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| Gable vents, photos courtesy of www.nachi.org |
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| Gable vents, photos courtesy of www.nachi.org |
Attic ventilation isn't something I think about regularly, but this winter brought that issue to my attention. We were astounded to see one foot of ice build up on the north side of our roof. Since that area got the little to no sun exposure, improper insulation and ventilation increased chances for getting ice dams.
Once the snow started melting, M and I went into the attic to investigate what went wrong. We quickly realized that the attic had a poor ventilation system. Original to its 1950's form, our house had no soffit nor any other air intake vents. With no intake vents to bring outside air into the attic, warm humid air lingered, keeping the attic hot when it should be the same temperature as the outside. The warm attic in the winter caused the snow to melt, run down the roof, and refreeze creating ice dams. Not only does an incorrectly ventilated attic create ice dams, it also promotes the growth of mold. Gable vents would remedy this issue by allowing cool air to enter near the base of the attic allowing warm air to exit through the roof vents.
We bought two "easy to install"
gable vents from Menards for $25 a piece. M first measured and cut out the hole in the wall, running into some issues since he only had a jigsaw and dremel to do the job. The first hole was too small so he had to trim away the wood and aluminum siding before fitting in the mesh and vent pieces. We tied the vinyl vent piece to our
steel fish tape and dragged it up to the hole securing it overnight since we ran out of time. The next day, after screwing the vinyl plate in place, M caulked and installed the wire mesh panel. All in all, installing the gable vent was an easy fix to a big problem.
*Message from M: I modified the installation method since I did not want to remove and reinstall the siding.
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| Our gable vent from Menards |
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| Measuring and cutting out the hole |
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| Tackling the aluminum siding |
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| Hole in the wall |
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| Hole in the wall from the outside |
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| Turned out that the hole was too small so M had to trim off more wood and siding |
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| After trimming, M fished the vinyl panel into place. |
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| Holing it in place overnight |
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| After screwing the vinyl plate onto the outside wall, M caulked and screwed the mesh panel into place |
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| Gable vent from inside the attic |
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| Gable vent caulked and screwed to the siding. Hooray for ventilation! |
A gable is a section of wall located at the end of a pitched roof, between the edges of the intersecting pitches. It is usually triangular and extends from the eaves to the ridge, although the shape and detailing depends on the particular structural system used for the roof.Timber Frame Manufacturers
ReplyDeleteThis article provides great insights into the process of finishing off an attic, especially when considering insulation and ventilation needs. I appreciate the focus on making the space energy efficient and preventing moisture buildup, which can be a big concern in these types of conversions. One point I found particularly helpful was the emphasis on choosing the right type of insulation for the climate—this is crucial for maintaining comfortable temperatures year-round.
ReplyDeleteAs someone with an electrical background, I'm curious about the specific challenges of installing electrical systems in attic spaces, particularly with regards to wiring safety and ensuring code compliance in areas with limited accessibility. Could you share any tips or considerations when planning the electrical layout for an attic conversion, especially for lighting and outlet placement?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this aspect!