Our written ventilation guarantee
- Every baffle is counted and listed as its own line on your quote
- Every installed baffle is photographed before insulation covers it
- If a promised baffle is missing, we come back and fix it at no charge
Eave baffles: keeping the roof breathing
Cold outside air enters through the soffit vents, flows up under the roof sheathing and leaves through roof or ridge vents. That airflow carries moisture out and keeps the roof deck cold in winter, which helps prevent ice dams. Blown insulation drifts into the eaves and blocks the soffits unless a baffle holds the channel open.
Air sealing: the step most quotes leave out
We seal the gaps where house air reaches the attic: top plates of interior walls, plumbing vent stacks, electrical wire holes, bathroom fan housings and the hatch.
Insulated, weatherstripped hatch
An uninsulated hatch is a cold, drafty hole in an R-50 ceiling. We add a rigid insulated cover and weatherstripping so it closes tight.
Ventilation FAQ
What are attic baffles?
Baffles (rafter vents) are channels installed at the eaves between rafters. They keep insulation from blocking the soffit vents so outside air can flow up under the roof deck and out the roof vents.
Why does air sealing matter if I'm adding insulation?
Insulation slows heat; it doesn't stop air. Warm, moist house air leaking through top plates, pot lights and plumbing stacks carries moisture into the attic, where it condenses on the cold roof deck. Sealing those leaks first protects the roof and makes the insulation work.
How many baffles does my attic need?
Typically one per rafter bay along the soffited eaves. For a 1,500 sq ft attic that's often around 20. We count them during the inspection and list the number on your quote.
Can poor ventilation cause ice dams?
Yes. Heat leaking into a poorly insulated, poorly ventilated attic warms the roof deck, melts snow, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves. Air sealing, insulation and clear soffit airflow together are the fix.