Signs Your Roof Isn't Well-Ventilated And How Roofers Can Help

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One aspect of roofing that homeowners don't think of that often is ventilation. Ventilation exists to keep the attic space from getting too warm. Warmth in the attic tends to pass through the roof, which accelerates the deterioration of the roof material. If a roof is well-ventilated, it will last longer and suffer less damage over its lifespan. But how do you know whether your roof is well-ventilated? If you discover it is not well-ventilated, what can a roofer do about it? Keep reading for answers to these questions.

Signs Your Roof Is Not Well Ventilated

A good way to tell whether your roof is well-ventilated is to go into your attic on a warm day. Does the attic space feel about the same temperature as the outdoors, or does it feel warmer? If the attic feels significantly warmer than the outside temperature, then the space may not be as ventilated as it should be.

You can also look at the insulation and rafters in the attic. If you see spots or mold or rot on them, this could point to poor ventilation. It could also be a sign of a roof leak, so have a roofer take a look to be sure.

Another sign of poor ventilation is peeling shingles at the peak of the roof. This tends to happen because most of the heat is escaping from the roof at the highest point, causing accelerated damage to those shingles.

How a Roofer Can Improve a Poorly Ventilated Roof

If a roofer agrees that your roof is not well-vented, they can address the problem by adding more vents. Often, they will add soffit vents, which are vents placed under the eaves. These are often the easiest type to add to the roof after the fact.

A roofer may also add a ridge vent to the roof. This is a long, raised vent placed along the roof's peak. Ridge vents take a bit more work to install, but one ridge vent lets a lot of heat escape, so this is a good option when a roof is severely under-ventilated. Sometimes, a roofer may also recommend an attic fan to actively discharge warm air from the attic. This is usually only necessary in hot climates.

Ventilation makes for a healthy, long-lasting roof. For more information on roof ventilation, visit a site like https://www.allamericanroofing.com/, or contact a roofing contractor in an area near you.


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