Insulation is a vital part of your roof and your home. It helps to control the temperature inside your home. It acts as a barrier between extreme heat and cold. It protects your home, it protects the pipes and wiring, and it’s a great way to lower your energy bills. Insulation helps the environment and it improves your health and comfort levels.
Flat Roof Insulation
Depending on where you live, your garage may not need insulation. A home with a flat roof requires a different approach for insulation. Without a slope, attic, or crawl space, it has to be applied on the outside or underneath. Most flat roofs have weatherproofing, and that can leave little space for insulation. When a new flat roof is being built, a layer of insulation can be added. Adding insulation to an existing roof most often means taking some of all of the material away. It needs to be done by professionals so as not to cause damage to the roof or the structure.
Types of Flat Roof Insulation
There are different types of insulation for flat roofs, but depending on your climate and your exact roof will depend on what type is the best investment for you and your home. Using high-quality insulation is certainly worth the extra costs, as poor insulation ends up costing you much more down the road. Cheap insulation can mean costly repairs or damages.
Spray Foam Insulation
A popular insulation is polyurethane spray foam. It is easy to use and will last for many years. It works on any kind of roof and it sprays on as a liquid, expanding and filling in all the needed areas. Because it is high-quality and expands so accurately, it fills in all gaps, cracks, or holes there may be, making your roof completely insulated and air-tight. It’s great insulation that covers every square inch.
Rigid Foam
This type of insulation comes in sheets of varying thickness. These are installed before the final covering of your roof or from inside just prior to the paneling or ceiling finish. The thickness of the foam sheets determines their R-value. The thicker the foam, the better the rating. This type of insulation is very effective and great at controlling moisture.
Composite Insulation
Composite insulation is made from expanded polystyrene or EPS foam coated with fiberglass. It works well with flat roofs with various materials for covering. It comes in several different thicknesses. Composite insulation is strong and dense, so it provides high resistance to fire and heat. The materials it is made with continue to grow and evolve, giving better protection as new methods and materials are used and tested.
Tapered EPS Insulation
Tapered insulation is used to provide a slight slope to your flat roof. They are installed underneath the roofing materials and made from recycled materials without dangerous chemicals. This tapered roof allows water and other debris to roll off rather than pool on your roof. It is lightweight and very durable. It will withstand moisture and remains very strong for years.
Loose Fill
Loose-fill insulation is made from small bits of fiber, foam, or other materials. They are ideal for form-fitting into any shape or size without disturbing the structure or other materials Its ability to adapt to any space makes it highly desirable, in particular, where other types of insulation may be difficult to use. They are most often made from cellulose, fiberglass, and mineral wool, like rock or slag.
Flat Roof Insulation
Insulating a flat roof is often less labor-intensive than a sloped roof. A flat roof can also open up opportunities for design, utilizing the space, and saving money on your energy bill. Insulation may be applied to the outside of the roof, the inside or the bottom, or the roof may be inverted, to provide a water barrier. All have their pros and cons. There are a few types of roof covering materials that are commonly used. Bitumen is probably the most popular, as well as synthetic materials like EPDM and polyester.