You might not find yourself thinking about your roof insulation very often, though, it is working for you in a big way around the clock. This “out of sight, out of mind” material is stuffed in your roof, walls, and floor in order to work as a barrier for heat coming in and out, minimizing the amount of heat that can get in on a hot day and the amount that gets out on a colder day. This helps save you money on your energy bill throughout the year! Beyond your general comfort, insulation also helps prolong the life of your roof as it works to field off water build up that can result from air escaping in and out. There are several different types of insulation, and you should consider what the best option is for you, your roof, and home.
Loose Fill Insulation
This is one of the most common types of insulation used in residential homes. It is typically made of fiberglass or cellulose, and the benefit of using it is that it can easily be blown into unfinished attic spaces. While it is a generally affordable option, you do have to use a lot in order to achieve the level of heat resistance (R-value) that you probably want.
Batt and Roll Insulation
These are also really popular options in insulation because they are so easy to install. Designed to fit right inside the spaces between the wood frame or easily rolled out the length of your floor space, batts are precut sheets of fiberglass or mineral wool insulation, while rolls are just like batts, but they are longer pieces. The benefit of this type of insulation is that it isn’t hard to install and almost anyone can do it, but there are cons as well. Because these are precut sheets, you do have to do some extra work to fit it around electrical wiring or different object you might hit. Also, the fiberglass is a massively irritating material to the touch, so it is important to wear facemasks, gloves, and long sleeves and pants as well.
Rigid Foam Board
This particular type of insulation is made to go just above the roof deck and is often considered an exterior insulation. This insulation is really high quality and has a higher R-value than most others. It is especially beneficial for metal roofs as it works as a noise dampener, and, for the most part, it is waterproof. A big down fall here is that this material is more expensive than many of the other types of insulation, and because of the complexity of the installation, you will also need to hire a professional roofer to do this for you.
There are many options you can take in insulating your home whether you are building one new or you just need to update what is already in your home. Hiring a roofing expert to point you in the right direction can help you be more informed and confident in your choices moving forward. Your home works to take care of you, so go ahead and take care of your home and look into your insulation!
