It’s easy to forget that your roof does more than just cover your home and protect it from the elements. Ensuring your roof ventilation is up to scratch is vital to your home. It can help your roof last longer and make your home more comfortable. Because it’s not necessarily a visual aspect of your roof it can be hard to know what danger signs to look for as your roof ages. Professional roof maintenance from Fussy Roof Restorations can give you the assurance that any existing problems are dealt with, and future issues can be avoided.
Using a system of intake and exhaust vents the idea of roof ventilation is to ensure the efficient flow of air through your roof cavity. This helps your roof and your home in many ways. By allowing hot air to escape your roof cavity, your need for expensive air conditioning can be reduced. The movement of air through your roof cavity also makes it more difficult for moisture to gather leading to stubborn and costly to remedy problems with mould, mildew, and rot to take hold. Too much moisture in your roof can also damage your insulation. If too much heat is trapped, your roof structure can have its lifespan drastically shortened through damage to wood framing and rafters.
Even the untrained eye can detect problems in your home caused by poor roof ventilation. Here are just some of the danger signs to look out for.
Do you have definite hot or cold spots inside your home? Drastically uneven temperatures between rooms could be a sign that something is amiss with your ventilation system. If all is well the overall temperature of your home should be relatively stable.
Can you see visible damage from moisture on the exterior of your roof? Is it sagging? Are the edges rotting? Do the shingles look like they are falling off. Any build up of moisture leading to structural damage is a definite indicator that there is a problem with your roof ventilation.
Check your energy bills. Even the best ventilated, best insulated homes might need help with climate control during temperature extremes. Are you running your air conditioner more? Is it taking longer to cool your house? Likewise in winter, whether heating via gas or electricity if it seems to be taking longer to reach and maintain your desired indoor temperature this may be linked to poor roof ventilation. The Australian Bureau of Statistics says that “Roof and ceiling insulation can save up to 45% on energy consumption for heating and cooling”.
Does it sound like you might have pests in your roof? Perhaps one of your inlet vents has been compromised. Mice, rats, possums or birds might make your roof cavity their home too. If the noise of scurrying unidentified creatures isn’t bad enough there’s also the hygiene issue and the possibility of damage to your home’s electrical wiring.
Have you noticed mould forming on your ceilings or walls? Homes can generate a lot of moisture internally leading to easily identifiable mould outbreaks on ceilings and walls, especially in and around kitchens bathrooms and laundries. Mould outbreaks on the exterior of the surrounding surfaces look different to mould outbreaks that are happening internally. Keep your eye out for discolouration of your ceilings and walls. Peeling of paint on ceilings can also be an early sign of problems with moisture retention. Sagging or uneven ceilings could also be an indicator of possible problems with a leaking roof that if left unattended can cause sever structural damage, costly repairs and possibly even replacement of your roof.
The easiest way to prevent the problems associated with poor roof ventilation is to work with professionals who understand how roofing should work, can easily identify an any problems and fix them and maintain your roof to ensure its maximum life span. Maintenance can identify if inlet or exhaust vents are blocked or have been poorly installed. Incorrect exhaust vents can be replaced by more efficient units that can be triggered by temperature control or make natural use of the elements like a Whirlybird vent. A comprehensive check of your roofs ventilation system is part of a roof restoration, a process that takes care of cleaning, painting, re-sealing and if needed repair of your roof.
If any of the issues listed above are causing concern, contact Fussy Roof Restorations today. Their experienced team of qualified roofers understand local conditions and can help with everything from simply repairs to full restoration and all points in between. Servicing the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas they offer free quotes, expert guidance and even offer a 10-year guarantee on any work undertaken. Don’t wait for those little problems to get bigger, give yourself the peace of mind that your roof is doing its job and not damaging your home. You can call them on 1300 734 302, email at ino@fussyroofrestorations.com.au or simply use the contact form here.
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