Roof Sarking – Added Protection and Savings All Year Round

Many home owners know from experience the implications of allowing water to enter their ceiling space. The repairs can be comprehensive and costly, and in some cases unnecessary. Had reasonable preventative measures been taken, the unfortunate situation could possibly have been avoided. Entry of storm driven rain into the roof cavity can cause permanent damage, while trapped moisture can instigate mould issues and ceiling staining. Wet insulation becomes essentially useless and no longer provides the thermal resistance it was intended to when first installed. Many of these issues can be prevented by incorporating sarking during construction of the roof. If water somehow manages to find its way through the tiles, it stops with the sarking and runs down into the gutters and away from the house.

What is roof sarking?

Sarking is a water proof membrane that sits under the roof tiles. While roof tiles should keep water out of your home, sarking acts as an extra layer of protection just in case any water manages to get through the roof tiles. This might happen during a storm, where the wind drives the rain in a sideways direction, under the tiles, or it could be that one of the tiles has unknowingly cracked, creating an opening for water. Companies produce different sarking solutions depending on your needs. Some roof sarking helps to manage the risk of condensation by preventing the entry of liquid water but allowing water vapour to pass through it. Other sarking improves thermal performance by reducing heat flow, providing a more comfortable home in warmer climates.

Sisalation foil – keeping your house cooler in summer

Providing an extra level of thermal resistance may also be desirable, depending on the climate zone. Products such as sisalation foil come with a reflective foil barrier on one side, which reflects heat back away from the ceiling before it has a chance to enter the roof space. Bulk insulation in the ceiling does prevent much of the heat in the roof space from penetrating into the living areas below. However, preventing the heat from entering the roof space in the first place through reflective sisalation just under the roof tiles, is an effective way of keeping your house cooler during the hot summer months. This means relying less on cooling systems, lower energy bills and a more comfortable home.

Install roof sarking during the construction stage

There are significant benefits associated with roof sarking. Home owners are encouraged to include sarking in their roof construction, as that is the only opportunity they will have to install it. Sarking insulation foil means genuine savings on energy bills every year. At the same time it provides peace of mind, knowing that there is an extra layer of protection against water entry. It doesn’t hurt to inspect the condition of existing sarking either, from time to time, and taping up, patching and replacing where necessary. Sealing up any gaps means an improved level of protection against the weather.