You may recall that I wrote to you several weeks ago and I explained that I have moisture spots on the ceilings of my kitchen and master bedroom. You thought that it was a condensation problem and that I ought to get an insulation contractor to look at it. I called an insulation expert and he said that my attic was overventilated and that snow and rain were getting in through the vents on the roof. He said to call a roofer to close up some of the vents. So I called a roofer and he recommended that the 6 existing vents be closed and replaced by 2 new vents. My question is: do you think this would solve the moisture problem? I would hate to spend $800 and still have a problem afterwards.
Answer:
Unless you compromise the insulation and ventilate with products that let in the elements, I cannot accept that a residential attic can be over-ventilated. If, on the other hand, the venting mechanizm in question is not letting in the elements, I cannot accept that anyone knowledgeable in the field would ask that it be closed off. $800.00 can buy you more headaches than any amount of closed off ventiation will justify. All venting mechanizms on the market that I've seen are effective to greater and lesser degrees but I cannot see two of one kind being better than six of another. I can though, see a single baffled ridge vent replacing all of it. If you already had six of one kind, I could not justify replacing or closing them off until such time as your shingles are being next repalced.
Courtesy of Ren Molnar, Construction Consultant at HomeFocus.com. I can also be reached at (613) 748-3003 and Home Focus phone-in is broadcast live 8 to 10 A.M. (Ottawa, Ont. time) on Saturdays on www.cfra.com.
