How Energy Efficient is your Roof in Memphis and the Mid-South?

Proper ventilation in your roof is extremely important and whether you have an attic or standalone style roof. It is important to have a well ventilated area under your shingles, and in this article we will explore the many different conditions that need to be met to be considered “Good Ventilation”. By exploring these benefits we can…

Proper ventilation in your roof is extremely important and whether you have an attic or standalone style roof.

It is important to have a well ventilated area under your shingles, and in this article we will explore the many different conditions that need to be met to be considered “Good Ventilation”. By exploring these benefits we can see just how important a focus on ventilation is for any roofing system.

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Ventilation affects the lifespan of your roof! In Memphis, we have very wild weather. One minute it is 30 degrees, the next it is raining! This week has been a perfect example. In addition, Tennessee Winters are relatively mild, which means most homes do not take cold weather into consideration. However that few days of 10 Degrees every year, year after year with a sudden return to heat can cause havoc on a homes attic ventilation system. A Ventilation system that is not adequate then reduces the life of your roof, the R-value of your insulation of your home and the result is energy inefficiency and repairs that cost THOUSANDS!

And it’s all easily avoidable and affordable to fix!

What exactly happens when you have an limited or unbalanced ventilation system?

Good questions, proper ventilating protects the structural integrity of your roof deck, and thus your home! Limited Ventilation can make your home more difficult to keep cool in the summer. Shingles are typically dark, and as the sun beats down on them, that heat radiates into your attic, and then into your home. Increasing your air conditioning costs! Limited ventilation can also make it more difficult to heat your home in the winter, as the resulting moisture from condensation or leaks results in humid damaged insulation, which decreases the R value of the insulation, and thus puts more load on your furnace as well to keep your home warm showers, sunlight's, and kitchen areas not allowed to properly dissipate heat also cause a reduction in your homes heating, cooling, and insulating effectiveness. Humidity can be a huge factor with these areas.

How Common is this?

Most of the homes we inspect, and visit for estimates, have ventilation to minimal code. This means it is “Good enough” to not cause your house to rot like a hut in a 3rd world country, but it certainly doesn’t have that “Built to Last” mindset behind our PRO WAY promise of contracting excellence! For less than $1000 a home owner can have us come in, adequately ventilate the home, and see their roof last up to twice as long as a poorly vented home.

Considering a roof costs $5000+ I would say that is a good investment! This is not even considering the heating and A/C savings as well as the preventing of costly leaks and water damage. Long Story made short, proper roofing ventilation makes your home run more efficiently, and allows each piece of your homes mechanical system to do its job better. A chain is after all, only as strong as its weakest link!

Bonus! Do Whirlybirds actually Work?

Yes, and No, but barely better than a typical 6050T or other typical button or square roof vent. The difference is once the Whirlybirds stop “Whirling” they work even worse than a typical vent, and open your home up to all kinds of leak potential in the process. It’s kind of like Installing a big ugly “Fast and Furious” spoiler on a Toyota Camry. It doesn’t turn the car into a race car, it would probably be worse in the long run, and drilling holes in your trunk with your dads power drill is probably going to cause rust down the road. They were a gimmick in the 90’s and they still are.

I suggest asking one of our Roofing Experts about Turbo Vents, or Ridge Vents during your roof replacement consultation!

For these reasons and more, it’s important to do regular inspections and to perform repairs and maintenance to ensure that your roof has proper ventilation. Ideally, your attic should be closer to the temperature outside than inside, if not the same as outside. If it is hotter than your home in the winter, that is a problem!

Always remember to be safe and know your limits when performing your own inspections on rooftops or attic spaces. If you are ever unsure call the professionals at ContractingPRO we would be happy to assist you!