NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
Ridge vents seem like the “modern” choice, but I keep hearing mixed things about their effectiveness if your attic isn’t set up right.
- Totally get this. Ridge vents only work if you’ve got enough soffit intake—otherwise, they’re just a fancy hole at the top.
- Box vents are simple, but you need more of them spaced out, and they can look a little clunky.
- I’ve seen synthetic underlayment trap moisture when folks skip proper attic ventilation. Not a fan unless you’re sure the rest of your setup is dialed in.
- Honestly, sometimes “modern” just means “more expensive.” I’d focus on airflow and making sure whatever you pick actually fits your attic’s layout.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
Honestly, I’m not convinced ridge vents are worth the extra cost unless your house is already set up for them. I had a contractor try to push them hard, but my attic’s layout isn’t great for airflow and it felt like upselling more than anything else. Ended up sticking with box vents. Not pretty, but they work and didn't break the bank. Sometimes simple just makes more sense, especially if you’re watching costs.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
I get where you're coming from. Ridge vents sound great on paper, but if your attic layout doesn’t support good airflow, it’s kind of throwing money at a problem that’s not really going to get fixed. I’ve seen a lot of homes where folks went with ridge vents because it was the “new thing,” but then they still had heat build-up or moisture issues because the intake just wasn’t there.
Box vents aren’t glamorous, but if they’re installed right and you’ve got enough of them spaced out, they do the job. Plus, like you said, it keeps things in budget. Sometimes practicality just wins out over what’s trendy. I ran into this on a small development last year—tried both approaches on different units and honestly, the difference wasn’t night and day unless the attic was already set up for passive airflow.
If you’re not seeing problems with your current setup, I’d say you made a solid call. No shame in keeping it simple when it works.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
Honestly, I think you nailed it by not overcomplicating things. Sometimes the “latest and greatest” just isn’t worth the hassle, especially if your attic’s not set up for it. Did you notice any difference in your energy bills after sticking with box vents? Just curious if that played out at all. Either way, keeping it simple when it works is underrated.
Honestly, I’m with you—sometimes the tried-and-true stuff just works better. I’ve swapped out “fancy” vents before and didn’t see much difference, but the install was a headache. If your box vents are doing the job, why mess with it?
