Old House Roof Ventilation

This creates a natural air flow by drawing in the air from outside pushing it up and out through the vent at the top of the house.

Old house roof ventilation.

Prior to installing the ridge vent a 1 inch wide strip of roof decking is cut out along both sides of the ridgeline to allow for air movement through the vent. Hot air exhaust vents located at the peak of the roof allow hot air to escape. The key to proper ventilation of your roof and attic is balance. Vents come in various styles.

A ridge vent is a ventilation strip that is placed along the ridgeline of the home. Sure installing roof vents for older homes can reduce your hot air during the summer but there are probably more low risk cost effective ways to increase your home s energy efficiency. It also helps maintain good indoor air quality since stuffy humid air is continuously moved through the house into the outdoors. You ll pay less than 3 for an 8 ft.

The hvac system and the roof. For the best results place roof ventilation near the roof s peak and soffit vents in the eaves. Tearing off an old roof offers the opportunity to have your roofing contractor add one of these upgrades. This is called passive ventilation.

If you see dampness or frost you need better roof ventilation and some attic vents. Good roof ventilation can do this but shingle color sun exposure and insulation are exponentially more important to overall energy efficiency than ventilation. Roof ventilation in a cold climate vents moisture and ensures a cold roof temperature to avoid ice dams. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool air to enter the attic.

Fitted with louvers or electronically controlled windows they help draw cool air in through soffits or open windows then vent warm air from the top of the building. We opted for aluminum strip vents that measure 3 in. The building codes and building science for natural roof ventilation however only appeared in the 1940s. Air flows in through the soffit vents and out through the roof vents.

The amount of space you devote to intake must be equal to the amount you allow for exhaust and these must be calculated according to the size of your attic and slope of your roof. These ventilation needs are calculated differently. Before ridge vents became standard cupolas were used to cool houses and barns. Strips vents come in white brown and silver.

It is important that air movement occurs and is not impeded by any framing members of the home. This style vent provides a quick way to ventilate every rafter bay. There are some styles of vaulted ceiling homes or flat roof homes that have ventilation spaces within the roof itself and no attic. The most common way to add ventilation to an attic is by installing air intakes in the soffits and putting an outlet at the gable of the house.

Vent roofs with steeples towers or cupolas can be found in different buildings from barns to cathedrals.