The Importance of Industrial Roof Ventilation

When the owners of commercial properties are asked to name their number one priority when it comes to roofing, their first answer is inevitably insulation. A well-insulated roof provides a number of benefits, but your eye will be caught mostly by the purported savings on energy expenditure.

However, if your commercial roof system isn’t equally sufficiently ventilated, the costs of repairs and damage from excessive internal moisture will wipe out any potential energy savings.

In basic terms the presence of adequate commercial roof ventilation prevents damp. Condensation can build up very easily if warmer air from your property has nowhere to escape and colder air cannot get in, and when areas of moisture form on the interior surfaces of your roof you are in for a world of trouble.

One of the ways we diagnose the build-up of moisture in your roof is using a thermal roof survey or moisture scanning techniques.

Whereas many commercial property owners think that leaks are the only cause of moisture, the simple fact is that damp can just as easily come from a lack of industrial roof ventilation in your property. If you feel your property may be at risk from condensation and a lack of ventilation then it is important to know what to look out for.

The signs of condensation damage caused by poor ventilation include rotting woodwork, patches of damp and mould, damage to wallpaper or paintwork, and plaster erosion. You may also notice insulation materials have become degraded thanks to moisture exposure, and in some cases you may even suffer structural damage to your joists and fixtures.

One of the most effective ways of combating condensation and allowing air to move freely within your roof is the installation of industrial roof vents. This ventilation method is most commonly placed within your roof’s eaves and ridges, with the ridge vents allowing warm air to escape whilst the eaves draw in cooler air into your roofing system.

This balance ensures your roof’s internal temperature is similar to the outside temperature, and when used in conjunction with a properly insulated roof you should feel no difference to the internal temperature in the rest of your property.

Other systems used to increase your roof’s ventilation include breathable felt membranes placed underneath your tiles and slates, and tile vents which blend in with your roof’s appearance whilst maintaining the functionality of a traditional vent. There are many different approaches to take when it comes to ventilating your roof, and NWIR are of course happy to advise on which might be the most appropriate method for your commercial property.