 |
08-16-2008, 01:47 PM
|
#1
|
|
Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,546
|
Do you have to vent a roof?
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
|
|
|
Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury
or death. ContractorTalk.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any construction or remodeling task!
Join the #1 Contractor Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
ContractorTalk.com - Are you a Professional Contractor? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's the leading place for contractors to meet online. No homeowners asking DIY questions. Just fellow tradesmen who enjoy talking about their business, their trade, and anything else that comes up. No matter what your trade is you'll find that ContractorTalk.com is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free!
Join ContractorTalk.com - Click Here

|
08-16-2008, 03:20 PM
|
#2
|
|
Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,155
|
Sounds like you have just brought the great
outdoors into your conditioned space.
I think it's bad medicine.
__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
|
|
|
08-16-2008, 03:26 PM
|
#3
|
|
Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,546
|
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.
|
|
|
08-16-2008, 03:38 PM
|
#4
|
|
Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,155
|
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.
__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
|
|
|
08-16-2008, 03:46 PM
|
#5
|
|
Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,155
|
__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
|
|
|
08-16-2008, 03:54 PM
|
#6
|
|
Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,546
|
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
|
|
|
08-16-2008, 03:57 PM
|
#7
|
|
Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,155
|
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!
__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
|
|
|
08-16-2008, 07:01 PM
|
#8
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Roofing Contractor
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NW Suburbs of Chicago
Posts: 6,705
|
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
__________________
Please Stay Tuned For A Very Important Message From Our Sponsor
http://www.rightwayroofingcompany.com/ www.rightwayroofingcompany.com
Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roofers, Roof Leak Help, Elgin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Algonquin, South Elgin, Huntley, Lake In The Hills, Illinois
|
|
|
08-16-2008, 08:31 PM
|
#9
|
|
Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,155
|
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.
__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
|
|
|
11-17-2008, 06:28 PM
|
#10
|
|
Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,546
|
Neo
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
|
|
|
11-17-2008, 07:21 PM
|
#11
|
|
Pro
Trade:
LI,NY designer, new homes, renovation work, concre
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 4,163
|
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
__________________
|
|
|
11-17-2008, 07:31 PM
|
#12
|
|
Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,155
|
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.
__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
|
|
|
11-17-2008, 07:41 PM
|
#13
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Remodeler/Finish Carpenter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Millersville, PA
Posts: 1,282
|
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
|
|
|
11-17-2008, 09:41 PM
|
#14
|
|
Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,546
|
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
Last edited by rbsremodeling; 11-17-2008 at 09:44 PM.
|
|
|
11-18-2008, 02:45 PM
|
#15
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Build, Remodel, Roofing, Siding etc...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Moorestown, NJ
Posts: 261
|
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
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|