Ventilation of the roof ridge: types + installation manual for ridge strips and aerators

When planning work on installing a pitched roof, you most likely wondered why ventilation of the roof ridge is necessary. Surely they decided how to make it better. We found out whether the arrangement technology depends on the type of roofing.

Only properly arranged ventilation in the area of ​​the ridge ridge will ensure complete drainage of the roofing cake. Formed by her air currents will remove the vapor from the insulation, preserving the height of its insulating qualities. Blowing will prevent condensation on the wooden elements and their destruction.

In the article we will talk about what options for ventilation of the ridge exist. We will introduce the solutions offered by manufacturers, give examples of self-fabrication of structures.

What functions does the ridge ventilation perform?

The ridge is a horizontal element connecting two roof slopes in their upper part. Despite the apparent simplicity, in order to ensure a long service life of the roof, this element must perform two functions at once:

• Prevent penetration of rainfall, insects and birds into the roof structure;
• Allow steam and humid air to freely exit from under the roof into the street.

If the task of protecting the roof from precipitation and foreign objects is obvious, and most developers fulfill it, then many manage to forget about the ventilation of the ridge.

Ignoring the requirement for ventilation of the ridge can lead to the most serious consequences, up to the need for a complete reconstruction of the roof.

The fact is that even with a well-made vapor barrier of insulated ramps or attic flooring from the house, a little, but continuously warm air and steam get into the roof space. Then warm air and steam rise up to the roof arch, which is covered with a ridge.

If, having reached the ridge, this air will meet an obstacle and will not be able to go outside, then it will cool down and begin to collect in large drops. Water in thermal insulation halves its ability to interfere with heat waves. Puddles on the floor will at least turn into a favorable environment for mold and other putrefactive microorganisms.

Warm, moisture-saturated air cannot leave the attic. Because of this, it condenses on the rafter system, leading to its wetting. Also, excess heat in the attic leads to thawing of snow on the roof and leaks

This process will be repeated endlessly, and will lead to excessive humidity in the roofing system and in the limited roof space, wetting of its wooden structures and insulation.

The inevitable consequences of working in this mode is the defeat of wooden structures with blue rot and black mold, metal fasteners - rye. The result will be loss of bearing capacity and subsequent destruction.

Even if you think that the roof ventilation in your house is done correctly, still periodically check the condition of the roof structures in order to take measures for additional ventilation at the right time and avoid serious consequences

In order to prevent this scenario, the skate must necessarily provide free ventilation. To do this, there must be holes in it through which air from the under-roof space will be removed to the street.

If good roof ventilation is provided for the roof, then the situation is completely different.

Two types of ventilation flows are unloaded through the ridge rib. Firstly, due to temperature changes there is a constant movement of air inside the roof from the eaves to the ridge. Secondly, air and moisture from the room gradually penetrate the roof through the attic floor and also rise to the ridge

Streams of warm air, which in various ways got into the under-roof space, rise to the very top to the ridge and without encountering resistance on their way freely go outside, taking with them excess moisture. Thus, a comfortable mode is provided for the roof, and the risk of wetting the insulation and infection of the wood with the fungus is minimized.

Preparing to install a ventilated ridge

There are several options for a ventilated ridge device, which will be described below. But in order for any of these methods to work, even at the stage of installation of roof slopes, two important conditions must be met.

Firstly, regardless of what material the roof is made of, to ensure ridge ventilation, a gap should be left between slopes with a width of 5-10 cm. This space is necessary for the free benefit of air from the under-roof space to the ridge and ventilation holes.

In order to make an optimal gap between the slopes, read the instructions of the manufacturer of the ridge element. If the gap is too large, the ridge element may not overlap enough and precipitation will begin to fall into the roof

Secondly, if you used a waterproofing film when installing the roof, then in the area of ​​the ridge this membrane should also have a longitudinal gap of 5-10 cm in width. When using a waterproofing membrane, it is not necessary to leave this gap, because this material is able to pass moisture out through the pores.

The air from the attic through the gap in the waterproofing gets under the ridge and through the openings with a seal goes to the street. If there is no such gap, then the air will not be able to go to the ridge and will remain in the attic

The fulfillment of these two rules is an indispensable condition for the operation of ridge ventilation.

Options for the manufacture of ridge ventilation

Roofing materials abound in variety.Each of them, whether it is metal, ceramic or soft tiles, decking, slate or ondulin, has its own characteristics. Roof structures assembled for different materials differ from each other. Therefore, the design of the skates and the ways of organizing their ventilation also vary.

Depending on the roofing material and the personal preferences of the builder, three types of ventilation are usually used:

• Ventilated ridge on the roofs of corrugated materials;
• Ventilated ridge on the roof of soft tiles;
• Skate ventilation with universal aerators with conventional or pipe deflectors.

All of these ventilation methods work effectively. And even amateurs can perform any kind of ridge ventilation.

Installation of the ridge on corrugated roofs

This method of ridge ventilation is the simplest and cheapest.

The fact is that roofs made of metal, metal and ceramic tiles, slate and ondulin have a wavy shape. Due to this, gaps are formed between the roofing material and the plank of the ridge, through which air can freely exit from under the roof.

Just setting the plank of the ridge on a metal tile or any other material with a wave-shaped cross section, you will provide the necessary gaps for air to flow from the attic to the street

Therefore, for a roof made of such materials, the installation of a ventilation ridge can be performed in just two stages:

• install a seal or a special ridge tape;
• fix the skate strip over the sealant.

The sealant and tape do not allow snow, dry leaves, insects or birds to get under the roof. This is especially true if the roof is flat, that is, has a small angle or is located in an area with frequent winds.

Thanks to the wide range, today it is possible to choose a suitable sealant for roofing material of any shape. When choosing a sealant, it is better to give preference to the profile type, since it adheres more tightly to the material and better allows air to pass through

Structurally, the tape and seal are strips of porous materials that pass air well but retain small objects. For strong fastening and elimination of cracks, the sealant and tape have an adhesive layer.

When buying a tape, make sure that its width will be sufficient for the size of your skate. When installing the tape, glue it securely to the roof material to prevent foreign objects from entering

It should be noted that sealing roofing tapes began to be used in domestic individual construction relatively recently. However, their installation is not a prerequisite. However, they perfectly protect the subroofing space from dust, and at the same time they do not affect the speed and volume of the outgoing flows through them.

In the case when the gap between the slopes with a large margin is overlapped by a wide ridge plank, the probability of falling under the ridge of rain or snow and without seals is practically absent.

With all the subtleties of a roof ventilation device with a metal-roofing, it will introduce next article, which we recommend reading to the owners of cottages and suburban estates.

Mounting the ridge on flexible tiles

The roof made of flexible tiles is absolutely flat, therefore, if the ridge elements are simply fixed on it, then there will be no ventilation gaps, like on corrugated roofs.

The manufacturing process of a deaf, non-ventilated ridge on the roof of soft tiles impresses with its simplicity. However, it is better to opt for a ventilated ridge. This will save you from serious problems in the future.

If the gap that is left between the slopes for ventilation is hermetically sealed with the ridge tiles of the flexible tile, ventilation outlets are selected at the top of the pediment.Most often, these are small holes above the girder roof girders or the pediment windows located below.

For the manufacture of a ventilated ridge on the roof of a flexible tile, it is necessary to install an aeration structure that forms a longitudinal gap between the plane of the ramp and the ridge.

This small element will hardly increase the time of installation of the roof. However, it will provide reliable ventilation and will not allow harmful consequences

There are two options for constructing a ventilated ridge structure:

• Installation on a skate factory aerator;
• Making a ventilated ridge with your own hands.

Both methods are simple and guarantee an excellent appearance of the roof with an equipped and beautifully designed roof. Installing a ridge aerator is a great way to save time on installation work and by default will provide protection against foreign objects getting under the roof.

In the construction market, there are many options for ridge aerators from various manufacturers. However, the principle of their device is similar: the aerator is a plastic structure that creates a gap for the exit of air. From the side of the street, the aerator is equipped with a mesh that prevents insects and birds from getting inside.

When choosing a ridge aerator for soft tiles, read the manufacturer's recommendations. This will help you find the width and height of the aerator suitable for your roof, to prevent precipitation and foreign objects from entering the roof

Depending on the needs of the builder, the ridge aerators provide a different level of protection against the penetration of foreign objects and rainfall under the roof. The smaller the cells in the grid or grate of the aerator, the smaller the size of the particles they let through.

In addition to coarse wire meshes, some aerators also have sealing tapes, which completely exclude the possibility of falling under the roof of something.

When performing work, ensure that the ridge is firmly mounted on the roof, as it is exposed to strong wind loads

The installation of such a ridge aerator does not cause difficulties and occurs in three stages:

• Before laying flexible tiles along the ridge line reinforce the crate. Usually a board is used here if all slopes are equipped with OSB boards. If the crate was made by the board, then along the ridge ridge it is placed without gaps. A waterproofing carpet is laid on top.
• The skate on nails or screws is fixed to the board laid along the slopes;
• Tiles are mounted on top of the ridge in the usual way.

The factory-made skate has a long service life and guarantees good ventilation.

You can also make a ventilated ridge with your own hands, if for some reason you do not want to use a factory-made ridge aerator.

If you carefully treat the work, then from the ground a home-made roofing aerator cannot be distinguished from the factory

For the independent manufacture of a ventilated ridge, the same materials that were used in the construction of the roof itself will be required:

• Laths from a bar 50 × 50 mm;
• OSB or plywood;
• Flexible tile designed for equipping a ridge. It can be bought in a ready-to-install form or cut independently from ordinary shingles;
• Galvanized roofing nails.

If desired, to protect from snow, insects and birds, you must purchase a cornice or some other mesh.

If you decide to make a ventilated ridge yourself, be sure to consider the amount of materials necessary for it when calculating and ordering a roof

First of all, we fix the lattices in the upper part of the slopes above the rafters. The length of the bar depends on the angle of the roof: the smaller the angle, the longer the elements of the crate should be made to prevent rain from entering the weather. In normal cases, a length of 50 cm will be sufficient.Excessive increase in the length of the crate and ridge elements will hinder air circulation.

To the ends of the bar we fasten the cornice grid of the appropriate height.

Next, on the whetstone we install the base under the flexible tile from OSB or plywood, on top of which we fix the flexible tile in the usual way.

A home-made ventilated ridge on the roof of flexible tiles can be either double-sided or single-sided. If you want to not be visible from the front side of the roof of the ventilation gap, then install a one-sided skate with a ventilation gap on the opposite side

The ridge ventilation made in this way will harmoniously repeat the appearance of the roof and will not require serious skills and financial costs.

Installation of ridge aerators

There are situations when the ventilated ridge cannot be installed. For example, on roofs with a small angle of inclination, the snow cap does not come off and can block the ridge, completely stopping ventilation. In areas with snow and strong winds, a ventilated ridge can blow snow.

Also, during operation, it may turn out that the ventilated ridge is not effective enough. In these cases, the best option is to install deflectors on the skate of universal aerators.

Do-it-yourself installation of roofing aerators is not difficult. It is only necessary to follow the manufacturer's recommendations

The roof aerator can be installed in any type of ridge element. It can be used as the main element of ridge ventilation (with a deaf ridge), as well as in addition to the existing ridge ventilation.

The advantages of this solution are:

• Excluded from the roof are precipitation and other foreign objects;
• The ability to apply on roofs with a slight slope, on which snow accumulates;
• Providing extra traction.

Unlike the ridge aerator, which discharges air evenly over the entire length of the ridge, the ramp aerator provides point ventilation. Therefore, when using it, it is necessary to ensure that there are no obstacles to the movement of air towards it along the ridge. This can be done by cutting the top of the rafters 5-7 cm parallel to the ground.

If your roof has a long ridge and slopes of a large area, it is better to install several ridge aerators so that there are no areas with stagnant air under the ridge

Manufacturers offer an excellent selection of ridge aerators, as well as ventilation pipes with turbine or conventional ventilation baffles. They are suitable for any type of roofing, so choosing the right device for you is not difficult.

Consequences of weak or zero ventilation

Concluding the topic, one cannot help but touch upon the troubles that the absence or ineffective work of ridge ventilation can lead to. At the beginning of this article it was already mentioned that the consequences of improperly organized ventilation can be quite serious, up to a complete replacement of the roof.

Of course, in order to bring the situation to such a state, it is necessary to seriously violate the rules for the installation of ceilings and roofs or for a long time not pay attention to ventilation problems. However, the likelihood of encountering troubles is still great.

First of all, problems with roof ventilation lead to increased humidity and moisture condensation on the roof elements. In winter, moisture condenses on the roof structures and turns into frost, which melts when thawed and turns into water.

Thawing this frost will wet the rafter system and fall into the insulation. The result will be a decrease in the efficiency of thermal insulation and the resettlement of putrefactive microorganisms

The consequences of this phenomenon are the most unpleasant and destructive:

• Wet wooden structures are affected by the fungus and gradually collapse;
• Metal fasteners begin to rust and lose strength;
• Condensate dripping from the roof structures onto the floor or attic insulation penetrates into it, negating the thermal insulation properties.

The second common form of negative consequences from improper installation of the ridge plate or ridge aerator, or the lack of a seal in them is the ingress of foreign objects into the roof structure.

In windy weather, rain or snow can penetrate into the under-roof space, leading to wetting of the elements of the roof or insulation.

Install the ventilated ridge so that the ridge plank reliably and with a margin overlaps the gap between the slopes in the upper part of the roof

If there is no ridge seal or tape, birds can enter the attic. They can make nests there and annoy with constant noise, and they can pick and pull out a heater for the construction of their nests.

When deciding to install a ridge element without a seal or tape, observe or ask your neighbors about how many small birds there are in the area.

Another dangerous consequence of the lack of ridge ventilation can be the formation of an ice dam (congestion) on the roof. Such a phenomenon is inherent in poorly insulated roofs with a slight slope, which retains snow on themselves, or in the presence of snow retainers installed on the eaves.

The reasons for the formation of an ice jam are too high air temperature under the roof due to heat leaks and lack of ventilation. As a result, the snow over the attic constantly melts and rolls down. At the same time, on the eaves overhang, under which there is no warm attic, the snow does not melt and delays the water coming from above. Gradually, a dangerous growth of snow, water and ice forms on the ledge

This phenomenon is especially dangerous if people walk under the eaves, because falling icicles and ice can cause irreparable harm.

It should also be noted that ridge ventilation is only an integral element in the ventilation of the roof and attic and, in fact, is a hood. Based on this, for its normal operation it is required to provide an air flow under the roof, for example, through eaves.

If this is neglected, then in the absence of the necessary inflow of air, even ideally made ridge ventilation, there will simply be nothing to pull it into the street, and water vapor will continue to accumulate in the roof structure and destroy it.

In addition, arranging the ridge ventilation, we must not forget about the installation of vapor barrier floors and attic slopes, they will protect the insulated structures from domestic fumes. In cold roofs, steam barriers are not used. To protect both atmospheric and cold roofs from atmospheric water, waterproofing is necessary.

Also a mandatory component of roof ventilation are dormer and pediment windows. The first are built on hip and tent types of roofs, the second - on single-pitched, gable and broken. In addition to them, as an addition, they are mounted vent valves with and without fans, vents and other devices.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video shows how to independently make a ventilated ridge on the roof of flexible tiles:

Video of installing a ridge with a seal on a metal tile:

Mounting a ridge aerator with a deflector:

Installation of a deaf ridge and ridge aerator on a roof made of flexible tiles:

Video about the causes of condensation in the attic and the need for ventilation:

Ridge ventilation is an important element to extend the life of roof structures. Moreover, thanks to various design options and a wide selection of finished products, it is possible to make or install ventilation yourself.

The main thing is to choose the right type of ridge ventilation specifically for your roof.

Please write comments in the form below the block. Tell us about how your roof is ventilated through the ridge.It is possible that your recommendations and the information you provide will be very useful to site visitors.