Roof Ventilation - How Important Is It?

Dec. 1, 2009 - PRLog -- One of the often overlooked (yet extremely important) components of your roofing system is ventilation.  

In order for your roof to last through the seasons and continually do a great job, you need to make sure that your roofing contractor has installed proper ventilation for the size of your roof and attic. Good airflow through the attic is more important to the life of your roof than you might think.

In the sweltering temperatures of summer, if you don't have proper ventilation, heat will build up in your attic. The resulting damage is more serious than your attic turning into a sweat box.

Heat build up in the attic not only causes your air conditioning run more and take longer to cool your house, it can also shorten the life of your shingles.  Without a way for heat to escape, temperatures in the attic can easily skyrocket to 120 degrees or more.

If this occurs, the shingles are not only exposed to the external temperatures, they also become extremely hot from the attic heat below.  This causes the roofing material to become brittle and fail prematurely.

Proper ventilation of your roof is also essential in the winter time.  By keeping ventilation paths open, it helps to remove moisture that builds up from the home in the attic.  If moisture is not removed, it can condense and cause your insulation to deteriorate.  Dry insulation is very important to keep your home warm in the winter.  Excessive moisture can also cause the premature failure of your roofing components.

Most roofing manufacturers will not honor their material warranty if they have been installed without proper ventilation.  The shingle manufacturer usually has ventilation recommendations to make sure their products perform over the long haul.

If you're getting your roof replaced, make sure your roofing contractor understands the importance of good ventilation.  A good roof will look great and perform well for years to come when installed with the proper ventilation.

Talk to your roofing contractor about power vents and ridge vents to help extend the lifespan your roof.  A good roofer understands the importance of good ventilation and should be able to educate you and provide you with the right options.

Make sure you have adequate amount of intake vents under the eaves or gables, as well as exhaust vents in the upper portion of the roof.

Take the time to make sure your roof is adequately ventilated this summer.


About the Author
Chad Cross is founder and president of CLC Roofing, a full service roofing contractor based out of Coppell, TX.  Chad has been roofing Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth properties for more than 15 years.  

To find out more, visit http://www.houstonroofing.org

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CLC Roofing is an experienced roofing company with branches in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston areas. They continue a tradition of high customer satisfaction, quality services, and expert insurance claim processing.