Insulate Your Roof

You can use rigid insulation board carefully cut to size or you can have foam insulation sprayed between the rafters.

Insulate your roof.

While attics especially in older homes are rarely insulated you can easily insulate yours with the help of this. Whether you re doing a weekend fix or folding it into a bigger home renovation insulating your roof will pay off for years to come. You may also insulate your roof to help regulate the temperature in an attic that is a part of your living space. Because heat escapes easily through the roof uninsulated rafters can make your energy bills go up when you turn your heating system on.

Insulate and air seal any knee walls vertical walls with attic space directly behind them in your home as well. The technically correct approach depends on a number of factors. Insulating the roof is a priority if the ceilings of your home happen to be part of the roof deck as is the case with cathedral ceilings. If it is located in a conditioned part of the house also remember to insulate and air seal your attic access.

Knock these to dos off your list to ensure that your insulation will last for years and keep conditioned air where it belongs. If your attic is usable space but not lived in then you won t need to insulate the roof rafters as long as the ceiling floor that separates the roof from your living area below is insulated. Insulating the pitched roof. Pitched sloping roofs are more straightforward and there are more options to choose from while flat roofs and dormer.

To provide ventilation in a roof that is insulated install special rafter vents. If you have roof rafters in your attic that aren t insulated you re throwing money away. Insulation puts the money back in your pocket by protecting your home from the elements and lowering energy costs. Materials commonly used for the insulation of the roof deck include.

Your options for roof insulation will depend on the type of roof you have. Home ceilings are usually insulated in order to seal off the extreme temperatures in your attic. Such ventilation keeps the roof cold in winter which prevents ice dams that can damage your roof and even your house. It creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew and ruins the air trapping pockets that block heat flow.

Whichever approach you use you will need a specialist professional. Before insulating seal any air leaks and make roof and other necessary repairs. An alternative way to insulate your loft is to fit the insulation between and over the rafters these are the sloping timbers that make up the roof itself. Other key prep steps before you insulate.

Whether or not there is an inner roof lining and the total thickness of the roof structure.