Roof Insulation How It Works

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.

Roof insulation how it works.

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. Heat insulation in buildings. Glass fibre works as an insulator by traping air. Heat can pass through walls roofing windows and doors the floor and even through your framework.

Before any work begins the condition of the roof itself should be assessed and any leaks damp problems or structural issues addressed. Moisture build up can cause leaks and mold and mildew to grow. The ideal time to install insulation is when re roofing although above rafter insulation raises the height of the roof which. A radiant barrier reduces the radiant heat transfer from the underside of the roof to the other surfaces in the attic.

The way heat can be transferred in or out of a home. Loft insulation hot water tanks and hot water pipes. Using different materials and insulation helps to control how much heat is allowed through. How does loft insulation work.

A radiant barrier works best when it is perpendicular to the radiant energy striking it. Reflective insulation is particularly useful in hotter climates in the north of australia. This air is a rally bad conductor and so reduces the amount of conduction going on. To understand how insulation works it helps to understand heat flow which involves three basic mechanisms conduction convection and radiation.

The hot roof material then radiates its gained heat energy onto the cooler attic surfaces including the air ducts and the attic floor. They are placed under the roof sheathing between rafters. 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 and ventilation have to work together to maintain airflow and keep moisture out of the attic.

So back to how insulation works.