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TOPIC: Insulation Concerns

Venting Methods in a Steel Shake Roof With Battens

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I am about to replace my asphalt shingle roof with a stone coated steel shake roof with battens and counterbattens. I am interested in lowering the attic temperature as much as possible in the hot Texas sun, and this roofing method seems to make a big difference, along with soffit and ridge venting. However, what I don't fully understand is the airflow situation in the batten airspace. I think it is exit vented near the ridge, but where is the entry? Is it just seepage that occurs between courses of steel shakes, since they are not airtight? Is that good enough? My contractor says that this is nothing to worry about, but I'm an engineer and this is my curse. Thanks in advance.
Jim Christensen

7/14/2009
Ideally you do need intake equal to your exhaust venting. I am not sure what manufacturer you are planning to use but I suggest contacting them to see what detail they suggest for this. Todd Miller
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

7/15/2009
I'll be using Steelrock , and I have brought this up and the answer is ambiguous. On the Steelrock website there's a video showing air entering the soffit vents somehow making it to the dead space below the steel panels and then out the ridge vent (at the 4:00 mark). I don't know how the air gets through the decking, without some sort of hole, but this is not really explained. Anyway, thanks for replying.
Guest User

7/15/2009
This is sort of outside of my area of expertise but some sort of metal will need to cover the lower end of the vertical battens -- at the eave fascia. I would suggest ventilating through that cover with mesh or screen or perfoated metal Todd Miller
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

7/15/2009