Roof Venting Vaulted Ceiling

Research has shown that the amount of airflow in the vent channels of low slope roofs is very limited for roofs with less than a 3 12 pitch.

Roof venting vaulted ceiling.

For buildings located in a heating climate zone a problem often associated with inadequately ventilated improperly insulated cathedral ceiling roof assemblies is the formation of ice dams. A vaulted roof offers open living space directly below the rafters because there are no horizontal ceiling joists. Although there is no separate attic to vent air circulation is still necessary. You ll want a tight ceiling air barrier with no air leakage into the cathedral ceiling a critical detail for all cathedral ceiling designs.

Vent chutes should also be installed between the rafters from the soffit to the ridge to channel the airflow. The question and answer article below paraphrases quotes from updates and comments an original article from solar age magazine and written by steven bliss. Sketch above showing venting in a steep slope cathedral ceiling roof is courtesy of carson dunlop associates. Vented cathedral ceiling assemblies incorporate soffit or eave vents adequate open air space between insulation and roof deck sheathing and ridge vents.

Ventilating cathedral ceilings for a durable roof considerations related to condensation and dew points are critical in controlling the intrusion of moisture in any building and cathedral ceilings are no exception. Suggestions for un vented or hard to vent building roof cavities.