Hi all,

I want to install heat insulator and zinc sheet on the roof for security purpose.
I was quoted as below:

"The length of your house should be 50 feet because the standard set back is 20 feet.
I presumed the length of your 1st floor is about 47 feet.
Ceiling area is approximately 940FS
Therefore, roof area is 20'x51'x1.12 (extra 4 feet for roof eave and extra 12% for gradient length) = 1140FS
The thermal insulation (cellulose) system is RM3,208.00 and roof security system (using zinc sheet only) is RM3,734.00"

That would be RM2.81psf for the cellulose insulation and RM3.28psf for zinc sheet.
Would it be expensive?
Currently I was also offered RM2.60psf for rockwool insulation.

Would appreciate any feedback from you all on the:
1. pros & cons of rockwool vs cellulose,
2. the pricing on zinc sheet. <-- does it have different grade?

dreamKrusher, did u install them already? Mind to share ur experince?

Not yet install. But from my survey and feedback, it is quite effective to install them on the roof.
Pricewise, I'm comparing them. Price will definitely go up year by year. Rockwool was RM 2.60 psf on 2008, RM 2.80 psf on 2009, and next year...you decide.

As for cellulose insulator, not sure it is better as in long term and value for money than rockwool.
Cellulose is made from papers and chemical.
Rockwool is spun from melted rock.
Both of them are fire-retardent, which is good for prevent fire spreadout on your roof.

Any cellulose user here?

dont use the fire retardant issue on roof ...... sales gimmick ... by the time the fire goes up the roof .. there's go the whole house ...

the heat maybe unbearable to ppl on attic ... but the heat will not cause fire ... thermodynamics is always in motion ... the heat is dispersed by the atmosphere



i do not recommend Rockwool .... it's also used for hydroponics ... this maybe a joke ... but if your roof leaks .. and the water seeps in the rockwool ... some plant might grow on it .... since that's where organic vegies came from

use the Cellulose ... besides not growing plants ... it has the best fire retardant functionality (if you like fire retardant)


remember to have air duct + aluminium roof ventilation to help disperse the heat in rooms ... without air ducts ... the air take the easiest path from the small gaps in the roof ... and wont take up the heat from the rooms ... basically reducing it benefits from 100% to mere 10% (unless for fully sealed roof .. but there's no such roof except factories)

look at this..very impressive
http://www.tclmalaysia.com/

can confirm TCl is good with cellulose. used them. roof is closed. never reaches above 31°

Seems interesting - what is the average price psqf?

Only worry is what happens if this cellulose comes in contact with water? E.g. From a leaking roof, from a leaking tank, etc.
Most of this are unnoticed because the celllose is actually insulating the water from the ceiling, which will be hidden from you unless you go into the roof and check. Will it expand? Disintegrate, or grow mold (hazard ot health)?

my personal experience..
better to install treated woodplank below the roof tiles rather than zinc sheet coz it is useless in terms of security ( broken easily in many cases).. though its a bit pricey than zinc, but worthy in the long run.

http://www.monier.com.my/energy-efficient-...-coolroofR.html

so many products in the mkt

KeNNy,

this is why you dont seal the cellulose. any moisture that might come into contact can then evaporate again. however we have also installed an industrial grade reflecting roof foil made of woven fabric under the tiles - this keeps additional heat out and works as a protection from possible leaks.

i think the treated cellulose is not that hydrophylic - can try with a sample if you want to find out

@PJusa
That reflecting roof foil, is it termed as radiant barrier?

it would be something like that. i bought it from CSR last year - they have several grades and stability version. i bought the one for industrial application. wasnt much more expensive than the normal ones (factor 2 or so) and it seems to work very very well with the cellulose insulation we got. the roof has no ventilation (yet, i am intrigued by the monier solution and think i will ask for a quote to replace the roof tip only) yet the plaster ceiling doesnt exceed 31°. we have monitored it for a while last year with infrared readings. saves a bomb in aircon costs

@PJusa
I thought CSR only do coolbatts rockwool installation. How much they quote you at that time psf?

Can TCL cellulose help to reduce air cond. electricity cost? With installation of TCL cellulose, smaller air cond can be used to offset the cost of installation?

It is supposed to prevent direct heat into your house, so that you will require lesser air-conditioning in cooling down the room to your desired level. You still need the right air-cond to cool down the room in respect to your room size. Else the cold air won't reach the other end of the room. These heat insulators are costly, but for long term...I think it worths the penny. Just that now I not certain rockwool or cellulose better in long term. Cellulose might be dusty after the chemical tears up due to the fact it is made from papers. Rockwool is made from melted rock and spun into fine thread.

dreamKrusher,

this one i bought in long rolls dunno ... like 100m long and 1,50 wide or something like that. the double relective woven foil some builder-stores also sell. CSR sold me their factory grade (most durable and thickest one) i think i paid around 380 or so per roll. this foil is really tough not like the flimsy one you can buy in the builder store (there got for less than 200 bucks)

Calmman,

since less heat from the roof you can reduce aircon a lot. i now only use 28 degree setting and its nice and comfy. i even could reduce the number of aircon. just create an airflow with fans. we have a huge hall (450 sqft or something like this and i can cool the whole thing with just one 2HP inverter aircon at one end and two fans moving the air through the hall. aircon hardly has to work.

also our other rooms all run on 1HP even though aircon ppl say according to their formula must take more than one unit and /or larger units. no need... can easily cool down the whole house without any problem. also the house wont heat up quickly. i am quite content.

from my experience just cellulose wont be enough. better also create a second roof under the tiles with a reflective foil (also means protection from leaking). then make sure you get good closing windows. for us we could cut electricity consumption will all this + changing to inverter aircon when old one fails (no only two old ones left) to approx. 1/3 of the previous level. that is a lot of money you save every month - basically pays for all the costly insulation jobs.

the problem with rockwool is that it is not seamless. hard to reach corners also cannot cover properly. thus inconsitant. cellulose is blown into the place and creates a completely sealed insulation. it settles and there you are. i have not heard that cellulose is having problem in the long run. the insulation properties are superior as to my research. now in europe the insulation is changing all to cellulose due to it providing better features than rockwool.

i hope the info helps.

Did you have wall insulations as well?

Does anyone know of a good reliable company that does roof insulation in Penang?

Like to get quotation and further advice.

KeNNy,

so. my place is built in the 50s and the wall is pretty good. the wall usually is not really a problem. paint it white and you're good to go. the windows are however an issue. if you have the bugget, get good insulation windows, double laminated glass + good tint (raybarrier or something like that). that will work wonders. the normal alluminium frame windows dont close and leak too much heat/cold.

I have studied the cellulose application and feel that the aluminium foil does not help much in thermal insulation despite of good quality. Of course it is better to have it than none. Most developers installed poor quality foil and due to its vertical laps sometimes caused leakage positions unspotable and makes repair works difficult. These foils are easily torn and just for show only at the end of the days unless the owners re do at their own cost.

Are you in the cellulose insulation business? May be can help to install for my house.