Things You'll Need:
- Heavy work gloves Safety glasses Saw horses Saber saw Circular saw 1 by 4 common lumber Roofing nails (1- and 1 ½-inch) Galvanized box nails (#6) Hammer Pry bar Flashing cement Heavy duty felt paper Bundle of asphalt shingles to match the existing roof
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Step 1
Set up a ladder to access the roof and designate a receiving area for all waste materials that will be removed from the roof. If the vent is on a steep roof or multi-storied building, then you should seriously consider engaging a contractor.
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Step 2
With a flat bar and hammer tear off the ridge cap that is usually nailed to the topside of the vent. Also lift or remove all shingles that overlap the lower edges of the roof vent. First try and lift the top edge of the shingle up to expose the entire metal flange of the metal vent. Do this by gently sliding a flat pry bar underneath the heads of the roofing nails and then pulling them up without damaging the shingle. If this can't be done cleanly then tear the shingle out and discard the pieces along with the old ridge cap.
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Step 3
Remove the old ridge vent with a flat pry bar and hammer. Make sure you have a hefty pair of work gloves and safety glasses before you begin this. This chore is accomplished by pulling one nail at a time. Take your time and make sure all the nails are completely pulled out before you pull up and discard the original piece of sheet metal. Handling sheet metal should be done with the utmost of care, for the edges of metal can be quite sharp. The old roof vent can be discarded with the old shingles.
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Step 4
Check to see if the new vent will fit into the old opening. If not, then you will have to modify the size of the opening to accommodate the new vent. Make sure your calculations are correct before you tear off more roof. If you have to add roof sheathing to make the opening smaller, then this can be done simply by cutting some 1 by 4 lumber to correct width and length and then nailing each piece to the roof rafters with short galvanized box nails.
If you have to remove more roofing, then this will require a bit more work, for you have to peel back the roofing to make your cut. Once this is done, chalk a line before you cut and use a saber saw to do the cutting, as it is the safest power tool to use on a roof. -
Step 5
Begin installation of the new vent by covering all bare wood with felt paper. Make sure the new felt paper overlaps the existing felt paper on the roof. You can apply the heavy-duty felt paper with large staples or very short roofing nails. Be certain the felt paper comes right up to the edge of the opening.
Next continue the rows of asphalt shingles up the roof until they also come to the edge of the opening for the roof vent. You will probably have to cut the last row of shingles right at the opening for the vent. -
Step 6
Set the new ridge vent in place and make sure the metal flange on the side of the vent completely covers the opening. Cover the edge of the metal flanged with a thick swath of flashing cement and make sure the cement gets underneath the metal flange as well.
Then nail the metal to the roof sheathing with 1 3/4-inch roofing nails. Place a nail about every 6 inches without buckling the metal. -
Step 7
Cut and nail the ridge cap to the top of the vent and the peak area on both sides of the vent Also use 1 3/4-inch roofing nails to do this. The cap pieces get cut from a whole asphalt shingle. Make a cut at each indentation in the shingle and that method should yield three pieces per shingle. Nail the shingles to the roof at the side of the vent.
