We at Professional Roofers understand how crucial it is for you to keep your roof in good working order: we know that you value your roof and work hard to maintain it year round. Despite this, there are many potential threats to a roof’s integrity that many homeowners are unaware of, so we decided to write several pieces on some of the lesser-known culprits of roof damage.
One of the most damaging, yet not necessarily easily identifiable threats to our roofs is poor ventilation. This is particularly so in southern Ontario, where we experience intense temperature fluctuations throughout the year: incredibly hot, humid summers and cold, snow-filled winters. Ventilation is a system that allows for air movement within a home through intake and exhaust vents. If done correctly, your ventilation system will allow for the perfect balance of air movement: cooling your attic in the summertime and keeping your attic dry in the wintertime. It will pull excess heat and moisture out of your house, thereby protecting it from mould, rot, and many other unsavoury elements that can prematurely break down your home.
Efficient ventilation in your home requires a high volume of steady air movement in one direction generated by the correct placement and sizing of ventilation components. It can be created through the use of mechanical or natural roof ventilation systems (or both) and if done correctly, maintains a perfect balance of airflow within a home. Efficient ventilation can mean the difference between a hot, uncomfortable, moist summer in your house and a completely bearable one.
The problems caused by poor ventilation generally tend to be related to: moisture and heat. Taking a shower, washing dishes, and even breathing can increase the moisture level within a home. Without proper ventilation, that moisture will remain in your house, continuing to build up potentially forever. There are many warning signs that can alert you to the fact that you may have a poorly ventilated house. Look for mould, mildew, or wetness in your home; rust; ice inside your home; frost; cracking or curling roof shingles; peeling or blistering paint; sagging on your roof; ice dams at the edge of your roof; or even high energy usage (caused by trapped heat in the summer or condensation dripping onto insulation, reducing its effectiveness). Be vigilant when looking for these potential warning signs, many of them will often appear in spaces that aren’t as heavily trafficked in the home such as your attic or basement, so they might easily get overlooked if you tend to ignore those spaces.
If you find anything that looks suspicious or may alert you to the fact that your house is likely not ventilating properly, don’t hesitate to contact Professional Roofers in Toronto. We offer great roof repair services to our clients, and we mean it! Poor ventilation can lead to major problems in your house, including the need for a completely re-built roof! Don’t let it get that far – it is much better to look into an issue and find nothing wrong, or remediate a small issue, then to wait for your small problem to become a big one.