If you're a homeowner planning a roof replacement or a repair, understanding the role of a ridge vent, and how much it costs, is essential.
Ridge vents not only protect your roof but also enhance your roof’s longevity by helping air circulate through your attic and out of the roof. As you may already know, heat rises. And if it becomes trapped in your attic, you can find yourself with a host of interior and exterior issues in your home.
Over the years, we’ve gone out to a number of homes where ridge ventilation was missing completely. Unfortunately, these homeowners had to have a number of costly repairs to fix damage caused by their roofer’s oversight.
So, if you don’t have ridge vent, how do you get it? And what does it cost?
If you have it but you need a replacement, around how much of your roof replacement cost will be adding the ridge vent to your home?
Here, we’ll talk about both scenarios so you can go forward informed, knowing this will help circulation and ventilation in your home.
What is a Ridge Vent on Your Roof?
Attic ventilation is a crucial piece of a roofing system. One of the most popular types of ventilation is ridge vent. Installed along the peak of your roof, a ridge vent allows warm, moist air to escape from the attic. Having a ridge vent promotes a long lasting roof and interior by protecting your HVAC system (especially your air handler) from overuse and moisture damage.
As only a part of your home’s ventilation system, a ridge vent works in tandem with soffit vents, which are located on the underside of your roof eaves. Soffit draws fresh air into your home and a ridge vent allows air to escape, resulting in a continuous flow that regulates temperature and moisture.
In the Myrtle Beach area we see plenty of humid days throughout the year. So it may seem like a no-brainer that a ridge vent is highly encouraged to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. But even simple actions like washing your hands, doing the dishes, or taking a shower can contribute to the level of moisture in the air inside your home. Ridge vents help that moisture escape so that, over time, you don’t run into structural damage inside your home or on your roof.
Seeing that a ridge vent has such an important role in the ventilation of your home, you may be curious to know “How much does it cost to have a ridge vent installed on my home?”
How Much Does Ridge Vent Cost in 2025?
With prices constantly rising, it’s no wonder you may be curious about the cost of adding a ridge vent to your roof.
When it comes to cost, the price can vary based on your unique situation.
If you..
- Need a ridge vent replacement during a roof replacement you can expect to pay between $900 to $1,200. The cost shown includes the ridge vent as part of a full roof replacement and may vary depending on the complexity of your roof.
- If this is a separate project and you don’t currently have a ridge vent on your roof, the cost to have one installed usually ranges from $3,000 to $3,500. This price includes the labor to cut out the area where air can flow out of your roof.
The main reason the price can vary is based on the complexity of your roof. These are the factors that can influence the final cost of your ridge vent:
- Roof pitch and height
- Ease of access
- Length of the ridge line
Approximately one-third of the cost goes toward labor for cutting the decking and removing existing materials. The prices reflected here are based on the most common ridge vent type, which is plastic. A plastic ridge vent will last around the same amount of time as your roof, between 15-25 years, making it a great choice. But you can request other materials for your ridge vent.
Ridge Vent Materials: What are Your Options?
While it’s not very common, some homeowners may choose a different material besides plastic for the ridge vent on their roof.
These include:
- Metal Ridge Vents: While this can seem like a durable option, we don’t typically recommend a metal ridge vent. This is because a metal ridge vent is installed with fasteners, or screws, that have a water tight seal. Over time, UV rays can damage the seal, leaving your ridge vent subject to leaks.
- Rolled Ridge Vents: Rolled Ridge Vents are more cost-effective in the short term, but they typically won’t last the life of your roof and are more prone to wind damage, in our experience.
Frequently Asked Questions about Installing Ridge Vent on Your Roof
Do bugs or animals get into ridge vents?
It’s highly uncommon. Though certain types and brands come with built-in filters or mesh to block pests and debris.
Can wind-driven rain enter through a ridge vent?
No, as long as the pitch (or steepness) of your roof is appropriate (above 3/12), rain won’t travel upward into the vent due to gravity and the vent’s overlapping design.
Is ridge vent better than roof fans?
Yes, in most cases. Ridge vents create fewer roof penetrations, reducing leak potential. They're also passive, meaning no electricity or solar power is required.
What if my roof doesn’t have enough ridge for a ridge vent?
Not all roofs have sufficient ridge length to support a continuous ridge vent system. In these cases, other types of attic ventilation are available, such as:
- Attic fans
- Static vents
- Off-ridge vents
- Soffit and gable vents
A qualified roofing contractor can recommend the right combination based on your roof structure and attic space.
Is it Time to Have Your Ridge Vent Installed or Replaced?
If you’re noticing issues with ventilation in your home, it may be time to consider options that you can set and forget.
A ridge vent is an element of your roof that should always be installed when you have a roof replacement, but to our surprise, we find that not everyone has one on their home in the Myrtle Beach area. To ensure you’re getting the best ventilation possible, especially in our humid weather in Myrtle Beach, it’s best to contact a trusted roofer to ensure your home is properly ventilated. And if you’re considering a ridge vent, you may be interested in GAF’s ventilation calculator. If you'd like for us to come out and take a look at your roof, we're happy to do so.
And if you have additional questions about your roof or your home's ventilation, don't hesitate to contact us.
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