Q & A - My Roofing Contractor Says Vents Aren't Needed If...

Sabrina from Valinda, California asked, "My roofer said that vents are not needed if the roofing material is 5 pounds per square or less. Do you agree?"

Well, Sabrina, I think he meant to say 5 pounds a square foot which would be 500 pounds per square. It doesn’t matter what the weight is. The attic needs to be ventilated. All manufacturers of shingles recommend a balanced ventilation system to have a warranty. Intake vents draw air into the roof cavity or attic and exhaust it out ridge vents or other types of ventilation.

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) accepted rule for passive ventilation without a vapor retarder, which should be a 1 square foot to 150 square feet of living space ratio. So, if your living space is 1,900 square feet. 1,900 divided by 150 = 12.666 square feet of total ventilation.

I advise you to call your local building department to get the local codes in print before you decide to hire a contractor.

Have a question? AskARoofer.

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory.