Ventilation is Key to Roof Lifespan

A lot of people don’t spend very much time thinking about their roof. Unless something goes wrong, most people don’t even think to glance up there every once in a while to check it out. A little attention, however, can go a long way toward making your roof last longer.

A new roof is a hefty expense, so you want to take any measures possible to extend the life of your roof. Proper maintenance and routine inspections are a huge part of how you can increase the lifespan of your roof.

There’s a little known secret to increasing the lifespan of your roof though: ventilation. Adequate ventilation is a key factor when it comes to extending the life of your roof.

How does ventilation extend the life of my roof?

Adequate ventilation can help prevent moisture buildup, which can prevent rotting in the wood. It also helps protect against weather related wear and tear, and increases the life of the shingles.

When moisture and humidity build up in your attic, it can cause wood rot and water damage. Rising moisture in the air can also cause mold and mildew, which will make your home smell bad as well as be a health concern. In the colder months, the moisture buildup can turn in to ice dams, which have the potential to threaten the structure of your roof.

Ventilation techniques such as the ones listed below not only help extend the life of your roof, but they can help with the heating and cooling and energy costs in your home. A proper ventilation system keeps air moving through the space underneath your roof and helps regulate temperature as well.

Here are some ways you can improve the ventilation in your attic to increase the lifespan of your roof:

Attic Fans

Whole home ventilation fans are miracle workers. Not only do they help keep your roof young by ridding the area of excess moisture, but they can also save you tons in energy costs. Whole home ventilation fans help prevent energy loss and aid your home heating and cooling systems. In many of the warmer months, the fan can be used to cool the whole house.

A whole home ventilation fan utilizes a fairly high powered fan along with a system of vents to keep air moving though the space.

Vents

Adding a few vents to your attic space can help ventilate the area to keep the roof protected. This is a very simple project that can be done yourself in the matter of one day. A few tools and a little elbow grease is all it takes to give your roof years of life.

There are multiple kinds of vents that you can use, but the type you use will largely depend on the kind of roof you have and the size and shape of your attic. For example, a small attic is going to need a different ventilation system than a large one. Also, if your attic space is finished, that is going to affect what kind of ventilation you are going to use.