Why attic ventilation education still happens face to face

By Jesse Sanchez. 

In-person seminars help contractors better understand, calculate and apply proper attic ventilation principles. 

Contractors gather in hotel meeting rooms across the country to revisit one technical subject that continues to impact roof performance: attic ventilation. On this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Karen Edwards welcomed Paul Scelsi of AirVent, part of the Gibraltar Building Accessories Division, to discuss the company’s in-person seminar series. The program is designed to help contractors understand why ventilation matters and how to apply it correctly in the field. 

The seminar was designed to explain the purpose behind the product 

Paul explains that when the program began in the mid-1990s, AirVent leadership made a decision to focus on education alongside manufacturing. “Management had this concept. Okay, yes, we make vents. We make and sell vents. But why can’t we simultaneously be helping the industry understand why you should even consider vents?” That focus remains central today. The seminar outlines how heat buildup in warmer months and moisture accumulation in colder months can affect shingle life, insulation performance and overall roof durability. By explaining airflow in practical terms, the program positions ventilation as part of a complete roofing system rather than an add-on component. 

Understanding ventilation also requires more than general knowledge. Contractors must calculate attic square footage and determine the correct amount of intake and exhaust ventilation. Paul shared, “Every year internally, is this the year we kill the math? Do people like the math? It’s one of the most appreciated aspects of the program. We do not delete the math.” Keeping the calculations in the seminar gives contractors a repeatable process. When net free area is understood and applied correctly, ventilation decisions become precise instead of estimated. 

Although virtual formats were used during the pandemic, Paul says the in-person format produces stronger engagement. “You’re just not there live. It’s just more dynamic. We can see each other. Some people approach us after the seminar. Not everybody is comfortable asking their questions out loud,” Paul said. That interaction often leads to project-specific discussions that extend beyond the presentation. Nearly three decades after it began, the seminar continues in person because contractors value direct answers and practical instruction. 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about AirVent’s Ask the Expert seminar series and how in-person ventilation education supports stronger roofing systems!