Installing Soffit Vents?

[Ironman1079]

The rear my my dormered cape cod does not have soffit vents, are these hard to install?

i cant cut them out from the attic due to angle of roof so i will have to cut them out from outside up about 20-25 feet atleast.

if i feel with my hand up in the attic, i can feel a board running across where they are to be installed, and on the outside of house, there is white plastic covering where they have to go.

so are these hard to install?

also, how far apart should i put them???.....the whole dormer is about 30 feet long..thanks

[Wgoodrich]

You will need to go into the attic and install a styrofoam shute that will slide between the roof decking and the top plate punching through that outside house wrap. Otherwise you would not have a channel for the air to get from the soffet area to the attic. You will also need to install a roof vent at the peak equal in number to the soffit vents you install in the soffit. The principle of heat rises allows air to enter the soffit suck into the attic then chimney out the top roof vents at the peak allowing the air to flow through your attic keeping it dry and cool from the sun.

The vents are easy to install. You just cut a hole about 1" less than the demension of your soffit vent. Then place the soffit vent over that hole and screw it in place to the soffit.

One square foot of vent is required for each 150 square foot of attic space.

Good Luck

Wg

[Ironman1079]

there are 2 roof vents in the fron upper part of the house, and there are cable vents at the ends of the attic on each side.

[Ironman1079]

oh ok, so if my actual attic space above the 2nd floor is say 30' x 15' then total square footage is about 450 feet.


You will need to go into the attic and install a styrofoam shute that will slide between the roof decking and the top plate punching through that outside house wrap. Otherwise you would not have a channel for the air to get from the soffet area to the attic. You will also need to install a roof vent at the peak equal in number to the soffit vents you install in the soffit. The principle of heat rises allows air to enter the soffit suck into the attic then chimney out the top roof vents at the peak allowing the air to flow through your attic keeping it dry and cool from the sun.

The vents are easy to install. You just cut a hole about 1" less than the demension of your soffit vent. Then place the soffit vent over that hole and screw it in place to the soffit.

One square foot of vent is required for each 150 square foot of attic space.

Good Luck

Wg

[Wgoodrich]

The upper vents and soffitt vents should be equal in square foot.

Add up the square foot of your vents both upper and lower if equal in size. Then you said you have 450 square feet of attic needing 3 square feet of vent. That should be 1.5 square feet in soffit and 1.5 square feet in gable or roof vents. Being 1 square feet of vent for 150 square feet of attic.

Hope this helps

Wg