There are a lot of different details to consider when doing a home renovation. To someone who doesn’t work in the industry, some of the terms, ratings, and other details may not be common knowledge. Luckily Roe Roofing gave us some professional advice on what to look for! 

Know Your Roofs R.Value Information

R values refer to how resistant a particular material is to heat flow. The more resistant something is, the greater the R value will be.

There’s a bunch of factors to consider when looking at the R values within your home. Your insulation, the type of climate you live in, your natural gas bill compared to an efficient house of the same size…the list goes on. All of these factors can give you an idea of how efficient your home is and if you need to make upgrades to your home in order to increase its overall efficiency. In the long run, a higher R value can make your home more comfortable, save money on your heating bill, and prevent costly problems such as moisture intrusion and mould.

The best way to improve your home’s R value is to ensure that your attic is properly insulated. Attic space in older homes is often filled with wood chips, asbestos, or an insufficient amount of insulation. 

Roof Venting Information

A properly vented roof helps keep your home cool during the summer. It also prevents warm air from building up in your attic, causing snow to partially melt during the winter. Improper or insufficient venting can prematurely age your home’s shingles, with the excess internal heat causing them to curl.

Roofing System

An efficient roofing system consists of properly installed shingles, ventilation (roof vents), air intake (soffit vents), attic insulation, water barriers and drainage system (eavestroughs). Missing even one of these elements can lead to any number of problems including roof leaks and ice damming. Having improper ventilation, air intake, and attic insulation also causes your home’s shingles to age much quicker. On hot summer days, warm air gets trapped in the attic underneath your home’s shingles, which causes them to curl.

Soffit & Fascia

In addition to providing your home with proper ventilation, they also ensure that the internal structures of your home, stay dry when exposed to the elements.

Soffit refers to the boards that line the underside of the overhanging portion of the roof. In a newer home, these are typically vented and made of aluminum. Older homes may feature wooden soffits with vents installed. Fascia is the vertical board that runs between the soffit and the edge of the roof. Its primary function is to prevent moisture from entering your home’s roofing system. 

Roe Roofing highly recommends installing aluminum soffit and fascia. Not only will it not require regular painting or staining, but it is also significantly more weather-resistant, meaning less time and money spent on maintenance and repairs.

If you’re in looking to do some renovations around the house this summer, make sure to check out Roe Roofing! They’re a local, family-owned business that specializes in roofing & exterior, with years of experience under their belt.