Pittsburgh experiences 40 to 60 freeze-thaw cycles each winter, more than most northern cities. Daytime temperatures climb above freezing while nights drop back below 32 degrees. This constant cycling wreaks havoc on roofs with poor attic exhaust systems. Without proper ventilation, heat from your living space warms the attic and melts snow on your roof even when outdoor temperatures stay below freezing. That meltwater runs to your cold eaves and refreezes, expanding and contracting shingles and flashing. The Ohio River Valley's humidity compounds the problem by adding moisture to your attic air. Proper roof venting systems combat this by keeping attic temperatures close to outdoor conditions, eliminating the temperature differential that causes snow melt.
Pittsburgh's diverse housing stock demands local expertise. The craftsman bungalows in Point Breeze need different ventilation solutions than the split-levels in Upper St. Clair. Our crews have installed attic ventilation systems on homes throughout Allegheny County and understand the local building department requirements for each municipality. We know which neighborhoods have homes with older ventilation components that need upgrades and where new construction has adequate systems that just need maintenance. This local knowledge means we design solutions that work specifically for Pittsburgh weather patterns, not generic approaches that fail in our climate.
