July 26, 2016
After Hurricane Katrina, many of our New Orleans area homes homes were condemned not because of damage caused by wind but by rising and receding water that left deadly black mold in its wake. Today, storms still rage and waters still rise, threatening the safety of our our homes with mold damage from poor roof ventilation. Is your home protected?
Mold is caused by a combination of moisture, warmth and stillness. When water leaks from the roof into the attic and sits, microscopic organisms in the water begin to feed off of any organic material they can find. Eventually they grow into overpowering colonies of black mold that affect your health as well as your living space.
Let That Moisture Out
We’ve got moisture,and mold is a major concern to be taken seriously. We create a lot of moisture in our homes—laundry, dishwashing, house plants, bathing, fireplaces and other appliances add microscopic water droplets that need to escape out of the house and back into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, in attempting to build more energy efficient houses over the past 30 years, the building industry has been constructing homes that are that are “tighter” than ever before. As a result, they have inadvertently captured all that moisture in your home. All of that moisture gravitates upward into the attic and if not vented out, it will condense on cool surfaces. If the back side of the metal roof is exposed in the attic, it creates an ideal situation for severe condensation. However, condensation can also occur on the backside of solid decking, if moisture is not properly vented out. All this condensation can become a potential haven for mold.
Unfortunately, in attempting to build more energy efficient houses over the past 30 years, the building industry has been constructing homes that are that are “tighter” than ever before. As a result, they have inadvertently captured all that moisture in your home. All of that moisture gravitates upward into the attic and if not vented out, it will condense on cool surfaces. If the back side of the metal roof is exposed in the attic, it creates an ideal situation for severe condensation. However, condensation can also occur on the backside of solid decking, if moisture is not properly vented out. All this condensation can become a potential haven for mold.
The Best Time to Address Ventilation Issues for Your New Orleans Area Home
If your home suffers from high moisture levels or a lack of proper ventilation or insulation, re-roofing is the time to determine and address those concerns. Professional roofing contractors will always insist on doing an attic inspection to determine whether your attic is properly vented, whether any rot or mold are present already, and to check for moisture levels in the lumber and insulation. It’s important to note that, when
insulation is damp, it loses its effectiveness and R value.
Have questions about how a Classic Rustic Shingle metal roofing project can help your home breathe easier? We’re the experts in roof ventilation and metal roofing, right here in New Orleans, and we can help you find the right solution for your home.
Todd Miller is President of Isaiah Industries, an organization that is recognized as one of the world’s leading metal roofing manufacturers, and manufacturer of Classic Metal Roofing Systems.