
- #Installing rafter vents diagram how to
- #Installing rafter vents diagram install
- #Installing rafter vents diagram portable
Great, but neither of these problems is experienced in warmer climates.I am doing some remodel work in my finished attic. A healthy airflow also helps with ice dams, which begin to form when warm air in the attic melts the snow from beneath and creates runoff that refreezes on the colder eave. If this air lingers, it can condense on the underside of the roof sheathing and rot it. Rarely will you find a building practice that works everywhere.įor instance, attic ventilation is used widely in cold climates to evacuate the warm, moist air that escapes from the living space below.
#Installing rafter vents diagram install
Step 7: Install the Ventilation Baffle Photo by Merle Henkeniusįinally, to ensure that the airway to the vent remains open, staple a ventilation baffle to the plywood sheathing in each rafter bay. If there's blown-in insulation, like ours, rake back the fluffy stuff with a 3- or 4-ft.-long 1 x 6, or use a garden rake or hoe. If the attic is insulated with fiberglass batts, just pull back any that are blocking the flow of air. The soffit vents are now installed, but you still need to make sure there's no insulation blocking the new vents. Step 6: Remove Any Insulation From the New Vent Photo by Merle Henkenius Trim the last vent to length using aviation snips. Continue installing additional strip vents until you reach the far end. Use a cordless drill/driver to secure the vent to the soffit with ½-in.-long No. Step 5: Attach the Vent to the Soffit Photo by Merle Henkenius With the help of an assistant, raise the vent up to the soffit and center it over the cutout slot. Next, lay the strip vent down on a flat wood surface, such as a plywood sheet or long 2 x 4, and drill 1⁄8-in.-dia. Step 4: Raise the Vent up to the Soffit Photo by Merle Henkenius If there's any insulation clogging the slot, pull it out or shove it back up. Then inspect the length of the vent cutout. Pull any nails that remain in the soffit framing with a cat's paw. Once all cuts are made, use a thin pry bar to remove the 2-in. When you near the end of the soffit, stop short and connect the two cuts with a sharp chisel or sabre saw.

Step 3: Connect the Two Cuts Photo by Merle Henkenius Set the blade depth to cut through the thin soffit material barely.
#Installing rafter vents diagram portable
Then set your circular saw to that depth and cut along the chalk lines.Ĭut the two parallel lines with a portable circular saw. hole through the soffit right between the lines and measure the thickness of the soffit panel (probably 1⁄4 or 3⁄8 in.). Step 2: Cut Parallel Lines Photo by Merle Henkenius apart, allowing the vent to overlap the cutout by ½ in. Start by using a chalk reel to snap two parallel lines down the center of the soffit.

#Installing rafter vents diagram how to
How to Install Soffit Vents Step 1: Make Two Parallel Lines Strips vents come in white, brown, and silver you'll pay less than $3 for an 8-ft. This style vent provides a quick way to ventilate every rafter bay. We opted for aluminum strip vents that measure 3 in. Soffit vents come in several sizes and styles, including small round discs and rectangular grilles. They're most effective when used in conjunction with a continuous ridge vent. These vents allow outside air to enter the attic at the lowest point of the roof-along the underside of the eave. If your home is fitted solely with small gable-end vents or a ventilator high in the roof, you might want to consider adding soffit vents to increase airflow. If you're looking to install new ventilation in your house, you might want to consider a soffit vent.
