Simple Guide to Roofing in Ireland: Energy-Efficient Homes

1. Elevate Your Project with Expert Collaboration

Begin your roofing adventure by securing reputable professionals. Partnering with seasoned experts ensures your project benefits from thorough planning, efficient execution, and strict adherence to guidelines. Your building’s structural engineer is tasked with developing elaborate construction blueprints, which are transformed into reality by good carpenters and specialized roofing contractors.

Consider FTH Solutions, proficient with Ruukki products, adherence to the Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards, and Warm Roof installation procedures, for your project. For bespoke contractor recommendations, connect with us for expert advice.

2. Intelligent Selection and Design of Roofing Solutions

Selecting your roofing materials involves a collaborative discussion with your appointed roofers, our focus will be on the top three roofing styles:

• Tile effect
• Standing seam
• Modular

Though fundamental structural requirements remain constant across styles, a dialogue with your roofing team may reveal subtle adjustments based on your chosen design.

Our diverse palette of color options and protective coatings significantly betters the lifespan of your roof by offering enhanced protection against UV damage and abrasions. Our commitment to quality is reflected in our up to 50-year warranty offer on our products, distinguishing us from less reputable manufacturers. Investing in well-established names like Ruukki, combined with premium coating options, is a strategic choice for long-term roof protection.

For a comprehensive roofing solution, ensure that all supplementary components such as ridge caps and end trims are procured from a uniform source. By employing our services at FTH Solutions, we can analyze your project requirements to identify essential components and calculate accurate material quantities.

Variety of energy-efficient roofing styles including tile effect, standing seam, and modular, all coming in a range of colors and styles

3. Roofing Construction Techniques

Building a Durable Structure:

The integrity of your roof begins with a sturdy wooden frame, designed with precision by your structural engineer. Various construction methodologies offer distinct benefits. Whereas truss roofs are economically advantageous, ridge beam roofs provide an increase in usable attic space. Selecting the appropriate construction model early in the planning phase is crucial.

This framework is complemented by a critical vapour-permeable membrane, essential for moisture regulation and protection against water penetration, serving also as a barrier against bad weather. The performance of such membranes varies according to the brand and price point.

Roof Battens and Proper Roof Ventilation: Achieving Optimal Air Circulation

Roof Battens:

Situated atop the weather-resistive barrier, battens play a pivotal role in securing metal roofing materials. These narrow strips of lumber create an insulated gap between the roofing material and the internal structure, offering several benefits:

• Reflecting heat on sunny days, thereby reducing the load on your home’s cooling system.
• Allowing hot air and moisture to escape easily, which increases comfort inside the building.
• Providing a secure base for attaching metal sheets with specially designed self-drilling screws, ensuring a weather-tight seal.

Proper Roof Ventilation for Optimal Air Circulation:

To ensure effective ventilation of the roof plane, it is imperative to create an air void through the precise installation of the counterbatten subframe. This subframe must allow unobstructed airflow with a suitable inlet and outlet of adequate size. Reference Table 1 simplifies the selection of the air void height based on the roof plane’s length. It is essential to consider that accessories like meshes and slotted trunking decrease the effective cross-section of the air void, influencing the counterbatten thickness selection.

The inlet of the air void should be meticulously designed to maintain a proper cross-section. At the ridge, the air void outlet should have a minimum area of 50 cm² per meter on each side of the roof. Our product range includes special ridge tiles with concealed perforations that ensure optimal ventilation levels.

Table 1: Height of the Air Void as per DIN 4108-03

Conclusion: Roofing with FTH for Sustainable Irish Homes

As you approach the end of your roofing project, integrating an effective rainwater system is essential for protecting your investment. Through strategic planning, the selection of quality materials, and good craftsmanship, your home will not only gain a roof that is durable and energy efficient but also enhances its overall aesthetic appeal – establishing a benchmark for sustainable living spaces in Ireland.