There are some materials which allow the ridge vent to still breathe. Can you send me a picture of what you? Also, where the foam inserts usually go is not an area that impacts breathing. Do you have any intake vents at the bottom of the roof to feed air to the ridge vent?
Todd Miller
2014-10-27 21:54:59.000000
hi, I am a mechanical contractor but have some roofing experience. by far an expert but I do know the basics of the basics because of being in the construction industry for 35 years. i'll give a quick back story about my situation. 3 years ago I had my old metal roof ripped off and replaced. it was just basic fabrel exposed fastener ribbed panels. I gave them the go ahead to do what ever it takes to do it right and go overboard. the first winter showed leaks above a tin attic space. it turned out to be condensation because of a lack of venting and no underlayment. this was fixed and I thought was it. as I was replacing a damaged ridge cap last week I noticed the entire roof had no ice and water shield anywhere and it is an old planked roof deck. I have now covered the entire roof with it but am curious about ridge vent. about 1/2 of the roof is cathedral under it. my question right now, (I have more) how does a ridge cap vent when it is plugged with foam inserts? do they allow air movement through them? did my contractor use the wrong material? thanks.
chris soutar
2014-10-27 18:39:28.000000
this is a pic of inside under the roof section showed in pics.
chris soutar
2014-10-28 11:03:04.000000
this is a pic of the decking. I sealed every gap necessary that I could with caulk and spray foam. I then ran 4 rows of ice and water leaving about 2' at the peak which I double layered felt paper.
chris soutar
2014-10-28 11:12:25.000000
this is a valley that has the first layer of ice and water. I have another run of it running vertical in the valley then the flashing.
chris soutar
2014-10-28 11:28:10.000000
this is just a pic of this side to give a visual. I also am enlarging the soffits to allow for more intake and have replaced a few rafter cavity baffles. I have suspected poor ventilation since this new roof. I appreciate your input.
chris soutar
2014-10-28 11:33:23.000000
thanks for the help. I wish this project was planned, then I would be doing things much different. my issue is time at this point, this has been my busiest year every and just now getting into heating season. we are short 1 tech and 2 helpers so I have to be in the field every day on top of my regular sales and meetings. it's hard to find reliable help in my extremely "poverty stricken" area. most get paid on Friday and never come back so I call it "self driven poverty", lol. right now I am in a position where I need to get this roof done. last night I got rained off the roof. I have a rule, I won't work on the roof when it is dark and raining no matter how much lighting, not worth it to me or my family. it rained hard all night and I will now be fixing some drywall, lol. i did seal all the gaps in the planked deck with spray foam and caulk and with ice and water all the way to the last foot or so. i am hoping it helps direct the cavity air to the ridge rather than spill throughout the entire deck. also, i went a little overboard in the valleys because snow and ice builds up there quite bad i think some is from heat loss and some is from how the valley is terminated at the lower roof. i sealed the decking, continued the ice and water horizontal runs across the valley and up and over the dormer peak. i then laid another ice and water vertically in the valley, then 4' wide rubber roofing strip vertically from top to bottom. sealed all this in with geocell caulk. then the w flashing down the center of the valley and added 2' of flat stock flashing on each side vertically. i should have a good water tight valley and minimal air leakage at the valley. these valleys have taken up too much time and i am out of it. i go out of town for work next week too. i found some ridge plugs that have vents yesterday but didn't buy them because i am appalled at the cost. sorry for the life story and thanks for your input.
chris soutar
2014-10-29 08:53:53.000000
+1
Send along some pictures as well as pictures of the inside of the home and outside.
You have to fix the heat loss and air loss first or at least in conjunction with the roof repairs.
Eric Novotny
2014-10-28 08:08:18.000000
I think the decking picture isn't right.
If you are peeling the roof, you can insulate fantastically at that time or, better yet, create a rigid over deck style venting roof. Put rigid foam over the roof and get it sealed up tight that way.
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