Insulation, Radiant and Vapor Barriers - snow melting on roof

Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.



PDA

View Full Version : snow melting on roof

pweber
12-10-02, 07:07 PM
I have a two story with cathedral ceilings on the second floor. In a recent snow, there was no snow on the roof and many other houses had snow left on it. Is this a symptom of iinsufficient insulation? I though maybe the roofs that had snow on them was because it was sticking because the roof was warm on the other houses and that maybe my roof was cool so it blew off.

twelvepole
12-10-02, 08:41 PM
If your neighbors have snow on their roofs and you don't, then more than likely the melted snow is due to heat loss from your home. Heat tends to rise and escape upward and outward. Thus, insulation is used to keep heat in the areas where it is needed.
mrchris
12-11-02, 06:29 AM
Do all the other homes in the neighborhood have cathedrial ceilings? In my neighborhood, the snow melts much faster on the cape cods than it does for the ranches with nice, big unfinished attics.

Norm Abram
12-12-02, 01:08 PM
I agree with mrchris, cape cods do melt a lot faster, with their heated second floor living spaces.

Also, steeper roofs are less likely to have as much snow per square foot to begin with, so they will clear off faster.
mrchris
12-12-02, 02:11 PM
Norm, shouldn't you be on This Old House or your own carpentry show right now?

Couldn't resist. :)
Norm Abram
12-13-02, 11:49 AM
I get that all the time...
rbisys
12-19-02, 08:19 PM
Greetings,

IN GENERAL cathederal ceilings will lose more heat because the rafters are a direct link between the drywall and sheathing. I bet it's hard to keep cool in the summer too.

If you want to up grade the thermal value try Koolcoat.com.

The only other way is to furr down with a single layer radiant barrier and re-drywall.

Thank you for considering my opinion.