Well, we started tearing into the roof and so far, nothing out of the ordinary to report back. The side of this roof in the pic, has a separate attic space (can stand up in it), where its used as storage and is fairly dust free given its an attic. My roofer thinks we should add a dormer vent on top, just to expel the heat in the summer. There is no intake ventilation on this side.
My original idea was not to touch it so it does not introduce any additional dust in this area. Thoughts?
- No intake vent means hot air won’t escape efficiently—could bake your attic in summer.
- Dormer vent helps, but without intake, airflow’s still limited.
- Dust is a pain, but heat can cause bigger problems (warped boards, higher AC bills).
- Have you considered low-profile intake vents under the eaves? Might keep dust down and help airflow.
@davidnebula590 I have considered O’Hagin vents but O’Hagin themselves spec’s out 18 vents and drilling holes on the joists …a little excessive (the plans are attached to my earlier post).
the house is 37 years old and this is the first time the roof underlayment is getting replaced (with peel&stick), so overall it’s done well thus far. Yes, it can get hot in there and I could add radiant barrier inside to better deal with it. I guess at this point I would like to keep it as dust free as possible. I was told dormers don’t introduce dust, which I have a hard time believing.
I get what you mean about the O’Hagin vents—18 sounds like a lot, and drilling into joists isn’t my idea of a fun weekend either. When I was looking at vent options, I kept running into the same “more is better” advice, but honestly, my attic’s been fine with just a few well-placed vents and some insulation tweaks. About dormers not bringing in dust...I’m skeptical too. Anything open to the outside seems like a dust magnet, at least in my experience. If you’re aiming for dust-free, maybe focus on sealing up gaps and using filters where you can. Radiant barrier helped with heat in my place, but didn’t do much for dust.
I have a feeling the original builder opted against ventilating this small attic space because it’s butted up against the master bath and closet, which has an access door which leads to the attic/storage area. Most likely to control temperatures and dusting?
That’s an interesting theory about the builder’s intent. I’ve seen a few setups where attic spaces next to conditioned rooms (like a master bath or closet) get skipped for ventilation, maybe to keep humidity or dust down, like you said. But I always wonder about the long-term effects—especially with moisture from the bathroom nearby. Have you noticed any signs of mildew or musty smells in that storage area? Sometimes lack of airflow can trap moisture, even if it’s not obvious right away.
If you’re thinking about updating the roof ventilation, do you know if there’s any insulation between the attic and those living spaces? Sometimes builders will beef up insulation to try to compensate, but it doesn’t always solve everything. I’d be curious if you’ve checked temps in that attic during summer or winter—does it get noticeably hotter or colder than the rest of the house? That could give a clue whether the lack of vents is helping or hurting overall comfort and energy use.