Your roof not only keeps the water off your house, in many ways it also functions as the lungs of your home. A well-designed ventilation system provides a continual flow of air through your attic by establishing a balance between air intake and air exhaust.

A poorly ventilated attic can decrease the life of your roof by damaging wood, shingles, and the felt underlayment that waterproofs your roof. It can even decrease the life of your entire home.

During the summer, excessive heat can build up in your attic causing premature aging of your entire roof system, damage to your wood framing, and damage to your siding and interior and exterior paint.

And then there is the extra load it puts on your air conditioner. A hot attic means a hot house — making your air conditioner work overtime. Making sure your house is properly ventilated will save you money in energy costs. For those parts of San Diego County that get especially hot in the summer, this can add up quickly.

In the winter, poor attic ventilation can cause moisture to build-up and collect under your roof. Once the warm, moist air hits the cold roof it condenses into water. The resulting water can cause wood damage, mold growth, deterioration of your insulation.

Unfortunately, just having vents in your roof doesn’t mean your roof is properly ventilated. In California, building codes require cross-ventilation — two openings to the outside that create a flow of fresh air through your attic. There should be at least 1 square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic space.

If you are unsure how your attic is ventilated, it is a good idea to talk to a roof inspector. A roofing inspector can let you know about any weaknesses in your ventilation system and how to improve your ventilation. Often these repairs don’t cost much and can save you a lot of money in the future.

If you have questions about your attic’s ventilation, please call us at (858) 537-6490 and we can help answer your questions.