One look at the roof of a house can
tell you a lot about what’s going on
inside.
Most house problems have to do with
poor moisture control systems. And, if
moisture is a problem, the roof will tattle.
Roofs are made to keep water and
sunlight out and therefor will hold them
in, too, if given the chance.
Therefore, to keep your house healthy,
you must take steps to prevent heat and
water from collecting on the roof. This
starts at the foundation with lots of
vents, and continues to the middle of the
house with vented fans in the moist areas
such as the kitchen and bathrooms and
laundry room. Vapor-barrier paints
throughout the house make a big
difference too.
Then when you get to the attic, you
should have gable vents, power vents,
ridge vents, soffit vents and cap vents.
Each of these systems are needed to get
rid of the warm, moist air that would
otherwise be trapped in the house.
So, when you get near the roof, this is
what you want to see:
- Roof vents that follow the rule of 1
square foot of venting for every 150
square feet of attic. Ridge vents plus
vents under the eaves provide the
best combination for perfect roof
ventilation and will help your roof
meet—even exceed—its expected
life.
- Good quality roofing material lying
flat and uniform. There are many
types from clay tile to metal, wood
shingle to composition. Don’t use
any material that doesn’t have at least
a 25-year rating.
- Galvanized or stainless steel metal at
all edges of the roof, where the roof
meets the walls at any chimney or
skylight. For some kinds of roofing,
the metal should also be at each
valley.
- Good roof jacks at each plumbing
vent and electrical mast. They could
be lead, rubber boot or rubber-with
metal type jacks. It doesn’t really
matter, as long as they are in top
condition.
- Varge boards, which cap the edge of
the roof from eave to peak, and
fascia boards, which cap the rafter
tails at the bottom of the roof. These
two types protect the roof sub-
structure from rain and separate the
rafter tails from moist gutters. They
both should be made from cedar, but
at least be kept well painted.
- Gutters and down spouts are critical
to collect the water right off the roof
and convey it away from the house to
prevent many problems.
- Mechanical vents for the kitchen,
bathrooms, kitchen and laundry.
These vents have a flapper so the
wind cannot push air back into the
house.
If you see something you shouldn’t or
don’t see something you should on your
roof, here’s what you do:
Curling, rotted, damaged roofing?
Ventilate the attic 1 square foot for every
150 square feet of area. Look for
possible structural damage and then re-
roof.
Rusty flashing or no flashing
is another problem that often has to be
dealt with—make sure to replace them
quickly.
Any type of vegetation on your roof
is a sign of poor maintenance. It will
shorten a roof’s life substantially. Make a
point each year to get on your roof and
remove anything that’s growing. Install
zinc strips and better ventilation to
prevent plants from returning.
Keeping your roof maintained and well
ventilated will extend its life and is a
simple way to secure probably the largest
investment you have—your home.
Do you have questions about home
repair or need help in becoming a
homeowner? Call Aberdeen
Neighborhood Housing Services at 533-
7828 or visit us at 710 Market St ANHS
is a non-profit organization committed
to creating safe and affordable housing
for all residents of Grays Harbor
County.
Dave Murnen is the construction department manager and Pat Beaty is a construction specialist at Aberdeen Neighborhood Housing Services. Do you have questions about home repair, remodeling, becoming a homeowner or a member of our contractor pool? Call 533-7828 or visit us at 710 E. Market St. in Aberdeen.
