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.
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