Roofer Installed Open End Ridge Vent Instead of Closed End Ridge Vent……What To Do
New ridge vent was installed when I had my house re-shingled. I noticed a lot of light coming into the attic from one end of the ridge vent. The opposite end has no light coming into the attic. The light end is a tough spot to reach from outside the house so I used an inspection camera from inside the attic and see that the end of the ridge vent is totally open. It’s a Cobra vent by GAF. I contacted GAF and asked if they manufactured a plug/cap to close the opening. I was told that the vent kit provided closed end sections that are supposed to be installed at the ends of the vent run. I assume that this means that the last section that is open will have to be removed and replaced with a section that has a closed end. Are there any other options to plug the end of the ridge vent that will be easier? Roofer is long gone…..he left me with some additional problems which I have had to correct.
Replies
Jim
spray foam would be a mess and deteriorate.
How about a pc of thick backer rod? You might be able to stuff in from the attic?
A good masonry supply should have it by the foot. Get a few diameters so you don't make more than one trip. A good tight fit of what you can pack in should hold and seal.
Hi Calvin,
How's it going? I knew I could count on you for a good idea. I did try to stuff some of the non-metallic material that grill cleaning pads are made from but I didn't get a good seal and it is porous. I'll get some of the backer rod. I've got a painter coming to do some painting and when he has his staging set up I'll climb up and maybe do some of the plugging from the outside. One other thing I considered is the clay-like material (can't remember what it's called) that utility guys use to seal pipe openings around wires. I had a conduit installed (looks like a rain downspout) when my a/c lines were run to the attic and plugged the bottom with the clay stuff to keep bugs and rodents out.
Jim
Things are good.
Real Spring can't get here soon enough.
You want to be sure to insert some sort of metal mesh or the like to deter rodents. You can, eg, scrunch up chicken wire and inject foam around/through it.
I'd like to hire a roofer and have the open end section removed and replace with a closed end section. But I'm not sure if it is a good idea to disturb what is there and risk a leak.