Ridge aerator: installation and operation features

Well-known folk wisdom says that every man should build a house, raise a son and plant a tree. If the last two points are a little easier to implement, then with the construction of the house things are more complicated. The main attribute of any structure, be it a summer house, a barn or an office building, is a roof. She will protect the house from the rains and from the summer heat. But the variety of roofing materials makes owners think about what is best. And when all doubts are discarded and the material is chosen, the main thing is for the small one: the correct design.

What is a ridge aerator?

A big role in the choice of roofing material is now played by cost and quality. Most often, a soft roof or bitumen is used. It is resistant to temperature changes, it keeps the heat well and has a pleasant value.

During its laying, a vapor barrier is used that must keep heat coming from inside the house and protect it from rain and snow outside when the outer layer is damaged. But, like any plastic material, it has the property of accumulating condensate.

That the accumulation of moisture does not lead to damage to the wood used during the erection of the roof, it is worthwhile to use a special plastic or metal device with a lot of holes or an integrated grid for the removal of hot air, which is called a "ridge aerator".

Types of aerators

Depending on the roofing material and the type of roofs, several types of aerators can be used:

• A single aerator is located on the entire surface of the roof pointwise, especially this is true for isolated and hard-to-reach places. They are divided into skate and pitched.
• Continuous aerator has the form of a length of plastic or metal tape, which is evenly distributed throughout the surface of the ramp.
• Turbine aerator appeared on the market not so long ago, looks like a pipe with a built-in fan. Such an exhaust allows much more efficient removal of hot air outside.

For roofs covered with metal-plastic, metal structures with a special coating that easily tolerates corrosion and temperature drop are used. Metal aerators are easily attached to any part of the roof.

The skate aerator for soft roofing is made of high-quality polyurethane, which tolerates heat up to +90 C and cold to -40 C. These parts must be shock-resistant. Most often, they are installed in the places where the upper edges of the rays meet.

Can I install the aerator myself?

In order to understand whether you need a aerator on the roof or not, it is worth consulting with a specialist. It is most convenient to mount these devices while laying the roof. At this time, it is easier to take into account the material features, the depth of the protective layer and possible additional insulation.

But if it happened that the roof is already there, and additional work is still necessary, you can try to do it yourself.

The easiest option is to install a ridge aerator for a soft roof with your own hands. A layer of bitumen squares covering the horse, will have to be removed. Under it, install a strip ridge aerator made of plastic or metal. Such a corner with a lot of holes and nets will lift the ruberoid at the skate junction. All hot air will free to rise and exit through the holes, preventing the formation of condensation.

The situation with point aerators is more complicated. For installation, accurate calculations of the diameter of the recess under the base of the aerator are required. If it is made too large, additional material will have to be used for compaction.

First, draw the size of the base of the point aerator with a pencil. Use a jigsaw or other tool to make a hole, insert a skirt and secure it with nails, screws or glue. On top of the skirt, apply bituminous glue and lay the tile in such a way that no holes remain.

But it is worth remembering that point aerators are installed on flat roofs or with a slope of no more than 12 degrees.

What happens if you do not install an aerator?

A ridge aerator is the right part for a roof covered with soft tiles and not only. If you are still thinking about the advisability of such an acquisition, it is worth noting: it's worth it. Having saved now a small amount, in the future you will spend much more, replacing the entire roof.

Effects:

• Rotten beams and ceilings.
• High humidity in living areas.
• Reproduction of mold fungi in the insulation and on the walls of the building.
• Dents and cracks in the roofing material.

If you do not already know what a ridge aerator looks like for a soft roof, photos are presented in this material.

But it is worth remembering that this device is installed in conjunction with soffits, which contribute to the influx of air. The ventilation system, consisting of soffits and aerator, will create an excellent microclimate in your home.