Anyone know anything about roofs?

[Murphyrulez]

I am getting a new roof on my house. I don't know what is the best ventilation system to use, the ridge vent or the square vents. One person told me the ridge vent is the bets because it is at the highest point of the roof, but another guy said that ridge vents will leak when you get a blowing rain, and bees and bugs will come in through them... Anyone have any practical experience to share?
Thanks!

 

[911paramedic]

It will depend quite a bit on where you live. Where are you?

P.S. all vents should be covered with screen to prevent bees and the like from moving in....

 

[Murphyrulez]

I live in Taylor, MI, 15 miles south of Detroit. It usually gets up to about 85-90 at the hottest in the summer. Down to about 10 in the winter.

Another question, the roof rafters in the attic are sagging, you can see the dip in the roof from the outside. All the roofers we have had over (3 of them) have said we don't need to worry about it. But I think we need to fix the sag. I think we need to put in a knee wall in the attic to brace the rafters. Anyone else have this problem? Is the knee wall supposed to be there in the first place?

???

thanks

 

[Ornery]

Last things first. The roof is sagging because the collar ties are missing, too small, too few or weren't nailed in adequately. It may be too late to screw with that. The rafters may be sagging at this point with a reverse crown that will never come out. If you were to jack the ridge up, you better be over top of a bearing wall or you'll make a mess of the ceiling below. If you manage to lift it, remove the old collars, then re-nail them and add more.

I got talked into using Cobra Vent on my last re-roof. I really would prefer gable end vents as well as the type you cut into the roof, like mushroom and clamshell vents. My brother was worried that cutting in the clamshell vents would risk leaks. The guy behind the desk at the roofing supply house also said the Cobra Vent was superior. I doubt it. There just doesn't seem to be any way that can pass as much air through as the vents that are cut in.

Don't forget the soffit vents, that's critical too!

Installing Soffit Vents