#EXPOSED RAFTER CEILING HOW TO#
#EXPOSED RAFTER CEILING INSTALL#
#EXPOSED RAFTER CEILING PROFESSIONAL#

The moral of the story is that you want an insulation assembly that stops the movement of air and provides a cozy insulative layer. Think about how much warmer a windbreaker coat is in windy conditions than a fleece or cotton jacket that allows the wind to cut through. If air can move from the cold to the warm side of the insulation, the ability of the material to stop temperature movement is significantly reduced.Ĭlick here for an air barrier from Amazon. This includes fiberglass, cellulose, and some other insulation types. Why Add an Air Barrier?Īir barriers are very important when working with any type of insulation that freely allows air to flow. That being said, this finish may not be an issue for certain rooms in a home. Everyone who enters the room will notice the unusual appearance of insulation shoved between the rafters. The major downside of adding insulation between the exposed rafters without adding cladding such as drywall is the finished look. On the other hand, rigid poly insulation is more expensive per square foot than fiberglass batts. Also, rigid insulations provide more R-value per inch. Most rigid poly-insulations are already air barriers, so they do not require adding additional material. This way, you can easily attach the air barrier onto the bottom edges of the rafter so that it contacts the insulation.Ĭlick here for fiberglass batts from Amazon. Generally, fill as much space as possible between the rafters and to the depth of the rafters. The main choices for insulation in this application are fiberglass batts or rigid poly insulation.įor fiberglass batts, you will also want to add some air barriers such as Tyvek sheeting to stop airflow. This insulation technique requires you to insert insulation between the exposed rafters. Take note to stagger all of the seams in rigid roof insulation to maximize the R-value. You can watch this Youtube video below that contains some good tips on installing insulation on a roof deck. Also, be sure to use wide washers, so the screws do not punch through the insulation. Make sure the screws are long enough to really bite into your roof decking. In general, insulating a roof deck with rigid insulation is as simple as screwing a continuous layer of insulation to the entire roof. Therefore, it might be worth waiting until you are sure you need a new roof anyway. Unfortunately, this does cost more than insulation alone.

#EXPOSED RAFTER CEILING INSTALL#

To install insulation of the roof deck as a remodel, your best bet is to replace your roofing and add insulation simultaneously. Usually, this involves installing 2' thick rigid insulation such as extruded poly board before the roofing is installed during home construction.Ĭlick here for rigid poly insulation from Amazon. Insulating the roof deck is by far the most popular choice for insulating exposed rafters. The following three sub-sections introduce the main insulation techniques and will help guide you to the appropriate decision: Insulate the Roof Deck

Now that you have decided to insulate your ceiling with exposed rafters, it is time to determine what technique you will use.

#EXPOSED RAFTER CEILING HOW TO#

How To Insulate A Ceiling With Exposed Rafters To conclude, we'll answer a few questions related to the topic of this post.

First, we'll provide a quick guide on deciding if insulating your rafters is a good decision. Keep reading the rest of this post for details on each of the above possible insulation techniques. Add external cladding to the rafters after insulating normally.Insulate between the rafters (including air barrier).However, there are still a few options that can provide you with the insulation you are looking for. Insulating a ceiling with exposed rafters is more complicated than insulating a standard vaulted or flat ceiling.

#EXPOSED RAFTER CEILING PROFESSIONAL#

This post combines up-to-date research and industry professional knowledge to answer your question. Knowing this, you might wonder how to insulate a ceiling with exposed rafters. Disclosure: We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.Ī well-insulated home is not only cheaper to live in but also provides far more comfort as the seasons change.

Exposed rafter ceiling