New Roof Question

[Cub_Cadet_GT]

I am getting the roof replaced on my house next week. Current roof has no ridge vent, my attic only has gable vents and 4 box vents on the back side. I have no soffit vents at all.

I have had conflicting recommendations on if I should add a ridge vent. Roofer I have selected based on multiple friends who have used him recommends not to put one in but he will if I want him to.

Based on "the wisdom of the internet" I see lots of reasons not to, however I had several roofers recommend it.

I am leaning towards not but wanted to get the thoughts of the collective wisdom here.

[fixtureman]

You can never have to much ventalation.  I have never heard anybody say I wish I didn't put in less vents

[Bill Wilson]

Ridge vents (in various forms) have kind of been the standard for decades.  I replaced my roof a few years ago and at my age, I don't expect to do any more, so I haven't kept up with the latest, but what are the reasons not to?

[Cub_Cadet_GT]

Ridge vents (in various forms) have kind of been the standard for decades.  I replaced my roof a few years ago and at my age, I don't expect to do any more, so I haven't kept up with the latest, but what are the reasons not to?

Yes, my last two houses all had ridge vents but they were new construction with continuous soffit vents. This house was built in 1978 and has zero soffit venting and only gable vents.

The reasons I have been told and also based on my research is it is a bad idea to combine ridge vent and gable vents without soffit vents as it can create undesired airflow and can exasperate rain and snow intrusion into the attic.  I will not be adding soffit vents.

[fredhargis]

That's always been what I've been told as well, that you should have the soffit vents to have the ridge vent. It may be an old wives tale but there must be some credibility to it to have been around so long. I've heard it often enough that were I in your shoes I'd probably skip the ridge vent.

[ajkoontz]

Just had a roof replaced under an insurance claim. ALL the roofers I talked to and the adjuster said no question do a ridge vent. I can't speak to soffit venting, or the other pros/ cons to ridge venting, just another data point that the current industry standard is you should always install ridge vents.

[Cub_Cadet_GT]

Just had a roof replaced under an insurance claim. ALL the roofers I talked to and the adjuster said no question do a ridge vent. I can't speak to soffit venting, or the other pros/ cons to ridge venting, just another data point that the current industry standard is you should always install ridge vents.

Do you have soffit vents? If so then not applicable to my situation.

[Randy C]

I always thought the ridge vents needed to have soffit vents to work. Hot air exits the roof at the ridge and cooler air comes in the soffit vents to replace the air that was expelled thru the ridge vent, thus cooling the attic airspace.

[Snipe Hunter]

A ridge vent with no soffit vents won't do a whole lot but it will help hot and wet air escape from the center of the attic. A lot of jurisdictions make the roofers install a ridge vent no matter what if you are putting on a new roof. It's better than no ridge vent. Kind of like gable vents with no fans. Gable vents do a little, stick a fan in one and they do a lot more. They don't do a whole lot and the center of the attic is still hot unless the wind is perfectly lined up with the gable vents. A ridge vent with gable vents will pull air from the gable vents but it doesn't do much for humid air in the corners of the attic or the air below the gable vents.

Put in some soffit vents and a ridge vent. But at least put in the ridge vent while it's the leas painful.

[JosephP]

Neil brings up a good point... do you think you could to soffit vents in the near future? If so, do ridge vents now. If that's never gonna happen, maybe don't bother because you'll never have good ventilation anyway.