How Ridge Ventilation Works

Jun 16, 2021 | Roofing

Having an effective ventilation system in your home is extremely important, particularly in areas where the weather is hot and humid. This is because in the absence of adequate ventilation, houses are in danger of suffering extensive and expensive damage due to the moisture and heat that remains trapped within. Therefore, it is crucial that a roofing company puts in place a mechanism that allows the air to circulate in and out of the house, as well as prevents from moisture from accumulating that accelerates rusting which causes erosion.

Factors such as state building codes, the type of ceiling design and the prevailing climate need to be considered before deciding the kind of ridge ventilation system to put in place by a roofing company. There are mainly two types: exhaust and intake vents. Exhaust Vents are responsible for ensuring that hot air does not remain trapped within the house; the most commonly used exhaust vents are ridge vents that offer a host of benefits to the homeowner

Importance of Ridge Vents in Roofing
The planes of a roof are called ‘ridges’ and ridge vents are constructed at the point where two such planes intersect. The most commonly used material in their construction is copolymer; this is because the nature of the material is such that it can be easily molded along different shapes and surface and has the ability of withstanding considerable weight and pressure. In order to ensure that ridge vents seamlessly blend into the surface of a house, it is important that they are installed immediately beneath where the shingles are on the roof. Like other exhaust vents such as wind turbines, ridge vents are also mechanical in nature, which means that they do not require an electrically-powered motor to pump the air out of the house.

One of the most common problems with traditional roof designs is that there are no allowances made as to how the air that enters the house and attic, will escape. When it doesn’t, the trapped air has the potential of causing premature ageing of the roofing structure, and in cases where humidity is high, it can even cause cracks to appear in the structure. It is important to remember that there are many activities that are performed within the house that contribute to the creation of moisture in the air within the house, aside from the air that blows in. In the absence of ridge vents, this moisture remains trapped within the structure of the house and this can cause considerable and irreversible damage to the shingles on the roof, rafters, as well as insulation systems.

With a ridge vent in place, an automatic ventilation system is created. As soon as air passes over the roof ridge vent, it naturally draws the hot and wet air out of the attic. Furthermore, the ride vent pulls in fresh air from the atmosphere into the house, and the attic, creating a system of ‘natural ventilation’. This is because there is an air space right beneath the ridge vents and this is what allows the air to flow continuously without any interruption or blockage, over the top of the house. Another important addition to the ridge vent is that of a baffle, which is responsible for generating enough external pressure so that air is constantly pulled out of the house.

In cases where there are multiple roof levels or multiple roofs, such as garage roofs, it is important that a ridge vent unit is placed over all the roofs’ pitches. Aside from the aesthetics, the greatest advantage of having ridge vents is that they are not high-maintenance, and can last for several years before requiring replacement or cleaning by a professional roofing company.