Options For Steep Roof Insulation

A lot of heat comes out of a home’s steep roof.  Heat rises to the attic and gets confined there until it is released outside which means that the outside area is being heated in the winter.  The attic in a steep-roofed home should be insulated in order to prevent this from happening. 

Ventilation Systems:

Maintaining and having a good ventilation system in the attic will be very beneficial to your home especially if you have a steep roof.  A very simple venting system that goes to the outside of your home or one with special vents that is on top of the house will be sufficient.  One of the most common types is the whirly-bird which looks like a mushroom or a chef’s hat with blades.  This vent system takes the heat out of the attic and helps cool down the house in the summer and warms it better in the winter. 

Rolled Fiberglass:

Insulation that looks like hay bales is called rolled insulation and it fits between the beams in the attic for support.   Installation is very simple and can be done by the homeowner.  While installing the insulation make sure not to compress it because the rolled insulation is harder to put around plumbing and electrical lines. The resistance is lost if insulation is compressed.  If your house has a steep roof, rolled insulation will work best because the insulation can be installed in pieces. 

Blown Fiberglass:

Blown-in fiberglass insulation is another choice for houses that have steep roofs and can be done by blowing in pieces that look like cotton balls into the attic space.  This blown-in fiberglass insulation stands a better chance of reaching all areas of the attic and doing what needs to be done for effectiveness. 

Blown Cellulose:

Traditional fiberglass options are available but the cellulose insulation is a good alternate.   Cellulose insulation is made up of sawdust, newsprint paper, and organic material.  Cellulose is treated with borate in order to keep rodents, bugs and pests away.