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Roof failure has many causes. Insufficient ventilation, a common one, can be easily prevented. By inspecting your home's roof and attic you can determine what measures, if any, would be necessary to make sure your roof will last longer.
Many homes in the United States were built without adequate ventilation. Also, many home owners have added ceiling and attic insulation to reduce energy costs but have not added vents to maintain proper ventilation needs. In addition, insulation may have been installed over existing soffit vents. Any of these situations can lead to trouble.
Without the air flow created by good cross ventilation, hot air containing moisture gets trapped in the attic. The moisture condenses and saturates the roof decking. This condensation is the primary cause of deck rot and the roof deterioration that follows. This condition often goes unnoticed until serious roof problems result.
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Ideally, a system containing soffit and ridge vents should be employed because it will draw air across the entire underside of the roof deck. Additional roof problems like curling shingles can also be prevented by eliminating excess heat build-up. Generally, ventilation recommendations which are by shingle manufacturers, local building officials and roofing product dealers should be considered and implemented.
Whenever in doubt, always seek the advice of a professional real estate inspector.
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