Insulating A Vented Roof

You must meet the same minimum code requirements for the spray foam layer and the total assembly as for the rigid foam plus air permeable insulation approach.

Insulating a vented roof.

In a vented roof foam can seal the openings and serve as an air barrier and a vapor retarder in addition to its insulating function. Because of limited space between the roof sheathing and ceiling joists a low slope shed roof can be difficult to insulate properly. Air can move through the attic space freely and the floor of the attic is insulated to thermally separate the unconditioned attic from the living spaces below. Then insulate below with fiberglass or cellulose add a vapor retarder and your finish ceiling.

Spray foam with air permeable insulation. Vented roofing the typical vented roof has a vent at the lower eave and a vent at the higher. When hvac equipment is in the attic insulation and an air barrier at the roof line brings that equipment within the conditioned enclosure envelope thereby allowing it to operate in more favorable temperature and humidity conditions without air leakage and heat loss gain directly to the exterior. Foam insulation can play an important role in both vented and un vented roof assemblies.

Heat from the house rises up to the attic but when there isn t one the heat rises up to the roof. Rigid foam and spray foam are two of them. Covering up the soffit vents with loose fill or batts which can happen if you stuff insulation along the eaves is a huge no no. For the same reason insulation shouldn t touch the roof s underside.

The airflow from the soffits to the ridge vent keeps the roof cool and prevents ice dams and the material will block that flow. Cathedral roofs especially need a lot more insulation between the ceiling and the rafters because there usually isn t any attic space. You could insulate the roof the traditional way. All insulation materials require proper venting.

A layer of spray polyurethane foam can be installed against the underside of the roof sheathing with the rest of the rafter cavity filled with air permeable insulation. While fiberglass insulation is an excellent and effective product for insulating most building cavities in areas where there is extra risk of trapping moisture and thus rot or mold infections such as crawl spaces and cathedral ceilings where roof venting may be absent or minimal we prefer to use closed cell foam insulation products or spray in icynene foam insulation.