Effective roof ventilation systems are becoming more and more important for modern-day houses. New builds now require roof tile ventilation to pass building regulations, and owners of older homes are installing roof vents to improve circulation in their roof and loft spaces.
However, there are many different types of roof vents for houses on the market, and it may be confusing when looking for the best type of roof vents for your home. All of the different ventilation systems are designed to help air circulate, and each option has its good and bad points. But what are the best types of roof vents?
At Beddoes Products, we specialise in the design and manufacture of roof ventilation products, so we thought we’d create this guide to help you decide which are the best roof vents for your property.
What is a roof vent?
Before we start, we thought we would cover the basics of roof vents and roof ventilation systems, to help you make a more informed choice.
Roof vents are vents that are part of your roof's infrastructure that allows for fresh cool air to enter your roof or loft space. This introduction of fresh air helps to provide natural air circulation and expels warm stale air out of the same vents.
This prevents common issues like the build-up of condensation in roof and loft spaces, preventing the likelihood of dampness or rot forming.
Best Types of Roof Vents for Houses
1. Roof Tile Vents
Roof Tile Vents are by far the easiest professional solution to roof ventilation problems.
They are easy to fit either during the process of installing a new roof or retrofitting to older existing roofs. It is as simple as one vent replacing one tile.
One of the main benefits of roof tile vents is how discreet they are, matching the design of your roof.
You can find roof tile vents to fit most tile profiles on the market and in the same colour as your existing roof tiles, to maintain the appearance of your roof.
If you're looking for a solution to stop bathroom condensation, you can vent your extractor fan directly through a roof tile vent.
How Roof Tile Vents Work
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to install | Must be fitted externally |
| Look good with multiple colour options | |
| Available for most types of roof tile |
Cost per unit: £29.99 - £69.99
Installation cost: £150 - £250 (day rate for professional roofer)
Product rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Slate Vents
Slate Vents are specifically designed to replace the slates on a slate roof. Similar to roof vent tiles, slate vents work in the same manner, but are designed to blend into a slate roof profile.
Slates vent tiles come in 2 standard sizes - 600 x 300mm (24 x 12 inch) and 500 x 250 mm (20 x 10 inch), the most commonly used sizes for slate roofs and are manufactured from either plastic or real slate. They have a grille and under base that allows air to flow through the vent and out of the roof.
Most slate vents have the option of a pipe adaptor fitting to create a connection for bathroom extractor fans and soil vent pipes.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to fit | Must be fitted from the outside |
| Look better than cowl vents |
Cost per unit: £29.99 - £54.99
Installation cost: £150 - £250 (day rate for professional roofer)
Product rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Cowl Vents
A cowl vent is a hooded roof tile vent designed to replace existing roof tiles. They can also be connected to a bathroom extractor fan using a flexible pipe adaptor.
These work similarly to both roof ventilation systems above, but they are not as discreet. Cowl vents are bulkier in their design and tend to be easily visible, breaking the overall profile of the roof.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to install | Doesn't look great |
| Prevents draughts and wind-driven rain | Breaks appearance of roof |
| Prevents entry of bugs and insects |
Cost per unit: £30 - £40
Installation cost: £150 - £250 (day rate for professional roofer)
Product rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Lap Vents
Lap vents slip in between an overlap in the horizontal under-sarking inside the loft, providing an air path for the wind blowing up the face of the roof outside.
These can be effective if you have enough natural wind to push air through the vents, but are overall likely to be less effective at providing the same level of ventilation as any of the options above.
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple, easy, and effective | Safe floor in loft needed to work on for internal fitting |
| Can install from inside - no need for external access or getting on the ladder | Might not provide as much ventilation as roof ventilation tiles |
Cost per unit: £2 (multiple quantity needed)
Installation cost: £150 - £250 (day rate for professional roofer)
Product rating: ⭐⭐⭐
5. Fascia Vents
Fascia vents are installed over the fascia boards to provide low-level ventilation. Again, these can be effective for air circulation, but are not always as effective as other systems we have already mentioned.
We do think that fascia vents are normally a better alternative to soffit vents because soffit vents can accumulate dust and debris. This can require regular maintenance and cleaning work.
| Pros | Cons |
| Can't see them like soffit vents | Not an easy DIY option |
| Mesh keeps out insects | Can leave little space for guttering install |
| Can be blocked by loft insulation |
Cost per unit: £2 - £4 per metre length
Installation cost: £150-£250 (day rate for professional roofer)
Product rating: ⭐⭐
6. Soffit Vents
Soffit vents are installed under the eaves of a roof. They let fresh air up into the loft to improve air circulation. This prevents loft air from going stale.
When combined with roof ventilation tiles they work efficiently to draw air in through the soffit vents and exhaust warmer air through the ventilation tiles.
As previously mentioned, soffit vents can become cluttered or blocked with debris, so this may not be the best choice if you are looking for a low-maintenance solution.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to install | Designed for air intake |
| Unlikely to be blocked by snow | Different roof vents needed to exhaust air |
Cost (singular): £0.50 - £1 (multiple quantity needed)
Cost (continuous): £5 - £10 per 2.4 metre length
Installation cost: £150-£250 (day rate for professional roofer)
Product rating: ⭐⭐
7. Dry Ridge Vents
Dry ridge vents can be used on the apex of a roof to provide high-level ventilation and exhaust moisture.
Dry ridge vents aren’t really designed to be used as vents alone. They are more of an exit point than a source of ventilation.
They can be used in combination with other forms of lower-level roof ventilation such as eaves vents or soffit vents, fascia vents, or roof ventilation tiles.
| Pros | Cons |
| If positioned on the apex of the roof with the felt or under-sarking suitably cut immediately beneath, they do provide excellent natural air movement | If you live in an exposed location and have large soffit vents as well, ridge tile vents have been known to cause too much ventilation on very windy days, possibly blowing the insulation about near the edges |
Cost per unit: £40 - £60
Installation cost: £150-£250
Keep in mind that ridge vents may require scaffolding to install, which could increase costs significantly.
Product rating: ⭐⭐
Conclusion
You should now be able to decide which are the best types of roof vents for your house.
As specialists in the design and manufacture of roof ventilation, we are probably biased, but we really think that we make the best product for venting your loft or venting your bathroom extractor fan through a roof vent.
Our roof tile vents are affordable, low-maintenance and so discreet that they barely disturb the profile of your roof.
They also can be fitted to connect up to extractor fans to maximise their efficiency in removing condensation and improving air circulation in your roof or loft space.