How far into the soffit area should rafter vents be placed?

[JB740i]

I stopped out at the house a few minutes ago and the guys were out there on their stilts installing the ceiling insulation. I looked outside at the soffits and saw the rafter vents pretty much pushed all the way down towards the edge of the roof.

Would the be preferrable to having them back 6" of or so from the edge? Seems like having it back would allow more of the airflow up? But maybe it doesn't really matter.

All I could find was this link showing how the rafter vents should be placed inside the attic. But haven't goggled anything yet showing their placement in the soffit.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=diy.diy_rafter_vents


Also, on another page on the energy star website it shows to go around and caulk all the holes in the electrical outlets and expanding form around any pipes. Highly recommended or not worth the time? Better to do this after the house is all sealed up and we're moved in?

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/DIY_Guide_May_2008.pdf

There's the link in case you're really motivated. Page 7


They're putting R30 in the ceiling. I guess that's not all that great for a house in Florida, is it.

 

[oldgoat]

I just ran chicken wire across the face to the rathers where the vents were and pushed the insulation up to it. I was told that you needed to keep it open so that the air would circulate. The foams ones that I saw at the box stores basically did the same thing, but were really cheap made and I didn't think that they would hold up and would be more trouble than they were worth.

 

[JB740i]

Well I hope it's not just one of those things where it's easier for the installers. I've only ever been in attics where the insulation went just to the edge of the wall. Never seen it where they've covered up the whole space like this.

 

[Kevin54]

No rule of thumb as to how far the vents go in. They only need to go into the soffit area far enough that when the insulation is put in, it butts up against them and you still get airflow through.