What Is The Best Roof Ridge Vent

Hard Wired Powered Attic Vents

Powered attic vents are powered by a motor-powered fan and controlled by a switch or preferably a humidistat. The fans can circulate the air in the attic or similar confined space or move hot out of the area through a roof vent.

Powered attic vents are well suited to applications where you must expel high volumes of air. The powered vents are used extensively in factory or warehouse environments, often in conjunction with ridge vents.

The downside of this system is that the fan-created noise may cause discomfort in some applications and, secondly, being hard-wired to the electrical supply costs money to run.

Various designs of power attic vents are available for commercial and domestic use. Selecting which will suit your particular application may require advice from a professional.

A hard-wired powered attic vent is essentially just an exhaust vent. They require ample inlet vents to prevent a negative pressure buildup in the attic.

Powered attic vents often have a louver-type grid or downward-facing exhaust pipe that expels attic air from the roof and, simultaneously, ensures that the opening in the roof remains weatherproof.

What Is The Best Way To Vent Your Attic

For the best results, place roof ventilation near the roof’s peak and soffit vents in the eaves. Air flows in through the soffit vents and out through the roof vents. Vents come in various styles. We chose rectangular, hooded roofing vents and rectangular soffit vents because they’re easy to install.

Protection Ability Against Harsh Weathers:

Well, weve mentioned external baffles and how they resist the strong gust of wind from entering. However, baffles arent the only thing that resists the harsh weather.

In fact, there are different weather filters that work in protecting the attic from intense weather. So, before buying a ridge vent, make sure it has a dedicated protection system against harsh weather and train/dust/wind/snow.

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Ridge Vent: What Is It And How Does It Work

A poorly ventilated home is an unhealthy home. Lack of proper ventilation can cause a range of issues, including mold and mildew, and damage to your homes structure. A ridge vent runs along the highest point, or ridge, of your roof and is designed to help ventilate your home and keep it healthy.

Below we discuss what a ridge vent is, what it does, how it works, and how to install one.

Ways To Hide Your Return Vent Without Blocking Airflow Home Inspection Insiderwhy Is Ventilation Important

Ventilation is crucial in ensuring that your home performs at its best in terms of breathability, air circulation, and safety.

Hot air can rise out of the building if the roof has adequate venting while simultaneously removing moisture.

As a result, the roofs insulation remains dry, the airflow within the home remains efficient, and the temperature of the building remains at a comfortable constant.

In older buildings, ventilation was not as much of a concern because these buildings are not airtight, so that the air could escape at multiple points throughout the building envelope.

Contemporary homes, conversely, have become so well-sealed and insulated that hot air often has nowhere to escape. As a result, the hot air escapes through the roof through properly placed vents to prevent moisture and humidity build-up within the home.

A home without good attic ventilation can cause many undesirable effects to the attic space itself, the roof, the rest of the house, and as a result, may have an effect on your lifestyle within the home.

Poorly ventilated buildings will have a poor quality of indoor air due to the air in the attic not having anywhere to go, resulting in dead, stale air.

Due to the rising of hot air, the upper floors of your home may become warmer than desired. As a result of this, air-conditioning systems may become overburdened and overworked in an attempt to keep the homes temperature at a constant level.

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What Is A Ridge Vent

Whether you have a roof made of asphalt shingles, luxury slate, or wood shake, it is crucial that you have ventilation for your roof. Inside your home, heat rises. Thats why your attic or upper crawlspace are always so hot. Roof venting allows that heat to be released.

A ridge vent runs the entire length of the ridge of your roof. One of the primary benefits of these vents is the fact that they are not visible from the ground.

Installation Costs Can Get High

Even though there are many benefits of roof ridge vents, like cost-effectiveness, you still might want to look out for high installation costs in the long run, unlike turbine roof vents.

So, keep in mind that installing a roof ridge vent can cost anywhere between $500 to $1000, depending on your roof. Moreover, if you have an old house, you will also have to spend extra on the soffit ventilation system. This can increase the overall cost of installation.

Hence, if you plan to install roof ridge vents, keep some extra money on the side as the installation is costly.

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Gaf Materials 2005 Cobra Ridge Vent

If you are looking for a ridge vent that is straightforward to install and versatile enough to help you save your cooling costs and have a perfect indoor environment, consider using the GAF Materials 2005 Cobra Ridge Vent.

This ridge vent is perfectly designed to allow the moist, warm, and stale air that makes its way to the attic to move outside your house. This keeps the entire home comfortable and helps keep the heating and cooling costs down.

The only notable drawback of using this ridge vent relates to its time to have it up and running. Although the shingles-over installation provides perfect concealment of the ridge vent and saves the beauty of your roof, it is costlier than the conventional one.

This means that your roofing technician will take a long time installing this ridge vent on the roof of your house.

Pros

• It comes on a mesh roll for straightforward installation
• Available in hand nail and nail gun versions for your convenience
• Blends into the ridgeline ideally after the completion of the shingles-over installation process

Cons

• The shingles-over installation process is slightly costlier in terms of time and costs.

What Are Off Ridge Vents

off ridge vent is a UV-resistant static vent suitable for installation on sloped roofs. It features a screened external wind baffle for optimal weather protection and airflow. It is made from professional grade 26-gauge galvanized steel. This vent offers proven performance with an unobtrusive low-profile appearance.

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Roof Venting: Are Ridge Vents Better Than Roof Vents

There are currently several types of ventilation systems available for your roof, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages.

Before deciding the type of vent to use in the roof of your home, it is essential to understand why roof vents are necessary in the first place and, after that, to understand how each type of roof vent works.

Roofing contractors consider ridge vents to be the most preferred option when ventilating the roof of any home. Ridge vents are less invasive than other vent types while remaining the most cost-effective and energy-efficient compared to other roof vent types.

With all the different types of vents currently available on the market and their different applications and possible combinations for intake and exhaust vents, it is essential to understand how each type of vent works and how the exhaust vents work in conjunction with the different intake vents.

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List Of The Cons Of Roof Ridge Vents

1. Ridge vents do not always provide the proper ventilation in some homes.The effect of ridge vents for the roof depends upon the energy-efficient nature of the structure. You must have air movement toward the vents to make it an effective solution. If the rest of the home does not receive circulation, then this option will not work as intended. Some older homes still need to have the older-style vents installed to give it the ventilation levels that are necessary.

If you dont have baffles installed with the vent, then this option may create zero ventilation even when the flow of air is correct. You must prevent outside air from crossing over this product for it to work effectively. Thats why most installations place shingles over the roof.

2. There is a chance that they could leak water during heavy rains.Some homes are in the path of storms where the wind strikes the roof in such a way that rain blows in right through the vents. If you find yourself in this situation, then you must inspect your attic for water damage frequently. The only way to prevent the issue is to take the vents out, replacing them with a product which offers a more water-tight experience for your roof. If you have insulation in your attic, then the dampness caused in this situation creates even more challenges to face as a homeowner.

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Proper Roof Ventilation: Ridge Vents Or Power Vents

On the surface, roof ventilation sounds ridiculously simple: out with the hot air, in with the cool. The goal is to get rid of the stale, hot, and humid air in your attic and to continuously replace it with fresh, cool air from outside. Done right, roof ventilation can cut cooling costs in summer and heating costs in winter as well as prolong the life of your roof.

But the question of whether to install a ridge vent or a power vent isnt nearly as simple.

Some of the arguments in favor of ridge vents include: passive ventilation , reliability , ease of installation, and relatively low upfront cost.

On the other hand, power vents are a better choice for hip roofs and for homes in the Northeast, where fluctuations in winter temperatures can sometimes make passive venting impossible.

In either case, there needs to be a balance between intake and exhaust as well as adequate attic insulation. But, as Anderson SC roofing specialists will tell you, there are other factors to consider, like existing vents, attic and ceiling shape, roof pitch, and obstructions.

Long story short, the choice between a ridge vent and a power vent isnt as cut-and-dried as most homeowners imagine. Whats definite is that it should remain an either/or question. Combining the two is a bad idea, as Danny Lipford explains:

Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because:

Not Effective For Flat Roofs

If you have a flat roof, then you might want to reconsider getting roof ridge vents. It is because these vents are built keeping in mind the slanted roof. So, they wont work effectively with flat roofs.

Moreover, for full efficiency, you need to get them installed on the peak of the roof. If not, then it can again hamper the working of these vents.

Lastly, you can either get a vent installed on only one ridge or multiple ridges but keep in mind that in the case of only one ridge, the performance is affected too.

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Selecting The Best Ridge Vent In 2022

Ridge vents are essential roofing components for modern housing. When properly installed, they can help you reduce your energy costs. Ridge vents let out warm and moist air that accumulates in the attic.

This creates space for fresh air currents to flow in. You will have to switch your ac system for fewer hours when you have a ridge vent installed at the top of the roof.

This review covers some of the best ridge vents that you can install on your roof. It also contains valuable information about the benefits and types of ridge vents.

How Do I Close Gable Vents

If windblown rain or snow is frequently entering the gable vents, close them. Don’t worry about an airtight seal just nail a board over the opening from the inside. To summarize: Seal air leaks in your attic floor so that roof venting doesn’t suck conditioned air into the attic and cause moisture problems.

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Allows Natural Exchange Of Air

A great thing about roof ridge vents is that you dont have to put in extra effort, as the whole air exchange process is quite natural.

As the hot air rises, it escapes in the outside environment due to the pressure difference. Once the hot air escapes, it also facilitates the movement of fresh air inside the attic.

So, in the whole process, you dont have to look or worry about anything at all.

Gaf Cobra3 Ridge Vent

GAF is a reputable brand in the roofing industry and their product line does not disappoint. In fact, the GAF Cobra3 is rated as the best ridge vent for the money. So, if youve been struggling to live in your house because of too much heat, the Cobra ridge vent is the most viable solution especially if you dont want to use air conditioners.

This rigid-style vent comes with 3 inches ring shank nails that are so effective when it comes to getting rid of moisture and excess heat from your attic. The good thing with this product is that it is compatible with 10 or 12 inches ridge cap shingles.

Features and Specifications:

• It offers 18 square inches per linear foot of free ventilating area
• It has a special EasyTear sizing feature which allows home owners to hand tear the product in 7.6 centimeter increments.
• Comes with 3 inch ring shank nails
• Should be installed using hand nails
• Features a polypropylene construction thus making it flexible
• This ridge vent allows moisture and heat to escape easily
• It is very durable

• This ridge vent comes with external baffles which deflect rain and wind
• You will get a lifetime limited warranty if the ridge-vent is installed on shingle roofs
• Installation is straightforward and does not require any technical skills
• It can be installed on 3:12 to 16:12 sloped roofs especially because of its flexible hinge design
• Can be torn without the help of a knife
• It is crush resistant and energy efficient

Cons:

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Know These Roof Ridge Vent Pros Cons Before Installing It On Your

• Highest rating: 4
• Lowest rating: 3
• Descriptions: Roof Ridge Vent Pros and Cons · It helps to balance the temperature of the house. · Since it has a simple look, no need to show off, the ridge vents shape isnt
• More : Roof Ridge Vent Pros and Cons · It helps to balance the temperature of the house. · Since it has a simple look, no need to show off, the ridge vents shape isnt
• https://howlongdoesrooflast.com/know-these-roof-ridge-vent-pros-cons-before-installing-it-on-your-roof/

Gaf Materials Cobra Ridge Vent

Secondly, we have another GAF Materials product for you. If youre a fan of maximum airflow from your attics then youll love this product. The name of the product is the GAF Materials Cobra Ridge Vent. Its one of the best vents youll find out there.

And, if youre wondering why we placed it as the runners up in our list then check its features in-depth-

• Low Profile Mat Fiber:

The product has a low profile mat fiber in it. Hence, it can circulate a lot of air in the roofs. Moreover, this fiber mat prevents insect infestation as well. Here, the profile is 3/4 which is the lowest in the industry.

• Simple & Flexible Design:

The vent has a flexible design of its own. Hence, its easy to handle. Moreover, you can easily install it as well due to this simple design.

• Durable & Long-Lasting:

When it comes to durability, this vent is one of the best ones you can find. As a matter of fact, its known for its durability amongst many people. In the end, the durability of this vent allows it to last for a long time.

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The Simple Mathematics Of A Balanced Ridge Ventilation System

• According to most building codes, you need 1 square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic floor space.
• For new home construction that includes a vapor retarder, the minimum is 1 square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic floor space.
• If your vents are split between ridge vents and intake vents, the minimum requirement is also 1 square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic floor space.

To determine how many feet of net free area you need, use this formula:

To determine how many feet of ShingleVent® II, Multi-Pitch FilterVent® or VenturiVent Plus you need, use this formula:

1/2 net free area x 144 ÷ 18 = feet of ridge vent needed

For example: 2.5 x 144 ÷ 18 = 20 feet of ridge vent needed

To determine how many feet of Air Vent soffit vents you need, use this formula:

1/2 net free area x 144 ÷ 9 = feet of soffit vent needed

For example: 2.5 x 144 ÷ 9 = 40 feet of soffit vent needed

The following charts may be used to:

1. Determine how much net free area is needed to satisfy FHA requirements.

2. Balance your ridge vent system.

Note: ShingleVent II and Multi-Pitch FilterVent provide 18″ of net free area per linear foot.