I live in a colder climate. Ottawa Ontario to be exact. i was wondering if it was best practice to have a rafter roof vented (cold roof) or is having a hot roofing system good enough? Would the hot roof harm the shingles on the roof faster then if it was vented?
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In our northern locations, shingles last a long time - little UV exposure and they never get to really hot temps.
The point of the cold (vented) roof is to avoid ice dams and huge icicles hanging from your roof. By keeping all the roof the same temperature, you avoid those problems.
If you opt for the simpler construction of a hot (unvented) roof, then a sticky membrane like Water & Ice is a very good idea just above the eaves to provide extra waterproofness when you have a foot of water backed up behind an ice dam.
Best practice would be a cold roof. Very best practice would be a cold roof AND the membrane. That's whats on my own house - belt & suspenders.