Monday, June 9, 2008

Roof insulation performance, warm weather

The cathedral ceiling in the third-floor/attic, an unvented roof insulated with icynene foam and a double radiant barrier, seems to perform well in warm weather. We didn't install central air conditioning (too expensive both upfront and operating cost), and we both have office space in the third floor, so we depend on that roof insulation system for comfort both winter and summer. So far, in hot weather the attic temperature is always lower than the outside temperature, which I think is pretty good.

Boston's had our first heat wave the past few days, and I took some measurements today. We keep most windows closed during the day, opening them at night to pull cooler air through with a small "whole-house" attic fan.







Location11 am3 pm
Outside air89 F93 Fair temp
Exterior siding (south wall)95114surface temp
Exterior shingles (roof)132152surface temp
Attic ceiling8692surface temp
Attic air8389air temp
Second floor air8184air temp
First floor air8082air temp


The cathedral ceiling is only 6" thick (made of 2x6 rafters), so all that separates the interior drywall from the 150-degree shingles is 6" of icynene foam and the 1" radiant-barrier airspace.