By Paul Scelsi, Originally published in Roofing Contractor Magazine, January 2023.
Looks can certainly be deceiving. On the outside of the house, JR Lynch, managing partner of Fortress Exteriors in Fishers, Ind., could see fully vented soffit while preparing an estimate for a new roof. But upon further inspection, underneath that fully vented soffit was 100% solid wood preventing any ventilation through the attic.
In our podcast interview with Lynch, he explained the fate of the roof that day and his process for confirming if proper intake airflow really exists beyond an initial visual check.
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Read the full article - “What's Really Underneath the Vented Soffit Panels?”
Related Resources:
Podcast: Airing it Out with Air Vent, Episode 29: What’s Really Underneath the Vented Soffit Panels?
Additional Resources:
Read the article - “Check the Intake Ventilation”
By Paul Scelsi, Originally published in Roofing Elements Magazine, December 2022.
Jason Verbeke was a residential roofing contractor before working 15 years as a firefighter in the Detroit, Michigan and the Charlotte, North Carolina areas. Today he’s back full time as a roofer with The Allard Roofing Company, Fort Myers, Florida. In our podcast interview with him, Verbeke shared his first-hand observations of what happens to roofs over time when the attic ventilation is subpar. He also shared stories fighting fires on the “ventilation crew” responsible for cutting holes in the roof...
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Read the full article - “Attic Ventilation: A Firefighter's Perspective”
Related Resources:
Podcast: Airing it Out with Air Vent, Episode 28: A Firefighter/Roofer’s Perspective on Attic Ventilation
Additional Resources:
Read the article - “Balancing Ventilation: Intake Vents are Important to Achieve Proper Ventilation”
Originally published in Roofing Magazine, September 2022.
Easterseals Washington needed to replace the roofs on two of its buildings for its Camp Stand By Me facilities in Vaughn, Washington. Patriot Roofing in Gig Harbor, Washington, was one of the companies contacted for an estimate. Behind the scenes, the team at Patriot Roofing internally discussed donating the two roofs as a way to give back to the community. Mike Talpai, general manager at Patriot Roofing, was instrumental in making it happen, and is a strong proponent for giving back to the communities we live and work in.
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Read the full article - "Roofing Contractors Give Back to Their Communities"
Related Resources:
Podcast: Airing it Out with Air Vent, Episode 26: Changing Lives Giving Back to Our Communities
By Paul Scelsi, Originally published in Roofing Contractor Magazine, October 2022.
It wasn’t until the fourth roofing contractor arrived at the house that the homeowner heard about the importance of attic ventilation for the new roof that was being estimated. That fourth contractor submitted the highest price for the project.
The homeowner hired that fourth contractor.
That fourth contractor was Andy Matyszewski, owner of ABM Roofing in McDonough, Ga. In a recent podcast interview, Matyszewski shared how he holds his ground with homeowners regarding a project’s scope of work and his fair asking price...
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Read the full article - "Hold Your Ground with Homeowners"
Related Resources:
Podcast: Airing it Out with Air Vent, Episode 27: Hold Your Ground with Homeowners: Scope of Work and Price
Additional Resources:
Podcast: Airing it Out with Air Vent, Episode 7: What Homeowners Should Know about Attic Ventilation
Read the article - "Overcoming Homeowner Price Pushback"
ARMA’s Guidance for Attic Ventilation
Proper ventilation of attic areas is an essential factor in realizing the maximum service life of the building materials used in the roof assembly. Overlooking proper ventilation may result in:
- Premature failure of the roofing including blistering
- Moisture accumulation in insulation and other roof system components
- Mold growth and rotting of wood components
- Roof deck distortion that can cause buckling of the roofing
- Ice dam formation in cold climates
Ventilation and Design Considerations.
A best practice is to create an approximately balanced combination of intake and exhaust vents to generate optimal free-flow ventilation.
Ventilation and Moisture Control.
Proper attic ventilation can remove water vapor from the attic space before condensation can occur.
Ventilation and Heating & Cooling Costs.
A properly ventilated flow-through air space beneath the roof deck and above the insulation can significantly reduce heat buildup in the attic.
Ventilation and Ice Dams.
Proper ventilation can reduce the likelihood of the snow melting (unevenly) by keeping the entire roof deck at a more uniformly cold temperature, thus helping to prevent ice dam formation.
NOTE: From Residential Asphalt Roofing Manual: Design and Application Methods – 2022 Edition
