Cherri Design

Cherri Rodgers has a B.S. In Interior Design from UCA. She is active in several local ministries & community projects. Most of all, she values time with her family and grandson. Cherri's Interior Design is available for both residential & commercial design or decorating needs. Cherri owns The Kitchen Shop at 610 Saint Louis Street in Batesville for all your kitchen needs.

A properly ventilated attic is crucial, as it allows air to flow in at the lowest point of your roof and escape at the highest point. It also helps protect the roof system from the inside out in all weather conditions and climates. This month, we will discuss major issues for proper ventilation.

For energy efficiency, proper attic ventilation is important, as it allows convection to do some of the work in removing heat and moisture. Excessive heat in an attic causes your AC unit to work extra hard, thus contributing to increased energy costs. Cooler, dry air will push out excessive heat and moisture.

Moisture and condensation can collect in attics without the flow of drier outside air through the attic, and can lead to serious damage. Mold flourishes in this type of environment. Insulation impacted by moisture can lose R-value, thus also increasing your energy bills. Roofing products and structural supports can be damaged by moisture and condensation, as well.

Heat from your home’s interior can collect in the attic. In conjunction with the sun, snow or ice on your roof will melt, flowing down to the lower portion of your roof, and then freezing again at night as the outside temperature drops. This cycle of thaw and freeze can potentially cause ice to back up under your shingles, damaging the roof system and interior surfaces, such as stained interior drywall and wet insulation. Proper attic ventilation allows cool exterior air to circulate through the attic, reducing the interior heat buildup, thereby reducing the melting/freezing cycle that typically causes ice damming.

Installing the correct attic ventilation can be calculated simply using this quick method. Go inside the attic to accurately measure attic floor space. Use the 1:300 rule to calculate total attic ventilation needed, installing a minimum of one square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic floor. An online ventilation calculator provided by the U.S. Federal Housing Authority does the math for you, if needed. Next, divide the total ventilation needed in half. One half is for the exhaust ventilation, and the other half is intake ventilation. It is of utmost importance that these two be split evenly, or else the system can be ineffective.

Exhaust ventilation should be installed at the roof’s highest point, moving as much hot, moist air out of the attic as possible. Ridge vents are typically installed at the peak or ridge to move hot air out. For modern roof designs, several options are available, such as roof louvers, wind turbines and power attic vents.

Intake ventilation should be installed at the roof’s lowest point, allowing cooler, drier outside air to push warm, moist air up and out exterior vents. Intake ventilation also includes undereave vents and soffit.

Proper attic ventilation maintains your attic, so no damage occurs in your attic or to your roof sysytem. Also, it can help cut energy costs and saving money is always a plus. N