When upgrading roof space insulation, it is important to consider the effect on the roof and ensure that adequate levels of roofing ventilation is provided or maintained to avoid damage and the decay caused by the increased risk of condensation. Hambleside Danelaw have produced a short article about the ventilation requirements for cold and warm pitched roofs which is featured on Roofing Today. Ensuring familiarity with the roofing ventilation requirements will assist in constructing an appropriately ventilated roof. As opposed to traditional wet fixed ridge vents, Timloc have manufactured a highly convenient dry fix ventilated ridge kit, designed to be easy to install whilst still providing an impressive 5000mm²/m of ventilation. This is an ideal solution for DIYers looking for a low maintenance roof ventilation solution. Eave Vents Step two: Work out the number of vents required, asking how many vents it would take to provide the same amount of airflow: The number of eave or soffit vents you’ll need will depend upon your desired airflow and local building requirements. However, taking Manthorpe’s Circular Soffit Vent as an example, to achieve 10,000mm2/m of free airflow, they should be fitted at 200mm centres. It is possible for rainwater and condensation to run down the roofing underlay and drip though the opening cut into the underlay. This will usually be apparent on the outside of the vent, or on the underlay. To prevent this, the underlay should be cut and dressed around the opening to divert any rainwater or condensation around the opening in the roof.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of the ventilation your roof requires and how many roof vents you need, you can start looking into the types of roof vent that are available. One thing to remember is always to take care when working in loft spaces. Types of Roof VentsThe Klober KG9630 Uni-Line Slate Vent is suitable for 600 x 300mm (24”x 12”) and 500mm x 250mm (20”x 10”) double lap man-made fibre cement or natural slate tiles. In addition to this it can be used for High and low level ventilation. Having said that, if you have added or are planning to add roof vents for clean air in the loft space, you may not care for such a solution.

Ridge vents are designed to be installed at the apex of a pitched roof. Some ridge vents are designed to be attached to gas appliances to allow for direct ventilation, however they can also be used in tandem with eave or tile vents to effectively release moist and warm air from your roof space. Here’s a selection of roof vents with pitch preferences we have available. Discover more via our wide range of ventilation, including specific sizes:

Ice damming’ occurs when heat from inside the attic combines with the sun’s heat. It melts the snow and ice on your heated roof, letting the water run to the edge of the roof and begins to refreeze. Roof vents are applied to the roofing of properties today to help reduce weather affecting the function of a home. You can find many types of roof vents. If your property is older, it might not be required. Older houses were never truly built with proper roof vents, but it’s worth considering if your property suffers.

Eave vents are designed for low-level ventilation and are a common feature in new build properties. Eave vents are found along a home’s soffits, and it’s important to remember to give these a spring clean every now and then to clear away dirt, dust or debris. The lap vent is another easy solution for ventilation problems. Especially in poorly vented areas of the property. Though commonly used on older roofs with bitumen sarking felt (waterproofing layers), they can also be fitted to roof membranes if needed. Regardless of the approach you’d like to take, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. If you install the wrong number of vents in your roof it’s far easier to add more than to remove ones that are already installed. Our roof tile and slate vents have undergone vigorous testing at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to strengthen the design features of the final products and compatibility with surrounding roof structure.The best place to install tile or slate vents is just above your loft insulation, as the air here is able to draw out most of the moisture from the insulation without allowing heat to escape. To ensure that the placement of your vents is correct, you can poke a wire through your undersarking from inside your roof space to act as a marker. Once your marker is in place, simply cut an appropriately-sized hole in your undersarking where the rear of the vent will be laid and replace an existing roof tile with the vent. Hambleside Danelaw’s range of tile and slate vents provide ventilation into the roof void, and can also be used with mechanical extraction in bathrooms or kitchens or used for soil ventilation. All of these functions are achieved by the use of an additional flexi-pipe adapter kit which connects the required service to the vent terminal, thereby removing unsightly penetrations through the roof. A bonus fourth type of roof vent. Lap vents such as Manthorpe’s Felt Lap Vent are by far the easiest to install out of all the types of vents mentioned above. They can be easily slipped in between a horizontal overlap of your undersarking. This creates an air pathway which can help combat condensation build up. Initially, it is recommended that one vent be placed into the laps in every other rafter bay as close to the eaves as possible, but more can be installed in extreme circumstances. It should be noted that these vents alone will never provide adequate roof ventilation and should always be partnered with the options listed above to create and suitable amount of ventilation. How Much Do Roof Vents Cost? The first thing to know is that there are three main types of roof vent. These are: tile or slate vents, ridge vents and eaves vents (also known as soffit vents). This isn’t a matter of choosing one over the others, as most good ventilation systems will make use of multiple types of roof vent to ensure a strong circulation of clean air. Tile/Slate Vents Ridge vents can be installed by securing them to your roof ridge above suitably cut roofing felt or undersarking. These vents provide an impressive level of ventilation, but can almost never be used as a singular vent, but rather as an exit for rising air. Be aware that it is possible to install too many ridge vents however, particularly when it is very windy. This is because for homes with many ridge vents partnered with large eaves vents (a common occurrence in new builds), too much air can enter your loft space, potentially blowing your insulation about at the edges and causing damage.