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Attic ventilation question
Posted on 9/23/21 at 12:44 pm
Posted on 9/23/21 at 12:44 pm
I have an rectangular open gable roof. Ive had moisture issues in the home before so while im getting my roof fixed because of Ida, was gonna try some suggestions about attic ventalation. I have a gable roof with gable vents on each end, no roof vent and im fairly certain the soffits have plywood under them so no ventilation thru soffits. Should i add ridge vent to roof or whirlybirds or is gable vents enough. But then the soffits being plywood over is another problem. Any suggestions
5
Posted on 9/23/21 at 1:01 pm to Relham10
You need to remove the plywood. To get the best ventilation, you need cooler air to come in at the bottom and rise as it heats up. It will also be able to hold more moisture as it heats up removing the moisture from your attic.
Posted on 9/23/21 at 1:20 pm to shadowlsu
Ok so that answer the air intake question. What about discharge? Is gable vents enough or do i need to add whirly birds or ridge vent is discharge air and heat from attic
Posted on 9/23/21 at 1:51 pm to Relham10
I am not a contractor but I'm on my 2nd roof replacement on 2 different houses in less than a year's time (Zeta and Ida).
Based on what the contractors say, you need one or the other (ridge vent or whirlybirds). I don't think adding whirlybirds to a roof being repaired should add much to your costs (if not covered by insurance). In humid environment, it seems to make sense. Again, I'm not an expert, just have some recent homeowner experience with roof issues.
Based on what the contractors say, you need one or the other (ridge vent or whirlybirds). I don't think adding whirlybirds to a roof being repaired should add much to your costs (if not covered by insurance). In humid environment, it seems to make sense. Again, I'm not an expert, just have some recent homeowner experience with roof issues.
Posted on 9/23/21 at 2:10 pm to Relham10
It depends on the size of the attic. I can't remember off hand but I think it's like 2 sf of vent area per 100 sf of attic space. But the more the better. If you have a roof contractor already doing repairs I'd have him add some additional vents. Whirly birds work better and move more air than a ridge vent does, but some people don't like the look and I always hate putting additional holes in your roof. Down side of a ridge vent is that the decking needs to have a gap in it to let the air through. If you don't have a ridge vent now, you probably don't have an opening.
If I were in your shoes, I'd go whirly bird on the back side so it isn't visible from the street.
If I were in your shoes, I'd go whirly bird on the back side so it isn't visible from the street.
Posted on 9/23/21 at 3:16 pm to shadowlsu
Having my roof replaced because of Ida also.
Was thinking of these low profile vents instead of the whirlybirds. Any thoughts?
Was thinking of these low profile vents instead of the whirlybirds. Any thoughts?
Posted on 9/23/21 at 3:36 pm to shadowlsu
quote:
You need to remove the plywood. To get the best ventilation, you need cooler air to come in at the bottom and rise as it heats up. It will also be able to hold more moisture as it heats up removing the moisture from your attic.
THIS.
When we built our home 21 years ago with a gable roof, I specified two big round louvered vents, one on each wall side, AND a ridge vent along the gable roof top. Of course, also included were perforated/ventilated soffits under each both eaves.
After moving in, when I first went up in the attic, I noticed it was VERY hot. I looked and the folks who put the insulation rolls in had put them in ALL THE WAY OUT OVER THE EAVES, blocking air flow from the ventilated soffit. When I went down and pulled the first piece back from the soffit, it was like turning on an air conditioner full-blast; the air flow was that great and that much cooler. I then pulled them back from all the soffits, and it works well still today.
Posted on 9/23/21 at 3:59 pm to Relham10
Are the gable vents powered or passive? Are you looking to close them off?
I’ve heard Paul LaGrange, forensic building inspector with LaGrange Consulting in New Orleans discuss this topic numerous times on his WWL 870 Home Improvement radio program.
Generally he favors ridge vents on roofs with long ridge lines which I’m thinking you might have with a gable style rectangular roof. If the roof has a small ridge line(s) as one might see on some steep hip roofs he seems to favor passive whirlybird ventilators b/c the roofs might not have sufficient ridge area to properly ventilate the attic. Of course either way you need to open up your soffit vents and match the intake soffit vent area with the ridge vent area or exhaust capacity of the whirlybirds.
Here is a ridge vent calculator to show you much ridge vent area and soffit vent area you need for the size of your house. LINK
I’ve heard Paul LaGrange, forensic building inspector with LaGrange Consulting in New Orleans discuss this topic numerous times on his WWL 870 Home Improvement radio program.
Generally he favors ridge vents on roofs with long ridge lines which I’m thinking you might have with a gable style rectangular roof. If the roof has a small ridge line(s) as one might see on some steep hip roofs he seems to favor passive whirlybird ventilators b/c the roofs might not have sufficient ridge area to properly ventilate the attic. Of course either way you need to open up your soffit vents and match the intake soffit vent area with the ridge vent area or exhaust capacity of the whirlybirds.
Here is a ridge vent calculator to show you much ridge vent area and soffit vent area you need for the size of your house. LINK
Posted on 9/24/21 at 8:57 pm to Relham10
My soffits are 100% vented and house is gabled. I have vents in the gable and was ridge vented. Reroofed last year closed off ridge and went to 1 whirlybird per 500 ft2. That works much better. Cost me $150 per bird.
Posted on 9/25/21 at 8:27 am to agdoctor
quote:
went to 1 whirlybird per 500 ft2. That works much better. Cost me $150 per bird.
The only issue I have with the whirlybird vents is they will eventually go bad, usually with the bearings burning out.
I had to replace one of mine a few years ago for that very reason, but it was almost 15 yrs. old at the time.
When a new roof is due, which is pretty soon, I'll likely go with the ridge vent system since I have a very long ridge and a 7/12 pitch on my roof which gives me more than enough "stand up" height in my attic for the heat to rise.
Posted on 9/25/21 at 9:56 am to gumbo2176
The ones I bought have a lifetime guarantee that is transferable. Lomanco
Posted on 9/25/21 at 10:16 am to agdoctor
quote:
The ones I bought have a lifetime guarantee that is transferable. Lomanco
Well, that's good, but you'll still have to pay a roofer to replace them or get up there and do it yourself.
They really aren't all that hard to replace with the only worry being if the roof is pretty steep and you're not comfortable being on it.
Posted on 9/25/21 at 6:41 pm to Relham10
Ridge vent add soffit vents also
Posted on 9/25/21 at 7:20 pm to gumbo2176
On my home the birds ate a big improvement over the ridge vent.
Posted on 9/25/21 at 8:18 pm to ksdolfan
no. those are for small exhause fans like by your toilet. vent it properly with a few spinners or a ridge vent that is cut back on the interior
Posted on 9/26/21 at 9:35 am to Relham10
Add soffit vents immediately (continuous preferably). Gable vents are much more efficient than ridge vents, so you may me good there. Consider adding a power vent on one of the gables.
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