Looked at a house for water intrusion and have decided that it has to be wind driven rain penetrating the baffels on the ridge vents. They are the aluminum type that viewed from the end look like a mushroom with angled louvers under the cap. They are fully caulked.
Any recommendations on a better design ridge cap?
Thanks, Jon
Efficiency, solar power, and a sensitive kitchen for an 1830s house in New York.
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Replies
We've had the standard molded plastic ones for about 25 years and have had no leakage that I've noticed. The first set was the "ShingleVent II", but I'm not sure what was put on the last time -- something similar.
(Note that caulking may be a bad idea, depending on the design.)
Many times ridge vents are simply on the wrong side of the roof if the wind is normally from one side. Even a continuous ridge vent under the ridge cap doesn't have to be open on the upwind side.
Are any gable vents present? If so, it could create a suction that would pull air (and water) in from the ridge vent.