Re roofing, no soffit issue

2513 Views 6 Replies 2 Participants Last post by kramca, Jul 23, 2009

kramca

Discussion Starter · Jul 17, 2009

Hi, brand new. Basic DIY homeowner... Several of the homes in our neighborhood in Tennessee are built with no soffits....ours has none except for some air intake screens on part of the front dentil detail.

We are reroofing and hoped to take off the four doghouse vent gables, use a ridge vent and get air intake at the fascia area someway.

I have followed Ed the Roofer and his real world success with Smart Vent by DCI and wonder if that is the only game in town on this...the Lomanco does not appeal to me as it seems to hang over the gutter.

I recently had a reputable roofer bid the job who had never roofed a house without soffits...and was unfamiliar with the alternatives.

I have watched the install movie on Smart Vent and am curious if complete removal of all my gutters will be necessary...to my knowledge there is no drip cap now in place and it is unclear if that is necessary for Smart Vent...

Any and all opinions on this are welcome.....I will inquire and research the foam gutter filter issue separately. Thanks.

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Ed the Roofer

· #2 · Jul 17, 2009

You do not need to remove the gutters if they are mounted to the fascia with standard gutter hanger brackets.

You still can and should have a Gutter Apron Drip Edge metal installed along the eave edges to cover the top of the fascia and direct the water into the gutter.

I don't know if Ice and Water Shield is commonly used in Tennessee, since I don't think you get much snow, but I do know you get some major ice storms.

Smart Vent gets installed per the instructions, then the Ice and Water Shield over the top of the Smart Vent, then the Starter Strip Shingles and then the Field shingles chosen.

Ed

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kramca

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 18, 2009

Just got on a ladder and see there is no drip cap....between the fascia and the roof decking there is about 3/4" gap which heretofore has been the only intake air....the multiple layers of shingles virtually cover this gap.

We have a hot attic in the summer and some peeling of paint on ceilings....no doubt from retained moisture in the attic. Time to kill two birds with one stone....new roof and proper ventilation.

I assume the recommended procedure would be to install a continuous drip cap closing off this gap and cut the slot for the Smart Vent. The bottom flange of the drip cap would feed into the gutter, correct ?

How far beyond the edge of the Smart Vent should the roofers overhang the first course of shingles ?

Our winters are relatively mild and no my knowledge the ice shield is not used around here.

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Ed the Roofer

· #4 · Jul 19, 2009

Anywhere from 1/2" to 1" is the standard recommended extension of the overhang from the shingle manufacturers, so the starter shingles and the field shingles should overhang the Smart Vent the same as if they were right on the decking.

Ed

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kramca

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 19, 2009

We have lived here for 23 years without ever having water not travel from the shingle overhang down into the gutter. The shingle overhang is apparently more than what you mention...they have curved down some feeding into the gutter and covering the drip cap area. I may read up on how to attach a jpg.

The house was built 38 years ago and as far as I know (new 6" aluminum gutters about ten years ago) the fascia has not been compromised. I can see the functional reason of protecting the fascia from potential splash of rain into the gutter. Also, if the new shingles overhang as you recommend, that exisiting gap between deck and fascia would be an entry point for insects.

They don't enter the attic now but I am speculating that the curved first starter/field shingle has curved down to inhibit that.

As long as the gutters are maintained and kept free running, would the additional labor and expense (probably not much--after the layers of existing shingles are off) be justified by installing this continuous aluminum drip cap ?

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Ed the Roofer

· #6 · Jul 19, 2009

Yes, the G.A., Gutter Apron Style of Drip Edge will be sufficient to cover that gap.

Ed

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kramca

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 23, 2009

Thanks for the input. Since ice and snow build up is not really an issue here in Tennessee two of the three roofers who are bidding our house suggested the Lomanco combination drip cap/soffit vent.

We do not plan to be here many more years and have lived with the existing no soffitt arrangement for 23 years.

Opting for the sheet metal product vs. Smart Vent would still achieve the goal of getting air into the attic to feed the ridge cap (we will have the dormers removed and use a ridge cap).....using the SV-10 would eliminate the need for a drip cap and the added labor of cutting a 1" slot on the perimeter of the house.

I am asking all three bidders to bid both with Smart Vent and SV-10. While the Smart Vent is favored, is the only significant potential downside the problem of ice water getting up in to the louvers ? That is a remote possibility in Tennessee.

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