Gable vents are a practical
addition to the roof of a home, allowing heat to escape during
the summer months and preventing the formation of condensation
during the winter. Typically a gable vent is louvered to provide
air circulation, and screened behind the louvers to prevent access
beneath the roof for unwanted creatures.
Right triangle shaped gable vents are available for placement
next to a chimney or a wall. Two of these vents can be used,
one on each side of the chimney, to balance the appearance of
the installation and the circulation of air.
There are octagonal shapes and round gable vents that add a
decorative touch. A five-sided shaped gable vent is a shape that
resembles the outline of a house: the top two sides angled like
a roofline, two short vertical sides and a long straight horizontal
line across the bottom. All of these shapes have the same louver
design and screened protection; the design is merely a matter
of taste and the nature of the structure. Circulation into the
area beneath the roof is limited only by the size of the vent,
not by its shape.
