By choosing the right roof insulation, you can save energy and thus reduce your costs. We will introduce you to the different types of roof insulation and tell you how you can get financial support for your new roof insulation
Roof Insulation materials: which is the right material
Roof insulation: An overview of the insulation materials
There is a large selection of different insulation materials with which you can insulate your roof. A distinction is made between organic and inorganic insulation materials. Which one is the right one for your roof depends on the insulation process, but also on the price and ecological considerations
Most builders choose inorganic insulation materials such as mineral wool. This roof insulation material is very cheap on the one hand and easy to install on the other. The panels or rolls are suitable for all insulation processes
With organic insulation materials, a distinction is made between oil-based insulation material and renewable fibers
The first variant includes, for example, polystyrene, which is very cheap and offers good properties for roof insulation
Styrofoam, which is also called EPS (expanded polystyrene foam), is a synthetic insulating material based on petroleum. Like mineral wool, the material is one of the most widely used insulation types. This is due to the numerous advantages of EPS. Styrofoam is suitable for all insulation processes except for the rafters insulation and offers very good insulation values
In addition, the insulation material does not rot and is resistant to moisture. The cost of styrofoam roof insulation is also lower per square meter than for the related polyurethane.
he insulation is less convincing when it comes to fire protection. Styrofoam is flammable and causes toxic fumes in the event of fire. The disadvantages of the material for the roof insulation also include a poor energy balance and the lack of diffusion ability. They can cause mold to form if the insulation has not been carried out properly
Polyurethane (PUR): synthetic insulation material with excellent insulation value
Polyurethane (PUR) has a great advantage as an insulation material for the roof. The material is equally suitable for all of the roof insulation processes mentioned. It is also resistant to weather and moisture and has excellent insulating properties. The rigid foam insulates up to 67 percent better than conventional insulation materials such as rock or mineral wool. The reason for this is its degree of cross-linking, which gives PUR insulation more stability and special thermal resistance
But polyurethane is flammable and can even promote fire. It can also lead to toxic emissions. In addition, the insulation material is made from the non-renewable raw material petroleum
Resol hard foam: insulation material with excellent insulation
The insulation material Resol rigid foam is state of the art. The material that is easily laid on the roof in panels is very thin and yet efficient. This way you get the best insulation results that easily meet the requirements of the EnEV
In addition, the insulation material can be installed very narrowly, which means that slim roof structures can be realized with resol foam. In contrast to comparable materials, resole rigid foam is very diffusible and thus prevents mold growth
Types of roof insulation
A basic distinction is made between five types of insulation
Rafter insulation
Lattice insulation
Intermediate rafter insulation
Under rafters insulation
Blow-in insulation
Roof insulation from the outside: rafter insulation
If the roof covering needs to be replaced, the rafter insulation is a good choice. This roof insulation from the outside can be installed over the rafters and provides complete heat and heat protection. Slabs of rock wool or glass wool are usually placed above the wooden structure of the roof between the rafters and the covering
This creates a closed insulation layer without thermal bridges. The insulation from the outside ensures more headroom under the sloping roof
It is also possible to design the roof space with a beautiful exposed roof structure. Since the rafter insulation is probably the most effective way to insulate a roof, it is mostly used in new buildings. If you want to install such insulation as part of a renovation, you have to expect significantly higher costs because the roof must first be covered
Roof insulation from the outside: panel insulation
Flat insulation is a further developed variant of rafter insulation. In this case, the roof insulation is not only installed over the rafters, but also over the battens, so that there is also a complete roof insulation without thermal bridges. Polystyrene panels are usually used for this type of insulation. Thanks to their indentations and elevations, they can be attached directly to the insulation
Roof insulation from the inside: rafter insulation
If you do not want to cover the roof completely, you can insulate the slope from the inside using the rafter insulation. This is also recommended if an existing but not very effective roof insulation is to be improved. In addition, the costs are significantly lower than with external insulation. However, note that in some cases thermal bridges remain
Roof insulation from the inside: intermediate rafter insulation
Intermediate rafter insulation is correct if the space would otherwise become too low. But you should keep in mind that the rafters make up about twelve percent of the roof area. With insulation between the rafters, the insulation performance of the overall construction deteriorates by almost 20 percent. Therefore up to a quarter more insulation material is required. Good to know: Under-rafter insulation is often combined with intermediate rafter insulation to reduce heat loss
Special case: blow-in insulation
From a technical point of view, the blow-in insulation is also an intermediate or sub-rafter insulation. In this case, however, a cavity is first created and then the filling material is blown in. But be careful! It is the most ineffective variant of the options already mentioned