Why We Verify Ventilation Requirements
We verify and measure existing ventilation openings. We diagnose potential problems and endeavor to educate you, the consumer. We explain your roof’s requirements exactly and we give it to you in writing. Occasionally a customer will have reason to decline the ventilation work as proposed. We will advise that roofing warranties are worthless if proper ventilation is not addressed. We also advise of potential conflicts in a given system. Contrary to sales methods used by most roofing contractors, we will not always advocate the use of a Ridge Vent. Ridge Vents are a fantastic form of exhaust ventilation. If used properly, they can do a world of good. If used improperly, the results can be disastrous.

Ventilation
This is a topic that is largely misunderstood by the Roofing Industry. Proper ventilation is lauded by almost everyone, and rightfully so, as a key element in roof longevity and energy savings. The impetus to capitalize on the issue comes, like most things, from a drive for profit. Often dominating is the profitability equation, where least amount of labor expended for the contractor combined with the higher dollar contract amount equals to higher profit. The ventilation issue is addressed inadequately, the consumer thinks the recommendation made sounds right, and everyone is happy, until the problems arise. An improper ventilation system profits no one, especially the roofer that stakes a reputation on it.

A Roof That Breaths Will Last
We verify and measure existing ventilation openings. We diagnose potential problems and endeavor to educate you, the consumer. We explain your roof’s requirements exactly and we give it to you in writing. Occasionally a customer will have reason to decline the ventilation work as proposed. We will advise that roofing warranties are worthless if proper ventilation is not addressed. We also advise of potential conflicts in a given system. Contrary to sales methods used by most roofing contractors, we will not always advocate the use of a Ridge Vent. Ridge Vents are a fantastic form of exhaust ventilation. If used properly, they can do a world of good. If used improperly, the results can be disastrous.

Fiberglass Shingles Require Proper Ventilation
The fiberglass base shingles of today are especially susceptible to overheating. See our page on FIBERGLASS SHINGLES

Ventilation Is the Real Imperative While many roofers focus only on the rooftop, we at FSI like to think about all of the elements of a successful system. The dynamics have changed for every trade in the modern era, and all trades must adjust to the new aspects of more efficient living. The deck boards, fasteners, and overall health of the building are drastically improved by proper ventilation. The old houses of a century ago, actually ventilated themselves. The drafty windows and empty wall cavities allowed water vapor to migrate right out of the building with less chance of condensation than in today's economy. Lack of insulation in the attics allowed the summer heat to be dissipated away. Winter warm spot concentration was less likely to be a problem on a roof, especially with the Slate or Tile that possess more mass than contemporary asphalt shingle. The more the mass of the roof, the more it tends to spread out heat over a larger area. This effect can be compared to the difference of a heavy cast iron pot on a stove being heated with uniformity, even though the heat source is concentrated in a small area. By contrast, a thin pot will burn in one spot over the heat source, as it transfers heat quickly, absorbing far less than the heavy pot. Modern window, siding, and insulation upgrades accentuate the necessity for convective air flow under any roofing system. There is simply more heat in the summer, with the insulated attics and air conditioned living spaces, and more condensation and warm attic potential in the winter, in the absence of a convective system of ventilation.

More Is Not Better Many have made the mistake of adding exhaust ventilation to their roof line. This is not an answer to the call for more ventilation. It used to be that a roofer could add a vent and rely simply upon thermal buoyancy for hot air to rise and push out of an attic. New attic insulation practices and the arrival of the fiberglass roofing shingle, along with the tighter and more efficient homes has caused some to rethink their methods. Mixing exhaust vent types is a serious mistake that is made on most roof tops. Some will say that it makes no sense to limit exhaust ventilators. These that make such arguments are not the professionals that hunt down leaks everyday, but the amateurs that are not experienced with attic ventilation. We will be glad to discuss your specific attic ventilation needs and make recommendations after a quick survey of your home. We provide you with a written ventilation recommendation based upon government specifications. With this form and your new roof, you have added value and assurance that your roofing system will last the test of time. Call us or drop an email (click below) for an estimate and we will be happy to explain.

Excessive moisture and heat are a real problems in many homes and these can be caused by modern retrofit applications of energy saving upgrades.  Green Construction is more than a marketing ploy, it is a philosophy of fitting and proper construction techniques employed in an informed approach that yields permanent and trouble-free satisfaction.  Read how one upgrade element such as new windows can cause a domino effect where new issues arise with moisture problems.          Get the Book. Mold never sleeps and once introduced into an environment, it will await the onset of increased moisture to grow and multiply.  Read how proper ventilation, not just added vents, but a balanced system can help.  Learn how to meter the amount of moisture contained in interior air.  Learn the proper amount of moisture and ways to find the causes and remedy the situation.  New Growth Wood is also a consideration if your home is of the age where this type of lumber was used to construct it.  New Growth Wood is a faster deteriorating, less dense wood.  Many topics are explored in this helpful publication.  Click on the book image to find out more information.

Articles that educate (The following links will lead you out of our site to home inspector articles written by Ron Hungarter):

"Good Contractors - Bad Specs - New Homeowners - Litigation"

"Bad Specs Bring New Mold"

"Mold in the Attic, Lawyers on the Doorstep"

"ATTIC HEAT...Attic Ventilation Homeowners beware!"

"Scary Stories, Part I, from the attic"

"Attic Ventilation, where are you?" published in June, 2003 MR magazine - Midwestern Roofing Contractors Association summer issue.
"Attic Heat, Attic Ventilation, Homeowners beware!" (A variety of home help)
"Ice Damming... Roofers are not always to blame!" (About Ice Dams)
"Scary Stories From The Attic, Part II" (Discusses peeling paint and attic ventilation)
"Scary Stories From The Attic, Part III" (Discusses black mold and attic ventilation)
"Mixing Vents & Black Mold" (Mixing outlet vents can lead to mold)

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We won't leave you waiting around. Our estimators are on the road Mon - Sat, so feel free to request a no-hassle estimate.		WINNER! Press Release for 2005 award winner for the inovative use of Certainteed Weatherboards Fiber Cement Siding		“What is a change order?” you may ask. A Change Order is usually an addition to a contract. It usually is caused by the ......		Our Challenge to Consumers

  CONTACT US We won't leave you waiting around. Our estimators are on the road Mon - Sat, so feel free to request a no-hassle estimate.

We sell Vermont Slate