Proper roof venting
In Louisville roofing, proper roof ventilation is vital to both a home’s insulation and the continued health and longevity of the roof. When a roof is vented properly, both the attic and the roof will benefit. If a roofer vents an attic or a roof incorrectly, the result will be leakage, poor insulation, and even mold growth will be possible.
THE PURPOSE OF ROOF VENTILATION
Your new roof’s ventilation will have a different function depending on your climate. In a cold climate, the heating venting from your roof will keep ice dams from developing on your roof. The vent systems will also vent moisture that would otherwise breed mold and cause a musty smell. But in a warm climate like in Shelbyville or Louisville Kentucky, your roof’s ventilation will let the hot air that rises to your attic escape.
LOUISVILLE ROOFING: HOW IT WORKS
No matter your Louisville home’s construction, your roofing contractors will ventilate your home in essentially the same way. The roofers must ensure the attic’s ceiling is completely airtight and that the attic is well-insulated, with nothing additional in it that would compress the insulation. (If you plan to store things in your attic, you will need to construct an elevated platform to keep the insulation integral.)
Ideally, good roofing ventilation will not use too many ducts. Ducts are difficult to seal and prone to leakage, so it’s better to use a carefully constructed baffled vent system. Baffled vents, with exit routes at the very top of your roof and intake vents near the bottom, use physics to ensure a steady flow of air through your home. Your home must have intake and exhaust venting to be properly ventilated.
LOUISVILLE ROOFING: MEETING STANDARDS
To ensure the safety of your home, the International Code Council, ASHRAE and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have all laid out standards for the ventilation of homes. Each home must have one foot of net-free ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic floor space, or one foot of ventilation for every 300 feet of floor space if half the vents are at the top of the roof and a half at the bottom.
Make sure you hire a fully credentialed Louisville roofing contractor to work at your home. Not only is this the best way to make sure your home’s ventilation meets all safety standards, but the contractor will also ensure that your home’s ventilation is well-designed and does not leak.
THE WHY, HOW AND WHAT OF PROPER ROOF VENTILATION
Improper ventilation of a roof can lead to a number of problems, including mold, leaks, and the need to replace shingles sooner than expected. In the hot, humid environment of Louisville, roofing ventilation is critical to the long-term success of any structure, making it important to seek experienced construction contractors or roofing companies when you are building a new structure or repairing an existing one.
The purpose of roof ventilation differs depending on the climate. In Louisville, where it rarely gets cold enough for ice to form in sheets or dams on a roof, the primary concern for ventilation is dealing with heat. A properly installed roof venting system lets hot air escape. Since hot air rises, much of the heat in a home eventually makes its way to the attic or upper crawlspace. Without venting, that air would be trapped, heating the upper portion of a home. That can cause increases in utility costs and damage to your roof. In Kentucky, moisture is also a problem thanks to heavy rainfall and humid air. Venting keeps moisture from building up under your roof, reducing the chance of mold and mildew growth.
A roofing contractor in Louisville is likely to apply the same concepts to every type of house, though exact implementation differs according to building size and shape. First, a roofing company has to ensure an airtight ceiling in the attic. In an existing structure, the roofing company might have to repair or replace a ceiling that has too many unsealed areas. For ventilation to work properly, the attic or crawlspace has to be fully insulated. Insulation can’t be compressed by any additional structures or items, which is why a platform is created above it with plywood so you can store items. Finally, your Louisville roofer will likely install a baffle vent system. Speak to your roofers to understand what type of duct system they plan to use in your attic; Adding too many ducts can create greater potential for leaks or create inefficient venting.
Numerous agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, publish ventilation standards for homes. These standards define how much ventilation space is required for certain amounts of attic floor space. Following such requirements is critical for both ongoing safety and protection of your home’s value. Now that you know why venting is important, ensure your roof gets the proper how and what by hiring an experienced, credentialed Louisville roofing contractor.
