Give attics room to breathe and roofs will thrive

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Why proper ventilation can make or break the success of your roofing project and what sets the pros apart. 

In the world of roofing, few subjects spark as much conversation as ventilation. But for Justin Ache, division marketing specialist at Gibraltar Building Accessories, it’s more than a technical detail. It’s a non-negotiable. “You can install the best shingles in the world, but if your attic can’t breathe, that roof’s going to fail,” Justin says in this Roofing Road Trips® podcast. Justin joined host Karen Edwards to shine a light on one of the most overlooked aspects of roof performance: airflow. Speaking on behalf of both Gibraltar and its ventilation-focused brand, AirVent, Justin broke down why some contractors miss the mark and what they can do about it. 

“A lot of people in the trades are great at shingling, great at installing roof, but never really touch balanced airflow,” Justin says. And that, he warns, leads to callbacks, failed warranties and frustrated homeowners dealing with mold or sky-high utility bills. At the core of AirVent’s outreach is a national education effort spearheaded by veteran trainer Paul Scelsi. The “Ask the Expert” roadshow hits cities across the U.S. each winter, offering free ventilation seminars. “That’s Paul’s only job.  To educate,” Justin says. 

While Paul covers the in-person seminars, Justin focuses on digital tools, like AirVent’s mobile-friendly ventilation calculator. Designed for contractors, distributors and even homeowners, the calculator takes the guesswork out of planning. “We have made it a little easier as far as determining the NFA (Net Free Area) required for your attic based on code, best practices and what manufacturers want to do,” Justin says. 

Beyond calculators and codes, Justin shares what sets the pros apart from the rest of the competition. According to Justin, if you’re not thinking about the attic’s shape, square footage and airflow, you’re just putting on a product, not delivering a solution. Every roof is different, he explains and there’s no one-size-fits-all fix. “You need to consider the attic square footage, the attic shape, as you’re planning out your ventilation plan,” he says. Even the slope of the roof matters. “The steeper the roof, the more volume you have, you're going to need to exhaust more air.” 

Contractors who ignore these factors risk more than just structural damage, they risk their credibility. And as building codes evolve and homeowners are more educated about their roofs, the pressure is growing to understand not just what goes on top of the house, but what’s going on inside it. As Justin puts it, “Ventilation’s not optional. It’s essential.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more from Justin Ache on roof system design, education tools and how to future-proof your next job!