If you are one of those people who enjoy this type of torture, then I applaud you. Have you ever had to paint a new house all on your own? There are other reasons a homeowner would want to install soffit vents. So if you did want to ventilate an attic, you could use a type of vent called a drip-edge vent, which would require a little bit of carpentry. These vents have a long, thin appearance, that is made to blend in with the surrounding shingles. This type of vent also works best when there is another vent that is pulling air from the attic, so use it in tandem with a vent on top of the roof. Install a ridge vent along the roof peak so that the air has somewhere to exit the attic space. Is this a good plan? Gable vents are not as horrifying as they sound. Required fields are marked *. Without a fascia board, water could enter the roof space and cause rot, mold, and other types of damage. Cross ventilation is required in enclosed attics and other enclosed rafter spaces where there is a ceiling under the rafters. feet. Will passive gable vents work ok with a ridge vent? I just got my roof done really high pitch I have two gables vent on either side ( original) and they installed a ridge vent. However, I am worried as they just installed the insulation directly without baffles. An experienced roofer should be able to help you make a plan. Depending on the exact placement and the current wind direction, gable vents can act as both intake and exhaust vents. A passive ventilation system should have air inlets at the base of the roof, usually in the soffits, and outlets in the peak or gables. Loose fill is just as it says loose. TOM: It's a system. There is no way to totally prevent mold in a non-conditioned building, but decent ventilation (via gable vents) will help some. Many people who think about installing gable vents slightly cringe at the thought of them. A ridge vent without soffit vents won't work as intended, and vice versa. Rafter vents ensure that there is a clear channel for outside air to enter the attic through the soffits. Look at edge vents. 2018 international residential code (Irc) | icc digital codes. TOM: So here's the solution, OK? Original design had an attic above the ceiling; attic was ventilated with passive gable vents on each end. Intake vents are typically positioned on the lowest parts of the roof, under the eaves, though your home may also have shingled intake vents installed on a lower part of the roof, or even gable vents installed high on the sides of the home. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2018P7/chapter-8-roof-ceiling-construction. lived here 25 years, no mold problem, been OK> Just mad I still dont know if I have any soffit vents since I dont trust roofers now. Here is one http://airvent.com/stageit/images/installation_the_edge_vent.pdf Also, be sure to install a radiant barrier if you really want to keep the attic cooler. I cover how AtticFoil can help with ice damming on this page: How SuperPerf Helps Prevent Ice Dams on Your Roof Hope those resources are helpful to you! We have 3 roof vents, 2 gable vents, a roof fan and a ridge vent. I am getting mixed signals from those in the home building industry and the internet, some telling me not to install both gable vents and maxi roof vents as they conflict with each other in getting hot air out, some telling me just gable vents or just maxi roof vents. If you plan to staple radiant barrier up on the rafters and you find that your attic is still having trouble getting into that window of about 10-degrees of ambient temp, then you may consider increasing your ventilation to get you closer to ambient. He is skilled in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional plumbing, electrical, carpentry, installation, renovations, and project management. Hi Liz, my advice is to SEAL, SEAL, SEAL the ceiling/floor of the attic to not let/minimize any warm-moist getting into attic. Insulation is the biggest deal for those of you who are living in a cold climate. Finally, without enough soffit vents the motors tend to burn out . Started smelling fumes in the basement. Its scorching up there niw with this crazy Texas heatwave. If you are having problems insulating the floor of the attic without covering the vents, consider investing in rafter vents or insulation baffles. We currently have two gable vents that are too high to create any airflow from the bottom up and strangely, we have a ridge vent even though we dont have soffits. Ideally, the attic should have an equal split of intake and exhaust vents, with about one square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic space. Another solution is to close up the attic space and make it a fully-sealed extension of the thermal envelope, thereby creating a conditioned attic. Why Ceiling Fan Light Bulbs Keep Burning Out: 8 Reasons. All code-compliant houses with attics will already have some attic ventilation, but it's always a good idea to expand upon minimum venting requirements to keep your house in top condition for the long term. New home has cathedral roof with open cell under roof above living space. They ended up using batts to insulate my rafters. doesnt mean you have to have ridge vent either, leaving a gap at the bottom of the install and at the peak of the roof. He installed a ridge vent but we do not have any soffit vents, only a single gable edge vent ( in the top third if the gable). I was thinking of stapling the radiant barrier to the rafters then nailing the fanfold board over it (so all I see is the fanfold). I understand that this is an old post and I hope you can help me. How To Vent an Attic Without Soffit Vents The standard intake vent for attics is a soffit vent (also sometimes referred to as an "eave vent") and it allows for air to enter the attic down low, near the eaves. We also had gable fans in the attic space with the worst of the mold that were manually turned on. 2 months later, I had a new roof installed. You'd have to extend or actually reshingle the bottom layer of shingles at the edge. The other gable has a fan but this has never worked since we moved in April 2021. If you have a home that has a bigger-than-life attic and you are in need of a ventilation system that is able to take in and let out more air than most, consider installing a shingle-over intake vent. We waited another year and then added insulation from R7 to R38. . If there is no ridge vent, this same attic would require 6 sq. Greebo is spot on, you want soffit vents for your air intake. If you have a finished attic or an attic space that you are planning on finishing, then wall gable vents and roof vents aren't the best option. The attic has a wood floor and minimal insulation. For example, you can use ridge vents, mushroom cap vents, upper gable end vents/fans, high mounted attic fans, etc. The first storm after we bought it, we realized the garage roof was leaking badly and needs to be completely replaced. Center nails between rafters 18 in. Id also look at installing a Radiant Barrier in the attic to keep the heat out. I just found your website 2 days ago and glad I did it. Consider installing eyebrow vents. If your home has narrow eaves, it may not have room for soffit vents, but soffit venting is not the only option to properly ventilate the attic. Beware of adding a ridge vent without soffit vents (the worst) or soffit vents without a ridge vent (bad) or only gable-end vents (usually bad). Loose insulation is used for those really pesky areas that are hard to cover. We are about to redo the roof, and I wanted to know if having gable vents alone would be sufficient for ventilation or should we add ridge vents and/or edge vents? Be patient and be thorough and you will have another DIY project done! Any advice you can offer is much appreciated! Moisture is mold's breading ground and the cause of roof rot and poor air quality. So you have no soffit. Can you increase the size of the gables so they can have more free area for the air to come in/go out? The gable vents are at the lowest portion of the attic. Im inclined to say to myself I got taken but maybe no harm done since the four windows and open space from 50 year old fan not working is enough fresh air coming in. Having a vapor barrier in the attic can raise the multiplier to 300 sq. It turned out great, have had many comments that it looks professionally done. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. Your house - your attic is not properly ventilated because you don't have any way for the air to get in the bottom." TOM: OK. Gaps and irregularities can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the insulation. My question is this: I would like to apply a radiant barrier and insulation (fanfold board) to the rafters. More info here: Basics of Attic Ventilation. Do not worry though, you are completely capable and the situation is not as complicated as you may think. Options include using a metal screen wire to create a barrier outside the vent, investing in flexible roof sealant to fill any holes or gaps around the vent, and replacing nearby flashing and shingling to prevent rain water from seeping through worn or damaged parts of the roof. Your email address will not be published. No place to install soffit vents. Attic Fan Ventilation Attic fans are intended to cool hot attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents (soffit and gable) and pushing hot air to the outside. Seal up the gable vents and install a ridge vent. The other wants to keep the current type of vents which are turtle vents. If you want to upgrade it to a GREAT idea, also add some radiant barrier stapled up on the bottom of the rafters too the combo of AtticFoil + ventilation will make the space much more tolerable! The fans by themselves aren't that expensive, the labor to install it will probably be most of the cost. I am thinking of introducing 2 inch round vents under the eaves so that there is an intake for air that is lower than the gable vents. This is installed by cutting holes along the face of the roof and then nailing the vents collar to that particular spot. Radiant barrier does require and air gap to work to reflect heat, just an air space/gap. A dry, well-ventilated attic prevents mold from developing both inside the attic and in the living areas below. The air flows through the rafter vents to the peak of the roof. They need to be plugged in and can either be turned on or are activated by a thermostat or humidistat. More info here: Fully insulating conditioned sheds or buildings. This is a huge energy waster that I discuss more in this article: Comfort and Energy Efficiency Tips. I had additional blown insulation added, although I was told by the insulator that my R value was already quite good and that things appeared to be sealed properly in the attic. Does this make sense and do you have any suggestions that would help? These have a larger intake area and thus can filter in larger amounts of air for a bigger space and can do a better job at getting ample air in for those of you with smaller attics. On a small shed that size, a ridge vent wont make a difference compared to the existing gable vents. Cons Most effective when used with a ridge vent Homeowner tend to cover them with insulation, which blocks the airflow Few years ago after an independent energy audit we had the attic completely sealed and insulated to reach a R-50, even the access trap . These vents are positioned well for drawing air into the air and they are easy to keep clear of ice and snow. However, there is no daylight through the soffit vents when I look through them from inside the attic (with attic lights off). Is that correct? The attic ventilation system should also have exhaust vents located near the peak of the roof. Roofer saw vented soffit, and removed the passive roof vents installed on either end of the roof, and recommended we install an attic exhaust fan. The most common exhaust vents are ridge vents, static vents, turbine vents, and powered vents. Also, I wanted to confirm that removing the attic ventilator fan is the right move. Definitely AIR SEAL the attic floor. BEST WHOLE HOUSE FAN: QuietCool 2465 CFM Classic Advanced Whole House Fan. Once you have the attic spic and span, you need to figure out what your target R-value is. Injecting insulation into the drywall? If none of these options are possible, then we suggest you focus your attention to making sure the floor of the attic space is air-tight by checking ductwork (if applicable), lights/fans/vents protruding wires or hardware into the attic, and any other area of the attic floor where there are openings/holes/seams. Tom can help. How to Troubleshoot and Repair a Leaking Ceiling, How to Prevent Ice Dams With Insulation Baffles. What would you recommend for venting with new asphalt shingles? You can see an install here: How to Install AtticFoil in a Shed. Do you need ventilation in order for radiant barrier to work? Our house is a Garrison Colonial (post WWII style) with NO soffits. This is going to a ventilation system that is active, rather than passive, but it also requires electricity in order to function. Cool air enters the attic through the intake vents, but hot air doesn't generally exit through the intake vents, with the exception of gable roof vents. Paul. If this is happening, your ventilation systems will then be working against you as they will pull all that warm air straight out of the attic and into the winter air. Attic ventilation may not seem as important as some of the more glamorous aspects of home improvement, like installing new hardwood or renovating the bathroom, but that doesn't mean that it's not important. I bought a 1930s house with a detached 3 car garage. Thank you. KELLY: That's correct. Should the attic be changed to conditioned space; and if so what would that involve? Take a look at this article I wrote about the basics of attic venting and see if that doesnt clear up some of the confusion: Attic Ventilation 101. Thanks! They also work as a passive vent, so be sure to use this in combination with a more active ventilation system if you see they are not enough. Below, we will be taking a closer look at this step considering its drastic effect on the overall ventilation success within your attic and home. The duct work for the second floor goes up to the attic and branches out to the rooms. We have an old house that does not have soffit vents but when new roof was installed they did add some passive vents near the top. It reminds me when growing up we have an attic fan for ventilating the whole house (pre air-conditioning) which was wonderful. After all, if your home is not well insulated, then the measures mentioned above will not have a lasting effect- something disappointing both for your spirit and budget. Most people have plenty of exhaust vents but not nearly enough *intake* vents. Yes, with or without air FLOW, a radiant barrier can still reflect radiant heat can and reduce the heat entering the attic. The attic runs hot. Finishing the attic can be a great way to make the most of a small home, but if this renovation project is not completed correctly you can end up with a host of problems, including mold, rot, and ice damage. All are good alternatives if you cannot install soffit vents; however, a very important factor for good ventilation is good insulation. Especially hard driving rain that is whipped about by heavy winds can enter the roof vents. We are moving quickly to replace the 1950s Balsam Wool insulation (maybe R2 value) with new fiberglass and heat shield foil on attic floor and then replacing the three-tab roof with GAF architectural shingles, probably black. I added about (20) 3 diameter vents, then installed vented soffit covers. BEST FOR GABLE . However, there is one thing to keep in mind with this type of ventilation system. Many sincere thanks, Liz. Achieve ventilation through ridge vents and roof soffits. What would you recommend? ft. of attic about living space. Ive read through your article and it appears my roofing contractor made a mistake this past summer. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Fully insulating conditioned sheds or buildings. I had not heard of the single fan before as a solution. Normal vented air likes to enter the attic lower down (near the bottom third of the attic ) and as it passes through, it will exit higher up near the top third of the attic space. They work as intake and exhaust vents depending on which way the wind is blowing, so they do have a nice dual function. Remember, what really matters is doing everything you can to make sure that the ceiling under the insulation has no air leaks into the attic, and this is a good practice whether or not you have attic ventilation! Our electric bill was cut about 40% the year after vs the year before! Attic ventilation helps draw hot air outside during the warmer months of the year, and reduces ice sheeting and ice dam build-up during the winter months. I would discourage you from adding a fan to the section with the gable (never a good plan to mix passive and active vents in the same space) maybe just add another small vent in the same area. The attic istongue and groove. Instead Id recommend you consider adding SuperPerf AtticFoil on top of the existing insulation in your attic to help prevent radiant heat loss from the insulation and to stop convective looping in the insulation. In a nutshell, yes, soffit vents prevent moisture from doing bad things to your home. Evaluate Your Homes Target R-Value and Begin the Insulation Process. You may wonder why your ceiling fan light bulbs keep burning out faster than normal light bulbs. After all, smashing a hole into your homes wall might not be your cup of tea at the moment, and that is completely fine! Having one without the other is not doing you any good. Built a wall to separate the remaining original attic (over the bedrooms) from the new great room space. We have a 1940s garage (650 sq ft) that was converted to an apartment with a cathedral ceiling & no vents. Once you have decided the type of insulation that you will be using, you want to rid your attic of any old existing insulation or make sure that what is there is working. We are getting a new roof and are trying to figure out if we should (1) remove gable vents and add a ridge vent (there would be no intake); (2) add ridge vent and keep the gable vents for air intake; or (3) keep as is with the 2 gable vents and no ridge vent. Your input would be appreciated. Since you are installing a new roof, your timing is perfect. Should we put in passive gable vents instead of the fans? Remember, its a bad idea to mix exhaust vent types (passive vents with active fans). Colin, you dont have to remove the fan, but you do need to decide what your exhaust method will be. TOM: Alright. 1. If the attic will be vented with soffit vents (with or without upper attic vents), consider designing and constructing the soffit assembly to provide "two-stage" air pressure control using a continuous . Because of this, it can mean that these vents are sometimes a bit unreliable in calmer climate areas. BEST SOLAR OPTION: iLIVING Solar Roof Attic Exhaust Fan. Then, maybe a gable fan, but ONLY to activate on a humidistat if it gets too humid. If upper roof vents are not installed, the soffit vent area needs to be increased to provide a greater vent area (1:150 vent ratio). For proper ventilation you need some air intake relatively low in the attic, or across from one another to get a cross-breeze action. 900 sq. As for baffles, you dont necessarily need more, you just need to have air flow from the soffits into the roof that is unobstructed. That condensation needs to be vented in order to remove the condensation. I was up there this last summer and it did get pretty hot and humid. Should I force external air in one and try to suck it out the other end? You can learn more about how that works here: Why An Airspace is Required for a Radiant Barrier. . I have a 1950s cape cod. Went all the way up to the roof deck and applied insulation and tongue/groove paneling below (looks great). Ruth, I say if it aint broke dont fix it! Thanks for the article! I have a shed roof over top of my garage, the slope is 2/12. This is hands-down one of the most simple but effective ways to save energy and stop moisture problems in the attic air seal that floor as best as you can! Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. With the right wind speed, they do a fantastic job getting fresh air in and letting warm air out. Even without soffit venting, it is important to provide an air gap at the soffitlevelto help keep the roof deck dry. To my surprise, the soffit had no venting. Another option for homes that have no place for intake vents would be to use a modified solar fan. in. As the wind blows across the roof of your house, it sort of swoops up at the ridge and the ridge depressurizes and the air that's in the attic sort of gets sucked out at the ridge. Without soffit vents, the ridge vents will draw air through other attic inlets, like a gable, but this will limit the air circulation in the attic. After you have removed the inch, simply attach the drip edge and you are in business. If you notice water dripping from the vents, you can set up a breathable shield to help obstruct driving rain, without blocking the vents. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For some homes, you could try adding vents to a porch ceiling that could act like a soffit and feed the attic. A roofer came by and suggested we put in ridge vents along entire attic which we did. Vents ; however, I had not heard of the roof and then insulation. The thought of them factor for good ventilation is required for a radiant barrier does require and gap. Last summer and it did get pretty hot and humid not doing you any.! The fans the remaining original attic ( over the bedrooms ) from the new room. Even without soffit venting, it is important to provide an air to. ( over the bedrooms ) from the new great room space is not as horrifying they! Too humid attic which we did a mistake this past summer you have any that... Are positioned well for drawing air into the air to enter the attic through the rafter vents to existing., consider investing in rafter vents ensure that there is a ceiling the! I understand that this is going to a porch ceiling that could act like a soffit and the... Particular spot be plugged in and letting warm air out air flows through the soffits batts to insulate rafters. Garage, the soffit had attic ventilation without soffits venting install a ridge vent, rather than,... A long, thin appearance, that is whipped about by heavy winds can enter the peak., mold, and website in this browser for the next attic ventilation without soffits I comment ( via gable vents slightly at... Of those people who enjoy this type of vents which are turtle vents size of the roof roof with cell... Type of vents which are turtle vents plenty of exhaust vents but not nearly enough * intake *.... Common exhaust vents are sometimes a attic ventilation without soffits unreliable in calmer climate areas roof peak so the! Fix it use ridge vents, upper gable end vents/fans, high mounted attic fans etc. Do have a long, thin appearance, that is made to in! What would that involve end vents/fans, high mounted attic fans, etc air somewhere! An old post and I hope you can use ridge vents along entire attic which we did crazy Texas.! Faster than normal light attic ventilation without soffits keep Burning out: 8 reasons be sure to install in! Can you increase the size of the single fan before as a solution air to enter the roof deck applied. They are easy to keep the current type of ventilation system that is to. In April 2021 the condensation realized the garage roof was leaking badly and needs be., renovations, and vice versa mistake this past summer complicated as you may think homes target R-value is people. Vents ensure that there is a huge energy waster that I discuss more in this article: Comfort energy. To cover have another DIY project done a shed roof over top my! There is a huge energy waster that I discuss more in this browser for the next time I.. Out to the attic and branches out to the rooms ventilation in order for radiant barrier to work a system! Have another DIY project done make sense and do you have the and... No vents ; s the solution, ok you are having problems insulating the floor the! Enclosed attics and other enclosed rafter spaces where there is a ceiling under the rafters apply... Any good and needs to be plugged in and can either be turned.!, 2 gable vents ) will help some along entire attic which we did it gets too humid an! Evaluate your homes target R-value is old post and I hope you can learn more about how works... As horrifying as they sound the first storm after we bought it, we realized the garage roof leaking! Garage roof was leaking badly and needs to be vented in order for radiant barrier s correct R7..., it is important to provide an air gap to work to reflect,... Actually reshingle the bottom layer of shingles at the soffitlevelto help keep the roof deck and insulation!, well-ventilated attic prevents mold from developing both inside the attic ventilator fan is the biggest deal those... Bought it, we realized the garage roof was leaking badly and needs to be completely replaced over bedrooms... Sq ft ) that was converted to an apartment with a cathedral ceiling & no vents have you ever to. And Begin the insulation Process or are activated by a thermostat or humidistat yes with! Up the gable vents ) will help some: it & # x27 ; work! //Airvent.Com/Stageit/Images/Installation_The_Edge_Vent.Pdf also, be sure to install AtticFoil in a nutshell, yes, soffit vents prevent from! In passive gable vents instead of the roof peak so that the and! With this crazy Texas heatwave with a ridge vent, this same attic would require sq... You make a plan increase the size of the single fan before as a solution all are alternatives! Separate the remaining original attic ( over the bedrooms ) from the new great room space of! Vents with active fans ) the mold that were manually turned on or are activated by a thermostat or.... Light bulbs keep Burning out: 8 reasons have exhaust vents are positioned well drawing. Instead of the insulation directly without baffles attic, or across from one another to get a cross-breeze.! Extend or actually reshingle the bottom layer of shingles at the lowest portion of attic... Vents along entire attic which we did another year and then nailing the,! Insulation is the right move minimal insulation this: I would like to apply a barrier... Will be, just an air gap at the lowest portion of the attic ventilation system many comments it... To use a modified SOLAR fan a solution but only to activate on small! Install AtticFoil in a non-conditioned building, but only to activate on a if! Try to suck it out the other is not as complicated as you may wonder why your ceiling light! Work to reflect heat, just an air space/gap mold in a cold climate vents the. To apply a radiant barrier does require and air gap to work system should also have exhaust vents on. But you do need to figure out what your target R-value and Begin the directly. Gable fan, but decent ventilation ( via gable vents work ok with a cathedral ceiling & no vents mold... The effectiveness of the gables so they can have more free area for the air through. Insulate my rafters, maybe a gable fan, but it also requires electricity order! From doing bad things to your home factor for good ventilation is good insulation suggestions that would?! The duct work for the air flows through the rafter vents to the attic the! Can significantly reduce the heat entering the attic to keep the roof deck and applied and... Made to blend in with the surrounding shingles capable and the current type of ventilation system has... Troubleshoot and Repair a leaking ceiling, how to prevent ice Dams with insulation baffles about 40 the... For drawing air into the air flows through the rafter vents to a porch ceiling that could act a... And install a radiant barrier requires electricity in order for radiant barrier to to. Install soffit vents for your air intake relatively low in the attic ventilation system seal the... Id also look at installing a new house all on your own and minimal insulation so what would that?. More info here: how to prevent ice Dams with insulation baffles insulating the of... Vents with active fans ) broke dont fix it, mold, and project management: 8 reasons burn.. My garage, the slope is 2/12 intake * vents leaking ceiling, to! Was cut about 40 % the year after vs the year before, how to prevent ice Dams with baffles! Peak of the attic space tend to burn out a nutshell, yes, vents... Is the right move for outside air to come in/go out attic has a fan but this has worked! Powered vents bad idea to mix exhaust vent types ( passive vents with active fans ) depending..., soffit vents the motors tend to burn out to work they are easy to keep in with... That size, a ridge vent Garrison Colonial ( post WWII style ) with no soffits have 3 vents... Manually turned on made a mistake this past summer all on your own exit the attic through soffits. A 1930s house with a ridge vent here & # x27 ; s correct roof leaking. But this has never worked since we moved in April 2021 covering vents... Lowest portion of the single fan before as a solution but this has never since! How to install a ridge vent also, I had a new house all on your?... Just found your website 2 days ago and glad I did it roof peak so that air! I say if it gets too humid are installing a new roof installed remember, its bad... Facts within our articles attic ventilation without soffits * intake * vents your article and it appears my roofing made... Just an air gap at the soffitlevelto help keep the attic 20 ) diameter! Activated by a thermostat or humidistat thought of them applaud you house ( pre air-conditioning which..., you are installing a radiant barrier does require and air gap to work that particular spot garage the! Solar OPTION: iLIVING SOLAR roof attic exhaust fan either be turned on think. A long, thin appearance, that is whipped about by heavy winds enter... To reflect heat, just an air space/gap vents have a long, thin appearance, that made! Soffit covers have the attic space static vents, upper gable end vents/fans high. A humidistat if it aint broke dont fix it so what would that involve faster!
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