Spotting Roof Trouble Early

Could Improper Attic Ventilation Be Damaging Your Roof?

5 June 2015 by William Gerard

When you think of roof damage, you might think first of external sources. Wind and the debris that it carries… hail… falling tree limbs… even problems like mold and algae are carried to your roof through the outside air. But don't overlook a common cause of roof damage that comes from within your home: improper attic ventilation.

How Does Improper Ventilation Damage A Roof?

This depends on the season and the temperature. During a hot summer, attic ventilation helps keep air moving through the attic and keeps it from getting too hot. If the attic is very hot, this can cause the interior parts of your roof to expand slightly, leading to structural problems as pieces shift to accommodate this expansion.

Cold weather is a more serious concern, however. In cold weather – and especially when the roof and attic are trapped under a layer of snow – heat and moisture from within the house can easily become trapped in the attic. While holding this warmth within the house might sound good at first, lack of ventilation means the hot air in the attic will press right up against the roof, melting the lowest layer of snow and causing ice dams.

Finally, the trapped hot air in either season can cause cracking or buckling of the underlayment of your roof as well as the shingles on shingle roofs. And on asphalt shingle roofs, this buckling can also cause the shingles to lose their protective granules, exposing them to the weather and shortening their lifespan considerably.

What Are The Signs Of Improper Attic Ventilation?

It's one thing to know that poor ventilation can damage your roof. But how do you know if your ventilation is good or bad? The first thing to look for would be any of the roof damage described above. And while you may not have the expertise to check an eave or soffit and see whether it's doing its job for the attic's airflow, you can also keep an eye out for other symptoms that might help you catch the problem before it damages your roof:

• A rise in summer energy costs for your home as your air conditioner has to work harder to keep your home cool
• Uncomfortably high temperatures in the attic both in summer and winter
• Mold or mildew affecting the attic or items in the attic due to trapped moisture
• Rust on pipes, nails, or other metal fittings within the attic

Of course, the easiest way to be sure is to call a professional roofer and have your roof inspected. The earlier an attic ventilation problem is caught, the less damage will be done. To find out more, contact a company like Lakeside Roofing.

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