Poor Attic Ventilation Could Be The Cause Of Your Roof Damage And Repairs That Can Help

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When your attic doesn't have enough ventilation, the heat that builds up can damage your roof. The damage ages your roof faster and leads to the need to have a new roof put on. However, if you catch the problem early, your roofer might just make repairs and improve ventilation so your roof can be saved. Here are some steps your roofer may take.

Replace Rusted Flashing

When your attic has poor ventilation, it causes excess heat and increased moisture on your roof, and both of these cause damage. Excess moisture can cause metal parts to rust. When flashing rusts, the holes allow rain to leak in the attic.

The roofer might remove rust with a wire brush and cover the exposed metal with a rust inhibitor, but if the rust is extensive, or if it has eaten through the metal, the flashing will probably be replaced.

Replace Damaged Shingles

The heat and moisture on your roof can damage the shingles and cause them to buckle or curl. This may be your first indication of roof trouble when you see a few curling shingles on your roof.

Your roofer may repair curled shingles by flattening them and holding them in place with roofing cement, or the shingles may be replaced. Your roofer will assess the extent of the damaged shingles when determining if repairs or a roof replacement is the right approach.

Replace Rotted Decking

Poor ventilation is an issue in both winter and summer. In the winter, the heat in the attic is enough to melt snow that then freezes and forms an ice dam. The ice works its way under the shingles and can cause shingle damage and water damage to the roof once the ice melts.

A roofer can remove an ice dam in the winter, but if you don't catch the problem, there could be water damage to the deck the roofer has to repair later. This involves taking off the old shingles damaged by the ice dam, and then cutting out the damaged deck and replacing the deck and shingles with new materials.

Improve Attic Ventilation

Repairing the damage is important to the longevity of your roof, but the cause of poor ventilation has to be addressed too, or your roof could sustain more damage. Your roofer may suggest adding more soffit vents or they may need to repair ridge vents. If more ventilation is needed, your roofer may recommend installing a turbine vent on your roof that spins and pulls air out of your attic for increased air movement.

Contact a residential roof repairs and maintenance company in your area for more information.


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