Installing a Ridge Vent on a Garage Roof

Installing a ridge vent is a relatively easy project. To begin with measure the length of your garage roof ridge and go out and purchase the appropriate length of plastic ridge vent. Plastic ridge vent typically comes in 4 foot lengths.

Next remove the shingles that form the ridge cap on the garage roof.

After removing the ridge cap shingles, lay two lengths of plastic ridge vent along the peak of the roof, approximately 6 inches in from either end of the roof. Make a mark on the roof shingles on each side of the ridge vent. Do this on both ends of the roof peak. Next, snap chalk lines between the far end marks on each side of the roof peak. The chalk lines will act as guide marks for installing the ridge vent. Without chalk lines it is very easy to have the ridge vent wander along the roof ridge when installing it, thus creating a less than professional roofing look.

Next, you need to create an air gap on the top of the garage roof ridge to let attic air escape. To do this snap another pair of chalk lines on either side of the roof peak, approximately 1 inch down from the roof peak. Then use a circular skill saw to cut along these two chalk lines. Make sure, however, to set the saw blade depth to no deeper than the thickness of the roof sheathing. Roof sheathing is typically ½” to 5/8” thick. Also make sure that the ridge vent does not extend any closer than 6 inches from either end of the roof peak edge. After you have made the cuts remove the strips of roof sheathing to expose the air gap.

Once you have created the air gap on the garage roof peak you can begin to install the plastic ridge vent. Start at one end of the newly created roof peak opening and begin fastening the plastic ridge vent to the garage roof peak. Use the remaining chalk lines as guides for positioning the plastic ridge cap. When installing the first piece allow the plastic ridge vent to extend beyond the gap opening by approximately 1 inch. Fasten the plastic ridge cap to the roof using the appropriate nails recommended by the ridge cap manufacturer. Also make sure that the nails are fastened into the roof trusses or rafters, and not just the roof sheathing. Continue to install additional lengths of plastic ridge vent along the garage roof peak gap, leaving approximately 1/8” spacing between adjoining pieces.

The spacing between adjacent sections is necessary for expansion of the ridge vent. When installing the last section of ridge vent, again have it extend approximately 1” beyond the end of the gap.

Next install ridge cap shingles over the plastic ridge vent. You can create ridge cap shingles by cutting 3-tab shingles into thirds or you can purchase special ridge cap shingles. The ridge cap shingles are nailed to the plastic ridge cap, with each adjacent shingle cap covering the nails of the previous installed shingle cap. Use roofing nails that extend at least one inch into the plastic ridge cap. On the final shingle cap seal the exposed nails with either roofing tar or other appropriate roof sealer.

Once the ridge cap shingles have been installed your garage attic area should be cooler and the life of your garage shingles extended.