Are you preparing to have your roof replaced? A very critical aspect of roof replacement is making sure the attic is vented properly. Over the years we have seen really good roofers make the huge mistake of replacing roofs with perfect technical installation skills but fail to properly address attic ventilation calculations. You will see in the diagrams below why proper attic ventilation is so important. 

As you can see in diagram 1 when an attic is not properly vented the hot air from your home gets stuck in the attic. The heat trapped in the attic in turn over heats your home. Not only does this "cook" the roof and reduce the life of the shingles and roofing system drastically, it also causes your energy bill to skyrocket due to the cost of running the air conditioner more to keep the temperature down. 

In diagram 2 you will see possibly the most destructive side effect of improper venting.  Everyday household activities such as showering, cooking and heating the house releases heat and moisture into the attic. Its very common to see an attic that is not properly vented take on moisture and begin to condensate. Condensation can be the worst nightmare of a building structure. The damp atmosphere and water damages wood and other properties compromising the framing, insulation and other items. 

To avoid the issues shown above make sure you or your contractor addresses the ventilation of your home. They should get into your attic to make sure your insulation is not blocking the eave/soffit vents. You should also make sure your exhaust, which is typically AF-50 vents or ridge vents meet recommended calculations. Here is a simple and common attic vent calculation (please check local codes which always supersede principals): 

From the GAF website: 

Use this calculator to help determine the proper amount of attic ventilation based on U.S. FHA 1/300 guidelines.

• Proper attic ventilation consists of a balance between air intake (at your eaves, soffits or fascias) and air exhaust (at or near your roof ridge).
• The U.S. Federal Housing authority recommends a minimum of at least 1 square foot of attic ventilation (evenly split between intake and exhaust) for every 300 square feet of attic floor space.
• Always have a balanced ventilation system. In no case should the amount of exhaust ventilation exceed the amount of intake ventilation.

NOTE: The 1/300 rule is a general rule and does not apply to all situations. Local building codes, when stricter, take precedence. Always consult a design professional for cathedral ceilings, insulated roof decks, etc.

Thank you for reading our Reliable Contractors Network blog! Do you have some critical information to add to the post or a preferred method of venting? Please comment below. 

Checkbook an organization recently deployed secret shoppers to solicit project estimates from local roofing contractors. The contractors were tested and graded on many different credentials including professionalism, cleanliness and fairness of price. 

The results varied greatly when it came to pricing ranging at times from $5,400 to $20,000 on the same roof. Checkbook came out with a list of 48 roofers that were graded by the secret shoppers. You can view that list by clicking on this link: checkbook.org roofer ratings. 

For more details on the research check out Connie Thompson's article on King 5 News: http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/Customers-rate-local-roofing-companies--259156631.html

It's important to have your roof inspected after each winter passes and we head into Spring. The harsh elements winter can throw at our roofs can often leave them damaged. Many of the problems that can occur May not be visible to the naked eye from the ground level. A trained professional that is able to recognize the symptoms of a leaking roof should be contacted to perform the inspection.

Reliable Roofing Contractors of Washington is a not-for-profit organization that helps home owners connect with pre-verified roofing contractors. Our mission is to protect consumers from fly-by-night outfits and help contractors that keeping industry standards by bridging the gap between them.

If you need a free roof inspection or estimate after this very wet winter call us at 1-877-988-0002 Or visit our contact page and fill out our contact form. We will put you in touch with 3 verified roofers that service the Puget Sound.

Questions To Ask Your Roofing Contractor 

1) Are you licensed, bonded and insured? 

• It is critical that you your roofer carry these credentials. If they do not have the proper insurance you will be legally responsible for any injuries that take place on your property. Ask them for a copy of their current insurance. Most contractors will not have a problem providing this information. 

2) How long have you been in business?

• Industry statistics show that 80% of roofing contractors go out of business in their first few years. What does this mean to you? If a contractor is not in business they are no longer responsible for their workmanship warranty. Simply put you are not covered. When hiring a roofing contractor in Washington State you should make sure they have been in business for at least 5 years. At the 5 year mark a contractor has proven they can operate a business and have navigated through the challenges that sink many other companies. 

3) Do you have a list of references from previous customers that I can call?

• There are many different types of roofing. Some contractors have crews that specialize in all types of roofing while others might lack experience with certain material types. If you are having a material such as wood shakes, metal roofing, concrete tile or slate put on your roof its very important that the potential contractor can provide you with a list of jobs that they have successfully installed with this material. 

Connect With Safe Washington Roofing Contractors Today Call
​253-719-2566

Our purpose at Reliable Roofers is to connect consumers with safe, local roofing contractors. We do not charge a lead fee to our contractors as we our an industry related resource with a mission to impact our industry in a positive way. Call us today at the number above or fill out the contact form below to request free estimates from 3 pre-qualified Washington roofers.