Comments on: Attic Ventilation

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:04:41 +0000

I have a bonus room (400sf ) with that had gable vent and 4 turtle vents on the back side of the house. During recent re-roof , the roofer did away with the turtle vents, left the gable vent and installed ridge vent (cutting the decking only of the steep pitch side ). It appears that there are only 2 soffit vents for this area and any addition make up air would have to come from the main part of the attic which has 8 soffit . Any opinion on whether I need to install turtle vents for this area ?

By: Ben Erickson

Ben Erickson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:50:15 +0000

Hi Marion,
The insulation installer should check to be sure there is proper ventilation in the attic and take precautions to see that any soffit vents are not blocked by installing baffles, which should be visible above the blown insulation. You should also run a vent pipe from your bathroom fan to the outside to keep the warm, moist air from condensing in your attic.

By: Marion Pringle

Marion Pringle — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:01:28 +0000

Hi Ben,
I haven’t received your response to my e-mail 12/26/08.
What is your recommendation as to what I should tell the installer and is he accountable for installing the insulation before explaining what happens if there isn’t the proper amount of ventilation and exhaust and not installing it before the corrections were made.

Thank you Marion Pringle

By: Marion Pringle

Marion Pringle — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:10:31 +0000

Hi Ben, I just finished reading some of the other problems people are having and one of them was the bathroom exhaust.
My bathroom exhaust is directly into the attic which is covered with insulation. Now I will have another problem which I don’t know why the insulation installer did not alert me to this and the other situations before installing it. If the installer told me he left two soffits open, then shouln’t I see a baffle in that area?

Your help or anyone else who reads this can jump in with their reply.

Thanks, Marion Pringle

By: Marion Pringle

Marion Pringle — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:47:35 +0000

Dear Ben,

Thank you for answering my request for information of my concern for what would happen without proper ventilation and exhaust in my attic and the insulation. I was told by a contractor(not the one that installed it)that I would get mold and you confirmed it.

Taking your time to help me is so much appreciated. Again, thank you.

Marion Pringle

By: Ben Erickson

Ben Erickson — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:53:38 +0000

Hi Marion,
Inadequate attic ventilation in a cold climate can lead to condensation and mold in the attic. The rule of thumb on attic venting is approximately 1 sq. ft. of vent space for every 150 sq. ft. of attic area. So if your attic is 1,500 sq. ft., you would need 10 sq. ft. of vent area. Ideally, half the vents should be located in the soffit at the bottom of the roof and half in gable or ridge vents near the top.

By: marion pringle

marion pringle — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:55:03 +0000

Thank you Dan for reading my e-mail concerning the insulation in my attic with not enough ventilation and my concern of what the results will be like mold or anything else. I am also concerned also for any health problems that can occur. I have been waiting for your response to my request but have not seen it yet. It’s so very important to me. I’ll be looking for it and thank you again. You are a help to so many people like me. Mrs. Marion Pringle

By: marion pringle

marion pringle — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:53:20 +0000

I had paperlike insulation blown into my attic recently. There is no roof vent and I was told that 2 soffits were left open but there are no baffles and I’m not sure they protected the two soffits they say they left open. There is a very small vent in the top corner at each end. A contractor looked at the other soffits from outside and said they were of no use because they don’t go directly into the atic. The pulldown for attic access has no cover and I was told by the contractor there is not enough ventilation and that I will get mold and roof and beam damage. Please respond with your advise as soon as possible so that I can get back with the contractor that installed it and take care of the problem. It gets pretty cold here in New York and although I feel insulation is necessary, I would rather not have it done incorrectly and create a problem later on. I’m an elderly widow and need your expert opinion and advise. Thank you for your quick response. Mrs. Pringle

By: ed child

ed child — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:39:04 +0000

I have a 3 year old house in fla,suppoidly has a ridge vent.it seems they definitly cut the ridge and put paper thin mesh and then the shingles on top water tight so the ridge vent is sticking up1/8 of inch,how could this possibly vent or is this just a contractors cut and you are responsible to install the actual vent.its impossible to get any air out when the shingles are nailed down tight as normal.the cobra vent is an inch thick looks to be ok

By: PAUL

PAUL — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:45:26 +0000

I AM INSTALLING INSULATION AGAINST THE ROOF DECKING IN MY ATTIC. I PUT STYROFOAM BAFFLES IN FIRST TO ALLOW AIR FLOW TO THE RIDGE VENT. SHOULD I BE ABLE TO FEEL THE FLOW COMING UP FROM THE EAVES? IF NOT PERHAPS I NEED BETTER SOFFIT VENTS. ALSO, HOW FAR UP FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE ROOF SHOULD I PLACE THE STYROFOM BAFFLES?