You may have thought about installing a metal roof, but have you ever thought about what will keep them dry? The answer is a ridge vent. You may have heard about the term while researching for a metal roof and its installation but may not know what it is.
Metal roofs keep your home cool in the summer and warm in winter. They can last for years and live up to maximum capacity. But what keeps them free of moisture? Ridge vents allow your roof to breathe. It takes away the water vapors and allows air circulation. Their installation is necessary to allow your metal roof to last longer. Ridge vents offer other numerous benefits too.
What Is A Ridge Vent?
A ridge vent is a vent installed on the top of a metal roof to allow moist and humid air to pass. If such air is not allowed to expel from the roof, it can deteriorate its quality.
A ridge vent is made from a permeable material that allows the air to flow from the attic. It is usually installed at the ridge of the roof, hence given the name ridge vent. The ridge cap covers the ridge vent.
What Do Ridge Vents Do?
The main purpose of a ridge vent is to allow air circulation. They allow indoor moisture to go out while bringing in fresh air from the outside. They also keep your roof dry after it rains, as damp conditions can damage your roofs quality and structure.
How Do Ridge Vents Work?
Ridge vents work in combination with soffit vents, which are installed on the underside of the home’s eaves that also help in transferring fresh air to the attic. Ridge and soffit vents work according to the “venturi effect.”
In this process, the warm air rises naturally and goes out of the ridge vent. The cool air comes from the soffit vents and flows inside the building. This process creates a circulation flow and helps in ventilating the entire building. In calm and windy weather, airflow is much better and can ventilate the entire building more quickly.
How Can Ridge Vents Benefit You?
Overlooking ridge vents can be costly for you later on when you don’t get enough ventilation. Ridge vents keep your building’s temperature at an ideal level. Not only does it maintain the building’s temperature in the summer, but it also helps keep you warm in the winter.
Ridge vents allow the cool and moist air to go out, which reduces the dampness of the roof. They help you feel comfortable by reducing the amount of heat and condensation. Ridge vents allow your roof to have a longer life span as it protects your roof from mold and rot development. Heat building up can also affect your health and can lead to the premature aging of your roof. The lack of attic ventilation can lead to ice damming on your roof that can cause severe damage.
Having ridge vents also reduces your energy cost. You won’t have to spend more money on expensive systems to ventilate your building. Ridge vents are made from fire-resistant materials that make them a safer choice for your roof. They are made of such a material that won’t clog outside dust and debris.
What Are The Dangers Of Not Having Ridge Vents?
When the moist air doesn’t find a way out, itl settles inside the building. This turns your roof into a breeding ground for mold. Without ridge vents, you won’t get fresh air inside your building when all your windows are closed. Ridge vents allow air circulation even when the building and all of its windows are closed. Moreover, if the proper circulation is not there, ice dams can form along the hanging gutters.
How To Install Ridge Vents
Installing a ridge vent requires you to call professionals. It is easier to have a ridge vent installed at the same time as having your metal roof installed. However, if you already have a metal roof installed it can still be installed on your existing metal roof as well. You can call Stahl Roof Systems for further guidance and assistance related to your metal roofing concerns. We provide the best metal roofing services in Edmonton. Contact us here for further discussion.
