Attic Ventilation - Talk About Hot Air!

The least exciting of all home-improvement projects has to be attic ventilation! (Not that a new roof is a big thrill, either, but at least it will make your house look beautiful!) It's not sexy, but when you have the proper roof ventilation, it will save you money on heating and cooling costs.

​Did you know that improper attic ventilation is one of the leading causes of premature roof failure?

Your attic gets hot...and here in Virginia Beach, it gets humid too.  So it's extremely important that your attic has proper ventilation to prevent condensation and mold growth.  There are 3 main reasons for an attic:

1. In the winter you want to reduce condensation (and mold) on the underside of roof decking.
2. In the summer you want to reduce the solar heat gain within the home.
​3. All during the year, you want to provide an avenue for drying out any water intrusions or roof leaks.
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If your attic isn't ventilated properly, it can cause extraordinary heat buildup. This "trapped heat" causes you to constantly adjust your thermostat and forces your A/C system to work overtime. It also causes "hot spots" that burn up your asphalt shingles causing them to fail prematurely. And if your bathrooms aren't ventilated properly you trap that moist air in your attic creating perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.

Soffits are where fresh air comes into your attic and vents are where the air is pushed out of the attic. There are two types of ventilation:  passive and powered

Passive Attic Ventilation

Ridge vents and soffits are the most common passive attic ventilation for an asphalt shingle roof system.  This method uses that old natural law that says "hot air rises" or natural air convection.  A ridge vent on the top of the roof allows the hot air to come out, while the soffits (or eaves) allow fresh air from the outside in.

Powered Attic Ventilation

Instead of having a vent along the ridge of the roof, powered vents are placed near the ridge.  With powered vents it is still important to have a supply of fresh air through the soffits. 
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Contact us today - we'll be glad to talk about your hot air - er, uh, ventilation problems...