Turtle Back Vents!

Today we are going to continue to talk about ventilation. Can you tell I feel pretty strongly about a properly ventilated home? It just makes the job of a roofer so much easier! Likewise, it makes the job of the actual roof so much easier. Today I'm going to introduce you to the turtle back vent.
When compared to the ridge vent, the turtle back vent is not quite as superior. It's still a good ventilation option, but it's not as expensive as the ridge vent; thus, slightly inferior. Turtle back vents (also known as louvers) are installed as close to the ridge as possible in order to catch as much warm air as possible. As the warm air comes through the soffit vents, the warmest air will rise up to the ridge. Turtle back vents are not a continuous vent, thus they must be spaced out evenly on the roof in order to avoid pockets of hot air and moisture. Turtle back vents are fairly easy to install, are relatively inexpensive, and are easy to incorporate into older buildings or structures with pre-existing static air. There are a few downsides to these vents as well. They don't have as much curb appeal as other vents, they are not as efficient as ridge vents, and they are susceptible to leaks if not installed properly.
The amount of ventilation you need in your home depends upon which vents you have. For example, when using ridge vents, it's recommended to have 1 sq foot of ventilation for every 300 sq feet of attic space. With turtle back vents, the recommendation is 1 sq foot for every 150 sq ft! So as you can see, you need twice the amount of turtle back vents as you do ridge vents. They are also cheaper though as I said.
When it comes down to it, you just need to talk with your roofer and weigh the pros and cons of whichever ventilation systems you're looking at, and pick the one that is best for YOUR home! Ridge vents may be great for one home and turtle back vents may be better suited for another.

www.sawyerroofing.com