Roof ventilation / soffit vent

[@ep574]

My friend recently purchased an older 1920's refurbished home as the previous owner was the contractor builder. The soffet vents were exactly what you shared in this video. We found out later there was no cut out to vent the Attic. Inside Attic, No visual of light looking down baffles. We took notice of this problem because friend had a mice situation which we cleaned out the entire Attic and removed all Insulation due to infestation. Only thing moving air is the gables. Still need intake vents from soffet. Will be contacting a roofer immediately.

[@gonelucid]

Depends where you live. Down south it's a little different

[@HunterHunter93]

How do residents live in a hot attic?

[@MaMa-qh4dy]

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!! Proper venting is extremely important. If you are unsure if roof deck is vented, go up into attic on sunny day, and you should see light from the soffits entering the vents along the eave. Sometimes you need to push back the insulation that may be blocking air flow. For best passive exhaust, you also need a properly installed ridge vent.

[@WeFindSimpleSolutions]

We see it all the time. Vented soffit installed with solid wood above it. I’ve seen poor/no ventilation actual destroy shingles in about 8-10 year period

[@TexasPapa13]

Here in Texas I’ve seen 5 year old roofs burnt up with heavy blistering from no ventilation. We always add it when we do roofs whether they want it or not lol

[@barleyhops38]

Wow! I'm wondering if someone sold this and did that coverup right before to mislead the inspection.

[@JohnSmith-xu7ev]

My roofer guys did the same, i have to still cut more holes to increase air flow

[@MrAlfonsodema]

Also will cause ice damns, condensation in the attic destroying the roof deck and causing mold!

[@Volkan-h3e]

if roof ceiling to be spray foamed, then does it require a specific type of shingles or anything ok?

[@molinodeviento8598]

I have the same issue. Shall i cut out holes 8n that board myself?

[@frankmount226]

Do you have a video for how you fixed this?

[@highcommandroofingllc1636]

Add intake vents at the eaves is the easiest or redo your entire soffit and add baffles in the attic.

[@molinodeviento8598]

​@@highcommandroofingllc1636can I just cut out holes in that board underneath the soffit?

[@irwinjimenez]

Question on using radiant barrier blankets. Shiny reflective stuff towards the heat or facing away from it?

[@tek308]

Whats the solution? how do you fix it?

[@gg-gn3re]

I found very little info for this other than your video. It is exactly what mine looks like but there is a square cut in them every several feet. we're getting ceiling water spots, I have to find someone to say what they recommend. Would you recommend I drill a 3 inch circle hole every foot or so? That's what I was thinking. I'm asking you and others.

[@MikeM-bn2ij]

Check out the ventilation calculator online. Will tell you how much you need. I ended up cutting out as much of the wood between each rafter as I could. My soffits are only 4in wide so the few holes I drilled out weren't enough. Hence the calculator I found on roofing websites. Once I did that my attic temp dropped. Proper ridge vent I had installed includes an external baffle as well. Lot's of good info online just have to find it. Good luck

[@eyefly001]

How much would it cost to have a roofer come out and fix this? I have the same problem at my home, I've considered just cutting holes all the way throuigh and drilling up a vent cover. I live in the midwest with a 1028 square foot house, soffit runs all the way around the house in a rectangle shape.

[@fredsanford1437]

Did you ever address your issue? I just learned I have the same problem

[@hardkore360]

as I was cleaning the gutters, i just noticed mine where completely clogged up with paint, whats the easiest fix? just replace?

[@hundredeyes5148]

how can i fix this? should i just cut a 12 inch run throughout the entire soffit board and then put back the fully vented vinyl soffits?

[@fredsanford1437]

Did you ever find an answer? I have this same problem

[@hundredeyes5148]

@@fredsanford1437 i ended up removing the aluminum soffit and I gut a continuous 8 inch strip the entire way then replaced the soffits, Also had a bunch of insulation in the soffits restricting airflow so i was able to clear all of it out.

[@nyleo04]

Do you just drill holes into the wood or would you ideally completely take the wood down? Or is it needed to be able to install the new soffit

[@Arcticatticfl]

You could cut the holes in, and make sure to replace the soffit venting. Also make sure the insulation in the attic is not covering the holes you cut.

[@Giltcrab]

Can i put insulation on top of baffling? I want to install baffling to match up with my soffit vents but also have ducts in the attic and would like to insulate the roof to help control the temperature in the attic around the ducts. Any tips would be awesome.

[@jeffbradley2759]

proper ventilation and proper amount of insulation is key to the full life of your roof.. roof is just not a roof - it's a system.

[@jamesmorrissey4589]

Been watching your channel for a while and I’ve agreed with everything you’ve ever said. What are your thoughts on cross ventilation caused by both a ridge vent and box vents being used? I’ve heard mixed opinions but does it cause condensation issues? Also, can’t tell if this has a ridge vent as well, just wondering.

[@usmc2msu213]

We had box vents, but we needed more air exchange so we added a ridge vent. No Ill effects after five years.

[@Jordan-gm3tl]

It also will rot the plywood out and cause Blk mild I’ve been roofing for 15 years and see stuff like this all the time same with when the insulation guys don’t put baffles in makes the roof job expensive doing a full re sheet baffles and proper intake ventilation

[@snakeinthegrak8969]

What the hell..... I'm not even a roofer I've only done maybe 20. I can't imagine this. Sucker is born every day

[@swirledworld340]

Yea but would you ever need the whole soffit as a vent? I'm sure they cut holes in it as it went you know matching the intake and exhaust.

[@GrandRoofingInc]

This home originally had wood sofit. Whoever did the siding later, I'm sure, did not cut it in. Most of the time I see it around here the guy installing the vinyl turns a blind eye and covers it up.

[@swirledworld340]

@@GrandRoofingInc the wood soffit had vents? I've done that before but only used the mesh panels where the vents were. Popped out the old metal vents and cut in a few new vent holes.

[@nickg505]

Wow that soffit is almost brand new

[@calebz1448]

What's your opinion on the effects of a pair of gable wall vents facing each other with a clear line of sight aided by an intake fan to replace vented soffit? I have peekaboo vents in what seems to be a good number but the attic gets hot even when it's mild out

[@mae2759]

If you can't do a ridge + soffit vent, that's probably your next best bet. I'm getting a ridge + hidden shingle vents because my soffits are closed like this. Roofers don't want to mess with soffit unless they replace it.

[@calebz1448]

@@mae2759 soffit doesn't pay half as good as roofing either in my experience so that's why I don't like doing it as well but yes I agree ridge venting would be my best option. I do that in metal roofing for homes whenever is available because it is the most leakproof roof vent other than gable wall vents that aren't on the roof

[@elizabethheggen9194]

First time home owner here 🤚🏼 we just redid our roof and found this exact same thing. We want to install soffit vents but how do you do it? Do you just cut holes out of the solid wood and replace the vented soffit? Is there a correct size of hole to cut?

[@itzNickyJayBeats]

Did you ever get an answer to this?

[@draganbojat3431]

I have been doing soffit for 18 years so i speak from experience. The general gist is to have one square foot of ventilation per every 150 square feet of attic. So if your attic is 1000 square feet divide that by 150 which comes out to 6.667. That is the general rule. The way we do it, do 3 vents per side and cut them as long as your arm reach. In your case if it is a 1000 square foot house that has four sides it would be 12 vents cut bigger then a square foot. This has always worked and it is more then required but like i said this is from experience and we have never been called back to a job to cut more vents. Some people want to remove all the wood and thats fine but it will cost. I charge per vent cut and i make sure it functions, when someone wants it all removed i charge much higher because it is a want and not a need. Hope this helps

[@gg-gn3re]

@@draganbojat3431 I've been reading up on this subject for about a month and learning it all and your post has some of the most information out there. Along with this youtube video... There is very little info for crappy houses like mine and elizabeth's that have no holes or very few holes. Thank you so much. I have a square foot hole every several feet and a 1700 squarefoot living space. I am getting water marks on the ceiling next to the exterior walls and it is condensation as I've studied it and watched it for about 3 months now. Would you recommend I go down the line of my house and drill some circle holes in it every foot to get your recommended total square footage?

[@hundredeyes5148]

@@draganbojat3431 how do you make sure it functions?

[@chrispalmer9802]

A house I'm looking to buy has insulation rolled out covering the soffits. So instead of going in the attic to pull it back would I be able to just drop that soffit down like in the video and cut it off?

[@stevetaxpayer6664]

Good question. I'd like to know the answer as well.

[@mae2759]

I don't see why you couldn't. Are the soffits open or closed?

[@MoneyManHolmes]

I just slid plastic baffles in and stapled 1 end so I wouldn’t have to do all that nasty cutting in such a confined space. I stapled them to the roof deck with 1/4 inch staples so they wouldn’t go through. Sometimes you have to improvise.

[@gg-gn3re]

@@stevetaxpayer6664 yea you can do this, it is best if you cut it out the soffits and then at night have someone shine a flash light in the attic at each location and make sure you see the light soyou know a good path is there

[@GamerGee]

Is it possible to combo both soffits and an gable fan?

[@GrandRoofingInc]

You really need to be cautious when it comes to ventilation. More ventilation is not necessarily better. You want the intake and exhaust matched. And they have to be in the right location as well. Gable events aren't the best. It really depends on where you have intake and exhaust. Cause they can pull from different areas they're not intended to.

[@GamerGee]

@@GrandRoofingInc so you recommend just fully soffits that air outside air into the attic then the ridge vents should be good enough. I am getting liens replaced because the vents here the holes are pained mostly which sides the attic to get to 130F in the summer plus the AHU is up there.

[@Smoked717]

They probably didn't cut them out cause the gable ends have vents.

[@molinodeviento8598]

What is gable ends?

[@robertodebeers2551]

Helpful. Thanks.

[@gen-X-trader]

That's crazy, they would have been better off just opening up the whole thing behind those soffits. While too much intake might not be exact code, from what I've seen it's not A big deal but I have seen firsthand what too much exhaust does. Condensation galore along with crazy heat. that exhaust will pull from everywhere including inside the house

[@hundredeyes5148]

instead of opening the whole thing should i cut a 12 inch run and then put back the vinly vented soffits?

[@richiestarks6163]

Get yourself a few Whirly Birds. It will suck the hot air right out.

[@danielk8926]

I see the perf over solid wood soffit all the time.

[@catrich1080]

Rig. Is. The. Best

[@deedeekhalifa9188]

They Could avoid that by remove old wood soffit or make holes in that wood soffit

[@packleader1215]

Thanks raccoon proofing

[@joesaf2273]

Pshhh, LOOKS like other homes...it's fine 😆

[@XroorX]

These older houses get scammed all the time on repairs. It would’ve been better for them to paint plywood than conceal with “fake” soffit ventilation.

[@semosancus5506]

I just conditioned my attic by putting spray foam on the underside of the roof deck. No ventilation required or wanted.

[@ericneering6357]

Venting all the way, or you’ll have a bunch of people destroying houses

[@paulmcwilliams9998]

It's called fake venting contractor wanted to get out with check