Good Winter Roof Ventilation Avoids Year-round Headaches

Importance of Ventilation

Ensuring that there is proper ventilation for your Elk Grove Village rooftop avoids some serious problems, both during the winter season and beyond.  Why?  Contrary to what might initially seem to be the case, a roof must be kept cold in the wintertime.  The entire underside of the roof in your home needs to be kept at a cool temperature.  The basic preventive strategy involves two things: creating a flow of air circulation from the eaves to the ridge of the roof, and insulating the attic flooring to prevent warm household air from heating the attic.

At Adams Roofing Professionals, we have seen the damage that can result to homes in Elk Grove Village when roofs are poorly insulated or poorly ventilated:

The Consequences of Improper Ventilation

Warmth under the roof causes the snow to melt at the bottom of the snow pack, after which it trickles down the roof. When that water reaches the eaves (which are always colder than the rest of the roof, as they are detached from the rest of the house), the water freezes and creates an ice dam. Ironically, as more snow falls, the snow itself produces very good insulation for the rooftop – which makes the bottom of the snow pack even warmer, in turn causing even more melting. A vicious cycle of heating and melting is promoted when a poorly insulated attic floor also contributes heat to the attic area and the roof above.

Once this condition is allowed to develop, a whole laundry list of bad things can happen:

Leaking – The ice dam which starts out at the eaves will gradually work its way back up the roof and often work its way under the shingles, whereupon it will melt and leak into the attic and the home itself.

Damaged Insulation – Insulation can be damaged or ruined from moisture – any water leakage from your roof will cause your insulation to deteriorate.

Damaged Paint – The moisture which leaks into the home can cause paint to blister or peel off entirely.

Mold – Mold can begin to grow from the trapped moisture in the walls, often forming long after the ice dam itself has melted away,

To make a long story short: roof ventilation is important in the winter months!

If you aren’t sure whether your Elk Grove Village home has proper rooftop ventilation, the safest thing to do is to call us at Adams Roofing Professionals and arrange for one of our trained professionals to inspect your roof. If any corrective measures are needed, we’ll be happy to discuss them with you, so that a plan can be developed and you can avoid the kind of headaches which might otherwise happen.