Tractor work shop roof venting ideas ?

Super H Mike · Sep 22, 2017

My work shop is a 24x36 heated and insulated frame building, used to be a granary in its former life. Central Minnesota, so snow and ice plus very cold winters. The attic space is insulated and unused, fiberglass bats and cellulose blown over the top. I am going to put a metal roof on, and my question is about venting. It currently has no roof vents. The soffits are vented. There are 2 port holes up there now which were used for the grain elevator to fill the granary. They are about 2x2 and down from the ridge maybe 3-4 feet on the North side only. I was considering roofing over these ports, but cutting in roof vents in those spots because they are already there. I would not use a ridge vent in that case. Will this be enough? Or should I go over those ports and use a full ridge vent. My concern with a full ridge vent would be the occasional driving rain or snow getting in and getting the insulation wet. Ideas ?

showcrop · Sep 22, 2017

My opinion would be continuous ride vent. They make them now with plastic fiber sponge sort of material under the top cover to make it impossible for anything but air to get through.

Janicholson · Sep 22, 2017

I would make a pair of square sheet metal caps that fit over the holes. Not knowing what now protrudes from the roof prevents details, but I would want a 4 to 6 inch standing edge upward from the inside of the port holes. This could be treated 2X8 material. I would have it be uniform in height above the tin of the roof (on a slant) The metal caps would be bigger than the port holes by an inch and come within an inch of the metal of the roof. I would use open foam ridge vent material to "pack" the edges between the metal roof and the cap, placing it between the sides of the cap, and the standing edge mentioned above.
This would allow urethane sealant to be used to prevent water intrusion along the top edge and sides. where the roofing meets the standing edge. The effect would be moderate venting, while keeping out rain/snow, wasps and, varmints. Jim

Russ from MN · Sep 22, 2017

They make nice metal ridge caps that are ventilated, and don't seem to be a problem. We have one on our cabin on the CA border.

Jaden · Sep 22, 2017

My metal roofed pole barn has a ridge vent. I have never seen a leak from rain or snow. (Nebraska weather)

moresmoke · Sep 22, 2017

I have a very similar shop. My granary had windows in the end walls right up in the peak. I removed the windows and put in a louvered vent made from 1x. Screened the inside to keep the bugs out. If using steel, I would vent the ridge or ends. No point in making holes in perfectly good steel roofing.

tech5201 · Sep 22, 2017

You could just cut in a few "turtle" vents up near the ridge.

Super H Mike · Sep 22, 2017

I agree, that's what I am thinking I will do. I like the idea of no holes cut in too . My granary did have 2 windows also on the gable ends, but they were sided over with vinyl when the building was sided. ( not by my choice )

Adirondack case guy · Sep 22, 2017

No sense of spending money on expensive ridge venting. By a couple of generic rectangular vents and make a 2x frame work in the top of the openings you have now. Simple, cheep, and it will work just FINE !!!!
Loren

Super H Mike · Sep 22, 2017

Yes I could do that, but I like the idea of eliminating those ports as possible leak points too, although I do like to save money and keep things simple ! I only want to do this job once so I think the complete ridge vent is worth the extra expense. I guess I just needed to bounce that off you guys to convince myself. Thanks

Leroy · Sep 22, 2017

I would not put any vents in any building unless it is a livestalk building. Quite a few years ago built adition to house and got talked into the roof vent. First snow the attic was filled with snow, big mess cleaning it out. Spring come and that roof vent was gone and stayed gone with no problems.

brutus49DC · Sep 22, 2017

I would agree with others on the vented ridge cap. My shop has one and ventilated soffets. It is the natural flow of air and it works.

ss55 · Sep 23, 2017

Late winter is when you need good attic ventilation to prevent ice dams. Deep snow will pretty much block ridge vents and turtles. Gable wall vents and copulas continue to work when deep snow is cover ridge vents and turtles. Compared to a copula, gable vents are less expensive and are easier to install.

Northvale PA · Sep 23, 2017

I bought the woven poly venting material and put it under the metal ridge cap. I split the roll lengthwise with a razor knife and also made small cuts so it would lock into the roof metal raised ribs. We have blizzards here and I have spent hours on attic cleanup before so I did not want to have that problem. Doing it this way worked easy and no snow in at all. I plan to do the other barn that way next. Years ago I sealed that up with strips of self adhering rubber. But it does not vent and really needs to also.

Blackhole49 · Sep 23, 2017

I would do ridge vents. That's what I did 2 years ago. I've had ridge vents since 1990 and rain has never been an issue in SE MI. Still isn't with the steel.

Tractor work shop roof venting ideas ?

Super H Mike

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showcrop

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Janicholson

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Russ from MN

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Jaden

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moresmoke

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tech5201

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Super H Mike

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Adirondack case guy

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Super H Mike

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Leroy

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brutus49DC

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ss55

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Northvale PA

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Blackhole49

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