With the rapidly rising cost of living crisis, we at The Confederation Of Roofing Contractors understand just how much it is costing to heat your homes.
A small short-term investment into your home can bring reward in the long run. If heat is escaping from your roof, you will be paying more to heat your home.
Which insulation do I have?
The type of insulation you have depends on your roof. If you have a pitched roof you can opt for warm or cold insulation. If you have a flat roof you can opt for warm deck, cold deck or inverted roof.
When can I insulate my roof?
A good time for re-insulating your roof is when it is being replaced, however a roof that is in a good condition can have insulation fitted.
Cold loft insulation for pitched roofs:
The simplest and often cheapest way of insulating your roof is the option of cold loft insulation. It is placed over and between the wooden joists above the ceiling of your home's top floor. Which normally, is just called lost insulation. However, this is not always the best option as, although it will ultimately stop heat escaping from your living area, the loft space is left uninsulated. Meaning it will warm up in the summer months, and become very cold in the winter months.
Warm loft insulation for pitched roofs:
If you use your loft space as living area you may not be able to install cold loft insulation. In this case, you can consider warm loft insulation. Insulation is installed directly under the roofs pitch, reducing heat loss and your loft space wont be excessively hot in the summer months, or icy cold in the winter months.
It's important to remember with a warm loft insulation, that there is need for ventiallation directly below the roof tiles. Preventing the structure from rotting by condensation build up or water getting in through and around the tiles.
Flat Roof Insulation:
There are three different types of insulation for flat roofs, our roofing contractors can help you decide which is best suited for your home.
- Inverted roof: An inverted roof has insulation above the weather membrane, protecting it from cold and heat that can shorten its life span. It can also protect against wear and tear, with the topmost layer generally being gravel or similar.
- Warm deck or warm roof: This has insulation above the roof deck, and is highly recommended in damp and cold climates, such as the UK.
- Cold deck or cold roof: This has insulation below the roof deck and the associated joists. However, if a gap is not left for ventilation condensation can occur which may lead to rot. In both warm and cold deck options the weather membrane will be the top layer, providing protection against the weather elements.
Here at CORC, we always recommend a trusted professional to carry out your roofing works. Why not use our website today to check our members and find one near you?
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