The Importance of Ventilation in Roof Maintenance

02 Jun The Importance of Ventilation in Roof Maintenance

Most of us take our roofs for granted. As long as they are well insulated, we don’t think about whether or not they are sufficiently ventilated.

It would be easy to assume that roof ventilation could make your insulation ineffectual. In fact, the opposite is true.

Inadequate ventilation can cause major problems for your roof and attic, causing expensive problems both inside and outside your home.

The Benefits of Roof Ventilation

• A properly ventilated roof is important to your home in a variety of ways.
  It makes your roof last longer. A well ventilated roof has much better protection against ice and frost, as it allows warmer air from your attic to flow throughout the roof. If ice and frost form on your roof, due to the changing temperatures during the day and night, they can thaw, but then re-freeze, especially on the shingles. If this happens, it can cause structural damage to your roof.
• It increases airflow. As heat rises, having a properly ventilated roof can help to keep your home cool in the summer, which can save you money by negating the need for air conditioning. In the winter months it can protect your property from the inset of damp, which can cause damage to both structure and insulation in your attic. Correct roof ventilation will make both the heating and cooling of your home more efficient, reducing your household bills.
• It protects your roof against moisture. If too much moisture gets into your roof, it can be seriously damaging, as it can cause the roof’s foundations to rot. This is not only expensive to fix; it can also be hazardous. A correctly ventilated roof will prevent this by allowing the circulation of warm air through your roof, keeping its foundations dry.

Signs Your Roof May Need Ventilation

• Your attic is unusually hot during the summer.
• Your attic is damp or has mould growing in it.
• There is frosting on your rafters.

How Roundhay Roofing can Help

If your roof is in need of ventilation, you will not necessarily need a new roof, even if your roof is old. Existing roofs can be ventilated if their structure is sound, by experienced roofers like Roundhay Roofing, a family-run team of expert roofers with over 30 years’ experience of all aspects of roof building, repair and maintenance, based in Leeds. For further advice on roofing ventilation, please give Roundhay Roofing a call on 0113 293 4038.