You have probably already figured out that your Sacramento-area home’s roof is not a straightforward thing. Instead, a roof is an interconnected system of parts, and one of those parts is roof ventilation

What is Roof Ventilation?

Roof ventilation refers to air circulating upwards from eaves (via soffit vents) and out the gables (gable vents) or ridge (ridge vents). Rooftop electro-mechanical ventilators can also be used.

In the late 1940s, static and mechanical ventilation became part of national building codes. Roofs last longer, are more energy-efficient, and increase homeowner comfort when the air space beneath them is ventilated. 

Critical Component

Roof ventilation is critical to two features of your home:

  1. Keeping your roof healthy and allowing it to live a long, useful life free of mold, moisture, and rot.
  2. Keeping your home’s energy bills low by separating the attic airspace from your living space; this is done in tandem with insulation.

Roof ventilation keeps attic temperatures and humidity levels roughly equal to outdoor air. 

Huge Help

Whether your Sacramento-area home depends on natural convection currents or an electro-mechanical vent, roof ventilation is a huge help for your roof.

With fresh air constantly moving through your attic, every wooden structural member stays dry:

  • Rafters
  • Sheathing
  • Joists

Mold and mildew only get a foothold on spaces that have slow-moving or still air. As long as some kind of air movement is stirring underneath your roof, mold and mildew are unlikely to grab hold and ruin your roof. 

Assessing Your Ventilation

Never climb onto your home’s roof; it is unsafe for anyone but skilled and properly equipped roofers. You can crawl into your attic to assess your roof ventilation.

In your attic during the daytime, you may glimpse diffuse light near the bottom edge of your roof, filtering in through soffit vents. Above, along the ridge, you can also see light filtering in through ridge vents.

You may have gable vents; those are part of static ventilation. Or, you may hear and see an electro-mechanical vent high in your roof.

If you have concerns about your roof ventilation, your local, reliable roofer is happy to assess your home. They can then make recommendations for improving your comfort, lowering your energy bills, and helping your roof last longer.

Please contact us today at Straight Line Roofing & Construction in Sacramento, California. We look forward to helping you improve your home’s value, energy efficiency, and comfort. Our experienced, professional builders can handle all your roofing and siding needs.