Ridge Vent Design Bat Problems
Last week, our blog was about nuisance animals getting into the attic through roof vents.
If you missed it, here’s the link. Roof Vent Design Tip
We did not specifically mention ridge vents in that post, however. So, today we want to look specifically at ridge vents and how animals like bats get into attics through these specialty vents.
A ridge vent is an important component of a roofing system. Yet, when it comes to nuisance animals like squirrels and bats, ridge vents can also offer animals a way into the attic.
This post discusses animals getting in at ridge vents. Also, we present a video in which Ryan explains how he bat proofed a recent ridge vent by changing the style used.
Animals and Ridge Vents
Before we go any farther, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page.
A ridge vent is a cover of some kind that runs along the peak of a roof (the ridge) to cover the roof deck opening along the ridge. Some people are very perplexed why there would be an opening at the very top of their roof, but the venting at the ridge is an important part of roof ventilation.
As the picture below illustrates, cooler air is brought in at the eaves and the warmer air vents at the ridge. Roofs/attics stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter because of this ventilation. This is better for your heating/cooling bill as well as the life of the roof.
There are a number of varieties of ridge vents in use and chances are you did not get to pick yours unless you re-roofed recently and were given the choice.
Some resemble shingles and sit low. Others are metal and sit higher. But whatever the design, they share the common purpose of letting air out the very top of the house while keeping the elements out.
And while most are good at keeping rain out, some don’t do too well at keeping unwanted animals out.
The two most common animal species that enter attics via ridge vents her in the Canton / Akron / Kent area are bats and flying squirrels.
Using little gaps that can occur where the ridge vent attaches to the roof or at the ends of the vents, these small animals can get right into an attic.
Most roofers don’t install screening over the opening in the gap in the roof decking underneath. So when bats or squirrels get past the ridge vent, they usually have unimpeded access to the attic.
When an opportunistic bat or flying squirrel finds such an opening, chances are that more will follow.
Video | Ridge Vent Reinforcement & New Design
Bat proofing (squirrel proofing, too) ridge vents is accomplished by:
- Removing the current ridge vent
- Screening the opening underneath
- Re-installing a better ridge vent
Take a look at this video to see how its done.
As the video showed, some ridge vents don’t seemed to be designed with nuisance animals in mind.
If you are getting a new roof soon, definitely ask your roofing contractor about nuisance animal prevention.
Bat Proofing | Akron, Canton, Kent
If your ridge vents are such that animals have access to your attic through them, please give us a call today!
We have a lot of experiences with removing bat, squirrels and other nuisance animals that get into roofs and attics.
And not only will we remove the problem animal, we’ll make sure that a preventative repair is done right. The ridge vent will be bat proofed and look great too!
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