Do you Need Roof Ventilation?

When roofs blow down or become damaged it may be due to inadequate roof ventilation. Not having the right roof ventilation or the right level of roof ventilation can lead to a shortening of the roof’s lifespan. An average home produces four to five pounds of water vapor per day and if the home has poor roof ventilation this means that the vapors have nowhere to go. Instead it can form condensation on the wooden boards of the roof causing them to buckle, twist and contort. In turn, poor ventilation leads to a greater chance of wind damage and increased occurrences of falling shingles or tiles.

It is essential that good quality roof ventilation consists of an exhaust as well as an intake. The temperature difference between the inside of the roof and the outside of the roof can be massive and only through using an intake and an outlet can these temperatures be brought to a consistent level. Only have one type of roof ventilation is the equivalent of having no roof ventilation whatsoever and in some cases it can actually cause more damage to have only one than to have neither.

There are a large number of different methods of providing adequate roof ventilation and more is definitely better. Each type of roof ventilation has it’s positives and it’s negatives so consult with your roofing contractor and decide between you which is likely to be the better decision for your home in terms of both effectiveness and aesthetics. Having adequate roof ventilation can be the difference between a long lasting roof and having to replace it every ten years or so.

Dormer vents are one of the more commonly used forms of roof ventilation because they are relatively easy to fit and they can be installed at the back of the house where it is easy to keep them hidden. They give the perfect combination of adequate roof ventilation without being an eye soar. Possibly the most effective method is through the use of turbine ventilators.