The exterior of a home goes way beyond looks or appearance. Many different types and colors of windows, cladding and roof materials affect not only the looks, but structure, maintenance and even heating and cooling expense.
One major expense to the outside of a home is the need to replace the roof. Materials used to cover a roof usually come with a warranty, but that warranty might not be good if the materials were not installed correctly or because of poor conditions within the attic that can cause roofing materials to fail.
Roof rafters can be part of manufactured trusses or can be built or framed on site. Either way, the structure lumber in an open attic can be affected by seasonal changes. The roof decking can be affected by conditions in the attic as well.
The attic can get extremely hot and humid in the summer. Attics can also retain heat in the winter that escapes from the interior of the home. Attic insulation can cover parts of the trusses or rafter supports. Lumber that is surrounded in insulation can be affected by heat and humidity differently than lumber that is exposed to open air within the attic.
Lumber “can” move and change shape during seasonal changes. Decking materials and fasteners “can” also be affected. An attic that lacks good ventilation can become very hot in the summer sun and then cool down at night. A hot attic can also dry the lumber sometimes causing the support lumber to “sap” out. These conditions and more are the reasons why attic ventilation needs to be maintained. Most all homes today are built so that air can be pulled into the attic from soffit vents. The pulling effects are from roof top or ridge vents at or near the top of your roof.
Some homes have what are called Gable End vents that are usually screened openings covered with a decorative louvered fixture. Gable End vents usually let air into the attic from well above the soffits. These vents can “short change” venting from the lowest point in the attic. Sometimes, during home inspections, I see powered electric fans in attics mounted over or in front of gable end vents. These fans, usually controlled by thermostats in the attic, do not last very long as most homeowners never go up and lubricate the motor bearings. This is why free air movement into and out of the attic is so important.
During home inspections, I sometimes see soffit vents that have been painted over with thick house paint which can fill and clog the screens. When I see soffit vents filled with dust, it suggests the vents have been flowing air, which is a good thing. Cleaning those vents can be done with a broom or perhaps a vacuum. If the vents are filled with paint or too clogged to clean, then they should be replaced. Soffit vents are very inexpensive and can be found at most home stores. They are usually found in brown or white colors, but can be “lightly” spray painted with a matching color before being installed.
Sometimes soffit vent screens, I see during inspections, will appear clean, which may be OK or “may” be the sign of yet another problem in the attic. Blown in insulation can spill over from the attic into the soffits blocking air flow if what we call wind tunnels or baffles were never used to help maintain a path for soffit air flow.
Knowing the reasons why your attic’s condition is important should help you understand possible roofing issues that “might” not be covered by your insurance. If you are not one who likes to keep an eye on areas like your attic, hire an inspector to look around for you. Our “code of ethics” forbids us from selling products or services, but we can help provide you with an education and information you can use to be a better customer with a contractor or whoever you want doing work for you. Your attic might be more important than you think.
