Having a properly ventilated roof is one of the most important aspects of a healthy building, but it’s not discussed enough in the roofing world. You can check out BuildingScience’s amazing crash course to roof venting for every nitty-gritty detail, or read on here to get the big picture.
In any weather, roof ventilation plays a vital role in the health of your roof and your home’s ability to maintain a comfortable temperature. The main components that come into play when it comes to ventilation are your soffit, vents, and attic insulation.
Climate Control
When venting your roof deck, you need to make sure your roof is circulating air to avoid snags like:
- Ice Dams
- Moisture in the attic
- Mold in the attic
- A roof that’s too hot
- Higher utility bills
When combined with attic floor ventilation, roof ventilation can work the best because temperature control is operating on all fronts. Poorly vented roofs waste energy in temperature control and allow wood rot and mold to develop from trapped moisture.
Proper Roof Ventilation 101
Roof venting is necessary, especially if your attic area is conditioned or if you have a vaulted ceiling. The main goal of the job is to make sure there’s enough air circulating under your roof. How does your contractor do it?
First, your roof deck needs to be vented from the eave to its ridge. You need one inch of space between the top of the insulation and back of the roof’s sheathing. You’ll also need the airspace in the vent chute to be at least two inches deep. When you start exploring the project in more detail, your contractor will go over the details step-by-step before construction begins.
What about Snow and Humidity?
There’s not much snow in Northern Virginia, so the concerns that usually plague colder climates, like snow entering the soffit and ridge vents, aren’t really issues in our area. However, if it does snow, it’s a good idea to remove the snow before it melts and causes moisture and rot damage.
On the other hand, we do deal with a great amount of humidity in the summer, and this can pose a risk of moisture. If you have any concerns about these risks, then discuss them with your contractor before choosing your ventilation type.
For example, there are patents circulating for a snow-proof vent if you are concerned about the intermittent snow storms we get between January and March. There are also excellent products by GAF that like the Cobra Snow Country that are designed to handle snow and mitigate moisture.
If you’re interested in improving your roof with these innovations, contact us. We have plenty of product recommendations that are going to beat the Northern Virginia humidity and make your roof work the way it should to ventilate your home all year long.
Roof Ventilation in Northern Virginia
Whether you’re looking for better form or function, or simply feel that a new roof is in order, trust Noble Roofing, the preferred choice for roof replacement in Centreville VA and surrounding cities. Give us call at (703) 404-0505 to speak with our roofing experts. You can also request a free estimate through our online request form today.
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