Do you have to vent a roof? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

rbsremodeling · 08-16-2008, 01:47 PM

I had an idea while I was remodeling my home and decided to install heat and air vents in my attic space. The roof has limited venting except for a ridge vent.

I thought this would be better than traditional venting methods and actually cause the system to perform more efficiently.

The unit is located in the attic

I was wondering if this could negatively impact the space or could this also be an alternative to traditional roof venting.

Looking for thoughts from those who have a better idea or real world experience

neolitic · 08-16-2008, 03:20 PM

Sounds like you have just brought the great
outdoors into your conditioned space.
I think it's bad medicine.

rbsremodeling · 08-16-2008, 03:26 PM

Why do you say that?? I am really hoping to get more information on the downsides. I did this after reading an article on crawl space being done the same way.

neolitic · 08-16-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

Why do you say that?? I am really hoping to get more information on the downsides. I did this after reading an article on crawl space being done the same way.

The way that works, is with the attic sealed
and insulated...brought into the envelope
of the conditioned space.
Then that must be in conjunction with heat
exchangers and whole house ventilation
to take care of moisture issues.....
Hold on a bit while I dig,
Ed has posted some articles here.

neolitic · 08-16-2008, 03:46 PM

http://www.contractortalk.com/f15/news-worthy-conditioned-unvented-attics-33951/
http://www.contractortalk.com/f15/free-download-advanced-energy-design-guide-33954/
http://www.contractortalk.com/f15/tenwoldes-5-myths-moisture-33952/

There should be something on point for you
in there.
The major point is that attic ventilation
has to be considered in the context of
the entire house.

rbsremodeling · 08-16-2008, 03:54 PM

I remember some of those post. But I will read them to get a better understanding. Thanks for the links

I do have natural ventilation in the roof vents.

I did not want a complete conditioned space for several reasons. But I will read the treads and inform myself some more and come back with more questions/ideas

neolitic · 08-16-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

I remember some of those post. But I will read them to get a better understanding. Thanks for the links

I do have natural ventilation in the roof vents.

I did not want a complete conditioned space for several reasons. But I will read the treads and inform myself some more and come back with more questions/ideas

Cool.
I'm off to see the wizard....
or at least to meet with the Wallet!

**Ed the Roofer** · 08-16-2008, 07:01 PM

Wow Neo!!!

How did you pull those out so quickly and to the point?

I never used the more advanced features on this forum, just the Subscriptions, but do you Bookmark and create Folders for certain topics?

Give s simple tutorial so I can start doing that too.

It would make my life so much easier finding threads and posts versus trying to use the Search and Advanced Search Function, trying to remember the words associated with a particular topic to get it to pull up quickly.

I have to do that from memory and that is as sharp as a marble sometimes.

Ed

neolitic · 08-16-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed the Roofer

Wow Neo!!!

How did you pull those out so quickly and to the point?

I never used the more advanced features on this forum, just the Subscriptions, but do you Bookmark and create Folders for certain topics?

Give s simple tutorial so I can start doing that too.

It would make my life so much easier finding threads and posts versus trying to use the Search and Advanced Search Function, trying to remember the words associated with a particular topic to get it to pull up quickly.

I have to do that from memory and that is as sharp as a marble sometimes.

Ed

Since the old hard drive melted
and ate all my bookmarks, I've been
going back through old stuff here.
Making book marks where appropos
and making thread subscriptions for
things I haven't completely explored
or turned into pdf form.
Those are still in subscribed threads
since there's considerable meat there,

and links I haven't followed through
on yet.

So... just copied links from
"Subscribed Threads".

Crap, missed another chance to seem smart.

rbsremodeling · 11-17-2008, 06:28 PM

Ok I went ahead and conditioned my attic space.

I have been looking around in there and every thing seems fine.

I will check again in the Summer but so far I think it has worked out. I still don't see or can't think of any down sides

**genecarp** · 11-17-2008, 07:21 PM

Rory, we are members of a Long Island Builders Association, here is a link for New York Energy Research, i have sat through hours of seminars on Energy Star Building, and the new thinking of the TIGHT ENVELOPE IN BUILDING, poke around, there is alot of good info. G

http://www.getenergysmart.org/Single...HomeOwner.aspx

neolitic · 11-17-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

Ok I went ahead and conditioned my attic space.

I have been looking around in there and every thing seems fine.

I will check again in the Summer but so far I think it has worked out. I still don't see or can't think of any down sides

See if I understand.
The attic is still open to the ridge vents?
Won't the warm air just be blowing out
through the ridge vent?

Thanx for the link Gene.

orson · 11-17-2008, 07:41 PM

Not sure if this is a repeat of one of the threads Neo posted but the subject got hit pretty hard here too:

http://www.contractortalk.com/showth...adiant+barrier

rbsremodeling · 11-17-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

See if I understand.
The attic is still open to the ridge vents?
Won't the warm air just be blowing out
through the ridge vent?

Thanx for the link Gene.

To be honest I don't know. But the house seems to say at about 68 degrees with much effort. The unit seems to kick in less and the floors all seem to keep a constant temp. I have seen no visible signs of moisture either

The bills have all averaged the same and don't seem to be out of whack either.

Thanks for the Links Gene and Owen

TaitINC · 11-18-2008, 02:45 PM

the only thing this brings to mind with me is ice damming. if an attic if correctly vented and the home correctly insulated you minimize your chances if ice damming. maybe in your area you don't get much snow, so this isn't an issue. if you do get snow than the snow will melt over the conditioned attic space than freeze at the soffits, creating an ice damn.
the only way i see possible to alleviate this problem would be to insulate your rafters and keep the soffits open for conditioning, like the common air of the attic. this creates a new problem for your roof, which could possibly be fixed with proper vent between the insul and roof sheething.
i didn't read through any of the other threads posted by others, so if this was already touched on i apologize.

if it ain't broke don't fix it
spencer