Your home’s energy efficiency is heavily dependent on how well insulated the building’s roof is. Whether you need to retain heat during the winter months or keep it out during the summer, excessively high energy bills are one consequence of having a poorly insulated roof. A roof insulation upgrade is a fantastic way to keep energy bills low while also maximizing your family’s comfort.
Is Your Roof Poorly Insulated?
While there are several roof insulation options on the market, it’s vital that you first determine whether your home’s roof could actually benefit from switching to one of those materials. How can homeowners tell whether their current roof insulation’s performance is lacking?
The temperature inside your home should remain relatively stable if you have efficient insulation. If you notice frequent fluctuations in the temperature, however, this could be an indicator of poor insulation.
Insufficient roof insulation also puts your roof at risk of developing ice dams. Ice dams don’t just cause your building to lose heat, though. They are also hazardous to the structural integrity of the roof.
Do you consistently feel cold spots or drafts in various areas of your building? If so, then there is a chance that heat is exiting via the roof. This is especially likely if these cold spots and drafts occur close to your ceiling.
The next sign to look out for is damage. Observing peeling paint, mold growth, water stains or any other types of visible damage to your ceilings and walls is problematic. Each of these kinds of damage is a result of too much moisture, which inadequate roof insulation can cause.
What Is the R-Value?
When shopping for roof insulation, it’s crucial that you understand what each material’s R-value indicates. The R-value of a particular material gives you some much-needed information regarding how efficient it is with regard to stopping heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient that type of roof insulation is.
Manufacturers display an insulation’s R-value per inch of material. If you would like to increase your roof insulation’s R-value, you can add a few inches of that type of insulation in multiple layers.
For those of you particularly concerned about the colder months, it’s best to go for a material with a high R-value.
Types of Roof Insulation
1. Fiber Cement Cover Boards
With an R value below 1, fiber cement cover boards are less efficient than some other materials you have access to. They are, however, impressively durable, and they offer great stability.
One advantage of fiber cement boards is that you can mix them with other insulation materials to raise the R-value. They also stand up well to UV rays, wind, fire, and pests. On their own, though, their low R-value may dissuade some homeowners from choosing fiber cement boards for their roof’s insulation material.
2. Perlite Cover Boards
Perlite cover boards have a significantly higher R-value, coming in at 2.7. They are highly pliable, and they do not weigh very much. If you have a particularly tight space and need a non-toxic insulation material to fill it, perlite cover boards are a compelling option. Perlite cover boards have the added benefit of being resistant to fire. They also decrease the transmission of sound.
On the other hand, there are other types of roof insulation available with higher R-values. Another drawback to choosing perlite cover boards is how water affects them. When exposed to too much water, their compressive strength decreases.
3. Gypsum Cover Boards
Like fiber cement cover boards, gypsum cover boards also have an R-value below 1. In this case, it is 0.45. The most common application for gypsum cover boards involves employing them in conjunction with other insulation materials.
They are quite versatile when it comes to the different types of roofing applications you can use them for. If you worry about hail and wind, you can rest assured that gypsum cover boards are highly resistant to such weather hazards. Gypsum cover boards also have the advantage of being quite affordable when compared to the market’s other insulation materials.
The downside of gypsum cover boards is obvious: their low R-value. This is why they are rarely used on their own and are instead integrated into an insulation process with multiple stages and materials. Due to this, you must set aside some of your budget for the rest of the roof insulation materials required for that multistage process.
4. Blown-in Insulation
The R-value of blown-in insulation can range from 2.2 to 4.3, and it’s commonly used for spaces like attics and crevices in walls. The installation process requires high air pressure, and it does a great job of keeping heat transfer to a minimum.
A key benefit of blown-in insulation is its ability to be installed on top of your roof’s current insulation. With a careful, professional installation, blown-in insulation is highly efficient.
The biggest downside of selecting blown-in insulation is its propensity to produce fiberglass fibers. These present health hazards if inhaled.
5. Fiberglass Batt Insulation
Fiberglass batt sheets are the result of tiny glass particles being woven together until a coarse fabric-like material emerges. Their R-value ranges from 3.14 to 4.3. Fiberglass batt sheets are easy to find in a variety of dimensions. Additionally, their per-inch R-value is higher than some other types of fiberglass insulation like the blown-in variety.
Much like blown-in fiberglass insulation, however, fiberglass batt sheets present the same health hazards due to their fiberglass fibers. Another potential downside is that thick fiberglass batt sheets may prevent you from doing much layering. In turn, that prevents you from further increasing your R-value.
6. Rigid Insulation Boards
Rigid insulation boards are a compressed foam material that is sturdy and has a high level of thermal resistance. They have an impressively high R-value. Its range is 5 to 5.6.
That aforementioned high R-value is one of the biggest pros of opting for rigid insulation boards. In addition to their thermal resistance, they are also pretty resistant to hazards like mold, moisture, and fire.
Pests, on the other hand, can still pose a threat to rigid insulation boards. This is a con to using them. Another thing to keep in mind is that their effectiveness decreases in temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Structural Insulated Panels
When it comes to structural insulated panels, you find flat insulation panels enclosed by strong plywood. They are great at combating air leaks. Their structural stability and 4.5 R-value make structural insulated panels, or SIPs, appealing.
Structural insulated panels, however, can be a bit pricey. Their installation process is also harder and more time-consuming than some other methods of insulating your home’s roof.
8. Spray Foam Insulation
Finally, spray foam insulation is extremely popular, and it features R-values ranging from 3.6 to 5.7. It comes in various densities, depending on the use. Versatility and a good R-value are factors that may lead homeowners to choose spray foam insulation. It is also quite effective with regard to soundproofing.
On the flip side, water absorption is a threat if you use low-density spray foam. If you go with medium-density or high-density spray foam, the cost will be higher.
Rely on the Experts
Our team of professionals at Jimmy's Roofing can handle the full spectrum of your roofing needs, and we have offices in Coeur D’Alene, Portland, Spokane, and Seattle. To learn more or discuss roof installation in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, contact us today.
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