Proper Attic Ventilation in an Older Brick Home

Drive a nail through the roof from inside the attic to mark the location for the vent. Place the vent toward the center of the roof, about 2 to 3 feet below the roof peak. Center the nail between two roof rafters.

Climb up to the roof on a ladder and go to the spot where you drove the nail through the roof. The roof shingles in that area should be raised off of the roof sheathing from the nail.

Draw a circle on the roof that measures the width of the opening of the vent on the bottom edge, centering it over the nail.

Cut through the shingles along the circle with a utility knife, then pry the shingles inside the circle loose and remove them.

Remove the nails holding the shingles in place around the top of the circle so you can slide the flashing for the vent underneath them.

Apply roofing cement along the edge of the circle.

Cut a hole in the roof with a reciprocating saw inside the circular area where you removed the shingles.

Slide the top of the roof vent underneath the shingles around the top of the circle and push the bottom edge against the shingles.

Nail the roof vent to the roof by driving galvanized roofing nails through the flashing and into the roof.

Waterproof the vent. Apply a thick bead of silicone adhesive around the edge of the flashing and on top of the nails, and nail the loose shingles down with roofing nails.