Propper Attic Ventilation With A Ridge Vent

If air is drawn in through the ridge vent while it s raining it might pull rainwater in with it which could lead to leaking or mold in the attic.

Propper attic ventilation with a ridge vent.

We see many older homes with no attic ventilation and some that have recently had ridge vents installed. While this provides an outlet for air flow it does not provide an inlet to complete the convection cycle needed for proper ventilation. It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent. To install the rafter vents staple them directly to the roof decking.

A ridge vent is a ventilation strip that is placed along the ridgeline of the home. These vents allow outside air to enter the attic at the lowest point of the roof along the underside of the eave. They re most effective when used in conjunction with a continuous ridge vent. Prior to installing the ridge vent a 1 inch wide strip of roof decking is cut out along both sides of the ridgeline to allow for air movement through the vent.

Installation of this type of attic ventilation involves leaving a gap in the sheathing along the ridge and covering it with a perforated vent. Static vents often protrude from roofline thanks to. Rafter vents come in 4 foot lengths and 14 1 2 and 22 1 2 inch widths for different rafter spacings. Continuous un blocked soffit or eaves intake venting combined with continuous roof ridge venting or equivalent area if the building framing does not permit a ridge vent are needed to avoid ice dams attic condensation attic mold rot or insect damage from accumulating attic moisture.

Soffit vents come in several sizes and styles including small round discs and rectangular grilles. It is important that air movement occurs and is not impeded by any framing members of the home. Rafter vents ensure the soffit vents are clear and there is a channel for outside air to move into the attic at the soffits and out through the gable or ridge vent. Soffit vents when paired with ridge vents provide complete ventilation for your whole roof surface.