Wet Insulation In Roof

How insulation gets wet.

Wet insulation in roof.

The two most common types of insulation fiberglass batts and blown in cellulose loose fill are vulnerable to attic water damage in two specific ways. That s because recovering a roof deck will likely only cause the roof to blister or cause other serious problems that won t be covered by a warranty. Wall systems and the insulation inside them can get wet from construction or design flaws. If the fiberglass within your wall cavity or in your attic becomes wet from a leaky roof or burst pipe it will lose insulating effectiveness until the material dries.

Here s how to tackle a wet roof deck the right way. Of course the insulation can also get wet before it is laid but this can easily be avoided if the material is properly stored. That s why is very important to choose a roofing contractor that s been around for a long time has tons of references is insured and is an expert in spraying foam. Wetness existing even just for a few days will not only reduce the insulating quality of the insulation but it might not dry soon enough to prevent mold and wood decay from.

Read here about the problems caused by wet insulation and what you can do about them. By infiltration or condensation. Wet insulation means trapped moisture that will slowly degrade the entire roofing system from the decking to the building itself. Insulation in the attic is often the first victim when roof leaks occur or when plumbing pipes routed through the attic leak.

Loss of insulating value. To understand this problem it s important to find out why it happens in the first place. Recovering a wet roof deck won t make the problem go away. Trapped moisture encourages corrosion of roofing fasteners and rusting of steel studs and wall ties which reduce wind uplift ratings.

If you detect that the insulation in your home is wet it is crucial to find out where it comes from. First identify wet areas in the roof. Water from outside somehow finds its way to seep into the insulation or water from the inside condenses and accumulates usually due to poor ventilation. Wet roof decks simply can t be ignored.

Coping with wet insulation. Wet insulation can cause myriad building problems from troubles with structural integrity to issues of energy efficiency and occupant health. If you use air permeable cavity insulation batts blow in or sprayed cellulose or fiberglass you must install enough rigid insulation on top of the roof sheathing to provide condensation control table r806 5 sets up the r value ratios by climate that define how thick this rigid insulation needs to be. There are two ways moisture problems can occur in flat roofs.

Wet insulation in a wall will migrate to the bottom soaking the wallboard and framing materials. Moisture trapped inside of insulation is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.