Easy Whirlybird Roof Turbine Install

Intro: Easy Whirlybird Roof Turbine Install

Today, on Workshop Edits, I'm installing a set of Whirlybird Roof Turbine vents to help vent heat and moisture build up in my attic. Thanks for checking it out!



STEP 1: Complete How to Video With All the Details

Please reference this video for all of the below information, extra tips, FAQs, and more!

STEP 2: Prep and Measure

I live in Southern California - very hot summer days await you every late June, pretty much all of the way through late September. My 65 year old house did not have any vents for our attic, meaning that the heat build up was very intense in the summer, up to 130°+ in the attic, which made my HVAC system work overtime and was continuing to deteriorate the interior and exterior of the roof faster due to excessive heat and moisture build up.

The first thing you'll need to do is make sure you have soffit vents (photo 1) - this allows a current to be created for new air to be pulled in and then vented out the top.

Measuring for these Whirlybird Turbines is based on the model you have. My roof is such that I had 2 x12" turbines, which covered 1500 square feet of attic space (more than my house), and if you're using 2, you'll measure in one quarter length of your roof on each side, and about three feet down based on the pitch of your roof.

The directions are very clear on this, so just make sure you read your specific model's instructions.

STEP 3: Cut Your Hole

Easily the part I was most nervous about and I'm sure you were too - cutting big holes in your perfectly good roof.

Here is the tip - measure where you need to go, then go inside your attic (if you can), and drill a big screw up through the roof directly in the middle of your rafters, that way you're not hitting them when you cut our your larger hole. It also then allows you to grab the piece of roof and pull it out once you cut it free.

Use the roof mount to mark your circle out, drill a large pilot hole with a drill, and then a jig saw with a decent blade to cut out the roof. Then put your mount back in place to ensure its a proper fit.

STEP 4: Measuring Your Roof Pitch

The system is universal to your roof pitch and comes with an angling template to determine what pitch your roof is and therefore what angle to twist the cylinder piece so that eventually, your turbine will sit parallel to the ground (not your roof). You then will screw in the cylinder to the mount at the angle that matches your pitch (I think mine was a 6 on the scale).

The mounting bracket attaches to the turbine with just a few screws (don't drop these!).

STEP 5: Mounting to the Roof

Use a pry bar to lightly pull up the shingles surrounding your hole. Then do a dry fit of the roofing mount to assure everything fits - the goal here is to slide it underneath your upper most roofing shingles so that the pass over it (and therefore water will also), and then the bottom will sit on top of the shingles so water runs off it and over the roof.

Once the dry fit is in place, apply a heavy bead of roofing sealant to the underside of the mount, and slide into place. Secure using 8-10 roofing nails around the base of the mount - there are not holes for these, so just do your best guess!

STEP 6: Level Off Your Turbine Mount

Assuming you followed the previous directions of measuring your pitch roof and securing in place properly, you can then twist it to level it off - remember that you're leveling this off parallel with the earth, not your roof pitch - that way the turbine eventually sits parallel to earth.

STEP 7: Seal Off Everything

Using the same sealant, go over all of your nails so that they are water tight, and follow the instructions to seal off the interior parts of the mount (this includes where the cylinder meets the roof mount, and the part where the cylinder rotates so that you can level it off) - easy, but if you're bad with sealant like me, its a little messy.

STEP 8: Mount and Secure Your Turbine

Last step is easy! Take your turbine and mount it on top of the cylinder - it will secure to it with three screws (don't drop these either!) - if you've done things right, these will sit "floating" and spin freely. They only require about 5mph of breeze to get spinning.

I was pleasantly surprised to see mine start spinning immediately after mounting!

STEP 9: Wrap Up!

If installed properly - under shingles, with sealant, and level, these should last a very long time (these actually have a lifetime warranty) and are fully water proof and critter proof by design.

Based on how big your roof is, rinse and repeat the entire process with more turbines and enjoy having your attic hopefully stay cooler and prolonging the life moving forward!

Comments

[Daboke]

Thanks for the Instruct able. Nice and clearly laid out.

Do you have any historical data on the sealant that you used. I don't see any guarantee in the product details. One commenter said it cracked after a year. Most sealants that I have used degrade after a couple of years of Texas weather. 100 % Silicone is the only one that lasts more than 20 years, here.

[Vindos55]

Nice work, energy efficient. My challenge is cutting the hole in terracotta barrel tiles on our roof, not easy to do non-destructively.

[Workshop Edits]

I had to replace clay sewage piping in my house about three years ago due to a root growing through it. I used an angle grinder with a diamond blade to cut the clay piping - little dusty but using a spray bottle to wet the area prevents some excessive dust. I'm guessing this would cut quite well through terracotta tiles if you mark, score, and slowly cut away (just a thought - do your own research of course!).

[Vindos55]

I'm thinking along the same lines, thanks, and using a diamond costed router to mechanically file the edge smooth and to exact dims.

[tercero]

I live in southern Ontario and for about 10 years after having my roof replaced in the early 00's I used to get ice build up along the eves. It was so bad one winter that it caused damage inside the house.
So about 5 years ago, I decided to reshingle on my own. After tearing off the old roof, I discovered that the roofing contractor had installed whirlybirds on my roof...but hadn't cut any holes for the heat to escape. They were sitting directly on the stranded. Essentially, the air had nowhere to go. Pretty scummy since they charged me the cost of the materials and labour to install 4 whirlys plus 2 static vents. Not a single hole had ever been cut in.

[Workshop Edits]

That contractor should be arrested and thrown in jail for that level of laziness.

[jlms]

I thought Spanish and English builders are cowboys! Yours win the prize :-(

[Workshop Edits]

I have read this five times and have no idea what it means.