Roof Insulation

[Dave_Knowles]

Can anyone suggest what I should insulate my cabin roof with. I want something that is about 1" thick to go between the plywood roofing panels and the fibre glass . It obviously needs to be fire resistant.



<hr width=100% size=1>Cleopatra Boats at
http://www.MyCleopatra-chandlery.co.uk

 

[tugboat]

The only product I know of that is effective within your thickness limits is Thinsulate but believe it's expensive.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[McNab]

How about carving the back of some Kingspan foil backed insulation, comes in 50mm x 1200mm x 2400mm sheets, £25 any buildes merchant?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndrewB]

I've been using something similar called Ecotherm Roof Board, from Jewsons, 1" thick and foil-backed on both sides, about £20 for a sheet of that size. Supposedly fire and water resistant, I can certainly vouch for its excellent insulation around my cabin ceiling and walls, and I've also used it around my fridge.

It isn't very flexible, best for almost flat surfaces though of course it can be cut into pieces.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[MainlySteam]

The best solutions that I know of are the closed cell foam soft sheets which provide a vapour barrier - some of which are fire resistant. They are commonly used for lifejackets flotation and are similar to the ones for insulating refrigeration piping, etc. Seems to be the material of choice for insulating the hulls of aluminium/steel super yachts. Is expensive but not so bad if only a small area is to be covered.

Korex is one such product (Asian manufacture) and I think that Rubaflex, made in Italy so may be easier for you to get, may be somewhat similar but would not be sure on that.

We used Korex in our own steel yacht and provides a good thermal barrier, no condensation and is an effective acoustic insulator as well. I have seen the exact same product used in high quality vessels as well.

In trim areas where there is not enough space between the lining and the hull structure for the thicker material, rigid polyurethane sheet is a solution - not sure about its fire resistance though, however it seems to work ok even if only 5-6 mm thick so need not be so much volume of it and your interior lining provides a fire rating. It is available from commercial insulation wholesalers.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Corex (made by Dupont in the US) is the closed cell of choice for composite sandwich construction. It's very stable, very light and easily machined and, I can vouch for it, a very good insulator. It is neither cheap or fireproof - in fact you may find fire-resistant closed cell insulating foam impossible to get and have to make do with glass-fibre insulation if you want a fireproof material.

A very much cheaper, but less effective alternative to the Thinsulate already mentioned is sold in many DIY sheds to go behind rediators on external walls - I've used it with considerable success to insulate the interior side deckheads in my boat to stop condensation in sub-zero external temperatures. It is composed of a fire-retarded polystyrene substrate with an aluminum reflective surface bonded to it and comes in, from memory, 1.2m x 4m rolls.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[starboard]

Go out and buy a few cheap closed cell foam camping mats, a cheaper version of the Karrimat. These do not absorb water are only about 15mm thick but have great heat isulation properties. Easily stuck with contact adhesive and conform to intricate curves.

<hr width=100% size=1>