High Efficiency Roof Insulation

Roof products key product criteria.

High efficiency roof insulation.

Energy star certified roof products can help reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings and can reduce peak cooling demand by 10 15 percent. However if you re remodeling an existing home spray foam is probably the best option for maximum energy efficiency. It s best to use dense pack insulation for greater r value and to prevent insulation settling in roof pitches of 3 in 12 or greater. The energy star energy efficiency criteria do not include a specification for roof insulation.

Sixteen inch i joists allow space for r 60 and ventilation. To increase the thickness of your roof insulation layer you can. High performance fiberglass building insulation batts are intended for use in walls and cathedral ceilings where maximum thermal performance is desired and limited space is available. The sheets of insulation are held in place with furring strips that also create a ventilation channel.

This roof type can be much more expensive to implement than other efficient roof options so you should carefully assess your property and consult a professional before deciding to install a green roof. You could even buy insulation and floor boards that are already bonded together which makes the job much faster and easier. Green roofs also provide insulation lower the need for heating and cooling and can reduce the urban heat island effect. If you re starting from scratch and building a home then using insulated concrete forms which is literally building the insulation into your home s structure is the way to go for maximum efficiency.

Perhaps the best performing arrangement is adding a four to six inch layer of low gwp rigid insulation to the roof deck.