An adequately insulated roof helps keep your home comfortable and your energy bills manageable. Proper insulation is especially critical when you have a metal roof. Learn how to insulate a metal roof, and you’ll be able to keep everything covered.
How to Insulate a Metal Roof
In the past, metal roofs were primarily reserved for outdoor structures. As metal roofing has become increasingly accepted for everyday homes and businesses, learning how to maintain those roofs has become essential. Insulating a roof is one of the most important aspects of maintaining it. If you don’t know how to insulate a metal roof, let us walk you through the basics.
What’s Challenging About Insulating a Metal Roof?
Different roofing materials need different kinds of maintenance and support to do their jobs properly, and a metal roof is no different. Having the proper insulation for your metal roof is essential to making it work for your home or business:
- If you’re anxious about your metal roof being noisy, the right insulation can help. It will dampen the noise of rain, hail, and other impacts, leaving you undisturbed.
- Insulation is also key to controlling the temperature and overall climate of your home or business. Metal roofs are already effective insulators against heat, deflecting up to 25 percent of solar heat energy in sunny weather. Internal insulation can make the roof equally effective in cold conditions, making sure your thermostat stays stable no matter what the temperature is outside.
- Because metal is not permeable by moisture, water vapor can sometimes get trapped underneath a metal roof if it is not insulated correctly. Good insulation will help you avoid water damage and other potential issues.
Three Ways to Insulate Your Metal Roof
So, now that you know why it’s important, how can you ensure your metal roof has the best insulation possible? There are three methods for insulating metal roofs, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages:
- One of the most economical methods for insulating a metal roof is to place fiberglass batts directly underneath the roof. However, fiberglass can be dangerous to work with and will lose its ability to protect your home if it becomes damp. It’s affordable but questionably effective unless installed and regularly maintained by a professional.
- Instead of relying on fiberglass, some roofing professionals use rigid board insulation made of materials like styrofoam. These boards can be cut to size and placed directly where needed, but they can be awkward in certain areas. To avoid moisture issues, rigid board insulation must also be sealed carefully with caulk or duct tape.
- Spray foam is considered to be the most reliable insulation option by many roofing professionals. Spray foam can be applied anywhere it is needed with no cutting or measurement required, and it is self-adhering and moisture-resistant. The installation of spray foam needs to be handled by roofing professionals, so it may not be your most affordable option, but it is usually the most reliable.
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Do you have a plan for how to insulate your metal roof? If you aren’t an experienced roofer, don’t figure it out alone. Give us a call at Taylor-Made Roofing, and let us put our 20 years of experience to work for you.
If you live in southwest Missouri, contact Taylor-Made Roofing for help with your roofing needs. Our experts can help you explore new roofing options, maintain an older roof, perform emergency repairs, complete tear-offs, and recovers, and perform remodeling services. With over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial roofing, Taylor-Made Roofing is a company that you can trust. Our family-owned business offers quality services, a reassuring warranty, and free estimates. Give us a call at 417-326-8778 or contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you.