Finishing Attic With Soffit Vents

They re readily available at home centers and they re cheap.

Finishing attic with soffit vents. This article explains the effects on buildings caused by locked soffit intake vents and we explain how blocked soffit venting causes or contributes to attic condensation moisture and potential mold contamination problems in buildings. Cut holes for soffit vents with a jigsaw. In 1 5 1 16. Venting both the attic with eave vents and the soffit with vent systems increases air circulation and prevents this problem.

The answer is rafter venting. Rafter vents or insulation baffles install in any rafter space to create narrow gaps that direct fresh air from the soffit vents to the peak of the roof. In addition insulation baffles must be installed at the point where the attic floor meets the roofline to prevent the attic insulation from migrating into the cavities and restricting the airflow from the soffit vents. They re most effective when used in conjunction with a continuous ridge vent.

To effectively cool the attic outside air needs to circulate through it. One solution is to use the natural circulation caused by hot air rising to bring fresh air into the attic through soffit vents under the eaves then expel the hot air through ridge or gable vents near the peak of the roof. Lengths and 14 1 2 and 22 1 2 in. Plan to place an equal number of soffit vents on both sides of the house evenly spaced along the soffits.

Soffit installation is fairly easy even for a first timer. Beige bisque 1 black 1 brown tan 4 white 8 net free area sq. This is called passive ventilation. Soffit vents come in several sizes and styles including small round discs and rectangular grilles.

Look for nails and seams in the soffit that indicate framing locations and avoid placing vents over the framing. Make the hole dimensions 1 in. Air chutes work only when the rafter spaces run from the soffit to the ridge. Ventilation not only prevents ice dams but helps reduce heat build up in the summer.

Air chutes when combined with soffit vents and a ridge vent will help prevent problems with condensation and ice dams. Smaller than the length and width of the vent. This creates a natural air flow by drawing in the air from outside pushing it up and out through the vent at the top of the house. The most common way to add ventilation to an attic is by installing air intakes in the soffits and putting an outlet at the gable of the house.

Blocked or inadequate roof ventilation air intake openings at soffits or eaves. The soffit vents allow convective air movement from the soffits of the residence to the ridge vent. Shop 12 3 results for ventilation. This method won t work where rafter spaces stop short such as in a valley or in the corner of a hip roof.

These vents allow outside air to enter the attic at the lowest point of the roof along the underside of the eave. Roofing attic ventilation.