Venting An Attic Options

As a certified licensed home inspector it is not correct to say too much ventilation is bad for an attic unless rain moisture is getting in.

Venting an attic options.

A ridge vent is a ventilation strip that is placed along the ridgeline of the home. Venting your attic can be accomplished either mechanically or non mechanically. The idea of roof vents existed for hundreds of years with natural vents employed in chinese buildings during the tang dynasty natural ventilation ducts in the buddhist monks caves and wind catchers incorporated in arabian architecture. Though it s against building code to vent any kind of exhaust to an attic space many home builders have gotten away with this shortcut.

Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool. They re most effective when used in conjunction with a continuous ridge vent. 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. Attic fans perform this ventilation by pushing hot air out into the environment while also pulling fresh cool air into the attic.

Venting a homes attic is a very important best building practices will say 50 at the ridge and 50 at the soffits unobstructed. Correct that mistake so that humid exhaust air doesn t get trapped in your. Vent roofs with steeples towers or cupolas can be found in different buildings from barns to cathedrals. To install the rafter vents staple them directly to the roof decking.

The building codes and building science for. Rafter vents ensure the soffit vents are clear and there is a channel for outside air to move into the attic at the soffits and out through the gable or ridge vent. Soffit vents come in several sizes and styles including small round discs and rectangular grilles. These vents allow outside air to enter the attic at the lowest point of the roof along the underside of the eave.

Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. Attic venting options written by doityourself staff. Do not use mechanical means electric attic fans. In order to maintain appropriate moisture and temperature levels in the top portion of your home proper attic venting is required.

Rafter vents come in 4 foot lengths and 14 1 2 and 22 1 2 inch widths for different rafter spacings. It comes on an easy to install flexible mesh roll and is hand nailable with no complicated fitting wrapping nail gun adapters. The result is a cooler attic space with plenty of air exchange. The following is a list of options for installing ventilation into a residential attic space.