A home's roof is under a lot of stress from the elements. Whether it's the hot sun or pouring rain, a roof protects the interior of your home day in and day out. While many people pay attention to the exterior of their roof, they may not realize that proper ventilation in the attic plays a vital role in the overall health of their roof. If your roof does not have proper ventilation, there can be a number of negative consequences. Some common signs that your roof has poor ventilation include the following.
Shingles Are Damaged
When a roof is old and nearing the end of its lifespan, it's not uncommon for the shingles to show signs of damage. However, if your roof is only a few years old, shingle damage could indicate that the roof is not receiving proper ventilation. As a homeowner, it is a good idea to visually inspect your roof on a regular basis. If you see shingles that are warping, cracked, or buckling, it could be due to the fact that there is not good ventilation. When there is not adequate ventilation, the roof can get too hot or moisture can get trapped in the roof, leading to shingle damage.
Roof Insulation Breaking Down
Most roofs have insulation on the underside of the roof deck to help keep the inside of the home comfortable. If you do not use your attic, make it a point to inspect it a couple of times a year. When you're in your attic, look at the insulation on the underside of the roof. If you notice that the insulation is breaking down, it may be due to bad airflow and insulation. Without good airflow, moisture will build up and cause the insulation on the underside of the roof to deteriorate.
Mold or Mildew Growth
One of the biggest problems caused by a lack of ventilation is excess moisture. When you check the insulation in your attic, you should also look around to see if there is mold or mildew growing on the underside of the roof or anywhere else in the attic. If you notice patches of mold or mildew, you will need to hire a roofing contractor to make repairs and improve your roof's ventilation. Having the ventilation for your roof upgraded should solve any problems that you may have and will help ensure that your roof lasts for as long as possible before needing to be replaced.
To learn more, contact a resource like Par One Construction, Inc.
We all need and benefit from construction work. Even if you do not own a home, you benefit from the construction done on the space you rent. You also benefit from the construction work done on road, schools, playgrounds, and government buildings. There's no escaping the importance of construction in our society, and yet, most people know very little about the construction industry if they do not work in the industry themselves. We're going to help change that. Here, we will post articles on all sorts of topics related to construction and contractors. You should leave with a much better understanding of the role this work plays in our society and our world.