Residential Roof Vents Explained: Ridge, Box, Turtle

Posted by Marcos Bicalho

in Roofing

Residential Roof Vents Explained: Ridge, Box, Turtle

The best type of residential roof vents for your home are the ones that work best with your home’s airflow and roof design to remove the most cubic footage of attic air space effectively. Static roof vents do not contain any moving parts or motors. They utilize convection to remove damaging heat and moisture from a home’s attic. Choosing the type of roof vent also takes into account the prevailing climate in your area, preventing issues caused by weather. The three most common static roof vents include the box vent, turtle vent and ridge vent.

By understanding the basic form and function of each type of vent, you can better choose the system that will ultimately provide your home with the most efficient level of ventilation possible. This will keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Plus it will also help control humidity in your home. A well-designed system of roof vents can reduce your energy bills while increasing your level of comfort year-round.

Box Vents

One of the most common types of static residential roof vents is the box vent. This type of vent is exactly what it sounds like: boxes that move heat and moisture out of an attic by providing an outlet for air to exit the space.

Box vents are popular because they provide a very economical way to ventilate your attic. These work well when your home already has good soffit (eaves) ventilation. They are ideal if your home has an open attic. Plus installation is simple.

Box vents must not be placed very close to the ridge of your roof. Since their range of effective airflow is limited, you need to install box vents at regular intervals along the roof.

Turtle Vents

You install turtle vents, also known as louvers, as close to the ridge as possible. Their design includes a cap that gives them a turtle-like appearance. As air comes in through the eaves, the warmest air will rise up to the ridge and out through the turtle vent.

Turtle vents are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. You can add them to old homes or buildings that already have static vents. Like box vents, they are not as efficient as ridge vents and must be spaced evenly along each ridge line. They may be aesthetically unappealing to some homeowners and may be susceptible to leaking if not installed correctly.

Ridge Vents

Ridge Vent with Ridge Cap Shingles
Ridge Vent with Ridge Cap Shingles

You can see ridge vents most commonly on residential buildings with shingles and a sloped roof. Although their overall purpose is the same, ridge vents fundamentally differ from box vents in placement, appearance and function.

Roofers install ridge vents at the very peak of a sloped roof. This provides a safe outlet for hot, humid air. Whenever they are combined with excellent soffit ventilation, ridge vents create a constant flow of air in through your home’s eaves and out through the ridge of your roof.

Unlike a box or turtle vent, you typically install ridge vents in a way that makes them almost impossible to see unless you are specifically looking for them. For this reason, they are very popular with anyone who wants a sleek, seamless-looking roof. They are also more dependable and less likely to leak.

Most importantly, ridge vents are more efficient than box or turtle vents. Ridge vents are a continuous vent along the top of the roof’s ridge. They release the hottest air from the attic with a vacuum-like effect. Other forms of ventilation may create hotter and cooler areas on the roof’s surface. Ridge vents provide the most even distribution of temperature. This eliminates the issue of some sections of the roof aging faster than others.

For these reasons, we most often will recommend installing ridge vents on your home for the best results. If your home has small roof ridges or a unique roof design, be advised that ridge vents may not be the best type of ventilation for your home.

If you want to improve your home’s curb appeal or make sure your new roof doesn’t suffer from poor ventilation, contact Remodart. Our experts can provide a free estimate, explain proper roof ventilation and get to the bottom of any current ventilation issues that your home and roof may have.

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