Oh my god. I have been living with Squirrel Exclusion companies never checking the ridge vents for these types of problem with flying squirrels in my attic. They go along the roof edge and then saying the house is sealed, but every night I hear them land on the roof and immediately inside the attic. Thank you for publishing this video.
They'll also get into attic fans, anywhere dormers meet the roof as the soffit isn't always tight there, builders gaps along roofline, and yes I've seen them go through ridge vents as well.
How long have you been roofing? The best ridge vent is the metal style with baffle edge and filter piece on the inside. Ridge vent manufacturers sent out cheap low cost nails years ago and they didn't work well . We used to install all metal with caulk bead under nailing flange and hex head screws with rubber grommet washers. Years later when metal panel roofs became popular we used the 1/4" hex screws with washer which were easier to use. Cobra is garbage same for Cora. If the vent doesn't have a outer wind baffle then it does not perform well. University of Illinois did the performance testing in mid 90s.
Thanks for the video. I have found areas of chewed plastic on the ends of my ridge vent. I am going to see if RIDGE -GUARD sells their powder coated steel product in the Houston, TX area. It would be much easier to install than cutting 1/4 X 1/4 inch wire mesh and screwing it over the plastic and shingles.
Just had our 30+ year old shingle roof replaced- a walk on 2 level gable roof in June. 31 years here and bought this house with this roof. It had an Aluminum ridge vent which had few problems--worked well. One I discovered: A rubber gasket shifted and allowed water to seek into the roof deck. Anyway, roofer put what I think is a Cobra vent on the ridge. I was skeptical it would move air as well as the past vent. Went up in attic today to install a TV antenna and found a very damp environment. The underside of the deck plywood looks and feels wet as well as the truss members. Several cardboard boxes in the attic felt wet. Like someone misted these areas with a fine spray. I am going to contact the roofer but expect them to brush me off.
Cobra is garbage vent ridge. Very poor performance and will suck heavy rain through during high wind conditions. I have been installing since 1971 second generation. Anyone using a nail gun to install Cobra and cap is ripping the customer off as there is no support when nailing.
Thank you for the helpful information. What is your opinion on ridge vent systems from Owens Corning? OC has several types of ridge vents on their website.
Getting a new roof very soon and it comes with a ridge vent. Don’t have one presently. Not sure what kind it is the proposal says “install new ridge vent and caps to include, cutting back plywood at ridge to ensure proper ventilation in attic space.” I guess I’m wondering if I should get one because we had a bat problem in the past, but according to the roofer ventilation is horrible without a ridge vent. The bats seemed to find a way in without a ridge vent. Also, is it code to have a ridge vent when getting a roofing shingle job? Thanks so much.
Thank you for your video. Once in a while we get a bat in so this could be why. Also, sometime we get rain in can you recommend a product for the rain problem?
I have seen the bats exit from the East end of my ridge vent. That end of the ridge vent looks like it has a much larger gap than the rest of the ridge vent. The bat "specialist" I paid for says I need a roofer and he doesn't to ridge vent exclusion (I was really scammed). How would you suggest I proceed?
It stinks a “bat specialist” can’t do that. Most do. If there are no other animal removers in the area, you could have a cooperative roofer install a couple of bat tubes/ bat cones at each end of the ridge vent. Once the bats are all out, any good roofer would know how to seal up a ridge vent.
I have the Owens Corning on a 5/12 pitch installed by a certified installer Jan. of 2018. Had a problem last fall where so much tree dirt and pine needles were coming in it blocked the drain for H/C unit. Pan started overflowing not long before I found the problem. I could have had a lot of ceiling damage if I hadn't caught it at that point. Roofer was out today, stated this is the first time they've seen this problem, team will be looking at pictures...mmm, ok. So, what are we going to do about it. I guess I'll find out within the next week. In the mean time, I took a roll of 8-10 ft. long, cheesecloth and tacked it to the roof over the H/C unit. It's working to keep the dirt off unit and out of pan but, that shouldn't be the solution.
Im about to get a new roof in michigan, any recommendations to keep out critters, i live where there is lots of trees and wild life, how about shingle brand or type of nails, etc? Ridgevent, etc
Discuss it with your roofer. Let them know your concerns. They’ll know which products they typically use and how they’ll meet your needs. We think a lot of the issue comes from roofers not thinking about animals. Put it on their radar and our bet is you’ll get an animal proof installation
I have a hip roof and my attic is getting to hot. I noticed this hip roof has a ridge vent on the sides. Is that something that is required for a hip roof for proper venting?
The most typical way to vent a roof is with a combination of ridge vents and soffit vents. Air is drawn in at the soffit, travels up the rafter space and exits at the ridge. Roofers use industry calculations to determine how much ridge venting and how many soffit vents are necessary. As to whether your home has enough venting, that would best be addressed by a local roofing PROFESSIONAL.
What about the vent's cup shape screen line becoming filled with tree debris, like seeds, small leaves and flowers? Be fine if you live where there are no trees, but I see a problem otherwise.
On a new roof install, couldn't you just get some roll mesh, 1/4" squares, nail over the ridge opening, then install the plastic vent? That would essentially guarantee nothing will get into attic, even if something were to chew through the plastic vent material...under it is a heavy duty galvanized mesh.
Oh my god. I have been living with Squirrel Exclusion companies never checking the ridge vents for these types of problem with flying squirrels in my attic. They go along the roof edge and then saying the house is sealed, but every night I hear them land on the roof and immediately inside the attic. Thank you for publishing this video.
Hope it helps! Good luck.
They'll also get into attic fans, anywhere dormers meet the roof as the soffit isn't always tight there, builders gaps along roofline, and yes I've seen them go through ridge vents as well.
True.
Very informative regarding the aluminum expansion/contraction pulling out the nails.
How long have you been roofing? The best ridge vent is the metal style with baffle edge and filter piece on the inside. Ridge vent manufacturers sent out cheap low cost nails years ago and they didn't work well . We used to install all metal with caulk bead under nailing flange and hex head screws with rubber grommet washers. Years later when metal panel roofs became popular we used the 1/4" hex screws with washer which were easier to use. Cobra is garbage same for Cora. If the vent doesn't have a outer wind baffle then it does not perform well. University of Illinois did the performance testing in mid 90s.
Thanks for the video. I have found areas of chewed plastic on the ends of my ridge vent. I am going to see if RIDGE -GUARD sells their powder coated steel product in the Houston, TX area. It would be much easier to install than cutting 1/4 X 1/4 inch wire mesh and screwing it over the plastic and shingles.
I am at Austin, and my ridge vents are almost gone due to the squirrels.
Info I can use, with a new roof and Certainteed 12" ridge vents being installed today . Subscribed. Thanks.
Sounds great!
Just had our 30+ year old shingle roof replaced- a walk on 2 level gable roof in June. 31 years here and bought this house with this roof. It had an Aluminum ridge vent which had few problems--worked well. One I discovered: A rubber gasket shifted and allowed water to seek into the roof deck. Anyway, roofer put what I think is a Cobra vent on the ridge. I was skeptical it would move air as well as the past vent. Went up in attic today to install a TV antenna and found a very damp environment. The underside of the deck plywood looks and feels wet as well as the truss members. Several cardboard boxes in the attic felt wet. Like someone misted these areas with a fine spray. I am going to contact the roofer but expect them to brush me off.
Cobra is garbage vent ridge. Very poor performance and will suck heavy rain through during high wind conditions. I have been installing since 1971 second generation. Anyone using a nail gun to install Cobra and cap is ripping the customer off as there is no support when nailing.
Thank you for the helpful information. What is your opinion on ridge vent systems from Owens Corning? OC has several types of ridge vents on their website.
Sorry. Not intimately familiar. Most new products are well designed though. Owens Corning is reputable.
Getting a new roof very soon and it comes with a ridge vent. Don’t have one presently.
Not sure what kind it is the proposal says
“install new ridge vent and caps to include, cutting back plywood at ridge to ensure proper ventilation in attic space.”
I guess I’m wondering if I should get one because we had a bat problem in the past, but according to the roofer ventilation is horrible without a ridge vent. The bats seemed to find a way in without a ridge vent. Also, is it code to have a ridge vent when getting a roofing shingle job? Thanks so much.
Modern ridge vents are excellent when installed correctly. Not sure if code. If you’ve found a reputable roofer, they won’t lead you astray.
Thank you for your video. Once in a while we get a bat in so this could be why. Also, sometime we get rain in can you recommend a product for the rain problem?
It could be capped with a filler and high quality, waterproof sealant .
I have seen the bats exit from the East end of my ridge vent.
That end of the ridge vent looks like it has a much larger gap than the rest of the ridge vent.
The bat "specialist" I paid for says I need a roofer and he doesn't to ridge vent exclusion (I was really scammed).
How would you suggest I proceed?
It stinks a “bat specialist” can’t do that. Most do. If there are no other animal removers in the area, you could have a cooperative roofer install a couple of bat tubes/ bat cones at each end of the ridge vent. Once the bats are all out, any good roofer would know how to seal up a ridge vent.
*LETS THE AIR OUT. Hot air rises and exits through the ridge vent. The ridge vent isn't a intake.
That vent lets the air out, not in. 3:00
Why not have an example of the ridge vent you are talking about ?
I have the Owens Corning on a 5/12 pitch installed by a certified installer Jan. of 2018. Had a problem last fall where so much tree dirt and pine needles were coming in it blocked the drain for H/C unit. Pan started overflowing not long before I found the problem. I could have had a lot of ceiling damage if I hadn't caught it at that point. Roofer was out today, stated this is the first time they've seen this problem, team will be looking at pictures...mmm, ok. So, what are we going to do about it. I guess I'll find out within the next week. In the mean time, I took a roll of 8-10 ft. long, cheesecloth and tacked it to the roof over the H/C unit. It's working to keep the dirt off unit and out of pan but, that shouldn't be the solution.
That’s no good.
Im about to get a new roof in michigan, any recommendations to keep out critters, i live where there is lots of trees and wild life, how about shingle brand or type of nails, etc? Ridgevent, etc
Discuss it with your roofer. Let them know your concerns. They’ll know which products they typically use and how they’ll meet your needs. We think a lot of the issue comes from roofers not thinking about animals. Put it on their radar and our bet is you’ll get an animal proof installation
I have a hip roof and my attic is getting to hot. I noticed this hip roof has a ridge vent on the sides. Is that something that is required for a hip roof for proper venting?
The most typical way to vent a roof is with a combination of ridge vents and soffit vents. Air is drawn in at the soffit, travels up the rafter space and exits at the ridge. Roofers use industry calculations to determine how much ridge venting and how many soffit vents are necessary.
As to whether your home has enough venting, that would best be addressed by a local roofing PROFESSIONAL.
Well, whats the invisible product you install?
At the end of the one vent, the material to seal is backer rod and shingle colored adhesive. You can see both at about 2:40 of the video.
@@Frontlineanimalremoval flying squirrel sitting in my bathroom=not normal😂
What about the vent's cup shape screen line becoming filled with tree debris, like seeds, small leaves and flowers? Be fine if you live where there are no trees, but I see a problem otherwise.
That's true. Ridge vent designers should take those things into consideration.
On a new roof install, couldn't you just get some roll mesh, 1/4" squares, nail over the ridge opening, then install the plastic vent? That would essentially guarantee nothing will get into attic, even if something were to chew through the plastic vent material...under it is a heavy duty galvanized mesh.
You sure could. We used to take them off, install wire just as you mentioned, and re install. We use ridge guard now
@@Frontlineanimalremoval Thanks. Will have the roofer add the mesh for me before he puts on the ridge cap.
So need to put rabbit wire under ridge cap over vents on ridge
Modern Ridge vents installed well do the trick. Ridge guard is an after market product that goes on without disassembly