Why Excessive Humidity Is Bad for Your Roof

Everybody wants a good shelter—sturdy walls, a tough roof, and a warm home. But if there is too much humidity inside your home and you have no way of venting it out, your cozy dwelling won’t be for long. And regardless of how many times you perform roof repair, your roof will likely be the first one to go.

But why does humidity do this? And what can you do about it? In today’s post, Home Pro Exteriors, inc. discusses what humidity does to your roof and how to deal with it.

Attic Moisture

Humidity reaches its peak—quite literally—when it’s trapped in the attic. Most attics are closed, with no way of venting the warm air that seeps in from below, so these attics have a musty odor. Humidity accelerates the rot and decay of items, especially those made of wood or other organic materials. This means books, articles of clothing, wooden knick-knacks and the like will degrade sooner rather than later.

Dry Rot

This is a type of wood decay that’s prevalent in attics or any structure that’s exposed to a certain species of fungi. You shouldn’t be mistaken that “dry rot” means the wood is dry, however, as these fungi only grow in places where there’s an adequate amount of moisture. When dry rot happens, it weakens the wood, which can lead to structural collapse. If it occurs on your roof deck, you might be looking at a total roof replacement.

Mold Growth

Finally, the presence of moisture in a warm environment like the attic or the underside of your roof can create mold colonies. While harmless by itself, mold generally releases spores to propagate itself, which can be inhaled by humans, resulting in respiratory problems or allergies. In such a case, reducing humidity that it needs to survive can usually solve the problem for the long term.

Home Pro Exteriors, Inc. is one of the top roofing and siding companies in the area. If you are having a humid attic problem and you are at your wit’s end, you can call us today at (845) 343-1777 for advice. You can also fill out our contact form to get started. We serve Middletown, NY, and nearby areas.

Jim Klein