Facing difficulty with the scorching humidity under your patio roof? Worry no more, because we’re here with a detailed segment on how to solve that.
How to insulate an aluminum patio roof?
First you’ll have to clean the underneath of the roof. You’ll then fill the gaps and holes in. Then install the fiberglass batt and foam insulation. After that, you’re going to seal the edges. And for the inaccessible areas, spray it with foam. And lastly, coat it with paint to finish it up!
This was only the overview you viewed so far. For the detailed segment we promised, keep on reading!
Do I Need To Insulate My Aluminum Patio Roof?
Your aluminum roof will mean it absorbs a lot of heat from the sun. Instead of cooling you down, your wonderfully constructed patio roof will feel like a sauna! If you want a solution for that, insulation is the way to go!
This insulation will keep the area under your patio roof cool. Your concrete pads underneath won’t overheat, similar to your shower cable overheating. Not insulating might damage your wirings. This is because some of these wires are very sensitive to heat.
It is ideal to insulate your aluminum patio roof!
Steps To Insulate Your Aluminum Patio Roof
To insulate the roof we’ll have to follow this set of steps. If you’re a bit afraid to do this, don’t worry. We’ll guide you every step of the way.
If you’re totally unsure, then take help from a professional.
Essentials You’ll Need
To start this insulating process, you’ll need to gather around a few tools. Here’s a list of them:
- Aluminum Roof Cleaner
- Sheet Metal or Roofing Cement
- Putty Knife
- Fiber Glass Bat
- Duct Tape or Insulation Adhesive
- Rigid Foam Insulation
- Galvanized Steel Nails or Staples
- Plaster or Light Mortar
- Spray Foam Insulation Kit
- Drilling Machine
- Paint
Now take your tools, and let’s get building! If you want, you can also follow the steps to insulate your ductwork.
Step 1 of 7: Clean Underneath The Roof
For this, you’ll have to start by cleaning the inner side of the roof. This is applicable only when the aluminum roof is already installed.
For the cleaning, you can use a light acid cleaner and scrub it clean. Another option is making a DIY chlorine solution. Add one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of water and mix.
Or you can use aluminum roof cleaners bought from the market.
Step 2 of 7: Patch Up The Gaps And Holes
You might notice certain holes on the roof. These might appear from the screws and nails in the plywood support beams. You’ll now have to fill up any gaps or holes you see in the roof.
You can use sheet metal to cover the area. Then caulk the sheet metal, like how you’d caulk baseboard to tile, and press the shingles down. Or you can even use roofing cement and fill it in with a putty knife.
Patching up these gaps will ensure a leak-free roof. But if it’s not sealed properly, it might hinder the insulation system.
Step 3 of 7: Attach The Fiberglass Batts
After you’ve patched up the roof properly, it’s time to attach the fiberglass batts. You can Connect them using insulation adhesive or duct tape. This will hold them in place.
Make sure to add them with about ½ inch or ¾ of an inch space in between. Because if these glasses are close to one another, the insulation capacity might be reduced.
Make sure not to use nails for this process. As this might penetrate through the roof!
Step 4 of 7: Install The Foam Insulation
Now it’s time to install the foam insulation. For this, you’ll have to place these adjacent to one another. And it should be perpendicular to the plywood foundation.
Cover the entire under roof with this. If needed, cut the insulation according to the size of the roof. Next, use galvanized steel nails or staples to hold them in place. Make sure it’s made of galvanized steel because these are rustproof.
Step 5 of 7: Seal The Edges
After that, we’ll have to tape the edges of the foam insulation. Use duct tape and go over the entire area and properly seal them.
If you want, you can even use plaster or light mortar to fill up the spaces.
Step 6 of 7: Spray Foam for Inaccessible Areas
There might be a couple of areas on the roof that might be hard to reach. An example might be the corners in the attic with slanting or vaulted ceilings. To insulate these portions, you’ll need to use spray foam insulation.
It might be hard for you to find the best spray foam. But we got you! Here are some of the most recommended spray foam insulation:
| Product 1 | |
| Product 2 |
You can use these without a doubt!
You can buy a kit for this spray foam insulation. They come with a user manual to guide you more precisely. You can use this all over the roof.
When you’re insulating those difficult corners, you’ll need a drill machine. Use it to make one to two inches opening on the plywood. And then spray through that hole!
Step 7 of 7: Finish It Up With Paint
After you’re done with the insulation process, it’s time to add some finishing touches. You can add a coat of acrylic or latex paint to it. This will help you to cover the insulating foam and the duct tapes.
If you’re looking to add an extra oomph to the roof, we have just the thing. You can use decorative patterned rigid insulation foam instead of the plain ones! But this will cost you a higher price.
You can either opt for the fancy ones or the regular ones. It’s totally up to you! So, grab the one which you like the most!
That’s all from us! This is basically how you can insulate an aluminum patio roof.
FAQs
Question: Which side of foam board insulation faces out?
Answer: It depends on whether you want to make your space warm or cooler. If you want it warm, the foil part should face the inside. This is so that it can radiate heat back into the room. And do the opposite if you want your space to be cooler.
Question: Can you paint over insulation foam?
Answer: Yes you definitely can! But the paint has to be acrylic water-based or latex paint. Though it’s not a necessity, you can sand the surface after it has dried completely. This will give you a smoother surface to work with!
Question: How thick should foam board insulation be?
Answer: The rigid insulation foam comes in standard thicknesses between ½-2 inches. However, if you live in a place with extreme conditions, then you can special order. Some manufacturers have these boards up to 6 inches thickness.
Bottom Line
This brings us to the very end of our segment. So, do you now know how to insulate an aluminum patio roof?
So grab all the things you need and get installed! If you need any help, contact a professional.
Until next time, goodbye!