Which Is Best Warm Or Cold Roof

A warm roof construction has many benefits over a traditional cold roof essentially it is a breathable roof construction which allows moisture to escape which in turn prevents damp and any associated decay problems.

Which is best warm or cold roof.

The recognised flat roof build ups for best design practices are. Basically the term cold roof refers to a traditional roof or vented roof while hot roof refers to a roof that is not ventilated and which has foam insulation attached directly to the roof sheathing. A warm roof is much more straightforward to install and provides a superior thermal performance and is therefore more costly. The membrane is then attached to the insulation.

This process offers a greater level of thermal insulation for your whole property. However it must be pointed out that a cold roof requires more work and isn t as thermally efficient as a warm one. A cold roof is best when you re initially creating a flat roof and is cheaper than a warm roof but does provide an inferior thermal performance. In climates that remain cold for a sustained period unvented roofs can cause more harm than good.

This is because the insulation is laid over the top of the roof deck on top of a vapour control layer and underneath the roof covering. It is usually the most acceptable type of construction for domestic possessions and belongings as it avoids the need for aeration of the roof construction. The breakdown warm roof vs cold roof a cold flat roof insulation requires more work taking off old boards and replacing them and the roof surface. Warm roof insulation ensures the entire roof structure is insulated meaning a warm deck roof is more energy efficient than a cold roof.

A warm roof construction allows heat to be conserved within a property without the need for a ventilation system. In the case of a flat roof insulation is usually either a rigid board above the deck or a mineral glass wool quilt immediately above the underdrawn ceiling depending on the type of roof design and construction. The reason for this is because an unvented roof allows more opportunity for conditioned air from the home to permeate the insulation warming the roof deck and causing ice dams during the winter. Warm roof construction requires that the entire roof construction is encapsulated within the insulation envelope of the building to be kept warm.

In contrast a warm roof is one designed to keep the entire roof structure warm. There are pros and cons to both a warm roof and a cold roof.