Here at Royalty Roofing, we are experts at all things involving your home’s first layer of protection against the elements: your roof. In addition to being able to determine the correct way to diagnose, repair and/or replace every part of your roofing system, we take pride in educating homeowners about their roof.
One aspect of the roofing system that homeowners rarely think about but actually plays a vital role is ventilation. At its most basic level, ventilation simply means the flow of air in and out of a structure. In the case of your roof, ventilation plays three very important roles that save you money and maintain the health of your roof for the long-term.
Reduce Heat and Moisture in the Attic
Have you ever been in a home where it felt like it was 20 degrees hotter upstairs than downstairs? That extreme discrepancy in temperature is likely due to a poorly ventilated roof. By making sure the roof is properly ventilated, you can greatly reduce the amount of heat that stays trapped inside. By reducing the amount of heat, you also reduce the amount of damaging moisture. Perhaps the most detrimental effect of an overheated roof is the damage it causes to shingles.
Promote Energy Efficiency and Reduce Cooling Costs
The flip side of what we discussed above is that having an attic that traps heat and therefore naturally keeps the rest of your house warmer also costs you more money. That is because your air conditioner has to work overtime in order to get the house down to the temperature where you and your family are comfortable. Properly ventilating the roof will result in a more energy efficient home and a cooling bill that is less of a squeeze on the wallet. Now that’s what we call a win-win.
Reduce the Risk of Ice Dam Formation
You don’t have to worry about ice dams forming in the warmer months, but once winter rolls around again, they are a big concern. The telltale sign that an ice dam has formed on your roof is a row of icicles along the gutter line. It may look pretty, but the effects can be disastrous. Ice dams are enabled by a complex interaction of the colder air temperatures outside and the warmer air escaping your house through the roof. Proper ventilation helps ensure that the warm air inside the roof is able to escape before it has a chance to help an ice dam form. Click here to learn more about how snow and ice can cause long-term damage to your roof.
We hope this blog has given you a clearer picture of the important role that ventilation plays in keeping your roof healthy and saving you money. If you have any additional questions about roof ventilation or another roofing topic, we are here to help! Click here to contact us or feel free to give us a call at 402-216-8850.
