Your roof serves to protect your from the moisture that is in the elements. It seems that ventilation would be the last thing that you would expect your roof to have. After all, we are trying to keep the elements out, not open up the roof and expose ourselves to the open air. However, ventilation is a vitally important aspect of your roof’s maintenance. There is a great deal of moisture that accumulates in a home. This moisture, like heat, rises and works its way to the top of your home. Without ventilation, this moisture would accumulate and cause great deterioration to the top of your home. Ventilation allows this moisture to escape.
Likewise, ventilation also helps to bring balance to the moisture that accumulates on the roof as well. Ceiling fans, vents and ridge vents all comprise part of the ventilation system and ensure that the home, attic and roof have ample air to release moisture. The roof ventilation systems consist of both intake and exhale vents. These vents ensure the balance is regulated between the roof and the attic.
If your home doesn’t have proper ventilation, you will experience a number of problems. First, moisture will accumulate and may cause various parts of your roofing system to deteriorate. You may notice that the shingles become warped or loose and may slip off. If the water damage extends to the underlayment, you may see warping or buckling of the wood underneath the roof. This can lead to structural damage and may extend into the trusses or rafters. If these structures become damaged, they may fail to support the roof. It is extremely important that your roof has ventilation according to code specifications and that you ensure that the ventilation system is working properly. The best way to ensure that your ventilation system is installed properly is to have a professional roofer do the work for you.
