How Do You Vent A Roof Without Soffit Vents

Roof eave venting on roofs with no overhang or soffit how to correct improper or inadequate attic or under roof ventilation in buildings detecting and correcting attic condensation and preventing ice dam leaks in buildings how to correct improper or inadequate attic or under roof ventilation in buildings.

How do you vent a roof without soffit vents. Continue installing additional strip vents until you reach the far end. Rafter vents or insulation baffles install in any rafter space to create narrow gaps that direct fresh air from the soffit vents to the peak of the roof. Some home designs do not have a soffit. If you don t have soffits or your roof style doesn t allow for soffit vents some homeowners will consider a drip edge vent.

These specialty vents do not affect the. Step 5 attach the vent to the soffit photo by merle henkenius. The spaces between the sleepers can probably be detailed so that the roof is vented at the soffit as well as at the ridge see venting a shed roof. You can use a shingle over vent at the bottom or mid roof mid roof being higher up than the potential ice damming.

Even without soffit venting it is important to provide an air gap at the soffit level to help keep the roof deck dry. Ice damming is caused by the warmer attic space melting the snow down to the cooler eaves where it freezes. Drip edge vents are a two in one installation that promote water shedding at the eaves and rakes of a roof while also allowing for ventilation into the attic. It will primarily depend on the roof.

With a soffit venting is not much of a challenge. If your roof is simple and straightforward and if aesthetics and truss strength permit then you create a vented roof design by adding 2x sleepers and a new deck and roof. Drip edge vents hang out several inches past the edges of the. Properly vented attic space will not do that because its theoretically the same temp as it is outside.

This is usually a 3 8 inch piece of plywood that is underneath the overhanging portion of the roof that extends beyond the outside wall. For more information on ventilation and moisture control read this article i wrote on proper attic ventilation it s my position that you should have a proper ventilation system in your attic and that you should always take the time to air seal the floor of the attic. Authoritative expert building diagnostic and repair advice toxic black mold and. Two simple alternatives to soffit vents can be installed with little more than a circular saw and a hammer.

With the help of an assistant raise the vent up to the soffit and center it over the cutout slot.