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INTERIORS of BUILDINGS
ACOUSTICAL SEALANTS
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
AIR BYPASS LEAKS
AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS
AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION
AIR SEALING STRATEGIES
ANIMAL ALLERGENS
APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS
ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & ATTIC MOLD
ATTIC VENTILATION
BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
BASEMENT LEAKS Moisture or Mold
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
BATHROOM VENTILATION
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
BRICK LINED WALLS
BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION?
BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE
CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT BUILDINGS
CRAWL SPACES
DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
FIBERGLASS INSULATION
FIREPLACE Damage & Unsafe Hearths - Settlement
FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold
FLOORING CHOICES OVER CONCRETE SLABS
FLOORING TYPES & DEFECTS
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING
HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS
HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS
HEAT LOSS INDICATORS
HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES
HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION
Heat Tapes: Use on Roofs for Ice
HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
ICE DAM PREVENTION
Ice Dams: Comparing Two Houses
INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION LOCATION in BUILDINGS - WHERE TO INSULATE
  INSULATION CHOICES
  INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE
  INSULATION LOCATION & QUANTITY for ATTICS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT FLOORS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT WALLS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS
  INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES
  INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS
  INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM
  INSULATION LOCATION for PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR SLAB
  INSULATION LOCATION for SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS
  INSULATION LOCATION for SWIMMING, INDOOR
INSULATION MOLD
INSULATION R-Values & Properties
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
  ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE
  Air Bypass Leaks, Thermal Tracking
  Blocked Soffit Intake Vents
  BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION
  CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
  CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION
  ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
  FIBERGLASS DUCT, RIGID CONSTRUCTION
  FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
  FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES
  Inspect Attics for Moisture or Mold
  Inspect Basements for Moisture or Mold
  Inspect Building Exterior
  Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic
  Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic
  Insulation Air & Heat Leaks
  INSULATION R-Values & Properties
  LOG HOME WALL INSULATION VALUES
  PHENOLIC FOAM INSULATION
  POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM INSULATION
  POLYISOCYANURATE FOAM BELOW SLABS
  POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION
  PASCAL CALCULATIONS
  RADIANT BARRIERS
  RIGID FOAM USE INDOORS
  Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation UFFI
  URETHANE FOAM Deterioration, Outgassing
  Vermiculite Insulation
LOG HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
LOG HOME GUIDE
MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
MOLD INFORMATION CENTER
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION
PLASTER & BEAVERBOARD & DRYWALL
PASCAL CALCULATIONS
RADIANT BARRIERS
RADIANT HEAT
RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid
RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES
RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES
ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
  ATTIC VENTILATION
  CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION
  Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic
  Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic
  Insulation Air & Heat Leaks
  Roof Venting: Intake - Outlet Area Ratios
  Roof Venting: Proper Locations
  Roof Venting: Both Ridge & Eaves Venting Needed
  Roof Venting: Eaves Intake if no Overhang
  Roof Venting: Soffit Intake Vent-Continuous
  Roof Venting: Un-Vented Roof Solutions
  ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS
  ROOF VENTING NEEDED?
  Soffit Ventilation
ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
  TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE
ROT, TIMBER FRAME
SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS
SEARS KIT HOUSES
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN METHOD
  PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY MONITORING
  PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR TILES, PHASE CHANGE
  PASSIVE SOLAR HEAT PERFORMANCE
  PASSIVE SOLAR HOME, LOW COST
  PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS
  SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR
  SOLAR COLLECTOR AIR or GAS COLLECTION
  SOLAR COLLECTOR EFFICIENCY COMPARISONS
  SOLAR COLLECTOR FILMS
  SOLAR COLLECTOR WOOD HOUSINGS
  SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
  SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS
  SOLAR HOUSE EVALUATION
  SOLAR SHADES & SUNSCREENS
  SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS
  SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, INDOOR
  SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, OUTDOOR DIAGNOSIS
SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS
STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS
STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
STUCCO PAINT FAILURES
STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS & DEFECTS
SUMP PUMPS GUIDE
THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
  THERMAL MASS FLOOR SLABS
  THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS
  THERMAL MASS WALL DESIGN
THERMAL TRACKING Indicates Heat Loss
VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
  Air Bypass Leaks, Thermal Tracking
  ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE
  BATHROOM VENTILATION
  Blocked Soffit Intake Vents
  BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
  BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION
  CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION
  CRAWL SPACE VENTING & Dryout Procedures
  HEAT LOSS: How to Calculate Heat Loss in a Building
  HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
  HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
  ICE DAM PREVENTION
  Inspect Attics for Moisture or Mold
  Inspect Basements for Moisture or Mold
  Inspect Building Exterior for Moisture Problems
  Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic
  Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic
  Insulation Air & Heat Leaks
  MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
  MOISTURE CALCULATIONS
  MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE
  ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
    Roof Venting: Intake - Outlet Area Ratios
    Roof Venting: Proper Locations
    Roof Venting: Both Ridge & Eaves Venting Needed
    Roof Venting: Eaves Intake if no Overhang
    Roof Venting: Soffit Intake Vent-Continuous
    Roof Venting: Un-Vented Roof Solutions
  ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS
  ROOF VENTING NEEDED?
  Soffit Ventilation
  VENTILATION DESIGN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
  WHOLE HOUSE VENTILATION Strategies
WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS
WIND TURBINES
WINDOWS & DOORS
  SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
  SITE BUILT DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS
  SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS
  SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS
  VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS
  WINDOW / DOOR ENERGY EFFICIENT, DOE
  WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT
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Ridge vent mesh type

Why Both Ridge & Soffit Venting are Needed under Building Roofs
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • Adding a ridge vent alone can increase building heating costs
  • Adding soffit venting alone is ineffective
  • How to Correct Inadequate Attic Venting to Stop Attic Condensation, Ice Dam Leaks, Attic Mold, & Roof Structure Damage
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/appointment.htm.

Soffit vent stripBoth Ridge and Eaves or Soffit Ventilation are Needed in Buildings. This article describes inspection methods and clues to detect roof venting deficiencies, insulation defects, and attic condensation problems in buildings. It describes proper roof ventilation placement, amounts, and other details. This article is part of the series ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS and also ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE.

Our photo at page top shows a modern synthetic mesh type ridge vent (with modest airflow capacity) and our photo at left shows a typical installation of continuous soffit or eaves intake venting at the lower roof edges of a building.

© Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Both Ridge and Eaves Venting Are Necessary

Beware of adding a ridge vent without soffit vents (the worst) or soffit vents without a ridge vent (bad) or only gable-end vents (usually bad). The up-draft of air from the building (convection current of rising warm air which moves up through most buildings) will be increased and will mean unnecessary heat loss if you have a ridge vent to vent air out without also providing good intake venting at the soffits or eaves.

Sketch of an effective ridge vent designInstalling only a ridge vent and no or inadequate soffit venting is likely to result in unnecessary heat loss from the building as convection currents of rising warm air in the attic, unable to easily draw in air from outside, will "suck" warm air from the building, thus increasing unnecessary heat loss and increasing the risk of ice damming. Providing a lot of easy air intake at the building eaves avoids this problem.

Installing only soffit venting and no ridge vent works better than a ridge-only vent and this design was used on many residential buildings. But it's not nearly as effective as a ridge and soffit vent combination, first because air moves through the attic space only when wind is blowing in the right direction, towards one of the walls of the Building which has a vented roof overhang, and second, because there is no high exit point to permit warmer air to exit by natural convection.

To be scrupulously fair, on a few buildings with very large gable end vents, lots of insulation in the attic floor, and perhaps lucky house siting, I have seen attics that were perfectly dry and free of condensation, ice dams, and mold. But these have been the exception, not the rule, at least for inspections in northern climates subject to cold winters and hot humid summers.

A High-Capacity Ridge Vent Moves More Air than a Low-Profile Good-looking Vent

Ridge vent mesh type Ridge vent closeup showing mesh

The popular plastic mesh type ridge vent shown in this photograph is popular where ridge vents are installed on new homes or as retrofits. Builders and owners like the ability to nail roof shingles over the easily-stored, transported, and installed roll-out plastic mesh that is simply laid across an opening cut along the building's ridge.

But we have observed that this ridge vent design passes much less air than the older, uglier aluminum ridge vent shown in our sketch above. We prefer the older product which moves air.

Continuous High Capacity Eaves or Soffit Intake Venting Provides Adequate Intake Air Under Roofs

Soffit intake venting Soffit vent strip

As we show in this pair of photos, continuous soffit intake venting will provide optimum intake air flow between every rafter pair.

Installing Continuous High Capacity Eaves or Soffit Intake Venting Works Best to Avoid Attic Moisture, Mold, & Ice Dams

Here are examples of inadequate intake ventilation: vents at the soffits are intermittent or "spot vents" or are simply too small.

Home made soffit vent

 

Don't install intermittent or occasional or faux soffit intake venting or vents with too little opening area such as we show in the photo at left.

Not only are the openings too small to pass enough air (obstructed further by the louvers and insect screens), intermittent soffit intake vents or little round or rectangular soffit spot vents are singularly ineffective in providing good under-roof or attic ventilation.

Continuous soffit/eaves intake venting is the proper location for the intake air, in order to assure that the entire under-side of the roof sheathing is vented and kept dry. Not what is shown in our photo (left).

Poorly vented home soffit

Where we inspect attics with "spot vents" in the soffits (those little round louvered vents ranging from about 3/4" diameter to 2" in diameter, are completely ineffective, never moving enough air. In these attics of buildings in climates where moisture is often a concern, we find moisture stains in the attic at the building eaves, sometimes moldy building insulation, and on occasion serious attic moisture and condensation problems.

Where we inspect attics where even larger vent openings are provided in the soffits or eaves, if the openings are intermittent, we see wet and often moldy roof sheathing on those roof sections where no venting is provided (the "in-between-vent" roof sections), even though at other roof sections where vents are present the sheathing often looks clean and dry.

This is compelling visual evidence that air is not moving up the under-side of the sections of roofing where no intake vents are present at the building eaves.

Venting needs to be provided between every rafter pair at the eaves and ridge.

Just as we want continuous intake venting along the building eaves, continuous ridge venting is the optimum exit path for warm rising air in an attic, thus pulling new cooler, drier outside air into the under-roof area from between every rafter pair. (C)Daniel Friedman - copyright protection trap.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

INTERIORS of BUILDINGS
AIR BYPASS LEAKS
AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS
AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION
AIR SEALING STRATEGIES
BATHROOM VENTILATION
FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING
ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE
Air Bypass Leaks, Thermal Tracking
Blocked Soffit Intake Vents
CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
Comparing Two Houses
Heat Tapes: Use on Roofs for Ice
HEAT LOSS: How to Calculate Heat Loss in a Building
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
ICE DAM PREVENTION
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
Inspect Attics for Moisture or Mold
Inspect Basements for Moisture or Mold
Inspect Building Exterior
Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic
Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic
ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
Roof Venting: Intake - Outlet Area Ratios
Roof Venting: Proper Locations
Roof Venting: Both Ridge & Eaves Venting Needed
Roof Venting: Eaves Intake if no Overhang
Roof Venting: Soffit Intake Vent-Continuous
Roof Venting: Un-Vented Roof Solutions
ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS
HEAT LOSS: How to Calculate Heat Loss in a Building
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
ICE DAM PREVENTION
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS

  • Alan Carson Carson Dunlop Associates, Toronto, Ontario. Mr. Carson is a home inspection professional, educator, researcher, writer, and a principal of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection and education firm. Mr. Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors Some great illustrations of the proper under-roof ventilation pathways are offered by Carson Dunlop.
  • Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. (727) 595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06 and 12/08
  • Daniel Friedman -edited and added to comments from John Annunziata, P.E. - NY Metro ASHI during informal chapter discussions about roof and attic ventilation options (1986-1996).
INTERIORS of BUILDINGS
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT

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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

More Reading about Dealing with Attic Mold, Identifying, Removing, and Preventing Mold in Attics

Be sure to review HOW TO FIND MOLD: How to Inspect Homes and Other Buildings for Mold - the Basics of How to Find Problem Mold Indoors in our Mold Action Guide. Here are other articles that will be helpful in evaluating attic mold presence, causes, and cures:

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GO TO the MOLD and INDOOR ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION CENTER for in-depth advice on avoiding testing for or cleaning up mold and other indoor environmental hazards, odors, gases, contaminants
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What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
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Use this simple, economical mold test kit
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