Intake and exhaust must work together
Ridge vents without open soffit intake do little. Soffit vents blocked by insulation are a common find in Bedford and Amherst capes.
Baffles keep the airway open over the exterior wall line — a small detail that prevents sheathing rot and uneven melting.
Signs ventilation is struggling
- Frost on roofing nails inside the attic
- Mold spotting on sheathing
- Ice dams recurring on the same eave every winter
- Summer upstairs rooms that never cool down
Roof replacement timing
Tear-off is the right time to add ridge vent, fix baffles, and specify ice & water. Patching shingles over a ventilation problem just moves the leak.