The term attic ventilation refers to the process of exchanging the air in your attic with fresh air from outside your attic. This is done in many different ways. There are three main types; soffit ventilation, gable ventilation, and roof ventilation.
Why do I need fresh air in my attic?
- To remove moisture or humidity from your Attic
- To remove heat and to cool the attic
- To vent out Carbon Monoxide, and other pollutants
How do I get more air through my attic?
Soffit Ventilation:
There are a few different types of soffit vents. The most common are the large or small rectangle shaped vents on the overhang of the roof or the eve. Most builders use this type. Some homes will have continuous soffit vents that consist of a perforated board that is used to form the overhang. Still others will have the conventional eve design with long slits cut in, and a small mesh material to keep rodents out, covering the holes.
Gable Ventilation:
Gable ventilation is only possible when a home is designed with gable ends. Most homes in the DFW area will have hip style roofs where the roof comes down and meets the house in every part of the home. When a roof has it's own vertical wall or end, gable venting is possible. In situations, this is the best way to vent a roof that will accept it. It is not a good idea to add roof ventilation to gable style roofs without first covering the existing gable vents to ensure that air is not being pulled from the gable vents instead of soffit vents. The existing gable vents can be supplemented with a regular or solar powered fan to increase the amount of airflow through the vent.
Turbines:
Roof turbines are a great way to economically increase the airflow through the attic. These usually replace existing manual vents on the roof and significantly increase airflow when compared to the standard manual vent. These are round in shape with fins cut all the way around them and turn when wind blows against them. They do not require electricity and are driven by the wind most of the time. They can sometimes be driven by the force of the hot air escaping from the attic, but that is not the principal way these are designed to work.
Ridge Vents:
Ridge vents are installed below the very top layer of shingles and are continuous from one end of the ridge to the next. These are not powered and have no moving parts but do allow for ventilation along the entire ridge of the roof. When the overhang of the roof has sufficient soffit venting, these will work great. Some homes are recommended to have this type of roof ventilation and some shouldn't. This depends on the specific design of your roof.
Learn about M&M Construction Specialist, central and northern New Jersey's home improvement expert.
Roofing ● Siding ● Windows ● Doors ● Basements ● Framing ● Masonry
Residential ● Commercial ● Custom Homes ● Additions ● Historic Restoration
Water/Flood Damage
Serving Central and Northern NJ
Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Sussex, Morris, Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson Counties
Licensed and Insured
No comments:
Post a Comment