Has your old, tired roof suffered damage that’s beyond fixing? Are you in the market for a new roof? Have you come across the term warm roof in your flat roof research?
When you’re ready to make a big investment like buying a new roof, it’s normal to have questions. You need to make sure the thing you’re spending your hard-earned money on will serve you well, and, in the case of a new roof, protect everything inside that matters to you.
Warm roofs are a type of flat roof that are becoming more popular, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Whether you’ve done your research already or not, by the end of this blog, you should have a good understanding of why more people are kicking cold roofs to the curb.
Let’s take a look at the three main benefits of a warm roof.
1: Reduces Heat Loss Through Your Roof
The first big benefit of a warm roof is its ability to retain heat.
Unlike traditional, older cold roofs, warm roofs use are constructed from thick, solid insulation boards.
These boards, which are made from PIR, or polyisocyanurate, are fixed above the roof deck and then covered with a moisture-resistant layer, meaning that any condensation that might form from cold and hot air meeting happens outside of your roof space rather than within it.
And, because all ventilation points are sealed with a warm roof, this sturdy layer of effective insulation also hugs in the hot air of the home rather than allowing it to dissipate through the flat roof. A warm flat roof works a bit like having double-glazing.
What do these benefits of a warm roof look like in real life, we hear you ask?
A warm, cosy living space is much more comfortable to live in and enables you to enjoy your home to the max, vital for those of us who spend a lot of time on our property.
2: Saves Money On Heating Bills
The benefits of a warm roof don’t stop there.
Because a warm roof enables your house to retain its heat – you know, that warmth you pay for – its expert insulation levels mean you won’t need to reach for the thermostat half as often.
It’s a simple equation. Less heat lost through the roof = warmer house = lower energy bills.
And not just a little lower… Your bills could shrink by as much as 20%. One of the more outstanding benefits of a warm roof, we think you’ll agree.
Increasing the heat-retention efficiency of your home is also more eco-friendly because you’re actively using a smaller amount of fossil fuel to keep it nice and toasty. What’s more, the installation of a warm roof means your roofing solution complies with government building regulations.
Not sure what we’re on about? If you’re thinking of installing a new roof, pay close attention to this next pay. Part L of the government guidelines addresses new roofs and states that if you are fitting a roof over a heated living space, that roof must meet certain efficiency values.
If your new roof doesn’t comply, both you and your roof installer could be met with a hefty fine. So don’t risk it. Embrace the benefits of a warm roof; by choosing a warm roof, you are siding with incredible energy efficiency and eco-friendly heat retention.
3: Reduces Risk Of Condensation
And here we are. The last of the three big benefits of a warm roof.
Warm roofs heavily protect your home from a build-up of condensation.
And we’re not talking a few water droplets on the windows in the morning. Oh no. Rather than surface condensation, what we’re talking about here are serious internal moisture problems that can cause both internal and external structural damage to your house, as well as look pretty awful.
We’re talking interstitial condensation. This is when moisture occurs in between the layers of a structure.
If the warning signs of interstitial condensation aren’t spotted early on, it can lead to major damage to the wooden structure of your roof due to rot, excessive damp that’s hard to reign in and mould.
And unfortunately, the damage doesn’t stop there. Water particles will slowly travel throughout the whole of your property. Come winter, when the temperature drops right down, this water will freeze, forcing permeable building materials to crack and degrade over time.
Not only will the building work needed to restore your property cost a fortune, but a home wrought with condensation is also much less efficient at retaining heat, meaning you’ll be paying through the nose on your energy bills before you realise what’s going on.
So, back to the main point. One of the main benefits of a warm roof is that it reduces the risk of condensation.
Condensation happens when warm, moisture-laden air comes into contact with a colder surface. It can happen when the temperature outside is either hotter or colder than the temperature inside. It can happen to a flat roof for several reasons, like poor ventilation or due to the use of central heating or air conditioning. Thanks to the technology of warm roofs, the dew point is moved from within the roof to outside the roof, and the risk of condensation is significantly lowered.
Want to learn more about how warm roofs work? Check out this blog.
Warm Roofs Are The Way Forward
What do you reckon? Have our three benefits of a warm roof swayed you in the right direction?
If you’ve been wondering all about warm roofs and why people rave about them, you now know why.
Warm roofs are long-lasting, at far less risk of condensation and super cost-efficient, bringing your energy usage down and saving you money. A warmer property AND less money spent on heating? Yes, please!
Not convinced? We bet you’re wondering about cold roofs. Can they really be that different? Does it actually matter which type of roof you opt for?
YES. It does matter. With a cold roof, you’re setting yourself up for ineffective insulation and a much higher risk of water damage.
Curious about cold roofs? Want to compare warm and cold roofs to make sure you make the right decision? Read our blog, Warm Roof Vs. Cold Roof: What’s The Difference, to find out all about the two different flat roof structures.