Your roof is a big investment and vital in protecting life’s most valuable assets – your home, memorabilia and family. To maximize the longevity of your roof, ensure proper ventilation for a healthier, more durable roof.

Typical household activities can wreak havoc on a roof and attic if proper roof ventilation is not provided:

• In the summer, heat build-up encourages the premature aging and cracking of wood and other roofing materials. Unwanted heat also can transfer back down into living areas – which reduces energy efficiency.

• In cold weather, warm air generated by laundry, showers, dish washing and cooking can linger in the house and leak into the attic, which may cause moisture build-up.

How Ventilation Works

In a balanced system, wind blowing over the ridge and roof vents creates negative pressure that draws the warmer air out of the attic. Replacement air then enters through the undereave or soffit vents, bathes the underside of the roof, and exits at the ridge cap through ridge, roof or gable vents. The natural convection action of rising warm air maintains a continuous air flow along the underside of the roof. Ultimately, proper ventilation – along with attic insulation – helps maintain a comfortable temperature inside a home, increase energy efficiency, helps prevent moisture damage and contributes to the longevity of a roof.

Ventilation Benefits

• Allows outside air to flow naturally upward and out of attic.

• Promotes a cooler, dryer attic.

• Helps prevent moisture from becoming trapped in insulation, structural wood, shingles and roof deck.

• Helps prevent rotting, mildew, drywall damage, peeling paint and warped siding.

• Provides year-round performance for consistent ventilation without energy consumption.

• Contributes to meeting criteria for high performing buildings, including LEED

Ventilation is an important component of a healthy roof. There are many types of ventilation products that will help prevent damage and premature aging caused by moisture in the winter and excess heat in the summer. One such roof ventilation product is a roof-mounted power vent.

Roof-Mounted Power Vent

You can relieve heat and humidity from your home’s attic, even on days with little or no wind, by installing a power vent to your roof. The air enters through intake vents and is pulled through and exhausted from the attic with electric fans, keeping your house cooler and drier while reducing potential problems such as rot, mold and ice dams.

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Below are five home improvement projects that yield a big return for the investment:

1.  Repair your roof. Your roof is your home’s number one defense against the elements. Even a small issue on the top of your house can lead to major damage indoors if water is allowed to enter your attic and walls. Take a look at your roof from the ground to see if any shingles have been blown out of place during a winter storm. If you’ve had water leaking into your living space this winter, spring is the time to investigate the source of this problem. Remember: water can travel a long way along the beams. The section of your roof that needs repaired may not be directly above your leak. Small repairs make an easy DIY home improvement project. Larger issues are best left to the professionals.

2.  Clean and check for window damage. Cleaning the outside of your windows is an ideal spring home improvement project and only costs you time and effort. Plus, it’s rewarding to start the new season with crystal clear windows. Replacing broken window panes is inexpensive and goes a long way to making your home more attractive and energy-efficient. Strong winds from winter storms combined with the freezing and thawing of the typical Ohio winter may have cracked a few of your window panes. Take a walk around your house and visually inspect all of your windows. While you’re at it take a look at the window sills and trim for any signs of water damage or deterioration. Painting and/or replacing damaged window trim is another home improvement project that yields big results.

3.  Update your siding. Siding, too, can get damaged from winter snow and wind. And, replacing a warped or loose piece of siding is a home improvement project that can be completed on a sunny spring afternoon. If your siding is older, you might also consider updating your siding with a more energy-efficient and easy to maintain product, such as vinyl siding that helps insulate your house and is easy to clean with a hose and brush.

4.  Replace your gutters. Your gutters and drain pipes help to direct rain water and melted snow from your roof away from your foundation. Clogged or leaky gutters can cause this water to accumulate below the roof line, causing ruts around your house and possibly leading to water getting into your basement. Gutters and drain pipes are relatively inexpensive to replace and well worth the effort in keeping your home cozy and dry. Another easy home improvement fix is to install gutter guards in the spring to keep fall leaves from clogging your gutters.

5.  Add insulation. If you home wasn’t quite as warm this winter as you would have liked it to be, perhaps it’s time to beef up the insulation in your attic. Adding an extra layer of fiberglass insulation on the floor of your attic is another easy home improvement project and can help keep the heated air down in your living space where it belongs and make cooling your home this summer much easier. Attic insulation also helps to keep the top of your house a constant temperature, which is useful in preventing ice dams, a major source of winter water damage.

So, put your spring enthusiasm to work in making your house more secure, safe and attractive. The effort and expense you invest today on home improvement can save you big repair and energy dollars in the future.

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Although we recommend you hire a professional roofer or roofing contractor, roof maintenance is something you can also accomplish on your own. Our do-it-yourself roofer’s guide to spring roof maintenance will show you how.

Loose Debris Removal

Remove any branches, leaves or other debris that can accumulate on a roof in winter. With another person’s help, if possible, setup an extendable ladder, and carefully access the roof and remove the materials.

Roofing Tip: Perform roof maintenance tasks on a day when it’s sunny and the roof has dried to help prevent slippage.

General Roof Inspection and Repair

Check the attic or other interior ceiling for stains that can indicate water is seeping into your home. Check the roof for missing, lifted or loose shingles and then check the rest of the shingles for moss and mold, worn spots denoted by missing granules, cracks, peeling and curling. Additionally, check for missing or loose flashing, nails and metal roof bolts. Replace and repair shingles or flashing, and replace or tighten roof hardware, as needed.

Roofing Tip: Peeling, curling and partially lifted shingles found in more than one area of the roof can indicate that the roof is at the end of its usability. If you don’t have experience with roof replacement and you see this level of damage, hire a professional roofer to determine if the roof needs more than do-it-yourself maintenance.

Moss and Mold Removal

Gently spray a roof moss remover and cleaner on affected areas. Follow the specific cleaner’s instructions to wait for the solution to do its work, and then gently brush away the moss and mold with a soft bristled broom and wide handheld brush.

Roofing Tip: Use of a power washer or hard-bristled brush can wear away granules that protect the shingles from harmful UV rays.

Soffits, Fascias, Gutters and Downspouts

Another important part of springtime roof maintenance is cleaning and inspecting your home’s soffits, fascias, gutters and downspouts. Wearing heavy rubber work gloves, carefully remove by hand, or with a small scoop, all debris from the gutters and downspouts. Then, gently scrub away dirt and grime from all areas with a soft bristled cleaning brush. Clear away remaining debris with a garden hose and then check for missing caulk and paint peeling; soffit and fascia rotting, holes and cracks; loose or missing gutter sections or hardware; and gutter-related leaks. Make replacements and repairs, and re-caulk and re-paint, as needed.

Roofing Tip: Leaning your body on the gutters while cleaning can damage them and potentially cause you to fall off your ladder. Installing gutter screens or covers can reduce yearly cleaning time.

Chimneys, Skylights and Vent Openings

Once you have finished the main sections of your roof, work on the chimney, skylights and vent openings. Close off the fireplace, clean creosote from the chimney with a chimney brush and then inspect the chimney for damage, such as a missing or cracked bricks or mortar. Perform repairs and then seal the chimney with a masonry or chimney water repellent product. Lastly, clean, inspect and repair the vent outlets, and skylights if applicable.

Roofing Tip: Using a roof safety harness can help prevent falls when performing any work on your roof.

Although springtime roof maintenance may seem like a lot of hard work, major roofing repairs can be a costly and time-consuming. Always keep in mind that preventative work now will benefit you not only this year, but also far into the future.

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