How to Install a Garage Roof Ridge Vent

If you have a newly built home or garage, you might choose a roof ridge vent rather than the more conventional types of vent. Roof ridge vents are more expensive than conventional vents and are a little more complicated to install, but they are much more reliable and offer a better circulation of air than do turbine and gable vents. It is best to have the vents installed during the construction of the building, but if you must do it later, you need to prepare the garage roof for the installation. Follow the simple steps below to effectively ready and install ridge vents on your roof.

Step 1 - Prepare and Sheet the Roof

The first thing you need to do is clean the garage roof. Use the ladder to get close to the roof or an extended stick with a soft and slightly wet cloth at the end. Once the roof is clean and dry you can start sheeting the roof with the plywood. Start from the lower edges of the roof moving upward, but you should not go all the way up to the ridge, because you need to install the vent later. Leave a two to three-inch gap on the roof sides where you will install the vent.

Step 2 - Install the Underlayment

Next, install the underlayment, following the guidelines of the manufacturer. Again, you should have the vent in mind and leave the same opening on the ridge.

Step 3 - Install the Shingles

The next step requires you to install the shingles on top of the plywood sheets you installed earlier. You should cut or trim them, if necessary, to fit the rooftop gap. Keep in mind you will be installing the vent over the shingles, from one corner to the other.

Step 4 - Install the Vent

Once the shingles are in place, install the vent using the roof nails to staple them to the plywood sheets located beneath. Use a saw to cut the vent pieces, if necessary, and place the ends carefully together. When you have the vent in place, you should place the roof ridge shingles at the top of the vent to cover the metal part of the vent. Keep in mind that both ends should be able to perforate air.

Step 5 - Finishing Touch

Cover the vent with the shingles, and use the nails to secure them at the rooftop. If the shingles are longer than needed, you should trim them using a small saw, making sure you make straight cuts. If you are not sure, you can use the saw or you can use tin snips. Repeat the same process until you get from one corner to the other, trimming only one shingle at the time to avoid mistakes.