Insulation is an essential energy-saving feature for any home. In this post, we cover a few roof insulation types. I aim to give readers the information to make the correct choice in selecting roof insulation. In years gone by, there were only two or three roof insulation types on the market. As a result, choosing the roof insulation of your choice was simple. It is important to select a roof insulation product ideal for your application.
Today all homes must be insulated; new building regulations insist on insulation, which should apply to all households. From the foundation or even the basement up to the roof, installing the correct insulation is vital. In South Africa, the new Building Legislation (SANS Legislation.) Requires roof insulation for all homes specific to the region. Some homeowners have questioned the legislation. However, the reason for this shift is energy efficiency and global warming and climate change.
Like all South Africans, we are in a major energy crisis, with regularly implementing load shedding. Insulated homes require far less energy for heating and cooling. It is a fact that insulated houses have an improved indoor temperature of 4 – 8 degrees in summer and winter.
Roof Insulation Types For Your Home
With insulation being compulsory in all new homes, many unscrupulous insulation manufacturers have appeared with many insulation types on the market. The aim is to cash in on what many assume is a lucrative market. Likewise, the number of insulation types imported from countries like China has increased exponentially.
Is this good or bad for the insulation industry?
Considering all the facts over the last few years, I believe it has been good and bad. In most cases, it has been poor insulation types trying and massive margins on what we would call rudish insulation. On the other hand, it has forced reputable installers to look at the quality of insulation products they promote.
Many did not consider when importing insulation is that the SABS and TIASSA must, at the very least, test all insulation products? These tests cost as much as R 80 000 for TIASSA and R 150 000 for SABS testing for all insulation variants and thicknesses.
Why is this important, you may ask? It relates the safety aspect of insulation to fire rating and the insulation required R-value. The tests required are to ensure a minimum level of safety and insulation effectiveness.
Roof Insulation Types in South Africa
The major insulation types available in South Africa are:
- Roll type insulation: Isotherm Insulation, Aerolite Insulation, Knauf Insulation an imported insulation for roofs.
- Insulation Batts: Used extensively in the USA as well as the UK and Europe. Our problem in this country is every roof space have beams at varying width apart. As a result, wastage of insulation is a major factor increasing the insulation cost substantially.
- Loose Insulation: A blow in type insulation that has not been very successful. Mostly because our winds tend to blow the insulation in all directions in the roof space, cellulose is newspaper converted into insulation, so the worst problem is water absorption and ceiling damage.
- Loose-Fill Insulation is also available in glass wool. However, with the wind factor in the country, we do not install this type either.
Loose-Fill Insulation
Loose-fill insulation recycled newspaper that is a fine paper like dust with a host of chemicals. The report will be highly flammable in the roof space, and this could become a fire hazard.
Added to the cellulose is a 25% chemical compound of fire retardants, rat repellants, etc. The downfall of cellulose insulation is there is no way of knowing what thickness is installed.
It isn’t easy to compare the thickness of blown-in cellulose. As the thickness of cellulose will be achieved by what the installer assumes to be correct. Loose-fill insulation has not been a very successful roof insulation type. One reason is cellulose shifts with the wind leaving you exposed in terms of insulation.
The other problem is rain or water damage as cellulose will absorb water. The result will be the inevitable ceiling collapse. If you have this in your roof space and need it removed because of allergies or water damage, call us as we have a massive roof vacuum machine that removes this paper.
Loose-fill insulation would not be regarded as eco friendless; it can’t be recycled and contains a substantial amount of chemicals.
Isotherm Insulation The Most Popular of The Roof Insulation Types
The Isotherm is very popular as the insulation is dust-free and allergy-free. This makes Isotherm one of the most popular roof insulation types.
Matt or Batt insulation such as ISOTHERM does not settle easily. ISOTHERM is a 100% green insulation product soft to touch and quick to install in the roof or attic space. Roof Insulation products like Isotherm are eco-friendly insulation products.
The 145mm Isotherm insulation is SANS compliant and is the best insulation for your roof. When deciding on the thickness of Roof Insulation to install, always read the Isotherm technical specifications.
Think Pink Aerolite a Fibreglass Roof Insulation Types
The Aerolite Roof Insulation comes in several roof insulation sizes. Think Pink Aerolite is another very effective roll type insulation. Aerolite insulation is one of the oldest forms of roof insulation.
The Aerolite insulation is also very effective because it is a roll form of insulation, consistent thickness. The 135mm Aerolite is the most popular insulation in the Aerolite range and is also SANS compliant.
The Aerolite insulation is also very effective because it is a roll form of insulation, consistent thickness. The 135mm Aerolite is the most popular insulation in the Aerolite range and is also SANS compliant.
Before installing any form of roof insulation, checking the insulated space for air leakage, cracks, gaps, and other issues hindering the insulation process are essential. An R-value measures insulation, ensuring the right product with the highest R-value is used is necessary. Do not neglect hidden areas such as where decking is placed over rafters.
Do not neglect hidden areas such as where decking is placed over rafters. This is one example of where to insulate that is easily missed, thus reducing insulation efficiency.
Geyser and Pipe Insulation
Insulating around water pipes and installing a geyser blanket are important areas to insulate to maximise the energy saving in your home. Hot water cylinders are energy-intensive, and a geyser blanket will improve its efficiency. Hot water pipes lose heat when not lagged, saving energy for a little extra cost. Wrap your Geyser with 145mm ISOTHERM insulation for the best effect. Do not use commercially bought geyser blankets as they are useless.
Hot-water pipes lose heat when not lagged, and this again saves energy for a little extra cost. Wrap your Geyser with 145mm ISOTHERM insulation for the best effect. Do not use commercially bought geyser blankets as they are useless.
If your home has central air-conditioning, do not forget to insulate the ducts. Installing insulation reduces the dependency on air conditioning, but protecting the ducts increases its efficiency when air conditioning is used.
Open Ceilings or Cathedral Ceilings
Cathedral ceilings are open ceilings that extend above wall height toward the apex of the roof. Often Cathedral is built to expose the rafters and create more space in a room or home. These ceilings can be challenging to insulate without disturbing the aesthetics of the room. Adequate space between a home’s ceiling and the roof deck must be provided to ensure optimal insulation and ventilation.
These ceilings can be challenging to insulate without disturbing the aesthetics of the room. Adequate space between a home’s ceiling and the roof deck must be provided to ensure optimal insulation and ventilation.
As with all insulation, the insulated area should be fully sealed, and any cracks or areas where warm air can escape addressed. Properly seal the roof space to avoid condensation or moisture build-up.
Cathedral ceilings are challenging examples of where to insulate, and the solution is straightforward. Foil-backed is the ideal insulation material to use in this situation. Rigid foam insulation can also be used that must be covered with a fire retardant material. It is recommended that insulation be professionally installed in homes with open ceilings to ensure optimal results.
Rigid foam insulation can also be used that must be covered with fire-retardant material. We recommend that insulation be professionally installed in homes with open ceilings to ensure optimal results.
Insulating your exterior walls
Another example of where to insulate is the walls of a home. Walls may seem well protected, but the vast majority are far less energy efficient than thought. Insulating the walls of a house is an area that many South Africans would not consider as an example of insulation.
The walls are a relatively straightforward place to insulate a home or any other building. The walls are a fairly straightforward place to insulate a house or any other building.
When building or planning to build a new property, wall insulation should be considered from the outset. Building insulation into a home from the construction phase is vastly more effective than insulating later.
The CAVITY BATT is the most effective insulation for cavity walls. We can insulate wall cavities with a variety of insulation materials. Blowing insulation into the cavity is a quick and effective insulation method. Rigid board insulation cut to size makes insulation affordable and effective. Another option is to spray insulating foam into the cavity.
Insulating the walls is an example of insulation that is an overlooked area that can bring tremendous energy and cost savings to the home.
It is easy to install wall insulation in a new home, and areas out of reach once constructed can be insulated. A new home built with energy-saving in mind makes the entire house an example of insulation from the ground up.
From the ground up
An example of where to insulate that many won’t even believe is the foundation of a home. Protecting the foundation is not practical for existing homes, but it is a valuable addition to any property when building a new property. If a basement is being built, insulating foundation walls and a basement introduces considerable energy savings to the new home.
When building a home with a basement, there are several advantages to foundation insulation. The benefits and advantages include:
- Thermal bridging is reduced, and it minimises heat loss through the foundation.
- The damp course is protected when backfilling.
- Reduced moisture intrusion
Energy-Efficient Homes use Less Energy.
Even if they use wood-burning fireplaces or other forms of heating, energy-efficient homes will absorb less energy. The same applies will cooling and the running of energy-efficient air conditioners in summer. The need for both hot and cold energy will reduce substantially. Many energy-efficient products for heating and cooling are on the market now.
Many energy-efficient products for heating and cooling are on the market now. Energy-efficient stoves and many other energy-efficient appliances are being produced worldwide to save energy.