2 Ways The Health Of Your Roof Is Tied To The Attic
When you think about the health of your roof, do you consider what's underneath it? In fact, the attic has a significant impact on the condition of the roof above it, although many people don't give it its due attention. If you're not sure how the attic and the exterior roof over your head work together, here are two important ways they do just so.
1. The Attic Can Prevent Ice Damage
Ice is a roof's enemy. When snow and rain fall on the roof, they normally melt and slide off to the ground. But in some cases, an ice dam can form. Ice dams generally occur when the center of the roof is warmer than the edges, so snow melts and reaches the edge only to re-freeze. Eventually dammed-up ice can get underneath the roof's elements, expanding and contracting over time to cause significant leakage.
The most common culprit in the formation of ice dams is an attic that's too warm and edges of the roof that stay too cold. Proper ventilation strategies can help direct the air circulating underneath the roof to the locations you want it — and away from where it shouldn't be.
2. The Attic Can Create Condensation
Just like ice and snow can cause moisture damage from above, condensation can cause moisture damage from below. In winter, the home's heated, humid air can travel upward to become trapped in the attic. With colder and drier air outside, this warm air often forms condensation within the attic. Left untreated from year to year, attic moisture will build up and affect more of the roof over it.
Condensation causes all sorts of damage to wood and other roofing materials. You may see warping or buckling of the wood, the growth of mold and mildew, and even rot within the roof structure. You can work to minimize condensation using effective HVAC strategies as well as a ventilation system throughout the attic and roof structure.
These are just two reasons that a roofing maintenance visit will usually include an inspection of the attic. Just as a doctor needs to look inside the body to see the root causes of some symptoms, a residential roofing contractor looks inside the home at key points to ensure the health of the roof. If your roof hasn't had a complete inspection in a while, there is no better time to get one. Call for a consultation today.
