Inverted Roof Vs Warm Roof

In a cold roof the insulation is applied between the rafters but in a warm roof the insulation is applied on top of the existing roof surface.

Inverted roof vs warm roof.

The great benefit of inverted roofs is that the insulation protects the membrane from extremes of weather such as frost uv exposure and the expansion and contraction that comes about from summer winter temperature cycles which can be as much as 80 c on some roofs. The breakdown warm roof vs cold roof. Inverted roof designing buildings wiki share your construction industry knowledge. An inverted roof also referred to as a protected membrane or upside down roof is form of flat roof in which the waterproofing layer is beneath the thermal insulation rather than above it.

Simply defined as a type of roof construction where the waterproofing layer lies beneath the insulation instead of above it as in other forms of roofing inverted roofs ensure that the complete roof construction including roof covering is kept at warm temperatures during winter months and at moderate temperates during the summer months. Basically there are two options to choose from when insulating a flat roof. Single ply membranes these are mostly used in warm roof applications but suppliers will also specify them in inverted roofs. Inverted roofs often have a heavy layer of either concrete paving slabs or stone ballast which holds the rainwater cooling barrier insulation and membrane down.

When we talk about a warm roof vs a cold roof what we re really talking about is the insulation of the flat roof. It is a warm roof but with the insulation above the waterproof membrane and structural deck. Their thickness ranges from 1 2 2mm which makes them prone to puncture or damage by following trades. Installing a warm roof can be extremely straight forward and simple to do.

An inverted roof is quite simply where the waterproofing layer is installed over the structural deck rather than over the insulation. Benefits of inverted roofs. An inverted roof is a form of warm roof in which the waterproofing layer is beneath the thermal insulation rather than above it. Warm roof insulation ensures the entire roof structure is insulated meaning a warm deck roof is more energy efficient than a cold roof.

You create a warm roof or a cold roof simply by applying the layers of the roof in a different order. Namely the insulation layers. A cold flat roof insulation requires more work taking off old boards and replacing them and the roof surface. It does not require a vapour retarder.