[dmhayes76]

Our gable vent is falling apart. After reading some forums, We are not sure if we need to replace this as we had roof vents installed with our new roof. Could we just close it off or cover it with screening?

 

[Ron6519]

Our gable vent is falling apart. After reading some forums, We are not sure if we need to replace this as we had roof vents installed with our new roof. Could we just close it off or cover it with screening?

Roofers generally have no idea how to properly vent a roof, so it is doubtful your's was done correctly. They put one or two vents up there and they're done.
Since the more efficient way to accomplish roof venting is through ridge and soffit vents, you're roof is not the exception to the rule.
To check if the roof has the proper venting you would need a minimum of 1 sq inch of venting for every sq ft of attic space. If you have crawl spaces behind knee walls, include this in your figures. Each roof vent has the venting area on the vent. You can go to a store to get the vent figure if getting on the roof is not your thing. Compare the two figures and see what you come up with.
Does the house have soffit vents?
Ron

 

[dmhayes76]

We do have soffit vents too, Will have to get on the roof and see about those numbers. Thanks for the information. Rita

 

[Gary in WA]

Just measure the rooms upstairs if the roof is directly overhead, or outside on the ground, around the house. Here is a good read:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Z8...=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#PRA1-PA616,M1

Be safe, G

 

[Chemist1961]

I think you may also need to factor in roof pitch as well, but most importantly you need unobstructed soffit venting to carry the hot air through and out the top of the attic.
In new homes this is done with a liner which attaches to the underside of the roof and runs from the soffit upward beyond your insulatation creating a flow thru channel.
You can aslo review at www.buildingscience.com

 

[Gary in WA]

Chemist, do not confuse area with volume:
Area

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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This article is about the geometric quantity. For other uses, see Area (disambiguation).
Area is a quantity expressing the two-dimensional size of a defined part of a surface

Net opening area min. 1/150th of vented area or [IRC 806.2] (UBC1505.3)
1/300th if 50%-80% of venting near top or vapor retarder [806.2] (1505.3

"Net opening area" of the screen. With the frame and wire for bugs, you may get 40-60% of it.

Be safe, G

 

[B.Kelly]

Since you do have roof vents installed. You wouldn't need gable vents as well. Also you have soffet vents.

As GBAR in WA stated, "1/300 and 1/150 of the vented area" is what code states.

There is such a thing has over venting an attic. With roof vents and gable vents your not accomplishing anything, air comes through the gable and will go out the roof vent or vise versa.

It sounds to me, like your attic is well vented.