Any roof needs proper ventilation, as without it your home can feel airless and moisture will condense often leaving you with damp and mold problems. Ventilation also helps reduce air pollution and can help you get the optimum temperature for your home, while helping to improve the air quality.

At its most simple, ventilation is the process in which you remove air from your home with fresh air from outside. Having a fresh and healthy home is pretty much impossible without proper ventilation systems and every room in your house needs ventilation of some kind.

But especially with the roof, there are many types of ventilation you can use, but which is best? Some work best with certain types of roof, while some are more designed for certain climates.

Flat Vents

Sometimes called box vents or turtle vents, this ventilation system is simple and static. Flat vents feature no moving parts and are simply installed over cut holes in the roof. Using their convex box shape, they allow moisture to escape while also creating an opening for hot air.

They are more effective when installed closer to the roof ridge. While their simple design and ventilation process does make them easy and quick to install, they are very simplistic and you will likely have to install quite a few if you want good, strong levels of ventilation.

Power Vents

Sometimes called PAVs, these ventilation systems can be seen as the more premium version of flat vents. They have a somewhat similar design, although power vents are circular and less boxy and they work differently.

Power vents feature a large fan that drives hot air and moisture out of your attic. Some also feature built-in thermostats, so they can be set to activate if your attic reaches a certain temperature. Power vents come in many variants including solar powered versions, but they can be costly and may not be suitable for every home.

Ridge and Off-Ridge Vents

These vent’s work in a similar manner, both are static ventilation systems but they are different shapes. Ridge vents are one of the most common ventilation systems and are designed to cross the edge of the roof. With a rectangular arched shaped, ridge vents fit snuggly in with roof tiles and are designed to allow air and moisture to escape through your roof.

Off-ridge vents work in the same ways as flat vents and are placed over cut sections of the roof. However their shape is more like a ridge vent, as they are longer and more rectangular. But, like flat vents, you might require quite a few of them to get your desired levels of ventilation.

Wind Turbines

People either love or hate wind turbines although their design is probably the most unusual and eye-catching of any ventilation system. Often described as having a chef hat like shape, wind turbines draw hot air and moisture through the roof as they spin.

This makes them a great choice if you live in an area with a windy climate. However, some poorer quality wind turbines can make a lot of noise and their effectiveness is limited without the wind to power them.

Ventilation with Metrotile

At Metrotile, our innovative high-quality roofing is perfect for homes or building projects of any shape or size. Our lightweight roofing can be installed on timer structures and lighter frameworks, and allows for a safer and quicker installation process. You’ll also have the added peace of mind in knowing that your roof will be guaranteed for 40 years! For more information, call us on 01249 658 514 or fill in our contact form and we’ll get back to you.