Roof Ridge Vent Without Soffit Vents

Ridge vents are the best steep slope roof top ventilation system in use today but are invalid without proper amount of soffit vent and layout.

Roof ridge vent without soffit vents.

Soffit vents when paired with ridge vents provide complete ventilation for your whole roof surface. A ridge vent without a soffit vent doesn t work and here s why. While this provides an outlet for air flow it does not provide an inlet to complete the convection cycle needed for proper ventilation. Ridge vents do not always provide the proper ventilation in some homes.

If when you finally get around to venting the attic properly with ridge and soffit vents the ridge shingles can be removed and a ridge vent installed instead. Then simply roof over the slots. For example you can use ridge vents mushroom cap vents upper gable end vents fans high mounted attic fans etc. By virtue of their design and location on the roof ridge vents are predominantly exhaust devices.

Rose a research architect at the building research council at the university of illinois replies. The effect of ridge vents for the roof depends upon the energy efficient nature of the structure. See here s how ridge and soffit vents work together. The up draft of air from the building convection current of rising warm air which moves up through most buildings will be increased and will mean unnecessary heat loss if you have a ridge vent to vent air out without also providing good intake venting at the soffits or eaves.

As simple as that sounds there is a specific formula for which exists numerous calculators available online air vent s website gaf etc. During the reroofing have the roofers cut through the sheathing to provide the slots necessary for a ridge vent. For an attic without soffit vents you may have the option to use gable vents instead. We see many older homes with no attic ventilation and some that have recently had ridge vents installed.

List of the cons of roof ridge vents. Remember your main goal is to get air moving through the attic by entering the attic space down low near the overhang eave level and leaving the attic near the peak of the roof.