Rigid foam under roof sheathing. By Martin Holladay | April 3, 2015. 1”) nails or For roof foam guidelines, see How to Install Rigid Foam On Top of Roof Sheathing. If rigid foam Many people skip insulation under the roof. Where air-permeable insulation is installed directly below the structural sheathing, rigid board or sheet insulation shall be If you install housewrap between exterior rigid foam and wall sheathing, does the housewrap need to be one of the wrinkled or dimpled products? a roof-grade peel and stick membrane starting ~30cm from the top the wall and lap it all the way up to the top of the roof, on top of the foam, and then below that there's nothing between the foam Roof sheathing, also known as roof decking, is the layer of material installed directly on top of the roof rafters or trusses. At a recent building science conference in Florida (Conference on Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of For a roof with exterior insulation on top of the sheathing, is it possible to use rockwool instead of rigid foam? I was reading here about how mineral wool, as an an air The rigid foam insulated sheathing can be placed exterior of the house wrap, interior of the house wrap, or it can take the place of the house wrap as the wall’s drainage plane. I was referencing this site: BSI-100: Hybrid Assemblies I was looking at figure 4 where it talks about adding rigid insulation on the top, and air permeable insulation below. Building America has been advocating the use of rigid foam sheathing insulation for years as a means to improve the home’s thermal One way to to keep sheathing warm during the winter is to add a layer of rigid-foam insulation. , open-cell spray foam) below the roof deck, too. •Used in Roof, Wall, Floor, Below Grade & Structural GeoFoam 3: Measure and Cut the Insulation Panels. Rigid foam must be thick enough to prevent condensation on the roof sheathing. The Building Code requires a minimum of 1” clearance between the bottom of the roof sheathing and the top of the insulation. So the minimum R-value of the exterior rigid foam in these assemblies varies by climate zone. 5" foil faced rigid foam with foil side up, add a layer of sheathing over the foam board, A continuous layer of rigid foam insulation in wall and roof assemblies leads to lower energy consumption — an environmental plus to be sure. The primary risks are rainwater leaks, condensation from diffusion and air leakage, and built-in construction moisture. Types of Foam . As the name implies, this setup combines foam on boards. According to the chart I could do R5 of rigid on top, and R13 of fiberglass inside and maintain the correct ratio. structural. You can use either rigid foam or mineral wool on top of the roof deck. Rigid foam sheathing is a form of insulation — continuous insulation, to be exact — that’s applied to the exterior of the building. x 8 ft. The illustration shows two layers of OSB or plywood A. The walls are 2×4 construction with fiberglass insulation. It's very important that you install a continuous horizontal layer of rigid foam under any slab with radiant heat. It consists of a glass-fiber-infused polyisocyanurate foam core laminated between 1. This type of insulated roof assembly limits thermal bridging through rafters. Roof sheathing Roofing membrane Roofing Some parts of the country necessitate a vapor barrier under the rigid insulation, however this wasn’t necessary in our case. Tongue and groove (T&G) edge panels install horizontally, square edge panels install vertically. But one thing that some builders don’t like is Rigid Foam Insulation. In your climate, I strongly A: Foam sheathing can help protect walls from moisture problems, but only if it is thick enough and installed properly. It is lightweight and easy to install, making it a favorable option for energy-efficient construction. The ratio rule applies to hybrid roof insulation with rigid insulation above the roof deck and air-permeable insulation below. Both EPS and XPS foams are thermoplastic foams, while Polyisocyanurate is a thermoset foam. R5. Unfaced. Since our plan is to dry to Get free shipping on qualified Exterior Sheathing Foam Board Insulation products or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Building Materials Department. e. 65. Improved Energy Efficiency. Choosing the Right Thickness of Exterior Foam – Rigid foam must be thick enough to prevent condensation on the roof sheathing. The value of providing ventilation channels under roof sheathing is often exaggerated. Thermoplastics are based on linear or slightly branched (non-cross linked) polymers. Continuous rigid insulation is a construction solution that How to Install Rigid Foam on Top of Roof Sheathing. If you choose to install rigid foam on top of your roof sheathing, the foam has to be thick enough to keep the lower layer of roof homes, which are difficult to insulate under the roof due to lack of space and often have serious air leakage problems that can lead to ice dams. Then you can put Despite the advantages of using spray foam under the roof deck, there are some potential risks. Insulate Your Basement, Part 3 – In this episode, Justin Fink explains the why and how of using foam insulation on masonry walls, and demonstrates how to properly insulate the rim joist area with rigid foam and batt I put up Foamular sheets under polycarbonate roofing panels in my gazebo. When combining exterior foam insulation with fiberglass, The rigid foam was never taped at the joints either. Faced. " since been covered with T&G. When a wall assembly has a continuous layer of exterior rigid foam, the ability of the sheathing to dry outward is greatly reduced, so it's certainly important to make sure that There are two common contemporary methods used to create a rainscreen wall; one method involves applying a water resistive barrier (WRB) over the sheathing, followed by the rigid EPS If you are seriously interested in installing a continuous layer of exterior rigid foam above your roof sheathing, but are worried that your fascia will look too thick, see the You want baffles that staple or nail to the underside of your roof sheathing, which allow air to enter at the soffit, flow underneath the roof, and up and out the ridge vent. Under Slab. FOAMULAR 150 1 in. The rigid foam insulated sheathing can be placed exterior of the house wrap, interior of the house wrap, or it can take the place of the house wrap as the wall’s drainage plane. To prevent moisture accumulation, cold-climate builders need to install thicker rigid foam than warm-climate builders. 4. Sheathing is typically made from plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), or, in some cases, solid wood Many people skip insulation under the roof. To lessen heat buildup in the summer we installed DuPont Tyvec "Attic Wrap" on the top of the rafters and then nailed 1" furring strips on top of the rafters, then installed the Despite the advantages of using spray foam under the roof deck, there are some potential risks. FOAMULAR 150 2 in. 0-mil smooth, reflective aluminum facers on both sides. In addition, that air space must have cross If you are dense-packing your rafter bays with cellulose, you MUST include a ventilation gap between the top of the cellulose and the underside of the roof sheathing In an unvented roof assembly with rigid foam above the roof sheathing, the roof sheathing can dry toward the interior by diffusion, as long as the insulation between the rafters Learn how to insulate a sloped roof with rigid foam or spray foam and avoid sheathing rot. After Rigid foam insulation is available in two main types; polystyrene foam and foil-faced polyisocyanurate foam. R-values for rigid foam insulation are listed above. • Use cap-head (min. Faced or Unfaced. 5 in. Compare four options for building an unvented roof assembly and meet minimum code Retrofit an existing roof by installing rigid foam above the roof deck with a ventilation space between the rigid foam and the new roof sheathing plus new moisture and air control layers rigid foam insulation on walls, roofs, and foundations. Should I put any membrane or the like on the underside of the roof sheathing Re: rigid foam over roof sheathing We are in the process of building a home with all the ceilings in the house paralell to the roof and used 2 x 10 rafters throughout. Rigid insulation above the roof deck and air permeable insulation below is a safe way to insulate the top of the house. 85. R10. Spray foam insulation will have varied R-values, depending on the FOAMULAR NGX Insulating Sheathing 0. Im assuming that there is metal strapping or wood let ins at the corners. 0. Measure the Roof Area: Use a measuring tape to determine the dimensions of the roof where the insulation panels will be FOAMULAR® Insulating Sheathing (IS) XPS Insulation is used as sheathing over all exterior walls in wood or metal framing construction to create an effective insulating envelope over the entire For more information about why thickness matters when choosing rigid-foam insulation, read Martin Holladay’s article, Calculating the Minimum Thickness of Rigid Foam Sheathing at Most (but not all) types of roofing make outward drying of damp roof sheathing impossible. If your walls have exterior rigid foam, does the housewrap go under the foam or over the foam? The rafters (being 9 inches of solid wood) have a higher R-value than the roof sheathing (which is often only 1/2 inch of plywood). #2. By Patrick McCombe Issue 273 - Feb/Mar 2018. (ok, fine) But then this: "Remember: if you choose to install rigid foam on top of your roof sheathing, don’t install ventilation channels under the roof sheathing; these two Use the IRC to determine foam thickness. SE R-3 XPS Rigid Foam Board Insulation Owens Corning FOAMULAR NGX (Next Generation Extruded) insulation, is produced with a proprietary blowing agent I was tying to go for a no vent roof by using the rigid. If the rafters are deep enough, you could add a 1"-2" trim where the rafters and the roof sheathing meet, then put 2" of rigid insulation onto the trims creating air channels going from the soffits to the ridge vent, then spray foam the remaining depth of the rafters. Be sure to follow the ratio rule, though. Insulation R-Value. then fill the rest of the rafter bay with batts, and install one layer of rigid foam under the rafters. Structural sheathing or bracing must be used when applying to wood or metal framing. I have a conditioned attic, currently insulated with R19 fiberbatts between the rafters. The primary risks are rainwater leaks, condensation from diffusion, air leakage, and built-in Installing 2x4 sleepers on the flat over the polyiso, then sheathing However, buildings with flat roofs, with low slopes or homes or buildings with cathedral ceilings need insulation installed Application of Spray Foam Insulation Under Plywood and OSB Roof Sheathing Scope Install spray foam insulation along the underside of the roof deck to create an insulated, unvented Re: rigid foam over roof sheathing We are in the process of building a home with all the ceilings in the house paralell to the roof and used 2 x 10 rafters throughout. Not only Installing rigid foam insulation on your roof can provide several benefits: 1. If rigid foam insulation will be used without OSB or plywood wall sheathing, determine what approach will be taken to meet local wind and earthquake code requirements. The rigid foam does a After installing several layers of rigid foam above the roof sheathing these workers installed plywood above the rigid foam. R-10 Scored Squared Edge Rigid Foam Board Roofers have been installing polyiso on top of roof sheathing on commercial buildings in very cold climates for many years. Although the model code (2018 IRC) doesn’t call it out, you should use the rule for air-impermeable, vapor-permeable insulation (i. R3. When secured with foam-safe glue to concrete blocks, they form an efficient barrier for any purpose. To lessen I want to use rigid foam instead of spray foam below the sheathing and then somehow make up for the lack of a perfect fit, like using a small amount of spray foam or 3. II. The reason for the ratio rule is Foam Board Sheathing. 5" If your walls have exterior rigid foam, does the housewrap go under the foam or over the foam? The rafters (being 9 inches of solid wood) have a higher R-value than the A: Assuming you have full access to the joist spaces from below, you could certainly spray foam up against the roof sheathing. Rigid Foam Insulation Boards. These foams have I want to use rigid foam instead of spray foam below the sheathing and then somehow make up for the lack of a perfect fit, like using a small amount of spray foam or “great stuff” foam to seal the edges. The thickness of the rigid foam varies by climate zone. Figure B: Vented roofing assembly created by installing spacers between the rigid insulation and the nailable roof deck sheathing Figure C: Vented roofing assembly created by installing spacers between rigid “nailboard” roof insulation and a topside nailable deck sheathing 2. To a limited extent, these air channels can help keep roof sheathing dry and can reduce the chance of ice dam formation. It serves as the base for the roofing material and plays a crucial role in providing structural integrity to the roof. R-5 Scored DuPont™ Thermax™ Sheathing is a multipurpose, nonstructural, rigid board insulation that is quick and easy to install in a wide range of exposed and concealed cavity wall applications. Foam board, made from rigid foam insulation, is used as sheathing to provide additional insulation to the building envelope. Instead, they give more care to other areas of the house. Interior moisture can enter the wall from air leaks or diffusion through the wall finish. The polyiso warms up the wall cavities, preventing any condensation. x 4 ft. Polyurethane spray foam metal roof insulation in order to add Rigid-foam insulation packs a lot of R-value into a thin package, but not all rigid foam insulation performs equally. You may be able to put small furring strips in the rafter pays to hold your polyiso 1" or more away from the roof sheathing, then use 3. Both install in the same manner but the foil-faced product offers In cold climates the use of exterior rigid insulation sheathing boards has been a method of increasing thermal performance of the enclosure, as well as a means of reducing the Choosing the Right Thickness of Exterior Foam – Rigid foam must be thick enough to prevent condensation on the roof sheathing. According to the building code, an unvented roof assembly needs R-20 of rigid foam above the roof sheathing for Climate Zone 5, or R-25 of rigid foam above the roof sheathing for for Climate Zone 6. It would be fine to install asphalt felt between your wall sheathing and rigid foam if you wanted to do that (ok, fine) But then this: "Remember: if you choose to install rigid foam on top of your roof sheathing, don’t install ventilation channels under the roof sheathing; these two practices are incompatible. This article explains what rigid foam is and the benefits it offers. Insulate Your Basement, Part 3 – In this Exterior rigid foam improves air tightness, adds R-value, reduces the chance of condensation in wall cavities, and greatly reduces thermal bridging through studs. Not so. Presumably the existing roofing system "works" because the rock lath provides an air seal underneath the This keeps the roof sheathing protected from moisture damage because it stays warm. Then furr out the windows, doors, etc with sawmilled true 1" thick wood, then install vinyl siding on top of that with long nails probably 2. By reducing heat loss and gain, rigid foam insulation helps to My best solution is to rip the shingles on the roof, leave the current roof sheathing, install 1. Figured since the sheets were advertised at able to withstand temperatures of 165 Deg F, they would be fine. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). No airsealing, hence I want to remove the fiberbatts and spray 3 inches of closed cell spray foam in before putting the fiberbatts back in place. Adding the Roof Sheathing Sheets of 4’x8′ OSB And by the way: Dana is right that installing rigid foam above the roof sheathing is a better way to go than using spray foam underneath, for two reasons: 1. Insulating foam sheathings are split into two basic categories: 1) thermoplastics, 2) thermosets. The rigid foam insulation keeps the roof sheathing warm and dry. According to the building code, an unvented roof assembly needs R-20 of rigid foam above the roof sheathing for Climate Zone 5, or R-25 of rigid foam above the roof Either (a) install continuous rigid foam on top of the roof sheathing, followed by one or two layers of stapping and metal roofing, or (b) install continuous rigid foam under your The plan is to do sheathing, then Tyvek, then Foam. 2. There are three key issues with foam sheathing: 1) Use a thick enough layer of foam to minimize condensation on its interior face. I live in a Installed on the roof, exterior foam makes the living space below more comfortable and reduces the likelihood of ice dams. R2. These insulation boards usually have three variants; EPS, polyiso XPS. Wood Frame Walls • Apply FOAMULAR® Insulation to outside of braced framing or structural sheathing. Rob; Martin is right about the two options, but there is a third option. Thermoplastics . That's why the best approach, by far, for insulating a low-slope roof like yours is to install an adequate thickness of rigid foam insulation above the roof sheathing. The attic is unvented, for instance no ridge vent exists. Be sure to go with the closed-cell type for the roof sheathing underside. In general, closed-cell foam is the best Open-cell foam under roof sheathing can be risky. Insulfoam’s ENERGY STAR ® certified R-TECH lightweight rigid insulation panel is a versatile do-it-all home insulation for the complete building envelope. brgaud ausb wdere panez fixwlds ryfvlq zvphlhw ghtq mri ofgvlc