Yes, there is something you can do! Back in February of this year we touched on how important roof ventilation is and why you need it. Being in South Texas we see some pretty hot and extreme weather; 104 degrees today to be exact.

Air being able to flow into the attic is what creates roof ventilation. 2 ways to create air flow within an attic:

1. Mechanical. Requires a power source.
2. Natural.  The stack effect and the wind effect work together to naturally circulate air, use this whenever possible.

 The stack effect occurs when hot air rises and creates a higher pressure at high points in the attic. Hot air is the exhaust. However, this hot air cannot escape without an inlet for cooler, low-pressure air. Cool air is the intake.

When the wind blows against the outside of a roof and increases the volume of intake and exhaust, it is known as the wind effect. Intake and exhaust generate the natural flow of air to create a well-vented attic.

This video further explains how roof ventilation works:

Whether it’s in warm or cold climates, proper attic ventilation plays a key role in helping to make the roof system last longer and prevent many expensive issues from occurring inside and out of a building.

Some of the major benefits include:

• It helps reduce damaging moisture. Excessive moisture can build up in the attic, potentially damaging the structure and degrading the roof system. It can also lead to mold.
• It can help save energy. Heat build-up in that attic comes at a cost—a home’s air conditioning has to work harder to cool down the house, especially the living space below the attic.
• It helps prevent damage to the roof shingles. High attic heat can bake the shingle and cause them to prematurely age. In fact, most major shingle manufacturers strongly recommend proper attic ventilation on asphalt shingle installations.

Unfortunately, most homes in the United States are improperly ventilated, which can result in mold, wasted energy, premature deterioration of the roof system, rotten decking, and peeling paint.

Proper attic ventilation creates a balanced system using ridge vents or other exhaust vent in conjunction with intake vents installed at the eave, soffit, or fascia area of the roof. Intake ventilation is critical in ensuring the exhaust vents function properly. Without intake ventilation, most ridge or other exhaust vents can be rendered virtually useless. Give Tomlin Roofing a call for your free estimate on installing the best product to create adequate ventilation.