The Scientific Principles Behind Attic Ventilation

You may think that having your attic completely sealed is the smartest choice and for some, if done properly, this can be accomplished. However, an attic without a vent, traps moisture and heat inside the house. Warm, moist air can cause a lot of damage, both in the summer and the winter. It is a safe harbor for mold spores to propagate as well as an avenue for wood rot to occur. These can damage the structure of your home which, if left unattended, can lead to a major project to resolve.

A ridge vent helps to bring dry, cool air into the attic via the soffit. You may have noticed the small openings, usually covered by screen or metal vent covers, that line the soffit around your home. These soffit vents allow air to enter your attic space from a dry and cool area of your home. If however, there is no space for this air to escape once in your attic, it will sit stagnant and collect moisture. A properly installed ridge vent will create a nice, steady flow of air from the soffit to the ridge. This in-turn, keeps the air in your attic dry and the chance for mold and wood rot to a minimum.

So, What Should Homeowners Do?

If you want to avoid heat buildup in your home, you should invest in ventilation for your attic. Doing so can prevent a lot of damage caused by excess heat during the summer and moisture buildup in the winter.

Creating consistent airflow in your attic is the best way to prevent damage to your roof structure and home. You should make sure the air has adequate intake and exhaust. This is accomplished by placing approximately one square foot of ridge vent for every 150 square feet of attic space. A professional from M&M Home Remodeling can give you the ideal setup for your home.

The Benefits of Proper Attic Ventilation.

There are a lot of benefits to proper ventilation of the attic. Firstly, it improves the flow of air through the attic, promoting a dry, cool space. Secondly, it minimizes moisture, preventing it from damaging shingles and structural wood or getting trapped in your insulation. Thirdly, by keeping your roof surface at a more constant temperature, it lessens the amount of damage snow and ice can cause to your roof. And lastly, it provides consistent ventilation, leading to less unnecessary energy consumption.

What If You Already Have a Finished Attic?

If you want to reap the benefits of attic ventilation, you may think you have to renovate your roof. However, there is a simpler way to achieve attic ventilation. You can install insulation baffles or rafter vents on your roof. These vents create narrow passageways that let out hot, damp air. The fresh air from outside can still come in through the soffit vents on the edges of the roof. Rafter vents are a quick and easy way to obtain the benefits of proper attic ventilation without affecting the look of the attic.

Do You Want to Learn More About Ridge Vents?

If you want to learn more about vent installation for attics, contact us now. We’ll take you through our installation process and help you decide on a vent that’s best for you. The longer you wait, the more your home suffers for it.

The post The Anatomy of a Healthy Roof: Ridge Vent appeared first on M&M Home Remodeling Services.

Proper ventilation working on conjunction with the adequate insulation is a key factor to prevention. Our roofing systems should intake ventilation through the soffits and exhaust ventilation through the roof.

What Can Cause Ice Dams?

Here are the three main causes of ice dams:

• Cold air accumulating at the lower part of the roof (the eave)
• Warm air rising to the top of the roof
• Snow accumulating on the roof and forming a heavy cover

When the three co-occur, ice dams can form rather quickly. The warm air at the top of the roof causes the snow cover to slowly melt. The excess water from the melted snow then flows to the eave of the roof. Since the air at the eave is colder, the water freezes once more, and an ice dam forms.

Why Are Ice Dams a Big Problem?

Apart from being potentially dangerous to any people passing near the roof, ice dams can also cause a lot of damage to your roof and home. They can damage your gutters and fascia, as well as cause water to accumulate in the shingles.

The water from the ice dams can damage your walls, drywall, and paint. Additionally, it can cause mold and mildew to form, which can escalate into a big problem down the line. Extreme cases of ice dams can even cause your home’s ceiling to fully collapse.

How Can You Prevent Ice Dams?

There is a simple solution to the problem of ice dams: proper attic ventilation. During the summer months, ventilation will prevent heat from accumulating in the attic and transferring to the living area. That will, in turn, keep your attic nice and cool.

During the winter, good ventilation can prevent the heat from the living areas from accumulating in the attic. There will be no moisture, and the attic will stay dry. Thus, ventilation will prevent ice dams or mold from forming altogether.

So, What Should You Do?

Firstly, install proper attic ventilation in your home. The most effective ventilation systems have evenly distributed ridge vents.

Secondly, make sure your attic has good insulation. Good insulation will prevent heat loss from the living areas and help you save money on energy.

Finally, it is best to use waterproofing shingle underlayment above the interior wall line (at least 2 inches above it). That will ensure you are fully safe if ice dams form anyway.

How Can You Remove Ice Dams?

When removing ice dams, safety comes first. Do not remove ice dams with an ice pick or an axe, as that could lead to serious injuries. The best thing to do is to prevent ice dams from forming in the first place.

You can do so by removing the snow that accumulates on your roof after a snowfall. Use a rake with wheels at the bottom, so you don’t damage your roof. If ice dams have already formed, it is best to call for a professional, as dealing with them yourself could lead to injuries and more damage to your home.

The post What ICE DAMS Could be Saying About Your Home appeared first on M&M Home Remodeling Services.