Roof Leaked All Attic Insulation Got Wet

Loss of insulating value.

Roof leaked all attic insulation got wet.

If the fiberglass within your wall cavity or in your attic becomes wet from a leaky roof or burst pipe it will lose insulating effectiveness until the material dries out over time. Even if you notice some of the above telltale signs of a roof leak it may be difficult to locate the problem water can travel along roof panels or lumber in the attic before dripping onto the insulation and leaving any visible evidence of its presence. Closed cell spray foam insulation provides a moisture barrier and an air tight seal. If you have ceiling leaks only in the spring it may be that ice has been forming on the sheathing all winter and it suddenly melts when a warm spell arrives.

Here s what happens if cellulose insulation gets wet and how to handle it. When your insulation is inundated with water you need to act quickly. Especially as your home ages a bit. A roof repair or replacement is the perfect time to replace your insulation.

Often this is first noticed when re shingling. If you re noticing water on your spray foam insulation it almost certainly means that you ve got a leak somewhere. Insulation sits just below the roof s membrane. My spray foam insulation is wet.

After all despite chemical treatments cellulose fibers aren t waterproof. Wet insulation no longer performs its primary function of inhibiting heat transfer. While your roof is being repaired or replaced the decking can be easily lifted to allow for blow in insulation to be shot up through a tube into your attic creating little disturbance and no mess. There are many signs that an attic is wet.

When insulation is wet or even just damp it no longer works to regulate the temperature in your home. Prolonged wetness will rot out the roof sheathing. However a burst pipe or roof leak may dampen cellulose insulation installed in your attic exterior walls or crawlspace. Saturated insulation typically loses at least 40 of its insulating r value.

Musty smell in the attic. What to do about a wet attic. Insulation in the attic is often the first victim when roof leaks occur or when plumbing pipes routed through the attic leak. When a leak allows water to seep in through the outer membrane and saturate the insulation below that moisture can deteriorate the roof on multiple fronts.

Wet insulation increases the burden on the building itself and over time can lead to warping and other structural damage. No matter how well your skylights were installed it is still possible for them to leak during heavy rains. During installation each skylight essentially creates a big hole in an otherwise uniform roof surface. If the roof has leaked it likely got the insulation wet.

The two most common types of insulation fiberglass batts and blown in cellulose loose fill are vulnerable to attic water damage in two specific ways. If the insulation became wet from water that contained any contaminates such as flood water and sewage then the affected insulation and the wallboard are likely ruined and both materials need to be removed as soon as possible. If you have closed cell spray foam insulation that s been exposed to moisture never fear.