Ventilation of the attic in a private house is a must. This is a necessary step to ensure ventilation to avoid condensation. Modern house designs take into account these requirements, so you should also think through the details of the system yourself.
Attic ventilation is a complex system that performs several functions. They are different from the standard, so you can not compare them. If you want to minimize heat loss from the roof and simplify waterproofing, you should pay attention to the action of the air duct: the elimination of condensate and temperature control.
In the sun, the roof can heat up to 100 degrees, and at night it cools quickly. As a result, there is a big difference with the air temperature in the attic. After that, condensation begins to form on the rafters, which leads to the gradual destruction of the material. Good system ventilation eliminates it, ensuring the constancy of indicators.
In this video, Alexander Kvasha talks about attic ventilation:
If the attic is cold
When the attic is cold, ventilation insulation becomes mandatory. If this is not done, cool air will enter the house. Let it practically not affect the temperature, but in winter it will have a different problem - condensation. It begins to accumulate on the roof and rafters, increasing the humidity of the room.
If the attic is warm
When the attic is insulated or an attic is made in it, other problems arise in the absence of ventilation. The main one is a sharp temperature drop at night. The roof is strongly cooled, and the air in the room remains warm. Although even it begins to cool, so the attic requires additional heating.
How to arrange attic ventilation in a private house
Do-it-yourself attic ventilation device will require some knowledge. Experts advise to take every detail seriously. First you have to do subtle calculations, and then turn to the choice of the optimal type. This guarantees that optimal conditions are maintained along with a longer service life of the materials.
Calculation of attic ventilation
The calculation of attic ventilation is the main problem. Designers deal with it at the stage of creation truss system, since after the construction of the roof, it is much more difficult to cope with this work. For calculations, serious knowledge is not required, since they are carried out according to a ratio of 1: 500 of the area of \u200b\u200bthe air and attic.
If the total area of the attic space is 250 square meters, the total area of the vents should be 0.5 square meters. Accurate data can not be obtained without professional skills, but you should try to get as close to them as possible. In parallel, the advice of professionals should be taken into account.
Inlet openings of air ducts in their area should exceed the airflow by 15-20%.
The maximum ratio to the attic area is 1:200, even in this case unjustified heat losses appear.
natural ventilation
Natural ventilation is practically not used. Previously, this type remained the standard, but now forced systems have come to replace it. If the attic is not constantly in use, you can use this simple scheme. To do this, the inlets are made in the filing of the roof, and the outlets are made in the ridge. This ensures the free movement of air in the room.
Forced ventilation
Forced ventilation is organized in the simplest way. The use of mechanical means guarantees the movement of air without rigidly specifying the location of the inlet and outlet. Although experts remind that for maximum coverage of the entire volume, the first should be lower than the second. In this case, the air will be updated many times faster, reducing the load on the equipment.
Features of hip roof ventilation
Hip or hipped roof requires special evaluation. In this case ventilation system attic space is somewhat different from the standard. Yes, the inlets and outlets are located in the same places, but they have additional conditions. Thus, inlets must be located on all sides of the roof in order to move large volumes of air, but the possibility of closing them must be taken into account.
Tips for creating proper attic ventilation in a private house
Creating proper ventilation is a difficult task. You can use simple projects, but they will not be effective enough. For this reason, experts give novice masters helpful tips that will provide them with the information they need.
- The optimal locations are the ridge and the filing;
- Calculation total area it is necessary to carry out inlet and outlet openings to reduce heat loss;
- If it is not possible to use the standard placement or a roof window is mounted, it should be installed on the leeward side;
- During installation, it is necessary to use additional protective equipment to prevent water from entering the duct;
- Insulation of ventilation pipes is a prerequisite for a good attic space;
- Warming is carried out not only at the places of entry into the house, but also over the entire surface of the duct;
- When warming, waterproofing will be useful.
Answers to frequently asked questions about attic ventilation
Attic ventilation system useful choice each person. It is necessary to properly organize it in order to get to keep warm and protect the room from the accumulation of condensate. Professionals are engaged in designing in advance to eliminate difficulties in the performance of work. What should you think about before starting work?
Ventilation windows in the attic: is a dormer window enough to ventilate the attic?
The dormer window is suitable for ventilation with a small attic area.
How to calculate the ventilation system for the attic in a private house?
The calculation is carried out according to the ratio of 1:500 to take into account heat losses.
Prompt the most effective material for spotlights.
The most effective material is plastic.
Do I need to ventilate the attic in winter?
In the absence of ventilation, ventilation of the attic in winter is mandatory.
What are roof aerators?
Roof aerators - additional outlets for air ducts.
What material is better to insulate the ventilation pipes in the attic?
Traditionally used for insulation mineral wool, but you can use polystyrene foam to refuse waterproofing.
How to make ventilation holes in the attic gable?
The vents in the attic gable usually become dormer windows.
Owners are often afraid to install cold attic ventilation in their private homes, guided by the following assumptions.
- Heat escapes through the attic. There is an opinion that the building will cool faster. But most often the problem lies in poor thermal insulation of walls or ceilings. By the way, moist warm air penetrates into the attic through a poorly insulated ceiling. What is its danger we will tell in the next chapter;
- Ventilation of a cold attic of a hip roof or hipped roof is necessary only in summer. According to many, ventilation grills and windows in the attic are needed only for ventilation in stuffy conditions. In fact, in winter, the ceiling of an unheated and unventilated attic will turn into a cave overgrown with ice stalactites;
- It doesn't matter what size the vents are. The area of \u200b\u200bventilation windows and vents in the attic must be carefully calculated. How to do it right - read on.
Attic ventilation in a private house is an essential element of thermoregulation. Properly organized, it allows you to save money on heating or cooling the living space and keep the building itself safe and sound. Especially important is the ventilation of the attic above the attic.
The attic in a private house needs ventilation both in winter and in summer.
So, in the hot season, a hot roof heats the air in the attic up to 150 degrees. Most of this heat is transferred to the ceiling of the upper floor, the air conditioner has to work with an increased load in order to eliminate excess heat. If there is no air conditioning, the owners are languishing from heat and stuffiness.
In winter, air exchange is necessary to remove excess moisture. According to the technical requirements, the temperature difference between the street and the attic should be 4 degrees or less. Temperature differences between the residential floor and the street contribute to the accumulation of condensate on the roof rafters. Moisture gradually freezes, creating whole cascades of icicles. In the thaw, they melt and moisture drips onto the floor of the attic. The supporting structures of the roof and ceiling are destroyed. Mold develops on wooden rafters.
By the way, high-quality ventilation of a cold attic prevents accumulations of snow and ice on the roof of the house.
What is attic ventilation
Free air exchange between the under-roof space and the street is carried out through gaps and holes. Holes in the ridges and under the roof overhang work best. Placed in this way, they use the pressure of the wind and heat coming from the ceiling of the house.
If the ventilation of a cold attic in a private house is properly equipped, in one hour the air goes around the entire roof twice from the inside. The movement of flows is directed from below from the vents under the cornices upwards to the ridge plates with special holes. If the roof is insulated, a gap of up to 5 cm wide is left between the roofing material and the insulation to allow free passage of air.
The best extract is provided by a combination of vents in the ridge and pitched elements mounted near the ridge. For tiled roofs, tiles with air exchange products are made.
And another way to ventilate attics in private homes is to install deflectors (ventilation turbines) that provide mechanical draft. The method is good for .
A slight roof slope must also be taken into account when planning the ventilation of a cold attic. Vents in the ridge can be covered with snow, so they are replaced with pipes, the height of which should be higher than the snow cover.
The most ancient method of ventilation is the ventilation window in the attic. To ensure excellent air exchange in a cold attic, a combination of ventilation under the eaves, in the ridge and dormer windows is quite enough.
Ventilation of the cold attic of houses with hip roof differs in that the house has no gables. Therefore, there is nowhere to install ventilation windows in the attic. Thus, cold attics under hip roofs are ventilated with.
It is more difficult to equip the ventilation of the attic above the attic. Here, the air is provided by slots in the roofing pie and mechanical means of traction. The ventilation outlet to the attic is hidden in the columns.
Attic ventilation through dormer windows
Only dormer windows can be used as attic ventilation, without equipping a system of vents and vents. This option is not very effective, since air can stagnate under and above the windows.
To improve air exchange and reduce the volume of stagnant places, the size of the dormer windows is 60 cm x 80 cm. They are mounted in opposite gables. First, wooden frames are made, attached with racks to the rafters. The roofing material is attached to the frame. Windows look better, decorated with the same materials as the roof. Lining is well suited as a finish for openings around windows. The window frame in the opening is installed last. All gaps between the window frame and the roof should be carefully closed.
Rules for the placement of ventilation windows:
- windows are placed at equal distances from the ridge, cornice and sides;
- between windows there should be a distance of more than one meter;
- the design of the window should harmoniously fit into the general appearance of the building;
- you can install a ventilation grill for the attic in the window, painting it to match the roof.
Roof and roof vents
Air vents are openings in the roof for ventilation of a cold or warm attic. Products are ridge or cornice, depending on their location. Eaves are equipped on both sides of the cornices and are gaps between the roof and the wall about 2 cm wide. They are called slotted. If the air is made in the form of holes, they are called point. The smaller the slope of the slopes, the greater the diameter or width of the vents, but not more than 2.5 centimeters.
Ridge vents are made in the form of slots up to 5 cm wide or in the form of wind vanes at intervals of up to 8 meters. Ridge vents are also equipped in roofs with a piece coating, for example, tiled ones. Special tiles with holes are placed one row from the ridge.
Vents for the upper part of the roof are made in the form of aerators, gable gratings or retractable roof outlets. Ridge aerators and pitched outlets can be purchased along with the roofing material.
Products- this is the only way to ventilate the attic without dormer windows.
Ventilation aerators
The roof aerator is a modern and convenient type of product. It is a tube covered with a cap on top. Aerators remove steam, moisture and stagnant air, providing ventilation for a cold attic in a private home. Aerators are installed on roof slopes, where air movement is provided by the difference in temperature and pressure, replacing ridge vents. Aerators are continuous and point. Point aerators are equipped with fans and guarantee good air movement. Outwardly, they resemble fungi.
Continuous aerators are a plate along the ridge with holes. Being covered from above with a roof, they are almost invisible and provide intensive air movement due to the large area of the holes.
Various types of aerators are created specifically for the roof from:
- bituminous tiles;
- flat roof;
- cermets;
- ceramics.
Aerators are installed only where eaves are provided. There are other conditions for their installation:
- only roofs with a slope of 15 - 45 degrees are suitable;
- a distance of at least 30 cm from the chimney or wall is maintained;
- aerators peek out over the slot by 25 cm from both ends of the ridge;
- point models are mounted no further than 50 cm from the ridge.
Calculation of attic ventilation
For those who decide to equip the attic ventilation with their own hands, it is necessary to carry out calculations before starting work. Only a specialist can guarantee the best result. And for the most daring, we have prepared a hint:
The ratio of the area of \u200b\u200bthe products to the attic area is 1:500.
For 500 sq. meters of attic area should account for 1 sq. meter ventilation holes. In extreme cases, you can be guided by the proportion of 1:300, per 200 square meters. meters of the attic should be at least 0.4 square meters. meters of products. The calculations take into account the area of true ventilation, that is, even the width of the gratings, the ribs of which disrupt the movement of air flows, is excluded.
Exceeding the area of \u200b\u200bthe vents is also undesirable, as is a lack. Openings that are too large may allow snow and rain to enter, because these are the most vulnerabilities roofs to remember.
The area of the hood (ridge and pitched gratings) should be 12 - 15% larger than the area of \u200b\u200bthe influx (cornice vents).
Do-it-yourself cold attic ventilation
Many owners think about how to make attic ventilation after a few years of living in the house. The musty smell and dampness in winter make you take up tools. We will talk about the construction of ventilation of any attic with our own hands.
With a gable roof, it is easiest to equip the attic ventilation with your own hands by making vents in the gables. Gables, as a rule, are made of wood and this greatly facilitates the work. Closed with wood and wind overhangs on the sides of the roof. All cracks must be made evenly, providing airflow to the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe attic.
There are no gaps in the stone gables, so you will have to arm yourself with a tool and drill two dormer windows. They are covered with bars and mosquito nets.
When equipping attic ventilation with your own hands, the placement of the products largely depends on the shape of the roof. Various options are suggested in the diagram above.
There is no need to worry about how attic ventilation can be done if slate, tile or ondulin is used as roofing material. The wave shape provides enough voids for air to pass through. And the sheets are laid on the crate with gaps through which air flows pass. The metal tile, although it has a wave-like shape, collects condensate during temperature changes, so it is covered from below with a vapor barrier film.
Proper ventilation output to the attic is no less important than its installation. And Special attention pipes should be insulated.
Insulation of ventilation pipes
Ventilation pipes must be insulated in the attic and above roof level. This procedure is carried out in order to avoid the accumulation of condensate, which will accumulate on the inner walls and drain down. Since the joints of the ventilation pipes are not made airtight, moisture will penetrate the supporting structures, spoil the finish and lead to the gradual destruction of the building. And the ventilation ducts themselves suffer from contact with moisture if they are made of galvanized pipes.
In winter, the lumen of the ventilation duct is overgrown with frost and literally in a month a standard pipe 15 cm in diameter will completely close.
The appearance of condensate in the ventilation ducts is inevitable: people exhale water vapor, wash dishes, bathe and do laundry. This releases moisture into the air. Humidity of warm air in a residential building can reach 100%. In contact with the cool surface of the ventilation shafts, water settles on it.
To prevent this process, the ventilation pipes in the attic are insulated. This is where the boundary between the warm air of the house and the cold air of an unheated attic passes.
The cheapest option for insulation: mineral wool. It does not burn, but when wet it completely loses its qualities. It is easier to install a corrugation with mineral wool insulation.
Styrofoam in the form of special removable "shells" is very easy to install and inexpensive. But it burns well, emitting toxic smoke, so it is not recommended for residential buildings.
The best materials for insulation of ventilation ducts: polyurethane foam, polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam.
- All ventilation elements must be resistant to all weather conditions;
- Be very careful about the location of the ridge products. They are installed as close as possible to the ridge;
- Continuous soffits work effectively as cornice products. The best materials for them are non-rusting aluminum or plastic. The surface of the spotlights is covered with a fine mesh;
- When equipping attic ventilation without dormer windows, special attention should be paid to the ventilation between the rafters. It is important that during operation they are not clogged with debris and dust;
- To calculate the ventilation of the attic above the attic, involve a professional;
- Install decorative ventilation windows in the attic that add charm and special style to your home;
- Equip the supply ventilation outlet to the attic in accordance with all the rules. The air handling unit should be installed in the cleanest place, no closer than 8 meters from the exhaust pipe.
Attic ventilation in a private house is one of the areas where myths reign, forcing owners to abandon really necessary systems. The consequences of refusal are sad. The attic turns into a kind of hermetic jar with dampness, mold and all the ensuing consequences.
Perhaps the main masterpiece of myth-making lies in the assertion that the ventilation of the attic space leads to heat loss from the house. It would seem that it is impossible to dispute this fact. In fact, the cause of heat loss is not ventilation, but insufficient thermal insulation of ceilings. Let's see what happens in this case.
Myths and reality
Poorly insulated ceiling easily passes heat. Warm air, penetrating through building structures, rises higher, enters the attic and, of course, leaves through the ventilation openings. The heat is leaving. Good insulation of building floors does not allow heat to penetrate into the attic and leave the house. As you can see, there is no ventilation here.
The next myth says: you need to ventilate the attic only in the summer heat. What's in practice? All the same warm air, saturated with moisture vapor, penetrates into the attic and cools quickly. Condensation falls, freezing on attic structures. In cold winters, the attic space can turn into an ice cave. This situation further worsens the thermal insulation of the house.
There is only one conclusion - ventilation in the attic must be mandatory. Without it, it is impossible to create normal thermoregulation in the room, which means that it is impossible to make an energy-efficient system that allows you to save money on heating. It is extremely important to ventilate all attic spaces, but ventilation of the attic above the attic is vital due to the nature of the use of attic spaces.
What does a properly organized ventilation system give:
- Cooling rooms in the summer heat.
- Removal of excess moisture from the under-roof space.
- Protection against mold and mildew.
- Protection of wooden elements of the truss system from decay.
- Increase the service life of both the roof and the entire building as a whole.
The need to ventilate attic spaces is obvious. Consider how to ventilate the attic, how to consider all the important factors when creating this system that is both simple and complex.
How ventilation works
The main element of attic ventilation systems are special gaps - windows and air ducts. Most often, the products are equipped in the ridge and under the slopes. This arrangement of ventilation holes allows you to effectively use the wind load from the outside and the warm air inside the attic.
Warm air rises from bottom to top in the direction from the vents under the overhangs to the holes in the ridge plates. it simplest way, but it allows for normal air exchange. For roofs with a small angle of slopes, it is better to replace the ridge holes with vertical pipes, otherwise the vents may be covered with snow in winter.
The combination of air ducts with ventilation windows is an old way. It was used by our ancestors, but in terms of efficiency it is in no way inferior to modern ones, for example, deflectors that work like a turbine and create traction. In a building with a hip roof, the installation of ventokons is difficult, so only air ducts are equipped.
ventilation windows
Dormer windows can be used both in a system with air vents and individually. Despite the fact that the lack of products reduces the efficiency of the entire system, it has the right to life. To optimize ventilation, it is important to correctly calculate the number and size of dormer windows. In the attic of a small house, you can equip two windows measuring 60x80 cm, made on opposite gables.
The ventilation window in the attic is equipped as follows. The design of the window includes its own truss system, crate, ridge. Openings are made in the roof, between the rafter legs. Cross beams are attached to the rafters. The upper beam is installed in the upper part of the future window, according to its size. The lower one is at the level of the wall. Racks are mounted on it, connected in the upper part by a piece of timber. The resulting structure is fixed on the upper beam. It turns out the frame of the future window.
It is not allowed to make cuts in the roof truss system. Such interference can reduce the bearing capacity of the structure.
The frame is fastened exclusively to metal elements.
The next step is to install the ridge and the window truss system. In fact, this design is a miniature model of the roof. The side parts are sheathed immediately. Well suited for this lining or other lumber. It is desirable to additionally protect the side walls from moisture. The upper part is carried out simultaneously with the arrangement of the roofing cake on the roof of the house, using the same materials.
The joints between the window frame and the roof are sealed. Insufficient waterproofing will lead to leaks. Any materials can be used for waterproofing - silicone sealants, membranes, etc. You can make a dormer window like a dormer. In fact, the only task in this case is to correctly install the factory-made window.
Dormer windows are placed as follows:
- The same distance must be maintained from the ridge, cornice, sides.
- Neighboring windows are located at a distance of at least one meter from each other.
Products
Air ducts are openings specially equipped to ventilate the under-roof space. Installed under the ridge or on the eaves. Eaves can be slotted or point. Dimensions depend on the angle of the roof slopes. The maximum allowable width is 25 mm.
Ridge ones are made in the form of weathervanes or slots. The width of the hole is no more than 50 mm, the distance between adjacent air vents is no more than 8 meters. If a piece coating, for example, tiles, is used as a roofing material, elements with holes are laid one row from the ridge.
Aerators
Despite the effectiveness of the old methods of ventilation of the under-roof space, you should not refuse modern solutions. One of them is a roof aerator. It can have a continuous or point design. Aerators are selected depending on the type of roof.
Continuous aerators are plate-shaped. They are installed along the ridge and covered with a roof. Able to provide good air exchange due to the large perforation area. The point ones are made in the form of a small cross-section pipe with a cap and are additionally equipped with fans, which increases efficiency.
Installation rules:
- Can be mounted on roofs with a slope of 15-45 degrees.
- The distance to the chimney and walls is more than 30 cm.
- Spot aerators are installed near the ridge, no further than 50 cm from it.
Ventilation calculation
Of course, it is desirable to entrust the calculation of the ventilation system to specialists. It is not always possible for a home builder to make the necessary calculations. The price of a mistake is dampness, mold, fungus, rotting wood.
Self-calculation is performed in accordance with the following rules:
- The area of \u200b\u200bvents and the area of \u200b\u200bthe attic should be related as 1:500. talking plain language, for every 500 sq. meters of the attic space should be at least 1 sq. meters of holes. The calculations do not take into account the width of the gratings, ribs and other obstacles that arise in the path of air movement.
- Any openings on the roof are her weak points, that's why big square venting will damage rather than improve the efficiency of the system.
- The hood should be 12-15% higher than the air inlet. The exhaust elements include pitched air vents, the supply structures - cornice.
Cold attic ventilation system
Cold attic ventilation must be adjustable. On the gable roofs ventilation ducts are placed on the gables. Evenly distributed slotted vents work best. Ventilation openings should be located on two opposite sides.
On hip roofs, supply openings are constructed in the filing of overhangs, exhaust - at the ridge. When using plastic roofing materials you should choose panels with soffits - a small perforation designed to provide air flow. With tight lining, ventilation grilles with a mesh are installed along the length of the roof overhang. Dormers can be used on roofs with almost any type of roofing, but their arrangement requires considerable building skills.
Attic ventilation system
Warm attic ventilation is arranged depending on the type of roofing material:
- To ventilate the attic under a roof made of flexible tiles, a counter-rail sewn onto the rafter system is used.
- For roofs made of sheet metal, it is recommended to use films for wind protection.
- In slate roofs, supply ventilation is arranged in the filing of the overhang, exhaust - in the ridge. Point aerators work well.
Effective ventilation of the under-roof space has been and remains an important element of the entire ventilation system at home. Without ventilation, the attic will become a favorable place for the spread of mold and mildew. Dampness and rotting are true companions of insufficient ventilation.
Comments:
- Dispelling modern myths
- Helpful Hints
Many people forget about ventilation when arranging the attic. However, this should not be done. Good ventilation of a cold attic helps prevent the development of microorganisms and the formation of mold on its structural elements. This extends the life of the roof several times over.
A variety of designs are used to ventilate a cold attic. Such measures allow you to regulate the microclimate in the room. In summer, the temperature of the roof can rise up to 100°C. This immediately affects the climate inside the house. Properly organized ventilation equalizes the temperature indicators outside and inside the attic. This helps create comfort.
In winter, there is a high probability of icing on the roof, which seriously affects the life of the truss system. Here there are additional loads on the floors. Ventilation allows you to get rid of excess ice formations on the roof, protecting it from overload.
Dispelling modern myths
It is believed that in the case of arranging a cold attic ventilation system, inconvenience and discomfort arise in the house. Let's try to dispel some myths about this.
Many people still believe that it is through ventilation that warm air leaves in winter. Actually it is not. This is due to the poor-quality thermal insulation of the attic. If during its installation the rules and instructions were violated, then cold and humid air will regularly enter the attic space. In this case, favorable conditions are formed for rotting and mold formation.
Some believe that the presence of a ventilation system should be used only in the warm season, that such structures are intended only for ventilation. This is not true. In winter, icicles form on the roof, snow melts, which can serve as an impetus for the formation of mold and fungus.
It is believed that the more holes in the attic, the better the ventilation of the room. However, it all depends on the total area of the holes. They don't have to be large. It is enough to place 1 sq.m of holes per 500 sq.m of roof. On the contrary, it is better to use many small structural elements. In this case, ventilation becomes more efficient and uniform.
Back to index
Types of cold attic ventilation
Now it's time to talk about the main types, as well as the process of constructing them. It is necessary to provide adjustment of ventilation of a cold attic. You can organize sewing with gaps. They will provide continuous air circulation in the attic. At the same time, she rafter part(including the crate) should not be closed.
If slate is used as a roofing material, it is not worth organizing artificial ventilation. The design itself allows air to circulate well. At the same time, he easily enters the attic through the waves and exits through them. If a metal tile is used as a roofing material, then it also passes air flows. However, in this case, ventilation cannot be dispensed with, since such a coating must be accompanied by the installation of a vapor barrier.
When a gable roof is being built, ventilation ducts are placed in the gables. Here you can simply organize a loose lining of wooden overhangs. If the gaps that will be formed as a result of these manipulations are small, the attic will be ventilated evenly. If it is not possible to organize a loose sewing of the bevels, then holes will have to be made in the roof in any case. The hole area should be approximately 0.2% of the total roof area. They are necessarily located on opposite walls.
Back to index
Additional points and features
You can organize ventilation in a cold attic in another way. For example, ventilation grilles have proved to be very effective. This method is economical from all points of view. In this case, two such elements must be used. One grille is mounted with holes down, and the other is made adjustable. In this case, you can prevent insects from entering the attic by installing a mosquito net.
How many types of roofs exist, so many types of organization of ventilation of a cold attic are available. For a hip roof, this design will be fundamentally different from what was done for a gable roof. This is where the entry and exit holes are made. The first is organized in the filing, and the second is at the top of the ridge. If the filing is organized with wooden beams, then you can try to leave a few millimeters when laying the beams. Sometimes for this purpose, plastic panels. In this situation, their standard options will not work. It is better to use special panels with holes. These holes are called soffits.
Often the question arises of how to organize ventilation in the attic if the filing is tightly assembled. Here you need to use special grids. Their mesh has a size of 5 cm. They are placed at a distance of 90 cm along the entire length of the overhang. The step may vary depending on the type of roof. The top output is made to the outside.
A lot depends on the type of roof in the process of installing ventilation.
If slate is used, then a skate is installed in its classic form. For a flexible roof, a turtle or a valve is mounted. If a ceramic roof is installed, then a special valve is used. When organizing a roof with a metal tile, you can use an ordinary ridge for ventilation. It will save cash on the valve, which is inexpensive. Skate is a universal system. It allows you to organize ventilation in a short time.
Sometimes people make a skylight. It can be left unchanged, glazed or a grate installed on it. This method is inferior to the skate, as it is more complex in terms of organization. Required to work high level theoretical and practical skills. Not everyone will be able to cope with the organization of such a ventilation system in a cold attic.
The quality of attic ventilation affects not only the condition of the roof, but the whole house as a whole.
For a comfortable stay in a private house, the most important points for household members are comfort and warmth. Therefore, starting construction and implementing the architectural plan of a residential building, it is necessary to pay maximum attention to maintaining the optimum temperature and organizing high-quality air exchange. When insulating the walls of the house, many often neglect the non-residential attic space. In fact, attic ventilation, its proper arrangement and insulation will help in the future to reduce heat loss and condensate, the accumulation of which can lead to such unpleasant moments as the appearance of mold or fungus, as well as deformation of building materials.
In a private house, as a rule, there is a cold attic, but this does not mean at all that there is no need for ventilation or insulation of such a room. As a result, such an unpleasant phenomenon as condensate occurs, which can lead to catastrophic consequences and a violation of the comfort of living. The reasons for its appearance:
Even a minimal violation of waterproofing can lead to sad consequences.
Condensate is the result of poor-quality construction work and technical errors in the arrangement of functioning systems. The most common mistake is inadequate attic ventilation.
Many consider its organization optional, so the following myths are born:
- In the cold season, warm air comes out of the house through ventilation, which interferes with the full heating of living rooms.
- Arrangement of ventilation is necessary only in the summer to ventilate the premises in the house.
- The dimensions of the ventilation openings are not critical.
Experts say that negligent attitude to the creation of a high-quality ventilation system leads to negative consequences. Over time, condensate will begin to accumulate under the roof, which means that mold, fungus and rotting of building materials cannot be avoided! Even in cases where ventilation is too small, its effectiveness is zero.
High humidity in the attic can lead to the formation of mold and mildew
The norms are as follows: for every 500 square meters of attic space, there is 1 square meter ventilation holes. Only then can we talk about the high efficiency of systems. This ratio allows you to create a full ventilation of the attic all year round, without heat loss in a cozy family nest.
The essence of ventilation
Effective ventilation of the attic in a private house, namely unhindered ventilation and air exchange between the under-roof space and the street, is carried out by a system of dotted gaps and holes. The most effective are the vents made in the ridges of the roofs and under its very overhang. This arrangement allows you to use the pressure of wind and heat for air exchange, which come from the ceiling of a residential building. If a cold attic in a private residential building is built according to all the requirements and rules, and ventilation is organized taking into account all architectural nuances, then within one hour cold air masses have time to go around the entire roof twice from the inside. Ventilation of the attic space in a private house requires a constant outflow of air. In order to ensure this, the following elements are needed:
Practice shows that in order to recreate an optimal and functioning air exchange system, as well as in order not to accumulate condensate under the roof, it is necessary to create a gap of 4-5 centimeters on it. This width can be provided by lathing slats, which contribute to unimpeded air circulation in the under-roof space.
Ventilation scheme of the under-roof space
This method of ventilation of the room is suitable for those roofs that are covered with ondulin, corrugated board or metal tiles.
This is due to the specifics of the shape of the materials, which allows free passage of air, and, accordingly, ventilation. If soft coatings are used for the roof, then the installation of the counter-lattice is carried out with breaks, which make it easier for the air to pass through the most problematic areas.
Dormer window and vent system
One of the common measures for arranging attic ventilation in a private house is air exchange carried out by dormer windows. In this case, you can not use the system of holes, air and gaps. According to experts, this method is not super-efficient, but there is no accumulation of condensate in the room. The rules are as follows:
- The size of such windows must be at least 60x80 centimeters.
- Windows are mounted on opposite gables.
- The windows are placed at a uniform distance from the eaves, the sides of the building and the ridge.
- The distance between two adjacent windows is at least one meter.
- The window can be installed directly into the ventilation grill in the attic.
The dormer window is also a good decorative element.
This method of air exchange is popular in the construction of cottages and country houses. But there is also a minus of such a system: air can stagnate under and above the dormer window. But if you choose high-quality building materials and perform the installation correctly, condensate in the attic space will not accumulate. Another, simpler way is to arrange vents. So how to create ventilation on your own, without resorting to the help of specialists?
Dormer window installation
In a private house, the arrangement of ventilation of a cold attic can be done by hand. Evidence that condensation has accumulated is the appearance of an unpleasant musty and damp smell. Discomfort prompts many to immediately take up the tools and begin to fix problems. In order for the ventilation system to provide optimal air exchange, condensate does not accumulate and heat losses do not occur, it is important to pre-design all elements. If the roof is gable, the arrangement will not cause questions and problems. After the planning stage, you can get to work:
- Vents are made in the gables.
- Wind bevels are closed on the sides of the roof with a tree.
- All slots are made uniform, creating airflow over the entire surface of the attic.
Important!
If the pediments are stone, then there can be no cracks, and, armed with a tool, it is necessary to make a pair of dormer windows in the surface.
Ventilation windows in the pediment allow for optimal ventilation of the attic
Modern fixtures
One of the most modern types of roof ventilation products are roof aerators. Such a device is an ordinary pipe, which is covered with a “cap” on top. Such devices eliminate condensation, excess moisture and stagnant air, creating air exchange in the cold attic of the house at the highest level.
An example of a roof aerator installed on a soft roof
The modern market offers a lot of options for this equipment.
Such a device is mounted in the roof slope, providing the necessary temperature and pressure difference in the movement of air masses. Aerators are an innovative replacement for ridge products.
They are made in two types:
Point models are equipped with fans to optimize air movement. Continuous aerators are a plate that is installed along the ridge with holes. In appearance, they are practically invisible, but due to the large area of the holes, they provide intensive air exchange. Is it possible to use such equipment for attic ventilation in all cases?
Continuous roof aerator is virtually invisible on the roof
- Installation is possible where the presence of cornice sinuses is provided. There are other installation options.
- The slope of the roof should be between 15 and 45 degrees.
- The distance from the chimney or wall is at least 30 centimeters.
- Point models are installed at a distance of 50 centimeters from the ridge.
Installation of a roof aerator
Installation of a roof aerator on a metal tile
Aerators help prevent condensation, avoid the penetration of hot air during a hot period, the appearance of ice and icicles in winter, dampness and premature wear of rafters.
When planning a way to ventilate an attic in a private house, one must proceed from many criteria: the architectural features of the building, the shape of the roof, the type of roofing materials and the area of \u200b\u200bthe room. The effectiveness of the system depends on the quality of the materials, the arrangement of the vents and the correct installation.
