cold

Here's the interesting thing. Note the peak of our spiffy new garage roof. Note that it has a ridge vent. Note that there is no snow on the ridge vent.

Realize that this is a detached, unheated garage. Ponder that all the snow has melted off the vent.

















Compare to the peak of our family room roof. Looking around the neighborhood, our family room is the only roof over inhabited space which still has snow on it. The ceiling over the family room is very well insulated. There is 6" of fiberglass between the joists, and there is another 6" laid on top of what used to be the flat roof to that room (we had the peaked roof added above what existed when we bought the house). The peaked roof is well ventilated -- the soffit is vented all the way along both long edges of the roof, and there are several vents on top of the roof. We conclude from the snow on the roof that the roof is cold, though the room is warm.

















It's hard to imagine that the garage roof can possibly be warmer than the family room roof, and yet we note that snow-less ridge vent.

Conclude that a ridge vent really does eliminate noticeable heat, even from a very cold space. Note to self -- include ridge vent in any future construction.