Heat Insulation and Rock Wool Insulation for Metal Roofs

A bare metal roof under the Saudi sun becomes a heater for the building below. Sheet temperatures climb far above the air temperature, and that heat radiates down onto staff, stock and machinery while the air conditioning struggles to keep up. ETCE offers several ways to insulate metal roofs, from rock wool and PU foam blocks under the sheets to a reflective white thermal coating on top, so you can choose what suits your building.

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Zamil Plastics – Dammam

Why insulating a metal roof pays off in KSA

In Riyadh and Qassim, summer roof surfaces get extremely hot and the swing between day and night is wide. In the Eastern Province the heat arrives together with humidity. A single-skin sheet offers almost no resistance to heat flow, so the building takes the full load. Adding insulation cuts how much of that heat reaches the space, which makes the working environment more bearable and lets the air conditioning do less work.

Insulation also helps with a problem many cooled warehouses and cold stores face: condensation. When humid air meets a roof sheet that is colder than it, for example overnight, water forms and drips onto the goods below, and an insulating layer keeps the air inside away from the bare metal. One caution: insulation only works when dry. Wet rock wool loses its value, so leaks at laps, fasteners and skylights should be sealed first, and that is where our metal-roof waterproofing comes in.

Signs your roof needs better insulation

Radiant heat felt from the roof on summer afternoons
AC units running flat out while the space stays warm
Condensation dripping from the underside of sheets in cooled areas
Heat-sensitive stock or products affected by temperature
Old insulation that is sagging, torn or soaked by leaks

How we plan and install roof insulation

Survey the roof and its useThe engineer looks at the roof type, existing insulation, leaks and how the building is used, and records it all in a written report with photos.
Seal leaks firstActive leaks are located and sealed so the new insulation stays dry and effective.
Choose the systemWe recommend rock wool, PU foam blocks under the sheets or the ETCE Thermal Coating, depending on the building and the budget.
InstallRock wool or PU blocks are placed under the sheets, or the white thermal coating is applied to the roof in three coats.
Final checkEach finished area is checked for full coverage and gaps before the crew moves on to the next zone.

Materials & workmanship

Rock wool insulation placed under the metal sheets
PU foam blocks as an alternative under-sheet insulation
ETCE Thermal Coating: three coats of white coating designed to cool the roof by 8 to 10 degrees
Leak sealing with EPDM and Promax Bonding Adhesive wherever the survey finds failures

Photos from ETCE projects

Heat & Rock Wool Insulation - Zamil Plastics, Dammam

Heat & Rock Wool Insulation - ATCO Group – East & West Factory, Dammam

Heat & Rock Wool Insulation - Alfa Laval, Riyadh

Heat & Rock Wool Insulation - Guardian Industries Company Ltd., Dammam

Site photos from ETCE projects in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Tap to enlarge.

Frequently asked questions

Which is right for us: rock wool, PU blocks or thermal coating?

It depends on the roof, the access underneath it and what you want to achieve. Under-sheet insulation adds a barrier inside the roof build-up, while the white coating works from the outside by reflecting heat. The survey report sets out the options that suit your roof.

How much cooler will the roof be with the thermal coating?

The ETCE Thermal Coating is applied in three white coats and is designed to bring the roof temperature down by around 8 to 10 degrees. A cooler roof passes less heat into the building, which reduces the load on your air conditioning.

Does the thermal coating also waterproof the roof?

No. The coating is there to reduce heat, not to seal failure points. Leaking laps, fasteners, gutters and skylights need proper waterproofing, which we carry out with EPDM before or alongside the insulation work.

Will insulation help with condensation in our cold store?

It usually helps, because it separates humid air from the cold metal surface where droplets form. The survey pinpoints where condensation is happening so the insulation goes where it will do the most good.