Republic Roofing & Restoration can help you understand the importance of insulating your commercial roof properly. Commercial and residential roofs are fundamentally the same in terms of basic principles. In either instance, your roof serves as a vital barrier between your building’s contents and the elements. A commercial roof is designed to protect both people and property, just like a residential roof. On the other hand, a commercial roof usually covers a larger structure with a lower roof pitch, necessitating some unique engineering and roofing material techniques.
What Is Commercial Roof Insulation?
Residential and commercial roofs both need to be insulated, which is another thing they have in common. The importance of insulating your commercial properly determines a warm house or a cold house during the seasons. More than just shingles, metal and a protective membrane make up a roof; why? Roofing material, underlayment, flashing, vapor barrier, decking, and some insulations are all layers and components of a roof system. Batts and rolls, rigid board, reflective, and blown insulation can all be used to insulate a residential roof. Commercial roof insulation comes in various forms, but it usually consists of a layer of material put beneath the exterior roofing membrane. This insulation acts as a thermal barrier between your commercial structure and the elements outside. Insulation can assist keep your internal building temperature more comfortable while also lowering your heating and air conditioning bills.
Commercial Roof Insulation Options
You have alternatives when it comes to commercial roofing insulation, just like you have with residential roofing. Commercial roof insulation materials come in a wide range of types, R-values, and installation techniques. Let Republic Roofing help you understand the importance of insulating your commercial roof properly. The following are some examples of rigid commercial roof insulation:
Polyisocyanurate (ISO)
Polyisocyanurate is a rigid foam thermal insulation panel with a foil face on both sides that is most frequently known as polyiso, PIR, or ISO. Although its R-value decreases as the temperature drops, ISO is one of the highest-rated rigid foam products (R6-6.5 per inch). As a result, ISO is well-suited to the milder environment of the South For low-slope roofs, ISO is the most common type of commercial roof insulation. Another advantage of ISO is that the outer foil layers help keep gases in. They can also eliminate the need for a vapor barrier if one is necessary for your participation. Another benefit of ISO is that the outer foil layers help keep the gases in, and they can also eliminate the need for an additional vapor barrier if one is advised for your roof.
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)
XPS foam panels, sometimes known as Styrofoam, are typically blue, pink, or green. The insulating rating of XPS is R5, although due to off-gassing, this figure will drop with time. Although higher-end XPS foam can be a good insulator, some XPS foam boards have been proven to retain moisture in specific scenarios.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
Although EPS foam insulation boards have a lower R-value (R4) than XPS, they are more permeable to air and moisture. Because of the increased ventilation, EPS dries out faster and is less likely to hold moisture. Because EPS is less expensive than XPS, you can use a thicker EPS layer to attain the same level of insulating performance for the same money.
Mineral Wool
Mineral wool or rock wool are moisture-resistant, and insulating panels have an R4 value. It doesn’t serve as a vapor barrier and is extremely fire resistant. Mineral wool is the only rigid board insulation alternative that isn’t petroleum-based, essential if you want to go green. Because of its higher R-value and general ease of installation, mineral wool is also employed as a preferable alternative to fiberglass in batt form.
Critical Considerations with Commercial Roof Insulation
As part of your total roof system, commercial roof insulation is frequently put directly beneath the exterior roof membrane. When comparing commercial roof insulation alternatives, keep the following points in mind:
Weigh the R-Value
An insulating material’s R-value is a measure of how well it prevents heat transfer. The higher the R-value, the better the insulating material is. Remember that the R-value of any substance degrades with time. Choosing the greatest available R-value for your roof system isn’t always the best option. The law of decreasing returns should also be considered. The effects of thermal shock can sometimes cause too much insulation to raise the stress on a roof membrane.
Factor in Durability & Impact Resistance
In general, durability is crucial, but in the case of commercial roofing, it is even more critical. Mother Nature may be harsh on your roof, so make sure it’s designed to withstand the elements and safeguard your building and its contents. Your waterproofing layer, as well as your insulation layer, must be durable. Hail, debris, and other things that may fall onto your roof should be able to penetrate a decent insulating system.
Look for Fire Resistance
You want to look for material products that can help to reduce the risk of fire in any commercial structure. Fire-resistant roofing materials can help prevent fires and reduce fire-related damage. A UL Class A or FM Class 1 fire-resistance rating is recommended when designing a fire-resistant roof system.
Benefits of Commercial Roof Insulation
As previously said, a well-designed commercial roof system should include some insulating components that serve to keep your business or other commercial surroundings at a suitable temperature while also increasing energy efficiency. What are some of the other intended outcomes of having adequate insulation? Here are a few crucial advantages:
- Fire resistance has been improved.
- Carbon and ecological footprints should be as small as possible.
- Improved humidity management
- Internal condensation is less prevalent.
- Due to a more stable temperature, the impacts of decking expansion and contraction are minimized.
- Noise reduction and acoustic performance are improved.
Let Republic Roofing Take Care of All Your Commercial Roof Insulation Needs!
Republic Roofing has earned the trust of home and business owners in Tennessee for quality roofing services and quality insulation services. Republic Roofing has earned this level of trust via the quality of our work and the personal attention we give to every one of our customers and clients. Give Republic Roofing a call at 901-437-5278 and we be pleased to come out and conduct a FREE inspection of your property. After, we’ll sit down and discuss our findings objectively. We also take the time to listen to you rather than just trying to “sell” you something. We sincerely want to assist you in any way we can, and we’ll be there for you at every stage.