Insulation Roof Eaves

In most of the u s.

Insulation roof eaves.

In cold climates thin insulation near the eaves contributes to ice dams. Design the roof to allow full insulation over the top plates of the exterior walls. The airflow from the soffits to the ridge vent keeps the roof cool and prevents ice dams and the material will block that flow. You may not be able to see them clearly yourself but you can be sure that your hard earned hot air will.

The materials used to insulate under the roof include batts of mineral or glass wool insulation held in place by battens of wood attached to and across the rafters. Achieving these r values with cellulose or fiberglass requires at least 11 inches of insulation for r 38 or 14 inches for r 49. Detail to show the buildup of new loft insulation to the underside of an existing eaves installed internally to allow ventilation of the existing roof over the new insulation. The best approach in these situations is to use an insulation with a higher.

Covering up the soffit vents with loose fill or batts which can happen if you stuff insulation along the eaves is a huge no no. A minimum ventilation gap of 25mm is to be provided over the loft insulation to allow sufficient ventilation at the eaves. This is the point where the roof meets the walls of the house and it s one place where small gaps and cracks are commonly found. For the same reason insulation shouldn t touch the roof s underside.

To be truly effective insulated areas must be tied down to the roof itself at the eaves. Insufficient insulation at the eaves is a common contributor to ice dams and there s no simple solution for this. You need ventilation in the attic a good crossflow of air will keep the attic space dry.