Did you find sealing around vents tricky at all? I tackled insulation too, but honestly, the biggest win for me was hunting down those sneaky gaps. Crazy how much heat slips through tiny spaces... wish I'd known sooner.
"Crazy how much heat slips through tiny spaces... wish I'd known sooner."
Yeah, sealing around vents can be a pain—seen plenty of DIY jobs where folks missed spots they swore were airtight. Honestly, though, gaps around flashing and parapet walls are usually the sneakiest culprits. I've inspected roofs where the insulation was top-notch, but heat loss was still noticeable because of overlooked seams or joints. Modified bitumen roofs especially can hide these issues pretty well.
Curious if anyone here has tried thermal imaging to pinpoint leaks or gaps? I've seen mixed results—sometimes it's spot-on, other times it feels like chasing ghosts.
Totally agree about thermal imaging being hit-or-miss. Had a buddy bring one over last winter—half the time we were chasing cold spots that turned out to be shadows or weird reflections. Still, beats guessing blindly...mostly.
Yeah, thermal imaging can definitely send you down some rabbit holes. Last winter, I borrowed one from a neighbor thinking I'd pinpoint exactly where my roof insulation was failing. Ended up spending half the night chasing what turned out to be reflections off my neighbor's Christmas lights—felt like a ghost hunter episode gone wrong. Still, when you do find a legit cold spot, it's pretty satisfying.
Honestly though, if you're dealing with modified bitumen roofing, I'd say focus more on proper insulation layers and sealing seams carefully. Thermal imaging is cool and all, but nothing beats getting the basics right first. I've had way better luck just making sure the insulation boards are snug and taped properly, and adding a reflective coating on top to cut down heat loss. Less glamorous than waving around a fancy camera, but way more reliable in the long run...
"Thermal imaging is cool and all, but nothing beats getting the basics right first."
Haha, totally agree with this. I borrowed a thermal camera once thinking I'd find some hidden insulation disaster, but ended up just discovering my cat's favorite nap spots instead. Fun, but not exactly helpful for my heating bills.
Anyway, you're spot on about sealing seams and proper insulation layers. When I redid my modified bitumen roof last year, I focused heavily on taping seams and adding thicker insulation boards. Also, don't underestimate the power of reflective coatings—especially if you're in an area with harsh summers. It made a noticeable difference in my attic temps, and my AC didn't have to work nearly as hard. Sure, it's not as flashy as waving around a fancy gadget, but my wallet appreciates the boring approach way more...
