Intake vent types — continuous soffit vs perforated panels vs gable intake vs edge vents

Intake ventilation is the under-spec'd half of most residential attic ventilation systems — homeowners notice exhaust vents on the roof but intake hides at the eaves and is easier to overlook. Three patterns dominate. Continuous soffit vents are a continuous slot or strip vent running the full length of the eave, typically with built-in screening to prevent insect entry. They produce the highest NFVA per linear foot of eave and are the modern preferred approach where eave depth allows. Perforated soffit panels are aluminum or vinyl panels with factory-punched holes, installed across the underside of the eave from fascia to wall. They are the most common intake type in Texas residential construction because they install quickly during the original build, integrate cleanly with siding finishes, and provide adequate NFVA when the perforation pattern is open enough. Their NFVA depends on perforation density — fully perforated panels deliver materially more air than panels with only a center perforation strip, even when both look ventilated from the ground. Gable vents are openings on the gable-end walls of the attic, common on older Texas homes. They can serve as intake on roofs without other intake provisions, but they pair poorly with ridge-vent exhaust because they short-circuit the soffit-to-ridge airflow path (covered separately in this domain). When a re-roof installs a ridge vent, gable vents are typically closed or sealed to maintain proper airflow. Edge vents (drip-edge ventilation) are a less common alternative installed at the very edge of the roof, useful for shallow-eave or no-soffit homes where soffit vents will not fit. Common installer mistakes include: framing or insulation that blocks soffit intake from inside the attic (a hidden defect that defeats the system), insufficient perforation density in the panels selected, using gable vents as the only intake on a ridge-vented roof, and screening that gets clogged with paint or debris over time. Homeowners assessing intake adequacy from inside the attic can sometimes see daylight through soffit vents as a basic check, but specific NFVA verification typically requires measurement by a qualified Texas roofing professional. [Source: IRC Section R806 attic ventilation; Air Vent Inc. intake ventilation guide; NRCA Roofing Manual ventilation chapter]