Why Insulate your Metal Roof

by Mark Row

Metal Roof Insulation Benefits

When constructing a house, people usually want the construction to be stable and last for a long time. This concept can often be misleading and cause some problems later on, which are usually hard and expensive to deal with. This can also be the case when buying instead of building a home when you are simply stuck with some energy inefficient materials that should somehow be improved. Believe it or not, such problems are usually found in metal roof constructions. These roofs are made from different metal sheets such as steel, copper or aluminium and provide a very durable and among the most resistant roofing solution. This is probably the key factor considered when opting for such roof construction. Namely, there is no better option in the words of durability and resistance, simply due to the fact that metal can withstand harsh weathering conditions and is not subject to exterior influences, why it can last for decades with only a few minor repair work.

However, there is also the other side of the coin. Metal roof constructions are extremely energy inefficient due to the fact they have insignificant or even non insulation properties whatsoever. They will additionally heat up the interior during the summer, since once the roof surface is heated, it will simply emit the heat into your home, with no barrier to stop the process. This is also applicable to winter weather, since heat will freely escape your home through the roof and the metal (being a cold material) will only speed up the temperature drop within your home. This is why you must consider adding insulation to your metal roof in order of improving your home’s energy efficiency and saving some money in the process.

Options

It is important to know that roofs are generally weak points in the words of thermal performance of the building structure, this is just a bit more accentuated with metal ones. However, not to despair since you will not have to remove the roof and install new one, but you can simply add some insulation to your metal roof and take care of the problem.  

If you are willing to hire a professional to do the job, probably the easiest solution would be adding some spray-foam or blown-in insulation. They are inserted into the roof structure by using special blowing equipment. Spray foam insulation will simply expand once the entire space is properly filled and thus cover the entire roof construction. This should be the metal roof insulation material of your choice if the space underneath your roof is narrow and hardly accessible, why you could risk injuring yourself if trying to add insulation in some other way.

However, our advice on metal roof insulation is using some radiant barrier insulation system, found in reflective aluminium foils, for example. Namely, other insulation materials are great in preventing and reducing heat transfer through conduction and convection but not as efficient when it comes to radiation, which could be the biggest problem with your metal roof. These insulation systems will simply reflect the heat instead of absorbing it thus keeping it at a safe distance from your interior.

Benefits

We have finally come to the central part of this article, dealing with some basic metal roof insulation benefits. What comes next might persuade you to start surfing the net and looking for the proper insulation material:

• The first and basic benefit is related to thermal optimization. This can go both ways. During harsh winter weather, heat will find its way out through uninsulated metal roof, since it is well known that heat travels up. Adding insulation with proper R value will reduce heat loss and keep it where it belongs – on the inside. This is even more extreme during summertime. Metal is a material that can easily turn your home into a boiling pot if not insulated. This is where radiant barriers are extremely useful since more than 90% of heat during the summer is radiant. Proper insulation added to your metal roof will simply reflect the excessive heat and keep your interior cooler.
• Another benefit is connected to the previously mentioned one. Adequate metal roof insulation will improve the energy efficiency of your home, lower the carbon footprint of your household and help you save money on electricity bills.
• If you are thinking about selling your property, now is the best time to insulate your roof. It will not only be very attractive to potential buyers from the before explained reasons but it will also provide a clean and neat look of the entire construction.
• Moisture and damp issues are very common nowadays. Well, this again can be successfully taken care of with proper insulation. If the choice of insulation material is right, it will keep the moisture and water vapor at a safe distance from your home thus prolonging its life span and lowering maintenance costs.
• Finally, metal roof insulation will not only provide thermal but also some level of acoustic insulation which can be extremely useful in the age of growing risks of noise pollution.

For more information about purchasing roof insulation materials online, or which ones are perfect for your insulation projects, please read related blog articles and product descriptions on our website, and feel free to contact us with your questions.