Archive for the ‘Condensation | Inadequate Ventilation’ Category
Ice Dam Prevention
Ice Dam Prevention
Cold winter weather means snow for much of the country, and snow on your roof brings the potential of ice dams forming. Ice dams can not only cause serious damage to your roof, but also to interior walls, ceilings and floors. Keeping an eye out for ice dam formation throughout the winter months can help you avoid expensive repairs or a total roof replacement, but there are steps you can take to help prevent ice dam formation.
Ice dams are caused by snow melting on the main, warm area of your roof and re-freezing when it reaches the cooler eaves at the edge of your roof. Water backs up behind the ice dam, seeps under your shingles and enters your home.
Sometimes snowmelt is unavoidable. Warm weather, especially with bright sunshine, will warm the roof and cause the snow to melt no matter what you do, but the other main cause of warm roof is a warm attic. Heat loss from the heated space in your home into your attic can warm up the roof enough to cause the snow over the main part of the roof to melt.
Additional attic insulation and proper ventilation can help keep your attic cooler and avoid damage from ice dams. Adding a layer of insulation to your attic will not only help avoid ice dams, it will also lower your utility bills. You should also seal up any other avenues for warm air leaks into the attic such as around pipes, electrical junction boxes, and attic access panels.
Proper attic ventilation allows cold outside air to enter the attic while colder air escapes. Randomly installing attic vents will usually not help and can even make the situation worse. You should have a reputable roofer design and install a good attic ventilation system.
Roofing Enemies
Roofing Enemies
“Know your enemy” is an ancient quote attributed to the Chinese general Sun Tzu. Although directed at the tactics of war, it is equally applicable to your roof. In a way, your roof is at war with the elements and other enemies and knowing or at least recognizing these enemies will help you take good care of your roof.
Assuming your roof was properly installed; one major enemy of your roof is the sun. The sun’s UV rays would quickly dry out your asphalt shingle roof if not for the protection provided by the ceramic granules embedded in the surface of your shingles. Walking on the roof, tree branches and most of all hail, can dislodge ceramic granules.
A related enemy is heat. Too much heat will cause a roof to deteriorate, especially if the roof is subjected to thermal shock which is a wide temperature swing in a short period of time. Combat heat with good attic ventilation.
High winds can lift up shingles allowing water to penetrate under the shingle. Very high winds can bend or break shingles completely. Wind damaged shingles should be replaced as soon as possible to avoid additional damage from water intrusion.
Moisture from any source including rain, snow, ice and condensation will damage asphalt shingles and the roof deck. Good attic ventilation can reduce condensation and ice dams. Watch out for any conditions that could allow water to penetrate under the shingles like broken shingles, loose flashing or equipment such as dish antennas installed on the roof.
By knowing the enemies of your roof, you will be in a better position to know when to call a good local roofer to address any issues with your roof and keep your roof in top shape.
Improper Ventilation Shortens Roof Life
Improper Ventilation Shortens Roof Life
A properly ventilated attic is one of the most important factors in how long an asphalt shingle roof will last. Poorly ventilated attics result in the roof being exposed to excessive heat in the summer and contribute to the formation of destructive ice dams in the winter months. In addition, poorly ventilated attics allow moisture build up on the underside of roof decks and rafters that can lead to mold and mildew growth. Finally, an attic without adequate ventilation makes your air conditioner work harder and increases your electricity bills.
The bottom line is that it is difficult to overstate the importance of proper attic ventilation. Unfortunately, many homeowners (and fly by night roofers) take the approach that “more is better” and randomly install various types of vents all over the roof. This approach can be just as bad as inadequate ventilation.
Proper attic ventilation is achieved by a ventilation system that works together to draw cooler air into the attic near the lower edges of the roof and allows it to exit near the peak. Randomly installing power vents or passive vents can short circuit the ventilation system by interrupting the air flow. For example, a power vent might draw air in through the ridge vents instead of the vents near the eaves creating an air flow from the peak of the roof to the power vent a few feet below the peak. The air in the lower areas of the attic would stagnate.
A good local roofing contractor has the knowledge to help you design and install a proper attic ventilation system for your home. Talk to a professional roofer about your attic ventilation before you start buying vents for your roof.
Signs That You May Need A New Roof
Signs That You May Need A New Roof
Your roof is the first line of defense against the elements. It protects your home, your possessions and your family. If you see any of the warning signs of a roof failure, contact a reputable local roofing contractor to schedule a roof inspection. Most good contractors do not charge for roof inspections.
Damp or dripping wood deck in your attic is a definite sign of a roof failure. This area may be dry most of the time, but if it gets wet during a heavy rain storm with high winds, it indicates that shingles are being lifted by the wind and rainwater is being driven up under the shingles.
If you see moisture in your roof deck from inside the attic during the winter and also note ice build up outside on the roof, you may have ice dams causing melted water to back up under your shingles. Poor attic ventilation or insufficient insulation can contribute to ice dam formation.
Peeling paint on the inside or outside of your home potentially indicates a roof leak. If the peeling paint is accompanied by water stains or mildew on the inside walls, it is very likely that your roof is leaking.
Missing, cracked and curled shingles usually indicate that the roof is nearing the end of its useful life. Other signs include darker areas of the roof and moss or algae growing on the roof. The roof may have lost much of its protective coating of ceramic granules and should be replaced.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Green Roofing
Green Roofing
If you need a residential roof replacement or are installing a roof on your new home, consider the impact on the environment of your new roof. You can save money on energy bills and reduce the adverse effects on the environment by “going green.”
A truly green roof is one that incorporates vegetation on the rooftop. These green roofing systems use special membranes covered with soil and vegetation to create a “living roof”. If you are not quite ready to have a lawn growing on your roof, there are still choices and alternatives to have a more traditional type of green roof.
Maximizing the energy efficiency of your roofing system will reduce energy usage. Consider installing a cool roof using asphalt shingles with high solar reflectivity. Cool roofing can significantly reduce the level of heat in your attic and lower your air conditioning costs.
Ensuring that your attic has adequate ventilation and appropriate levels of insulation will also lower your air conditioning and heating costs and extend the life of your roof. Radiant barriers are another means of reducing radiant heat in your attic.
Another component of green roofing includes reducing the amount of waste that goes into our landfills. Choosing high quality, impact resistant asphalt shingles that last 30 years or more can cut the amount of shingles that end up in the landfill by half or more. The fewer roof replacement you need the less material that has to be disposed of.
You can also reduce the amount of shingles that end up in landfills by choosing a shingle manufacturer that uses a large percentage of recycled materials in their shingles. Talk to your local roofing contractor about these and other green roofing alternatives.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Heat Wave Emphasizes Importance of Good Roof Ventilation
Heat Wave Emphasizes Importance of Good Roof Ventilation
With large areas of the country suffering through one of the hottest summers in recent memory, now is a good time to remind homeowners of the importance of good attic ventilation. Not only will a good attic ventilation system lower your utility costs, but it will also help extend the life of your asphalt shingle roof before needing a roof replacement.
Heat and moisture trapped in your attic can lead to higher cooling bills, development of mold and mildew, and shorten the life of your asphalt shingle roof. In the summer months with the sun beating down on your roof, temperatures in your attic can easily exceed 150 degrees. Extreme heat is one of the enemies of asphalt shingle roofing. It is well established that asphalt shingle roofs have longer service lives in cooler parts of the country.
In addition, thermal shock can shorten the life of your asphalt shingle roof. Thermal shock is caused by large changes in the temperature of your shingles that make the shingle expand and contract. This process causes shingles to crack and split and causes wear around fastener holes that permits water intrusion.
No matter where your home is located, you can extend the life of your asphalt shingle roof by ventilating your attic to reduce heat. There are many different types and styles of powered and passive attic vents, but don’t just go adding vents without a plan. Good attic ventilation needs a good attic ventilation system that allows hot, humid air to escape while drawing in cooler, drier air.
A good local roofing contractor can help determine how much ventilation your attic needs and can also design and install an effective ventilation system. With a good attic ventilation system in place, your roof will last longer and you will save on air conditioning costs.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
What is Roof Blistering?
What is Roof Blistering?
Roofs that are exposed for long periods of time to sun and the sun’s UV rays often will develop blisters as they age. Think of these blisters like sun damage. Not all blisters need to be repaired, but blisters that are larger or cover the majority of the shingle should be addressed.
When blistering occurs, the shingle actually becomes thinner and less able to deflect water, moisture and elements. Eventually these blisters will ‘burst’ and accelerate the aging process of the roof. Blisters can also appear if there is inadequate ventilation in the roof itself or if the felt paper has been improperly installed.
Blisters that appear on the edges of roofs or around flashing generally are indicative of poor ventilation. Heat becomes trapped around seams and edges, causing blistering to occur. This increases the incidence of mold and mildew forming in the attic and decreases the life expectancy of the roof.
During your annual roof inspection, pay close attention for any blisters. If you notice more than one or two blisters, you should contact a professional roofing contractor for further evaluation. Many times, individual shingles can be replaced to help ensure the overall health of your roof. Failing to follow up on blistering, however, can lead to more serious damage to your roof.
If you suspect your shingles are blistered or you need assistance inspecting your roof on a regular basis, contact your local roofing professional today. Annual inspections are the easiest way to find and repair small problems before they become major ones.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Remember the Ventilation
Remember the Ventilation
One component of your roofing system that is oven overlooked is the attic ventilation. Proper ventilation is important for helping keep your roof in good condition so it can go on providing excellent protection for your home and family. A good ventilation system will reduce the heat and moisture build up in your attic.
Heat is the enemy of asphalt shingles, especially if there is a big change between daytime and nighttime temperatures. This causes thermal shock and reduces the life of the shingles. Because shingles, the roof deck and the fastening hardware all expand and contract at different rates, repeated cycles of large temperature changes can cause the roof to prematurely fail. Good ventilation reduces the heat buildup in the attic during the day and reduces the size of the temperature swing, extending the life of your roof.
Good ventilation also reduces moisture and humidity in your attic. Too much moisture can accumulate on the underside of the roof decking and ultimately cause it to start rotting. In addition, too much moisture facilitates the growth of mold and mildew that can cause health problems.
Improving your roof ventilation system is more than just adding some new vents. The vents all have to work together to improve air flow through the attic. In addition, you don’t want more vents than are necessary. Designing a good roof ventilation system is a job best suited for an experienced roofing contractor.
A good contractor can inspect your roof and attic ventilation system and determine the proper volume of air flow through the attic to achieve the desired balanced ventilation system. Your roofing contractor will also be able to recommend the right type of vents and install them without damaging your roof.
Jasper Contractors has offices in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.
Understanding Roof Vents
Understanding Roof Vents
A well ventilated attic is essential for maintaining the health and long life of your roof. Poor attic ventilation can lead to excessive heat build up in the summer which will shorten the life of your roof. In the winter, good attic ventilation can help reduce the incidence of ice dams by keeping the main part of the roof the same temperature as the eaves. Also, poor attic ventilation can encourage build up of moisture which causes mold, mildew and wood rot.
A reputable Denver roofing contractor can inspect your attic ventilation system and suggest any necessary improvements. If needed, your roofing contractor will install additional roof vents to ensure adequate attic ventilation.
There are many different types of vents that your contractor may install to help improve your attic ventilation system.
Ridge vents are long, continuous vents installed the length of the peak or ridge of the roof. The advantage of ridge vents is that they do not have any moving parts to wear out.
Wind turbine vents are installed near the ridge of the roof. When the wind blows, these vents spin and draw air out of the attic. These vents are effective when even a modest wind is blowing and do not use any electricity, but because they have moving part that can wear out or malfunction.
Soffit vents are installed on the underside of the eaves, which is the part of the roof that hangs over the edge of your home. Soffit vents allow cooler, dry air to flow into the attic as the warm, moist air flows out through the vents near the ridge.
Attic Vents
Attic Vents
Roof ventilation is very important to maximize the lifespan of any roof. There are a wide variety of types of roof vents available today. Static vents work without any moving parts. Power vents use powered fans to help move the air. Turbine vents use the wind or rising hot air to drive the vent and help move air faster. Soffit vents, ridge vents, cupola vents and gable vents are available in an assortment of styles.
Ventilating your attic is more than just adding more vents. The vents should be chosen and arranged to encourage air to flow through the attic. Some vents let the air in the attic, other vents allow the air to exit. This continuous flow of air keeps the attic cooler and drier and helps the roof last much longer.
Intake vents are typically placed in lower areas of the attic such as the eaves. Exhaust vents are placed higher up near the ridge. This arrangement takes advantage of naturally rising hot air. As the hot air rises and exits the attic near the ridgeline, cooler air is drawn in through the intake vents.
Although it is difficult to say how much ventilation every attic needs, a good rule of thumb is one square foot of net free vent area for every 300 square feet of attic floor space. Keep in mind that more is not always better. The vents should be placed to encourage airflow through the entire attic. If vents are placed part of the way up the roof, the hot air may escape there and the ventilation of the upper areas and ridges will be diminished. You may consult with your Phoenix roofing contractor as to the type of attic vent you might need and the placement of each type of vent.
