Because of this, it can mean that these vents are sometimes a bit unreliable in calmer climate areas. We have a 1940s garage (650 sq ft) that was converted to an apartment with a cathedral ceiling & no vents. Just keep an eye on things and try to crack the door open when possible. Worse yet, inadequate insulation is almost surely allowing moisture-laden air into your attic. Does this make sense and do you have any suggestions that would help? 1. Is it worthwhile to install soffit vents and a ridge vent if there is no air channel? All are good alternatives if you cannot install soffit vents; however, a very important factor for good ventilation is good insulation. I would start by adding soffits and letting it all completely dry out. Attic Ventilation Without Soffits Homes without room for soffit vents usually use gable vents or shingled vents to take advantage of passive ventilation. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. If a gable vent seems like too big of a commitment or undertaking, consider smaller eyebrow vents that are mounted low on the roof slow so they can act as intake vents. No machinery is required for installation and it can be done quickly and easily without too much fuss. Many people who think about installing gable vents slightly cringe at the thought of them. TOM: It's a system. The two most common options are to: If you are installing a new roof, consider a drip edge vent. How Much Cooler Can My Attic Be After Installing a Radiant Barrier? Long term solution? If you suspect asbestos, be sure to leave it and get it tested before deciding to go forward with the removal. If you are having problems insulating the floor of the attic without covering the vents, consider investing in rafter vents or insulation baffles. Ken writes: "I finally was able to make contact with the manufacturer of the open foam like material used under my ridge . HomeShowRadio 7.29K subscribers Subscribe 38 Share 7.4K views 2 years ago Get help with your home improvement projects. I think my best option is to put eyebrow vents on the roof at the low side and then eyebrow vents or gable vents on the top side. Even more, it is going to do a more effective job at insulating those spaces. We are in Houston, so often hot and humid weather. Thank you. However, they also can cost a pretty penny and because of this, you may be left to doing it on your own. Also does the roofer has to provide you with the exact calculation of the ventilation needed? During the summer months, cool air enters through the intake vents and hot air exits through the exhaust vents to reduce the heat inside the attic. soffit vents and gable vents are able to . Intake vents are typically positioned on the lowest parts of the roof, under the eaves, though your home may also have shingled intake vents installed on a lower part of the roof, or even gable vents installed high on the sides of the home. There are no soffits and no way to add soffit vents. They work great in the summers, but should not be used alone in the wintertime because they are not great with removing moisture- something that will dramatically change the overall effect of ventilation. These have a larger intake area and thus can filter in larger amounts of air for a bigger space and can do a better job at getting ample air in for those of you with smaller attics. Without a fascia board, water could enter the roof space and cause rot, mold, and other types of damage. I would discourage you from adding a fan to the section with the gable (never a good plan to mix passive and active vents in the same space) maybe just add another small vent in the same area. An experienced roofer should be able to help you make a plan. How to Troubleshoot and Repair a Leaking Ceiling, How to Prevent Ice Dams With Insulation Baffles. Even if you do not have soffit vents (a highly effective attic ventilation technology), there are plenty of options out there to either passively or actively ventilate your attic and make sure that you keep the structural integrity of your home in check. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How To Vent an Attic Without Soffit Vents. . I own an older home that does not have eaves ventilation and would be very difficult to have this ventilation added. Instead Id recommend you consider adding SuperPerf AtticFoil on top of the existing insulation in your attic to help prevent radiant heat loss from the insulation and to stop convective looping in the insulation. Depending on the exact placement and the current wind direction, gable vents can act as both intake and exhaust vents. Wind turbines are placed along the gable of your home and are also one of those great ventilation systems that are two-in-one. Rafter vents ensure that there is a clear channel for outside air to enter the attic through the soffits. We are replacing the roof in a couple of weeks. I will eventually insulate under the roof deck as well as insulate and air-seal the attic floor. I have a 1929 Spanish style stucco house with a tile roof and no overhang. The results? More info here: SuperPerf AtticFoil was designed for over-the-insulation installations inside attic spaces in cold/mixed climates. The other two across from each other (lets call it the longer run from the front to back of the house were smaller and higher up. Especially hard driving rain that is whipped about by heavy winds can enter the roof vents. Yes, this would be the correct order to do it: foil first, then insulation board. However, if the wind is a regularity, then this can be a highly effective solution. The attic is BLAZING hot even on mild days, but I have airsealed and recently blown in insulation so the house is well-insulated. I was thinking when we replace the roof, we should install a ridge vent. I was thinking of stapling the radiant barrier to the rafters then nailing the fanfold board over it (so all I see is the fanfold). By adding adequate ventilation, a homeowner can control the humidity under their roof, and the perforations in a soffit vent are perfect for this purpose. One of the most common intake vent options is soffit venting. Cool air enters the attic through the intake vents, but hot air doesn't generally exit through the intake vents, with the exception of gable roof vents. Achieve ventilation through ridge vents and roof soffits. Its possible! Ventilation is important and can help keep an attic dry and lower air temperatures, but not having any ventilation isnt the worst case scenario. I understand that this is an old post and I hope you can help me. If youre willing to commit to this, this page shows you the best and easiest way to do it right: Insulating a cathedral ceiling for maximum comfort year-round. The name is nice, isnt it? I had these and had to by plywood cut to close opening and seal it. There are no soffit vents, so Im not sure what the intake design was; air seemed to just pass through from end to end. You may think of your attic as nothing more than a creepy, dark spot that may have spiders and bats, but a healthy attic is vital to a healthy home. There is no way to totally prevent mold in a non-conditioned building, but decent ventilation (via gable vents) will help some. What would you recommend? Here is one http://airvent.com/stageit/images/installation_the_edge_vent.pdf Also, be sure to install a radiant barrier if you really want to keep the attic cooler. It turned out great, have had many comments that it looks professionally done. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Problem 1: Insulation often clogs the space between the rafters, blocking air from traveling to and from the soffit area. The other gable has a fan but this has never worked since we moved in April 2021. A home's ventilation system consists of everything from roof vents to the best attic fans.Without the right roofing and attic ventilation system, your home can become uncomfortable and cost more to cool or heat. Insulating a cathedral ceiling for maximum comfort year-round. Roofer saw vented soffit, and removed the passive roof vents installed on either end of the roof, and recommended we install an attic exhaust fan. I am a mechanical engineer and have a basic knowledge of HVAC systems but I learn continuously to make myself the best blogger in that space. Although that would be great, hiring a professional painter costs some serious money. So now the remaining attic only has a single gable vent with no intake. Our current roof can not have soffits. The Code requires "cross ventilation". Gable vents are great, but as far as construction goes, they can be a big undertaking. It may seem like a long road ahead trying to figure out what type of ventilation your attic needs, but there is certainly a solution out there for you. Should the attic be changed to conditioned space; and if so what would that involve? We are leaning toward (2) above but would really like an expert opinion. You can also invest in gable venting or shingle venting to increase air flow inside the attic and improve attic ventilation. (there are other brands/models) If you have a gable roof, Id use a ridge vent. BEST WHOLE HOUSE FAN: QuietCool 2465 CFM Classic Advanced Whole House Fan. Also, I wanted to confirm that removing the attic ventilator fan is the right move. Tom can help.. The standard intake vent for attics is a soffit vent (also sometimes referred to as an eave vent) and it allows for air to enter the attic down low, near the eaves. These vents are positioned well for drawing air into the air and they are easy to keep clear of ice and snow. Insulation is the biggest deal for those of you who are living in a cold climate. They work as intake and exhaust vents depending on which way the wind is blowing, so they do have a nice dual function. Although this may be a place of storage for you, it is the first step to stopping air from escaping. If youre looking to keep things cooler in the She-Shed, you need to consider sealing it up air tight and using some A/C too. By adding adequate ventilation, a homeowner can control the humidity under their roof, and the perforations in a soffit vent are perfect for this purpose. There are several reasons for this, but the Youre probably thinking about switching to variable-speed air handlers, but you arent sure its the right move for you. Check to make sure the vents are not blocked with insulation, inspect the area for any signs of rodent or insect nests, and confirm that the vent screens are attached. So across from each other on one run, and across from each other on the other run. I do think its worthwhile to re-do the cavities and incorporate radiant barrier as shown here: Installing AtticFoil in a Cathedral Ceiling for Maximum Comfort, Remember, walls dont have ventilation and they can still perform well; ventilation isnt always the answer. Why Ceiling Fan Light Bulbs Keep Burning Out: 8 Reasons. Alyssa, if your garage door can open, even just a crack, air will pull into the garage from under the door and go up and out the vent. From this position, air enters the attic through the intake vents. 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