Ventilation is an essential part of your roof, especially in hot and sunny Central Florida. It helps keep your roof in good condition and your home at a comfortable temperature. When it comes to roof venting, there are two main types: on-ridge and off-ridge. In this post, the AO Roofing team will take a deep dive into the differences between them, and the pros and cons of each.
What Is On-Ridge Venting?
On-ridge venting is any vent placed directly on the top ridge line of a sloped roof. The theory behind how these work is pretty simple; hot air naturally rises, then leaves through a vent at the attic’s highest point.
However, it’s not actually so simple. They need to be properly designed with the right baffling so that outside air flowing past the exhaust doesn’t disrupt the airflow that pulls air through the vent. Plus, many buildings are not designed to create natural airflow, meaning on-ridge vents can’t do their job properly. On top of all this, on-ridge venting is often the most expensive type of ventilation to install.
What Is Off-Ridge Venting?
Where on-ridge venting is installed at the peak of a roof, off-ridge venting is installed lower. These kinds of vents are strategically placed on your roof for ideal airflow. They can take the form of box vents, wind turbines, and more, depending on the design of your roof.
Off-ridge venting is very flexible, and is especially ideal for complex or extra steep roofs. They’re able to create airflow in areas where air would otherwise stagnate, and for extra power, turbines can create extra suction.
Off-ridge vents are also less prone to leaks. They have sheltered designs that protect the vent itself, so even in a Florida thunderstorm, no rain will get in.
A.O. Roofing: Your Ventilation Specialists
Deciding between on-ridge and off-ridge venting can be a tough choice, but you don’t have to make it alone. The pros at A.O. Roofing are here to help you with our extensive roofing experience. Contact us today to get started!
Want to see some of our work from around Central Florida? Check out some of our roofing projects on our blog to see some examples of the quality work we do. You can also stay up to date with us on social media! We’re on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
