How to make waterproofing without removing roofing material?

Question

Hello! I have a question about the attic and roof. The house has an attic of a fairly decent size. Previously, it was not used at all, it was "cold", but now I want this room to become more useful, we should use it to the maximum. Probably, it is worth making additional insulation and waterproofing, but I would not want to remove the roofing material. How can this be done at the lowest cost? (September 17, 2013, Andrey)

Answer

Hello! Thanks for the question. The best option in this case is, nevertheless, the removal of the roofing material in order to properly lay the waterproofing layer. To do this, it is necessary to lay a layer of insulation and a vapor barrier film in the interior.

Without a doubt, all these stages of work will take a lot of time and resources. If there is no desire to freeze on cold winter evenings, then it is worth approaching the roof and attic insulation more thoroughly.

In addition, if roofing materials that are well understood (such as corrugated board) are used, then the process of constructing a roofing cake can be faster and easier.

Let's take a closer look at what the roofing pie consists of (from the roofing to the inside of the attic). Here are its main components:

the material completing the roof structure;
special gaps for air ventilation;
layers of waterproofing materials;
obligatory layer of thermal insulation;
vapor barrier film.

As you can see, this design can cause some difficulties when laying a waterproofing layer without removing the roofing.

When choosing a waterproofing film, special attention should be paid to the roofing material itself, which will be installed on the roof. Depending on this, you need to choose the appropriate film, which can either absorb or pass steam.

When installing waterproofing, it is important to lay it correctly, since if you lay it on the wrong side, the roofing cake will be absolutely ineffective. And if the system does not function properly, then in such an attic space there will be no opportunity to stay for a long time in the winter to relax after a hard day and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with jam in the comfort and warmth to the sound of the cold winds ...