Oklahoma’s extreme temperature swings – from 100+ summer highs to sub-zero winter lows – put enormous stress on your roof. Proper attic ventilation is the unsung hero that extends roof life and lowers energy bills.
Hot air rises. In summer, your attic can reach 150+ degrees. Without ventilation, this heat radiates down into your living spaces and bakes your shingles from below. Cold air enters at soffits, hot air exits at ridges. This airflow is essential year-round.
When snow sits on a warm roof, it melts and refreezes at cold eaves, creating ice dams. These force water under shingles and into your home. Proper ventilation keeps the entire roof cold, preventing this cycle.
Tulsa’s July-August heat bakes roofs. Without ventilation, attic temperatures exceed ambient by 50-60 degrees. This warps sheathing, degrades shingles faster, and makes your AC work overtime.
Your soffit (intake) and ridge (exhaust) ventilation should be equal. Half your ventilation should be low (soffit/eaves), half high (ridge/roof peaks). This ensures balanced airflow.
Calculate your needs: 1 sq ft of net free ventilation per 150 sq ft of attic floor (1:150 ratio). In Oklahoma’s humid climate, some experts recommend 1:100.
Continuous ventilation along the roof peak. Most effective when paired with continuous soffit ventilation. Nearly invisible from ground level.
Individual vents placed near the roof ridge. Good for roofs without continuous ridge. Less effective than ridge vents but easier to install in some cases.
Installed in the soffit (eave) underside. Essential for intake airflow. Available as continuous strips or individual vents. Must remain unblocked by insulation.
Electric fans that actively exhaust hot air. Effective but add energy costs and mechanical failure points. Consider solar-powered options.
We assess your entire ventilation system – intake, exhaust, and appliance venting. We install ridge vents, soffit vents, turbine vents, and solar vents. Our ventilation inspections are free with any roof service.
Call (918) 734-4444 to schedule a free ventilation assessment in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby, or surrounding areas.