Roofing guide
Ridge Vents vs Turtle Vents: Which Is Better for Edmonton Roofs?
Attic ventilation is one of the most overlooked parts of an Edmonton roof — and the wrong choice shows up as ice dams, frosted plywood, mould, and shortened shingle life. Here's how ridge vents and turtle vents actually compare in Alberta's climate, and what we recommend.
Quick verdict
For most Edmonton homes, a continuous ridge vent paired with soffit intake outperforms turtle vents. It moves more air across the entire ridge, keeps attic temperature even, and significantly reduces ice damming in winter.
Turtle vents still have a place — on roofs with short ridge runs, hip roofs, or as a budget repair — but they shouldn't be mixed with ridge vents on the same plane.
What each one actually does
Ridge vents
A ridge vent runs continuously along the peak of the roof, hidden under the ridge cap shingles. Hot, moist attic air rises and exits along the entire ridge while fresh air is drawn in through the soffits. Modern ridge vents have an external baffle that creates negative pressure and blocks wind-driven snow and rain.
Turtle vents (box vents)
Turtle vents are individual static vents — small square or domed boxes mounted near the ridge. Each one only exhausts a small area, so a typical Edmonton home needs four to eight of them, evenly spaced, to match what a single ridge vent provides.
Side-by-side
| Factor | Ridge vent | Turtle vent |
|---|---|---|
| Even attic airflow | Excellent — vents the entire ridge | Uneven — only near each vent |
| Winter ice damming | Significantly reduces it | Helps, but less effective |
| Summer attic heat | Lower attic temps overall | Hot spots between vents |
| Wind-driven snow / rain | External baffle blocks intrusion | Older designs can leak in horizontal snow |
| Appearance | Nearly invisible from the ground | Visible boxes across the roof |
| Penetrations (leak points) | One continuous opening | Multiple cut-outs, each sealed separately |
| Hail damage | Low — protected by ridge cap | Dented housings are common after hail |
| Cost on a re-roof | Slightly higher up-front | Cheaper per unit |
| Best for | Most gable roofs | Short ridges, hip roofs, isolated repairs |
Why this matters in Edmonton
–40 winters & ice damming
Warm attic air melts snow on the roof; it refreezes at the cold eave and backs water under shingles. A balanced ridge-and-soffit system keeps the attic close to outdoor temperature so snow stays put.
Hail & chinook winds
Turtle vents are one of the first things we see dented after a hailstorm, and high winds can drive snow through older baffle-less designs. Modern ridge vents handle both better.
Common mistakes we see
- Mixing ridge vents and turtle vents on the same roof plane — they short-circuit and stop venting the attic.
- Ridge vents installed without enough soffit intake — exhaust without intake does nothing.
- Blocked soffits (insulation pushed against them) — looks like a venting problem but it's an intake problem.
- Old-style ridge vents with no external baffle — these can let snow blow into the attic.
When turtle vents are still the right call
- Hip roofs or roofs with very short ridge lines where a ridge vent can't be continuous.
- Spot repairs where the existing roof already uses box vents.
- Sections of roof that can't run intake/exhaust as a balanced system.
FAQ
- Are ridge vents better than turtle vents in Edmonton?
- For most homes, yes. They move more air evenly across the ridge and reduce ice damming, which is the most common winter problem we see in the area.
- Do ridge vents leak in heavy snow?
- Modern external-baffle ridge vents are designed to shed snow and block wind-driven rain. Leaks almost always trace back to older, baffle-less designs or improper installation.
- Can I mix ridge vents and turtle vents?
- Not on the same plane. The two systems short-circuit each other and end up venting outside air to itself instead of pulling air from the attic.
- How many turtle vents do I need?
- A rough rule is 1 sq ft of net free vent area per 300 sq ft of attic floor, split evenly between intake (soffit) and exhaust. Most Edmonton homes need four to eight turtle vents — which is why a single ridge vent is usually simpler.
Not sure what your roof has?
We'll inspect your ventilation as part of any quote or roof inspection and tell you straight whether it's doing its job.