It may seem counter intuitive at first, but it’s true: roof ventilation—or the strategic placement of space for air from outside to move in to your attic and air from the attic to move outside—is key to a well insulated home. In fact, proper roof ventilation will actually help bring down your energy costs and will prolong the life of your roof sheathing, shingles, and insulation.
Ridge vents are a key component to this roof ventilation process and improve the aesthetic appeal of your roofline (soffit or eave vents make up the other half of the ventilation equation). But before we get to that, let’s talk a little more about this airflow issue, and why, exactly, it helps keep your home well insulated and your roof in good condition.
First, ventilating your attic helps to mediate extreme temperature swings. Of course, a vented attic is cooler on a hot day than an unvented attic. This mediation keeps your home naturally cooler in hot weather and helps conserve your air conditioner’s energy as it attempts to keep the home’s interior comfortable. Avoiding extreme attic heat will also help to prolong the life of roofing material, such as shingles or shakes.
In the winter, ventilation helps keep the roof sheathing temperature cold and consistent, without extreme swings on warmer or colder days, which reduces the likelihood that ice dams will form near the roof’s naturally warmer spots from unexpected thawing and freezing on top of the roof. If left unchecked, ice dams can seriously damage your roof, which may lead to expensive repairs later on.
In addition, attic ventilation reduces the buildup of moisture inside the attic, which can damage your insulation, lead wood to rot, cause mildew to build up. And can damage any items you have stored in the space. In cold weather, frost inside the attic from moisture buildup can melt and cause damage to insulation and ceilings inside your house. Maintaining proper ventilation keeps your attic dry and stable.
So, what does a ridge vent do, exactly? Ridge vent is a long, continuous vent that runs the entire length of your roof, allowing air from within to escape through the ridge. This system replaces the use of many single vents, which ensures that your attic ventilation is even and reliable throughout your attic.
Ridge vents are extremely low profile, following your natural roofline, and can even be designed to match your roofing material exactly. Ridge vents also utilize the natural flow of air and rising heat to keep your attic well ventilated, so no power or moving parts are required. Traditional roof vents, on the other hand, unattractively interrupt the roofline, are prone to failure and leaks, and must be placed strategically by experts to ensure proper ventilation.
The Importance Of Ventilation
Your home s roof is under constant bombardment from the outside elements. In addition to outside stresses, air from inside the house rises into the attic space, collecting under the roof. In improperly ventilated homes this air can cause damage to the roof and attic structure, pose a health risk, lead to higher utility costs, and even shorten the life span of your roof.
In warm climates hot moist air causes wood to rot, mildew buildup, and damages items stored in the attic. Also, air conditioners must work much harder to cool your home if hot air is trapped in the attic. In colder climates frost forms inside the attic, which melts, leading to considerable water damage in the attic and ceilings below.
Author Resource:
Laura Clark is the marketing coordinator at Diversi-Plast / Trimline Building Products. She handles all the advertising, trade shows, promotions and the company's web presence. For more information about Trimline Building Products, visit our web site at http://www.trimline-products.com .
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