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Device modern roof is a complex multilayer structure, and the materials used are manufactured according to the latest technologies based on advanced developments. The roofing “pie” contains insulating and heat-saving layers. The interior of buildings is primarily protected from the adverse effects of weather conditions by waterproofing and insulation.
A competently designed and professionally constructed multi-layer warm roof helps the residents of the house to survive cold weather and precipitation without problems.
The truss structure shown in the photo, which is the roof frame, must be strong and reliable, otherwise the roof will soon not be able to perform its functions, which will lead to leaks and expensive repairs.
While creating roofing We should also not forget about providing additional ventilation. Freely circulating fresh air prevents condensation from accumulating between the dense layers of the roofing pie. Rafter structures and other roof elements made of natural wood provide the necessary level of ventilation and at the same time slightly add weight to the roofing system. Another argument in favor of using these materials is their environmental safety.
When a warm roof is being built, one cannot do without reinforcing layers, which are hard and reliable materials, such as concrete tiles, gravel, etc. They protect less durable roofing products from mechanical damage. True, the materials used for arranging the roof, which have considerable weight, make its structure heavier, so such nuances should certainly be taken into account. The topmost layer of the “pie” is the covering, which is created using roofing material. The choice of its texture, color, and aesthetic characteristics depends on the individual preferences of property owners and the design solution; it can be corrugated sheets, metal tiles, slate or more modern products.
Roof insulation materials
How well a warm roof will be made with your own hands largely depends on the materials used. insulating materials. When choosing waterproofing and insulation, the design parameters included in the project are taken into account. For example, in the region where construction is planned, climatic conditions require the house to be well protected from moisture and precipitation, or there are strong gusts of wind.
When carrying out calculations, all expected loads on the building, and accordingly on the roof, are certainly taken into account. Therefore, the presence of layers of the roofing “pie” for each house can vary significantly.
Waterproofing layer . It is necessary to create protection against moisture. Frequent and heavy rains, melting snow and fogs can cause great damage to the building and the people in it. The use of waterproofing materials is a reliable barrier to water trying to penetrate inside the roof structure.
Vapor barrier layer . The use of this type of insulation provides high-quality protection against all kinds of fumes and prevents the appearance of condensation on various surfaces.
Thermal insulation layer . Allows you to retain heat inside the building and prevents cold air masses from entering the attic from the street. The range of thermal insulation materials today is huge, so you can choose the necessary products for insulation, taking into account the individual requirements for a particular home.
Soundproofing layer . Materials to suppress loud sounds coming from outside are not used as often as other types of insulation, but they provide a comfortable environment for people to stay indoors.
Types of thermal insulation
A large list of insulation products allows you to choose best option and create a truly warm roof in accordance with the design solution. You can give preference to inexpensive materials or purchase modern products manufactured on the basis of the latest scientific developments. True, the latter option will cost much more to homeowners, but it will provide them reliable protection buildings and long term operation.
Expanded clay . This method of roof insulation has been used for a long time. This is a lightweight building material in the form of oval or round granules, which is made from natural baked clay. Thus, the flowability of expanded clay combines well with the thermal insulation properties of the original raw material when creating a warm roof with your own hands.
Styrofoam . Roof insulation using it is considered one of the most popular thermal insulation options, used for both pitched and flat roofs. It extends the life of the roofing structure.
Polyurethane foam . It belongs to the group of gas-filled plastics and is considered a more technologically advanced heat insulator. The work of insulating with polyurethane foam is easier than using expanded clay. This rather soft material is produced in the form of large slabs, and this is related to the features of its installation. During installation, additional reinforcement of polyurethane foam in the roof structure is required.
Penoplex . Using this modern material refers to new solutions in the implementation of thermal insulation. Compact foam boards retain heat excellently, although they are flexible. The layer of thermal insulation created by them is thinner than that of similar materials. Thanks to the characteristics described above, penoplex is becoming increasingly popular.
Hello! To properly insulate the roof, you will need to complete the following steps: installing a vapor barrier layer, laying insulating material, a water-repellent layer, sheathing made of wooden blocks, metal tile covering. It is advisable to change this order only in order to improve the properties of the structure. To obtain a warm roof with your own hands, installing waterproofing is very important - this will help protect the house even when rain moisture seeps through the roofing material.
The waterproofing material must be laid on the rafters; it is advisable to press it with a sheathing of bars. When roofing with metal tiles, it is better to choose a special material, laying it so that the absorbent composition is facing towards the living quarters, that is, down. This will prevent condensation from forming under the roof. For a metal roof, a vapor barrier layer should also be installed. To fix the material, galvanized nails or a construction stapler are used.
It is better to use special membranes as a vapor barrier - they will prevent condensation from accumulating and the insulation will not get wet. This way you can significantly increase the operating time building structures to prevent them from rotting. Wet insulation is much heavier than usual, and it must be borne in mind that, together with rotten rafters, it can cause the roof to collapse.
The vapor barrier material should be attached to the rafters. The optimal distance between the rafter legs for this is no more than 1.5 m. Start fixing the film from the edging, gradually moving up to the ridge. Lay the film overlapping. The sagging of the waterproofing material between the rafters is no more than 20 mm.
Perform lathing for laying metal tiles only after it has been laid and fixed waterproofing material. For it, you can use 50X100 mm bars, which must first be treated with an antiseptic - a composition to protect wood from rotting. It is permissible to use metal profiles with perforations.
Before installing metal tiles on the roof, determine where it is best to start work. If the roof is gable, start installation from one of the ends. If hip roof, start laying at the highest point of the slope, moving little by little in both directions.
You can insulate a metal tile roof with materials such as fiberglass, basalt fiber, polystyrene foam boards, and polystyrene foam. Insulating materials should have the lowest possible thermal conductivity; when choosing, also pay attention to the fire safety and lightness of the material - the rafters should not be loaded.
During storage and installation of insulation, care should be taken to ensure that no moisture gets on it. It must be stored in a dry place specially equipped for this purpose, which must be able to good ventilation. When wet, the performance characteristics of the insulation will be seriously affected, and a warm roof is unlikely to be achieved. Be sure to carry out the work in accordance with the instructions attached to the material. Use only serviceable tools; for example, dull knives can hopelessly ruin high-quality and expensive material.
Warm roof is a term that is associated with a modern approach to construction roofing structures. Because through the roof of the house there is a loss of thermal energy equal to 20-30% of the total heat loss. And this is a significant amount. Therefore, in the article we will tell you what materials are used today to insulate roofs, what technologies are used for their installation, and several technological solutions for insulating roof structures.
Thermal insulation materials for roof insulation
Let's start with insulation materials, because they form the basis of the thermal insulation pie. It should be noted that there is a huge variety on the insulation market. But not all are popular among suburban developers. After all, many require an optimal ratio of the price of materials to their quality. Therefore, most often for thermal insulation of roofs, expanded clay, mineral wool and polystyrene foam boards are used, as well as polyurethane foam in the form of a sprayed foam mass, which becomes durable in air.
Let us immediately note that expanded clay is used only on flat roofs. Although until recently there were technologies for filling it on pitched roofs. These methods simply became irrelevant with the advent of slab models.
let's consider specifications all the above mentioned materials.
Expanded clay
This is a porous material made from clay, which is formed into granules and fired at high temperatures Oh. During firing, moisture evaporates, forming pores inside the granules. That is why this material is thermal insulating.
Specifications:
thermal conductivity– 0.1-0.18 W/m K;
density– 250-600 kg/m³ (depending on the fraction);
strength– 2-2.5 MPa;
water absorption– up to 20%;
material frost-resistant.
Mineral wool
This insulation, like expanded clay, has been used in construction for a long time. Until recently it was roll material, then they began to release him in mats. Today, mineral wool boards are very popular. It should be noted that the group of mineral wool insulation includes a fairly large range of products that differ from each other in their raw materials. Builders give their preference to the basalt subgroup.
Specifications:
density from 75 to 200 kg/m³;
thermal conductivity– 0.032-0.044 W/m K;
water absorption– 6-30% depending on density;
material incombustible with a melting point +600C;
ecologically clean.
From the list of characteristics it is clear that the water absorption rate of mineral wool is high. Manufacturers are trying to reduce it, and they have recently begun to succeed. But in any case, mineral wool used in the construction of an insulated roof must be waterproofed on both sides using membranes and films. This is how you can guarantee the effective and long-term operation of this material.
On our website you can get acquainted with the most . In the filters you can set the desired direction, the presence of gas, water, electricity and other communications.
Expanded polystyrene boards
They are presented in two types on the market: regular and extruded. They differ from each other in the method of production. And in appearance, the first one is panels cut to the required dimensions. That is, with the cut ends it is an open option. The second is made by producing slabs of the required sizes. That is, all their ends are closed.
In addition to the fact that the thermal conductivity of this material is quite low, it varies in the range of 0.028-0.034 W/m K. Expanded polystyrene is a material that does not absorb moisture. Therefore, it can be laid without protective layers.
And other characteristics:
density– 25-45 kg/m³;
water absorption – 0,2-0,4%;
the material belongs to the group " flammable»;
they make their homes in it rodents and insects.
Polyurethane foam
As mentioned above, this thermal insulation material is a liquid foam, which is obtained by combining two different components. After application to insulated structures, the foam hardens, turning into a monolithic seamless layer.
To mix the ingredients and create conditions for foam supply, special equipment is needed. Without it, polyurethane foam insulation cannot be carried out.
Now look at the photo below, which shows how thick the insulation should be in order to replace the heat-insulating effect of a brick wall laid in two and a half bricks.
This photo clearly shows which thermal insulation material is the best. But since we are mainly interested in the construction of a warm roof, we cannot choose accordingly according to this principle here. We have to take into account the fact that the thermal insulation pie is essentially located on the street, because only the roofing covers it. And, as practice shows, it is most often metal.
Therefore, the choice of insulation must be approached primarily from the perspective of the thickness of the material. And the larger this parameter, the better. Of course, this affects its cost. But you don’t have to choose here, especially when it comes to mansard roof. In this case, builders try to solve the problem this way - by laying a heat-insulating layer with a thickness equal to the width of the installed rafters. This is an ideal approach to solving the thermal insulation of a roof structure.
Types of roofs and methods of their insulation
There are two types of roofs: flat and pitched. For the former, the angle of inclination does not exceed 5°, for the latter this parameter is located in the range of 5-90°. Accordingly, the approach to implementing roofing with insulation is not the same.
How to insulate a flat roof
Flat roofs are formed by the ceiling of the building. And these are either reinforced concrete slabs, or one monolithic slab poured in place. In any case, this is a concrete horizontal plane. They insulate it like this:
Close up defects repair compound or bitumen mastic.
Treated with primer or bitumen primer.
Expanded clay is poured the required layer, which is calculated when creating a house project.
Close it waterproofing film.
Install reinforcing frame in the form of a lattice made of steel reinforcement.
Poured concrete screed , from which the angle of inclination of the roof is formed.
Instead of expanded clay, you can use polystyrene foam boards. They are laid close to each other without gaps. If any are found after installing the insulation, the gaps are filled with a special sealant. Some manufacturers produce slabs with connecting chamfers. This makes it possible to assemble panels without joints.
Fastening foam polystyrene panels to concrete base carried out either with bitumen mastic or dowel-nails. Everything else is exactly the same as in the previous case. That is:
cover thermal insulation layer with waterproofing membrane;
install reinforced frame;
poured sloped concrete.
As for the insulation of flat roofs with polyurethane foam, the base is prepared for this: garbage is removed, dust is removed. And then the insulation is applied in three layers, the total thickness of the coating should not be less than 32 mm. The layer obtained after processing can withstand decent mechanical loads; you can walk freely on the insulated roof. This is not only insulation, but also excellent waterproofing. Polyurethane foam does not change its characteristics under the influence of ultraviolet rays, large amounts of water, low and high temperatures, acids and alkalis.
Video description
The video shows how polyurethane foam is used to cover flat roof building:
How to insulate a pitched roof
Thermal insulation of a pitched roof is the installation of insulation between the rafters. With a caveat - if a slab model is used for this. If polyurethane foam is used, then filling occurs throughout rafter system, including the rafters themselves.
We will not go into the details of creating a warm roof using polystyrene foam boards and mineral wool. Let's just designate what layers it consists of.
If you decide to use mineral wool slabs:
The first layer is closer to the roofing - vapor barrier.
Second - insulation.
Third - waterproofing membrane.
The bottom waterproofing layer is protective. Its task is to prevent moist warm air vapors emanating from interior spaces home, penetrate the thermal insulation layer. As mentioned above, mineral wool is a hygroscopic material, it absorbs moisture well, losing its thermal insulation qualities.
There is always a possibility that somewhere in waterproofing coating There will be a small hole or gap through which the vapors will still penetrate upward. Therefore, the top of the insulation is covered with a vapor barrier. This film has special properties. On the one hand, it can allow air and moisture to pass through itself, but on the other, it cannot. Therefore, the first side is laid towards the heat-insulating material. The reason is to remove those very slight moisture vapors that have penetrated the thermal insulation layer.
The opposite sealed side is directed towards roofing material. This is in case a leak suddenly forms in the roof. That is, the vapor barrier membrane will not let water into the thermal insulation cake.
In this regard, it is easier with polystyrene foam. It is not afraid of moisture and water, so there is no point in finishing it with a layer of waterproofing on the underside. That's what builders do. But on the outside, protective insulation is laid anyway. This is again in case of unexpected leaks.
And roof insulation with polyurethane foam. Typically, this material is used only if a continuous sheathing is installed on the roof. Because in its original form this insulation is a semi-liquid foam mass. And it must stick to something.
Again, to solve the problem of leaks from the roofing side, it is necessary to install a waterproofing film under the sheathing. That is, first they install waterproofing along the rafter legs, and attach it to them. And then the sheathing elements are mounted on top.
Video description
The video shows how polyurethane foam is applied to the roof of a house from inside the attic:
Conclusion on the topic
So, we have dealt with a warm roof (design, materials and insulation technology). In fact, thermal insulation of roofing material is not as expensive a process as the construction of the structure itself. Compared to the budget for the entire construction of a house, this item in the estimate will take up less than 1%. But during the operation of the building this will have a serious impact, especially on reducing energy consumption.
Good roof insulation is an important component for maintaining heat in any home. A common method of roof insulation, which is not so difficult to do with your own hands, is the “Canadian sandwich”; it is a system of several layers: insulation, vapor barrier layer, wind and moisture protection, ventilation gap.
When performing this work, as in any construction, it is important not to violate the installation instructions, this way you will avoid leaks during operation. Today we will talk, as you already understand, about how a warm roof is made.
Choosing insulation
- According to SNiP, the insulating layer for the roof must consist of non-flammable material, have a density of 20-125 kg/m3 and selective water permeability. The material, in addition, must have the following characteristics:
- Good thermal insulation characteristics.
- Long service life.
- Resistance to atmospheric moisture.
- Good sound insulation performance.
- Biological resistance.
Ecological cleanliness.
- The most popular heat insulators these days are:
- Extruded polystyrene foam. This material is an effective heat insulator; it is used both for insulating parts of buildings and for roof insulation in both civil and industrial construction. Thanks to its homogeneous structure, consisting of closed small cells, the product has good thermal insulation properties. The system provides low thermal conductivity and excellent resistance to water vapor. Sheets made of extruded polystyrene foam have high compressive strength; they are ideal for areas that are subject to heavy traffic. In addition, this material is environmentally friendly and chemically neutral, it is practically not subject to rotting. The slabs are easy to cut even with a regular knife. Today you can find extruded polystyrene foam from Ursa and DOW.
- Glass wool. Fiberglass insulation has good performance characteristics. Glass wool slabs provide high-quality roof construction. Another plus is that their low density seriously reduces the load on the structure. Soft mats fill surface unevenness well and can be used in structures of any configuration and shape.
- Basalt insulation. Basalt slabs are made from basalt fibers, which provide high fire resistance and thermal insulation. The areas of application of this material include sound and heat insulation of light walls, roofs, attics (vertical and inclined), interfloor partitions, attic floors, pipelines, and industrial equipment.
- Expanded clay. This material has a natural base. Expanded clay is quite strong and durable. If we compare it with other heat-saving products, for example, wood, then expanded clay will noticeably benefit in terms of service life.
For a warm roof, it is preferable to purchase thin insulation with a high degree of thermal insulation. Most often, slabs made of basalt fiber or glass wool are used.
Warm roof: features of the “roofing cake”
To avoid this, you need to ensure that the roof structure prevents the penetration of moisture into its structural elements. Let's look at the basics! We all know that in nature moisture occurs in three states, moreover, water and ice exist at certain temperatures, and steam at any temperature. Accumulation of moisture in different materials are called differently. For example, humidity is the accumulation of moisture in the air.
Different types of materials react differently to high humidity.
Fiberglass insulation is hygroscopic, it requires reliable hydro- and vapor barrier.
Mineral wool (especially semi-rigid and rigid sheets) resists water well, but requires additional protection from water vapor pressure. Extruded polystyrene foam has the highest moisture resistance.
In order to protect our insulation from moisture that gets onto the roof of the house, we need to make a vapor barrier layer. For these purposes, an ordinary film is suitable (vapor-proof or “breathable” - your choice). Install the first one so that there is a gap between the insulation and it, and the second can be laid directly on the insulation. The vapor barrier must meet two requirements:
- Be airtight.
- Do not have any damage.
Roof insulation: preparatory stage
Let's get down to business and figure out how to make the roof warm. The roof is the uppermost structural part of any building; it is designed to protect the structure from all kinds of external influences. The device is made taking into account the local climate and building design. does not depend on the material from which the house is built: the roofs of both brick and wooden buildings are insulated using the same technology. If the premises are residential, then it is recommended to make the roof insulated both outside and inside, and if the building is used as non-residential, then the last point can be skipped.
Before carrying out work, you need to inspect and eliminate all faults (if necessary, replace damaged areas with new ones). In addition, it is necessary to eliminate mold on the entire surface of the roof, treat it with an antiseptic or other special means, which would prevent the appearance and spread of mold and fungi. Eliminate all faults in wiring, plumbing and other communications. Done? Then it's time to make your roof warm.
Features of insulation of flat and pitched roofs
Let's get to practice! ! First, you will need to make a water barrier between the roof and the rafters so that the waterproofing material envelops the rafter “legs.” The material is secured with a stapler. Next, it’s time to install the thermal insulation layer. The thickness of the material is no more than the size of the rafter legs, but not less than 10 cm. Start laying from the bottom of the slope, attach the “insulating” sheets with the help of slats, stuffed perpendicular to the rafter “legs”. Mineral wool sheets, if you have chosen this particular product, should be laid without large gaps. Install a layer of vapor barrier over the thermal insulation (construction membrane film with perforation is an excellent option) and attach it to the rafters.
Now about the flat roof! The technology is somewhat different from the previously described method. The fact is that a flat roof can be treated both outside and inside. But if you do double work (insulate both outside and inside), you will spend a lot of money and effort, so it is recommended to first insulate the outside, wait out the winter, and if this layer is not enough, then add additional insulation inside. In most cases there is no need to repeat the work. Most often for
When building a house, it is important to create warmth and comfort, which a warm roof helps a lot with.
Creating a thermal insulation layer is a very important stage, which, in addition to its main function, also performs sound insulation.
How to choose insulation
The technology itself, which will be used to insulate the roof, depends on various climatic factors of a particular region.
Thus, the thickness of the insulation material is calculated based on the lowest temperatures in this area. To get the maximum effect, when installing roof insulation with your own hands, it is recommended to combine materials.
When choosing them, it is necessary to take into account such nuances as:
- climate of the region;
- thickness of the walls of the structure;
- the level of strength of the roof, as well as its shape and angle of inclination.
For insulation mansard roof, it should be covered with good thermal insulation materials. But in order to create thermal protection for the attic floor, you can already use cheaper bulk options in the form of sawdust or expanded clay. It is important to remember that proper thermal insulation of the roof will help maintain the reliable condition of the structure of the entire building longer.
Features of the roofing pie
The most popular option for roof insulation and at the same time very easy for self-construction, considered a "Canadian sandwich".
This technology involves the creation of a multilayer coating. The installation of such a roof does not require the involvement of specialists, the main thing is to observe correct sequence laying all layers.
It is important to prevent moisture from getting into the insulation. To do this, it is necessary to create conditions under which condensation will not appear. To achieve this, elements such as wind and moisture protection, vapor barrier, water barrier, as well as the creation of small gaps between these layers for ventilation are necessary.
You also need to create air circulation in the gaps from bottom to top. Due to this, all the resulting moisture will not fall on the thermal insulation layer, as it will evaporate and be removed due to ventilation in the gaps.
This is important to do, since mineral wool or any other similar insulation must always remain dry so as not to lose its properties.
Roof preparation
First of all, to carry out the work it is necessary to draw up a clear work plan, as well as select the materials that will be used.
Any roof, regardless of its type, has several parts, external and internal. So, its outer part is the roof itself, and the inner part consists of floor slabs, as well as a frame of rafters.
In order for the roof to serve for a long time and provide high-quality insulation, it is necessary to first carry out certain preparatory work.
First of all, you need to get rid of moisture, as well as any other negative elements on its structure, such as rust, mold and even mildew.
To do this, the surfaces are cleaned with a metal brush, after which it must be coated with anti-corrosion agents. Note:
those areas of the roof and walls that have been affected by mold or fungus must also be treated with antiseptics.
Review of insulation materials Regardless of what type of roof the house has, if its insulation has not been carried out, the house will lose on average up to a quarter generated heat
. Therefore, you need to approach the choice of thermal insulation material wisely. To simplify installation, it is better to choose slabs that match the existing distance between the rafters.
Otherwise, areas will form through which the cold will pass, which will significantly reduce the quality of insulation.
In the case of using roll insulation, their width must also be selected based on the distance between the rafters.
- . In total, you can choose insulation from a large number of options, each of which has its own positive and negative sides:
- . This material is relatively cheap and very easy to install. It has excellent thermal insulation properties. However, glass wool should be used exclusively in conjunction with some kind of waterproofing, since if moisture gets on it, it loses most of its insulating properties.
- . It has almost identical properties to glass wool, but its service life is much longer and is almost 50 years.
- . This material has high fire resistance. However, similarly to glass wool, it loses its properties if it gets wet.
- . It is one of the most affordable insulation materials, but at the same time very effective. It is produced in the form of slabs of different sizes, which makes it possible to use it for arranging almost any type of roof. The main disadvantages of this material are its fragility, as well as its susceptibility to rodents.
- Its main advantages are environmental friendliness and fire resistance. In addition, this material is resistant to various biological influences. However, its use is only possible on horizontal surfaces due to its shape. At the same time, expanded clay has more weight than mineral wool. It is a liquid insulation with very low thermal conductivity. It is sprayed onto previously prepared waterproofing. Indispensable for quick and easy thermal insulation. (Read about roof insulation with polyurethane foam).
Operating procedure
The “Pie” type insulation technology will be the same regardless of the type of building. In this case, all work must be carried out after the roof has been made and roofing materials have been laid on it.
All work is carried out from the inside:
- First, the waterproofing is laid in one layer. It needs to be secured to the sheathing to the bars using staples. The material may sag slightly, but not more than 10 cm.
- Next, the insulation is installed. In this case, there should be no gaps between it and the rafters.
- If necessary (if the weather in the region is very harsh), you can lay another layer of insulation. However, its seams should not be close to the seams of the first one.
- Now the insulation needs to be closed vapor barrier film, to do this, it can be secured to the sheathing using a stapler. In this case, the sheets must be laid overlapping and connected with construction tape.
- There must be a certain distance between each layer of such a cake so that moisture does not linger in the roof.
- From the inside, such insulation must be covered with sheets of plywood, and if it is used, residential premises, can be covered with a decorative coating.
How to avoid mistakes
Any well insulated roof should also have the correct appearance. To achieve this, you need to accurately measure in advance all the indicators of the structure from width and length to its height, as well as diagonal.
Usually, in this case, unpleasant aspects are identified that prevent the creation of a proper roof. It could be a big difference between the sides of the house or the distance between the joists, causing the building to have an irregular shape.
Therefore, to ensure proper thermal insulation of the roof, it is necessary to eliminate various structural defects in a timely manner. It is necessary to install the rafter system only after the evenness of the slope and the roof ridge have been achieved.
If this is not done, then in the future “ roofing pie“So-called cold bridges will appear, through which heat will escape from the house. They represent areas where the integrity of the insulation is compromised.
It is important to know: when a lot of icicles begin to form on the roof in winter, this will mean that there are gaps in the insulation of the building, due to which the roof is heated by warm air and the snow on it melts. To eliminate this, you need to additionally insulate the roof with felt.
A dry, and most importantly, warm roof is the key to a comfortable and cozy environment in the house. At the same time, insulation not only keeps the house warm in winter, but also helps keep it cool during hot weather.
Watch the video in which a specialist explains in detail the nuances of insulating the roof of a house: