A Guide to Choosing Roof Insulation
When you think of insulation, it can either improve the heating or cooling the home. People who live in cold climates would do well with ceiling insulation but people who live in areas with hot climates would be well with roofing insulation. Cold and hot climates, however, are experienced in many regions.
This is why some insulation products are designed with these factors in mind. Today, you will find a great number of insulation materials that you can compare before you choose the right one for your home. Every insulation has an R-value which you should consider. Insulation with a high R-value gives a better thermal performance.
The pitched roofs and the flat roofs are two categories of roofs. Your roof type will determine the best roofing insulation to buy. It is recommended to get pitched roof insulation if you have a new roof, refurbishing your roof, or performing a loft conversion. You can install your insulation under and between rafters or over and between rafters.
The different types of pitched roof insulation are the following: loft insulation, pitched roof sarking, between and over rafters, between rafters, and between and under rafters. You save energy without compromising on living space with loft insulation. It is best to use pitched roof sarking in major refurbishment projects or new buildings.
This airtight construction helps eliminate problems of thermal bridging, providing efficient warm roof insulation over the rafters. As headroom, the between and over rafters come handy in insulating pitched roofs.
This insulation helps to create a habitable and warm roof space, without requiring tanks and water pipes to be insulated. Between rafters provide reliable long-term energy savings without the loss of internal headroom. If you have a pitched roof with shallow rafters you should use between and under rafter insulation to minimize additional loading to structures.
It is important to know what the recommended R-value for your climate and location is. The product’s total system R-value is important if you are considering reflective insulation. Another consideration would be your ceiling space which includes access and existing ceiling joints. Another factor to consider is the environmental impact posed by the insulation.
The method of manufacturing of the insulation material is important and you should also know whether sustainable or recycled materials are used for it. It is also important to consider how the insulation materials will impact the health of your family members especially if you have family members who suffer from asthma or allergies. If you have set a budget for insulation materials and the cost of installing them in your roof, then this also needs to be considered when you are choosing the best insulation for your roof, and one should consider whether the price of the insulation material and installation falls within the set budget.
