Roof Insulation How It Works

Conduction is the way heat moves through materials such as when a spoon placed in a hot cup of coffee conducts heat through its handle to your hand.

Roof insulation how it works.

Glass fibre works as an insulator by traping air. Roof insulation is made of fluffy fibrous materials that are good at trapping air in it or at least slows down the air a lot. Moisture build up can cause leaks and mold and mildew to grow. Roof insulation and ventilation have to work together to maintain airflow and keep moisture out of the attic.

Using different materials and insulation helps to control how much heat is allowed through. How does loft insulation work. Before any work begins the condition of the roof itself should be assessed and any leaks damp problems or structural issues addressed. Your essential guide to insulating lofts and attic rooms.

To understand how insulation works it helps to understand heat flow which involves three basic mechanisms conduction convection and radiation. They are placed under the roof sheathing between rafters. So back to how insulation works. Heat can pass through walls roofing windows and doors the floor and even through your framework.

The ideal time to install insulation is when re roofing although above rafter insulation raises the height of the roof which. This air is a rally bad conductor and so reduces the amount of conduction going on. The way heat can be transferred in or out of a home. 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.

Loft insulation hot water tanks and hot water pipes. Reflective insulation is particularly useful in hotter climates in the north of australia. Heat insulation in buildings. A radiant barrier works best when it is perpendicular to the radiant energy striking it.

To properly ventilate an attic when it s insulated you will need to install rafter vents.