Ridge vent vs turtle vent: which should you choose?
Short answer. Turtle vent is a nickname for the low, rounded or boxy static vent mounted near the top of a roof, the same thing roofers call a box or louver vent. Compared with a ridge vent, turtle vents are cheaper to add individually but vent at points instead of continuously, put more holes in the roof, and crack or dent over time, so a ridge vent is usually the better pick when the ridge is long enough.
What wears out on turtle vents
- Plastic hoods turn brittle in UV and crack, especially on south and west slopes.
- Metal hoods dent in hail and can rust at seams and fasteners.
- Screens inside the hood tear, letting in wasps, birds and squirrels.
- Flashing fails when the flange was laid on top of the shingles and caulked instead of being lapped under the course above.
When turtle vents still make sense
Hip roofs with little ridge, attic pockets separated by vaulted ceilings, and quick replacement of a single damaged vent. They are simple to swap when one breaks.
Switching to a ridge vent
During a full replacement, the turtle vent holes are covered with new decking, the ridge slot is cut and the ridge vent is installed. The number of turtle vents you had is a rough clue to how much exhaust the attic was designed for, which helps size the new vent. Keep only one exhaust type over a given attic space.
After a storm
Turtle vents are easy to inspect from the ground with binoculars. Dents, cracked hoods or missing screens after hail are worth photographing with the date. For more, read ridge vent vs box vents and how hail size relates to roof damage.