Insulation

A major contributor to roof energy inefficiency is improper attic ventilation, which can lead to:

• Insulation becoming damp from condensed moisture.
• Rotting joists and decking
• Mold growth
• Heat retention in summer

Your attic is a very important component of your roof system. The attic space in your home needs to be insulated and ventilated to effectively prevent heat from building up. Winter Preventives: In the winter, heat build up in your attic will cause the snow on your roof to melt. As that melted run-off moves over the overhangs on your home, the colder overhang areas cause the water to re-freeze along the edge of the roof. The resulting ice build up is referred to as an “ice dam”. Ice dams hold water on the edge of your roof. As this water backs up under the shingles, it will leak, causing damage to the wood overhangs and possibly the walls, insulation, and ceilings along the eave edge. Winter heat build up in your attic will also result in condensation as the warm energy comes in contact with cold air and cold surfaces in the attic. Condensation is water originating from condensed air. Condensation in your attic will result in mold build up, rotten wood, discolored spots on your ceilings, collapsed or damaged plaster/drywall, insect infestations, and matted down insulation. Summer Preventives: During the summer, heat build up in your attic will result in warm ceilings, hot rooms and wasted utility costs on air conditioning. In addition, as the attic temperatures increase, the backside of the roofing shingles become much hotter than they are designed to withstand. Overheated shingles develop a premature loss of the solvents and oils that keep your roof shingles from becoming brittle. This voids the shingle warranty. Neighborhood Roofing’s staff and installation teams are specialists in adding the correct amount of insulation to your attic to eliminate these conditions. Additionally, we are experts at installing equalized intake and exhaust ventilation systems to get your attic to breath properly. A well designed attic ventilation system will help keep your attic free from mold and mildew, keep your attic as close to outside air temperature as possible, and most importantly, ensure that the new roofing has been properly ventilated to keep the manufacturer’s shingle warranty valid. When contemplating roof repair or replacement, we make energy efficiency an important part of the discussion. From greener materials and systems, such as GAF Timerline Cool Series Shingles to our knowledge of ventilation and insulation, we have solutions that will best fit your needs. Contact Neighborhood Roofing about making your home more energy efficient.