When it comes to securing the longevity of your roof, one of the most overlooked areas is roofing ventilation. While routine maintenance of things like keeping your gutters and downspouts clean is highly advised, roofing ventilation should not be overlooked as a key component to roof longevity.
Why Attic Ventilation is Important
So what exactly happens if you don’t have enough or proper roofing ventilation? One problem that occurs is with a lack of ventilation is the build-up of mold and mildew. These contaminates are created by the humidity and warm air that is built up in your attic. With improper attic ventilation, moisture and heat build-up can also cause premature aging of your roofing materials. The lack of ventilation or the improper one can create forming of ice dams as well.
Getting the Proper Amount of Vents
When it comes to determining the amount of vents you “should” have is determined by the size of the attic and your roofing configuration. One commonly accepted sizing calculation is one square foot of vent opening per 175 square feet of attic. While in some cases, the more vents the better, there should also be some consideration as to the best places to have the attic vents based off of the attic in question.
In the end, the best approach is to have a professional roofing company assess your particular roof and attic so you can be assured that you are getting the most efficiency from your roofs ventilation.
