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When hot air from your attic isn’t sufficiently ventilated, and expensive repairs can result.  Many people don’t understand the importance of attic ventilation, and how much damage it can cause to roofing materials. When attic temperatures rise in the summer to 150° or higher, it can lead to damaged shingles, a buildup of condensation, and unhealthy mold and mildew growth.  When your attic is not properly ventilated, the second floor of your home can be up to 10° hotter than your home’s first floor.  Poor ventilation problems have significant consequences that can cost you time and money.

You can significantly cut heating and cooling costs and lengthen shingle life by paying attention to your attic’s ventilation.  Good attic ventilation helps reduce heat buildup and saves you money.  Poor ventilation can cause many issues that can damage your home.

Problems Caused By Poor Roof Ventilation

Moisture buildup

During cold winter months, trouble with excessive moisture can build up under your roof due to poor ventilation.  A humid environment is a perfect place for mold or mildew to form.  Mold can ruin stored items in the attic and cause health problems.

Uncomfortable indoor temperatures

When poor ventilation causes hot air to build up in your attic, it can flow into your living space, making your home uncomfortably warm.  When hot air builds up in your attic during the summer, its temperature can climb to over 150°.  The hot air then passes through your attic floor into your home.  The result of this is increased energy bills, an overworked air conditioning system, and an uncomfortable indoor atmosphere in your home.

Peeling paint

When too much moisture is trapped in your home, it can cause your paint to peel or blister.  This can happen with both indoor and outdoor paint.

Damage to Shingles & Roofing Materials

Too much moisture in your attic can cause a lot of damage to your roof.  Rust may form on your roof nails and venting duct straps.  Unsightly mold, algae, or fungus may appear on your roofing materials.  Your roof can start to decay due to moisture in your attic.

Damp attic

When roof ventilation doesn’t work properly, moisture from rising warm air condenses on your rafters.  Dampness in your attic is a clear sign you have problems with the roof ventilation.  Proper attic or roof ventilation is an essential part of the roofing system.  Adequate roof venting pulls fresh air into the attic and releases heat and moisture.  This, in turn, reduces the temperature difference between the air outside and in the attic.  When done correctly, proper roof ventilation will reduce the risk of potential problems and extend the roofing system’s life.

However, poor roof ventilation can cause various issues that can cause damage and lead to expensive repairs.  If you’ve ever been in an attic mid-day on a hot summer afternoon, you are well aware of how unpleasant it can get.  If not, suffice to say that temperatures inside can climb to over 150 degrees Fahrenheit and feel like a sauna.

Subpar ventilation on your roof also leads to issues with other exterior systems such as siding, windows, and even gutters.  In short, damage to the top layer of your home creates a domino effect if not taken care of promptly.

Rust

Rust can begin to form on metal components like nails or other critical fasteners.  Over time it can rust the heads off of nails or cause plumbing or venting straps to fail.

Sagging OR Spongy Decking

When excessive moisture begins to seep into the roof decking, it can dissolve the adhesives which hold them together and cause it to warp, sag between rafters or feel spongy when walked on.  This can become a danger for anyone on the roof.

Air Conditioner Replacement & Expenses

As heat builds in the attic, air conditioners must work extra hard to keep the air inside the home cool.  This undue stress on the unit can reduce its life and increase energy costs.

Add ventilation if needed

Add a ridge vent along your roof length to ensure proper ventilation and preserve your roof.

Hire a reliable roofer

When homeowners realize they have a problem with roof ventilation systems, it may be time to contact a roofing company they can trust for appropriate roof repairs.  While homeowners could fix some of these issues on their own, that often leads to more problems down the road.  The sooner homeowners proactively seek solutions to roof ventilation problems, the simpler the solutions.

When homeowners procrastinate contacting a roofing company, damage can cascade into greater problems.  When your roof ventilation has problems, if they aren’t fixed it can void your roof’s warranty and create the need for costly repairs or replacement. Ample asphalt roof ventilation is critical to the lifespan and performance of your roof.