Im about to start shingling a small cottage with a gable style roof and I need some help. It is new construction. When I shingle arount the vent stacks, should I glue ( with roof repair) around the underside of the neoprene gasket? Also, Im only using a ridge vent, approx. 20 ft long on a 26 foot long, aprox 600 sq ft roof. How much space do I leave at the ridge without sheathing? 1 1/2 inches enuff? too much? Do I run a bead of roof patch under on either side? and lastly, should I roof patch each screw as I screw it to the deck?
Thanks guys
Marc
Replies
As an owner/builder I faced the same questions. My experience with roof patching goop is that it is all junk, use 50 year silicone in its place. It can't hurt to use a sealant on the top and sides of stack gaskets, leave the bottom unsealed to let out any water that might get between the gasket and felt.
Ridge vent installation should be per manufacturers sheet. I used a metal ridge vent and it called for a one inch opening on each side of the ridge board. Seal under vent with a heavy bead of 50 year silicone above the screw holes. Use gasketed screws to attach ridge vent to house.
Which ridge vent product to use may be the most important question to ask. A few years ago FH had a good article on the subject, and the current problems of my neighbor might highlight some concerns that are often overlooked. The FH article addressed resistance of ridge vent products to leakage from wind driven rain. the most leak resistant was the metal non-shingleover type with a lower gutter-like feature. The plastic shingle over vents look great but their chevron and foam bases did not stop wind blown rain
My neighbor bought a house with a shingle-over plastic ridge vent. What he did not know when he bought this place, was that it had some previous tenants, a few dozen flying squirrels. These critters entered via the ridge vent and have destroyed/contaminated the insulation above his cathedral ceilings.
Edited 7/8/2002 7:30:11 PM ET by OLDLOU
a 3/4" space on either side of the ridge is fine...as for ridge vent, i prefer the shingle over type..like cobra vents...i dont normaly use roof tar around vents ..especially in new constuction