Roofing insulation is an important part of any roof. Proper roofing insulation will save you money, regardless of whether you are considering attic roof insulation, flat roof insulation, foam roof insulation, roof insulation spray, or another type.

The R Value

One of the most important things to understand about roofing insulation is R value. R value explains how effective attic roof insulation will be when regulating temperature in a structure. The higher the R value, the better roofing insulation properties it has.

Applying Roofing Insulation

Roofing insulation can be applied in numerous ways:

• Foam roof insulation is appropriate for hard to reach places and requires special equipment. While it is a more expensive roofing insulation option, it helps keep out pests.
• Rolls of fiberglass or rock wool attic roof insulation are the easiest and cheapest to apply, as they easily roll out.
• Roof insulation spray is also well suited for irregular areas, adding insulation to existing buildings or unfinished attic floors. You’ll need special equipment to apply this type of roofing insulation.

Types of Attic Roof Insulation

There are two main categories of roofing insulation:

• Attic roof insulation refers to roofing insulation that is installed in the attic of a medium to highly sloped roof.
• Rigid roof insulation refers to insulation that is installed in flat roofs or cathedral style roofs, in structures that have little or no attic space.

Traditional types of attic roof insulation include:

• Cellulose: Made from recycled paper
• Fiberglass: Most common type, made from molten glass
• Mineral wool: Rock wool, made from volcanic rocks.

Types of materials for home roofing insulation include:

• Composite: This type of attic roof insulation combines two or more types of insulation, such as wood and polystyrene.
• Gypsum board: Noncombustible and water resistant, this type of roofing insulation is typically used over plastic foam insulation or as thermal barriers.
• Polystyrene: Expanded polystyrene roofing insulation comes in board form, and molds with heat to fill the shape of the area where it is installed. Extruded polystyrene roofing insulation allows the environment to heat and mold it.
• Wood fiber: Made of wood, cane, or vegetable fibers, this attic roof insulation may be coated with asphalt to make it water resistant.

Alternative Insulation

Here are a few alternative materials used for roofing insulation:

• Cementitious foam roof insulation is made from magnesium silicate and has the consistency of shaving cream, though it becomes like a thick pudding after curing. Pumped into closed cavities, this insulation is fire resistant and non-toxic, though easily damaged by water.
• Foaming insulation vehicles are latex-based. Intended for enclosed cavities, this roofing insulation is made from traditional materials such as fiber glass, mineral wool and cellulose.
• Natural fibers from wool, cotton, hemp, and straw are gaining popularity as renewable roofing insulation materials.
• Straw panels made from compressing straw into boards have proven very capable of insulating against sound.