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Knowledge is the Power for Your Freedom to a Worry Free Home!
The Answer: Sorry but all rige vents are not created equal.
Some say the only type of ridge vent that should be used is a baffled ridge vent. The baffle deflects wind blowing up on the roof. This both increases the airflow from the attic and prevents the penetration of rain and snow. Ridge vents without baffles can admit snow and rain in large quantities, wetting insulation and ruining the ceilings of your home.
The better ridge vents are always made of metal and have an integral metal baffle. It's never a good idea to accept accessory plastie wind baffles. In heavy snow regions, like here in New Hampshire and Vermont. But even the best aluminum ridge vents can collapse from the weight of a deep, wet snow fall. To prevent this, you need to be suer to order enough joint blocks so that you can insert one every 24 inches maximum into the ridge vent sections before installation.
Most of the metal ridge vents available commercially today are made for shallow to medium pitch roofs. When using them on a steeper roof, they will need to be bent to fit the pitch of the roof. Now by doing this, it will close the throat and will reduce the amount of air flow, while also exposing the louvered sections to the wind driven rain and snow, now the lovers are above the baffle. You should not use ridge vents if they need to be deformed to make them fit.
There are some manufacturers that make a version of their standard ridge vent for steeper roofs, or a manufacturer may recommend to install a wedge under the base of the vent to reduce the pitch of the roof.
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This posting and the contents that are written here are the intellectual property of Baker Home Inspection and Consulting. All views and opinions expressed here by myself and those that comment are just that. My blog is part of the Active Rain Real Estate Network, which is a social community network made up of Professional's in the Real Estate Industry.
Copyright 2008 All rights reserved


Dale, Good information. I've shown houses where the buyer will say 'the roof looks good'. Well, it may look good, but the average person doesn't know much about proper ventilation and roof vents. I always say you are going to have a home inspection aren't you?