Should Roofing Insulation Be Removed?

Thinking about a roofing repair? It might have you wondering what must be upgraded throughout the other areas of your house, specifically the decking and insulation on your roof. Do you require replacing or repairing insulation before you begin the roofer? What exactly is a roofer's job? Let's explore these questions and more so that your roof replacement will go off with the utmost success.

What Exactly Does a Roofer Replace?

So, do you need to take the insulation off before the project to replace it begins? Most of the time, no. If the decking on your roof, the area beneath the shingles, is in good condition and has no obvious damages, your roofing company is likely to leave it in place. If not, they'll tear away the asphalt and shingles and put the decking back intact.

The cavity insulation lies under the decking, which is against the roof's studs and sheathing. Therefore, there's no reason to change the insulation inside your attic unless you've got some type of damage to the decking. If that's the scenario, you'll require the replacement of insulation once the roofer has removed those decking boards. The truth is that homes with attics that aren't finished do not have insulation on the rafters, but instead, they are reliant on the fiberglass batts or blow-in insulation between the floor joists. In any case, your insulation ought to remain unaffected as the roofer completes their work.

But, some homes also are equipped with insulated roofing systems, typically those that have flat, low-slope or cathedral ceilings. In these cases, the construction company may have placed rigid foam over the deck's sheathing. In this scenario, the roofer would expose the insulation as they took away the shingles.

However, you don't have to be concerned about taking it off generally. The majority of roofers are knowledgeable about roofing insulation and will be able to tell if the rigid foam should be replaced.

Leaks Can Impact Your Roofing Insulation

When there is a leak, roofing damage is often the outcome. In reality, even though there is no sign of any drips or other issues before your roof is replaced, when workers remove roofing shingles, they might expose moldy, decayed or damaged boards that must be replaced.

If you've got a significant leak in your hands, it's likely that the humidity has reached the insulation. In the event that fiberglass insulation is wet, it can seriously affect its thermal performance. Water molecules take over the air pockets that are between each glass piece. This can cause the growth of mold or even decrease the efficiency of your insulation. Therefore, if the fiberglass batts you have purchased are damp, then a complete replacement could be necessary.

If your roofer notices that the growth of mold has gotten beyond your decking and into your interior walls, it is possible that they will recommend more drastic measures, for instance, employing a mold remediation company. Most of the time, there are additional warning signs for an issue this serious.

Your roofer could check the boards and observe that they're light and bouncy, an indicator that you've got 3/8 inch of plywood onto your roof. In the past, builders believed 3/8 inch to be a good amount of decking. However, nowadays, roofers choose boards measuring a half inch or 5/8 inch, making the roof slightly more durable. So if your roofing contractor finds the old boards, they might suggest replacing them.

In this scenario, the roofer will take away the decking pieces that require repairs and replace them with new ones. If they do this, then there's a possibility that you'll need to put in fresh fiberglass batts or rigid insulation or blown-in insulation following the roof has been reconstructed.

Your Roofing Replacement Is a Good Time for Roof Insulation

If you're in need of roofing or attic insulation, then your new roof is the best time to take it on! This is particularly accurate in the case of rigid foam insulation, in which case you'd have to cut off the shingles in order to get access to the sheathing in any case. In certain instances, roofers are known to aid by blowing in insulation. They can simply take a section of decking and then pull the hoses from the roof's top to prevent the insulation from leaking throughout the house through the interior. It's always worthwhile to inquire with your roofer about the complete scope of their offerings.