Didn't see any subtopic for attics but this one had the most posts, so...
A year before I bought this house (it's 100 years-old this year), it had a new roof installed. That was 3(?) years ago. No vents were put in the attic. Yes, ice builds up in the winter. Yes, the second floor gets quite warm in the summer. Something needs to be done soon.
Some have said a ridge vent is the only way to go, but recently I was told that if the snow builds upon it (Im in NY) then it stops venting. Also, there are no vents under the soffits to allow air to flow in. So those need to be cut in too and that doesn't look like it'll be an easy job. When I remodeled the 2nd floor, I did put the styrofoam baffles in between the rafters and kept the insulation off the plywood for the roof, planning for this venting job.
The reason I say it dosen't look easy is because there isn't a flat surface to get a saw on. The soffits are not horizontal, they run up, parallel with the roof. And if I remember correctly back to the ceiling job, there may be a 2x4 nailed between each rafter at the ends. Hard to describe, but it's not like you can use a hole saw and pop in some round vents.
I don't want one of those spinning silver vents either, Too ugly. What are my options? I had one guy stop and look. He said ridge vent/soffit vents and also gave a rough esitmate (weeks later through a second party) of $6,000! No surprise he sout of business now. I'm estimating I have 120' of soffits and 100' of ridge. Over half the soffits can be reached from lower levels (porch roofs).
I'm trying to do a lot of the work on this house myself,but I'm not too keen about climbing on the steep roof 2 1/2 stories tall.
Any thoughts??
A year before I bought this house (it's 100 years-old this year), it had a new roof installed. That was 3(?) years ago. No vents were put in the attic. Yes, ice builds up in the winter. Yes, the second floor gets quite warm in the summer. Something needs to be done soon.
Some have said a ridge vent is the only way to go, but recently I was told that if the snow builds upon it (Im in NY) then it stops venting. Also, there are no vents under the soffits to allow air to flow in. So those need to be cut in too and that doesn't look like it'll be an easy job. When I remodeled the 2nd floor, I did put the styrofoam baffles in between the rafters and kept the insulation off the plywood for the roof, planning for this venting job.
The reason I say it dosen't look easy is because there isn't a flat surface to get a saw on. The soffits are not horizontal, they run up, parallel with the roof. And if I remember correctly back to the ceiling job, there may be a 2x4 nailed between each rafter at the ends. Hard to describe, but it's not like you can use a hole saw and pop in some round vents.
I don't want one of those spinning silver vents either, Too ugly. What are my options? I had one guy stop and look. He said ridge vent/soffit vents and also gave a rough esitmate (weeks later through a second party) of $6,000! No surprise he sout of business now. I'm estimating I have 120' of soffits and 100' of ridge. Over half the soffits can be reached from lower levels (porch roofs).
I'm trying to do a lot of the work on this house myself,but I'm not too keen about climbing on the steep roof 2 1/2 stories tall.
Any thoughts??