71* outside 101* in attic

turbomangt

Maybe with someone with pro knowledge can tell me why on a pleasent day of 71* my attic is cooking at *101....I had a new roof and ridge vents put on, here is my check list, as I have the contractor coming over to inspect and I wouldlike some imput
Cobra ridge vents installed on three peak roof lines,
additional sofitvents cutout
I checked attic for obstruction where air flows, all is ok, no blockage
side cable vents were closed off along with all roof vents

can someone tell me with some certainty what is going on and why??????

seeyou

The sun is warming up the roof and that heat is transferring through the sheathing and warming the attic.

Not unusual at all to see temperature differentials like that. If it was 30 degrees and sunny outside, it'll probably be 70 degrees in the attic.

The main purpose of venting an attic is to remove moisture. It should reduce the heat differential some, but not completely. If the attic was not vented, the temperature would probably be 120 on a 70 degree sunny day.

Ron Smith Const

I would look into seeing if the ridge vent was cut out.I have noticed over the many years of roofing.That some have basically installed the ridge vent over the ridge but never cut the ridge out.So the ridge vent is useless.I dont understand why the Gable vents were closed off or removed.Gable vents allow wind to blow into the attic space.Depending on the color of shingles also plays a part in the heat.Darker colors get hotter faster then lighter colors.

seeyou

With ridge vent and gable vents, the air flow can short circuit from the gable vent right out the ridge vent and not pull from the soffit vent.

turbomangt

so, solution? should I add the side gamble vents.? or???

seeyou

What are you trying to attain?

turbomangt

Better balence of temp

seeyou

I don't think that's possible unless you keep the sun from shining on your house.

If your ceiling is insulated and sealed properly, it doesn't much matter how hot it gets in the attic.

I would check to see if the ridge vent is actually cut out as mentioned above. I've seen this get missed, but the temps you're quoting don't seem out of line.

Ron Smith Const

Gable vents are added while the home is under construction.I was under the impression you had gable vents but they removed them.Basically like see you quoted.In the summer the attic is going to get hot no matter what vents you have.If you can feel the heat tranferring for the attic to the living space then you may need more ventalation

turbomangt

Thanks guys...............I will have them check the ridge to see if its cut properly.

handy man88

Relying on convection to cool the attic is a slow process. If you want to move air faster, you'll need to install a powered attic fan.

I have a neighbor who couldn't get the temperature on the 2nd floor of his house below 82F until he installed two attic fans. Now, he can achieve 71F on a hot day.

seeyou

There is no way he can cool the attic below the outside temperature unless the fans are sucking conditioned air from inside the house. That sounds like a bunch of BS to me.

turbomangt

I thought that you should NOT install an attic fan with ridge vents, I hate it when pro's have conflicting opinions...LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim F

How hot can an attic get before it starts cooking the shingles? I'm guessing that 101 is not too hot based on the suggested setting of 105 on the powered gable fan I installed. There is some controversy among pros about attic ventilation but most agree that the soffit and ridge vent combo is the way to go.

seeyou

Do a search. This topic comes up nearly weekly. The attic fan fanboys think they're the only answer. The ridge vent fanboys think the same about that product. I'm a proper insulation fanboy, but I've been roofing long enough to know there's no simple blanket solution.