Roof ventilation

[Huntmaster86]

What form of ventilation did you use in your garage and why? My supplier delivered me cobra vent. I have used it in the past and have seen snow come under ridge cap. I'm debating installing gable vents. I have half attic trusses so the vent would be above the attic storage area. The whole garage ceiling is going to be insulate not around the storage area. Let me know your thoughts and options. I know everyone has one

 

[Huntmaster86]

No one has comments on how and why they vented there roof?!?

 

[BlackTalon]

I'll bite. Ridge vent in combo with continuous eave vents typically provides the best ventilation, maximizing the potential service life of the roofing system. As far as snow entering the ridge vent, there are many different ridge vent designs out there. You have to make sure the right version of a specific vent product is selected for the slope you have.

 

[jgschroeder99]

I have filtered aluminum roof vents in my house. I had little piles of snow under a couple of them this winter...

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have filtered aluminum roof vents in my house. I had little piles of snow under a couple of them this winter...

Same here. As cold as it was with the fine snow blowing around it's going to get in.

I have a few of these on the shingled part of the roof, a couple of gable vents and some vented soffit.

 

[Dominico]

I recently put an addition on my garage and this is what I found out. Hope this is helpful.

Gable end venting used in conjunction with a ridge vent is unnecessary. Gable vents are to be used with can type vents. A gable vent actually has a negative effect on the ridge vent as it greatly reduces the ridge vents intended purpose.

A ridge vent works best with full ventilation from the soffet. See my soffet photos. Notice the soffet channel is wide open to the attic. When finishing it I used the center vent vinyl all the way down the side.

When it came time to insulate I used baffles between every roof rafter to create a space for the air to flow into the attic You cannot block the flow of air. Outside air works it way up from the soffet and is then forced out through the ridge vent. The objective is to not cook your shingles as proper ventilation summer and winter will prolong the life of the roof.

BTW...I have had ridge and can type and have never had issues with snow on the ridge type but I have had it with the cans/gable. After having both I would recommend the ridge with full eve venting. Just my opinion.

 

[BlackTalon]

Dominico, you hit the nail on the head. Gable vents and ridge vents fight each other, and can result in air going in through the gable and out through the ridge vent, so very little of the attic space gets ventilated near the eaves.

 

[knightryda01]

I found this out. My house was sealed up tight. my soffet was blocked from airflow and I installed the baffles. Hope this winter I can tell a big difference.

 

[Northlander56]

I also went with a continuous ridge vent at the peak of the roof and vented soffit all the way around the building. My builder mentioned the same thing when I asked about vents under the gable ends, they can render the ridge vent ineffective.