Guest guest Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 It used to be the case that it was 'code' to vent roof, but that is new construction I believe. The only thing other than that was that shingle manufacturers say they won't warrant their shingles if you attic isn't vented. However my attic was not vented and was built in the 1930's and no mold up there. They get on these issues that really don't apply to older homes. New homes are built differently. Anyway, new code for new homes allow for unvented attic if you use foam, but then again, I don't think 'building codes' apply to just reshingling your roof. If you attic is hotter, they feel their shingle may get hot and dry out faster. > > I know there was some discussion about roofing a while back but I'm > interested in talking to the person that mentioned that they weren't happy with > the ridge vent on their new roof. > We are in the process of getting a new roof. After the two day monsoon we > had last week our roof had 2 minor leaks. Both areas were completely dry in > a day but we are going ahead with a new one.Only the roof it self was damp > not the insulation or floor of the attic. > Roofer is trying to talk us into a ridge vent. He said that without it > the shingles probably won't last 30 yrs. but 23 to 25 yrs. instead. > Our house was built in 1968 and my mom was the only other owner. It is a > well built house and we personally knew the builder. We have never had ANY > problem in the attic except once around the chimney and that was fixed years > ago. Our house is a rancher with a hip roof. Attic gets hot but we have > never had any problems AND most importantly I am not sick in my house. > Cutting a piece of wood all across the top of the roof goes completely against > everything I know. > Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated. > Thanks, Sue R. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 I had to google to see what a ridge vent actually was. It looks scary to me. I would read everything I could & watch them like a hawk. I think it was Barb that explained about older house attics to me - that the top of the wall is opened & ventilation causes condensation in the wall. The ridge vent may do the same thing as a vent in the wall does...besides looking like a good place for rain to get in. Just my 2 cents. > > I know there was some discussion about roofing a while back but I'm > interested in talking to the person that mentioned that they weren't happy with > the ridge vent on their new roof. > We are in the process of getting a new roof. After the two day monsoon we > had last week our roof had 2 minor leaks. Both areas were completely dry in > a day but we are going ahead with a new one.Only the roof it self was damp > not the insulation or floor of the attic. > Roofer is trying to talk us into a ridge vent. He said that without it > the shingles probably won't last 30 yrs. but 23 to 25 yrs. instead. > Our house was built in 1968 and my mom was the only other owner. It is a > well built house and we personally knew the builder. We have never had ANY > problem in the attic except once around the chimney and that was fixed years > ago. Our house is a rancher with a hip roof. Attic gets hot but we have > never had any problems AND most importantly I am not sick in my house. > Cutting a piece of wood all across the top of the roof goes completely against > everything I know. > Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated. > Thanks, Sue R. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 Barb, I agree with you that air movement is very complicated. I believe older homes were built differently so why change it now. Adding a new rood is a huge expense and I just don't want to create a problem that doesn't exist. Out attic has been AOK for 42 yrs. with 2 square type vents and one large one on the back side at the top of the eve of the house. NO moisture at all any where! They didn't say anything about removing the vents that were already there only that they suggested the ridge vent. He said that you can't have too much ventilation but I'm not so sure. We are on a hill and gets lots of wind. I think we have decided to stay with the way things are and not cause any problems. I am well here and certainly don't want to get sick in the only place that is safe for me because I'd have no were to go. >>>>> Sue, As I understand it vents are put in to prevent mold or moisture damage from developing in attic by allowing warm moist air in house to escape house *in winter* rather than condense in attic and cause trouble. Originally, they were not added with anything to do with cooling attic off or roof off. If your attic has not had trouble and doesn't have vents, then vents shouldn't be needed. For me, they caused problem since outside and inside air was able to meet inside of wall cavities in house. If your attic is *already vented and they are recommending the ridge vents instead of the type you have, that is different. I think ridge vents are considered better way to vent than other venting styles, but I don't really know what is best type of venting. Adding vents to my house caused trouble, however perhaps instead of taking out vents which is what I eventually did, I had insulated attic floor properly, maybe that would have been better solution. I don't know whi ch is best, to vent or not to vent but if your attic has no sign of moisture condensing up there, then they probably are not necessary for the way your house is built....but ask other people too. A friend of mine w house about the same age as this, has no vents in attic and no mold problem, an older home, built w different building codes. I find air movement issues to be very complex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 Sue, As I understand it vents are put in to prevent mold or moisture damage from developing in attic by allowing warm moist air in house to escape house *in winter* rather than condense in attic and cause trouble. Originally, they were not added with anything to do with cooling attic off or roof off. If your attic has not had trouble and doesn't have vents, then vents shouldn't be needed. For me, they caused problem since outside and inside air was able to meet inside of wall cavities in house. If your attic is *already vented and they are recommending the ridge vents instead of the type you have, that is different. I think ridge vents are considered better way to vent than other venting styles, but I don't really know what is best type of venting. Adding vents to my house caused trouble, however perhaps instead of taking out vents which is what I eventually did, I had insulated attic floor properly, maybe that would have been better solution. I don't know which is best, to vent or not to vent but if your attic has no sign of moisture condensing up there, then they probably are not necessary for the way your house is built....but ask other people too. A friend of mine w house about the same age as this, has no vents in attic and no mold problem, an older home, built w different building codes. I find air movement issues to be very complex. > > I know there was some discussion about roofing a while back but I'm > interested in talking to the person that mentioned that they weren't happy with > the ridge vent on their new roof. > We are in the process of getting a new roof. After the two day monsoon we > had last week our roof had 2 minor leaks. Both areas were completely dry in > a day but we are going ahead with a new one.Only the roof it self was damp > not the insulation or floor of the attic. > Roofer is trying to talk us into a ridge vent. He said that without it > the shingles probably won't last 30 yrs. but 23 to 25 yrs. instead. > Our house was built in 1968 and my mom was the only other owner. It is a > well built house and we personally knew the builder. We have never had ANY > problem in the attic except once around the chimney and that was fixed years > ago. Our house is a rancher with a hip roof. Attic gets hot but we have > never had any problems AND most importantly I am not sick in my house. > Cutting a piece of wood all across the top of the roof goes completely against > everything I know. > Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated. > Thanks, Sue R. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 This is a little of topic but my moms house is over 100 years old. Back then they used sand as insulation. How times have changed > > > Barb, I agree with you that air movement is very complicated. I believe > older homes were built differently so why change it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 I think that if pre-existing ventalation worked before why change that? the only thing might be if you added insulation to previous un-insulated walls or attic ,like insulatating between the rafters and putting up sheetrock there,or something about the newly constructed roof or products used for it somehow need more ventalation. > > > Barb, I agree with you that air movement is very complicated. I believe > older homes were built differently so why change it now. Adding a new rood > is a huge expense and I just don't want to create a problem that doesn't > exist. Out attic has been AOK for 42 yrs. with 2 square type vents and one > large one on the back side at the top of the eve of the house. NO moisture at > all any where! They didn't say anything about removing the vents that were > already there only that they suggested the ridge vent. He said that you > can't have too much ventilation but I'm not so sure. We are on a hill and > gets lots of wind. I think we have decided to stay with the way things are and > not cause any problems. I am well here and certainly don't want to get sick > in the only place that is safe for me because I'd have no were to go. > >>>>> > Sue, As I understand it vents are put in to prevent mold or moisture > damage from developing in attic by allowing warm moist air in house to escape > house *in winter* rather than condense in attic and cause trouble. > Originally, they were not added with anything to do with cooling attic off or roof > off. If your attic has not had trouble and doesn't have vents, then vents > shouldn't be needed. For me, they caused problem since outside and inside air > was able to meet inside of wall cavities in house. If your attic is > *already vented and they are recommending the ridge vents instead of the type you > have, that is different. I think ridge vents are considered better way to > vent than other venting styles, but I don't really know what is best type of > venting. Adding vents to my house caused trouble, however perhaps instead > of taking out vents which is what I eventually did, I had insulated attic > floor properly, maybe that would have been better solution. I don't know whi > ch is best, to vent or not to vent but if your attic has no sign of > moisture condensing up there, then they probably are not necessary for the way > your house is built....but ask other people too. A friend of mine w house > about the same age as this, has no vents in attic and no mold problem, an > older home, built w different building codes. I find air movement issues to be > very complex. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 I agree and we have decided not to add the ridge even though I know they will try to talk us into it. House has worked well for 42 years without any problems so why change it now. Attic has the batting type insulation. If it was being built today code would require more but it's fine. We added a insulated cover to the pull down stairs so everything should be fine. New shingles will hold up to 100mph and are heavier than the old ones so we should be in good shape. We'll save our $ and add new gutters in the spring. >>>>>>>>>>> I think that if pre-existing ventalation worked before why change that? the only thing might be if you added insulation to previous un-insulated walls or attic ,like insulatating between the rafters and putting up sheetrock there,or something about the newly constructed roof or products used for it somehow need more ventalation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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