Ridge vent

Abstract

A ridge vent for being installed along a portion of a roof can include a panel with side portions extending along a central portion, with ventilation grids extending along the side portions, and defining vent openings that allow air to flow from under the ridge vent to the open air above the roof. The central portion of the panel can have an upper surface that defines a first plane of the ridge vent and can include a plurality of fastener features that define a second plane spaced below the first plane. In embodiments, the second plane can be located above roof deck of the roof at a height that is less than a height of the first plane above the roof deck so as to provide a fastening plane that is closer to the roof deck than the upper surface of the panel.

1 . A ridge vent comprising:
 a panel having an upper surface, and a lower surface, comprising:
 a central portion; 
 side portions positioned along the central portion and terminating at longitudinally extending side walls; 
 a plurality of vent openings formed along the side portions and configured to enable passage of air through the ridge vent; 
 a plurality of louvers positioned over the vent openings, the louvers being spaced across the vent openings so as to define open spaces through which the air passing through the vent openings is exhausted to an outside environment; and 
 a plurality of fastener features positioned along the central portion, wherein each of the fastener features includes a recessed surface defining a fastening plane spaced below the upper surface, and wherein the fastener features are configured to receive a plurality of fasteners through the fastening plane; 
   wherein when the ridge vent is installed along a roof, the upper surface of the panel is positioned at least ¾ inch above an upper surface of the roof; and   wherein the fastening plane is positioned ⅛ inch to ⅞ inch below the upper surface of the panel.   
     
     
         2 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener features are configured to enable the fasteners to be installed along the fastening plane using a roofing nail gun positioned above the upper surface of the panel to secure the ridge vent to the roof. 
     
     
         3 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein a surface area of the open spaces defined between the louvers and through which the air can pass from the vent openings to the outside environment defines a Net-Free Ventilating Area (NFA) of the ridge vent, and wherein, when the ridge vent is secured to the roof with the fasteners, the NFA of the ridge vent does not substantially change. 
     
     
         4 . The ridge vent of  claim 3 , wherein the NFA of the ridge vent is at least  15  sq. inches per linear foot when installed along the roof. 
     
     
         5 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein each fastener feature is configured to receive roofing nails having a length of 2 inch or less therein. 
     
     
         6 . The ridge vent of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening plane is positioned ⅛ inch to ⅞ inch above the upper surface of the roof. 
     
     
         7 . A roofing system comprising:
 a roofing substrate having a ridge;   a ventilation slot formed along the ridge;   at least one ridge vent positioned along the ridge and covering the ventilation slot, wherein the at least one ridge vent comprises:
 a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface, comprising:
 a central portion; 
 side portions extending laterally from the central portion and terminating at longitudinally extending side walls; 
 a plurality of vent openings defined along the side portions and configured to enable passage of air from below the roofing substrate through the at least one ridge vent; 
 a plurality of louvers positioned over the vent openings, the louvers being spaced apart so as to define open spaces through which the air passing through the vent openings is exhausted to an outside environment; and 
 a plurality of fastener features positioned along the central portion of the panel, wherein each of the fastener features comprises a recessed surface spaced below the upper surface of the panel; and 
 
   a plurality of fasteners received within the fastener features and penetrating the recessed surfaces of the fastener features for securing the ridge vent along the ridge of the roofing substrate, each of the fasteners having a head and a shank;   wherein the upper surface of the panel is positioned at least 1″ above the roofing substrate;   wherein the recessed surfaces of the fastener features are positioned ⅛ inch to ⅞ inch below the upper surface of the panel; and   wherein the head of each of the fasteners is positioned ⅛ inch to ⅞ inch above the roofing substrate.   
     
     
         8 . The roofing system of  claim 7 , wherein the side walls of the panel are configured to deter passage of windblown rain, snow and debris into the vent openings. 
     
     
         9 . The roofing system of  claim 7 , wherein a surface area of the open spaces between the louvers defines a NFA of the ridge vent, and wherein the ridge vent is secured to the roofing substrate with the fasteners, the NFA of the ridge vent does not substantially change. 
     
     
         10 . The roofing system of  claim 9 , wherein the NFA of the ridge vent is at least 15 sq. inches per linear foot. 
     
     
         11 . The roofing system of  claim 7 , wherein the fastener features are configured to enable the fasteners to be installed within the fastener features using a roofing nail gun positioned above the upper surface of the panel to secure the ridge vent to the roofing substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The roofing system of  claim 7 , wherein the central portion of the panel is at least one inch above the roofing substrate, and wherein the fasteners comprises a length of 2″ or less. 
     
     
         13 . The roofing system of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of cap shingles positioned over the central portion of the panel and covering the fastener features. 
     
     
         14 . A roof ventilation system comprising:
 at least one ridge vent configured to be positioned over a ridge of a roof covering a ventilation slot formed along the ridge, wherein the at least one ridge vent comprises:
 an upper surface; 
 a lower surface; 
 a central portion; 
 side portions positioned along the central portion and terminating at longitudinally extending side walls; 
 a plurality of louvers positioned along the side portions and extending between the central portion and each of the side walls, wherein the louvers are spaced apart so as to define open spaces through which air passing through the ridge vent is exhausted to an outside environment; and 
 a plurality of fastener features positioned along the central portion of the ridge vent adjacent the side portions, each of the fastener features including a recessed surface spaced below the upper surface; 
   wherein the fastener features are configured to receive a plurality of fasteners therethrough with the fasteners engaging the recessed surfaces of the fastener features;   wherein the recessed surfaces of the fastener features define a fastening plane along which the fasteners are installed;   wherein when the ridge vent is installed along the roof, the upper surface of the ridge vent is positioned at least 1″ above an upper surface of the roof; and   wherein a head of each of the fasteners is positioned below the upper surface and is spaced ⅛ inch to ⅞ inch above the upper surface of the roof.   
     
     
         15 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener features are configured to enable the fasteners to be installed using a roofing nail gun positioned above the upper surface of the ridge vent to secure the ridge vent to a roofing substrate of a roof. 
     
     
         16 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one ridge vent comprises a plurality of ridge vents arranged along the ridge of the roof in an end-to-end alignment, and wherein each of the ridge vents are configured to receive at least one cap shingle thereover, with the at least one cap shingle extending over the central portion of the ridge vent and substantially covering the fastener features. 
     
     
         17 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 15 , wherein a surface area of the open spaces between the louvers defines an NFA of the ridge vent, and wherein the fasteners are installed below the upper surface of the ridge vent to secure the ridge vent along the ridge of the roof without substantially reducing the NFA of the ridge vent. 
     
     
         18 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 17 , wherein the NFA of the ridge vent is at least 15 sq. inches per linear foot after installation of the ridge vent along the roof. 
     
     
         19 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 15 , wherein the recessed surfaces of one or more of the fastener features are positioned within ¾″ of a roof deck of the roof. 
     
     
         20 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 15 , wherein one or more of the fastener features extend from the upper surface of the ridge vent to a roof deck of the roof.