Have you thought of which ventilation solution you’ll utilize for your Mississauga project? You should because the type of ventilation used on a flat roof highly determines the lifespan of the entire roofing system. As you may know, the heat generated in a home’s living spaces affects the thermal temperature of the roof system. If the hot, rising air isn’t allowed to exit the building, it will result in condensation, dampness, and long-term damage. This is why the ventilation system on a flat roof is crucial. As such, you ought to take some time to understand everything that goes into selecting the right ventilation solution. Consider the following pointers:
What’s flat roof ventilation?
Flat roof ventilation is the system that enables air circulation within your commercial property. If anything, it’s easier to install a ventilation system in a sloped roof as compared to a flat roof. This is mostly because flat roofs don’t have an inadequate chimney effect, meaning that there isn’t enough incline to naturally drive out air through vented spaces. Even so, this shouldn’t discourage you from finding a ventilation solution as the benefits of having one are immense. They include:
- Protection against water damage
- Venting helps to maintain the roof’s quality
- Venting maintains a pleasant atmosphere within the building
- Reducing heat loss
- Venting can extend your roof’s durability
Ventilation goes a long way to minimize condensation, especially in cold flat roofs. As you may know, condensation occurs when warm, moist air meets a colder surface. In many cases, condensation in a property ensues when warm air from the living spaces rises towards the cooler roof areas. Once this air makes contact with any cool surface, it condenses to form water droplets. This invariably causes the spread of damp. If damp doesn’t get quickly addressed, it can lead to bigger issues like structural damage to the joists and fixtures. Worse still, if the dampness gets to the insulation layer, the material there will degrade and become ineffective.
Ventilating a flat roof
With sufficient insulation, warmer, rising air from the living areas can escape outside without compromising a flat roof’s structural integrity. This can help keep the roofing system’s temperature at a similar level with that of the outdoor temperature, reducing the risk of condensation. So, how do flat roofs get vented?
One way to vent a flat roofing system is to create a roof plenum 2-3 feet above the roof’s ceiling insulation. Also known as a ‘coft loft’, the plenum can also be used as a passable crawl area. Once the plenum is in place, it gets fitted with a vent fan or a series of vent towers. Another approach when creating a ventilation low-slope roof is to install 2×4’s across the roof rafters.
The rafters are then placed 16” on the centre across (at right angles to) the ceiling joists and below the sheathing. This arrangement creates a high air space of about 1 1/2” above the rafters, permeating the flow of air under the roof decking. Even so, the roofer must create an outside air inlet using either a roof overhang or soffit, for this ventilation to work optimally.
The different kinds of vents available for you
After creating the space required for ventilation, the next step is choosing the best vent for your space. Since there are many different kinds of vents out there, it’s vital to realize which ones are ideal for your roofing projects. Here’s a list of some of the most common vents your likely to find in the market:
1. Box Roof Vent
This is an aluminum roof vent that’s normally rectangular or square. It’s mostly used for commercial applications or large homes. One advantage of this vent is that its boxy shape allows it to cover and protect the essential components from snow or rain.
2. Breather Vent
Breather vents are ideal for flat roof spaces with attic areas. They are excellent at eliminating any moisture from a roofing space. Most breather vents feature a billow that closes and opens depending on the attic area’s moisture content.
3. Mushroom Roof Vent
This is one of the more common flat roof vents out there. It features a dome shape that makes it appear like a mushroom when completely installed. Mushroom roof vents work to stabilize the roof’s temperature in addition to enabling moisture to escape.
4. Boot Vent
It’s important to realize that most flat roof residential buildings use this type of vent. The boot vent acts as a holder and base for the piping that goes through the roof. It works by preventing any water leakage as it conforms to the exact shape and size of the pipe.
5. Cant Vent
This is one of the best venting solutions that you can install between roof joists. It can be used in a vertical or completely flat position. As such, you can utilize the cant vent in virtually all kinds of flat roofs.
6. Pop Vent
The pop vent uses electrical fans to remove or bring air into the attic spaces. In fact, this is another vent that’s commonly used in residential homes.
7. Powered Bathroom Vents
Many people with flat roof homes install this kind of vent to help deal with the heat and steam produced in their bathrooms. The powered bathroom vent is normally placed directly above the bathroom’s ceiling.
The cost of ventilating a flat roof
Since ventilation costs are quite low when priced on their own, most roofers build the price into their final quote for the entire project. Nevertheless, don’t hesitate to consult with a professional contractor before installing your venting system. Take note that with a flat roof, the efficiency of the ventilation system largely depends on the vents’ positioning. Therefore, it’s best to divide your home’s space evenly, before installing vents at the centers of these divisions.
All in all, a good ventilation system will go a long way in maintaining your roofing system’s quality. Take your time to find the most ideal venting system for your home.
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