Too Much Roof Ventilation

What happens is people put too many products on their roof.

Too much roof ventilation.

Beyond the decreased capacity for insulation when venting the roof deck venting the roof deck or the attic has some other drawbacks worth considering. Before we explore how to ventilate an attic space it is prudent to understand how much ventilation is needed. In no case should the amount of exhaust ventilation exceed the amount of intake ventilation. In cold climates snow can enter the soffit and ridge vents melt and potentially cause rot.

Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca. Insufficient ventilation can lead to moisture problems during the winter and decreased energy efficiency during the summer but too much ventilation can be just as bad if not worse. 2 focusing only on heat buildup. One static vent style is the turbine vent.

If there is more intake ventilation than the attic s square footage requires it s not problematic because any excess intake converts to exhaust on the leeward side of the house. It s possible to have too much exhaust ventilation but you cannot have too much intake ventilation. Some vents are necessary but you don t want to needlessly increase the number of roof penetrations. The two main dangers associated with too much ventilation involve roof damage and increased utility bills.

If a roofing contractor is going to be out of balance with the attic ventilation system it s better to have too much intake than too much exhaust because the excess intake converts to exhaust on the leeward side of the house. Homeowners can choose from a variety of shapes and colors that closely match their shingles so that the vents won t appear too out of place on the roof. Federal housing authority recommends a minimum of at least 1 square foot of attic ventilation evenly split between intake and exhaust for every 300 square feet of attic floor space. Let owens corning roofing help you calculate exactly how much ventilation you will need for a healthy and balanced attic with our 4 step ventilation calculator.

If you have too much air circulating your roof will collect moisture causing damages that will weaken spots and then cause leaking. Always have a balanced ventilation system. Enter square footage calculate or enter the square footage of the attic or area to be vented. Roof ventilation keeps the air moving and stops mold from growing but too much ventilation can be just as bad as having none.

Roof vents create an additional roof penetration essentially another place of vulnerability where leaks can occur. Ventilation can be accomplished using various products and techniques.