How to Create a Long-Lasting Roof with Proper Insulation & Ventilation
One of our crews was called to a St. Paul, MN home earlier this week to complete what the client thought would be a minor roof repair. However, once we began work, the work itself was anything but minor. Why? Inadequate roof ventilation. The importance of working with a roofing contractor that treats your roof as an entire system cannot be stressed enough. Ignoring the important role roof insulation and ventilation play in the vitality of a roof has serious ramifications.
Three Consequences of Inadequate Insulation & Ventilation:
Corrosion And Early Degradation
Incomplete roof ventilation and attic insulation will result in high levels of moisture. The result is decay like mildew or mold damage in the roof deck, supports, shingles, and underlayment.
Ice Dams Can Easily Form
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms on roof edges and curtails melting snow from filtering off the roof. This can lead to serious consequences, such as water backing up into the home and causing interior damage. The correct amount of insulation and ventilation is the best way to ensure ice dam prevention.
Learn more about ice dams vs. icicles on your roof.
Rusty Vents, Flashing And Nails
A disproportionate level of moisture due to subpar ventilation can cause roof vents and flashing to rust. This can also cause the thousands of nails used to apply a roof to begin to detach from the roof as well.
Don’t Install A New Roof Without Fully Understanding The Warranties That Accompany It:
Attic Insulation Techniques Impact Your Roof
In a traditional configuration, attics have both insulated flooring and ventilation. Outside air has the ability to filter in through the soffits and exit through the top of the roof which creates a cold attic during the winter. This insulation installation method curtails ice dams by keeping a roof’s temperature cooler.
What You Need To Know Before Installing A Hot Roof
A hot roof, sometimes referred to as an unvented roof, differs because it has spray foam insulation directly affixed to the roof sheathing, thereby eliminating ventilation. Temperatures in attics of homes with a hot roof are increased because of the lack of ventilation, the thermal envelope has shifted to the underside of the roof. Though the temperature increase may only be a few degrees, industry studies have shown that those degrees make a difference.
A Word On Hot Roof Shingles
Shingle lifespan can be lowered as much as 10%. Shingles on hot roofs are also more likely to fade. This has led many roofing manufacturers to extend minimal warranties to hot roofs, citing that they do not adhere to the insulation standards the shingles were designed for. Before installing a roof, it’s also wise to verify if your municipality even allows them. Bear in mind that even if they aren’t outlawed, certain criteria may still need to be met.
