The roof's ventilation system serves several extremely important functions. It circulates air throughout the roof's interior and allows hot air to escape from the attic. Not only does this prevent the attic from reaching dangerously high temperatures, but the movement of fresh air also keeps moisture levels low and reduces the chance of mold or mildew growth. However, many homes do not have adequate ventilation. If the attic is unbearably hot or it the air feels humid, a Houston roofing contractor can determine if there is enough ventilation in the space needed to fix the issues.
Most building codes require that buildings have a certain amount of ventilation. They usually involve a ratio of ventilation space to attic floor space. For example, many building codes require that buildings have a ratio of 1/150, which means that for every 150 square feet of attic space, the building needs to have one foot of ventilation space.
A roofer can determine how much ventilation space the building has by first calculating the total area of the attic. This total area is then divided by 150 or other relevant number identified by building codes. This will yield the amount of ventilation space that the building should have. This number can then be directly compared to the amount of ventilation space the building currently has.
Roofers from Houston Restoration Services of Houston TX would be happy to answer any question you have about commercial roofing or remodeling.
Determining the amount of ventilation space the building has is just one piece of the puzzle. While a building can have the proper amount of ventilation space, the attic may still be not properly ventilated. There are several ways to tell if the attic is still not venting properly. If the ceiling on the uppermost floor is hot to the touch, this indicates that heat has built up inside the attic. Additionally, moisture condensation on the roof rafters or sheathing can be an indication that the ventilation system is not working correctly.
One of the most popular types of ventilation systems include ridge vents, which run along the roof's ridge, and soffit vents, which are placed in the roof eaves. This allows fresh air to be drawn into the attic where it will become hotter. As it heats up, the air can escape through the ridge vent. However, it should be noted that this particular type of ventilation system is not necessarily the best option for all buildings. A professional roofer can assist with determining what vents and vent placement may be best for a particular building.
