Roof Ventilation 101
One of the more important things about your home and roof is the roof vents. The proper installation of roof vents is crucial because it allows for proper attic ventilation which prevents condensation and early aging of your roofing materials.
Advantages of Proper Roof Ventilation
• When you have proper ventilation, this helps moderates the temperature in the attic and in turn helps with the temperature in the rest of the house.
• Having proper ventilation helps with moisture build up in your attic. It can help prevent condensation problems in the winter that can often cause problems with the insulation and materials in the attic space.
• Preventing excess heat build up in your attic can provide energy efficiency in turn lowering your heating costs.
• It can help protect and extend the life of your roofing materials.
• It helps you with being up to date with most local building codes.
Different kinds of roof vents
Before any vents are installed, the roofing company will need to determine how many you need and of what kind you will need as well. Below we will go over the different types of roof vents and how to install them:
• Intake Vents - These are soffit vents and are one of the most popular kinds of vents that homeowners use. For one they are easy to install under the roofs overhang, they are hidden from view very well and also provide protecting from the elements outdoors.
• Drip Edge Vent - If your roof style doesn’t allow for soffit type vents, these type of homeowners will usually get a drip edge vent. These are typically a two in one installation that promote water shedding. It is made of a resistant material that sticks out three inches from the roofs edge
• Ridge Vent - These vents are pretty self explanatory. These vents are usually placed at the ridge of the roof. They can come in one piece or several different pieces. Depending on the customer, they may want shingles placed over the ridge vent in the end as well.
• Static Vent - Static vents are mostly non motorized vents and are typically installed near the roof ridge to allow air to flow from the attic.
• Gable Vents - This vent is normally a slotted section of wood or siding that is installed near the gable on the side of a home. Gable vents can function as both exhaust and intake. But they generally rely on strong winds. If the home is usually subject to wind driven rain, roofing professionals usually frown against getting a gable vent installed.
• Turbine Vent - This type of vent draws air from inside the attic as wind turns the turbines. These types of vents are usually used in areas that has average winds of at least 5 MPH otherwise it will not be worth getting.
• Powered Vent - This type of vent is very similar too a roof mounted exhaust fan. You can control is by a moisture monitor or a thermostat. Until the right temperature is reached, blades will spin within the unit. When it is reached, it will shut off.