I live on the edge of a field in a windy area. When there’s a hard rain combined with substantial wind flow from the east, water is blown through my attic louver on the east end. Annoyingly, this has always been the case. To combat the wind I built a cover for the louver which was stepped out several inches away from the slats and covered about 5/6 ths of the opening. It was open maybe an inch at the top and more at the bottom so as to not impede air flow from the space. I thought this would be enough protection from wind-driven rain to keep the wetness out. I was wrong. The leaking continued whenever wind and rain were present together.
I modified my louver cover several years ago, extending the cover to the bottom of the lowest slatted opening, and sealing the top altogether. The cover is screwed directly to the louver sides and top, and caulked. To allow hot air to continue to escape, I put 3 aluminum pop louvers in each side of this cover and hoped for the best. Though it did seem to leak less-and less often-once again, I am facing substantial leakage which is finding it’s way down my east wall into the second floor wall below, where I’ve just finished taping and mudding my sheetrock. There is no doubt about the source of the water; after a heavy rain recently, the insect screen on the louver was soaked , as well as insulation in the stud bays below the louver. Obviously, I cannot do any painting in that room until this problem is resolved.
My father has suggested installing a sprung baffle in the mouth of the existing cover, which would open only under pressure. It sounds feasible but I haven’t the slightest idea how I would go about it. Alternatively, if anyone thinks I can close entirely the lower “mouth” of the cover and be okay with just the (2″) pop vents on either side of this cover, then this is certainly the easiest solution. The attic space is substantial, roughly 22′ X 28″, with a louver in each gable end. I forget the louver dimensions but they are correct for the square footage.
Suggestions?
Replies
Maybe you should replace the louvers with some other vent scheme.
Have you considered that it's possible that the leakage is really coming through somewhere else, and not through the lover?
When was this house built, and where is it located?