The Importance of Vents in Your Roofing System

The air vents in your roof may not be discussed as often as other components like shingles and gutters. Nevertheless, they are an important part of roof design and should not be overlooked. In today’s post, roofing and siding contractor Up and Above Contractors, LLC takes a look at how roofing vents work.

How Do Roof Vents Work?

Roof vents are in place to ensure airflow in the attic. Since warm and humid air tends to rise and accumulate in the attic, it needs to be released. Otherwise, trapped heat and moisture can cause damage to the roof. Exhaust vents are generally located at the highest point of the roof to harness the natural rising motion of warm air, which creates a pressure difference when it’s released. This pulls cool air through intake vents located at the lowest point of the roof, usually at the soffits.

There are two types of roofing ventilation systems. What we have just described is the standard type of passive ventilation found on most sloped roofing systems. Depending on factors such as the roof’s shape and size, it may require louvered vents (raised vents with aluminum or steel enclosures) or turbine vents (bulb-shaped protruding vents that move as air passes through them). Your roofing contractor may also recommend powered ventilation systems if passive ventilation is not enough.

The Benefits of Proper Roof Ventilation

A well-designed ventilation system requires balance between the size of the exhaust and intake vents. Proper roof ventilation offers the following benefits:

• Roof damage prevention. Since most parts of the roof framing are made of wood, the presence of heat and moisture can cause rot and warping that ultimately causes damage to the roof.
• Ice dam prevention. Trapped heat in the attic can raise the roof’s temperature during winter and melt the snow on top, which can contribute to ice ridges that form at the roof’s edge. Together with proper insulation, ventilation can help prevent ice dam formation.
• Mold growth prevention. Mold thrives in dark, warm and humid spaces. Good airflow in the attic will help keep mold from spreading in the attic and into your living spaces.

The easiest way to check for proper roof ventilation is by simply climbing into the attic. If it feels warm and humid with little to no airflow, you need new roofing vents. Find out what our team at Up and Above Contractors, LLC can do for your roof by calling us at (973) 300-0636 or by filling out our contact form to schedule a consultation. We also offer quality replacement windows and doors to communities in Northern NJ, including Sparta and Andover.