Garvey Roofing’s services are designed to give homeowners and commercial building owners an energy-efficient roof for all seasons.
A well-ventilated building makes that possible.
As you read on to find out why, here’s a note of interest:
Garvey Roofing offers free estimates, plus all labor and materials are fully guaranteed. Visit the Insulation and Attic page.
What is Ventilation in Roofing
Ventilation is an important part of an overall roofing system. The right amount of ventilation is key to having a roof that works for you in all seasons in the San Gabriel Valley, from the foothills south to the 60 freeway.
Why is ventilation key? After all, we can’t see it and most homeowners or commercial building owners think, “Yeah, of course the roofing contractor will ventilate.”
But how do you know if your roof is properly ventilated or do you even care? You should.
Check out this quote from Building Science Corporation: A vented attic where insulation is placed on an air-sealed attic floor, is one of the most underappreciated building assemblies that we have in the history of building science.
Take a closer look at why roofing ventilation keeps a roof healthy.
Why Ventilation is Important for a Healthy Roof
We all know what happens in mid-August to mid-September around Pasadena, Monrovia and Azusa, don’t we?
Temperatures reach their peak. Triple digits are common and nighttime lows stay in the mid-70s.
It’s hot as the roof cooks on the outside, but a well-ventilated attic creates an air flow so hot air doesn’t build up and just settle in the attic. That way, your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard. So, ventilation is important in our summers.
But it’s also important in our winter times when we get doused with rain.
Thomas Garvey, owner of Garvey Roofing, has seen many homes where the inside of the attic is moist in the winter, but the right ventilation helps dry out the attic and prevent air from becoming stagnant. He’s also seen commercial buildings where specific sections have appeared to leak, due to improper ventilation and moisture buildup.
Ventilation is important throughout the year, no matter what the temperature is.
Ways to Ventilate
It’s good to know your roof ventilation options so check off from this list what you have, or, if you’re installing a new roof with a contractor like Garvey Roofing, then ask the contractor to ensure that the roof will be properly ventilated.
Here’s a checklist:
- Insulation along the attic floor with the correct R-value
- Ridge venting
- Attic fan
- Gable vents
Attic Floor
Quality insulation along the attic floor is a great way to get the best protection against heat in your attic and it doesn’t matter what style of roof you install.
Most homeowners in the San Gabriel Valley have homes where you can’t stand up in the attic or make a bonus room like you can in homes along the East Coast. You can’t put much in the attic and that’s actually good.
The reason is that an attic that only has air and the right amount of insulation along the floor is the best buffer against hot, inside temperatures. If you do store boxes and items like Christmas decorations, then build a platform that’s slightly elevated so that the insulation doesn’t get compressed and lose its R-value.
Ridge Vent
Around Southern California, ridge venting is an excellent product to use. Why?
Think about this. What does heat do? It rises, doesn’t it?
Ridge vent is a specially designed cap that allows heat to rise up and out of the attic. Roofing manufacturer GAF gives its ridge vent products a lifetime guarantee when used on Lifetime shingles.
Attic Fan
An attic fan is wired to turn on when the attic reaches a certain temperature like 95 degrees. You won’t notice any cooling inside the house, but it does serve to circulate the air in the attic and draw it out from inside.
Gable Vents
Gable vents are exterior vents that are installed on the exterior of attic walls to create the best conditions for air flow. A note of caution: gable vents can alter the flow of air into ridge vents and pull rain into the attic.
When Thomas Garvey inspects your roof, he can determine the best plan for your roofing ventilation.
Ventilation Best Practices
Garvey Roofing adheres to all local roofing codes for all parts of a roofing system including ventilation.
Best practices include air sealing and insulating an attic.
Air sealing closes holes between the conditioned and unconditioned spaces especially around light sockets and rafters. Holes that are in the ceiling will allow air into the insulation.
For attic insulation, materials that have a higher R-value are less likely to conduct heat.
Garvey Roofing is a full-service roofing contractor with over 30 years of experience installing and repairing roofs, providing insulation and installing seamless gutters in the cities of the San Gabriel Valley. The company maintains a C-2 Insulation license through the Contractors State License Board
Call for free estimates: (626) 358-9208.
For more on Garvey Roofing’s qualifications and licenses, visit the About page.