When installing a new roof, or replacing a roof, you should consider installing a ridge vent if possible.
In order to determine if you should be installing a ridge vent, ask yourself:
- Are my soffits currently vented? If not, the ridge vent will not work.
- Do I have enough soffit area to vent? Some homes don’t.
- Is there insulation installed over the venting area of my soffits? If so, it may have to be moved.
- Does my home have gable end or roof vents? If so, they must be closed.
- If my home has insulation in the attic, is the vapor barrier facing the heated side of the insulation? Whether or not installing a ridge vent, this must be corrected to avoid terrible mold conditions that can result from this.
To be effective, ridge vents rely on a flow of air from the lowest section of the roof rising to the vented peak or ridge. The benefit is keeping the roof deck as close to the outside temperature as possible, a condition that extends the life of the shingle.
Certain homes can benefit significantly from adding a radiant barrier assembly. The assembly will direct the vented airflow properly and reflect the suns summer radiant heat away from the living space. The result is a well-vented, solar controlled attic that makes a home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.