much thought. Have you checked it lately? If you notice condensation in your attic or feel that your home is overly warm throughout the year, your roof might not be ventilated properly. Correcting this could make a positive difference and could give you good return on the repair investment. Proper roof ventilation is important for a variety of reasons. Without it, utility costs will rise as your systems struggle to cool your home during warm weather months. As moist heat builds up inside your attic, your house becomes increasingly warmer. This leads to a tremendous buildup of condensation as moisture forms in a number of different areas of your attic.

When it comes to venting your Voorhees area roof, a Voorhees roofing company that knows about the vital importance of ventilation will use two types of vents an intake vent and an exhaust vent. There are a couple of types of intake and exhaust vents and most options are designed to work in conjunction with each other. The main types of intake vents include a few possibilities: continuous soffit, rectangular soffit, vented vinyl soffit, and specialty intake vents. They are found on the lower area of the roof and should have air baffles installed to prevent insulation from blocking proper oxygen flow. If you’re unsure if your current intake vents are installed optimally, look in your attic and see if you notice light spilling through the vents. If there is then your intake vents are most likely installed properly and should be providing proper ventilation.

The exhaust vents, which expel air from your house, are located near the top of the roofing structure.

The basic types of exhaust vents include ridge vents, gable, and power vents. A continuous ridge vent that runs along the top of the roof is the most common type of exhaust vent. Intake and exhaust vents must work together for proper ventilation. When an exhaust vent is installed with no intake vent, the air circulation comes from within your home rather than the outside air, which results in higher energy usage.

It’s important that you have a roofer install both an exhaust vent and an intake soffit vent. As hot air builds up inside the attic space it’s sucked out through the exhaust vent. As the air exits, it creates a pressure in the attic that causes the soffit vents to pull air in from the outside. This process continues and allows for appropriate air ventilation. Without the air intake vents, this natural act of convection won’t occur and the attic won’t cool enough to keep your home from heating.

Not every home has an intake vent. This disables attic ventilation. Some homes also have vents blocked by insulation or shingles that have been improperly nailed in. When having your roof repaired or replaced, ensure that vents are checked and improperly installs are corrected. By making sure you have proper ventilation, you will notice energy cost decreases and feel a noticeable climate and air quality difference. Roofing professionals are more than happy to talk about your specific needs when quoting on roof repairs or replacements. They may also be able to quote on skylights as well. Fortified Roofing of Voorhees NJ would be happy to answer any question you have about roofing, new roofs or new gutters.

Voorhees Roofing: Article About Roof Ventilation Term & definition explained by Fortified Roofing, Voorhees NJ:

Ventilation

Architectural ventilation helps replace air flow to help control temperature, improve air flow, and prevent moisture from building up in an attic. Roofers use both an intake and exhaust vent on the roof in order to properly ventilate an attic.

Question and answer courtesy of a Voorhees roofing contractor:

Do I need a ridge vent?

If the architectural design of your home permits for the installation of a ridge vent, then you should have a ridge vent installed. Since many attics use plywood, which is susceptible to warping and rot due to excess moisture and heat, a ridge vent can competently remove excess heat and moisture from the attic. Many vents are designed to work together, so a ridge vent can easily work with other types of vents installed on the roof.

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