Ventilation and Attic Vents

Ever wonder what a ridge vent is? How about a cricket?Like most aspects of home construction, roofing has its own vocabulary. We've gathered some of the most common residential roofing terms so you can unlock the meaning behind them and understand what your roofing contractor is talking about.

Understanding your attic ventilation options can lead to higher quality roof system installations, which in turn boosts your business and helps keep your customers happy. Sounds like an all-around win, right? Fortunately, installing the right attic ventilation options can be a bit simpler when you know how to calculate the proper amount of ventilation and choose the right products for the job.

Ventilation for steep-slope roof assemblies is often misunderstood. One must not only understand the code requirements, but be able to translate them into real-world installations. Building codes have requirements for ventilation of steep-slope attics and enclosed rafter spaces. Balanced ventilation — nearly equal amounts of intake and exhaust — typcially provides efficient ventilation. Transitions between low-slope and steep-slope roof areas require more distinct intake and exhaust details than traditional eaves/soffits and ridges.

How do you pick the right attic vent? The first step is to check out this 60-second video and learn about the 1:300 rule, the difference between intake and exhaust ventilation, and why proper ventilation is so important to get right.To help calculate your attic ventilation needs, visit GAF Ventilation Calculator.