samedi 21 novembre 2015

The Need For A Roof Closure Vent

By Brenda Warner


It's surprising how things can be all around you and you may never know. Take a roof closure vent, for example. You may or may not have one, or know what one is, even. However, this nifty little gadget or system may be protecting you from all sorts of things - like a voided home warranty, or condensation problems where you can't see them, or birds getting into your attic.

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.

'Soffit' vents under the eaves of the house let air in. The closure vents higher up let air out. Wind moving across the top of the building is the activator of this exchange. As air flows out, moisture is taken out as well, before it can condense and cause problems of mold, rot, or corrosion. The process of venting a ranch-style home is fairly easy. Modern, many-gabled roofs make the process a lot more complicated.

There is another problem. Openings in roofing are great ways for bugs, birds, small climbing rodents, and the elements (rain and snow) to get inside your attic. Therefore you need vents with screening or baffles to keep them out. Well-designed venting systems 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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