So as the world's climate changes, what can we do about one of the most important parts of our buildings we live and work in. The "ROOF" it keeps us dry, and yet we pay little if any attention to it. Most Roofs do not have, adequate or any insulation, or ventilation, and they are not maintained at all. It is place where the most heat is lost, and gained. Wasting money, and not to mention all that extra GHG [Green House Gas].

Radiant Heat.

Heat is attracted to darker colours, the lighter the roof surface the less heat is gained in to the roof space. The hotter the roof space is, the more radiant heat will emulate, down into your building, if you do not have good insulation. Although in cooler months, heat is a good thing, as the roof space can be utilized for heat pumps, and other ways of obtaining free heat, [read other articles].

So a lighter roof relates to less cooling, if you live in a hot climate.
Insulation of the roof is so very important; it must be directly laid between the ceiling timbers. The thicker the better, but you must be very careful not to cover lights, fans etc, as they could cause a FIRE. The insulation must not be compacted, as this affects the performance. You can buy covers for down lights, that sit over the top of them to stop heat loss, and fire danger. You can also get extractor fans, which have fins that close, when the fan is off. 
 
Ventilation.

There can be issues with condensation accumulating in the roof space. Especially if you have extractor fans, from the kitchen or bathroom, venting into the roof and not through the wall. This will cause moist warm air to condensate on the roof space surfaces, especially on cold mornings / days. Mould, and rotting of the iron roofing sheets, and timbers could become a problem. I have been called out for a leak, only to find that it is condensation causing the problem, and not a leak.

Ventilating the roof spaces is also very important. The ideal of venting the roof might sound strange. What you need to do is, isolate the space, and treat it as part of the outside. Having good insulation, and lots of it, will keep heat in, and the cold out.

Wind driven roof vents are very good, cheap, easy to fit, and best of all, they don't use any energy. Please have it fitted by a qualified roofer, so many people are injured, or killed, cleaning out gutters or fixing leaks. It's just not worth your health, just to save a few bucks. One last tip make sure that the person that is working is insured, and a qualified roofer, don't be afraid to ask for proof; it could save you a lot of hassle later.

 

 

Copyright all text 2011, Climate Roofing.com.