The topic of contemporary construction – protection against overheating

This year, marked by the adoption of new thermal-technical standards, has concluded the trend of energy-efficient construction. The development of thermal insulating properties in building materials has taken place among most manufacturers in recent years, and the masonry materials of most of them have reached their peak. Now, the focus of attention regarding savings is less on the costs of cooling the building. This is precisely where a massive roof can offer a solution.

Thanks to the high quality of building materials, it is no longer a problem to heat buildings today. However, we now need to seek ways to protect buildings from overheating; for example, insulating beams with shading technology are installed (quality manufacturers, such as those in the Ytong system, plan for this and offer options including, for instance, jalousie boxes). Another very effective option is a heavy massive roof. It helps address a significant question of energy-efficient and quality housing: the accumulation of heat. To prevent large temperature fluctuations during the day (or throughout the year), it is recommended to have a heavy mass in the house that stabilizes temperature variations. Therefore, Ytong has developed the Ytong Komfort roof, which prevents heat loss while also protecting the attic from overheating.

What do people in practice say? A massive roof from the perspective of the owner, technician, and designer

A family house near Prague is entirely built from the Ytong system through single-layer masonry without insulation. Here, the manufacturer's "flagship", the Ytong Lambda YQ block, was applied, which excels in thermal insulating properties. However, the owners decided to take the overall quality of the building a step further and opted for a massive roof: "I chose Ytong Komfort already in the project phase for two reasons. We wanted the whole house to be built from one system and thus eliminated potential errors and risks when connecting multiple materials. The second reason was to prevent winter chill and summer overheating of the interior, with which I have current unfortunate experiences,” says the owner.

Technical advisor from Xella, Ing. Jan Tinka, who provided consultations on the roofing supplier's side, adds: "The base was a type project from G Servis's portfolio, where it was possible to design a massive roof based on the layout. The same masons who constructed the house and the ceiling above the first floor managed the actual construction, making the execution very straightforward.”

The architect from G Servis, Ing. Jaroslav Václavek, also shared his view: "The Ytong Komfort massive roof was one of our first considerations during the project phase of this house. Therefore, we greatly appreciated that, just like with ceiling structures, the manufacturer prepared a complete laying plan at the level of project documentation, allowing us to simply add the superstructure and solutions for the dormer windows.” Thus, the building envelope was technically resolved excellently, ensuring full compatibility with the Ytong Lambda YQ external block, which does not require additional insulation of the façade.

Simple assembly is verified even by self-builders

The Ytong Komfort structure has also succeeded in self-build projects, as it does not require the involvement of carpenters compared to wooden roofs. A simple gable roof with an area of 100 m2 can be assembled by a pair of skilled workers in three days.

Another significant saving compared to a "classic" truss is the fact that the Ytong Komfort roof is diffusion-open and therefore does not require a vapor barrier. This sensitive component of roof structures is both time-consuming and requires a great deal of precision in execution.