Insulating An A Frame Roof

In typical lumber frame construction roof insulation is placed between rafters and then covered up with drywall.

Insulating an a frame roof.

I will then put foam in that cavitiy 14. There is currently no insulation or ceiling. We don t want to build a false roof or false ceiling but even with 2x12 and sprayfoam 10 5 x r6 you can barely get to the r60 i need in my state and that s outrageously expensive and heavy. Look for water stains on the roof sheathing or damp or moldy spots on attic joists and existing insulation as a clue to where leaks might be.

It creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew and ruins the air trapping pockets that block heat flow. Now for the roof build up. Kingspan with a flat roof this issue does not arise but the u value constraint and the amount of insulation needed is just the same. A frame homes especially older ones can be difficult to insulate because many times there is not much space between the roof and the ceiling.

We recently purchased a small a frame in zone 4a as a vacation home. Water is insulation s enemy. Over that i will run two layers of 2x4s 15 to hold the insulation in the cavitiy and create venting in the roof. The problem is the rafters are too small to get enough insulation inbetween.

Roof covering does not allow water vapor to exit to the outside air so the roof on an a frame needs special treatment. Wet insulation doesn t insulate and wet studs will rot quickly. On new build or replacement pitched roofs the ideal build up would be insulation fitted over and then between the rafters giving a big boost for airtightness image credit. Box out light fixtures.

The outside of the wall lets water vapor exit to the outside air so the insulation can stay dry. All too often people discover that the a frame home they purchased has inadequate insulation or worse yet none at all. First i will frame out with 2x6s on top of the roof a cavitiy for insulation 13 following the perimeter of the cabin.