By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
Last month, I had to install a new roof on my home in order to close escrow. The old shingles had deteriorated in only 10 years, and the buyer's home inspector said this was due to insufficient attic ventilation. He suggested installing an electric fan in the attic, with a thermostat to activate the fan when temperatures become too hot. Does sound like a practical solution to you? Gale
Dear Gale,
Excessive heat build-up in an attic can shorten the longevity of composition roof shingles by causing premature evaporation of the oils in the asphalt. Maintaining lower temperatures in your attic can forestall this drying process, thereby extending the useful life of the shingles. Increased ventilation will certainly achieve this objective, but there is a simple and effective method of venting an attic, without the needless expense of installing electrical fixtures.
A practical alternative is to add two or more turbine vents near the ridgeline of the roof. You've probably seen these on the roofs of commercial buildings. Turbine vents are heat driven. When the attic becomes warm, rising air causes the turbines to spin thereby expelling heated air from the structure. What's more, turbine vents require no maintenance and will not increase your monthly electric bill.
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