Finishing an attic that has no soffit vents?
 

Hi:

I have an attic space that has a ridge vent but no soffit vents and I wanted
to enclose the space and make
it into a room. I am concerned about venting it properly. There are no
soffit vents and only a ridge
vent. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Tracy

Look at the Building Science Corporation web site for discussion of
vented attics in various climates.

If you decide you need to vent, add soffit vents & ensure enough space
for air passage and insulation required for your area. If existing roof
structure does not provide enough space, add some furring to the
rafters.

TB

Tracy wrote:
Hi:

I have an attic space that has a ridge vent but no soffit vents and I
wanted to enclose the space and make
it into a room. I am concerned about venting it properly. There are
no soffit vents and only a ridge
vent. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Tracy


I would be adding soffit vents and making sure they had an unblocked
draft to the ridge vent.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

"Joseph Meehan" writes:
Tracy wrote:
Hi:

I have an attic space that has a ridge vent but no soffit vents and I
wanted to enclose the space and make
it into a room. I am concerned about venting it properly. There are
no soffit vents and only a ridge
vent. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Tracy


I would be adding soffit vents and making sure they had an unblocked
draft to the ridge vent.

As would I.

--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/

In alt.home.repair on Sun, 31 Jul 2005 19:44:30 -0400 "Tracy"
posted:

Hi:

I have an attic space that has a ridge vent but no soffit vents and I wanted
to enclose the space and make
it into a room. I am concerned about venting it properly. There are no
soffit vents and only a ridge
vent. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Tracy

I haven't done this, but I've been reading on this list about radiant
barriers (tin foil?). It seems they work well. It says they have to
have air space on one side, but I think they must mean on the top
side. You find out. Anyhow it seems that you should have a half inch
of air space, a radiant barrier, and then insulation, and then the
ceiling of your room, to make things the best (plus the soffit vents
and air circulation) Now is time to do it instead of after the walls
and ceiling are up.

Search for radiant barrier in this newgroup in the last two weeks, and
search the web for it.


Meirman
--
If emailing, please let me know whether
or not you are posting the same letter.
Change domain to erols.com, if necessary.

"Tracy" wrote in message
...
Hi:

I have an attic space that has a ridge vent but no soffit vents and I
wanted
to enclose the space and make
it into a room. I am concerned about venting it properly. There are no
soffit vents and only a ridge
vent. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Tracy

Call your local city or county building inspection department and see what
is required.

I see several challenges that could stop you from doing what you are
considering.
First and foremost is your structure built to handle the extra load?????

All replies listed here are right. After you have codes and
structurals checked, and before you start your construction, staple
close meshed chicken wire to the rafters 18" to 24" above the point of
contact of the ceiling and walls of the finished area. Do you intend
to have a slope as a bridging between ceilings and walls? Or are you
squaring them to each other? If squaring, staple rolled insulation to
the studding. Use poured insulation on the ceiling. Installing
chicken wire will act as a dam preventing the insulation from falling
off the ceiling into the rafter space. Doing the same trick on the
first level ceiling joists will prevent the poured insulation from
falling into the soffits too. That gives you air pockets for
circulation above the attic ceiling and at the knee wall as well.
Consider putting small automatic exhaust fans in the gables. Be sure
to screen them from bugs. And don't forget dormers for cross
ventilation.