Warm Roof Cold Roof

Namely the insulation layers.

Warm roof cold roof.

A flat roof installation due to the warm air being held below the solid surface of the roof does not need to be ventilated. Basically there are two options to choose from when insulating a flat roof. With a warm roof the insulation is installed on top of the existing surface rather than in between the rafters. It is more thermally efficient and despite its higher cost of construction lessens overall heating costs thus saving money over the long run.

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. The breakdown warm roof vs cold roof. Warm roofs offer a superior thermal performance and therefore come with a higher cost.

In a cold roof the insulation is applied between the rafters but in a warm roof the insulation is applied on top of the existing roof surface. Warm roofs and cold roofs can take different forms depending on the nature of the roof form. Installing a warm roof can be extremely straight forward and simple to do. The structural deck and the supporting structure are at a temperature close to the interior of the building.

In climates that remain cold for a sustained period unvented roofs can cause more harm than good. On flat roofs the insulation layer of a warm roof is usually on the outer surface of the roof structure. 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. Warm roofs in case of warm roofs they have an insulation above the roof deck in this way it keeps the deck warm.

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. Warm roof insulation ensures the entire roof structure is insulated meaning a warm deck roof is more energy efficient than a cold roof. The object being to design out the possibility of warm moisture laden air coming into contact with a cold surface and condensing. A cold flat roof insulation requires more work taking off old boards and replacing them and the roof surface.

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 has many benefits over a cold roof installation.