How Ventilation Saves Your Roof From Baking

Summers can get hot in the Chicago area, which, at least for some, is a welcome break from long, cold winters.

But while the heat may feel good and conjure up images of beaches and swimming pools, it can also wreak havoc on your roof if you’re not prepared.
That’s why having the proper ventilation – the kind that enables your home to “breathe” – will prevent roof damage and costly repairs. Here’s a closer look:

Heat Damage on Your Roof

Excessive heat and lack of ventilation can cause a variety of damage to your home’s roof, including:

Hot temperatures can cause essential parts of your roof, such as roofing joists and wood beams, to expand, while also damaging flashing – which allows water to seep into your home.
Heat can shrink shingles and cause them to blister.
Heat that rises from your attic or overhead crawl space can rise and also damage asphalt shingles. Blisters can shorten the lifespan of your shingle roof.
Without proper ventilation, heat can push down into your home and increase your cooling costs.
Excess humidity can cause moisture that damages the roof decking and shingles. In turn, mold can grow in the attic and spread throughout the house while exposing your family to harmful mold spores.
Mold and moisture may weaken plywood roof sheathing and cause the layers of plywood to separate. Both the sheathing and shingles may need to be replaced if the problem becomes severe.

How Ventilation Helps

Roof ventilation ensures proper air circulation while preventing condensation from building up under your roof. Your home’s cooling system will also work more efficiently.

Types of Roof Vents

There are three types of vents that protect your home from the heat:

Ridge vents – Ridge vents ensure that the underneath of your roof is properly ventilated to prevent overheating and moisture buildup.
Roof vents – Roof vents prevent roof damage and premature aging by allow hot, moist air to exit the attic.
Intake vents – Intake vents maximize roof performance through effective air movement.

Adams Roofing has served the Chicago area since 1978 and will help make sure that your home’s roof has the proper ventilation. Get in touch with us today.

I wanted to let you know about an experience I had with one of your employees. I live at 1200 Knottingham Court in Kingsport Estates and apparently, your company is servicing our condo association. My building has had a leak in the entryway for several months and Eddie was dispatched out to have me show him the source of the leak inside. I met him on Friday, September 21st and just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with his friendliness and professionalism. He immediately found the source of the leak and even went up on the roof to show me. He assured me that someone would take care of it as soon as possible and told me he would give the report priority to avoid any further damage. As someone who used to be in Customer Service, I always value a company that hires people that are not only skilled at their trade, but also skilled at interacting with people. Eddie is a great example of that and I wanted you to know so you could tell him what a great job he does! I am so glad that Alma Management chose Adams Roofing to be our roofing contractor!... [more]

Jeremy Q, CMCA, AMS

Adams Roofing has a great team to work perfectly with condo and townhome Associations. We are currently in the middle of a 6 year, 49 building tear-off project. Adams works hand in hand with the engineers, delivers according to the specifications, and provides great customer service to the homeowners and management team.... [more]

Sue T.

Good Afternoon, I am writing to you on behalf of the Mission Hills M-8 Association. I would like to tell you how happy we are with the work that you completed for our Association. Your supervisor Eddie was great. We liked his professionalism and his work ethic. He kept us informed, and delivered on all his promises. Please make sure that any other jobs you do for us include him. Best regards, Joey Mission Hills Management... [more]

Brett K.

Charlie, Thanks very much for replacing the gutter! No one has been out to do it, at least before I left for work this morning. But I will definitely let you know whether it’s done correctly. I am very satisfied with your roofing job. It looks great, and more importantly, there were no leaks when it rained (even though we haven’t gotten really hard rains yet). So, I have been very pleased with my experience with Adams, especially with the professionalism and responsiveness of you and Dan. Thanks.... [more]

Keith M.

I wanted to take a moment to comment on your technician, Eddie. Eddie was assigned to inspect a roof leak I am having in my home in Cobblestone Circle. He was prompt, professional, courteous and informative; everything a customer could ask for when inviting a contractor into their home. Eddie represents Adams Roofing Well; and clearly he is an asset to your company. Kudos to him! Thank you.... [more]

Rick H.