Fight Mass ice dams with roof venting

Winter is coming. And that means the possibility of ice dams. After the horrific cold and snow loads of last winter in Central Massachusetts, homeowners would do well to make sure that they have properly prepared for another rough winter.

LJ Construction in Dudley, MA suggests that you examine the roof on your Worcester area home to ensure that it has adequate roof and soffit venting. A properly ventilated attic not only helps prevent ice dams by keeping the roof surface cold and minimizing snow melt but also helps prevent moisture problems, mold and other issues.

For roof venting, LJ Construction follows standard Massachusetts building code, which calls for 1 square foot of free ventilation area for every 300 square feet of attic floor area. This is divided equally between soffit vents (intake) and roof vents (exhaust), allowing for free flow of outside air through your attic. So, for example, if you have a 1200 square foot attic space, you would need at least 2 square feet of roof vent openings and 2 square feet of soffit venting.

For a new roof or a roof repair, roof vents can be individual square vents, a continuous ridge cap vent or even vertical ridge vents along gable walls. Likewise, soffit vents come in various forms to fit with your Southbridge or Sutton home’s style.

Venting can also help reduce summer cooling costs. Hot air rising through the roof vents draws cooler air in through the soffit vents below. This air exchange not only helps reduce the demand on air conditioners in your house but also extends the life of your roofing materials by dissipating excess heat.

For questions about your Greater Worcester home’s roof venting system, contact LJ Construction today for a free inspection and estimate.