Storm Season Is Here, Time for A Roof Inspection

As we all know, storm season can be particularly brutal here in the Houston area. High winds, hail, hurricanes and frequent thunderstorms can have a devastating impact on your home if left unprotected. A small issue can transform into a major one during one of these events.
Just like with your automobile or health, it is a good idea to have an annual checkup. Frequent maintenance can prolong the lifespan of your roof and stave off the damaging effects of a storm. It is a good idea to get a professional opinion so you can rest easy at night knowing that your home is protected.

The main issues are generally penetrations such as plumbing jacks, HVAC vents and chimney flashings. There can be larger issues such as missing, torn or wind lifted shingles which are not noticeable to easily detectable from the ground.
Why Proper Roof Ventilation Is So Important

The importance of properly ventilating your roof cannot be stressed enough especially here in Texas. Underventilation your roof has many short-term and long-term ramifications for your home. Without proper airflow, heat gets trapped in the attic and causes the shingles to become brittle and blistered. These issues prematurely age the roof. An overheated attic raises ambient temperature in the rest of your home as well, taxing your air conditioner and lessening the lifespan of the unit.

There are multiple options available for ventilating your attic. Within these options, there are two main types: passive and active ventilation. Active ventilation refers to electric fans, solar fans and turbines. These are good options that actively siphon heat from your attic and expels it from the roof. The downside of these options are the higher costs of the materials and labor as well as maintaining the equipment. Anything with moving parts, such as a spinning turbine or an engine that powers the motor of an electric fan, eventually wears out over time. Passive systems, on the other hand, have no moving parts and rely on the airflow. Air enters through the intake, then pushes the air in the attic through the vents on the roof. Heat naturally rises, so placing the vents at or near the top of the roof is most effective. Well placed vents at or near the peak of the roof allows for the heat to escape from the attic at its highest point. Conversely, the intakes should be at the bottom of the eaves as much as possible to provide the greatest amount of airflow.

Both active and passive systems work well when designed to accommodate the needs of the individual home. Please call us at 713-808-1990 to get a free evaluation.