Roof Insulation
Metal roof insulation is the best way to control condensation, temperature and reduce unwanted noise. Roofing insulation/blanket consists of a lightweight flexible bulk mineral insulation blanket faced on one side with reflective foil laminate. The blanket material is available in various R-values and thicknesses.
R-value means the thermal resistance (m2 K/W) of a material calculated by dividing the thickness by its thermal conductivity. Total R-values are based on the sum of all components of the building system including indoor and outdoor air-films, building materials used in the system and air-spaces.
BENEFITS
Condensation Control: Mould and mildew development in a home is often caused by trapped moisture and condensation within the structure. This can lead to health risks for your family and long term structural damage to your home. Insulation installed directly underneath your roof sheets can prevent condensation from forming.
Acoustic Benefits: The sound of gentle rain can be soothing to the ears. However when the sound of heavy rain or even hail reaches a deafening roar it can become uncomfortable and noisy. Insulation reduces unwanted noise including aircraft and road noise.
Thermal Benefits: Heating and cooling are the highest contributors to a home’s energy use. The right roof design including insulation can help improve the thermal performance of the roof and enhance the energy efficiency and comfort of your home, saving you money and making it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. In winter around 42% of a homes heat is lost through the roof, whilst in summer receiving a similar amount into the home from the roof.
Fire Resistance: Roof insulation is made from non-combustible fibres, suited to meet the requirements for metal roofs in bushfire rated areas.
Which Insulation to choose?
When choosing which thickness of insulation, residential roofs will choose either the 60mm or 80mm thickness. Greater than 80mm insulation requires the use of spacers to ensure the integrity of the insulation is kept and not compressed between the roof sheets and the roof frame. Thicker insulation is more commonly used in commercial applications.
So, which insulation is for you? Totally a personal decision and you will find it may involve other aspects of your roofing project. AusStyle Roofing recommend the use of 80mm, and this is primarily due to the possible additional cost savings on your energy usage you may enjoy with using 80mm over 60mm.
An example for a residential ventilated pitched roof with a flat ceiling is below. This example shows the difference between the seasons with and without the use of ceiling batts with the roof insulation. Better thermal efficiency is shown by a higher R-value.
