Roof Ventilation System | Infinite Roofing & Construction Roofing Blog

How To Inspect a Roof

November 10, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

When it comes to doing maintenance around your home, the roof is easy to forget about. Doing a professional inspection once a year is recommended but you can easily inspect your roof on your own. Being aware of the condition of your roof will help you get the most out of it, by correcting any issues you see before more damage is done. The most common cause of water damage is from a leaky roof so it is important to be sure to properly inspect it at least once per year, and also after any major storms. We can easily help you identify things that may be problematic on your own, so you can then make a decision if a repair or full replacement is needed. Inspecting your roof has never been easier with these steps!

What happens during a roof inspection?

First step would be to walk around the exterior of your home, inspecting your roof from the ground to see what you can see at eye level. Inspecting your roof from the ground can still give you a good example of its condition if you don’t have a ladder or you’re afraid of heights. Look for signs of any damage, sagging, or ageing and take notes on what you think might be an issue to let your local roofing contractor know. While you are looking up at your roof, be sure to check out the flashing. Flashing is the main entry point for water and needs to be kept in good shape to work properly. Damaged flashing can cause immense damage under the surface of your roof. If you see damaged flashing a professional inspection may be necessary to be sure there are no underlying issues.

If your home has skylights examine the inside where the seams meet your ceiling and also on the exterior, where the shingles meet the skylight. If you see old shingles around your skylights you may have water damage. Looking closely at soil stacks, if your home has one. This is important to check for any cracks and issues with the “stack boot,” and not to opt for a cheap version that will not last you. Installing a soil stack that won’t last you as long as your roof will only cause you bigger problems down the road.

Inspecting your chimney is an area that you are able to check out without having to hop on top of your roof. Make sure to look around the perimeter of the chimney where water is directed away from your house, during heavy snow or rain, precipitation lands right at the chimney which can cause leaks or damage over time.

Look for moss, algae, or piles of leaves on your homes roof, these areas are notorious for costly leaks and water damage. Moss can severely damage the integrity of a roof because moss absorbs moisture and puts down roots causing degradation. These roots can lift shingles allowing constant moisture which can lead to mold and many other problems. Algae can adhere to the roof causing permanent stains and eventually damage underlying materials. If moisture seeps into the wood of your roof, it will cause rotting and compromise the strength of your roof.

As you are walking the perimeter of your home looking up at the roof, check to see if there are any curled or cracked shingles. Hot air from the attic often can cause shingles to curl away from the roof, putting you at risk for water damage and poor ventilation. Another important place to inspect is the attic, checking for rotted wood on the roof, and how well the insulation is holding up. If the insulation is poor there might be excess wear on the roof where heat can leak through. During cold winter months your homes heat leaking out can create serious issues causing ice dams to form. This happens when snow melts on the roof and runs down freezing along the way.

As you are looking at the condition of the shingles on your roof, also try to check for granule loss. Granules are the texture part of the shingles that feels slightly like sandpaper, these help deflect UV rays, make shingles fire resistant, and also makes packaging much easier. If you see loss of granules it may indicate your shingles have aged or been largely affected by severe weather. If you have a lot of granular loss then the shingles are no longer protecting your home from the elements, and you should consider calling your local roofing contractor for a professional inspection.

Another area commonly overlooked by homeowners is the gutters. Cleaning out your gutters is so important because that is why most water damage is caused by being clogged. A gutter system can accumulate up to 300 pounds of water and debris each year. The best time to clean out your gutters is in late spring, this is the prime opportunity to remove the buildup that accumulates from blooming and lingering winter. Along with maintenance for your gutters, pressure washing them out along with your roof at least once per year is suggested.

When should you inspect a roof?

Inspecting your roof should be a year routine maintenance, like we have said previously it is a great idea to get a professional roofing inspection once per year, usually in the spring, but you should inspect your roof and exterior of your home every few months. If you always have your eye out for potential problems it is much eraser to address the issues before they get too big and expensive.

You’ve completed inspecting your roof, now what?

After you have finished inspecting your roof with the help of these easy tips, review your findings. If you have found potential problems or concerns contact your local roofing contractor and make an appointment. Being proactive as a homeowner will save you a ton of money in the long run. As always when seeking out the best roofing company be sure to read reviews from their customers and look at pictures of their work.

Is Frost Developing on Your roof good or bad?

October 5, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

Contact your local roofing contractor to find out about your home.

As the warm months come to a close and fall rapidly approaching, the nights are getting colder and you may have noticed frost developing on your roof. You may have wondered if this is a good or a bad thing. If you step out into your neighborhood and take a look at the other homes, there is a possibility that some roofs have frost and others do not. There is no simply yes or no answer, your roof is unique to your home and the condition it is in.

If you have noticed a layer of frost that has developed on your roof along with all of your neighbors then there is nothing to fear. Insulation is used to keep heat inside of your home, if the heat is trapped inside of your house it should not travel up and out through the roof. On a cold morning if you are not seeing frost on your home, but frost on all of your neighbors then it is a sign of poor insulation. In most cases seeing frost develop on your roof is a good sign that your home and attic are well insulated.

Roofing materials are made to be able to withstand all different types of weather climates, from freezing cold to blistering hot. Shingles are a great affordable option for cold weather climates and provide durability. A shingled roof should never be installed in temperatures below 40 degrees to prevent cracking and breaking. If your roof was installed in the winter and you are not seeing frost form on your roof compared to your neighbors, then there may be a problem and you should call your local roofing contractor. Super shingles are heavy weight shingles that provide 4x more protection and energy efficiency, to better help save money during the cold months. As we always suggest when having any roof work done to your home, be sure to seek out the best roofing company in your area to be sure the work is done properly.

Your roof may not be the culprit if there is a lack of frost developing on your roof, it could be your attic. If your attic insulation is not properly placed heat could be escaping out and through your roof. If you see spotty frost in some areas on the roof but not others, then this is a good indication that your attics insulation is not up to par.

Sun exposure is important to factor in, if your home is fully exposed in the sunlight then frost should easily melt. Do not compare your homes roof to a neighbors if you have different sunlight exposure, a roof in the shadows will contain much more frost. If you home is in direct sunlight, and all your neighbors have frost but you do not, then you should contact your local roofing contractor.

Should there be frost in my attic?

This is another common question we get asked, is frost a bad thing if you are seeing it on the inside of your attic? First it is important to understand how and why frost develops in the attic of homes. When moisture rich air from your home rises up to the attic, the air condenses on the roof sheathing and forms frost. The frost alone does not do damage but once it begins to melt, damage can be done once the sheathing gets wet. The results from melting frost can lead to mold, wet insulation, deteriorating roof sheathing, and water stains. Many people don’t see frost in their attics because it usually melts once the air warms up or the sun warms the outer portion of your roof thus melting the inside. People will most likely see the consequences of frost such as the water stains, or mold.

Prevention

One way to prevent frost from forming in your attic is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Is your attic well insulated? If you’ve had your roof done, or will have your roof done, be sure find the best roofing company in your area that will make sure your attic is well insulated. Sealing off attic bypasses are a good start, an attic bypass is a passage where warm air leaks into the attic of a home. These bypasses are located in a few locations around your roof and interior home. Checking for gaps around furnace vents, electrical boxes, plumbing vents, electrical wires that go into the attic, and sealing up even the smallest of gaps.

Humidity

Lowering the humidity in your attic and whole house can help lower the chances of frost developing inside your attic. Often times we find that when people use a whole home humidifier, frost problems develop and it is impossible to seal off every bypass. Purchasing a humidity meter for your home and attic is a small expense that can save you thousands in the long run.

There are numerous ways to lower the humidity in your home, purchasing a dehumidifier for your attic is a good start. If your kitchen is equipped with a gas stove, try and remember to turn the exhaust fan when cooking. A good amount of moisture is put in the air from a gas stove and the fan will help get rid of it. When you and your family are showering always turn the bathroom fan on, if you don’t have one think about installing one. Even just a 20 min shower pumps a considerable amount of moisture into the air and eventually up into the attic. If your home has a crawl space, check to be sure that there is proper vapor barriers installed.

Does Your Home Need Roof Ventilation?

June 10, 2020 by Infinite Roofing Leave a Comment

You’re probably aware that most attic and roofs are vented. Maybe you’re also aware of the ridge vent that’s at the peak of your roof. However, what you may not be aware of is that some homes may not have enough ventilation or don’t have any ventilation at all. Now, you may be asking if a roof ventilation system is even necessary? Roof ventilation helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, therefore giving your roof a longer lifespan and a much lower risk of roof damages. A well-designed roof ventilation system also helps eliminate moisture in your attic and crawl spaces by allowing cool, dry air to enter while exhausting out the warm, moist air. Your local roofing contractors know that in order to stay healthy, your home actually needs to breathe just like you do! Allowing your home to breathe will help prevent damp and deter dangerous mold growth in your attic and crawl spaces.

Why Are Roof Vents Needed?

If you have an attic, an unheated space in the basement or an upper floor attached to the roof, ventilation is necessary to help correct air conditioning of your area. In summer, your roof’s ventilation helps cool the roof and underlying water barrier materials, reducing the expansion of the metal and slows the aging of asphalt shingles, which suffer from the heat. That’s not all though; roof vents are crucial in winter too. By keeping your roof cool, you can prevent snow from melting on top of the roof and freezing again in your rain gutters where they would create an ice dam that can cause leaks and water damage. Even if there are no leaks, additional weight can cause structural damage to your roof. The vents prevent this by circulating the coldest air from the eaves through the vent in the roof peak.

Extend The Life Of Your Roof

Have you ever seen icicles build up on the edge of roofs and gutters? This ice buildup is known as ice damming. You can see the icicles, but you can’t see the damage that they’re doing to the edge of your roof. Ice damming happens when heat from inside your attic combines with heat from the sun to melt snow and ice on your warm roof. When the resulting water runs to the edge of your roof, it begins to refreeze. As the ice and water build up at the edges of the roof, it can back up behind/underneath the roofing materials, causing damage to your whole roof system, your attic and even inside the walls of your home.

Proper ventilation helps warm air escape before it has a chance to melt the snow and ice on your roof. A well-vented roof can be easy to see in the wintertime. It will still have snow on the roof, but there will not be an icicle in sight.

Ventilation will benefit a roof when it’s hot outside as well. When the outside temperature rises, the temperature on your roof can be nearly double that. A hot roof over a poorly vented attic will give you a very hot attic.

The reason for this is that unventilated or poorly ventilated attics don’t have an escape route for the heat that builds up. This buildup of heat can damage your shingles from the inside out. An evenly vented roof will allow the hot air to escape keeping your roof and attic cooler.

Reducing Energy Costs

When the temperature increases outside, everyone wishes to shelter away and stay cool inside. A properly vented roof allows the heat to escape, thereby reducing the workload on your air conditioner. An air conditioner that’s running less means you will have a lower electric bill.

Reduces Indoor Temperature Extremes

Have you ever walked upstairs and thought it was at least 10 degrees warmer than it was in your living room? These indoor temperature extremes are often the result of poorly vented roofs. Once your roof is adequately vented to allow the hot air to escape and the cool air enter the attic space, your home will be more comfortable year-round.

Attic Vents Control Moisture & Temperature

When air stagnates in the attic, moisture tends to condense out and settle on the framing and insulation. This provides a perfect environment for mold and rot to set in. Mold loves to grow in damp attic insulation, and damp insulation has a tendency to clump, which reduces its effectiveness. Rot affects the framing and the roof decking, and the end result can be a sagging roof. Sagging roofs leak, which worsens the moisture problem in the attic and creates a big problem in living areas below.

The Proper Attic Ventilation

Soffit vents, which are grids that fit over holes you cut in the soffits, come in different sizes. On some aluminum or vinyl soffit systems, the vents are integrated into soffit panels. Since the roof line and soffit form a corner in the attic, you usually have to fit baffles over the soffit vents, running up along the roof sheathing beneath the insulation. These are cardboard or plastic air passageways that you fasten to the underside of the roof decking. They prevent insulation from blocking the vents and keep air flowing freely.

Ridge vents are the most economical roof vents. A roof’s ridge vent is a continuous vent that runs along the peak of a sloped roof. It is usually covered with shingles to match the rest of the roof. You can also choose a number of vent styles that open directly onto the roof deck. Care should be taken to make sure that the vent openings aren’t covered by snow in the winter as this will seriously hinder their functionality. If your house accommodates them, you can also satisfy the roof vent area requirement by installing gable vents that penetrate the siding and open into the unheated attic space. You have to exercise some care when designing a ventilation system to ensure uniform circulation throughout the attic, especially in corners and behind obstacles.

The Flat Roof Vent System

Whichever roof ventilation system you select, you will want to make sure that you preserve the integrity of your roof. If you install a turbine or other ventilation duct across the roof surface, you must ensure that it includes enough solenoid and sealant to prevent water from flowing into the home and causing moisture problems. A ridge vent will have to be fixed on the roof, the asphalt fabric, the minimal roll or the metal. It is necessary to provide the room with circulating air under the roof covering.

How Does Roof Ventilation Work?

A roof ventilation system works by providing continuous flow of air through your attic space, helping remove overheated air and moisture from the attic and roof system and reduce the impact of changing temperatures and moisture conditions both inside and outside the home. The system that allows the ventilation of air to take place consist of intake vents and exhaust vents installed at strategic intervals in the attic or roof area. Several different types of vents may be used in different locations to provide ventilation for the attic or roof area. Several different types of vents may be used in different locations to provide for attic air to circulate in the right amounts and directions throughout the roofing system.

A good local roofing company knows that correct design and construction of the roof ventilation system is critical. The roof’s design should provide plenty of open air space for insulation and air flow under the roof and eaves. And, a correctly designed system will precisely balance the intake and exhaust ventilation under the roof so that the attic is slightly pressurized, preventing conditioned air from being sucked out too quickly through the vents, thereby increasing heating and cooling costs.

What Happens If Your Attic Is Not Vented?

Any professional local roofing contractors will tell you that proper attic ventilation is crucial to keep the air flowing through your attic, rather than simply letting it sit. Ventilation essentially helps outside air pass through and out of your attic, removing excess heat and moisture from the air of your attic as it does so. Air is taken in through areas like your soffits and eaves and is exhausted through the roof at your ridge cap or by a roof vent. This helps create the right air balance in your attic, which plays an important role in keeping your home healthy and comfortable to be in.

How Much Attic Ventilation Do You Need?

Since most roofs are under ventilated, many people have no idea just how much roof ventilation they need, or what kind of purchase. The FHA recommends that you have 1 square foot of attic exhaust (both intake and exhaust) for every 300 square feet of attic square.

When there is a lack of ventilation it can cause a whole host of problems in and around your home. Depending on the climate that you live in, lack of proper ventilation can have a serious impact on your energy bills and the lifespan of things like your roof.

If your home lacks sufficient ventilation, it can create a super heated attic. Without the air moving through the space, the air trapped inside starts to heat up with the sun beating down on the roof. This heat then transfers itself through the floor of your attic and begins to warm the rooms of your home. This in turn leads to higher energy bills as your fans and AC work to combat it. Another issue with the fact that your attic is becoming superheated is the lifespan of your roof shingles. The heat from your attic won’t just be transferred down into your living space; it will also be transferred back to the roof itself. This causes the shingles to become overheated, essentially frying them and decreasing their lifespan.

The heat transfer from a super heated attic can damage a lot more than your roof and your energy bills. It can also warp the wood framing in your attic, which in turn can warp walls and door frames, as well as transfer down the walls to blister your paint and wallpaper.

Moisture Build Up

The summer isn’t the only time you need to worry about a lack of attic ventilation. During the winter the steam from your shower, clothes dryer, and pots and pans can all get trapped in the attic where it condenses. This condensation can drip back down onto your insulation, rendering it less effective. It can also lead to the growth of mold and mildew in your attic and in your insulation where it can harm your family’s health.

Condensation and excess moisture can also form on your eaves and soffits, driving moisture back under your roof and forming ice dams that can cause leaks as well. Proper ventilation keeps the air moving all year long, which moves moisture out of the attic before it can condense.

Summary

Proper ventilation is essential to the well-being of your home and everyone within. If you are concerned that your roof is lacking sufficient ventilation or you have noticed some of the issues mentioned here in your home, you should contact professional local roofing contractors to have a look and let you know what your options are. Call 518-444-ROOF and we will be happy to help you address any concerns you may have.