Roofing Systems

• roofing
• siding
• ventilation
• heat insulation
• waterproofing
• vapor sealing
• insulation
• gutter & drain
• hip & ridge
• accessories

Heat Insulation

Roofs or attics make up a large fraction of the total surface area of most buildings, making it especially important to insulate them well. Roof heat loss is especially severe during cold weather because the roof faces the night sky, allowing maximum radiation loss. The roof is exposed to precipitation and wind, which carry away any heat that makes its way to the outer surface. And, the interior temperature is highest inside the roof or attic, which drives heat outward.

By the same token, roof insulation is especially important for reducing solar heat gain during warm weather. Roofs have especially high solar gain because of their orientation and because roofing surfaces tend absorb solar heat strongly. Roofs and attics have large, unbroken surfaces that offer relatively easy access for installing insulation.

Don't Let Your Roof Take the Heat
Ventilate your attic with ridge and soffit vents. Vents are louvers, grills, or screen materials which allow passage or air through them. They are typically installed along the top peak (ridge) of your roof, at the top of the side wall (gable), and on the underside of your roof overhang (soffit). Ventilation moves air through your attic by force of wind or by heat rising through natural convection. This leaves cooler air sitting on top of the insulation on the attic floor. Ventilation also has the ability to remove humidity which has built up in your attic and which reduces the effectiveness of your insulation. It is often best to hire a contractor to install these.

Install a radiant barrier between your roof and your attic insulation. A radiant barrier is an aluminum foil material which prevents 95 percent of the heat that radiates from your roof from reaching the insulation on your attic floor. It comes in a roll and is stapled to the underside of your roof rafters. Radiant barriers are sold in most building material supply centers and can be easily installed by a homeowner. This system can save you up to eight percent on your summer cooling bills.

Insulate your attic floor to R-30. R-30 is roughly a10 inch thick layer of insulation material above your ceiling. This is a job for any handy homeowner or it could be handed over to a contractor. When installing the insulation, be careful not to block your vents.