How Does Roof Insulation Work

Radiant barriers are utilized to reduce summer heat gain in attics and help to improve the efficiency of green building envelopes.

How does roof insulation work.

Heat insulation in buildings. Bulky materials resist conductive and to a lesser degree convective heat flow in a building cavity. We take a look at how radiant barriers work the different types of radiant barriers and some of the. But how does it work.

Insulation materials run the gamut from bulky fiber materials such as fiberglass rock and slag wool cellulose and natural fibers to rigid foam boards to sleek foils. By the afternoon the attic will get quite warm hot and then the insulation installed on the roof rafters will serve to hold that heat in over night and the attic insulation on your ceiling won t be able to cool down over night. Rigid foam boards trap air or another gas to resist conductive heat flow. Most common thermal insulation materials like fiberglass work by slowing conductive heat flow but reflective insulation works a little differently.

Moisture build up can cause leaks and mold and mildew to grow. Box out light fixtures. Roof insulation and ventilation have to work together to maintain airflow and keep moisture out of the attic. Glass fibre works as an insulator by traping air.

The space between the roof and the ceiling is called the loft. Also your roofing material will get hotter because the heat won t be able to. When heat builds up in a recessed can light it can. A radiant barrier can lower heat transfer from attics to the building below keep the attic space cooler and lower cooling costs by up to 17 in warmer climates.

To properly ventilate an attic when it s insulated you will need to install rafter vents. How does loft insulation work. Water is insulation s enemy. Glass fibre or other loft insulation materials are laid across the loft to reduce the rate of heat transfer out of the roof see the picture below.

Look for water stains on the roof sheathing or damp or moldy spots on attic joists and existing insulation as a clue to where leaks might be. Insulation should be kept away from recessed can lights because the insulation does not allow the heat generated by the lights to dissipate. Roof insulation sheet foil will reduce the amount of sun s heat that penetrate in summer up to 90 to 97. When the sun heats a roof it s primarily the sun s radiant energy that makes the roof hot.

It will also render better thermal protection in colder situation in winter. How does reflective insulation work. This type of insulation is designed to reduce radiant heat gain. How does insulation work.