Fixing Critical Ventilation Issues: Cindy Collins’ Success Story

On September 8, 2022, Cindy Collins, a homeowner in Hoffman Estates, IL, reached out to report multiple issues with her roof. Cindy, a returning client who had trusted us with her siding replacement in 2010, noticed the odd appearance of the outside of her roof in the summer of 2022 and knew exactly who to call for a professional assessment. “I knew something wasn’t right when I saw the waviness in the roof,” Cindy recalled. “I was relieved when Holda Construction responded quickly to my concerns.”

“When I arrived at Cindy’s home,” explains Mariusz from Holda Construction Roofing & Siding, “I followed our standard inspection protocol by starting in the attic. While many contractors begin with an external examination, I know that the attic often reveals the true extent of roofing problems. It’s like a doctor’s examination – what looks like a minor issue from outside can indicate more serious problems within.”

During our initial attic inspection, we identified several critical problems: underlying structural issues, leaks that had caused water damage inside the home, significant black mold growth on the plywood that was posing risks of health hazards to the residents, and poor ventilation from the attic to outside that had led to excessive heat buildup in the attic – all contributing to the deteriorated condition of the roof.

We even discovered that the bathroom exhaust fans were venting directly into the attic space, rather than being properly routed to the exterior. This created several dangerous conditions:

• Hot, moisture-laden air was being pumped directly into the attic
• Condensation was forming on roof sheathing and structural members
• The trapped moisture created perfect conditions for mold growth
• The continuous moisture exposure had accelerated the deterioration of roofing materials

“When Mariusz showed me the photos from the attic inspection, I was shocked at how serious the situation had become,” Cindy shared. “What looked like a minor issue from the outside was actually affecting my entire home.”

Our exterior inspection revealed severe shingle deterioration, including excessive granule loss, large granule buildup in gutters, widespread curling and buckling, visible moss and mold growth, and advanced aging of over 20 years. The roof’s overall condition made repairs impractical, necessitating a complete replacement.