Ventilation

Why Take Risks?

Structural Damage

Proper Ventilation

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Proper attic ventilation is crucial for a long-lasting roofing system. Poor attic ventilation can ruin your insulation, destroy your shingles, and raise your energy bills!

Aluminum Ridge Vent

Aluminum ridge vents are known to allow seepage and cause maintenance issues down the road.  Most roofers take the easy way out and install the aluminum vents with steel nails.  This not only causes electrolysis, a reaction between fair and unfair metals, but also creates a maintenance situation by requiring resealing of the fasteners yearly. In either case, having exposed fasteners creates problems.

Mesh Shingle Over Ridge Vent
	The single biggest failure area during the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons, these vents have two main flaws.  First, they are uneven and hard to install correctly.  Second, the mesh clogs with smoke, dust and salt particles preventing air flow after just a few years of service.  In our opinion, they are useless.

Baffle Shingle Over Ridge Vent
	Baffle vents are a good balance between look and function.  The external baffle creates a negative pressure zone that actually pulls air out of the attic with wind.  Since these types of vents are covered with shingles they have no exposed fasteners and look great.  The issue remains with wind resistance.  They are susceptible to blow offs during wind events.

Large Off Ridge Vent
	By far our most popular vents, Off Ridge Vents are designed for Florida.  Most of our roofs here in Florida do not have enough ridge/crown space to properly ventilate using ridge vent products.  Therefore another vent type was created to allow for proper ventilation.  We recommend this type of vent as it provides good ventilation and is highly wind resistant.

Solar Powered Vent
	Go Green by upgrading to Solar Powered Attic Vents.  The perfect solution to provide energy savings, wind resistance and tax credits these vents are worth the money.  If you’re the type of building owner who wants to hear your money savings, these are for you.

It is estimated that 9 out of 10 homes in North America do not have proper attic ventilation. Why? Because most people are unaware that attic ventilation can impact the longevity of their entire home!

For example, in the summer, an improperly ventilated attic can cause heat to build in excess of 160°F. This superheated air eventually penetrates the ceiling insulation into the living area below.

Types of damage that can result include:

• Premature aging of your roofing system ("fried" shingles).
• Warping, cracking, or breaking down of wood framing.
• Damage to siding, exterior or interior paint, and wallpaper.
• Higher energy costs.

A properly ventilated attic can help reduce the load on your air conditioner by moving the superheated air out of your attic before it builds up and causes damage.

In the winter, various household appliances, bathtubs, showers, and cooking vapors can contribute to excess moisture build-up. Improperly ventilated attics will allow this moisture to collect and cling to the underside of the roof. There, it will condense and fall, soaking the attic insulation and reducing its efficiency

• Roof deck warping and rotting of the wood frame.
• Mildew growth.
• Buckling of shingles and felt.

Finally, attics should be properly ventilated to help prevent ice dams in cold northern climates. During the winter, ice and snow on a roof will melt and run down the deck to the cooler eaves. This run-off can re-freeze, creating an ice dam that will trap moisture on the roof. The moisture can eventually back up under the shingles and enter your home — causing hundreds or thousands of dollars of damage to your ceilings and walls. Adequate attic ventilation will reduce the amount of initial melting that occurs on your roof, thereby reducing the chance that ice dams will form.

Proper attic ventilation systems allow a continuous flow of outside air through the attic (see illustration at left), protecting the efficiency of the insulation and helping to lower temperatures in the living space.

It consists of a balance between air intake (at your eaves or soffits) and air exhaust (at or near your roof ridge).

The FHA (Federal Housing Administration) recommends a minimum of at least 1 square foot of attic ventilation (both intake and exhaust) for every 300 square feet of attic space. For example, if your attic is 900 square feet, you need a total of 3 square feet of ventilation. This amount is generally divided equally between intake and exhaust ventilation (i.e., 11/2 feet of each), to insure proper air flow through the attic. To calculate the amount of ventilation you need for your home, follow the example shown on the next page.



Solar Attic Fan Brochure - View
Shingle Off Ridge Vent - View
Shingle Over Vent - View