Design Attic Ventilation

The key to proper ventilation of your roof and attic is balance.

Design attic ventilation. Attics or roofs can be designed and constructed to be either vented or unvented in any hygro thermal zone map 1. Get started indoor air quality iaq poor indoor air quality can have a negative effect on your home. For the best results place roof ventilation near the roof s peak and soffit vents in the eaves. The choice of venting or not venting is a design and construction choice not a requirement determined by the physics or by the building code.

Static roof line vents are effective for ventilation but generally aren t recommended due to issues with leaks. Also see insulation air heat leaks. Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca. Properly venting the attic ventilation is often a challenging task and it entails two processes.

Use this tool to estimate the ventilation needs for your attic and get a list of broan attic ventilation product that will meet your needs. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. There are some styles of vaulted ceiling homes or flat roof homes that have ventilation spaces within the roof itself and no attic. Hot air exhaust vents located at the peak of the roof allow hot air to escape.

Let owens corning roofing help you calculate exactly how much ventilation you will need for a healthy and balanced attic with our 4 step ventilation calculator. The amount of space you devote to intake must be equal to the amount you allow for exhaust and these must be calculated according to the size of your attic and slope of your roof. These ventilation needs are calculated differently. Enter square footage calculate or enter the square footage of the attic or area to be vented.

The first is the air entering through the circular soffit vents that incorporate a wire mesh referred to as bird blocks moreover there are other popular soffit vent styles including perforated lots or panels below the soffit. Attic ventilation estimating tool. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool air to enter the attic. Add continuous soffit vents at the eaves.

Grab a flashlight and inspect your attic during the winter. Air flows in through the soffit vents and out through the roof vents. Replacing your bathroom fan range hood or even installing a new fan. You can also contact your local municipality to check on building code in your area.

Most effective ventilation uses a ridge and soffit continuous ventilation system but even these designs can vary from roof to roof. The model building codes allow both vented and unvented roof assemblies. If you see dampness or frost you need better roof ventilation and some attic vents. After these are installed close off the gable end vents for best venting performance as discussed above.