Trying to figure out if it is possible to ventilate an attic with a slate roof. Gable vents are generally considered a poor option. Is it possible to put in a ridge vent, or is that an extremely risky proposition?
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Replies
There is a fine gentleman hereabouts known as "the Slatesman". Hang in there and I'm sure he'll be able to help you.
edit to add: What part of the country are you in? Nothing in your profile yet.
...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home....aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
Edited 2/7/2008 12:47 am by oldbeachbum
Lookahere
http://grantlogan.net/
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete (I am so in love with myself) Draganic
Grant,
I was typing with one finger when you posted.
Walter
As I suggested several weeks ago in some of your other threads- you could use Lomanco passive vents near the ridge which would be easier to install .
You'd still have to remove slates, but far easier to do than a complete ridge detail.
Nathar,
Yes it is quite do-able if you have experience with slate.
Do the rafters just meet at the ridge or is there a 2" piece of lumber as a ridge board?
I did one last Fall but never took any pictures of the install.
If the ridge board stands proud of the roof plane- that will need to be cut down. Two courses of slates removed from both sides- a space cut in the sheathing for exhaust air to vent. Select the vent you'll be using Such as Ridgemaster I think it's called.
The slates will need to be cut and reinstalled to end at the space left for venting. You'll need to drill thru the last top course to nail thru the one below- but near the top so the vent will cover.
Install the vent, then the copper to cover the vent.
It's not a simple job, but your house could be done by two good slaters in ten hours time.
The rafters meet at a 1X6 or something similar. I don't believe that ridge board is proud of the roof plane, but I'd have to take a look at that.
Do you have a good slater lined up yet?
In our area in Maine the ridge is usually 2x10 proud of the plane by 1.5" then metal is used to cover the ridge and " saddles " of painted iron used to secure the metal every 18" or so.
I've been talking to a couple different slating contractors to see what they'd recommend. The consensus so far is that no one really recommends making the ridge vent out of actual slate, although there are some hinged vent systems which are for that purpose.
Most have recommended a ridge vent out of copper, which is a little scary to me, knowing how expensive copper is these days. I'm surprised there isn't some type of material that would be more cost effective for fashioning a ridge vent.
I wasn't recomending slate either- you'll need some form of available vent that you can cover with metal-- use a kynar coated metal if copper's too much money.
Labor is the big factor in this install. You need to access the roof- then set brackets on the roof near the ridge so the work can be performed. Present ridge covering has to come off- slates removed and saved for later- sheathing must be cut back. The vent you choose must be installed after first cutting down and relaying the slates. Then your metal cover to protect and camoflage the vent choice.