Insulating the Roof and it’s Benefits to Your Attic

Many homes in the US have improperly insulated attics and roofs. Unfortunately, that can increase the energy bills of your home as inside air goes out and the outside air comes in through the gaps. People looking for energy saving solutions have little to no idea about how much of a difference insulating the roofs can make.

Why Should you Insulate the Roof? 

Many people are aware that the heat or cool temperatures escape your home through the roof. It’s the one place that bears the brunt of the weather outside your home. For example, during the summer, the sun’s concentrated heat on the expansive roof surface can raise its temperature by several degrees.

The rooms immediately under the roof, including the attic, will be warmer than other rooms in your home and would require more energy to cool. This is especially true in the case for darker roofs that absorb the heat.

Most people opt for insulating the attic floor, which makes the attic itself useless. Moreover, if your air conditioning ducts are in the attic without the insulated roof, the system is set up for failure. The ducts are in a hostile environment, too hot during the summer, too cold during the winter.

The temperature of the ducts transporting the air increases and decreases accordingly and the system is compromised. It’s always a better idea to insulate the roof instead of insulating the attic floor.

The Benefits of Insulating the Roof 

There are several benefits of insulating the roof. The contractors would place the insulation directly on the roof rafters, not allowing the heat from the surface of the roof into enter into the attic. Considering the fact that on a 100°F day, your roof surface can be as hot as 140 to 170°F and the attic temperature can reach 120°F; roofing insulation is definitely a good idea. Here are some more benefits.

• Comfort- By insulating the roof, the very first thing you are doing is ensuring your comfort. A properly insulated roof ensures that any rooms directly under it are comfortable during all times of the year. For example, the attic would be at room temperature during the summer or winter months because the outside temperature isn’t seeping in as much. 

• Efficiency of the HVAC- Most people have their heating and air conditioning system in their attic. It’s just a convenient, out-of-the-way place to house the HVAC. What few people realize is that the ducts, the furnace, and the system are influenced by the outside temperatures.

If the ducts are housed in a super cold attic during the winter, the warm, conditioned air inside the duct will cool down a little due to the outside temperature. By insulating the roof, the attic temperature is warmer and less influenced by the winter outside. This improves the efficiency of the HVAC. 

• Usability of the Attic – As we keep mentioning, the attic is a very uncomfortable place to be in without proper insulation. In the summer months, it’s too hot and in the winter months, it’s too cold. However, when the roof is properly insulated, the attic is almost at room temperature. This means that your attic is comfortable for you. It can even be converted into a useable room if you need it.

• Summer Months- During the summer months, the roof absorbs a lot of heat. Heat, unfortunately, has the tendency to seek out cooler areas and warm them. The hot attic can make the upper level rooms warmer and affect the overall temperature of your home.

The heat radiates downward towards the cooler rooms as the air expands. Your air conditioning unit would struggle to keep up with that. With insulation, the roof doesn’t transfer the heat to the attic and your home remains pleasantly cool. 

• Winter Months- During summer, the upper level rooms are affected by the outside temperature and are unpleasantly hot, but during winter, it’s the opposite. Colder air, unlike hot air, doesn’t rise to the top, but sinks down. The lower levels are cold and drafty. Your attic would be freezing. With insulation, again, the outside temperature is kept out.

All this contributes to massive energy savings and more efficient heating and cooling inside your home. You just need to insulate the roof to get all these benefits.