Roof Insulations

Written by No Doubt Marketing

Proper roof insulation can slash your heating and cooling bills. Insulation both traps warm air inside during the winter to lower your heating costs and keeps warm air out in the summer to lower your cooling bills. All insulation isn't created equally, and there are different types and even different levels of efficiency within each type.

Roofing insulation is measure by R-value, a number which measures the insulation's resistance to heat flow. The higher the number, the more quality insulation the material provides. While insulation is also used in walls and floors, the recommended roof R-value for areas that have hot summers and cold winters is usually somewhere between 35 and 40.

The thickness of your insulated roof will help determine the R-value, as thicker blankets or batts will have a higher R-value. You do have a choice as far as what roofing insulation material you use, though. The most common choices in insulation are batts , blankets, rigid, loose fill or foam. The easiest and best time to add this insulation is during construction, but existing homes can benefit from roof insulation once you determine which type would be best for its build.

Batts or blankets are generally made of glass fiber with up to about three-and-a-half R-value per inch. Batts are simply pre-cut pieces of this insulation while the blankets are in long rolls that you cut yourself. These are good for a framed-in area that's not finished with an interior wall or ceiling material. Open attics and crawl spaces are particularly good for this type of roofing insulation.

After it's installed, sheetrock wall material or some other fireproof material does need to be added to finish the area, because while the roof insulation itself is fireproof, it comes with a paper vapor barrier that keeps it from absorbing moisture. This barrier is not fireproof and should not be left bare. It also should not be forced into a space that's too small, because compression limits its effectiveness.

A loose fill insulated roof uses glass fiber, shredded newspaper or wood fibers or some other materials. It can be spread thickly in an attic crawlspace or even attached to unfinished wall space with adhesive. It is generally blown in to a certain density by a professional. Foam roof insulation, also known as foam in place, is blown in by a professional like loose fill. Because it's foam, it seals the space well and provides superior insulation when applied properly.

Rigid board roofing insulation is made from plastics like polystyrene and polyurethane. These resist moisture well and so are good in crawl spaces and basements. These also need to be covered by sheetrock or some other fireproof material.

When adding roofing insulation, it's important to seal the area first to prevent air from moving in through cracks and holes. And also be sure you have adequate ventilation, like a whole house fan or a turbine vent that allows warm, moist air to rise up and be pulled out. These steps will make whichever type of roof insulation you choose will work as well as possible.

Ready to find roof insulation for your home? Use BuyerZone's free request for roof insulation price quotes, and we'll match you to multiple contractors in your area.