If you want your Austin roof to give you many years of service, you must make sure that the roof’s ventilation is designed and installed to let as much hot air out of the attic as possible. Ventilation of your roof can even make or break your roof manufacturer’s warranty – if the ventilation is judged to be inadequate, your roof repair warranty claim may be denied. But one size does not fit all in the world of roof ventilation, and the type of ventilation you need will depend on your roof’s construction and setup. Let’s take a deep dive into why you should ventilate a roof, and the impact heat and moisture have on a roof.
Why Ventilate a Roof?
It gets pretty hot in Austin. Here’s how you can expect the heat to build up in your attic when the sun is shining on your roof.
- Outside temperature – 90 degrees
- Roof deck temperature – 170 degrees
- Attic temperature – 140-165 degrees
- Properly vented – 120 degrees
Effects of Heat on a Roof
Uncontrolled heat buildup in your attic can wreak the following kind of havoc on your roof. Here’s what homeowners should know.
- Premature aging of the roof system (by as much as 50%)
- Acceleration of shingle decay
- Higher energy costs due to heat radiating into the house
- Warping, cracking, or breaking of the wood framing and/or decking
- Damage to exterior siding, peeling of exterior paints
Effects of Moisture on a Roof
Moisture buildup in the attic is inevitable as showers, cooking, and heating systems send moisture into the home’s air. This moist, hot air penetrates into the attic, condensing into liquid water when it reaches the cooler roof deck. Warm air in the attic also condenses when the temperature drops at night. All this water in your attic can lead to:
- Warping of the roof deck
- Rotting of the wood members
- Promotion of mildew growth throughout the home
- Reduced insulation performance (Increasing the moisture content of the insulation by 1.5% will reduce the performance of the insulation by 36%)
- Buckling of shingles and felt
- Premature sheathing and siding decay
- Peeling of exterior paint
How Your Trusted Austin Roof Contractor Can Help
Having the right roofing contractor on your side is invaluable – and Driftwood Builders Roofing is that roofing contractor! One of our estimators will be happy to explain how to maximize the ventilation for your roof. If need be, we can make modifications to your ventilation system such as the addition of soffit vents or ridge vents to improve ventilation.
If mold and mildew have caused certain parts of the roofing to rot, we can pinpoint the damage in an inspection and perform any necessary roof repairs before the damage can spread. Your roof is too valuable to let it succumb to heat and moisture damage.
