Proper Roof Ventilation Tips

Proper ventilation helps keep the roof from getting too warm by removing warm air that rises from the conditioned living space below.

Proper roof ventilation tips.

If your home is fitted solely with small gable end vents or a ventilator high in the roof you might want to consider adding soffit vents to increase airflow. You can calculate attic ventilation requirements by determining the square footage of your attic floor its width times its length and compare that to the total required net free area nfa. Here are four signs of an unventilated or under ventilated attic. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.

A ridge vent is a ventilation strip that is placed along the ridgeline of the home. The key to proper ventilation of your roof and attic is balance. Proper attic ventilation attics should be insulated to r 38 which is approximately eighteen inches of insulation material. Be aware of all soffit vents around the perimeter of.

If this warm air is not removed it warms the roof which can begin melting the snow and start the subsequent thaw freeze cycle. If you don t see any attic vents on the roof or in the eaves you need to add some. Look at your eaves and roof. It is important that air movement occurs and is not impeded by any framing members of the home.

The option you choose will be contingent on factors such as the type of roof you re working with and the local climate. The amount of space you devote to intake must be equal to the amount you allow for exhaust and these must be calculated according to the size of your attic and slope of your roof. If you don t know how your roof vents work or if you re unsure about your attic ventilation in general you should talk to a roof inspector about your current system and any inherent weaknesses that may be at. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool.

If there are portions of insulation that have been eroded down don t just slap some extra material on top. Improving your roof ventilation will help keep your roof and the rest of your home in prime condition. If you re not following proper roofing ventilation tips warm air will become trapped in your home and cause issues that can lead to costly repairs which we ll cover in the signs of poor roof ventilation section. Prior to installing the ridge vent a 1 inch wide strip of roof decking is cut out along both sides of the ridgeline to allow for air movement through the vent.

Most effective ventilation uses a ridge and soffit continuous ventilation system but even these designs can vary from roof to roof. A hot ceiling tells you that the attic is acting like a solar oven. Touch your ceiling on a warm sunny day.