new roof installed,how many gable vents??

[crazy charlie]

Just had a new roof done on my home.Complete tearoff of old stuff and needed some new wood.Also had my front facia vinyl sided and new soffits and when they did it they eliminated a gable vent.Sure it looks good but do I need this vent?Installer said it was not necessary.They installed a ridge vent the length of the house,they installed all new soffits and vented them,installed a through the foof attic fan and left the other gable vent alone.They claim with all the ventilation that the gable vent was not necessary.My home is an inline high ranch and I always thought that the more ventilation the better.Who is correct???Charlie

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

With the ridge vent, soffit vents, and a fan, you really dont need anthing else. To me that is about the best you can get Charlie. You did well!

 

[Bondo]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

I Gotta Agree,.......<br /><br />That Ridge Vent, along with the soffit vents,.. Is Alot of Venting,.......<br />Way More Sq.area than you had with the gable vent.......

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

I guess I will leave well enough alone.The contractor gave me such a good deal on the entire job that I really didnt want to rock the boat any way.Charlie

 

[heyttown]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

Pay attention to the ridge vent as over time and season changes it will get clogged up and limit air flow..

 

[Solittle]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

Along with the vents you might check the insulation. Our house in Miami had the insulation required by code when it was built. Some years later we had added insulation installed. The change in the electric bill was quite noticable.

 

[cajun555]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

Also with your soffit vents you need to make sure the insulation in attic where roof meets outside walls don't restrict the air flow through soffit vents.

 

[Twidget]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

Also with your soffit vents you need to make sure the insulation in attic where roof meets outside walls don't restrict the air flow through soffit vents.

In the case of my house, insulation was blocking the vents. I had to get a tunnel type assembly installed to correct it.

 

[Ben Konopacky]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

soffit vents will be useless if the ins. is blocking the air passage between roof raft. and wall top plate .they make a molded foam piece that fits in between 16" rafters for that purpose.

 

[KRS]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

Not sure of the actual flow of the ridge, but I am sure it is worth several gable vents.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

What kind of ridge vents did they use? It does make a huge difference. The old aluminum kind are not near as good as the plastic shingle over type. There are some corrugated shingle over types that are ok but not as good as the plastic shingle over type also there is a shingle over ridge vent that looks like a brillo pad that is garbage in my opinion.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

All of the soffits were opened and replaced,no insulation covering them up,vents about every 2 feet all around the house ,I was very clear that I wanted the job done completely.The ridge vent is the newest type used and has some type of mesh to prevent insects from coming in.There was an incredible amount of cutting through the roof for the ridge vent.I wish I had thought of it cause I would have laid some cheap dropcloths in the attic to catch all of the cuttings that dropped in the attic.What a mess it is in there.Dont get me wrong,it is still hot in the attic but it is way cooler than it was.Charlie

 

[Mark42]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

Charlie,<br /><br />Sounds like the contractor did a great job. What part of the country do you live in? Just wondering if its warmer or cooler. In NJ I have a similar setup with the shingle over ridge vent and the soffits are a perforated vented vinyl. There are no gable vents and it works very well. It does get hot, but not as hot as other homes in NJ I lived in.<br /><br />I did have a roof mounted fan that was added with the AC. It died last year and it's on my list of things to fix. I bypassed the thermostat to see it that was the problem but it seem that the fan has fried. The replacement motors are expensive!

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

Yes Mark they did do a great job and I am very satisfied.I am on Long Island.I would look into replacing the whole roof fan if the motors are expensive.I think you can get the whole setup for around $169.Those fans dont usually kick the bucket.Make sure you have power going to it and try helping the fan blade with a stick to get it spinning.Sometimes a little lube or help with the first spin gets it on the right track spinning.Charlie

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

http://www.dspinspections.com/atticventing.htm

recommended minimum attic ventilation rate is one square foot of roof ventilation (one typical roof vent provides approximately one square foot of ventilation) for every 150-200 square feet of attic space.

I knew a formula was available for this.<br /><br />I have a fan that is thermostat controlled in my attic.<br /><br />Bob

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

CC you're up here in the Northeast right? If so, take this for what it's worth. My house was built about 6 years ago. The builder built about 250 homes in my neighborhood. Mostly Colonials and Capes. They are a big builder and his philosophy in construction was to minimize callbacks/ warranties. With that said, all the homes here regardless of size have 2 gable vents, sofit and ridge vents.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

Poked my head in the attic in the daytime and was able to see where the gable vent was.....because it is still there.When they vinyl sided.they just went over it.I guess I can make some small slits in the vinyl to make the gable vent work again but I dont want to ruin the neat lines of the siding job.I guess I will be looking at other houses to see if there is anything similar.Or maybe not----my house is waaaayyyy cooler since the roof job,I can really notice the difference.Charlie

 

[heyttown]

Re: new roof installed,how many gable vents??

The small holes in the gable vents dont do much....Actually probably to much trouble to get the ladder out to worry about it. However they make the plastic gable vents to match the vinyl siding,then it would be worth it.<br /><br />My house was resided before I purchased it, and the siding company just used a circular saw and made slots across the peice that covered the original gable,when I entered my attic and went to the gable vent,little or no air was felt coming in....<br />As soon as I can afford a big extension ladder I will install the gable vents correctly,but to just cut slots in the vinyl isnt worth the trouble IMO.