Lets talk Ridge vents and the 2 styles.

[92nsx]

All right guys it is coming close to time to roof my garage. I want to go with a ridge vent unless some one can talk me down. This is for a normal shingled roof

There are 2 main styles I see. The plastic 48" long type, and the 20' roll form.

Pro and cons of either? Prices are pretty much the same for my project of 40' of ridge vent needed.

Mongoose 20' Ridge Vent

Or 4' plastic sections

 

[kmacht]

I used the 4' sections. They were a little more expensive but much easier to nail the shingles n top of without having to worry about recessing the nails too far and squishing the vent.

Keith

 

[nh_yota]

This thread reminds me a of house a few blocks away from me. I took this picture a few years ago.



I don't know what the roofer was thinking.

 

[92nsx]

I used the 4' sections. They were a little more expensive but much easier to nail the shingles n top of without having to worry about recessing the nails too far and squishing the vent.

Keith

Any difference in brand of the 4' sections? The 2 local brick n mortar stores (home depot, and Menards) has different kinds. Photo of the 2 brands are in the first post.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GAF-Cobr...Rigid-Exhaust-Vent-in-Black-2027000/100027903

http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...23373625-c-13260.htm?tid=-7195175333619179059

Thank you, Rob

This thread reminds me a of house a few blocks away from me. I took this picture a few years ago.



I don't know what the roofer was thinking.

I think he could have fit 1 more in there.

 

[truckermatt]

I did the rolls on my garage last year. The are easy to use and come with nails also. Got them from menards

 

[Firebird 1]

Either one will be fine, and yes you should use a ridge vent. You should also have vents on the lower eves and gable vents to make everything work the way it should.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Do you have any wind with your snow ?

I installed the roll style on my house and garage.

These are pics of my attic, the first winter after installing GAF " Snow Country ". Or at least I think that is what I installed, it was either that or the Mongoose.

I would install some kind of venting, but I would not install the same ridge vent again, this has happened probably 10 times now.

 

[kwschumm]

Maybe something to consider. The ridge vent on our last house was a real problem, sorry I don't know the brand, but the nail-down flange developed a waviness that allowed bats to crawl into the attic. Not sure if this was due to a bad installation (maybe not allowing enough slack for expansion) or if it was a bad product but the bats were sure a pain in the ****.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 to fully research YOUR LOCAL AREA as driving rain and snow can get right into your attic in some climates like above. With all the snow in MN those might not be good idea. What do all your neighbors have ???

I personally hate ridge vents . . . think they look cheap and create potential leak point across the entire peak of roof. I'd rather do mix of whirly bird and passive turtle vents.

 

[CTyankee]

Use the roll type exclusively, and 90% of our work is along the shore. Not unusual for it to be raining/snowing sideways. 'Course we do all our own roofing, and have seen many examples of what works and what doesn't. We'll run a small bead of tar along the each side, still allowing for ventilation while creating a break against the wind. Never had an issue that I can remember, and think they give a cleaner look. YMMV

The the sectional vents are probably more foolproof for most intallations, just not a fan myself. As to the roll venting looking cheap, yup most do. The idea is to run the the vent shingles all the way out to the ends. The last foot or some is only for looks but takes away the saggy roof line look and gives a totally straight line. Amazed at how few builders do this.

Would also recommend only using ridge vents or only using gable vents. Using both can cause pressure/vacuum issues. .

 

[jlckmj]

I have ridge vents on my house and garage with no issues.

HOWEVER,
if you live in an area with a lot of wildlife like racoons and squirrels, you might have an issue. Seems that the they walk on roofs looking for soft spots in order to build a nest out of the weather. They can feel that the roof is not solid under the shingles and tear into it gaining access to the attic or whatever is below.

Jim

 

[Dakota46]

I had a problem with red squirrels chewing through soft spots in my old roof.

When I had new decking and shingles installed I also wanted to upgrade to a ridge vent. On Amazon I found a roll of 6" x 50' stainless hardware cloth with 1/4 or 3/8 grid.

I had the roofer install the stainless hardware cloth underneath the rolled ridge vent material.

It's been three years and no critters have gotten through the roof or vent.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[BearsFan315]

Just had a new roof put on last year and they used the 3' plastic style, they have a screen/ vent in them and some sort of channel/ angle that prevents moisture, driving rain. snow from getting in. also looks great when they put on the shingle caps !! We did the House & Garage.

Did the same on the garage !! got rid of all the roof vents & power fan. Attic seemed to stay a lot cooler.

 

[info2x]

Like most things the install is very important. We have the large plastic sections on part of our house. Never had a snow intrusion or rain issue with them.

 

[csp]

Either one will be fine, and yes you should use a ridge vent. You should also have vents on the lower eves and gable vents to make everything work the way it should.

Gable vents should NOT be used with ridge vents. They ruin the draft effect which is the primary reason to use a ridge vent.

Intake at the bottom, exhaust at the top.

I have the Owens Corning type in a roll and have zero issues with snow infiltration. The roof has been in place for nine years now and has seen multiple blizzards.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

WTF is with those completely open roof vents? There should be some sort of open cell foam or screen for pest and snow infiltration...

Somebody was NOT thinking in those engineering departments...

Tommy

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Gable vents should NOT be used with ridge vents. They ruin the draft effect which is the primary reason to use a ridge vent.

Intake at the bottom, exhaust at the top.

Gable vents are required here in NJ now. IDK whether roofers close off the gable vents...

When reroof I don't even want gable vents. My house is a cape and the attic has been turned into bedrooms. There is only about 80 square feet above the ceilings that will see any benefit and the insulation was done with the batts flush against the sheathing. Ridge vents won't do squat except let cold air in on top of my ceilings.

Tommy

 

[NUTTSGT]

Do you have any wind with your snow ?

I installed the roll style on my house and garage.

These are pics of my attic, the first winter after installing GAF " Snow Country ". Or at least I think that is what I installed, it was either that or the Mongoose.

I would install some kind of venting, but I would not install the same ridge vent again, this has happened probably 10 times now.

Do you get a lot of high winds with really fine snow ?

 

[mechanic217]

Did not see it mentioned but there is also a corrugated plastic ridge vent that I have used to prevent snow blowing in, can't remember the name but looks good and would/will use it again.

 

[vtcat]

You definitely want to use ridge and softit vent to keep roof as cool as possible
This will give you longer shingle life,light colors help also.The best ridge vents are the ones that are externally baffled.This keeps rain and snow out and they work in windy conditions as the wind blows over the vent and helps draw air out instead off blowing into the ridge vend stopping the flow.ShingeVent 2 was the first on the market I think,there are others now.Do not use gable vents as it short circuits the venting on the ends of the roof,if they are required cover them on the inside so they are only for looks.

 

[pstnbly]

Did not see it mentioned but there is also a corrugated plastic ridge vent that I have used to prevent snow blowing in, can't remember the name but looks good and would/will use it again.

Coravent, the only ridge vent I will use. Much better than the roll or plastic type.

 

[92nsx]

Yes I would say I line in a windy-ish state. Dakota's blow, and Wisconsin ***** and Im right in the center!. HAHA. Just kidding.

I live pretty much right in the middle of Minne"snow"ta. (Mn.) so yes we get snow. I have only noticed ridge vents on, new, new houses as it is picking up in popularity. My neighbors and I's houses were all built in early 2000's. (Mine 2005)

Correct no gable vents here. In fact I haven't seen a actual gable vent in 20+ years. Only seen fake ones that just screw to the siding. Just normal vented soffit on on the bottom, ridge vent up top. I mad the over hang a total of 23.5" wide.

Edit add soffit photo

 

[67 camaro]

What kind of ridge vents would you use for this type of metal roof?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Metal-Sa...eel-Roof-Panel-in-Galvalume-2313341/204289009

Thanks

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Do you get a lot of high winds with really fine snow ?

Yes, high winds, all the time, all winter, and most snow events are during weather that is between 10-25F, so the snow if fine and dry, and the stuff finds its way into everywhere. Especially the attic. Id never had a home with ridge vent before, or I would have never cut it in. I added that, on top of a 1900 farm house I re-habbed.

It was a real PIA due the pitch of the roof. Old school, serious pitch, before they had gutters ( or at least affordable ones, that farmers at that time could afford ) and it helped keep the snow load at a minimum, when its so steep nothing collects.

High winds, dry fine snow, 1000s of acres of flat feature free land on 4 sides, with 8 out buildings and several hundred trees around the farm, we are one hell of a " snow fence " What might be a 4" snow event turns into a 36" + drift event here.

I included a couple pics, one is a snow drift, on the top of the bottom sash of a BRAND NEW double hung window ( IN A HEATED HOUSE !!! ), another is me cleaning the drive with the back hoe ( can you spot the driveway in that pic ? ), because the skid loader with the plow was buried in a building, and I could not get it out. Fuel cans pic, are in HEATED 4 car garage with new door seals.

Another is my buddy in his Komatsu Loader cleaning the drive, because I could not get anything out to do it, everything was buried. Picture of my car in my shop with snow on it, it got on it, while parked in the shop, a good 30' from the door, also some shelving in the shop. All that snow blew through the seams of the tin.

Yeah, snow, and wind, they come together here... 98% of the time, cant remember a snow event where it just snowed. White outs, all the time.