What Is A Ridge Vent?

A ridge vent is a type of vent that is installed at the peak or roof ridge of a roof. Ridge vents are most common on asphalt, shingled, residential homes or buildings. The ridge vent works by pulling in air through a soffit vent or vented perforated piece of soffit and then allowing the warm, humid air to escape the home or structure’s attic through the ridge vent.

When building a roof, a section of the roof decking is cut a few inches from the peak and down the entire length of the home on both sides. Once shingles are in place, a material used for venting (generally molded plastic or fiber mesh) is fastened down over the area where decking was cut back. After this ridge venting material is installed a ridge cap, made from asphalt shingles, is installed over it to prevent water from entering the home at the peak of the roof ridge.

What is the Problem?

Roof ridge vents offer great ventilation for the home, allowing heat and moisture to escape from the attic. However, most roof ridge vents will warp or lift after time due to exposure to the elements. This warped or lifted plastic ridge vent leaves a gap big enough for bats, mice, rats, squirrels, stinging insects, and even snakes to easily enter the home’s attic. Also, plastic, and plastic fiber ridge vents are no match for rodents that chew such as squirrels, mice, or rats who make quick work of getting through that barrier. With the opening into the attic running the entire length of the roof ridge, there is a lot of opportunity for unwanted pests to enter the home through the roof ridge vent.

Animals and Pests in the Attic.

Once inside the attic of the home, bats, mice, rats, or squirrels can cause A LOT of damage. Bats in the attic are prone to cause several issues. Bats may bring bat bugs, which are a lot like bed bugs. These insects can be a serious problem that will require a pest control expert to exterminate. Bat guano in the attic is also a serious health concern, as it can bring about histoplasmosis, a respiratory infection caused by breathing the airborne fungus spores entering the living space through damaged air ducts or construction gaps. The other animals that enter the ridge vent, squirrels, mice, and rats, are notorious for chewing and may cause a serious electrical problem, or even a house fire.

What is the Solution?

RIDGE-GUARD® is the ultimate ridge vent protection and is patented by the US Patent and Trademark office. Installing RIDGE-GUARD® on your roof ridge vent locks the vent down securely, which will prevent bats from crawling under the plastic or fiber roof ridge vent, as well as keep squirrels, mice, or rats from chewing their way into the attic.

Another benefit of installing RIDGE-GUARD® on the ridge vent of your home is the added protection against high wind damage to ridge caps. Many times, a hurricane or storms with high winds may cause ridge cap shingles to be ripped off the home in a “domino effect”. This, unfortunately, leaves the ridge vent opening and attic vulnerable to rain & water damage. RIDGE-GUARD® has proven to secure the edges of the ridge cap, keeping them from lifting in high wind conditions, and keeping excessive water out of the home.