Roof Ventilation:
* Protects Your Insulation and Roof
* Reduces Energy Bills

Why Take Risks?
It is estimated that 9 out of 10 homes in North America do not have proper attic ventilation. Why? Because most people are unaware that attic ventilation can impact the longevity of their entire home!

An improperly ventilated attic can cause heat to build above 160°F. This superheated air creates downward pressures that penetrate the ceiling insulation into the living area below.

Types of damage that can result include:

• Premature aging of your roofing system (“fried” shingles)
• Warping, cracking, or breaking down of wood framing
• Damage to siding, exterior or interior paint, and wallpaper
• Higher energy costs

A properly ventilated attic can help reduce the load on your air conditioner by moving the superheated air out of your attic before it builds up and causes damage.

Various household appliances, bathtubs, showers, and cooking vapors can contribute to excess moisture build-up. Improperly ventilated attics will allow this moisture to collect and cling to the underside of the roof. There, it will condense on nails, accelerating their failure and drip onto the attic insulation, reducing its efficiency.

Additional structural damage can include:

• Roof deck warping and rotting of the wood frame
• Mildew growth
• Buckling of shingles and felt

Roofs should be properly ventilated to help prevent ice dams in cold northern climates. During the winter, ice and snow on a roof will melt and run down the deck to the cooler eaves. This run-off can re-freeze, creating an ice dam that will trap moisture on the roof. The moisture can eventually back up under the shingles and enter your home — causing hundreds or thousands of dollars of damage to your ceilings and walls. Adequate attic ventilation will reduce the amount of initial melting that occurs on your roof, thereby reducing the chance that ice dams will form.

Proper attic ventilation ensures a long-lasting roofing system

Attic vent calculator >>