My roof is leaking badly and we have determined that the leak is coming from the vent that was installed when the house was roofed. Can this be repaired without putting on a new roof? The roof is still good, but apparently the contractor cut the hole slightly bigger than the vent. Thanks!
There is nothing of this nature that cannot be done. Beyond that, we need to know the type of vent, where it's located, the size of the opening, etc., in order to comment further.
If it's a typical dome vent, it should have integral flashing which would extend several inches beyond the opening in the roof.
If it's a ridge vent, they may have installed an inferior type of vent. Ridge vents should have an integral external baffle, and many, including the often-used roll-up types, do not.
Architect (NY) and Home Designer (PA)
Posts: 2500 | Location: Tobyhanna, PA | Registered: 24 October 2005
Well, it helps a little, in that it eliminates the possibility of a rolled-type ridge vent. The next question is, does it have an integral baffle, meaning a vertical fin about an inch high at the upper edge of the roofing? This fin serves two purposes; it blocks rai water that may be blown up the roof from entering the vent, and it causes a negative pressure in the air flowing over the vent, so that air will flow out of the vent.
If you do not have this baffle, perhaps that is the cause of the leak. But if, as you imply, the opening in the roof is too big...well, can you go into your attic and look up near the peak, and see the bottoms of shingles at the ridge vent? If so, I think that can be cured by inserting flashing under the ridge vent, and using the correct sealant...one that will remain soft, allowing relative movement between the flashing and the ridge vent. The upper course of shingles may have to be peeled up and then glued down again to accomplish this.
Architect (NY) and Home Designer (PA)
Posts: 2500 | Location: Tobyhanna, PA | Registered: 24 October 2005
I can look thru a space on the peak, or ridge, that varies across the span of the attic from 1/2 to 1-inch. I can't determine if I am looking at flashing or the underside of the shingles. If I sent you a picture, of both the inside and outside, would that help? Every roofer we get states the we need an entire roof, and painters and/or other "handypeople" state nothing is wrong with the shingles, the problem is at the ridge vent.
