Adequate ventilation is vital to preventing the formation of mold inside your home and keeping your roofing system in good condition. What happens if your roof doesn’t have enough air vents? Several roofing issues may emerge. 

These include: 

Mold and Mildew 

Without adequate ventilation, warm, humid air becomes trapped in your roof and eventually condenses into droplets on your roof’s rafters, support beams, joists, and decking. This, in turn, creates a damp environment that’s the perfect breeding ground for mold, which can eat away wood and damage your roof.

Important note: Mold can quickly affect other parts of your home. That’s why if you notice a musty smell or black or green spots in your attic, you should have a residential roofing contractor inspect your home for signs of mold damage as soon as possible. 

Dry Rot 

The term dry rot is a bit of a misnomer. It’s a type of fungus that forms on wood with a moisture content of more than 20%. Dry rot breaks down cellulose and hemicellulose—the compounds that give wood its rigidity—and in the process turns wood brittle. 

Curling Shingles 

Warm, humid air that can’t exit your roof may eventually condense into droplets on your roof’s decking and underlayment, causing the edges of the shingles on top of them to curl. 

How Much Ventilation Does Your Roof Need? 

How many air vents does your roof need to prevent mold and moisture damage? As a general, there should be a square foot of net free area (NFA)—the area through which air can pass—every 300 square feet of floor area for attics with a vapor barrier. If you’re not sure if your roof and attic are adequately ventilated, it’s best to have a professional roofer inspect them. 

Royal Roofing Construction, a company with over 30 years of experience, offers a wide range of professional residential and commercial roofing services. To get a free estimate, call us at (714) 680-0015 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Anaheim as well as the surrounding CA communities.