Adequate attic and roof ventilation is essential to ensure optimal performance. Unfortunately, many builders and contractors treat ventilation as an afterthought. They are often more motivated to promote the home’s cosmetic appearance or maximize profits. What options does a homeowner have to secure sufficient ventilation for their home?
A homeowner needs a reputable roofing contractor like The Roofing Dog committed to addressing every aspect of the roofing system, including the attic and roof ventilation, to guarantee your home’s comfort and avoid problems like moisture intrusion, mold growth, and roof damage. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of suitable ventilation.
Why Is Ventilation Important In A House?
Proper ventilation is critical for keeping moisture out of your home and removing the buildup of excess heat in your attic. The dangerous combination of high humidity (or surplus condensation) and too much heat creates an environment for wood rot to structural components, degradation of roofing materials, and mold formation.
Additionally, poor ventilation lessens your comfort and enjoyment because of excessive temperature and humidity fluctuations. In warmer months, you will also experience increased cooling consumption and electricity usage. Avoid these issues by partnering with an established roofing professional to install sufficient ventilation.
Contact UsHow Does House Ventilation Work In East Central IL?
Without quality ventilation, your roofing materials and underlying wood support structure (your home’s framework, including the trusses, rafters, and joists) will be in danger and will not perform as intended. Inadequate ventilation can and will destroy roof decking and other sublayers of the roof, like the insulation. It will also create problems with surface roofing materials (such as asphalt shingles).
The solution to this dilemma is ensuring sufficient attic and roof ventilation. All areas of the roofing system need air intake at the eaves (where cool, outside air can enter the home) and an air exhaust along the ridges (where hot, stale indoor air can escape from the attic). However, these vents must be appropriately sized to allow the right volume of air to move through the attic and prevent moisture from condensing.
At The Roofing Dog, as part of our initial roof estimate, we analyze your home’s need for additional or different ventilation. We inform you of any ventilation challenges your home faces, including our recommendations to resolve these problems. As a homeowner, if you have questions or concerns about your home’s existing ventilation, please contact us immediately. We will be happy to steer you in the right direction.
How To Improve Seasonal House Ventilation
Summer Ventilation Issues
Illinois experiences hot, humid summers. Excessive heat buildup in attics puts pressure on the roofing system, which reaps the adverse consequences. On the hottest days, attic temperatures can surpass 170 degrees in a poorly ventilated attic. This temperature challenge stresses the roofing sublayers and surface materials, causing premature aging and degradation.
An unreasonably vented attic also causes temperature and humidity challenges inside a home. Consequently, a home’s air conditioning and other cooling units must overcompensate to offset the uncomfortable conditions. Most homes also have HVAC ductwork in the attic. Negative air pressure inside a duct can draw superheated attic air into the rest of the house. Your HVAC bills will increase.
The Roofing Dog helps you identify the necessary ventilation changes to ensure your home’s comfort.
Contact UsWinter Ventilation Challenges
Moisture intrusion through a home’s roof or into attic spaces is the enemy of homeowners during winter. Most Illinois attic and roofing systems are well-insulated. As a result, warm interior living spaces should be securely separated from the cool, drafty attic areas. However, exceptions exist where warm, heated air in your home leaks into the attic via adjacent light fixtures and bathroom venting ducts.
In these highly localized areas, moist, warm air from cooking, laundry, and showering will penetrate the attic through tiny air gaps. Homeowners must be concerned that this air leakage will induce moisture problems (including excess condensation buildup) unless their homes have adequate attic and roof ventilation to prevent moisture buildup. Unfortunately, winter months exasperate this challenge for the average home.
Warm, moist interior air mixed with cold, outside air entering the attic through intake ventilation allows the formation of a dew point. This moisture collects on insulation, rafters, sheathing, and any other component reaching a dew point. Preventing a dew point from developing in your attic requires the home to have a free exchange of dry air from the outside. High-quality venting creates proper air exchange.
Exceptional Roofing Services For Champaign-Urbana
At The Roofing Dog, we are roofing specialists. We are most definitely not generalists. If you need a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none contractor, we aren’t the right fit for your home renovation project. However, if you prefer skilled craftsmanship using exceptional construction and roofing products, we are the company for you!
Here is a complete list of our roofing services:
- Gutter & Gutter Guard Installation
- Roof Repair
- Roof Replacement
- Roof Restoration (due to hail or storm damage)
- Skylight Installation
- Ventilation Installation
Areas We Serve In East Central Illinois
The Roofing Dog remains East Central Illinois’s leading roofing company. We are passionate about this region because, like you, we call it “home.” Our dedication to homeowners in Champaign-Urbana and surrounding areas ensures you receive the best service possible.
We proudly serve residents in the following communities (and surrounding areas):
Champaign County, IL
Ford County, IL
McLean County, IL
Piatt County, IL
Vermillion County, IL
How To Select The Right Roofing Contractor
At The Roofing Dog, we distinguish ourselves from the competition through a process called “The Swanson Difference.” When choosing between multiple roofing companies, you need to evaluate many factors, including the following considerations:
- Employee vs. Subcontractor: Ask the prospective contractor if the workers will be employees or subcontractors. Why? Employee-based work is a better safeguard for you.
- Insurance: Does the contractor have liability and worker’s compensation coverage? Should it matter? Absolutely. A reputable contractor takes care of these responsibilities.
- Licensing: Not all roofing professionals possess the appropriate state or local licensing. Request a copy of their contractor’s license to ensure they meet this standard.
- Location: Is the roofing contractor local or out-of-towners? Selecting an accessible neighborhood professional gives you peace of mind that they will be there for you in the future.
- Materials: What types of construction and roofing products does the contractor use? Steer clear of contractors who install substandard materials or unfamiliar brands.
- Memberships: What professional memberships does the contractor possess? Ideally, they should belong to the NRCA, BBB, Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations.
- Online Reputation: A responsible contractor cares passionately about how they are perceived online. What types of reviews have customers provided? Analyze them.
About The Roofing Dog
The Roofing Dog (also known as Swanson Roofing) is a family-owned and operated business based in the heart of Greater Champaign-Urbana. We don’t subcontract work. Instead, we take a hands-on approach involving trusted employees to deliver the highest quality roofing services and products.
Every technician and installer receives extensive training and achieves industry-recognized certifications that distinguish them from many of our competitors. You can depend on the residential roofing contractor who has been there for you since 1996 and will continue for generations.
Contact Us For More Information
Do you need a reliable roofing professional based locally in East Central Illinois? Do you wish you could have an enjoyable service experience (that exceeds your expectations) with a trusted roofing contractor? Look no further than The Roofing Dog. We are proud to serve residents of Champaign-Urbana and surrounding communities. Contact us today to learn more about our roofing services or to schedule an appointment and receive a free roof estimate.
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