Add Attic Ventilation During Roof Replacement

Ventilation ImageThe optimal time to address ventilation problems in your Twin Cities attic or attic rooms is while you’re having your old roof replaced. A roof replacement is certainly no small undertaking, so extending its life should be goal number one. Humidity, dampness, the build up of heat in your attic or attic living spaces, and past problems with ice dams not only negatively impact roofing materials, they can dramatically decrease the comfort level of top-floor rooms and make life miserable during both winter and summer.

As well as initiate your roof replacement, Midwest Roofing, Siding and Windows can also help you evaluate how best to protect your investment and extend the life of your new roof by making sure your attic space is properly ventilated.

Problems Associate with a Poorly Ventilated Attic

Insufficient attic ventilation can result in a number of undesirable scenarios:

  • Rooms in attic areas or just below the attic are either too hot or too cold.
  • Excessive heat or moisture can build up in your attic and encourage the growth of destructive mildew or mold, creating a musty smell .
  • Ice dams form because of uneven roof temperatures, air leaks, and escaping heat.
  • Warm, moist air in winter collects in the attic (escaping from rooms below) and condenses on the underside of roof sheathing, causing premature roof rot.
  • Upper-story rooms are sweltering during summer because of inadequate air flow in the attic.

If any of these situations affect your Twin Cities home, then you need to tackle your attic’s ventilation problems during your roof replacement.

Attic Ventilation Options

Proper ventilation of your attic or upper-story attic rooms doesn’t have to be an elaborate, cost-prohibitive venture. The options listed below may help you decide how best to improve the airflow in your Twin Cities home’s attic:

  • Solar-Powered Roof Exhaust Vent: Solar-powered exhaust vents don’t require any additional wiring and are installed on top of your roof. Special gable-end units are also available. Solar-powered exhaust vents automatically extract moist heat from your attic.
  • Venting Skylights: Room-brightening, venting skylights are a good choice in upper-story rooms with low ceilings where windows may be in short supply. Skylights will not only add nice natural light to the area, but being able to open and close the skylight vents will increase airflow.
  • Gable or Soffit Vents: The installation of louvered gable vents at each end of your attic, or soffit vents that allow air to enter your attic from the underside of your roof’s eaves, are also viable, affordable attic-ventilating solutions.

These are just a few options for adding ventilation to your attic living spaces. When you are in the market for a roof replacement, the experts at Midwest Roofing, Siding and Windows will be able to also help you design the best ventilation options for your Twin Cities’ home. Contact Midwest Exteriors today for a free estimate for adding ventilation to your roof.

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