Ventilated or Unventilated – What is the Best Attic System?
Have you ever wondered if your attic is properly ventilated?
Have you considered why a ventilation system in an attic is needed? What purpose does a ventilation system serve?
Green Space Construction is an insulation contractor located in St. Louis Missouri and we would like to answer these questions to help you understand how attic ventilation works.
Traditionally, attic ventilation has been used as a solution to battle the warm moist air that escapes from your home into the attic during the winter and remove the hot air that sits in the attic in the summer. What issues will we experience if our attics are not properly ventilated? In the winter months, ventilation is used to help disperse the moist warm air that leaks into the attic, before it condenses on a cooler substrate. If that warm moist air hits a cold substrate it will condense resulting in issues that can cause mold, ice dams and the rotting of your roof system. In the summer months, the ventilation is used to lower the temperature in the attic by circulating cooler air into the attic and letting the natural convection process take place and move the hot air out.
What if creating an attic system with ventilation is not possible? Can an attic that does not have ventilation be efficient and effective?
Spray foam insulation has become one of the most sought after insulation products to install in an attic that can’t be properly ventilated. In recent years, studies have shown that a properly designed and installed unvented attic system is much more efficient and durable than a vented attic system. But what type of spray foam insulation is the most effective product to install to create an unvented attic space?
The answer to that question is closed cell spray foam. Closed cell spray foam contains a moisture and vapor barrier. Due to the high thermal r-value, the foam will not allow the roof deck to reach the dew point in the winter. The foam will also prevent any air and moisture that is leaking into your attic from reaching your roof deck solving the condensation issues that we will experience in a traditional attic space. How does the closed cell benefit your home in the summer? The closed cell prevents radiant heat from penetrating into the attic space through the roof decking. Once you have restricted the radiant heat from entering the attic you have created a conditioned space and this can be very helpful if you have an air handler or ductwork in your attic. Closed cell foam carries these qualities which will increase the efficiency of your home, along with ensuring a longer lasting roof system.
Green Space Construction is a attic ventilation installer in St. Louis, Mo and the surrounding areas. We also specialize in all types of insulation including closed cell spray foam for unvented attic spaces.
If you are interested in insulating your home with spray foam insulation please contact us and set up a time to meet with one of our efficiency consultants.