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garfunkel24 Sep 2016 23:41Someone I know has recently built a new house. Today, I was a bit surprised by the very high ceiling on the top floor. Since it reaches up to the ridge beam, it must be about 5 meters (16 feet) there. On average, I would say around 4 meters (13 feet).
When I asked if there would still be an attic space, I was told that there won’t be one. The reason is that an attic in a fully insulated roof collects too much moisture, which would lead to moisture damage in that area. This happens even if the insulation is done properly and sufficiently, and if vapor tightness to the outside is ensured, etc.
Apparently, this would only work if the attic were insulated as living space and ventilated properly. However, that naturally contradicts the concept of external roof insulation.
As an alternative, a suspended ceiling is being considered. But now I’m wondering what the difference really is between a suspended ceiling and an attic. A suspended ceiling is not airtight but causes poor air circulation in the upper area — that is, from the suspended ceiling up to the ridge beam. So, basically the same situation as with an attic.
Now I’m also curious how all the older buildings that have added or are adding external roof insulation deal with this problem (like me, for example 🙂). I absolutely can’t imagine that in all these older houses with external roof insulation, the attic is either removed or insulated as a thermal barrier and properly ventilated. That would make external roof insulation less attractive again.
So, I must have misunderstood something here or there’s something else I don’t know yet?
By the way, when I say “attic,” I mean the small roof spaces with a ceiling height of, say, 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet). Typically, they are only accessible through a hatch.
How is it for you?
When I asked if there would still be an attic space, I was told that there won’t be one. The reason is that an attic in a fully insulated roof collects too much moisture, which would lead to moisture damage in that area. This happens even if the insulation is done properly and sufficiently, and if vapor tightness to the outside is ensured, etc.
Apparently, this would only work if the attic were insulated as living space and ventilated properly. However, that naturally contradicts the concept of external roof insulation.
As an alternative, a suspended ceiling is being considered. But now I’m wondering what the difference really is between a suspended ceiling and an attic. A suspended ceiling is not airtight but causes poor air circulation in the upper area — that is, from the suspended ceiling up to the ridge beam. So, basically the same situation as with an attic.
Now I’m also curious how all the older buildings that have added or are adding external roof insulation deal with this problem (like me, for example 🙂). I absolutely can’t imagine that in all these older houses with external roof insulation, the attic is either removed or insulated as a thermal barrier and properly ventilated. That would make external roof insulation less attractive again.
So, I must have misunderstood something here or there’s something else I don’t know yet?
By the way, when I say “attic,” I mean the small roof spaces with a ceiling height of, say, 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet). Typically, they are only accessible through a hatch.
How is it for you?
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