An improperly ventilated roof can decrease your roof’s useful life and result in expensive repairs. A properly ventilated roof ensures that the air in your home circulates and that moisture does not accumulate on the underside of your roof, causing mold, mildew and damaged roof decking.
We’ve compiled four signs you should be looking for to identify if your roof is poorly ventilated.
Damaged Insulation
Damaged insulation is a sign of a poorly ventilated roof. When excessive moisture starts to collect in your attic, it penetrates the insulation first, resulting in a breakdown of the material and an increase in your heating and cooling bills.
Excessive Roof Wear
Your homes roof is designed to last a certain number of years before it needs to be significantly repaired or replaced. If you notice the shingles on your roof cracking, buckling or curling prematurely, you could have a poorly ventilated roof.
Ice Dams
When a roof is poorly ventilated, it results in the surface of your roof being warmer than the outside air in the winter. This causes snow to melt and drain to the edges of your roof where it refreezes, causing ice dams. Once an ice dam forms, water is not successfully drained off your roof and can lead to significant water damage and the need for expensive repairs.
Mold and Mildew
If you notice mold or mildew on the underside of your roof, it is likely the result of a ventilation problem. During cold weather, warm moist air escaping from the living area can be trapped inside your attic. Under certain conditions, the moisture in the warm air will condense on the underside of the roof deck. This can lead to mold growth and a rapid deterioration of the wood decking under your roof. A properly ventilated roof allows this warm moist air to escape and maintains a lower temperature in the attic, preventing condensation.
If you notice any of these problems, you should call our roofing professionals for a thorough inspection and repair estimate. If ventilation problems in your roof are left to linger, they will eventually cause structural damage to your home, including frame warping and damage to siding.
We can repair damage caused by poor ventilation and improve the ventilation of your roof. To schedule an inspection to determine if you have adequate roof ventilation, give us a call. We have been providing high-quality residential roofing solutions since 1977.
