Need recommendations for low profile roof vents

4 months ago

We're re-roofing a hip pyramid 6:12 roof of a century old house with no open soffits. Installing silver Tuff Rib metal. We have 1300 sf of attic space and at 1:150 ratio need about 1250square inches of NFA. What say you wise people? Any recommendations for low profile passive vents (intake and exhaust) that won't make the house the world's biggest porcupine??? Not looking for power vents. Hip ridge vents are not an option due to attic construction (no rafter bays, just a criss cross skeleton of oak rough sawn 2x4's). And a huge cupola is sadly out of the budget.

Has anyone used vented drip caps for intake? They're about 9 sq inches NFA per linear foot. So that would take care of the intake (if they're any good) but still leaves a need for 8-10 exhaust vents. 2-3 vents per roof plane will look insane unless they're really really low profile. All suggestions welcome!!!

Featured Answer

PRO

Mark Bischak, Architect

4 months ago

last modified: 4 months ago

Add a venting lightweight metal cupola.

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Comments (9)

PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
Add a venting cupola so passers-by do not expect camels in the yard. Find someone that can build it within budget. (you are included in "someone")
Darn Pottery
Original Author
4 months ago
I could build it. But installing additional weight on the peak of the roof that has been hacked to hell by an old chimneys is out of the question without expensive retrofits to the roof structure. engineer has advised against it. Part of the reason I'm removing shingles and putting in metal is to remove some weight. But we're all totally pro camel around here! Bring 'em on!!!
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3onthetree
4 months ago
Your roof is a good candidate for an unvented attic.

Choosing to remain vented, I do see an eave overhang. As little as a 1" continuous soffit vent works perfectly with short overhangs. At the top, the only aesthetically pleasing passive vent style for a pyramid peak would be the cupola or eyebrow vents (on at least 2 sides).
Darn Pottery
Original Author
4 months ago
3onthetree, I have been looking into eyebrow vents. The house is across a beautiful VA campus that was built in the 1800's and most of the buildings there have eyebrow vents so this would be in keeping with the neighborhood. Unfortunately, have not been able to find any that would work with a 5-V metal roof. Will talk to the client again on Monday and see if they've reconsidered the metal roof. Things seem a lot easier with shingles. Do you have a dormer/eyebrow vent manufacturer or distributor that you like? Thanks!
Darn Pottery
Original Author
4 months ago
Mark, there's a disconnect between our historic restoration company and the roofing company that doesn't want to install a cupola. Met them today to discuss and they are firm. Claim they leak and they don't want callbacks. So I'm looking into eyebrow vents. Any thoughts on where to order good ones?
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
"Claim they [cupolas] leak"

That would be false. Perhaps it is time for a different roofing company,like the one that has done work at the beautiful VA campus.
PRO
Vertesol
4 months ago
Use drip edge vents on the bottom for air intake and a few low profile box vents at the top for exhausting. Keep the vents small and disreibuted all over, that maked it look messy. Use a few spaced out evenly.
PRO
Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
4 months ago
Worst case you can fit enough venting unseen on the backside of the main roof.