keving said:
Do you guys know of anything that can keep the snow out but allow the venting?
Ridge vents are supposed to be used in concert with other vents such as vented soffits or eaves. Then the aerodynamics pretty much ensure a low pressure area at the ridge that expells air. If you were to use a fan to blow air into the attic space the air would exit the ridge (especially if it were the only other opening) and snow would have a hard time getting up stream.
It is a little late now because any retrofit is a hassle BUT...
Ridge vents can be constructed in various ways. There are vents that use a honeycomb plastic thingy that is nailed in place when the roofing is done. It excludes larger insects and lots of snow while ensuring the path stays open for air ventilation.
Sealing and unsealing the ridge over and over doesn't sound like a very attractive solution and I wouldn't let the contractor off the hook so easy. I'm not thrilled with the fan approach but at least it is easier to turn on and off than installing and removing foam.
Replacing the ridge vent with eave vents is NOT a good long term solution. Ridge vents, properly installed, are quite effective and trying to equal their performance with eave vents will fail. If you choose to permanently plug the ridge you should retrofit lots of sqft of gable end vents (if you have gable roof) and best of luck if you are hip roof.
One of the best ridge vent systems I have seen has aerodynamically self adjusting flaps on both sides of the ridge. The side receiving the direct wind is blown shut and the downwind side is sucked open. This ensures that with a wind there is always a suction at the ridge and precipitation is excluded from getting in because the upwind side is sealed.
This system costs more than the cheapest possible approach which your contractor probably took B U T it is quite effective.
Doing anything will cost someone time and materials which equals money and the contractor will probably be EXTREMELY RESISTANT to doing ANYTHING which isn't fully funded by you. Don't relent for a moment.
You have a right to expect that certain minimum standards of workmanship and building practices are followed. You have a right to expect that your ceiling not leak after a snow storm. Stick to your guns. If you let this go the contractor will distance himself and you will be left with a problem and no help fixing it. Yoiu don't want to end up in a war with the guy if it can be helped.
Consider taking the approach that the current situation is not satisfactory and you had no part in the design and didn't force him to take the approach he used so he owes you assistance with the problem in the way of a workmanlike long term satisfactory solution, not bandaids like stuffing foam in the vent.
If it were me I would try to motivate the guy into redoing the vent so it would work. If necessary, I would freely offer to pay for the materials needed to do the job right (flap type ridge vent system or equivalent) but not any of the labor which is a direct result of his lack of proper approach. I suspect you didn't direct him in how to do a ridge vent so he messed up on his own and it should be his responsibility to correct it including labor for tear off and replacement. I might offer to pay for part of the difference, if any, in the labor of installing a proper system if it were significantly more labor intensive than his first approach which was ineffective and a failure.
Don't let the guy off the hook or you will NOT be a happy camper later when any ceilings below are stained or any sheetrock falls on the floor. The performance of wet insulation is just about equal to no insulation so assuming you heat and or air condition the space below the bad roof job you will be paying more to do it.
Pat
