If problems are to be avoided within the loft, good loft ventilation is essential to remove moist air from the loft space. Inadequate ventilation to the loft will cause structural damage to the roof timbers. A number of different options are available to provide adequate ventilation to the loft. We look at the most common available options.
Over Fascia Vents
Sandwiched between to the top of the fascia and the underside of the roof tiles, this ventilation system is an unobtrusive method of providing loft ventilation. It is used in conjunction with a rafter ventilator to provide an unobstructed passage of air to the loft space. For the ventilators to effectively do their job they must be placed on either side of the roof structure. Ideally they should be positioned along the longest roof planes. The trick to good ventilation is to avoid areas of stationary air pockets.
Soffit Vents
Fitted behind the fascia to the soffit this system of ventilation can be seen from beneath. Similar to the over fascia vents these vents are located along opposite sides of the roof structure to provide cross ventilation. The advantage of these ventilators is that they can be fitted to existing roofs and don’t need to be built in with the construction.
Tile and slate ventilators
These ventilators are inserted in place of roof tiles or slates. These types of ventilators come in many colours, shapes and textures so that a close match to the roof covering can be made. Placed along each roof plane they allow extraction of air from the loft. A simple solution to loft ventilation but careful selection of the ventilator is required to provide a match with the existing roof finish.
Ridge vents
As the name implies, these vents are placed along the ridge line, they are fitted in addition to the fascia or soffit vents and are used to increase the flow or air through the loft. Where a room as been formed within the loft space it is essential that ridge vents are fitted as the flow of air flow is highly restricted.