Free Insulation Cost Calculator: Flat & Tapered Roof Systems

👷 Get Instant Insulation Cost Estimates – UPDATED For 2026

Use this flat roof insulation cost calculator to see what insulation really costs for your project, whether you’re comparing flat Polyiso boards to a full tapered system, trying to reach R-30 for building codes, or figuring out if the energy savings justify the upgrade. The tool uses 2026 pricing ranges, your roof size, and your region to estimate installed cost, energy savings, and long-term payback.

After 33+ years in roofing, including 13 years working across Canada, I built this calculator because I kept seeing the same expensive mistake. Owners would save $8,000 upfront by choosing cheaper insulation, then spend thousands more every year on heating because the roof wasn’t designed properly. Over 20 years, that “saving” often turns into $70,000 or more in wasted energy.

Here’s what this calculator tells you:

  • Material costs for flat insulation boards vs. tapered systems
  • Total installed cost including labour (varies by region)
  • Energy savings per year based on your climate zone
  • Payback period (how long until energy savings cover the upgrade cost)
  • R-value recommendations for your location (Canada, US, UK)

The calculator uses 2026 material pricing, regional labour rates, and actual energy cost data from utility companies across North America and the UK. It factors in climate zones, building codes, and the real-world performance difference between cheap insulation and proper systems.

Stop guessing what insulation should cost. Calculate it based on your actual roof.

All 2026 prices are typical industry ranges from contractor and cost‑guide data; your quotes may be higher or lower based on market conditions.

UPDATED 2026

Insulation Board Calculator

Compare Tapered vs Flat Insulation Systems

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Enter your project details and click "Calculate 2026 Savings".

Quick Answer: What Does Tapered Insulation Cost?

Here’s what you’ll pay for insulation in 2026 based on system type:

Flat Insulation Boards (Polyiso):

  • Material only: $1.10 to $1.60 per sq ft
  • Installed cost: $2.50 to $4.00 per sq ft
  • Best for: Roofs with existing slope built into the deck

Tapered Insulation Systems:

  • Material only: $3.50 to $6.50 per sq ft
  • Installed cost: $6.00 to $10.00 per sq ft
  • Best for: Dead-flat decks that need drainage created

Other Insulation Types:

  • XPS (Extruded Polystyrene): $1.80 to $2.40 per sq ft material
  • Rockwool: $2.20 to $3.00 per sq ft material
  • EPS (Expanded Polystyrene): $0.80 to $1.40 per sq ft material

Why the huge price difference? Tapered systems aren’t just boards. They’re custom-designed layouts with crickets, valleys, and multiple slope planes that direct water to drains. A 10,000 sq ft roof might need 40+ different board sizes cut specifically for that building.

Use the calculator above to get exact costs for your roof size and location.

“Pro Tip: Not sure if you need tapered or flat insulation? If water sits on your roof for more than 48 hours after rain, you need tapered. Use the Flat Roof Advisor to get a custom recommendation based on your deck type and drainage.” 👉 Get free personalised advice

Stop Guessing on Insulation. Here’s What It Actually Costs You.

I get calls every spring from building owners who spent $45,000 on a new TPO roof and went with the cheapest insulation quote to “stay in budget.” Two years later, they’re calling me back because they’ve got ponding water destroying the membrane, and their heating bills went up $2,800 a year because the insulation’s wet.

Here’s what happened: Contractor quoted them R-20 flat boards at $2.80 per sq ft installed. Owner should have paid $7.50 per sq ft for a tapered system that would have drained properly and hit R-30 for their climate zone (they’re in Ottawa, they need R-30 minimum).

So they “saved” $47,000 on the install. But they’re losing $2,800 per year on energy, plus they’ve got a roof that’s going to fail at 12 years instead of 25 years because of the standing water. That’s $56,000 in extra energy costs over 20 years, plus they have to replace the roof 13 years early.

The “cheap” option cost them over $100,000.

I’ve seen this pattern for 33 years. Building owners focus on the upfront cost and ignore the 20-year cost. That’s why I built this calculator to show both numbers side by side.

What drives insulation costs:

  • R-value requirements: R-20 costs half what R-30 costs (you need twice as much material)
  • Tapered vs. flat: Tapered systems cost 2-3x more but solve drainage problems
  • Roof complexity: More drains, more HVAC units, more edges = more custom cuts = higher cost
  • Climate zone: Northern climates require higher R-values = thicker insulation = more cost
  • Installation method: Mechanically attached costs less than fully adhered

The calculator factors in all of this. You enter your roof size, location, and whether you have drainage issues. It tells you what flat insulation costs vs. tapered, and shows you the energy payback timeline.

Flat Insulation vs. Tapered Systems: What’s the Real Difference?

People ask me all the time: “Do I really need a tapered system, or can I just use flat boards?”

Here’s the straight answer: If your roof deck has slope built in (1/4 inch per foot minimum toward drains), you can use flat boards. If your deck is dead flat or has low spots where water sits, you need tapered insulation to create slope.

Flat Insulation Boards:

These are your standard 4×8 sheets of Polyiso (polyisocyanurate). They come in thicknesses from 1 inch to 4 inches. You stack them to reach your target R-value. R-value per inch is typically 5.7 to 6.0.

I used flat boards on a 25,000 sq ft warehouse in Calgary last year. The deck was steel with a built-in 1/2 inch per foot slope. We installed two layers of 2.6-inch Polyiso (R-30 total), mechanically attached. Material cost was $1.45 per sq ft, installed cost was $3.20 per sq ft. Roof drains perfectly, no issues.

Tapered Insulation Systems:

Roofers installing white EPS tapered insulation over a vapor barrier on a large commercial flat roof with metal decking

EPS tapered insulation is being installed over a vapour barrier on a commercial metal deck, showing slope buildup in progress.

These are custom-designed layouts where insulation thickness varies across the roof to create slope. You might have a “cricket” (raised area) in the middle that slopes toward drains on all four sides. The insulation ranges from 1 inch thick at the high point to 6 inches thick at the drain.

Did a 15,000 sq ft flat deck retail building in Mississauga two winters ago. Deck was concrete, completely flat, water sitting everywhere. We designed a tapered system with four drains. High points started at 3 inches (R-18), sloped at 1/4 inch per foot to drains where insulation was 5.5 inches thick (R-33). Material cost was $5.80 per sq ft, installed cost was $8.90 per sq ft.

Building owner questioned the cost until I showed him the energy analysis: $4,200 per year savings on heating/cooling compared to his old R-12 roof. Payback period was 6.2 years. After that, he’s pocketing $4,200 every year for the next 18+ years.

When you absolutely need tapered:

  • Deck is flat (less than 1/8 inch per foot slope)
  • You’ve got ponding water that sits more than 48 hours after rain
  • Interior drains in the middle of the roof (not at edges)
  • Roof is bigger than 5,000 sq ft (harder to build slope into deck)
  • You’re in a climate with heavy rain or snow (drainage is critical)

When flat boards work:

  • Deck already has 1/4 inch per foot or better slope
  • Roof drains at perimeter (scuppers or gutters)
  • Small roof (under 3,000 sq ft)
  • You’re re-roofing and old system drained fine

Use the calculator to compare costs. If the tapered system pays for itself in under 10 years through energy savings, it’s usually the right choice even if your deck has some slope.

“Pro Tip: Don’t know your current R-value or what code requires for your area? The Flat Roof Advisor asks about your building location and gives you specific R-value targets and whether an upgrade makes financial sense.” 👉 Get your free assessment

Tapered Insulation Cost Breakdown: What You’re Actually Paying For

When people search for a tapered insulation cost calculator, they usually don’t understand what makes it expensive. It’s not just “more insulation.” It’s engineering, custom fabrication, and precision installation.

Here’s what you’re paying for with a tapered system:

1. Engineering and Design ($800 to $2,500 for most projects)

Someone needs to survey your roof, locate all drains and penetrations, calculate slope requirements, and design a layout that drains to code (1/4 inch per foot minimum). This creates a cut sheet showing 40 to 200+ different board sizes depending on roof complexity.

I worked on a 60,000 sq ft office building in Edmonton last year. Six interior drains, 14 HVAC units on the roof, two different deck elevations. The tapered insulation design took an engineer 12 hours and cost the owner $1,800. But it was money well spent because we eliminated every ponding area.

2. Material Cost (60-70% of total price)

Tapered boards cost more than flat boards because they’re custom cut. You’re paying for:

  • Crickets (peaked sections that shed water in two directions)
  • Valley fills (transition pieces between different slopes)
  • Fill boards (flat base layer that brings the whole roof up to minimum thickness)
  • Slope boards (the actual tapered pieces, usually 1/8″ or 1/4″ per foot)

A typical 10,000 sq ft tapered job might use:

  • 8,000 sq ft of flat fill boards (R-10 base layer): $1.20/sq ft = $9,600
  • 10,500 sq ft of tapered slope boards (extra 10% for waste): $4.80/sq ft = $50,400
  • Total material: $60,000 or $6.00 per sq ft

Compare that to flat boards hitting the same average R-value: $14,000 material cost.

3. Installation Labour (30-40% of total price)

Tapered systems take longer to install because every board is numbered and has to go in a specific location. Screw it up and your slope runs the wrong direction.

Large amounts of standing water on a poorly draining flat roof

Severe ponding water on a flat roof—one of the top reasons flat roofs fail prematurely.

Flat board installation: 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft per day with a 3-man crew Tapered system installation: 800 to 1,200 sq ft per day with the same crew

That’s why labour costs are $2.00 to $3.50 per sq ft for tapered vs $1.20 to $2.00 per sq ft for flat.

4. Waste Factor (10-15% on tapered vs. 5-8% on flat)

Complicated roofs with lots of drains, odd shapes, and rooftop units have higher waste. You can’t use every scrap, especially when you’re cutting custom slopes. This gets factored into the quote.

The calculator handles all this math for you. You just enter roof size and complexity. It estimates material waste and design fees based on current 2026 pricing.

Why Building Codes Now Require R-30 (And What That Means for Your Wallet)

If you’re doing a commercial roof in Canada or the northern US in 2026, you’re probably hitting R-30 minimum. That’s a big jump from the R-20 that was standard 10 years ago.

Current R-value requirements by region:

Canada (NBC 2020):

  • Many Climate Zone 6 cities (e.g., Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa) target around R‑30 roof assemblies; check local adoption and details.
  • Climate Zone 5 (Toronto, Montreal, Calgary): R-25 to R-30
  • Climate Zone 4 (Vancouver, Victoria): R-20 to R-25

USA (ASHRAE 90.1-2019):

  • Zone 7 (Minnesota, North Dakota): R-30 minimum
  • Zone 6 (Chicago, Boston, upstate NY): R-25 to R-30
  • Zone 5 (NYC, Seattle, Denver): R-25
  • Zone 4 (Atlanta, San Francisco): R-20 to R-25
  • Zone 3 (Houston, Phoenix): R-15 to R-20

UK Building Regulations (Part L 2021):

  • Minimum 0.18 W/m²K (roughly R-32 in US terms)
  • Most commercial roofs now require 150-200mm of insulation

What this means in actual insulation thickness:

To hit R-30 with Polyiso (R-6 per inch), you need 5 inches total thickness. That’s usually done with two layers:

  • Bottom layer: 2.6 inches (R-15.6)
  • Top layer: 2.6 inches (R-15.6)
  • Total: 5.2 inches, R-31.2

Material cost for R-30 in flat boards: $2.80 to $3.60 per sq ft Material cost for R-30 in tapered system: $5.50 to $8.00 per sq ft

Why the codes changed: Energy costs went up, climate goals got stricter, and data showed that R-20 roofs were costing building owners thousands per year in wasted energy. The payback period for R-30 vs R-20 is typically 4 to 7 years in cold climates.

I re-roofed a 40,000 sq ft industrial building in Winnipeg in 2023. Old roof was R-12 (built in 1998). New code required R-30. Owner was upset about the cost until I ran the energy analysis: $18,000 per year savings on heating. The extra $85,000 for thicker insulation paid for itself in 4.7 years.

The calculator shows you energy payback. If you’re in a cold climate and upgrading from R-15 to R-30, you’ll see payback in 5 to 8 years. After that, it’s pure savings every year for the next 15 to 20 years.

Three Signs Your Current Insulation Is Costing You Thousands

Before you use the calculator to price a new system, check your existing roof for these warning signs. These tell you your insulation is failing and costing you money every month.

1. The Roof Feels Soft or Spongy When You Walk On It

This is wet insulation. Polyiso and EPS absorb water like a sponge when your membrane leaks or you have condensation issues. Wet insulation has an R-value close to zero. You’re heating the sky.

I inspected a 20,000 sq ft warehouse in Brampton last fall. Roof was only 9 years old, TPO membrane looked fine from the ground. Walked on it and felt soft spots near two drains. Cut test samples, insulation was soaked, 40% moisture content by weight. Owner’s heating bills had gone up $4,500 per year over the last three winters. He thought his boiler was failing. It was the roof.

We pulled the whole roof. Found the TPO seams had failed at the drains, water was getting into the insulation through bad welds. Insulation replacement cost $42,000. But he’ll save $4,500 per year now that it’s dry, so payback is 9.3 years even though the roof wasn’t end of life.

If your roof feels soft, your insulation could be wet. Use the calculator to price replacement before your energy bills keep climbing.

2. Dark Lines on Your Interior Ceiling (Thermal Bridging)

Look at your ceiling from inside the building. See dark streaks or lines that follow the pattern of your roof joists or steel deck? That’s thermal bridging. Your insulation isn’t thick enough or wasn’t installed with staggered joints.

Heat escapes through the structure (wood or steel) faster than through the insulation. That creates cold spots on the interior ceiling where condensation forms and collects dust. You see it as dark lines.

This means your effective R-value is 20-30% lower than what’s supposed to be up there. If you’re designed for R-25 but have thermal bridging, you’re actually getting R-17 to R-20.

Saw this on a retail building in Ottawa two years ago. Owner complained about $6,800 per year heating bills for a 12,000 sq ft space. Looked at the ceiling, saw thermal bridging everywhere. Roof drawings showed R-20, but it was installed in a single layer directly over steel deck. No offset, no thermal break.

We added a second layer of insulation with staggered joints (brought it to R-30). Heating bills dropped to $4,100 per year. The $22,000 insulation upgrade paid for itself in 8.1 years.

Use the calculator to price a second layer of insulation if you’ve got thermal bridging. The energy savings usually justify the cost.

3. Drying Rings and Ponding Water That Sits for Days

Go up on your roof after it rains. If you see areas where water sits for 48+ hours, then slowly evaporates leaving white rings of dirt and salt, you’ve got two problems: inadequate slope and membrane degradation from UV exposure.

Standing water on a roof acts like a magnifying glass for UV. It accelerates membrane ageing by 2-3x. A TPO roof designed to last 20 years might fail in 10 years if it has chronic ponding.

And that ponding is usually caused by insulation compression or deck deflection. Your insulation is compressing under load (happens with EPS and wet Polyiso), creating low spots where it used to be level.

I got called to a 30,000 sq ft office building in Markham last spring. TPO roof was 11 years old, starting to leak at seams. When we pulled samples, we found the EPS insulation had compressed 1.2 inches in the areas where HVAC units sit. That created ponding zones all around the equipment.

Owner’s choice: tear off and replace with tapered Polyiso system ($185,000), or try to patch and re-coat for another 3-5 years ($35,000 short-term, but still going to fail). He chose the tapered system because the energy analysis showed $8,200 per year savings (going from R-15 EPS to R-30 Polyiso). Payback: 22.6 years, but he’ll get a 25-year roof instead of patching every few years.

The Wet Insulation Trap: Should You Upgrade on Re-Roof?

Tear-Off old flat roof with Wet Insulation Trap

I’ve ripped off hundreds of roofs where the insulation was 45% to 60% wet from years of ponding water or condensation issues. Every time, the building owner asks: “Do I have to upgrade to R-30, or can I just replace what’s there?”

Here’s the straight answer for Canadian re-roofing projects in 2026:

If you’re doing a membrane-only overlay and not exposing the deck, you’re generally not required by code to upgrade insulation. But if you’re stripping to the deck (major renovation), inspectors will often require you to bring insulation up to current standards (R-25 to R-30).

But here’s what I tell every building owner: if your insulation is wet, always upgrade regardless of what code requires.

I inspected a 28,000 sq ft warehouse in Edmonton two years ago. Owner wanted a membrane-only recover to save money. When we did the cut test samples, the existing R-15 Polyiso was 52% wet by weight. That insulation had an effective R-value of about R-3. His heating bills were $9,200 per year for a building that should have cost $4,800 per year to heat.

He had two choices:

Option 1: Membrane-only recovery overlay and replace the worst wet insulation. Cost: $54,000. Heating bills stay at $9,200/year. (Not recommended at all)

Option 2: Full tear-off, dry R-30 Polyiso, new TPO. Cost: $98,000. Heating bills drop to $4,100/year.

He went with Option 2. The extra $44,000 paid for itself in 8.6 years through energy savings. After that, he pockets $5,100 per year for the next 16+ years.

Why wet insulation is the killer:

Wet insulation loses 80% to 90% of its R-value. Your R-20 roof performs like R-3. And in freeze-thaw climates, that water freezes, expands, breaks down the insulation, then melts and moves. After five winters, the insulation is destroyed even if you patch the membrane.

Use the calculator to run the numbers. Enter your current R-value, then calculate what R-30 costs. Look at the energy payback timeline. If it’s under 10 years (and in cold climates it almost always is), do the upgrade.

The “cheap” re-roof, where you leave wet insulation, costs you thousands every year in energy losses, and you end up replacing the roof again in 8-12 years instead of getting 20-25 years out of it.

“Pro Tip: Calculator showing a 6-year payback but you’re not sure if it’s worth it? The Flat Roof Advisor factors in your roof’s age, condition, and your building plans to tell you if an insulation upgrade makes sense now or if you should wait.” 👉 Get custom guidance now

If you’ve got ponding water, use the calculator to price a tapered system. It’s the only permanent fix.

Always verify with your local safety codes officer. Official resources:
ABC Section 9.36 Guide (PDF):
Alberta Energy Codes:
ARCA Roofing Standards:

Regional Insulation Cost Differences: Canada vs USA vs UK

Material costs and labour rates vary significantly by region. Here’s what you’re actually paying in 2026 depending on where you’re building.

Canada (Prices in CAD):

Material costs are 10-15% higher than USA due to shipping and smaller market. Labour rates vary by province.

  • Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa): $3.50 to $4.50/sq ft installed for flat R-30, $8.50 to $11.00/sq ft for tapered
  • Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton): $3.20 to $4.00/sq ft flat, $7.80 to $10.20/sq ft tapered
  • BC (Vancouver, Victoria): $3.80 to $4.80/sq ft flat, $9.20 to $11.50/sq ft tapered
  • Quebec (Montreal, Quebec City): $3.40 to $4.40/sq ft flat, $8.20 to $10.80/sq ft tapered

Building codes are strict (R-30 minimum in most provinces). Energy costs are high ($0.12 to $0.18/kWh electricity, $1.20 to $1.80/therm gas), so payback periods are shorter than USA.

USA (Prices in USD):

Material costs are lowest due to market size and competition. Labour rates vary dramatically by state.

  • Northeast (NY, MA, CT): $3.00 to $4.20/sq ft flat, $7.50 to $10.00/sq ft tapered
  • Midwest (IL, MI, MN): $2.80 to $3.80/sq ft flat, $6.80 to $9.20/sq ft tapered
  • South (TX, FL, GA): $2.50 to $3.50/sq ft flat, $6.00 to $8.50/sq ft tapered
  • West (CA, WA, OR): $3.20 to $4.50/sq ft flat, $7.80 to $10.50/sq ft tapered

R-value requirements vary by state and ASHRAE zone. Energy costs vary widely ($0.08/kWh in Louisiana vs $0.32/kWh in California), affecting payback.

UK (Prices in GBP):

Material costs are highest due to import costs and stricter fire regulations (most projects require PIR with enhanced fire ratings).

  • England/Wales: £28 to £38/m² flat, £62 to £85/m² tapered
  • Scotland: £30 to £42/m² flat, £65 to £90/m² tapered
  • Converted to sq ft: $4.20 to $5.80/sq ft flat, $9.50 to $13.00/sq ft tapered

Building regs require high R-values (R-32+ equivalent). Energy costs are very high (£0.25 to £0.35/kWh), so payback periods are fastest despite higher install costs.

The calculator adjusts for your region automatically. Select Canada, USA, or UK, and it uses regional material costs and energy rates to calculate your payback period.

How to Use This Calculator to Make the Right Decision

Here’s my recommendation for using this tool effectively:

Step 1: Calculate your current insulation cost

If you’re re-roofing and need to match what you have, enter your roof size and current R-value. This gives you the baseline “match existing” cost.

Step 2: Calculate the code-minimum upgrade

Change the R-value to whatever your local code requires (usually R-25 to R-30). See what the upgrade costs.

Step 3: Add tapered if you have drainage issues

If you’ve got ponding water or a flat deck, switch to “tapered system” in the calculator. See the cost difference.

Step 4: Check the payback period

Look at the energy savings per year and payback timeline. If payback is under 10 years, the upgrade usually makes financial sense. If it’s over 15 years, you might stick with code minimum.

Step 5: Get actual quotes

Use the calculator numbers to verify contractor quotes. If someone quotes you $12/sq ft for tapered insulation in Toronto and the calculator says $9-11/sq ft, you know their quote is high.

I’ve had building owners show me quotes from contractors that were 40% over market rate. The calculator gives them leverage to negotiate or find a different contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions: Insulation Costs & Systems

What is the cost of tapered insulation per square foot?

In 2026, tapered insulation systems cost $6.00 to $10.00 per square foot installed in most of North America. This includes material, labour, design/engineering, and waste factor. Material alone is $3.50 to $6.50 per sq ft. The wide range depends on roof complexity (number of drains, penetrations), target R-value, and regional labour rates. A simple roof with two drains might be $6.50/sq ft total. A complicated roof with eight drains and lots of HVAC equipment might be $9.50/sq ft.

Can I just add insulation over my existing roof?

Sometimes. If your existing membrane is in good condition and your structure can handle the extra weight, you can “recover” with a new layer of insulation and membrane. This costs 20-30% less than a full tear-off. But you need a structural engineer to verify capacity, and you need to check building codes (some jurisdictions limit you to two roof systems total). If your existing insulation is wet or your membrane is failing, recovery doesn’t work. You need to tear off to the deck.

What is the R-value requirement for my area?

Most of Canada and northern USA now require R-25 to R-30 for commercial flat roofs. Southern USA is R-15 to R-25. UK requires equivalent of R-32+. The calculator asks for your location and suggests appropriate R-values based on current building codes. Check with your local building department for exact requirements (they vary by city sometimes).

How long does it take for insulation upgrades to pay for themselves?

Depends on your climate zone and energy costs. In cold climates (Canada, northern USA), upgrading from R-15 to R-30 typically pays for itself in 5 to 8 years through reduced heating costs. In mild climates (southern USA, UK), payback is 8 to 12 years. The calculator shows your specific payback based on local energy rates. After payback, you’re saving money every year for the remaining roof life (usually 10-15 more years).

What’s the difference between Polyiso, EPS, and XPS insulation?

Polyiso (polyisocyanurate): R-6 per inch, most common for commercial roofs, good for mechanically attached and adhered systems. Cost: $1.10-$1.60/sq ft material.

EPS (expanded polystyrene): R-4 per inch, cheapest option, compresses under load, not recommended for foot traffic areas. Cost: $0.80-$1.40/sq ft material.

XPS (extruded polystyrene): R-5 per inch, moisture resistant, used for inverted/green roofs. Cost: $1.80-$2.40/sq ft material.

For most flat roofs, Polyiso is the best value. Higher R-value per inch means less total thickness needed.

“Pro Tip: Confused about Polyiso vs XPS vs Rockwool for your specific climate? The Flat Roof Advisor recommends the best insulation type based on your location, building use, and whether you need fire ratings or moisture resistance.” 👉 Get personalised answers free

Do I need tapered insulation if my deck already has some slope?

If your deck has 1/4 inch per foot slope or better and water drains within 48 hours after rain, you probably don’t need tapered insulation. You can use flat boards. But if you’ve got areas where water ponds for days, or if your drains are in the middle of the roof (not at edges), tapered insulation fixes the problem permanently. It costs 2-3x more upfront but prevents membrane failure from chronic ponding.

Can I install insulation myself to save money?

Not recommended for commercial roofs. Insulation installation affects your membrane warranty (most manufacturers require certified installers). Improper installation (gaps between boards, thermal bridging, incorrect fastener spacing) reduces your effective R-value by 20-40%. And if you’re doing a tapered system, you need to follow the engineered layout exactly or your drainage won’t work. DIY insulation usually costs you more in the long run through energy loss and warranty issues.

What causes insulation to get wet and lose R-value?

Three main causes: (1) Membrane leaks allowing rain/snow melt to soak into insulation, (2) Condensation from interior moisture hitting cold surfaces, (3) Improper vapor barrier installation. Wet insulation loses 80-90% of its R-value. A roof designed for R-25 might only perform at R-3 to R-5 when wet. This is why your heating bills spike when your roof leaks. The calculator assumes dry insulation. If yours is wet, you’re not getting the R-value you think you are.