Time for a warm roof

What is the point of a warm roof? After all, when you are looking at flat roofing, surely the important thing is to ensure that the room below is warm! Well, the answer to that is both yes and no. Confusingly, in general both warm and cold roofs are insulated; the difference is in where the insulation is placed.

With a warm roof the insulating layer tends to be placed between the waterproofing and the deck whereas with a cold roof the waterproofing is generally installed almost straight on to the deck with the insulation sitting above the ceiling. In the latter case not only does this mean that the roof deck becomes ‘cold’ it can also lead to condensation problems, particularly in cold weather. For this reason in the UK the strong recommendation is for warm roof construction.

So when Truro Catholic Church identified the need for a flat roof refurbishment, the decision was taken to commission a Danosa felt system with upgraded insulation, thereby forming a warm roof. Danosa was a good choice for this project. With more than four decades of experience in the waterproofing marketplace Danosa is one of Europe’s leading waterproofing companies. In addition to waterproofing materials, Danosa also offers acoustic and thermal solutions together with other associated products.

A built up felt system was also a good choice for this project. Flexible and durable, built up felt roofing is cost effective and quick to install. Different weights and thicknesses are designed to cope with a range of applications; as a result bespoke applications can be designed in respect of each project. With the option to add a range of finishes including chippings, tiles or even solar reflective paint it is no wonder that felt roofing is commonly used in both commercial and domestic flat roofing situations.

In this instance Truro Catholic Church needed not only to waterproof a flat surface but also to circumnavigate some roof vents whilst ensuring adequate drainage. Laid in sections the built up felt covering perfectly meets the brief of a warm and waterproof flat roofing solution.