dimanche 22 novembre 2015

The Need For A Roof Closure Vent

By Brenda Warner


People can live in a house and not know some of its components. You may not even know what a roof closure vent is and why you need it. This is part of a system of ventilation to allow air trapped under your roofing to be expelled. If you don't have a system to let this trapped air flow out, you may be letting your house in for future problems.

For those who are clueless about the make-up of their roofs, there are some basic facts that are easily understood. A roof is subject to many stresses. One is extremes of temperature. Actually, painting a metal roof a light color in hot climes and a dark one in cold is the best solution to temperature. Venting has more to do with moisture.

As air from inside the house rises, it carries moisture with it. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold. The air gets trapped beneath the cool roofing where the moisture can condense, causing rot, mold, and corrosion. By venting the space underneath the roof, this moist air can be drawn out and replaced by fresh, drier air from outside.

The primary purpose of a vent is to let air in and out. Vents under the eaves - 'soffit vents' - allow outside air to be drawn in to replace air flowing out of vents along the ridge. The exchange is caused by wind moving across the top of the house. The process is fairly simple if the house has a straight, pitched roofline. It gets more complicated in modern homes with many gables and additions.

Of course, a simple opening down low and another higher up would work. However, you don't want a hole in your roof. Rain and snow are one problem. Others include insects (like a homeless swarm of bees), small mammals like squirrels or bats, or birds who the protected space just right for raising a family. Vents should have baffles or screens to keep everything out but air.

There are many vents on the market. Some are advertised as very easy to install, coming in one piece with adhesive patches that will fix the unit in place. Look for guarantees, too. The vents may be guaranteed to last as long as the roof they are installed in. There are two-piece units as well, and some venting goes all along the ridge of the house.

There is some debate on which method works best and even whether you should vent or not. However, roofing manufacturers seem to see the benefit of venting and may not honor their warranty if it is not done. Venting, of course, is most easily performed during construction of the building. Balance is important, too. If too much air goes out and not enough air flows in, air will be drawn from the interior of the home. This, of course, increases heating and cooling costs.

It's a simple enough idea: Draw wet, warm air out, pull fresh, drier air in. At the same time, keep crawling or flying things out, as well as rain and snow.




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