Why properly venting and insulating your roof is so important

One simple and relatively inexpensive way to save yourself thousands of dollars and preserve your home is by properly venting your attic. A simple ridge vent (a vent installed the length of the peak of the roof) combined with soffitt vents (holes drilled at the underside of the base of the roof) is all it takes.

When an attic is properly ventilated it will help to control the tempature of the house. Weather youre trying to keep out cold in the winter or keep it cool in the summer.

soffitt and ridge vent

A properly vented attic will be relatively close in tempature to the outside of the home in winter and summer and will add years of life to your roof.

Improper venting, or no venting at all, will cause severe damage over time. Shingles will lose much of their life, start curling and buckling and eventually splinter and chip(dry rot from an overheated attic is also common). Mold is also a risk, as cold air meeting warm produces condensation. This is why proper insulation in the attic also plays a big role.  New England residents are particularly vulnerable with the extreme weather shifts.

heat loss

Above is a diagram of the estimated energy loss from a typical uninsulated home.

 

Keep in mind, your attic is supposed to be a completely independent environment from your home.