Expert: Dave Johnson - 8/30/2009

Question

When my parents put the addition on the house they put the new roof over the old one.  I want to open up the ceiling in my bedroom to the old roof and would like to know what types of insulation could be used and what would be the best one? My dad and stepdad says that my room is going to keep hotter then it already does if I open up the ceiling but my mom said she saw are neighbors house and it's really nice. I do live in Fl and my room faces the east and in the morning it get extremely hot in it. What should I do?

Answer
Hi Shanaz,
Some of the heat you experience is coming from the roof (ceiling) and some from the windows/walls.
Its hard to guess what exactly to do without seeing the configuration of framing of both the old roof and the new.
If you open the ceiling, use rigid foam against the old framing with a reflective side facing up,
and if there is a way to vent above the insulation, do that as well. Make sure to have the venting
so that there can be as much air movement  as possible.

Good luck, and if you need more, mail me again

Dave