Proper intake and exhaust vents help extend the life of your roof by reducing moisture buildup, stabilizing indoor temperatures, and preventing ice dams. The right option for your home will depend on your attic space, climate, roof design, and style preferences. Common examples include ridge, off-ridge, box, hard-wired powered, solar-powered, turbine, cupola, soffit, gable, over-fascia, drip edge, dormer, hip, felt lap, and dry ridge vents. Plan to have at least one vent for every 300 square feet of roof surface.
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Your roof is essential to your home, so it makes sense to take care of it over the years if you want it to last. That’s the best way to get more life out of it before it’s time to replace it. In fact, with the right installation, the right product, the right TLC and products like Roof Maxx, an asphalt shingle roof could last you well over 25 years.
One factor many homeowners overlook is roof ventilation. Poor ventilation can lead to problems like condensation, mold, and even structural damage over time, so it’s really important to install the right vents in the right places and check them every so often.
Below, you’ll learn how ventilation works and why it’s important to optimize it. We’ll also tell you about the 15 most popular vent options available for your roof.
Roof ventilation refers to the system that allows air to circulate freely through your attic space and roof vents. This starts with properly installed intake and exhaust vents.
A well-designed ventilation system helps by:
Think of it as a long-term home preservation solution that protects homeowners from extreme temperatures and weather systems. In the summer, your vents clear out any hot air that builds up inside your attic so it can’t travel downward. In the winter, they prevent your roof and attic from repeatedly thawing and freezing, which can lead to ice dams instead.
Roof ventilation can be complicated to get right on your own, but really comes down to how and where vents are installed. There are two main ways to pull air in or out of the area closest to your roof.
Remember that not all roof ventilation systems are designed alike. Some vent designs draw in air from the outside, while others expel warm air. Let’s expand on the differences between intake and exhaust vents so you can decide on your next renovation project.
An exhaust vent prevents hot air from circulating around your attic by releasing it outside. Since hot air holds moisture, it can create a breeding ground for mold. Exhaust vents help remove it to keep nearby areas dry and reduce the risk of roof and structural damage. The key to increasing ventilation efficiency is to spread exhaust vents across your structure.
As the name suggests, intake vents draw in air from the outside to establish an indoor climate ideal for a living environment. In a way, intake vents operate as a two-way system. As cooler air enters through your vents at the bottom of the roof, it continuously flows through the attic before being released through your exhaust vents at the top.
Unfortunately, some homeowners don’t take the time to assess the condition of their attic vents. Without a proper inspection, you run the risk of high costs associated with repairs and replacements.
Here are some warning signs that your attic has poor ventilation:
There’s also a very real risk of roof leaks in and around the vents themselves, which can lead to structural damage over time. If that’s already happening to you, it’s definitely time to have them repaired or replaced.
The first thing you should understand about the different types of roof vents is that no option stands above the others. The system must be customized to your home, climate, and other factors in order to perform as it should over time. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s jump into the most common examples.
What’s great about ridge vents is that they center on the highest point of your roof, allowing hot air to escape your attic. Most ridge vents are easy to install, making them suitable for homeowners wanting an external setup without labor complications. They also run across the entire span of your roof line.
Ridge vents are specifically designed to resist rain, snow, and debris that accumulates from extreme weather conditions.
Off-ridge vents are located near the crest of your roof. These vents work best for roofs with a small surface area. The material is usually galvanized or standard steel coated in zinc to provide corrosion resistance.
Unfortunately, off-ridge vents are fairly small, which prevents them from expelling large amounts of hot air. They work wonders for homes with a complex design and no ridge crossing the entire roof.
Box vents are square-shaped designs distributed across your roof. Like off-ridge vents, box vents work best for roofs with complex structures. Standard box vents are usually 18 x 18 inches. When placed across the surface of your roof, box vents allow hot air and moisture to escape from the interior.
Also known as powered attic ventilators, hard-wired vents contain motorized fans to suck hot air beneath the roof deck. They require electricity to remove hot air from your attic while keeping your attic at a constant temperature. The downside of using them is that they can sometimes circulate air instead.
The great thing about solar-powered vents is that they can remove almost all of the electricity consumed either by or as a side effect of inefficient powered vents. As the name suggests, they’re powered by the sun with the same technology used in solar panels.
The main drawback is, as you might expect, is reliance on the sun. They aren’t always an option in areas like the Pacific Northwest, where it’s often cloudy.
Roof turbines rely on wind to pull air out of your attic and reduce the risk of mold. Without wind, the interior blades won’t spin. Since the wind does the hard work for you, you don’t need electricity to keep them operational. Turbines are smaller than box vents, so you’ll need to install several for efficient ventilation.
Cupola vents come in different shapes, including square, round, and octagonal. The primary purpose of these vents is to allow extra light underneath the vents. Cupolas usually have one of two styles for venting your structure: louvers and windows.
Louvers have angled strips allowing circulation around your home. Windows provide the same benefits but contain small glass panes that can be opened and closed.
Soffit vents are devices installed under your roof’s eaves. That’s the section extending past your exterior siding. These vents create an airflow that circulates throughout your attic. Some soffit devices run the entire length of the roof edges, while others are spaced out from each other.
What makes soffit vents beneficial is that they operate simply without sacrificing effectiveness. They’re also great for prolonging the stability of your A/C system.
Gable vents are installed on different sides of a house wall instead of on the roof. Their primary design is to provide cross ventilation to keep air moving throughout your attic space.
Most gable vents work well with gable-style roofs because you can place them on each side of your home. They come in many different shapes and sizes.
In situations where the wind impacts your roof, over-fascia vents are an option. In this case, shingles cover the top of the vent. Over-fascia vents can ventilate your roof and attic if your roof lacks space for soffit vents. The holes on the edges of these vents allow air to enter under the roof.
Drip edge vents include roofing material that goes underneath your roof’s shingles. Their purpose is to help drain water into the gutters. The material used to design the vent is a malleable metal that can deform slightly under compressive stress. Drip edge vent designs may include holes on the sides.
Dormer vents remove hot air from the roof. They also include a small screen between their louvers, preventing pests from entering through the vents. Since the product can match the color of your roof, this is a solid selection for homeowners who want something stylish and aesthetically pleasing.
The unique thing about hip vents is that they resemble a pyramid-like structure. These vents attach to the area of your roof where all sides face downward toward the walls. Contractors generally cover these areas with shingles. They’re a good choice for homeowners who want a vent that blends in well with their home.
While they’re not a popular selection, felt lap vents are handy if you live on a property with poor ventilation or your home is susceptible to condensation. These vents are most commonly used on roofs with waterproofing layers and can increase ventilation in existing roof spaces.
You can also use felt lap vents to bring air flow to your roof to remove moisture.
Dry ridge vents (dry ridge systems) are helpful because they require few materials for proper assembly. While initially designed to fix ridge tiles, these vents provide discrete ventilation.
Homeowners can avoid harmful bacteria buildup using these vents. The best part is that the vents withstand strong winds and won’t blow off on a windy day.
Every home is different, conditions change, and special situations do exist where a roof might need a different approach or custom setup. We strongly recommend speaking with a roofer or contractor before you try to DIY vents on your own. It’s the best way to get the results you want.
Over the next few sections, we’ll walk you through some of the most common considerations you’ll need to factor in. While we can’t predict how much they apply to you, they can help you make informed decisions.
Determine how much space you’ll need to set up a proper ventilation system to circulate air throughout your attic and roof. You can accurately measure by determining the width and length of your attic floor. These numbers should provide you with accurate square footage.
Once you get the number, divide the square footage by 300 to ensure you receive one square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic floor space.
Your area’s climate can make all the difference between durable vents that extend your roof’s lifespan and insufficient products resulting in high replacement costs. For example, if you live where snowstorms are common, consider turbine vents since they can protrude above accumulated snow.
If you live in a high-humidity area, your safest bet would be a soffit vent. These vents help reduce humidity levels in regions with high moisture concentrations.
Some homeowners are extremely picky about the look and style of their roofs, and they don’t want to change anything that compromises the roof’s aesthetics. In this case, select soffit vents. Since you can install these on the underside of porches, columns, or arches, they won’t alter the look of your roof.
Plus, soffit vents come in various colors and can resemble your exterior siding.
Remember earlier when we said some vents work best for roofs with complex designs? Use this principle to determine the best vent for achieving optimal airflow. If you have a pitched roof, go with ridge vents, which can increase air intake along your roof line.
If you have a flat roof, consider installing soffit vents. These vents can run the entire length of your roof from one edge to the other while providing additional ventilation.
Remember: The taller your roof’s peak, the taller you’ll want your roof vents to be.
Take time to thoroughly assess how many roof vents you need to install. Too few vents will impede ventilation, but too many can be just as much of a problem. Aim for the sweet spot of one square foot of roof vent for every 300 square feet of roof surface as a general rule of thumb.
Another recommended guideline involves having an equal amount of air intake and exhaust vents. An equal and adequate distribution of intake and exhaust vents on your roof will provide better protection.
Getting roof ventilation right doesn’t need to be complicated, but vents should always be selected with care and installed by a pro for the best results. Understanding available options and styles is the best way to find the best fit, add a little curb appeal, and prevent issues that force you into an early replacement.
Roof Maxx can also help by restoring and rejuvenating your asphalt shingles as they start to age and become brittle. Our safe, eco-friendly, homeowner-approved formula penetrates deep into each shingle to make them flexible again for up to 80% less than a total replacement. Get a free quote from a dealer now.
With our five-year, transferable warranty, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that your roof and entire home are protected.
