Attic Ventilation
Attic
ventilation, is it really that important? Yes, effective attic
ventilation can help eliminate excessive heat and humidity that can build up
in your attic. Excessive heat and humidity can cause a host of
problems such as ice dams, premature shingle failure, lower insulating
R-values, higher energy bills and many other problems. To help avoid
these problems you may want to consider installing some type of attic
ventilation system on your new roof. One of the best systems for
ventilating the heat and humidity from your attic is to install a roof ridge
vent. This system is designed to work in conjunction with under eave
soffit ventilation. If your home lacks soffits ventilation or the
soffit area is solid (non venting) you will want to have a qualified
contractor install some type of soffit ventilation. Be aware that some roof
ventilation configurations may require special consideration and
recommendations to perform properly. Ridge vent works best when used
in a balanced attic ventilation system. This requires the volume of
air intake (such as under eave vent) to match or exceed the volume of
air exhaust (such as ridge vent). Ridge vent is also is available in many
different configurations and colors to compliment your new roofing.
Maryland Shingle recommends Air Vent products as one of the best
makers in our opinion. Air Vent ridge vents feature external wind
baffles to protect against water infiltration while creating negative
pressure to
help pull air out of your attic. Air Vent also offers shingle over
ridge vents such as Shingle Vent II with internal weather filters. If
you are considering ridge vent, Air Vent should be on your short list.
Attic fans are also another popular choice for attic ventilation. If
you are considering a power roof mounted attic fan, we strongly recommend
selecting one that comes equipped with a humidistat such as the Power Cool
Plus by Air Vent. A humidistat has the ability to engage the fan not
only when the attic reaches a certain temperature but also when and if the
attic reaches a certain moisture level. This can be key in colder months
when the temperature is low but the humidity in your attic is on the rise.
Warm moist attics in winter months contribute to many problems not the least
of which is the formation of ice dams. Proper attic ventilation in
combination with snow and ice shield underlayment are a good choice when
considering re-roofing your home. For more information and a free no
obligation roofing assessment on your home call Maryland Shingle Roofing &
Siding Contractors!
