Do I Really Need Ventilation in My Roof?

Ventilation, in my roof? Do I really need that? Can’t we cut the costs of the ventilation to save me a little bit of money? The short answer to those questions is  yes, yes, and no!  At Bell Roofing we are big on ventilation. Did you know that most roofing manufacturers will not warrant their products if the attic is not properly vented? Yikes!

So let’s dive into why ventilation is so important for roofs-

• It is very important to get the hot air out of your attic so that your heating and cooling bills are lower. We all want to save money right?
• Ventilation helps to keep the underside of the shingles cool, so that they are not baking in the heat. The baking in the heat can cause the shingles to become brittle and can break more easily during rain or strong winds.
• Ventilation helps during the winter months by cutting down on the moisture that will build-up. Again this helps increase the life of shingles, which increases the life of your roof.
• If hot air is not being removed from the attic, you will also run the risk of the heat coming up through the decking of your roof. Just like the shingles, if the decking is subjected to the hot air continuously, then the wood will dry out, become brittle, and could crack. This would become quite an expensive endeavor, once this occurs.

What types of venting does Bell Roofing offer?

• Turbine- This is sometimes also called the “whirly-bird” because of the blades that spin all of the time. The idea behind this system is that when hot air rises, it will look for the path or least resistance, which is the turbine. Once the hot air reaches the turbine, it causes the turbine to turn. In commercial buildings, some of these turbines have large fans below them to help draw more air out. Domestic houses do not have the large fans connected.
• Ridge Vents- These vents come in 4 foot sections that are installed in a continuous like along the peak of the house. During installation, the final inch of each side of the peak of the house is cut away. This leaves a narrow hole that is covered by the ridge vents to stop rain from leaking in. These vents are then covered with smaller shingles so that the vents match the rest of the roof. These vents are maintenance free, and they don’t need to be fixed frequently which makes them very popular with home owners.
• Power Vents– This is a power assisted vent that looks like a turbine. It uses a motorized fan to suck the hot air out of your attic. These vents can be operated using solar power panels, which can save on energy. They also have options to add in a thermostat and humidistat to control the air inside of your attic space.

Proper venting not only saves you money in heating and cooling bills, it also plays a major role in prolonging the life of your roof. During our comprehensive roof inspection we will give you the best ventilation option for your home.  Call us today for more information on roofing ventilation!