7 Signs Your Roof Is Poorly Ventilated

We rarely think about roofing issues when the situation appears normal. However, the moment that leaks start to develop and mould starts to appear, you’ll need to act quickly: it could be a sign of something sinister happening beneath your roofing system.

One potential source of roof damage is poor ventilation. 

Poor ventilation can spring from a variety of sources, from a sagging roof deck to an inadequate temperature control system. In any case, it’s important to address the source urgently to lower the chance of you exposing yourself to health risks or chipping away at the structural integrity of the house.

As a homeowner, it may not be so simple to recognise the signs of a poorly ventilated roof. However, neglecting the problem can be costly, uncomfortable, and at times dangerous. It’s better to act sooner rather than later when it comes to matters affecting your roofing system, considering how critical it is to the house’s foundation.

If you want to maintain a healthy and long-lasting roof, knowing when you’re experiencing a problem first-hand is crucial. This article will give you seven glaring signs that your roof is poorly ventilated. Let’s have a look at these signs.

1. Uneven Indoor Temperature

One major sign of a poorly ventilated roof is uneven indoor temperature indoors. Naturally, warm air rises and cool air falls, and ventilations help facilitate and stabilise the process to ensure that temperature doesn’t build up in the ceiling area—or the floors above for an unroofed structure.

Without proper ventilation, however, the heat has nowhere to disperse but up, which can lead to certain parts of the building warming unevenly. If it’s winter, poor ventilation causes the same effect, only this time, cold air gets trapped and lingers in the bottom of the house. 

This can cause a slew of issues, with the most direct one being an uneven room temperature depending on where you’re situated vertically in the house.

To fix the issue, you can consider renovating your roofing system or installing a new roof ventilation solution. Mechanical vent solutions like exhaust vents help sustain better ventilation across your property, but they’re not the only option.

If your property’s roof is facing fluctuating and uneven temperatures, you can consider natural ventilation for your business or home. Ridge vents, louvres, and smoke vents are some natural solutions that help in reducing temperature imbalances within your property.

2. Moisture in The Attic

Another common indicator of a poorly ventilated roof is the presence of moisture and humidity in the attic or roofing area. 

The warm air that typically rises to the attic contains traces of humidity and liquid. If a house is poorly ventilated, this moisture can get trapped in the attic and cause condensation to affect and seep into the roof.

Moisture can compromise the structural integrity of the roof, and the housing structure as a whole. The wooden structures and insulation material of the roof are especially susceptible to this, causing potential rot and decay of the aforementioned materials.

Furthermore, retained moisture can increase the humidity levels of your home, increasing discomfort to the people living or dwelling within its walls. It can also affect air quality and pose health risks to people exposed to it for a long time.

That said, moisture only builds up if your attic is unventilated or improperly ventilated. By ensuring adequate ventilation, you won’t face as many risks to your health and your building’s overall structural integrity.

3. Warped Shingles

One not-very-intuitive sign of a roof that has ventilation issues is warped or curled shingles. When attic air isn’t properly ventilated during the winter months (i.g. When the heater is on), warm air gets trapped inside the home under the roof.

This trapped heat will attempt to push through the ceiling foundation and eventually the shingles. This can tarnish its protective properties and cause it to dry out, resulting in cracking and curling. 

In some cases, the shingles could detach entirely—which can expose the underlayment to external forces like snow and rain. This can be a significant hazard to your roof and house’s structural integrity.

The reason the shingles may detach is due to the wear and tear caused by a rapid expansion and contraction process. This makes the shingles brittle and prone to damage. By fixing your home’s ventilation, however, your roof will become much more resistant and less likely to face these issues.

4. High Energy Bills

It’s not unusual for roofing problems to pass you by if you don’t keep a steady eye on it. Fortunately, you can track the general state of your roof’s ventilation efficiency by looking at the progression of your electricity bill relative to your usage.

When airflow is restricted in a property, this can cause hot or cold temperature to retain within the building, depending on the season. This imbalance can cause temperature control systems to work harder than normal to maintain a steady temperature, which can ultimately raise utility costs.

Besides the increase in utility costs, you may also spend more on appliances and maintenance overall since it’ll have to perform at a higher capacity than it should, which can shorten its longevity and productivity all year round. If you want to lower your energy bills and increase house comfort, repairing your home’s ventilation system will do wonders.

5. Visible Signs of Damage

A visible roof inspection can reveal signs of poor ventilation in your property. Humidity and imbalanced temperatures can chip away at the structural integrity of your house, particularly the roofing where temperature and moisture tend to settle.

Some parts of the roof are often built with metallic compounds like nails. When metal is exposed to humidity, it can transform into iron oxide—or rust. This not only looks bad, but it can also structurally degrade the metal foundation of your roof.

Another risk to consider is peeling or cracked paint. While not as structurally risky as metal, peeling paint can be unpleasant to the eye and costly to patch up.

To prevent either of these conditions, you should look into your site’s ventilation and see if it’s working up to standard. You should also conduct a visual inspection to ensure that the damage is not extensive. If it is, it may be time to schedule your roof for repair work.

6. Damp Smell in Attic

Another clear indicator of ventilation problems is a damp smell permeating from the upper levels of the property. As previously mentioned, warm air typically rises in the attic. This air is often humid, which can result in moisture settling into the upper walls and roofing materials of the property.

Given enough time, the moisture from the air can host an environment that can encourage mould and mildew growth. These pathogens typically settle in wooden beams and insulation materials—which are critical components of the home’s roofing structure. 

Besides compromising the structure, a buildup of these substances can produce a musty odour that carries a distinct and foul stench. This odour isn’t only smelly, but it can also cause health issues when inhaled such as allergies and respiratory problems. 

If you want to minimise this risk, then you’d need to improve the ventilation of your property. Or if you’re buying a new home, select a house that doesn’t have these issues.

7. Mould or Mildew Invasion

We’ve established that mould can grow in humid and moist temperatures. But did you know that they can also spread to other parts of the home as well?

Mould typically spreads when people release lightweight spores into the air. These spores can attach themselves to people’s clothes, open windows, and uncleaned ventilation systems.

If the surface is damp and the temperature is warm enough, mould can settle and grow in various parts of the house in these conditions. They particularly grow on wooden floors and drywall.

This can cause a cyclical effect—more spores can spread from these mould growth zones, causing a mould infestation around your house that can risk your health and the home’s structural integrity.

By having proper ventilation systems, you can keep mould growth at bay as your home’s interior won’t be damp and unevenly heated or cooled. For those staying in short stay apartments in Sydney, this is particularly relevant, as proper maintenance and ventilation can ensure a comfortable and healthy living environment, especially in a city with varying climate conditions.

We hope this article helped you recognise signs of an improperly ventilated roof! Be sure to contact a roofing company to have them patch up your roof, therefore preventing health problems and structural issues down the line.