The insulation of the attic must not touch the roof. While it may be tempting to overinsulate yourself, resist the urge. Excessive insulation hinders air flow and can prevent excess moisture from escaping, especially in attics. Your attic insulation must not touch the roof.
You'll need to place plastic or foam baffles between the attic insulation and the roof to allow air flow and reduce the chance of mold forming in your home. Covering ceiling vents with padding or loose blocks, which can happen if insulation is placed along the eaves, is a big no-no. Airflow from the panels to the roof vent grille keeps the roof cool and prevents ice from building up, and the material will block that flow. For the same reason, the insulation must not touch the lower part of the roof.
Staple the plastic or foam baffles on the roof lining, near the eaves, to keep the material away. The insulation that touches the roof cover is bad. You should let the roof stay cool in winter. The heat will dissipate through the insulation and cause the snow to melt, which will freeze again and cause ice accumulations.
Roofs with low slopes represent a challenge for installing insulation. When the roof of the attic touches the ground, around the edges of the attic, there is often not enough space for much insulation. This is especially true if the roof has a ventilation grille with a deflector to keep the vent open. In this case, Natural Resources Canada suggests that there may be as little as 4 inches to add insulation.
If insulation above the beam is not possible, the alternative is to insulate between or below the beams, or a combination of both. We now plan to install new insulation in populated and lost areas, as well as add insulation for the attic roof. I know that placing fiberglass insulation directly against the roof cover is prohibited, since fiberglass insulation requires separating it with a spacer to allow adequate ventilation and prevent mold growth, ice build-up, etc. Whatever form the insulation takes, it is vital that there is an air gap of at least 5 cm between the insulation face and the roof cover.
The insulating fibers are packaged in bags and blown to the desired depth and density with special machinery that can be rented at a home center. The ideal time to install the insulation is when it is re-roofed, although the insulation above the beam raises the height of the ceiling, which will alter its appearance. Install loft insulation, or increase what already exists to the optimal amount, and you can enjoy a warmer home. The ideal time to install the insulation is when it is re-roofed, since placing the insulation above the beams is the best technical solution.
If you want to convert a loft into a living space, such as a home office, guest room, or master suite, you'll need a “warm” ceiling, where the ceiling itself is insulated. While you can get better performance from any insulation simply by installing a larger thickness, the Department of Energy recommends that you have a higher rating than R-30 on your attic insulation. The insulation layer should continue over the water tanks, but should not be isolated directly underneath, as the heat from the rooms below can help prevent it from freezing. If you live in an older home, natural insulating materials are recommended because they are more breathable than many artificial insulators.
Warm insulation results in a “warm roof” or an unventilated roof between the shingles and the insulation.
