"ridge vents with proper intake seem like the best balance overall."
Agreed, ridge vents are usually a solid choice, but have you considered how your attic insulation might impact airflow? I've seen cases where even good venting struggles if insulation placement isn't optimized... thoughts on that?
Good point about insulation... when I first put in ridge vents, I didn't think twice about insulation placement. Ended up having to crawl back up there to clear some blocked soffits—lesson learned the itchy way, haha. Proper airflow really does depend on those little details.
Haha, been there myself—nothing like crawling around itchy insulation to make you appreciate proper planning. One thing I've found helpful when replacing roofs (especially older ones) is to take a step-by-step approach. First, strip everything down to the decking and check for any rot or water damage. It's tempting to skip this, but trust me, hidden issues can come back to bite you later.
Next, make sure your attic ventilation is balanced—ridge vents are great, but they're only effective if your soffit vents aren't blocked (as you discovered the hard way!). Installing baffles at the eaves can help keep insulation from clogging things up again. After that, lay down a good quality underlayment before putting on your shingles or metal roofing. It adds an extra layer of protection against leaks.
And speaking of insulation... if you're already up there, might as well check if you need to top it off or replace any damaged sections. Saves you another itchy adventure down the road, haha.
"lay down a good quality underlayment before putting on your shingles or metal roofing"
Definitely agree with most of what you said, but I'd suggest considering synthetic underlayment specifically. From my experience, it holds up way better than traditional felt—especially if there's a delay between installation and roofing. Learned that lesson the hard way after a surprise rain shower turned felt into a slippery mess... Synthetic might cost a bit more upfront, but it's worth avoiding the headache.
Good points on synthetic underlayment—definitely holds up better if you're stuck waiting on materials or weather. Couple things I'd add from experience:
- If you're going metal, make sure your underlayment is rated for high temps. Some cheaper synthetics can degrade quicker under metal roofs.
- Don't skimp on fasteners. Seen too many roofs fail early because someone went cheap on nails or screws.
Curious if anyone's tried peel-and-stick membranes instead? Heard they're great for leak-prone areas like valleys or dormers...
