Interesting experience—I'm currently dealing with a similar attic situation myself. The previous owner installed synthetic underlayment, and I've been noticing humidity buildup lately. Reading your post makes me wonder if inadequate ridge vent spacing could be my issue as well. Did you notice any specific indicators that pointed directly to the ridge vent problem, or was it more trial-and-error? I'd prefer not to give my local wildlife the spa treatment if I can help it...
"I'd prefer not to give my local wildlife the spa treatment if I can help it..."
Haha, been there—accidentally turned an attic into a sauna once. For me, the giveaway was condensation forming on the underside of the roof decking. Adjusting the ridge vents made a huge difference...and sadly ended the squirrel spa days.
Condensation under the decking is definitely a red flag, but I'm a bit skeptical that ridge vents alone would completely solve the issue. Did you check your soffit vents too? I've seen plenty of cases where people think they've fixed attic moisture problems by tweaking ridge vents, only to find out later that their soffits were blocked or improperly installed. Airflow needs to be balanced—intake and exhaust working together—or you're just shifting the problem around.
Had a similar situation last winter; homeowner swore the ridge vent adjustment fixed everything, but come spring, mold was creeping in at the eaves. Turned out insulation had been stuffed too far into the soffit area, choking off airflow. Once we cleared that up, things improved dramatically.
Curious if you noticed any other signs of moisture or ventilation issues after your fix...
Had a similar issue myself a couple years back. Thought the ridge vents would do the trick, but nope...still had moisture issues cropping up. Turned out my soffit vents were painted over by the previous owner—talk about facepalm moment. Once I got those cleared up and added some vent baffles to keep insulation from blocking airflow, things dried out nicely. Might wanna double-check those soffits before mold sneaks in on ya.
"Turned out my soffit vents were painted over by the previous owner—talk about facepalm moment."
Haha, been there! Previous owners can leave some real Easter eggs, can't they? I found mine stuffed with insulation...like someone thought vents were just decorative holes. Cleared that mess out, airflow restored, attic happy again.
