Ridge Vent: Cause of massive leaks?

ShortEdged · 10-08-2009, 04:34 PM

Can Ridge Vents cause leaks? This roof was put on four years ago and had been leaking from the start. It leaks in four places, but only seems to be apparent during long hard rains that last a day or two. The leaks are not in the same area of the house but in four different locations. Running hose water around chimney around porch, garage etc does not show any signs of leaking. I’m wondering if wind driven rain and the ridge vent could be the cause. Let me know if pictures will help. Water will drip and stream at times after very long hard rains.
Thanks

Needham Re-Roofing 1326199 ccc1326199 bryan joseph needham 1-888-633-3426 407-420-1919 972-572-6400 issue issues problem problems complaint

AaronB · 10-08-2009, 10:01 PM

Yes to all.

ShortEdged · 10-08-2009, 11:43 PM

The roofer has suggested removing the ridge vents leaving only the four vents shown in the first picture. Other than the roofer sloping tar around, this is the first attempt at something to fix the leaks in four years. This roof is so simple, I just do not understand how it can be leaking in four places so fart apart. Thoughts? Is that enough ventilation with the ridge?

Slyfox · 10-09-2009, 07:36 AM

What catches my eye first in those pics is the plumbing stacks and box vents. You shingle up to a vent or pipe flashing until the top of a shingles goe's completely under and than you shingles up the sides and across tha back, it doe's not look like they did that in those pics.

The valley in the third pic also caught my eye, if both sections of roof are of the same sloped/pitch than the higher "main section" should have been cut and the other side ran through.

Close up pictures of the vents and valleys may show something different.

MJW · 10-09-2009, 08:09 AM

None of the penetrations look anywhere close to being done correctly. Who knows what is still hidden that we cannot see. I really doubt the ridge vent is leaking, but who knows.

ShortEdged · 10-09-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slyfox

What catches my eye first in those pics is the plumbing stacks and box vents. You shingle up to a vent or pipe flashing until the top of a shingles goe's completely under and than you shingles up the sides and across tha back, it doe's not look like they did that in those pics.

The valley in the third pic also caught my eye, if both sections of roof are of the same sloped/pitch than the higher "main section" should have been cut and the other side ran through.

Close up pictures of the vents and valleys may show something different.

The Jacks:
My understanding is these are installed correctly and they glued a piece of shingle to cover the bottom part of the jack. I thought this was odd too. Not sure if this is a FL code thing or just cosmetic. Or BS.. But I got this info from impendent source.
Close-up of a jack:

Yes, I asked about this too and get the same response as for the jacks. How can I approach this with the roofer if not correct.
Close ups of the box vents:

Notice the hack tar crap. Ticks me off..

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h104/GreenTennis/Roof/FlHouse/IMG_0575.jpg

I told the same is for the chimney

ShortEdged · 10-09-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJW

None of the penetrations look anywhere close to being done correctly. Who knows what is still hidden that we cannot see. I really doubt the ridge vent is leaking, but who knows.

Can you please elaborate?
I think I got my point across about the wrong type of dryer vent.

AaronB · 10-09-2009, 03:27 PM

I think you probably have separate unassociated leaks, and you will not be able to tell until you take these areas apart and find the leak sources. Your rear gutter in the chimney is wrong, though.

ShortEdged · 10-09-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronB

I think you probably have separate unassociated leaks, and you will not be able to tell until you take these areas apart and find the leak sources. Your rear gutter in the chimney is wrong, though.

I think this as well, but removing the ridge vent is the only thing they will do for now.
Can you tell me what is wrong with the rear gutter? I have showed this picture to the foreman and asked is this right? He states yes, but I'm not a roofer so I don't have anything to rebut with. I was told there is no room for box type of system.
I wonder why the building inspector (required in FL) did not write these things up..
thanks

Edit:
I’m told originally the flashing did not come up far enough on one of the previous roof calls about the leak. They added the flashing as you can see. To me this roof is so simple, why having so many problems.

ShortEdged · 10-09-2009, 03:44 PM

Oh, forgot the pic of the front valley:

Slyfox · 10-09-2009, 04:20 PM

I roofed in the state of Florida for a few years, worked for Albert J Steppi Roofing who is located in the Winter Garden area and if we installed a roof with details like those on your roof we would have been back there tearing them out and re-doing them properly.

The roofer is obviously stumped an unable to find the problem, hence all the exposed roof cement on all those vents and chimney flashing's.
Roof cement is an acceptable material to use but not when it is left exposed like they have done.

I would ask the city for an inspection if I were you.

ShortEdged · 10-09-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slyfox

I roofed in the state of Florida for a few years, worked for Albert J Steppi Roofing who is located in the Winter Garden area and if we installed a roof with details like those on your roof we would have been back there tearing them out and re-doing them properly.

The roofer is obviously stumped an unable to find the problem, hence all the exposed roof cement on all those vents and chimney flashing's.
Roof cement is an acceptable material to use but not when it is left exposed like they have done.

I would ask the city for an inspection if I were you.

Thanks, I will have my mother do that. We talked about it but have been spending all our efforts on the roofer who is not stepping up.
Is it only a phone call to get the inspector to come out?

They keep saying they can not find the leak, but only run a hose for a few minutes. Will the inspector make them rip it all out and do it over or are we on our own there?
thanks

Oh and Winter Garden is not far from this house ..

AaronB · 10-09-2009, 07:58 PM

By the rear gutter I am talking about the Chimney flashing rear "pan"

It is not sealed to the step flashing at roof level, needed to keep the rear corner watertight.

ShortEdged · 10-10-2009, 08:36 AM

Also, what is the requirement for valley metal? Is that required for the porch connection? Why I ask, it was requested on the contract to put valley metal across the connection between the house and the porch (because it was there on the previous roof). It appears it there some valley metal but it “feels” like it only goes across 2/3rds of way.

Another picture of tar slop:

AaronB · 10-11-2009, 11:51 AM

That isnt a valley. I would bend a set of flashings to go up under the ODE and onto the flat of the porch roof before shingling any of it.