I’m building an unheated garage with an extensive green roof. I’m told I should insulate the roof to protect the plant roots from rapid temperature changes (I live in southern Ontario Canada, hot summers, cold winters). I want to use Roxul Comfortbatts between the rafters because their inexpensive for the R value provided. Do I need or want a vapour barrier, and if so on what side of the insulation? It’s a sloped roof. From the top down, the construction is:
- plants
- soil
- shovel gaurd
- drainage layer
- butyl rubber waterproof membrane
- OSB roof deck
- Rafters & Roxul batts
- Typar membrane to reduce air circulation
- inside the unheated garage
Do I need or want a vapour barrier between 6 & 7, 7 & 8, neither, or both?
Replies
No.
The butyl rubber is about as close to a perfect vapor barrier as you will find. The unheated garage will (presumably) have no significant humidity sources, so there's no humidity "driving" from the inside. The 800-pound gorilla is the sod layer, so any humidity "driving" will be from that direction, straight into the membrane.
And you probably want the inside reasonably "open" (what you desribe is fine) in case the membrane should leak.
Thanks Dan. You confirmed my intuition.
My experience with green building
We built a home and they made sure to install Energystar appliances as well as doors, windows, and lighting. Every bit helps. They made this cute infographic that highlighted some of the green advantages too:
A good solution to lessen the impact of heat or deteriorated air
These days many environmental improvement organizations are emphasing on construction of green building as it is good in two ways: one it improves the appearance and gives a pleasing look and moreover protect you and your house from the bad impact of polluted surroundings and keeps you healthy in all ways...I would like to share one pic which is a good example of green building.View Image
Those look nice but there aren't many left because the people built better houses as soon as the technology to do so came along. Those houses are tiny, cramped, dirty and had to be torn down and rebuilt every generation. Not so green.
People still build them. A properly constructed earth-sheltered home, built with modern materials, can have unlimited life.
They take up more space, however, are often considered unattractive (or at least unimpressive) and it's a pain to mow the roof (if you don't have goats).
My post addressed the specific Icelandic turf houses in the picture. They do not still build them. I believe there are one or two left in a museum but no more. The people that lived in them moved out as quick as something better came along.
There is an earth-sheltered home about 15 miles from here. Other than size and age it's not much different in appearance from the one in the picture.
So there is ONE earth sheltered house within 15 miles? Wow, pretty soon everyone will be living in one.
I'm sure there are a few others out in the boonies, but this one is visible from the interstate.
You should look up the term "double down."
In think this is a good idea to buil Green roof.
View Image
If you add a ramp it keeps the goats happy.
View Image