By:Monte Leeper
Q. Recently I had my house re-roofed (old roofing removed to bare wood
first). I never had vents on the top of the roof before and never had a
problem.
The roofer said he needed to put two roof vents up there or the roofing would not be guaranteed by the manufacturer. So they cut two squares out of the
wood roof and put in the vents.
My question: Can water get in those vents (rain or snow)? Also, is it
possible for a mouse or squirrel or any small animal to now get into my house?
A. Yes. It is quite possible, depending on the orientation of the opening and the amount of baffle provided to detour water entering the opening.
Wind-blown water is under a lot of pressure and can penetrate around corners and through very tight places. Vents are also made of varying grades and gauges of metal.
Small animals with no other hobbies or a job can work for hours or days
trying to make your attic into their own special honeymoon suite. They pry
open vents, and even if they cannot get through the baffles, they have done
damage to the opening, making rain water more able to enter. The vents
should be water tested, one area at a time. Start by checking the base of
the vent where it meets the roof to be sure the flanges are sealed under the
shingles and overlapping with a sealant at the bottom of the slope in front
of the vent. Then check the vent. This usually requires at least two people
and plastic or a bucket under the drip areas so that your ceilings are not
further damaged. Most vents are just not sealed well enough, but if the vent
opening looks damaged, replace it with a stronger vent. Your roofer is
correct to install vents, since heat build-up in the attic can be damaging to
the roof materials and causes your home energy bills to rise, since the air-
conditioners are working much harder. When we experience the rolling
blackouts LIPA has promised, you will wish everyone had thought to put in
more vents.
Stay cool!
