Pole building leaking through ridge vent.

[wantacoe]

My pole building has been leaking every time it rains. It is hard to tell where it is coming from because the whole roof gets wet. I suspected it was through the ridge vent but today I am sure. After the snow and wind last night there is a line of snow right down the middle of the building. It may not be the only leak but it is definitely the biggest! Now the question is, what can I do about it? I don't want to block it off.

 

[mike93lx]

Maybe some pictures of the ridge would help...

 

[Raisedonadeere]

The trouble with that theory is that at the roof peak there is little precipitation to leak. I have been in buildings looking at the sky in a rain through small opening in a roof peak and very little water coming through. Water is pooling somewhere and finding an edge to follow to a hole. One barn I built I did not install a roof vent for a year and not enough water came through to damage hay below.

 

[wantacoe]

Maybe some pictures of the ridge would help...

From inside or on top? I can get inside pics but I don't go up on the roof.

I have been reading up about it. Apparently it is a fairly common problem. I see recommendations for this stuff. https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...947-c-5713.htm?tid=1100749931282864374&ipos=1
I also see a lot of talk that you need soffit vents too. I don't have soffits, my roof ends about an inch from the sides.

 

[Moman01]

Have this same problem with my garage on a 9 year old house I had built and my neighbor who owns a roofing company stopped by to take a look for me and found the builders installers put the ridge vent on off center

 

[kbs2244]

The vent should have a mesh like filler to prevent this.
It looks like those plastic sponge scrub pads.
It will let air thru but stop snow or rain.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Union-Corrugating-Foam-Vented-Roof-Panel-Closure-Strip/3359422

This meant for new build, but I would think you could "cut and stuff" it

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GAF-Cob...-Mesh-Roll-Ridge-Vent-in-Black-2005/100000023

 

[Nor'Easter]

Using a sealant defeats the purpose of a ridge vent....

You need a mesh vent material like above, we usually use VersaVent. You'll need to pull the actual ridge cap off.

 

[wantacoe]

Using a sealant defeats the purpose of a ridge vent....

You need a mesh vent material like above, we usually use VersaVent. You'll need to pull the actual ridge cap off.

Yes, I thought about that. Are all ridge vents the same width? I am looking at the stuff that is 10 1/2" wide. The building is probably from the 60's.

 

[77Birdman]

I had the same problem with the ridge vent on my previous barn. I didn't really care that much about it though because, well, it was a barn. The wind is blowing the rain, snow, leaves, etc. up the roof line into the opening under the vent. On my new garage i am building i was supplied with a mesh material made for metal barn roofs much like what we use on residential shingling projects. It is supposed to withstand winds of up to 120mph. Unfortunately the roof is done but the cap has yet to be installed. I will check and see what the brand is.