Q & A - Installing Ridge Vents

When a ridge vent is installed on a roof ridge, is it normal to end the vent three to four feet from the edge of the roof?

Stephen asked, "When a ridge vent is installed on a roof ridge, is it normal to end the vent three to four feet from the edge of the roof? All ridge vents I’ve seen run to the edges. The roofer that did my roof claims they do this to prevent the soffits near the peak from feeding directly and creating counter-productive suction. I suspect they just ran out of venting. Would appreciate your thoughts."

I dug up this picture of a roof in my files and it is exactly what you are describing. The ridge vents are run short of the edge of the roof. The ridge cap is installed from the gable end in about two to three feet, then the ridge vent starts. It is then covered by the ridge cap across the ridge to the center of the roof and the process is repeated from the other direction with a center cap in the middle of the building. There are good reasons not to have the trough cut out of the whole length of the ridge. The main reason is the underside of the overhangs would be unsightly and have no value in ventilation being outside the attic. This does not mean you can’t install the ridge vent on top of the plywood and roofing shingles to maintain the same look across the ridge. I asked a roofing contractor, from Santa Rosa, California this question about ridge vents.

Sam Wilmarth, from Ridgeline Roofing in Santa Rosa, said, "Ridge vents are popular and a great way to ventilate the attic. If we listen to our customer's needs and approach every job with attention to details, we can give them what they what. So, it adds a few feet of ridge vent, but for a few dollars more, the roof looks better, in my opinion, and I know I have a happy customer.”

Most people would never notice this. Stephen this is a very easy fix, just ask your contractor to do it because it looks better and offer to pay the added cost. I am sure if you ask, your contractor probably won’t even charge you, since having a happy customer is more important than an unhappy one.

Have a question? AskARoofer.

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