There are many different material choices that go into a roofing insulation project. Each material has a different insulating value, so some choices are better for roofing insulation than others. You cannot forget to take into account the cost, because it is no coincidence that the best insulating materials also happen to have the highest costs.
Fiberglass Roofing Insulation
The most common type of insulation is fiberglass, and it’s the one that most people think of when they think of insulation. Fiberglass is the pink fluffy but sharp batting that gets placed in the rafters of your attic. Fiberglass batting is made of tiny shards of crushed glass that gets melted until it forms a lightweight material that has the consistency of a heavy cotton candy.
Fiberglass roofing insulation is very inexpensive, but it has a poor insulating quality per inch, so it takes quite a bit of insulation if you want effective protection from the temperatures outside. It can also be difficult to install, because the small shards of glass can be very dangerous. They can give you small cuts all over your skin, and are even worse if inhaled. If you are using fiberglass roofing insulation, wear a facemask and skin protection to make sure that you don’t get injured during the installation process. You also need protection whenever you are doing renovations or maintenance projects near your insulation.
Wood Fiber Roofing Insulation
Wood actually has strong insulating properties, and insulation can be made out of wood fibers that have been compressed together. Other materials can be added into the wood fiber mixture so the material can bond together into one effective insulating material. Wood fiber installation is easy to install, because it comes bonded together in a thin board.
Recycled Cellulose Roofing Insulation
This is one of the newer forms of roofing insulation, but it is also one of the most environmentally friendly forms of roofing insulation. This type of insulation is made from newspapers and other recycled products, and treated to make it resistant to fire and animals. The chemicals used make the paper highly resistant to fire. Instead of catching fire and spreading like wildfire, the chemicals slow down the process. The recycled cellulose fibers are also resistant to vermin, so you won’t have animals making a nest outside of your recycled paper insulation. This material can be found in rolls at your home improvement store. But the best way to install recycled cellulose fiber is to have it blown in by with a high pressure sprayer by a team of trained professionals.
Gypsum Board Roofing Insulation
Another good insulation material is gypsum board, which is very resistant to fire and moisture. The most common use of gypsum board is as a cover layer, but it also makes an excellent insulating material as well. It does a good job of blocking out hot and cold as well as moisture.
Polyurethane Foam Roofing Insulation
Another common insulating material is polyurethane foam, which is a very powerful insulator that is an easy application spray foam. This is a good insulating material for roofing insulation because it is easy to spray in place, and expands within the area you spray it. It is easiest to use polyurethane foam when you are building your home, but it can be professionally installed when you are doing a major renovation such as installing a new roof on your home. You cannot install polyurethane roofing insulation on your own, which is definitely something to consider.
More Recycled Insulation
It is no surprise that we have many more types of recycled roofing insulation materials as people become more concerned about their environmental impact. Environmentally friendly insulation companies have found a way to recycle old blue jeans and use them in insulation, not unlike recycled cellulose fiber insulation. This recycled material can be treated like the cellulose fiber roofing insulation to make it resistant to fire and animals. It also has a very high insulation rating. The benefit of using recycled jeans as insulation is that its fibers are larger and easier to install, and less dangerous to handle than fiberglass and other types of roofing insulation.
Sheep’s Wool Roofing Insulation
Despite the popularity of scientifically engineered insulation products, some of the best insulating materials are completely natural. Sheep’s wool is a 100% natural material, coming right from the extra wool on the sheep’s coat, making for a roofing insulation material that is completely sustainable. Think of how warm and cozy your woolen clothing is, and then imagine how great of an insulating material this would be for your home. Sheep’s wool is not a cheap insulating material, but it is environmentally friendly and extremely effective. You do have to take some precautions when installing sheep’s wool insulation, because the chemical coatings applied to make the material fire resistant can be harmful to your health. Sheep’s wool insulation is one of the best and most sustainable types of roofing insulation that money can buy.
Choosing an insulation material is very important when you are doing any major roofing renovation. Choose the best insulating material that you can afford, taking both the product cost and insulation costs into account. All of the current insulation materials will work well for your roofing remodel.
