Expert: Brad Zacharia - 11/3/2009

Question
New Northeast homeowner with a small square hip roof that needs to be re-done (asphalt shingles, NO ventilation) and would like to install ventilation during the re-roofing. I am considering installing a small roof dormer to house powered exhaust vent, combined with soffit intakes, but wonder if this combination is efficient.  Alternatively, I have looked at ridge vents, but am reading of problems when there is no horizontal ridge. Any advice, products you could recommend?

Answer
The more venting the better. There is no exact formula. If you want to cool your house off there is no magic number of windows to open. The more you open the more ventilation.

The horizontal top of the roof is called the ridge. If you have no horizontal then you have no ridge and cannot use ridge vents.

Brad