Recently, I wrote an an article that covered everything you need know about roof ridge vents. Over the last couple weeks, I have received a number of requests to dive deeper into the pros and cons aspect, and this article aims to do just that.
Just before we start, please remember that you will need to pair this type of roof ventilation with soffit vents to ensure that there is adequate air flow, as the goal is to achieve 50/50 intake and exhaust in your roof.
To kick things off, I will start with the pros that really highlight why you would want to consider ridge vents for your roof. Once complete, I will tackle the cons and why in fact these do not in any way outweigh the pros at all.
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- The pros of using a roof ridge vent
- The cons of using a roof ridge vent
What Are The Pros?
Pro: One of the great things about a ridge vent is that it is at the topmost point of your roof, with hot air constantly rising, it is bound to make it way out of the top of your vents thus bringing in cooler air through your soffit vents and into your roof, cooling it down. This process also helps to reduce the amount of moisture buildup in your roof avoiding any damages to your roof members.
Pro: This form of ventilation for your roof is amazing for keeping rodents from making it into your roof. Rodents are unable to make it through the small gaps in the vent keeping anything stored in your attic safe and rodent free.
Pro: The visual appeal of a roof ridge vent is absolutely awesome. With its small form factor and fitting onto the apex of your roof is a massive bonus. You do not need to have hoods or the like sticking out of your roof like a sore thumb.
Pro: Regardless of wind, you will always have continuous air circulation due to how hot air being generated in your roof always rising, this creates a vacuum that pulls in the cooler and drier air from outside up through your soffit vents and into your roof or attic.
Pro: The reliability of this system is just amazing. It requires minimal effort to maintain and look after. Its low running costs put it in a class of its own when being compared to other ventilation options that are afforded to you, motorized or not. There is no risk of problems such a rust and bearing wear and tear as well when comparing it to other motorized ventilation alternatives.
Pro: By keeping your attic or roof cool and dry you will use less energy within your house to try and maintain a comfortable home without using external air conditioning equipment. You also save greatly on energy as you are not using any power at all to run this ventilation system.
- Vent Installed Incorrectly
- Ridge Vent On Shingled Roof
- Roof Ridge Vent Black Shingles
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What Are The Cons?
Con: If you were to install about 40 feet of roof ridge vent the area would span up to 10 turbines, in this case, 10 turbines would cost you substantially more to purchase and install. However, if you were only going to install 3 or 4, the turbines would be more affordable to you. But, the ridge vent maintenance and running cost is a lot less than for turbines when considering the wear and tear to the turbines bearings and the risk of the turbines rusting after a period of time risking your need to replace them completely. Knowing that the low maintenance cost and efficiency of the roof ridge vent put it in a class of its own.
Con: Some roofing types may not allow for the necessary airflow to effectively cool down your attic. Namely a roof where the gradient is too low would allow hot air to sit in your attic for a long time. However, with a sloped roof that has a centralized peak, they work very very well. You can read more about this in my in-depth ridge vent roofing guide here.
Con: The installation of these vents are not very simple and require proper installation. If done incorrectly you are at risk of serious damage to your roof. If you cut the gap too large, you could let water into your attic during heavy rains. If you cut the gap too small can hinder air flow making it inefficient for cooling down your attic. I would highly recommend you consult a roofing professional, with the technical know-how to do this work on your behalf.
Con: Some roofing materials do not work well with these types of vents. They are most commonly installed on shingled roofs and perform very well when done so. You can get ridge vents for tiled roofs though, but the price may be a little more depending on your area.
Jack French is the CEO of EZPZ Roofing. He has over 10 years of experience in the construction industry and has been with EZPZ since its inception. Jack is a hard worker and a natural leader. He takes great pride in his work and always puts the customer first.