It is perhaps surprising, and certainly unfortunate that some building professionals, and contractors are under a misapprehension as to the precise requirements in order to achieve warm roof, and, or cold roof construction. If insulation and construction are incompatible, is it possible to alter the construction and, or insulation so that they are? This tends to initiate solar thaw. In pitched roof construction thermal insulation can be placed horizontally at ceiling level (cold roof); inclined along the line of rafters (warm roof) or positioned within the roof structure to form an insulated void (room-in-roof) which can result in warm and cold roof areas. Roofs get made in such a way that they withstand the climatic changes by adapting accordingly. It is more thermally efficient and despite its higher cost of construction, lessens overall heating costs, thus saving money over the long-run. This is less of a concern for slate and similar product roofs. It will also prevent warm air from drifting into the roof void. http://go.askthebuilder.com/NewsletterSignup founder Tim Carter demonstrates one type of cold roof system. A basic understanding of your roof system and the challenges it faces can help to identify the sources of problems. – Are you, as a building designer asking your contractor to achieve the impossible. Perhaps the greatest advantage to modified bitumen is their versatility. How important are accurate wind load calculations? We can provide a variety of effective roofing solutions for any commercial or industrial property. Whether its roof retrofits or new construction; hot roof vs cold roof, vent vs non vent, exterior insulation vs … Metal Roofs. To make an informed decision, you don’t just need to know the differences between the two options, you also need to know the different advantages and disadvantages. So what exactly is a cold roof? The hot roof assembly is found almost exclusively in new construction. A warm deck/roof is where the insulation is placed on top of the rafters/joists and the roof covering is then placed over the insulation… For condensation to form it would need cold too meet hot air but now its all hot air inside the building until the top of the warm roof insulation. A properly constructed “cold” roof maintains a continuous air space between the underside of the roof and the insulation. This allows air to circulate. What’s more, a warm roof allows heat to be conserved within a property without a ventilation system needing to be installed. Is a vapour barrier required, or put another way – How effective does the vapour barrier have to be? An inverted roof, also referred to as a ‘protected membrane’ or ‘upside down’ roof, is form of flat roof in which the waterproofing layer is beneath the thermal insulation rather than above it. Ideally, the temperature in the roof space should be between 28-30 degrees with a constant flow of air, regardless of whether the temperature outside is cold or hot. Where a cold flat roof does incorporate insulation this is in the form of mineral wool stuffed in between the timber rafters/joists, with a minimum 50mm (2 inch) air gap left clear in between the insulation and the roof deck. Posts Tagged: Cold VS Hot Roof. Namely the insulation layers. The lower cost of installing a cold roof is usually one of its main advantages. Well we have produced this guide to warm roofs and cold roofs: what’s the difference and when should you choose them? Remember that the rake edges, areas between dormers and top few courses of the roof are the most prone to wind issues due to the wind speed increasing as it goes over the roof. They are also an excellent material for repairing existing bituminous roofs. The insulation of our building stock should be relatively simple. When you put it that way it’s a daunting list. In hot roofs, the insulation is typically installed close to the roof sheathing, but the main characteristic is the space under the sheathing is closed to fresh air flow. There are pros and cons to both a warm roof and a cold roof. Comes with a warranty that is viewed as above average. What’s more, a warm roof allows heat to be conserved within a property without a ventilation system needing to be installed. CNCD-053 V1 5/7/2019. In general, the roof structure is better protected from the more extreme scales of hot and cold weather. The following are pencasts – Please ensure you have sound switched on – Click on the ‘Play’ button to start. Use designs with a cold roof, such as those featuring a vented attic. For example, your attic space compared to your snowy roof. Energy.gov recommends lighter-colored roofs for houses in warm and hot climates. Cold Roof Construction – requires that a suitable ventilated air space exists above the insulation layer, within which the air is constantly mobile, being replenished by fresh incoming air, whilst the air resident within the void space is being expelled via a natural vent action at another point. The temperature of the roof structure is almost the same as the outside. Whether or not a hot roof is a superior setup depends heavily upon climate, homeowner needs, and building plans. Seams are generally where systems fail and being able to apply a membrane that is seamless eliminates these elements of potential failure. Cold Flat Roof. But the issue of insulation, is often a contentious one. For example, if you’re reroofing an exceptionally large roof, you may need to choose EPDM to stay under your budget. There are traditionally four main reasons for venting a roof: Removing moisture from roof cavities, structural members, sheathing and insulation. It provides the better architectural appearance to the building; It is easier to make the flat roof fire resistant. A cold roof in a flat roofing scenario is the one whose thermal insulator is below or inside the structure of the roof. It possesses good insulating properties. Flat Roof Advantages. In a cold weather, such roofs … Metal roofs are the material of choice these days in stylish warm-climate cities … Some people believed insulation was actually a heat source, even though in actuality it is a barrier between two areas of different temperatures. So warm roof or cold roof, which would you choose? Well it may be daunting to anyone who cannot fully answer each item. Additionally, cold weather applications require six (6) nails instead of the usual four (4). Isn’t it? amzn_assoc_ad_type ="responsive_search_widget"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id ="desioffi-21"; amzn_assoc_marketplace ="amazon"; amzn_assoc_region ="GB"; amzn_assoc_placement =""; amzn_assoc_search_type = "search_widget";amzn_assoc_width ="336"; amzn_assoc_height ="280"; amzn_assoc_default_search_category =""; amzn_assoc_default_search_key ="";amzn_assoc_theme ="dark"; amzn_assoc_bg_color ="000000";  Warm roof or cold roof, which would you choose if you have a choice? It is more thermally efficient and despite its higher cost of construction, lessens overall heating costs, thus saving money over the long-run. Inverted roof - Designing Buildings Wiki - Share your construction industry knowledge. The resultant action of which does not allow condensation to occur to any significant effect. Air from outside is permitted to come in through the soffits and exit through the top of the roof which creates a cold attic during the winter months… Is the chosen design solution ‘build-able’? e.g do we simply need to achieve a Building Regulations minimum standard, or we looking to improve upon that? Hot Roofs act as a thermal break and will prevent ice dams from forming on the roof during winter months. This “dead” space acts as a thermal barrier, blocking heat transference from the roof to the interiors below. Unfortunately, the term hot-roof is a misnomer as the roof really is not that much hotter than a normal roof. Where should the vapour barrier be installed in order to perform it’s task? Very little equipment is required and three or four workers can complete most applications. Cold weather … A roof membrane that combines the multi-layer benefits of a built-up roof. question for Martin and others: There seems to be quite a few posts all asking nearly the same questions. How to ensure the best life expectancy from a single ply roof membrane, Case study: Staycity Apartments, Mason street, Single ply roofing for a new housing development in Bolton, easy installation option when you first build a flat roof because the insulation can be applied during construction, low impact insulation doesn’t affect the profile of the building, thermal efficiency is fairly poor because of the exposed rafters, repairs involve ripping off the roof structure, which can make it more expensive, ease of installation over the top of your existing roof deck (as long as it’s in good condition), A zero-tolerance attitude to risk managed through our comprehensive H&S policies, Outstanding standards of installation and workmanship. An architect makes the usual decision of the pitch. How Hot Roofs Differ From Traditional Roofs: Attics typically have an insulated floor and have ventilation. The roof structure, above the ceiling, is not insulated at all. Hot Boxes are ideal for cold weather storage, freeze protection, transporting, job site heating, remote location use, and winter roofing. Warm Roof Construction – requires that the entire roof construction is encapsulated within the insulation envelope of the building to be kept ‘warm’. Well, let’s take a look at the details. The definition of a warm roof on pitched roofs relates to the space between the pitch of the roof … So what kind of difference does this make? Only of course if you understand the basic principles that operate in the design / installation of the insulation materials. I strongly recommend accepting a 3" loss in ceiling height and putting polyiso under the rafters. Hot mop roofing and torch down roofing are both popular roofing options for flat-roofed structures. 4. When the time comes to re-roof your home, the hot-mop option is a common one. Thus, your unventilated roof is indeed a hot roof. What is the design insulation level? 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