What makes the best ridge vent system?
Short answer. The best ridge vent system has an external baffle to deflect wind driven rain, a filter or mesh to keep out insects and debris, a published net free area rating, and compatibility with your shingle manufacturer's warranty, all paired with enough soffit intake. No ridge vent performs well without intake, so the system includes the eaves, not just the peak.
Features to look for
- External baffle. A raised lip along each edge deflects wind up and over the vent, creating lower pressure above it that helps pull air out and keeps rain from blowing straight in.
- Weather filter or mesh. Keeps out wind driven rain, insects, and the pine pollen and debris common in Georgia.
- Published NFA. Ratings are usually given in square inches per linear foot. Higher is not automatically better, but it tells you how many feet you need.
- Rigid construction. Rigid plastic sections resist crushing from overdriven nails and foot traffic better than many roll products, though quality roll vents exist too.
- Proper nails. Good systems specify longer nails so the cap shingles and vent anchor into the deck. Short nails are a common cause of blow-offs.
- End plugs. Closed ends keep insects and wind out where the vent stops short of the gable.
Match it to your shingles
Major shingle manufacturers sell their own ridge vents and often count them as qualifying accessories for enhanced system warranties. Using the matching vent with hip and ridge cap shingles from the same manufacturer keeps those options open. As a GAF certified contractor, Robust Roofing installs the manufacturer's vent and ridge cap together, which is the simplest way to protect system warranty coverage.
Match it to your roof
Steeper roofs and roofs exposed to strong wind benefit most from a well baffled vent. Metal roofs need profile specific vented closures instead of shingle-over vents. Hip roofs may need hip vents to add length. See ridge vent vs box vents and roofing warranties explained.