• Ridge ventilation has taken over as the norm for proper attic ventilation over singular roof vents. This is mostly due to the lack of rodent entry and moisture entry issues that are more common with roof vents. But like any system, the ridge vent needs to be installed properly to meet code requirements.
  
  

Fastening

• Randomly placed galvanized roofing nailsnails image by Sonar from Fotolia.com
  
  The ridge vent must be mechanically fastened with galvanized roofing nails according to the manufacturers installation recommendations. Some ridge vents come in 4 foot sections that interlock. Some ridge vents come in a long roll and resemble more of a mesh. Both varieties are fastened with roofing nails but the 4 foot sectioned ridge vents require 2 inch galvanized nails instead of 1 1/4 inch nails.
  
  

Water Proofing

• All ridge vents require that a water proof covering be installed over the ridge vents to prevent water infiltration. The material can be any exterior roofing material that qualifies such as asphalt shingles, steel, aluminum, plastic, tile, or composite material. The ridge roofing should be installed per the manufacturers specific instructions.
  
  

Ventilation Requirements

• Total ventilation must equal one square foot for every 300 square feet of attic space. This means the ridge vent plus the any other ventilation must meet these requirements. For most modern homes, this is easily met and usually well over this code requirement.