Ever climbed up into your Florida attic in the middle of the day? It’s brutal, and we don’t recommend it.
When the sun beats down on your home all day long, it heats your attic up quickly. In fact, on a typical day in our sunny state, you can expect your attic to reach almost 200 degrees F. Not only is that incredibly hot, but without attic ventilation, it can be damaging to your home and costly for your bank account.
How Attic Ventilation Works & Why It Matters
Heat enters your attic through the roof, which means your shingles heat up, and then everything below it does, too. Though insulation does help, our hot and humid climate still causes heat transference that moves from your roof, down to your attic, and eventually into your home.
Because the air inside your attic is twice as hot as the actual temperature outside, vents are critical, as they let heat rise and move away from your home. Not only do vents require zero energy to work, but they also prevent your AC from working too hard, which means lower energy bills and a more comfortable home. At the same time, they help keep your attic from getting too hot, which means your roof and ceiling are both less likely to experience damage.
For homes without any ventilation, or poor ventilation, there’s a good chance that some type of damage is going to happen, if it hasn’t already. Hot and humid climates like ours cause build up of moisture and condensation, which generally means damage to your roof shingles and decking. Oftentimes, the damage is preventable, but without the proper attic ventilation, you’ll wind up needing roof repair sooner than you should.
How to Improve Your Attic Ventilation
There’s really only one way to improve the ventilation in your attic, and that’s to have a good ventilation system going. If you want to go power-free, then your best bet will be to install some intake vents and outtake vents. Already have some? Maybe it’s time to look at doing a little bit of dirty work, or just getting some new ones. If yours aren’t regularly maintained, they may be blocked with dirt and grime that’s keeping them from doing their jobs.
Not sure what kind of vents you need? The most common types are ridge vents and soffit vents, which are often paired together to keep the air flowing.
If you’re interested in getting a little more high-tech and don’t mind your attic ventilating affecting your energy bill, then you may want to consider adding a powered exhaust vent, which basically works like a turbine and draws air out of your attic. Depending on which kind you choose, you may even be able to get one that’s activated when your attic gets too hot.
How’s Your St. Augustine Roof Doing?
If you’ve noticed your attic ventilation isn’t what it should be, then your roof may be suffering because of it. If your shingles have seen better days, or swelling and rot has caused the nails in your roof to fall loose, it’s time to call in a roofing company for your home in St. Augustine. Our roofers will be able to take a look and give you honest feedback about whether you need a new roof or can get by with some basic roof repair.
If you could use an expert opinion from your local roofer, contact us today for a free inspection. Our roofing company serves homeowners in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville, Nocatee, and the surrounding communities in Northeast FL.