Does My Attic Need More Ventilation

Roofing experts say the majority of u s.

Does my attic need more ventilation.

In other words the entire vent opening doesn t count as vented space. If you see dampness or frost you need better roof ventilation and some attic vents. You can also contact your local municipality to check on building code in your area. The federal housing administration recommends at least 1 square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic space.

Attic will need 10 sq. In some circumstances you can have less but we recommend the 1 150 ratio. Generally speaking you need a ratio of 1 300 where for every 300 square feet of ceiling space you need 1 square foot of attic ventilation. Taking advantage of this natural process referred to as passive ventilation is the most common way to vent an attic.

Why roof ventilation is a must for example attic ventilation is used widely even in cold climates to evacuate the warm moist air that escapes from the living space below. Homes do not have proper roof ventilation which can lead to severe roof damage. Air flows in through the soffit vents and out through the roof vents. Enter square footage calculate or enter the square footage of the attic or area to be vented.

Of venting ideally about half placed high on the roof and half in the soffits. If that air lingers it can cause condensation on the underside of the roof sheathing which can lead to wood rot and mold growth. Attic ventilation fans whether hard wired or powered by their own solar panels seem like a low cost and effective way to help keep your house cool. The downside of attic ventilation fans.

Solar fans are powered by the sun so they don t require electricity to operate. Let owens corning roofing help you calculate exactly how much ventilation you will need for a healthy and balanced attic with our 4 step ventilation calculator. Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca. So a house with a 1 500 sq ft.

In order to facilitate this exchange of warm and cool air the general rule of. For the best results place roof ventilation near the roof s peak and soffit vents in the eaves. Most building codes require 1 sq. That said air resistance and interference such as vent grates reduces the area of true ventilation.

Grab a flashlight and inspect your attic during the winter. Most building codes require a ratio of 1 150 ventilation space to attic floor space.