Understanding Roof Venting and Air Flow Baffles
Roofing and venting have always had an important relationship,
both for keeping the house comfortable, avoiding mold, preventing Ice Dams and allowing the roofing shingles to perform as long as possible.
It is common but not correct, where we find areas of the roof where the builder has allowed for air intake and exhaust on the roof, only to block it all with insulation. The result can be all of the problems listed above.
A baffle is a way to push and keep down the insulation in order to create an air space that allows air to travel under the decking. The edge venting (soffit vents / smart vents) are the intake for the roof and the exhaust venting (ridge vent / power vent) allow the warm moist air to exit.
So when you hear about baffles and venting, they go hand in hand. Make sure when you add venting, the air can freely enter and exit from your roofs attic or vault. If not – you may need to add baffles.
