GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Small hip roof above bedroom.

kevinkeegan | Posted in Expert Exchange Q&A on

In climate zone 4 I have an old house with a small half of a hip roof off the side of the main house. This roof area is above what will be a finished bedroom. I have access to the underside of the roof and there is sufficient depth to meet the required R value. What I am trying to determine is should I use a combination of closed cell and open cell spray foam applied to the underside of the roof sheathing  or would building up enough open cell be adequate to take care of any vapor barrier needs. The ceiling immediately above the bedroom will be a flat ceiling composed of sheet rock attached to 2 x 6 ceiling joists with no access or vents to this uninsulated space above the finished bedroom ceiling, and no soffit or ridge vents in the roof. I understand that I need to air seal the sheet rock to the ceiling joists so that no warm air from the heated bedroom escapes  into the uninsulated space above the finished bedroom ceiling which will then cause condensation.  I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.
Thank you, Kevin

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. Expert Member
    Akos | | #1

    With a flat ceiling, it doesn't make sense to insulate the roof unless you have HVAC equipment up there. Blow insulation and install vents.

    Almost all roofs can be vented with a combination of soffit vents, ridge vents and mushroom vents.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |