Need advice on replacing an old leaky roof

- I get the appeal of sticking with what works, but there’s a bit more to it if you’re replacing a leaky roof.
- Box vents are fine for basic ventilation, but if you’re already tearing off shingles, it’s worth considering options like ridge vents or even solar-powered ones.
- Better airflow can help with moisture and heat buildup—especially if you’ve got insulation upgrades planned.
- That said, if your attic’s dry and temps are reasonable, no need to overcomplicate things.
- Personally, I swapped to ridge vents during my last reroof and noticed less ice damming in winter...could be coincidence, but seemed to help.
- Just double-check local codes and make sure whatever you pick matches your roof’s pitch and layout.

Interesting point about ridge vents and ice damming—I've heard mixed things about that.

“if your attic’s dry and temps are reasonable, no need to overcomplicate things.”

“if your attic’s dry and temps are reasonable, no need to overcomplicate things.”

I get where you’re coming from with wanting to keep it simple (and affordable). I was in the same boat last year—didn’t want to drop cash on extra vents if I didn’t have to. Here’s what worked for me, step by step:

1. **Temperature check**: On a hot day, I went up into the attic and compared the temp to outside. If it’s way hotter up there (like 20°F+), that’s usually a sign of poor ventilation. Mine was about 10°F warmer, which seemed okay.

2. **Moisture signs**: I looked for damp insulation, water stains on the rafters, or any musty smell. Even a little frost in winter is a red flag. My attic was dry and didn’t smell weird, so that was reassuring.

3. **Visual airflow test**: This one’s kinda low-tech but works—on a breezy day, I held up a tissue near the soffit and ridge vents to see if it moved at all. Not super scientific, but it gave me an idea that air was actually moving through.

4. **Check for blocked vents**: Sometimes insulation or even bird nests can block soffit vents. I poked around with a flashlight and found some old insulation bunched up in one corner—moved that out of the way.

5. **Ice dams in winter**: If you get big icicles or ice dams along your roof edge, that can mean warm air is leaking into the attic and melting snow unevenly. I had some small icicles but nothing major.

Honestly, unless you’re seeing obvious problems like mold or crazy temperature swings, you might not need to upgrade anything right away. Just keeping an eye out for those warning signs has saved me from spending more than I needed to so far.

If you do end up replacing your roof though, maybe ask your roofer if they’ll check your venting as part of the job—they sometimes throw that in without charging extra (at least mine did). No harm in asking...

Title: Need Advice On Replacing An Old Leaky Roof

That’s pretty much the same checklist I used when we bought our place. I’ll admit, I was a little more paranoid about the ventilation side of things—probably because I’d heard a few horror stories about mold and rot from friends who skipped over it. But you’re right, if you’re not seeing big temp swings or moisture, there’s no sense in tearing everything apart just for the sake of it.

One thing I’d add, though: if you’re already getting a new roof, it’s worth asking about better insulation while you’re at it. When we did ours, the roofer offered to blow in some extra cellulose for a decent price since they were already up there. Made a noticeable difference in how even the temps stayed through the winter (and our heating bill dropped a bit). Not saying everyone needs to go that route, but sometimes those “while you’re at it” upgrades are way cheaper than doing them later.

Also, on the venting—my neighbor had a similar situation and thought everything was fine until he noticed his shingles aging way faster than expected. Turns out his attic was just a bit too warm in summer, which cooked the shingles from underneath. He ended up adding a ridge vent after the fact, which was more hassle than if he’d done it during the roof job. Just something to keep in mind if your attic ever feels stuffy.

Anyway, I totally get wanting to keep things simple and not spend more than you have to. Just figured I’d share what worked (and didn’t) for us. Sometimes those little checks save you a headache down the road... or at least a few bucks.

Yeah, I hear you on the insulation and venting. When we replaced our roof a couple years back, I figured I’d just stick with what was there, but the contractor pointed out some old, patchy insulation and a couple of blocked soffit vents. Ended up biting the bullet and fixing both while the roof was open. Not cheap, but honestly, the house feels less drafty now and we haven’t had any ice dam issues since. If you’re already tearing things up, it’s worth at least poking around up there—sometimes you find stuff you didn’t know was a problem. Just my two cents...