Good attic ventilation is roughly one-third of the formula for a successful roof. The other two factors? Suitable roofing materials and a great roofing contractor to properly install them.

In the hands of an experienced, knowledgeable roofer, ventilation can increase your roof’s life span and lower energy costs. It’s worth considering how ventilation affects human comfort in your Dover, Hampstead, or Seabrook home:

Life Span

Under the harsh conditions of New Hampshire winters, a typical fiberglass-shingle roof lasts 15 to 20 years. You can add to your roof’s life span with adequate attic ventilation. Though no roofer has a crystal ball, with proper ventilation, you could see up to 10 additional years of useful service before normal wear and weathering spell the end of your shingle roof.

Energy Efficiency

A properly ventilated attic has the same temperature as the outside air. With good insulation forming a barrier between occupied space below and ventilated attic space above, your home’s energy bills should stay steady year-round. Furthermore, a well-ventilated attic can actually lower cooling costs in summer by ensuring proper airflow through the attic and out the ridge vents.

In summer, a poorly-ventilated attic = high cooling costs. In winter, it can easily lead to ice dams. Ice dams signal heat escaping from your home up into the attic; that’s wasted energy and unhealthy for your roof.

Human Comfort

Without good ventilation, an attic will build up moisture every season. With condensation in winter and evaporation in the summer, attic moisture damages your roof and leads to miserable living conditions.

Attic moisture in winter will appear as frost on roofing nails, ice on the sheathing, and dripping water around roof piercings (chimneys and sanitary stacks). In spring and summer, showers, stoves, and attic-installed heat pumps or central air conditioners add moisture throughout your home and attic.

The mechanical systems in your home treat indoor air for ideal humidity and temperature. Working against comfortable humidity levels are human activities like cooking and cleaning. Water evaporates upward, or is circulated by your HVAC system, and escapes into the attic. Without good attic ventilation, that moisture builds up, making your family miserable and damaging your roof.

J. Carnes & Son does roofing—and roof ventilation—the right way. We know the purpose of proper attic ventilation. We are your local, reliable roofers ready to solve your problems with water infiltration, poor ventilation, or high energy bills. Please contact us today!