How to Open a Roof for Ventilation

Push up the attic access cover in your house’s ceiling, and climb into the attic using a ladder. Drive nails through the roof where you wish to install the roof vents. The screws should be positioned exactly in the middle of two rafters and 18 inches down the slope from the roof’s peak.

Climb onto the roof using a ladder, and locate the nails you drove through the roof’s shingles. Draw a square around the nail using chalk, with the square measuring 1/2 inch larger than the opening in the roof vent you plan to install. The nail needs to be in the center of the square you draw.

Cut through the shingles and underlayment along the lines you drew with the chalk, using a utility knife. Drill holes in the corner of the cutout in the shingles, and then insert a jigsaw’s blade into the holes you drilled. Cut along the same lines you used to cut through the shingles, making a hole in the roof.

Pry up any nails and break the adhesive on the shingles around the opening in the roof, using a pry bar. Slide the edges of the roof vent cover under the shingles around the opening in the roof.

Drive roofing nails through the mounting holes on the lower end of the vent cap. Lift up the shingles that sit over the edges of the vent, and spread roofing cement between the vent cap and the shingles.