When do you need roof vents

Mold loves to grow in damp attic insulation, and damp insulation has a tendency to clump, which reduces its effectiveness. Rot affects the framing and the roof decking, and the end result can be a sagging roof.

Sagging roofs leak, which worsens the moisture problem in the attic and creates a big problem in living areas below. Soffit vents, which are grids that fit over holes you cut in the soffits, come in different sizes.

On some aluminum or vinyl soffit systems, the vents are integrated into soffit panels. Since the roof line and soffit form a corner in the attic, you usually have to fit baffles over the soffit vents, running up along the roof sheathing beneath the insulation.

These are cardboard or plastic air passageways that you fasten to the underside of the roof decking. They prevent insulation from blocking the vents and keep air flowing freely. Ridge vents are the most economical roof vents.

It is usually covered with shingles to match the rest of the roof. You can also choose a number of vent styles that open directly onto the roof deck. If your house accommodates them, you can also satisfy the roof vent area requirement by installing gable vents that penetrate the siding and open into the unheated attic space. You have to exercise some care when designing a ventilation system to ensure uniform circulation throughout the attic, especially in corners and behind obstacles.

Whichever roof ventilation system you select, you will want to make sure that you preserve the integrity of your roof. If you install a turbine or other ventilation duct across the roof surface, you must ensure that it includes enough solenoid and sealant to prevent water from flowing into the home and causing moisture problems.

A ridge vent will have to be fixed on the roof, the asphalt fabric, the minimal roll or the metal. It is necessary to provide the room with circulating air under the roof covering. A roof ventilation system works by providing continuous flow of air through your attic space, helping remove overheated air and moisture from the attic and roof system and reduce the impact of changing temperatures and moisture conditions both inside and outside the home. The system that allows the ventilation of air to take place consist of intake vents and exhaust vents installed at strategic intervals in the attic or roof area.

Several different types of vents may be used in different locations to provide ventilation for the attic or roof area. For these homes, the best course of action is to bypass trying to get intake ventilation through where bird blocks should be. Some roofers will opt to not install these vents even when needed, at the great detriment to the homeowner. Roof intake vents take expertise of installation and increase the cost of a roof replacement project.

But they can be the difference between the roof lasting 50 years or 10 years. Your email address will not be published. Skip to content. Chase Construction North West June 28, Birds are known to nest in them, and they should have wire mesh covering to keep them and other critters out.

Request Estimate Immediate Response! Upload a Photo of Your Roof and receive an instant quote in minutes! We Proudly Accept. The roofer was extremely professional, he discussed with me in detail the situation regarding the roof vent, and how he would fix the problem and what caused the problem; he was extremely thorough and pleasant to work with; I would utilize roofer in the future and fully recommend them to my family and friends.

Thank you very much! Roofer - Northern VA. Roof Repair, Infrared. Next, they will outline the area using chalk and use a circular saw to cut away sheathing about one or 1.

The roofer will be careful not to cut into the trusses or ridge board. They will then remove sheathing and install the ridge vent by securing one piece of vent at a time and attaching the next piece into it, nailing each piece as he goes. The ends should be capped or sealed. Finally, the roofer will secure and weatherproof according to manufacturer instructions which will generally recommend different materials for different styles.

Source: Home Guides , Reference. Static vents come in a variety of different styles and sizes, but are all non-motorized vents installed near the roof ridge to allow for unobstructed flow of air from the attic. If there are more than one, they are centered between the rafters and installed at regular intervals in a horizontal line along the roof.

First, from inside the attic, your roofer will drive a nail through the roof structure to mark spots for the vents. The roofer will mark these spots between the rafters evenly along the roof. From the roof they will then draw a guide hole the size the diameter of each vent. These holes will likely be installed closer to the ridge but manufacturer instructions should always be followed. From the roof, the roofer will remove shingles around the guide hole and about one inch back on the upper side of the hole.

They will use a saber saw to cut through the underlayment and decking of each marked hole. To install the vent, the roofer slips the flange the metal lip of the vent under shingles at the upper part of the hole and rests the flange on top of the shingles at the down-slope part of the hole.

To secure, your roofer will following manufacturer instructions likely use roofing nails, ensuring these are long enough to penetrate through the unit, the shingles and the decking. The final step is waterproofing the vent, which will be done by applying manufacturer-recommended material such as caulking around the flange. Source: Air Vent. Gable vents can function as both intake and exhaust, but rely on strong winds to be effective, so they are recommended to be used in conjunction with additional intake soffit vents near the bottom of the roof.

Also, roofing professionals usually recommend against installing a gable vent if that side of the home is subject to driving rain on a regular basis. Rather than being installed on the roof, gable vents are installed on the exterior side wall of the home, near the roof ridge.

Installation first requires a wood frame, made of 2X4s, installed from the attic between two studs. Your roofer will secure the frame from inside the attic then drill holes in each corner of the frame right to the exterior of the house. Working from the outside he will use these four holes as a marker to create a rough hole of where the vent is to be installed. He will cut through the siding and sheathing to create the hole for the vent.

He will add felt paper around to hole to add a layer of water proofing, lapping it over the existing felt paper. A turbine vent draws air from inside the attic as wind turns the turbines. This is most effective in areas where winds average at least five miles per hour, or otherwise will not offer the most effective, reliable source of venting.