Roofers can find the cause of early roof failures in the attic
A roofing company owner says checking airflow can help crews spot problems that a new roof alone will not fix. A clear inspection process can also help explain the work to homeowners.
A roof can fail early even when the shingles are not the only problem. Poor attic airflow can trap heat and moisture, which may harm the roof and add to the home’s cooling load, according to Roofing Contractor.
In an article based on a podcast interview, John Sterba, owner of Great Roofing in Joliet, Illinois, said his team now looks for ventilation problems as part of its work. That lets the company discuss a possible cause of early roof failure instead of treating every problem as a bad installation or product.
The lesson for roofers is practical: a replacement roof may not address the reason the old one wore out early. If the attic still has poor airflow, the same heat or moisture issue can remain after the crew leaves.
Look at intake and exhaust together
Sterba said his team once installed or left mixed exhaust systems in the same attic. A roof might have box vents along with a powered fan or a ridge vent. He said those systems can work against each other or disrupt airflow.
The other missed check was intake. Exhaust vents cannot do their job well if there is not enough clear intake for air to enter. Roofers should check whether intake vents are blocked and whether there is a path for air to move through the attic.
That path matters in vaulted ceilings, too. Sterba said crews should look for insulation baffles between the rafters. Without a clear channel, airflow can be restricted, and moisture may build up.
Make the inspection part of the job
Attics are not always safe or easy to enter. When access is limited, Sterba said roofers can still check the home’s upper-level layout for vaulted ceilings. During a tear-off, a crew may also lift a piece of roof decking to see whether the airflow channel is in place.
A small inspection can help a roofer find a problem before the whole deck is removed. If baffles are missing, Sterba said crews may be able to remove decking in the needed area and add baffles rather than taking up all the existing decking.
The article is sponsored content, and its account comes from a roofing company owner who attended an attic ventilation seminar. Owners should treat the case as a reason to build a consistent inspection routine, not as proof that every early roof failure comes from ventilation.
Explain what the customer is paying for
Sterba said ventilation work was first hard for some team members to explain because it added cost. He said staff became more confident when they could show homeowners how poor airflow might affect the roof.
Some customers may not want added work. Still, a roofer can make the choice clearer by showing what was checked, what the crew found, and what may happen if the airflow issue is left alone. That makes the conversation about the home’s condition, not just an upsell.
This week, owners can take four steps: review recent roof jobs for mixed exhaust systems; add intake vents and attic airflow to the inspection checklist; train crews to note vaulted ceilings and baffles when attic access is limited; and prepare a simple way to show customers what the crew found before recommending added work.