Rowhome Roof & Attic Insulation in Reading, PA

Rowhome roof and attic insulation is usually the single biggest comfort fix in a Reading house. In a rowhome, the side walls are shared, so the roof is where most heat escapes in winter and pours in during summer. The third floor or the top bedrooms are often too hot in July and too cold in January. In twins and singles with pitched roofs, the attic plays the same role.

Flat roofs and shallow cavities

Many rowhomes have a flat or low-slope roof over the top floor, with a cavity between the ceiling joists and the roof deck that may be only a few inches to a foot or so deep. Often there is little or nothing in it. We look at how to reach it: through a hatch, through small openings in the ceiling, through the cornice or roof edge, or from above during a roof replacement. Then we fill it with closed-cell foam against the deck or dense-packed cellulose, depending on depth, ventilation and moisture.

Pitched-roof attics

In twins and singles, we seal the attic floor first: chimney gaps (with metal and fire-rated sealant), plumbing stacks, wire holes, light boxes and the tops of walls. Then we blow cellulose or fiberglass to depth and install baffles at the eaves.

How much

PHRC lists R-49 ceilings for Pennsylvania's Central zone, which includes Berks County. The Department of Energy recommends R-60 for an uninsulated Zone 5 attic, or adding R-49 where 3 to 4 inches are already there. A shallow rowhome roof cavity rarely has room for that, so we get as much R-value as the space allows, which is still a big improvement over nothing.

Roof replacement timing

If your flat roof is due for replacement, that is the best time to insulate. With the deck off or open, the cavity can be filled completely, or rigid insulation can be added above the deck. We can coordinate with your roofer.

Summer heat

With about 27 days a year above 90F in Reading, a dark flat roof gets very hot. Insulation under the deck slows that heat from reaching the top floor and helps the air conditioner keep up.

Moisture

Flat roofs that leak will soak any insulation below. We check for stains, soft decking and past leaks first. Leaks get fixed before we insulate. Get a free estimate