Flat Roof Insulation Techniques

The insulation for flat roofs is commonly produced as rigid boards making them easy to handle and install with the variety of waterproofing types and systems.

Flat roof insulation techniques.

In practice a flat roof is pretty easy to spot because essentially it is horizontal. This is then covered with a further weatherproofing layer. Standard fiberglass insulation has an r value of about 3 5 per inch of thickness fig. Look for water stains on the roof sheathing or damp or moldy spots on attic joists and existing insulation as a clue to where leaks might be.

Ordinarily polyisocyanurate pir insulation is used within warm roof construction as it has excellent dimensional stability and compressive strength which enables it to withstand foot. Flat roofs usually come with a 10 to 20 year warranty but can last 25 years if you build the roofs right and maintain them using commonsense rules. Protect water heaters to extend their longevity and lessen the amount of energy needed to heat your water. Flat roofs are an attractive aesthetic choice that give homes a unique form.

Because most flat roofs don t have an attic crawl space or venting. Water is insulation s enemy. Also flat roofs don t tend to have the loft space that you normally associate with pitched roofs so on the whole they won t have the loft hatch in. Cold roof systems are highly inadvisable as insulation from the inside will inevitably lead to the formation of condensation.

Box out light fixtures. So even though flat roofs are ideal for drier landscapes in climates with heavy precipitation a properly installed flat roof can be a fine choice for a homeowner especially thanks to ever improving waterproof materials and installation techniques. The higher the r value the higher the insulating value. Homes with flat roofs require a different approach to insulation than the standard approach used for homes with pitched roofs.

It creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew and ruins the air trapping pockets that block heat flow. This provides an insulating value of r 11 for 2 4 walls and r 19 for 2 6 walls. To produce a hot roof rigid insulation is fitted outside above the weatherproofing. A flat roof is defined as any roof that has a pitch of less than 10 degrees.

Pros and cons for flat roof materials all three types of flat roofing cost 250 to 350 per square 100 square feet but prices vary according to region and size of the roof. Protect your garage external walls attic and basement initially as these areas are most vulnerable to temperature change especially with all the various types of roof insulation out there.