Cold Roof Insulation and Ventilation Explained

When it comes to cold roof insulation and ventilation, there are a lot of things that you should know about. The more that you are able to understand about these subjects, the better off you will be in terms of getting the most out of them. It makes it easier to diagnose and correct a problem as well. This, in turn could save you quite a bit of money in the long run.

Cold Roof Insulation

Before you understand what cold roof insulation is, you will need to know what a cold roof is. A cold roof is what you will need in order to prevent ice dam formation. Ice dams occur whenever heat comes into an attic which then causes the snow that is on your roof to melt. The water will then run down to the edge of your roof. It is here where it will then freeze and cause ice dams. When ice dams happen to be left alone they can cause water to form behind them and get under shingles and form icicles. This could cause ruined sheetrock or plaster, wet insulation or rotting walls which could then ruin your paint. A cold roof is needed to prevent things like this from happening.

How to Achieve Cold Roof

Insulation is one of the best ways to be able to get a cold roof for your home. You can also take extra precautions by sealing all of the bypasses. Proper ventilation in the attic is also important. It is a good idea for you to try not to plug any fresh air intakes or plug any vents. Make sure that they do not leak around the edges or the joints. It is also a good idea to get your chimney sealed with non-galvanized steel as well as silicone caulk.

Ventilation

A vent is basically an opening that is in your attic that will let moisture out. If it is not ventilated as it should be, the water vapor will collect on the insulation and the rafters. This could cause the effectiveness of your insulation to go down drastically. In turn, you could see a lot of damage done to your home. You will also find that during the summer without ventilation you will see the heat from the attic flow into other areas of your home. The amount of ventilation that is necessary has a lot to do with the space of your attic. It is usually a good idea to do a square foot of vent for every three hundred square feet of your attic space. If there is no vapor barrier then you will need to double this. You should remember that the screens on vents could reduce the actual capacity of the venting. The openings need to be increased as needed. It is a good idea to use multiple vents. Having vents placed at varying heights in the attic will give you the best air flow and circulation, and lessen the risk of cold pockets, moisture, and other common attic issues.