Roof Ridge Vent Question

Posted by Robert11 on March 7, 2007, 9:25 am

Hello:

Live in New England, and have the typical split level.

Attic has those louvred attic vents in each side of the house providing
direct ventillation to the attic.
They seem to be of pretty decent size, not those really small ones you see
sometimes.
Attic is quite cold in winter.

Will be having a new roofing job.

Some of the roofers who have come in for estimates say that if the attic is
cold in the winter, these side vents are working to provide enough air flow
and that you do not need a Ridge-Vent.

Others say that you "also" need a Ridge Vent.

Frankly, installing a roof ridge vent makes me a bit uneasy, as we get a lot
of snow and rain up here, and I guess I am a bit concerned about any, no
matter how small the amount, of it getting into the attic via a ridge roof
vent, and hence possibly to the insullation on the attic floor.

Would sure appreciate any thoughts on.

Thanks,
Bob

Posted by Zephyr on March 7, 2007, 9:38 am

> Hello:
> Live in New England, and have the typical split level.
> Attic has those louvred attic vents in each side of the house providing
> direct ventillation to the attic.
> They seem to be of pretty decent size, not those really small ones you see
> sometimes.
> Attic is quite cold in winter.
> Will be having a new roofing job.
> Some of the roofers who have come in for estimates say that if the attic
> is cold in the winter, these side vents are working to provide enough air
> flow and that you do not need a Ridge-Vent.
> Others say that you "also" need a Ridge Vent.
> Frankly, installing a roof ridge vent makes me a bit uneasy, as we get a
> lot of snow and rain up here, and I guess I am a bit concerned about any,
> no matter how small the amount, of it getting into the attic via a ridge
> roof vent, and hence possibly to the insullation on the attic floor.
> Would sure appreciate any thoughts on.
> Thanks,
> Bob

I'm in Michigan, and have the same, 2 gable vents and a ridge vent, no
leaks,
I'd be more worried about the quality of the installation than the actual
ridge vent itself.

Dave

Posted by on March 7, 2007, 9:59 am

> > Hello:
> > Live in New England, and have the typical split level.
> > Attic has those louvred attic vents in each side of the house providing
> > direct ventillation to the attic.
> > They seem to be of pretty decent size, not those really small ones you see
> > sometimes.
> > Attic is quite cold in winter.
> > Will be having a new roofing job.
> > Some of the roofers who have come in for estimates say that if the attic
> > is cold in the winter, these side vents are working to provide enough air
> > flow and that you do not need a Ridge-Vent.
> > Others say that you "also" need a Ridge Vent.
> > Frankly, installing a roof ridge vent makes me a bit uneasy, as we get a
> > lot of snow and rain up here, and I guess I am a bit concerned about any,
> > no matter how small the amount, of it getting into the attic via a ridge
> > roof vent, and hence possibly to the insullation on the attic floor.
> > Would sure appreciate any thoughts on.
> > Thanks,
> > Bob

> I'm in Michigan, and have the same, 2 gable vents and a ridge vent, no
> leaks,
> I'd be more worried about the quality of the installation than the actual
> ridge vent itself.
> Dave- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -

I'd go with a ridge vent too. They are widely used. Just about all
new construction here in NJ has them. If snow/rain were a significant
problem, I think it would be known by now. A ridge vent provides
uniform venting across most of the attic, as opposed to gable vents.
You want air rising from the soffits across the whole attic, then
exiting.

There are two theories regarding what to do with the existing gable
vents. Many say to block them off, based on the idea that air will
short circuit. By that, I mean it will come in the gables and go out
the ridge, providing little cooling. The other theory is that hot air
rises and will rise from the soffit vents and make it's way out both
the gables and ridge. Personally, I think the latter is probably
more likely correct. I've seen lots of opinions on this, but no
actual test data, which should be fairly easy to measure.

Don't forget to make sure there is adequate soffit venting. And
verfiy that it is not blocked by insulation. If it is, there are
plastic baffles available that you can staple to the underside of the
roof to keep it open.

Posted by Joseph Meehan on March 7, 2007, 10:41 am

Robert11 wrote:

> Hello:
> Live in New England, and have the typical split level.
> Attic has those louvred attic vents in each side of the house
> providing direct ventillation to the attic.
> They seem to be of pretty decent size, not those really small ones
> you see sometimes.
> Attic is quite cold in winter.
> Will be having a new roofing job.
> Some of the roofers who have come in for estimates say that if the
> attic is cold in the winter, these side vents are working to provide
> enough air flow and that you do not need a Ridge-Vent.
> Others say that you "also" need a Ridge Vent.
> Frankly, installing a roof ridge vent makes me a bit uneasy, as we
> get a lot of snow and rain up here, and I guess I am a bit concerned
> about any, no matter how small the amount, of it getting into the
> attic via a ridge roof vent, and hence possibly to the insullation on
> the attic floor.
> Would sure appreciate any thoughts on.
> Thanks,
> Bob

There are no hard fast rules other than you do want to meet local
building codes.

If what you have is working, it likely would continue to work. What I
would do, and have done, is to add the ridge vents IF I had sufficient
soffit vents. Frankly if I did not have enough soffit vents, I think I
would add them. The extra cost of ridge vents is minimal. Adding them to
an existing roof with no other work is expensive. I would do it while you
have the chance.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Posted by Goedjn on March 7, 2007, 1:45 pm

wrote:

>Hello:
>Live in New England, and have the typical split level.
>Attic has those louvred attic vents in each side of the house providing
>direct ventillation to the attic.
>They seem to be of pretty decent size, not those really small ones you see
>sometimes.
>Attic is quite cold in winter.
>Will be having a new roofing job.
>Some of the roofers who have come in for estimates say that if the attic is
>cold in the winter, these side vents are working to provide enough air flow
>and that you do not need a Ridge-Vent.
>Others say that you "also" need a Ridge Vent.
>Frankly, installing a roof ridge vent makes me a bit uneasy, as we get a lot
>of snow and rain up here, and I guess I am a bit concerned about any, no
>matter how small the amount, of it getting into the attic via a ridge roof
>vent, and hence possibly to the insullation on the attic floor.
>Would sure appreciate any thoughts on.
>Thanks,
>Bob

If you're not currently experiencing any problems with the
venting, then you don't need to change anything.

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 > last >>

Similar Threads	Posted
Ridge Roof Vent Questions	March 2, 2007, 8:02 pm
roof vent, ridge vent or what?	May 17, 2006, 1:56 pm
Cost of adding ridge vent to roof?	January 30, 2007, 1:18 pm
Vent bathroom fan to ridge vent by constructing an adapter at ridge?	June 8, 2006, 3:52 pm
Re: Roof Ridge Vent And Attic Soffett "Channels" (raft-r-mate, etc.)	March 19, 2007, 7:49 pm
Ridge Vent / Soffit Vent Question	August 31, 2005, 3:51 am
Ridge Vent Question	October 10, 2005, 5:01 pm
Need to reattach a Ridge Vent which came partially off. What goes under the vent?	June 9, 2008, 5:46 pm
Adding a ridge vent	June 13, 2006, 8:20 pm
Roof Vent Cap Question	January 2, 2007, 6:45 pm