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The respiratory system of the human body is well-designed. In fact, the holes in the nose are perfectly located so a person can breathe easily without any problems. This is the same concept used with the location of attic openings to allow for continuous airflow through the area under the roof of a house. Properly located vents help prevent condensation, mold, ice dam leaks and other structural damage from happening. Included in the below information is how to detect airflow deficiencies, insulation problems and even condensation issues. This helpful knowledge is very important in order to respond to problems at the first sign of any issue and prevent costly repairs. Intake Location In most common roof designs, intake vents are located on the lower part of the roof edge or the eaves. These are the areas that need to be kept dry and cool. Ice dams, water and condensation damage can be prevented by keeping the edge and eaves of the structure from becoming warm and damp . Older houses designed with gable-end openings tend to hinder any ventilation intake. Air tends to become stagnant under the lower and center areas of the sheathing, causing moisture problems and attracting mold growth. Buildings with this type of airflow system can have problems with the lower part of the eaves as the sheathing is often wet and damaged. To provide continuous ridge and soffit venting, it is important to seal the gable-end openings. Doing this will force the air to enter the area where the intended air intake is located. Soffits with openings located along the walls of the house are not well located. Wind-blown rain can easily enter through the soffit and wall. Therefore, vents need to be installed along the soffit’s outer edge or just behind the fascia. Outlet Location Commonly, air outlets are installed along the ridge length to ensure sufficient outflow. With some designs where the ridge length is very short in comparison to the total length of the roof, installing additional openings across the roofing field can be helpful. They should be placed near the ridge in order to allow for sufficient air movement activity in the upper attic. Installation should never be anywhere in the mid or lower part of the field as this will make them ineffective. If it is necessary for the vents to be located on one side of the building so as to not be visible from the front of the building, they will still work properly if installed near the ridge. If this is not done, without proper circulation the entire structural system which can create future problems. Special Location When there is no soffit or eaves overhang or if minimal space is available, it is still important to have sufficient ventilation; an attic fan may need to be installed for proper circulation. Such a device needs to have an automatic switch to turn off the device if the building were to catch on fire as that would speed the spread of the fire. In addition, these fans are only effective during warmer weather and not very useful during cold winter weather or in solving ice dam problems. The placement of roof vents should be done by an experienced contractor who can design a system to fit the structure of the home. The information provided above can show where intake and outlet openings should be located to provide the best circulation of fresh air for an attic space and improve the overall comfort of any home! C. Michael Hunter is an expert in residential and commercial roofing. To find out more about Roofing Houston, go to the main website at: http://www.schulteroofing.com.
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