Do you struggle with attic condensation or dampness? The truth is this is probably caused by poor roof ventilation which can happen in newer homes as well as older ones.
Condensation
If you ever go up into your attic and wonder why it smells so stale and musty, it is because there is poor roof ventilation up there. Houses are designed to be “breathable”, and your attic is no exception to this.
Also, if you have noticed that you are getting condensation in your attic, especially soon after installing extra roof insulation, then this is another clue that your attic is not getting enough (or any) ventilation.
How to ventilate your attic
Before you spend any money on attic works, make sure that there are no holes or cracks in wall and ceiling junctions through the house. If moist air can travel from within your house up through any holes or cracks, then this can cause condensation and ‘that’ musty smell.
Now that we have got that out of the way, you will be pleased to know that the good news is that there are many options available to help you get your attic ventilated. The bad news is that there is no single product that will work for all situations!
Therefore, it is advisable that you have a read through these options and see what works best for you.
Option 1 – Ridge Vent
A ridge vent is a ventilation strip which is placed along the ridge line of your house. Before installing a ridge vent, a 1-inch wide strip of roof decking is cut out along both sides of the ridge line to allow for air movement through the vent.
Option 2 – Soffit vent/insulation Baffle
Soffit vents enable you to have a point of entry and a point of exit for air flow purposes. The soffit vents allows air movement from the soffits of the house to the ridge vent.
Insulation baffles need to be installed where the attic floor meets the roof line to prevent the attic insulation from migrating into the cavities and restricting airflow from the soffit vents.
Option 3 – Extractor Fans
You can install an extractor fan in your attic to suck out the air and send it outside. A thermostat which detects heat build-up in the attic space can be installed for extractor fans to automatically extract the air out of the attic space. There are also solar powered options extractor fan options available.
Option 4 – Gable Vents
Gable vents are normally installed at the gable ends of a house. These louvered vents allow air to be drawn out of the attic, but prevent moisture from rain and snow blowing back into the house.
Other Options
There is a plethora of other options available too, which can be installed depending upon the construction of your house.
These options include louvered dormers, mushroom vents and other area-specific options that allow you to targeted certain areas within your attic space.
By addressing any condensation issues early on, you will save yourself a great deal of problems later on, especially if you need to sell your house.
