Does Your Home Need Roof Ventilation?

The Benefits of Roof Ventilation

Ventilation moderates temperature fluctuations inside your attic. It won’t get as sweltering in summer and stays closer to ambient temperatures in winter, resulting in the following benefits.

Humidity Regulation

Warm air holds more moisture, and if it stays in your attic, the warm, humid conditions can lead to mold and rot problems in the trusses and walls.

Reduced Energy Bills

As experienced roofers in Bethlehem, PA, we advise insulating to avoid heat loss into the attic in winter. With that caveat, maintaining steady temperatures under your roof helps lower your HVAC energy bills year-round.

Protect the Integrity of Shingles

We install the best roofing in Bethlehem, PA — but even so, extreme summer heat in the attic can make shingles deteriorate and crack without proper ventilation. Avoid premature roof repair in Bethlehem, PA; protect your shingles and extend their service life with a quality ventilation system.

Ice Dams

A roof that stays too warm in winter causes snow to melt and run down to the colder gutters and eaves, where it refreezes. Ice dams form, blocking gutters and backing up under the roof, allowing moisture to penetrate your walls.

The Two Types of Roof Vents

Warm air rises, so your roofing contractor in Bethlehem, PA, should install exhaust vents high on your roof to let it escape. However, this departing warm air would leave a vacuum without cooler air moving in from below. That’s why your roof also needs intake vents.

How Much Venting Does Your Roof Need?

As a roofing contractor in Bethlehem, PA, we follow the IRC code requiring the ventilating area to be at least 1/150th of the roof’s area (or 1/300th if vapor retarders are installed on the warm sides). This ensures adequate airflow and prevents moisture problems.

Options for Roof Ventilation

Exhaust vents come in various types. Classic whirlybirds are quiet and effective but need wind to work. Off-ridge and box vents are common on hipped roofs, though you need several for them to be effective. Cupola vents look stylish but are pricier and often suited to barns.

Roofers in Bethlehem, PA, often recommend ridge vents overlaid with ridge shingles. Sitting right at the roof’s peak, they’re ideally positioned to let warm air out.

Intake vents come in three main types: fascia vents, drip edge vents, and soffit vents. Combining soffit vents (for intake) with ridge vents (for exhaust) is the most effective and aesthetically pleasing approach.