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BCDrums

wrote:
On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:37:53 -0400, BCDrums
wrote:

The house has gable vents and no ridge vent. All four roofers will add a
ridge vent, but one wants to put in soffit venting at the eaves and seal
the gable vents. While I understand the idea behind the soffit venting,
I wonder if it is worth the extra cost.

To do a ridge vent properly so it is effective, and worth doing at
all, you need to seal the gable vents and have soffit vents.
Otherwise, the ridge vent will not draft properly, defeating the reson
for having it. Sounds like only one roofer wants to do the job
correctly. The others want to cut important corners to be able to be
the low bidder. I know who I's choose from what you've said so far.

I believe in my state they are required to do a ridge vent. Many people
get the ridge vent with a new roof, but many do not update to soffit
vents. When I had the roof at my home done, the cost to install the
soffit vents was extraordinary due to the way the house is built, so I
skipped them.

The sole roofer who put them in his bid for the cottage was double the
price of the next bidder ($10,500 vs. $5300). I am sure his work is
great, but cost is an object.

One roofer proposes 6 nails per shingle vs. 4 nails. We are a mile from
the ocean, and occasionally get a Nor'Easter. However, I doubt that the
current roof had 6 nails and it has lasted well.

roofing nails are cheap, (5000 collated roofing nails for a gun are
about $45 retail) and with a nailgun, they go in fast - very fast.
Shouldn't really affect the price very much.

That's a good point. thanks for your comments.

BC