Air sealing
An air barrier limits indoor air escaping through the ceiling. Gaps around the attic hatch, services and wall tops can carry warm, moist air into a cold attic.
Understand air leakage →Roof ventilation, explained
A better roof starts with understanding the space below it.
Make sense of attic airflow, insulation, moisture and ice dams before choosing new vents or agreeing to work.
Canadian homeowner guides, useful worksheets and better questions for your contractor.
Understand the assemblyAttics, cathedral ceilings and roof types
Find the right questionsAir leakage, moisture and vent paths
Compare the proposed workProduct details, scope and follow-up
The building science
Air sealing, insulation and ventilation have different jobs.
In a conventional vented attic, the ceiling separates the home from the roof space. The three parts work together; adding vents alone may leave the source of a problem untouched.
Insulation
Insulation slows heat flow through the ceiling. Missing or thin coverage can leave local warm areas; insulation is not a substitute for a continuous air barrier.
Locate the thermal boundary →Ventilation
In a vented assembly, outdoor air moves through designed openings and clear paths. This helps remove moisture and keep the roof deck colder during winter.
Follow the airflow path →Building-science references: Natural Resources Canada: Roofs and atticsBuilding Science Corporation: Attic ventilation
Start with the symptom
What are you noticing?
Use the timing and location to guide an assessment. A visible symptom is a starting point; it does not identify the repair on its own.
Frost, droplets or staining
Record when it appears, recent weather and where it is concentrated. Ask the assessor to distinguish indoor moisture and air leakage from a roof leak, and to explain what evidence supports the conclusion.
Prepare condensation questions →Ice along the eaves
Ask for an assessment of heat reaching the roof, insulation continuity and available ventilation paths. Photograph patterns from a safe location; do not climb onto an icy roof to investigate.
Understand ice and snow observations →A hot upper floor
Ask how the roof-space findings relate to ceiling insulation, air leakage, windows and the home's heating or cooling system. Request the reasoning behind any claim that a new roof vent will solve room comfort.
Plan the first assessment →A reroofing quote
This is a good time to ask what is accessible, how proposed vent types work together and whether the job includes air sealing, insulation or only roofing work. Get each responsibility in writing.
Coordinate roof and attic work →Know your roof
The same vent layout does not suit every assembly.
A vented attic, a cathedral ceiling and an intentionally unvented roof use different arrangements. In some homes, additions and dormers create several roof spaces that do not connect.
Start by locating the insulation and the air barrier. Ask whether the roof was designed to be vented and which sections actually communicate. An unvented roof needs an appropriate assembly design; closing or adding vents changes more than the appearance of the roof.
Read the roof-space guide →A practical check
Compare free area, not just the vent count.
A vent's outside dimensions are not its usable airflow area. Ask for the manufacturer's net free area, the number and location of vents, and the design basis used for your roof.
Build a vent-area recordThe worksheet organizes product values and assumptions. It does not certify compliance or measure actual airflow.
A good proposal explains the whole path.
Evidence
What was found?
Ask for accessible-area photographs, the assembly description and any spaces that could not be inspected.
Design
Why this approach?
Request the intake and exhaust arrangement, product data and the applicable code or design basis.
Scope
Who does what?
Identify responsibility for roofing, air sealing, insulation, exhaust ducts, electrical work and access.
Verification
How will it be checked?
Agree on installation photographs, documents, cleanup, warranties and how recurring symptoms will be reviewed.
The guide library
Go deeper before choosing work.
Follow a topic from the first observation through to scope and follow-up. Each guide gives you a practical next step.
Identify your roof assemblyAir leakage and attic ventilationIntake, exhaust and clear pathsUnderstand net free ventilation areaBathroom and kitchen exhaust ductsFrost and condensation observationsIce and snow patternsSafe access and suspect materialsCoordinate with reroofingCompare contractor proposalsReview completed workBrowse all twelve guides
Make the next conversation useful.
Do more roof vents always help?
No. Ask whether the assembly is designed to be vented, whether intake and airflow paths are available, and what the proposed change is intended to address. A count of visible roof vents does not describe the whole system.
Can the worksheet tell me whether my roof meets code?
No. It records dimensions, product values and an explicitly selected ratio. The applicable code, roof configuration, distribution requirements and installation details still need assessment by the responsible designer or professional.
Should I enter the attic to take photographs?
Only if access has been assessed as safe and appropriate. You can begin with existing records and observations from occupied rooms or the ground. Ask a qualified professional to assess restricted access, suspect materials, wiring and structural concerns.
What happens when I send an enquiry?
HAUSE receives the project details you choose to send. You can review and edit a worksheet brief first. An enquiry does not confirm availability, a quote, a booking or permission to carry out work.
Plan a useful assessment
Bring the question. Build a clearer scope.
Tell us your location, roof type if known, what you have observed and whether reroofing or other work is already planned.