VentSure® RidgeCat®

1) Determine the type of roof framing that is used under the roof sheathing.

2) For roofs with a ridge board, cut a 1 inch slot in the roof sheathing beyond each side of the ridge board. For an engineered truss roof, cut a 1 inch slot on each side of the ridge (total slot width of 2 inches).

IMPORTANT: Start and end your cut 6 inches in from the rake edges (snapping chalk lines will aid in keeping a uniform ridge opening). Set your saw depth to cut the decking only. Do not cut into the roof framing. See Fig. 1.

Note: The ventilation slot may be cut prior to or after shingle installation. If installing the slot on a roof with shingles installed, use of a circular saw with a carbide tip blade is recommended (Protective eye goggles should be worn during this process).

3) Expose the vent slot opening by removing the decking that was just cut between the rake edges. See Fig. 1.

1) With the shingles installed and the slot opening exposed, install a small bead of asphalt roofing cement below the vent slot opening on each side of the ridge, and at each end. The sealant should run the entire length of the ridge and should “picture frame” the slot. This will help fill in any gaps between the vent and the shingles, particularly when using laminate shingles. See Fig. 2.

Note: Use Asphalt Roofing Cement complying with ASTM D4586.

1) Prior to installing RidgeCat® Vent, cut a minimum 6 inch wide hip & ridge shingle and nail it over the ridge at each rake edge. See Fig. 3.

Note: For the best appearance run the ridge vent from rake edge to the rake edge.

2) Center the RidgeCat® Vent over the slot opening and secure the starting end by applying one nail to the vent on each side of the ridge slot opening, nailing in the printed Tack Line.

Note: The RidgeCat® Vent brand name printed on the center of the vent can be used to help center over the ridge.

3) Roll out the vent along the entire ridge, keeping it centered as you go. Once the vent is rolled out, remove any slack and nail the opposite end as described in the previous step.

4) Secure the vent along the entire ridge by nailing in the printed Tack Lines. One nail should be placed every 3 to 4 feet, on each side of the ridge. See Fig. 4.

Note: Nails must penetrate at least 3/4 inch into the wood deck. If the deck is less than 3/4 inch thick, the nail should be long enough to penetrate fully and extend 1/8 inch through the roof deck.

1) When two separate pieces of RidgeCat® Vent need to be joined together along the ridge, center a flat cap shingle or shingle head lap directly under the location where the vent pieces will be joined together, and secure with 1 nail on each side of ridge.

2) Align the two vent pieces together without overlapping and then fasten by nailing each vent piece on both sides of the ridge to hold the vents in place. See Fig. 5.

1) Hip & ridge shingles should be installed from rake edge to rake edge, starting at the opposite end from which the prevailing winds blow.

2) Apply hip & ridge shingles over the ridge vent by centering the shingle over the vent.

Note: When nailing the shingles, ensure that corrosion-resistant, 11 or 12 gauge nails are used with heads at least 3/8 inch in diameter. All fasteners must be flush with the shingle surface and penetrate 3/4 inch into the wood deck or 1/8 inch through APA rated roof sheathing. Hip & ridge shingles should be installed per the shingle manufacturer’s installation instructions. See Fig. 6.