Monday 30 November 2015

How A Roof Closure Vent Works

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.

Roofing, whatever it is made of, has to resist external heat, cold, and wet. Temperature extremes are best dealt with by using paint - dark for colder climates and lighter colors for regions with hot summers. Cold is not much of a problem for most materials. However, moisture can pose a threat to all kinds of roofing.

Moisture is another problem that comes from changes in temperature. Air collects under the roofing from the interior of the house, as warm air from inside rises. This air carries moisture with it, which condenses when it reaches cooler exterior surfaces. Venting is the answer here; drier outside air is pulled in through intake vents and flows out through exhaust vents along the ridge of the roof.

A vent is a device to let air in or out. Air can move into vents lower on the roof - like 'soffit' vents under the eaves - and out higher vents along the ridge. This air exchange is activated by wind flowing over the structure, which pulls the air out along with heat and moisture. Venting is a simple process in a ranch-type house but gets more complicated in 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.

Check out the easy-to-install one piece units online if you need to vent an existing structure. They are simply stuck into place using their own adhesive strips. It's easiest to do this kind of installation at construction, when vents can be installed along the ridge of the house. Vents should be made of durable materials and can be guaranteed to last as long as the roofing itself.

Some people say that venting is not necessary or even counter-productive. Apparently many roofing manufacturers see value in the practice, though; not venting your roof can void the warranty. Venting is easiest during construction, although individual units can be installed at any time. Care must be taken that intake and outflow are balanced. If not enough air can be drawn in from outside, air will be pulled from the interior of the home. This increases energy costs.

What you want to do is get moisture-laden air out from under the roofing and draw drier air in. You also need to keep the creepy crawlies and the elements out. A good venting system will do both for you and extend the useful life of your roofing.




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