Insulation attic floor at home allows you to save more heat inside the room, rather than spending it on heating a cold attic. It’s good if it is used as a utility room (technical attic) or as an attic, but what if not? Then it makes no sense to waste resources on heating an unheated attic space.
That is why it is worth insulating the ceiling of a cold attic using thermal insulation materials. Insulation can be done from the attic side or from the room side (inside/outside). It is best to do this during the construction of the building, or immediately before finishing rooms. But even during the operation of the house there is no reason not to insulate ceiling from the attic side.
The thickness of the attic floor insulation is standardized using SNiP II-3-79 “Construction Heat Engineering”. This manual contains detailed recommendations regarding the selection and formula for calculating the heat transfer resistance of various thermal insulation materials. The calculations take into account not only the type of material, but also the average annual temperature, the duration of the heating season, wall material Houses.
The technology for insulating the attic floor depends on the selected material.
In this article we will look at the most popular insulation materials.
Mineral wool is an insulation material whose fibers are arranged in a certain way. Namely, this randomness leads to the formation of air bag, which gives the insulation its properties. However, this same feature of cotton wool increases its ability to absorb moisture. To avoid this, you need to know how to install mineral wool correctly.
Advantages of mineral wool:
- high density;
- long service life;
- Fire safety;
- ease of installation;
- the use of mineral wool for insulation of horizontal surfaces does not lead to caking, sliding and, as a result, the formation of cold bridges.
Among the disadvantages: the ability to absorb moisture.
There are three main ways to lay cotton wool: completely, in grooves or in cells (see photo). The choice of method depends on what load will subsequently fall on the floor. The most stable frame is obtained in the latter case.
First stage
It starts with laying a vapor barrier film. The film will allow you to remove steam that rises from a warm living space into a cold attic. To lay the film correctly, you need to carefully read the markings on it. It is imperative to maintain an overlap of 100 mm.
If insulation is carried out according to wooden beams, then the film should go around all protruding elements. Otherwise, the beams may rot.
At the junction of the film and walls or other protruding surfaces, you need to raise it to a height equal to the thickness of the insulation plus 50 mm. and glue it with tape or wrap it on an insulation board.
Second phase
The insulation (cotton wool) is being laid. It's a pretty simple process. Slabs or strips are easy to cut construction knife according to the required sizes.
When laying the sheet, you need to make sure that there are no gaps or the mineral wool material is not too compressed. Both will lead to a decrease in the quality of insulation. Common mistakes on the picture.
a) insufficient thickness thermal insulation material;
b, c, d) the thickness of the attic floor insulation is incorrectly selected.
- insulation with foil will increase the material’s resistance to heat loss. The sheet is laid with the foil side down.
- the insulation should not protrude beyond the beam. If such a situation arises, the beam must be extended with a wooden beam or additional batten to the thickness of the insulation.
- Thin insulation laid in two layers retains more heat than one thick one. In this case, the slabs must be laid in a checkerboard pattern.
- if there are protrusions in the attic structural elements, for example, a chimney pipe, you need to raise the insulation to a height of 400-500 mm. and secure it.
Third stage
Waterproofing is installed if the attic is not intended to be used and the rafter system is not protected by a waterproofing film. If the roofing material is separated from the attic with film, then you can proceed with the final stage.
Rough floor. It is laid on top of the insulation and serves as the basis for the final finishing.
The installation technology process is similar to insulating an attic floor with polystyrene foam.
The advantages of these materials:
- low cost;
- ease of operation;
- waterproof.
Among the disadvantages: flammability.
Technology for insulating attic floors with polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam
The process of installing rigid insulation based on it is more than simple and can be done with your own hands. The work can be divided into two stages:
- surface leveling. To ensure high-quality insulation, there should be no significant unevenness on the base floor. Such differences can be eliminated by screeding with sand-cement mortar.
- The slabs are laid end-to-end or between beams. The presence of timber increases the strength of the floor.
Tip: carefully seal any seams, incl. joints with beams. When going around an obstacle, try to cut the holes as accurately as possible. A homogeneous thermal insulation layer retains heat better.
Rough coating
Polystyrene foam must be protected from destruction with film in an uninhabited attic. In a frequently used or residential attic, you need to move somehow, so it is better to install an OSB subfloor on top of polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene or use a sand-cement screed.
Sawdust is finely ground wood.
Advantages:
- naturalness;
- absence of toxic impurities;
- light weight;
- availability of material.
The disadvantage is flammability.
Technology of attic insulation with sawdust
- Before you start insulating them with sawdust, you need to prepare them. Namely, mix cement and water with sawdust in a ratio of 10:1:1.
- Pour the prepared mixture onto the attic floor and level it. It is worth noting that sawdust can only be used as insulation without using a frame in a non-residential attic. Otherwise, when walking on the floor, the sawdust will be compressed and the concrete screed will collapse.
- build a cellular structure from timber. Pour a solution with sawdust inside each cell. The advantage of this method is that a subfloor can be laid over the timber. And the attic will be usable
Expanded clay is produced by firing clay.
Advantages:
- low thermal conductivity;
- naturalness;
- environmental friendliness;
- ease;
- availability.
The disadvantage is associated with the difficulty of lifting expanded clay to the height of the attic.
Expanded clay is usually used when it is necessary to insulate the attic floor using slabs.
Technology of attic insulation with expanded clay
The work is carried out in three stages:
- The slab is inspected for the presence of cracks and cracks. They are sealed with mortar or covered with thick paper. Protruding elements do not create difficulties with filling expanded clay.
- install timber sheathing. In the future, a subfloor will be laid on it.
- loose insulation is poured onto the slab and leveled using a regular rake. Layer thickness 250-300 mm. You can move on expanded clay without restrictions.
Advice: when filling expanded clay, it is better to combine granules different sizes(diameter). This way you can avoid the appearance of voids.
Finally, a subfloor is installed or filled with sand-cement screed.
Please note that insulating an attic wooden floor has some nuances:
- the tree is susceptible to rotting, which means the steam rising to the top must pass freely. Improper installation of films or the use of non-breathable materials, such as roofing felt, will lead to the destruction of wood in the future.
- When using foil insulation, you need to place it with the foil down. This way the wood will be protected from water and at the same time will not accumulate steam moisture.
- The “correct” way is to use a superdiffusion membrane or vapor barrier film
- “Wrong” - laying a special film without taking into account the markings or even ordinary film
The attic floor insulation diagram for various types of insulation is shown below.
Conclusion
In this article, we focused on the main stages and features of insulating the attic floors of a private house using various types of insulation. We hope this information is useful to you.
Since the roof of a cold attic only serves as protection from rain, snow and, partially, wind, Special attention It is worth paying attention to thermal insulation of the floor. Insulation of the attic floor is carried out using various heat-insulating materials with mandatory wind protection, especially from the eaves of the roof.
Insulating the floor in two layers using mineral wool rolls
As a rule, insulation is laid directly on the floor of a cold attic. Naturally, provided that the attic will not be used. This will allow you to save on a layer of waterproofing film, as well as on organizing a full floor covering.
Read below to learn how to insulate an attic floor and what materials can be used for this.
How thick should the attic floor insulation be?
The thickness of the thermal insulation layer does not depend on which attic floor construction using wooden beams or reinforced concrete is chosen. On the packaging of any insulation, the coefficient of thermal conductivity λ is indicated, and it has two values: λA - for a dry environment, and λB - for a wet environment. The lower this coefficient, the better the insulating properties of the material. It is on the basis of this value that the calculation of the insulation of the attic floor is made.
The thickness of the attic floor insulation is:
α = R 0 ·λB
where R 0 is the heat transfer resistance coefficient, which, according to standards, is equal to 4.15 m² °C/W.
Insulation of the attic floor using wooden beams
In the majority small houses and dachas with cold roofs, wooden floors are used, so it is their thermal insulation that we will consider first.
The installation of an attic floor on wooden beams is usually as follows:
- Lower floor filing.
- Vapor barrier.
- Floor beams.
- Insulation.
- Waterproofing.
- Finishing.
The installation of a ceiling in a private house with a cold attic begins with laying load-bearing beams. Since they are usually maximum length 4 meters, then for rooms of greater width it is necessary to either construct supports or use metal purlins.
Diagram of a wooden attic floor with two layers of insulation
After the beams are laid, a vapor barrier is made for the cold attic floor. To do this, a vapor barrier film is attached to them from below, which protects the insulation from moisture penetration from the lower room. When you insulate a wooden attic floor, it is advisable to use special reinforced multilayer materials made of polyethylene or polypropylene as a film, since they are stronger and much easier to attach.
It is best when the vapor barrier layer is continuous. However, the design of a wooden attic floor does not always allow this. If for some reason the vapor barrier cannot be placed under the beams, the film is laid between them with an overlap on them and fixed with special tape to ensure tightness.
Don't forget about wood impregnation
The installation of a wooden attic floor involves the risk of damage to the load-bearing structures due to rotting. Therefore, before laying a cold attic pie, all wooden beams and sheathing should be impregnated with special solutions that prevent rotting and mold formation.
Next, the attic floor is insulated along the beams, for which heat-insulating material is laid between them. If you use loose insulation, then it should be carefully leveled and ensure that it fills all the voids.
The minimum thickness of thermal insulation for insulating an attic wooden floor, calculated by you using the formula above, may be greater than the width of the load-bearing beams. In this case, a sheathing of bars of the size you need is attached across them. Then another layer of insulation is laid between them with the obligatory overlap of the joints of the previous layer.
Avoid the formation of cold bridges
It is recommended to cover the attic floor beams with a layer of thermal insulation even if their width is sufficient to accommodate the insulation of the calculated thickness. The fact is that so-called cold bridges are formed through them, and therefore heat loss in the house increases.
A wood-beam attic floor is usually constructed with a floor of conventional decking made from treated boards laid across the sheathing or support beams. However, thick plywood, chipboard, MDF and other similar materials can also be used as a finishing coating.
If you want to use a leveling screed as a finishing touch, then waterproofing the cold attic over the insulation layer is a must.
Insulation of the attic floor on a reinforced concrete slab
If you need to insulate the attic floor using reinforced concrete slabs, then this can be done in two ways: with or without lathing.
The first method is universal, but is most often used for light types of insulation. The installation of the attic floor of a cold attic in this case will look like this:
- Vapor barrier of the attic floor is being carried out cold attic, which should cover the entire layer of insulation also from the sides. Since the vapor barrier simply needs to be laid on the floor, it is not necessary to use specialized materials for these purposes - ordinary cheap plastic film will do.
- On top of the film with the narrow side a wooden block is placed a width equal to half the required thickness that the insulation for a cold attic should have. The distance between the bars is usually taken equal to the width of the roll or slab of the selected brand of insulation.
- Between the boards Installing insulation for the attic floor. If it is necessary to use several layers of heat-insulating material in thickness, it is laid with overlapping joints of the previous layer.
- Exactly the same ones are attached across the already laid bars, at a similar distance from each other. A second layer of attic insulation is laid between them.
- Above vapor-permeable waterproofing of a cold attic is installed, which is secured either with a special adhesive tape or with a thin bar nailed along the sheathing. This stage can be omitted if high-quality waterproofing of a cold roof made of corrugated sheets has already been performed.
- Across the bars floor boards are nailed or walkways are laid for movement.
Since properly insulating the ceiling under a cold roof is very important to save on heating the house, I recommend using exactly the given transverse diagram for laying thermal insulation. This arrangement of the attic floor minimizes the possibility of a cold bridge forming through the wooden beams, since most of them will be insulated with insulation.
The second method of insulating a cold attic using reinforced concrete slabs without using lathing is suitable in cases where moisture-resistant solid types of insulation that can withstand significant loads without loss of properties are used for thermal insulation.
Scheme of the attic floor arrangement according to reinforced concrete slab
In this case, the vapor barrier of the attic floor is also installed first. Next, the attic floor slabs are insulated with a layer of thermal insulation of the calculated thickness.
A leveling screed is poured over it. The finished floor is already laid on the screed. If the insulation of a concrete attic floor is carried out with aerated concrete and materials similar in density and properties, then you can do without hydro- and vapor barriers, as well as screeds.
Insulation for attic floors: which one to choose?
Before insulating the attic floor, you need to select a heat-insulating material that is suitable specifically for your case. Unfortunately, there is no universal option for the best way to insulate an attic floor. This choice depends on many factors, the most significant of which are:
- heat-insulating properties of the material;
- fire safety;
- price;
- ease of installation;
- environmental friendliness;
- hygroscopicity;
- strength;
- resistance to rotting, temperature, acid and alkali.
You must decide which of these factors are most important to you and which can be neglected.
Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool
Mineral wool is one of the most popular materials for floor insulation. The best characteristics In order to thermally insulate the attic floor of a house, there is a type of it based on basalt fibers, which is called stone (basalt) wool.
Insulation based on basalt fibers belongs to the class of non-combustible materials with a melting point above 1000 °C; and has excellent thermal insulation properties. However, it easily absorbs moisture, so when using it, the requirements for hydro- and vapor barrier are especially high.
It is better to insulate the attic floor with mineral wool using rolls, since the joints between the slabs, although not much, do reduce the effectiveness of thermal insulation. It must be laid close to the beams or guides, but avoiding jamming.
Mineral wool laid in two layers when insulating the attic floor
Installation of mineral wool is very simple, so this thermal insulation material is most often chosen when they want to insulate an attic floor with their own hands without the involvement of specialists. While working, do not forget to use the tools personal protection: Thick rubber gloves, glasses and clothing that covers the entire body. For people prone to allergies, this kit must be supplemented with a respirator.
Advantages:
- Fire safety;
- Environmental friendliness;
- Ease of use;
- Relatively low price.
Flaws:
- Tendency to form compactions, good crushability;
- Hygroscopicity.
Insulating the attic floor with foam plastic
Polystyrene foam is very inexpensive material, which, in fact, is expanded polystyrene foam and, due to these “bubbles” with air, retains heat. It is cheap, has good heat-insulating properties, is moisture resistant and can withstand fairly large compressive loads.
Foam boards of different thicknesses
However, all its advantages are more than offset by one drawback - this material is fire hazardous. Already at a temperature of 80 °C; polystyrene foam melts, releasing a huge amount of harmful substances, and at a temperature of 210 °C; a fire occurs. Therefore, insulating the attic floor on wooden beams with polystyrene foam is not the most good idea. However, it can be used between non-flammable materials, for example, when laying as insulation on a concrete slab with screed pouring.
Advantages:
- High thermal insulation properties;
- Low price;
- Moisture resistant;
- Resistant to rot;
Flaws:
- Fragility;
- Very flammable;
- Deforms already at a temperature of 60 °C;
- It is an excellent refuge for mice.
Insulation of attic floors with extruded polystyrene foam
Extruded (extruded) polystyrene foam is made from the same material as polystyrene foam, but using a fundamentally different technology. In the CIS, the most common insulation materials of this type are from the Penoplex company. The performance properties of extruded polystyrene foam are much better than those of polystyrene foam, especially with regard to the ignition temperature of the material.
Extruded polystyrene foam in slabs of various thicknesses
However, insulating a wooden attic floor with penoplex is still not recommended. Despite the fact that open combustion of this heat-insulating material occurs at a fairly high temperature, it is still a fire hazard. Firstly, extruded polystyrene foam supports combustion, and secondly, it releases very caustic and toxic substances when heated to even very low temperatures, and they are the cause of death in a fire in most cases. Therefore, penoplex is far from a better option than insulating the attic floor of a house, even if it is reinforced concrete.
Advantages:
- High thermal insulation properties;
- Moisture resistant;
- Resistant to rot;
- High density;
- Withstands fairly heavy loads;
- Light weight.
Flaws:
- When heated above 80 °C; begins to release toxic substances;
- Fire hazardous;
- Deforms when heated.
Insulating the attic floor of a house using polyurethane foam
Polyurethane foam boards are one of the best existing insulation materials. This material has excellent thermal insulation properties, it is durable, resistant to chemical and bacteriological influences, non-hygroscopic and fireproof.
Polyurethane foam insulation in the form of a plate with foil coating
Polyurethane foam is the best way to insulate the attic floor in a private home. If you can afford it. It is the high cost that is its main and, probably, the only drawback. Because of this, it may even be difficult to purchase this material in small towns.
Advantages:
- The best thermal insulation properties among the materials considered;
- Fireproof;
- Not affected by moisture and chemical substances;
- Does not rot;
- Eco-friendly;
- Convenient to use.
Flaws:
- Price.
Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with sawdust
Previously, in the absence of other materials, insulation cold roof sawdust was a ubiquitous phenomenon. Now this method of thermal insulation is used by those who like its environmental friendliness. At the same time, despite popular belief, the design of an attic floor using such insulation is by no means cheap. Sawdust is not laid “dry”, but in a special solution, the production of which requires money and a lot of time.
The composition of a sawdust solution for insulating a cold attic is as follows:
- 10 buckets of sawdust(we need wood sawdust, which is formed during sawing and processing of wood; furniture sawdust is too small for these purposes);
- 1 bucket of hydrated lime(fluffs);
- 1 bucket of cement;
- 5-10 buckets of water with antiseptic, for example, with boric acid, soap or copper sulfate (pour gradually using a watering can, the final amount depends on the size of the sawdust).
The resulting mixture is placed on the base between the beams and compacted. The thickness of the layer of such insulation for the attic floor should be at least 300 mm, but it is better to do more, since the thermal insulation properties of sawdust mortar can vary greatly. Walkways for movement are laid on top of such insulation to cover the attic, for which sheets of chipboard or thick plywood can be used.
Advantages:
- Comparatively cheap;
- Environmental friendliness;
- Good thermal insulation properties.
Flaws:
- Labor-intensive self-production;
- The thickness of the attic floor is large;
- Difficult installation;
- Differences in thermal insulation properties depending on the composition.
Insulation of attic floors with expanded clay
Another relatively cheap material that can be used to insulate the attic floor of a private house is expanded clay. It is made by firing clay and is one of the most environmentally friendly building materials. In addition, expanded clay has good thermal insulation properties, is fireproof, durable and inert to acids and alkalis.
Using expanded clay you can insulate both reinforced concrete and wooden floor attic. However, in the latter case, you need to carefully consider the calculation of the load-bearing capacity of the beams, since expanded clay insulation weighs much more than modern insulation materials. Concrete attic floor slabs can easily withstand very heavy loads, so expanded clay can be used for them without additional calculations.
Flaws:
- Difficulty in installation.
To understand why it is necessary to insulate the ceiling of a cold attic, let’s clarify a little why an attic is needed in a private house and what its purpose is. Our ancestors built houses that could stand for more than 100 years, while it was warm inside, and the wooden roof structure always remained dry.
Previously, gable roofs were mainly built with slight slope stingrays This was done so that snow could remain on the roof in winter. Thus, snow was used as a natural insulation. One or two windows were made in the attic and kept closed in winter so that the trapped air acted as a heat insulator. In the summer, a slightly different situation occurred. Attic windows were opened at night so that the air cooled, and during the day, in hot weather, they were closed so that the air did not heat up too much, thus regulating its temperature.
When snow fell in winter, it fell as a continuous cover on the roof, simultaneously becoming a natural insulation. Even in severe frosts, the temperature in the attic did not drop below zero. Thus, the air in the attic and the insulation of the ceiling made it possible to maintain the temperature in the house at +20-25 °C. The roof slopes were not insulated to prevent the snow lying on the roof from melting. The rafter system remained open, allowing it to be inspected and repaired if necessary. Therefore, in a cold attic, only the ceiling is insulated.
If the roof slopes are insulated, then the attic becomes a heated room, i.e. an attic, which has a completely different functional purpose.
Now it remains to find out how to insulate the attic floor in a private house, and what materials are used for thermal insulation.
Materials for insulating attic floors
There is a wide range of insulation materials on the market. To make a choice, it is necessary to take into account the conditions in which the thermal insulation material will be used:
- The material must retain its properties when temperature conditions from -30 to +30 °C. It should not freeze in severe frosts and should not emit harmful substances in hot weather.
- It is necessary to choose fire-resistant insulation if there is electrical wiring in the attic.
- It is better to choose a moisture-resistant material so that when wet it does not lose its thermal insulation properties.
- The insulation should not quickly cake in order to fulfill its purpose for as long as possible.
Before deciding on the type of material for insulating the floor of a cold attic in a private house, you need to consider what material the ceiling is made of. If the attic floor is made of wooden beams, then you can use slab, roll and bulk insulation. In the case where the attic floor is made of concrete slabs, they resort to the use of heavy bulk or dense slab heat insulators. Their use makes it possible to make a cement screed on the floor.
Materials produced in slab and mat formats:
- mineral wool (mineral wool) in mats;
- Styrofoam;
- extruded polystyrene foam;
- seaweed;
- straw.
- mineral wool;
- glass wool;
- stone wool;
- seaweed ladders;
Bulk materials for attic floor insulation:
- expanded clay;
- ecowool;
- reed;
- sawdust;
- straw;
- slag;
- buckwheat tyrsa;
- foam granules.
Insulation of the attic floor in a wooden house must be done with environmentally friendly, natural and breathable material.
How to properly insulate an attic floor with mineral wool
Mineral wool is a common and modern heat insulator. Available in rolls or slabs (mats). It does not rot or burn, rodents and various kinds of microorganisms are also not afraid of it.
Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool begins with laying lining material on the floor. For a budget option, glassine is laid on the floor, but it is more expensive and quality option– flooring made of vapor barrier film. The film is laid with an overlap, and the joints are taped or secured wooden slats, which are fixed with a construction stapler.
The width of the insulation is selected based on the requirements of thermal engineering standards for each region. Mineral wool is placed between the joists tightly and without gaps. The joints are taped with tape. After the insulation is laid, level boards are simply laid on the joists, thus forming the floor in the attic. This simple solution for creating a floor allows the mineral wool to “breathe” and ventilate normally if it gets wet. To prevent moisture from entering the mineral wool, waterproofing material is laid under the roof.
Mineral wool is laid using personal protective equipment: thick clothing, goggles, gloves, respirator.
Insulation of attic floor slabs with extruded polystyrene foam
Expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam are not very dense materials, so they are used when the attic floor is a structure made of joists and beams. If it is necessary to insulate the slabs, insulate the ceiling of a cold attic. extruded polystyrene foam. This material is stronger and therefore denser than regular foam. Before laying it, the surface of the slabs should be leveled. There is no need for vapor barrier on the warm side of the floor, since concrete slabs have almost no vapor permeability.
A vapor barrier film is laid on the leveled concrete slabs. Next, slabs of extruded polystyrene foam are laid in a checkerboard pattern. The joints are blown with polyurethane foam. After the foam has dried and hardened, the insulating slabs are poured with concrete mortar 4-6 cm thick. When the screed is dry, it is already suitable for use as a floor. Although you can go further and put any floor covering on the screed.
Thermal insulation of a cold attic with ecowool
Ecowool is a cellulose, lightweight and loose insulation material, consisting mainly of waste paper and newspapers. Other ingredients are borax and boric acid are used as flame retardants.
Before insulation, it is necessary to place a film on the floor. The procedure for laying ecowool occurs using a special blowing installation. The insulation layer is applied as a continuous cover, without creating cracks. Since ecowool contains a large amount of air, a layer of 250-300 mm is usually enough.
Do not forget that over time, the material will shrink. Therefore, apply a layer of ecowool 40-50 mm more.
After the insulation of the cold attic floor with ecowool is completed, it must be moistened. You can do this with plain water or prepare a solution of 200 grams. PVA glue on a bucket of water. Soak a regular broom in this solution and moisten the cotton well. After drying, a crust forms on the surface of the cotton wool - lingin, which will not allow the cotton wool to move.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to insulate the floor in the attic. Which one to use depends on each specific situation. The main thing is to comply the right technology laying thermal insulation! Then your home will always be warm, and the materials used will last for many years.
How to insulate an attic floor
How to insulate a ceiling in a cold attic. Insulating the attic floor with mineral wool and extruded polystyrene foam. How to properly insulate the floor in the attic.
How to properly insulate the floors of a cold attic with mineral wool?
When ensuring insulation of a private house and insulation of the roof along the rafters, one must not forget that special attention should be paid to such a place as the attic.
Development of attic floor insulation with mineral wool
Warm air tends to rise to the top, and therefore, in a temporarily unheated room, heat can escape through the cold attic space. Therefore, the issue of insulating the attic must be resolved without delay.
1 Why do you need attic floor insulation?
Insulating a cold attic floor with stone or mineral wool is generally necessary in lightly used rooms that are properly equipped with special roof ventilation.
The attic, or rather its ceilings, serves as a kind of boundary between heat and cold. In such places, the attic floors are exposed to intense moisture due to the formation of condensation.
However, you can properly insulate the floors in the attic of a house with mineral wool with your own hands. The process of insulating the floor in the attic with mineral wool is the creation of a durable thermal insulation coating, which will have a low degree of thermal conductivity.
The technology itself for insulating mineral wool floors in the attic, as well as Energoflex thermal insulation for pipes, implies strict adherence to its stages and requirements.
The technology itself is quite simple and understandable. Good thermal insulation Attic flooring using mineral wool helps close unwanted gaps.
To do this, the insulation must be laid tightly. In most cases, mineral wool is used to insulate the attic of a house.
The presented insulation is the most suitable for this type of work; it can also be used to insulate the floor surface in the living areas of the house.
Schematic insulation of the attic floor with mineral wool
By organizing good insulation with mineral wool, the most optimal temperature will be maintained in residential premises.
If the procedure is performed incorrectly, moisture rising from the floor of the house will lead to the formation of condensation.
It will accumulate on the ceiling and then seep through the ceilings. The resulting temperature difference in those areas where the attic floors adjoin the walls of the house initiates the formation of mold and microscopic fungi, which can be causative agents of allergic diseases.
1.1 Requirements for attic insulation
The process of insulating the attic floor and insulating the roof of a house with your own hands, or rather the level of its quality, has a direct impact not only on the size of heat loss, but also on the service life of the entire truss structure and roof covering.
The fact is that water vapor located inside the heated room diffuses to the attic of the house. In order for the insulation used to provide a high degree of calculated efficiency of the thermal insulation layer, it must always be dry.
Based on this, the insulation must be protected from excessive humidification by vapors of rising heated air using a special vapor-proof material.
If the attic space is well insulated, it will not only provide high-quality thermal insulation, but will also help increase the service life of the entire roofing structure.
Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool
If there is no vapor barrier, steam will penetrate through the unprotected attic floors and condense on the floor surfaces.
This will lead to moisture flowing onto the rafters, which, under its influence, will begin to slowly rot from the inside.
As a result, the likelihood of destruction increases roofing pie. The thermal insulation performance of the structure is also reduced due to the fact that the tightness of the vapor barrier layer has been compromised.
Before insulating the attic, you need to drain the layer and remove moisture from the entire attic space. To do this, ventilation should be done through windows. They can be:
In order to ensure maximum ventilation intensity, the total area of all ventilation openings should be equal to 0.2-0.5% of the attic floors.
If all work is carried out correctly, then icicles will not form on the roof in winter. The process of insulating the attic space itself is carried out not from the living quarters, but from the attic floor.
This is the most convenient way to lay insulation, the choice of which depends on the technology used and design features buildings.
1.2 Features of insulation of beam floors
When implementing such an insulation scheme using mineral wool, heat is retained in the space between the beams. Their usual height is almost always enough for this, but if necessary, several bars are packed on top.
Insulating the ceiling with mineral wool from the attic side
The lower part of the ceiling is sewn up using molded material, as when insulating the attic of a private house. For this, lining or sheets of plasterboard can be used.
The subfloor covering is laid on top of the beams. It could be a tongue and groove board, plywood sheet or OSB board. Mineral wool is placed on a previously prepared special vapor barrier layer.
An alternative can be an ordinary film made using polyethylene. If the vapor barrier material is foil-coated, then it is laid with the shiny surface down.
The intermediate distance between the beams is filled with mineral wool with the required thickness parameters. The surface of the beams must be equipped with an additional insulating layer.
This will lead to blocking the so-called cold bridges and will significantly reduce the overall level of heat loss. If timber was used to create beams High Quality, Then finishing material creep directly onto their surface.
Mineral wool is placed between them as when insulating a roof using polyurethane foam, and the attic floor is laid on top. The use of this technology is especially important in houses that are made of logs or beams.
It is important to reliably protect mineral wool from the smallest drops of moisture, this is especially true if the roof has minor coating defects that cause leaks.
The layer of mineral wool must be reliably protected from the effects of wind from the eaves. For this purpose, mineral wool slabs with a high degree of density are used.
2 Why is mineral wool used to insulate an attic?
In most cases, when insulating attic floors, the consumer's choice falls on mineral wool. Its advantage is that its installation does not require special skills.
Mineral wool has excellent thermal insulation properties. Its structure consists of thin glassy fibers, the length of which ranges from 2 to 60 millimeters.
Insulating the attic with mineral wool
High sound insulation characteristics are ensured due to the presence of a large number of air pores.
These pores are located in the space between the fibers and can occupy 95% of the total volume of the insulation. Mineral wool is presented in three varieties; it can be basalt glass and stone.
Basalt wool It is made using molten basalt rocks, to which binding elements are added.
This may be a carbonate type rock, which regulates the acidity level of the substance, which entails an increase in the service life of the insulation. Glass wool exhibits high heat-resistant properties and can withstand temperatures up to +450 degrees Celsius.
2.1 Technology for insulating attic floors with mineral wool
When carrying out work related to mineral wool, it is important to comply with all safety requirements and regulations.
This is due to the fact that in the process of cutting and laying such material, the air is filled with tiny particles that can enter the respiratory organs and thus cause harm to human health.
During installation, be sure to ensure the availability of personal protective equipment. Goggles, a respirator and thick rubber gloves must be available.
The process of insulating attic floors begins with the selection of the necessary tools and additional materials. You can't do without:
The essence of insulation technology is that the insulation must be carefully laid in the space between the attic floors or beams.
To enhance the thermal insulation qualities, reliable vapor barrier protection should be used. Warm and moisture-saturated air will continuously rise from the living rooms and reach the top through the ceiling.
There, in the under-roof space, it will collide with a layer of insulation. Due to the fact that mineral wool is generally considered a vapor-proof material, it will absorb all the outgoing moisture inside itself.
If she is left without the necessary air access and sun rays, it will gradually shrink and eventually lose all its heat-insulating qualities.
Cold attic interfloor covering 20 cm min. wool
In order to avoid such destructive consequences, it is necessary to lay a vapor barrier material under a layer of mineral wool.
Before starting the main work, you will need to carefully calculate required quantity insulation.
The amount of cotton wool purchased depends on how many layers are planned to be used when covering the attic space. In addition, the thermal insulation thickness parameter directly depends on the climatic conditions in the region.
Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool
Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool - advantages. Features of insulation of cold attic floors with mineral wool.
Rules for insulating floors with mineral wool: 1st floor and attic
When building a private house, special attention should be paid to the insulation of structures. Important elements that are directly exposed to cold air are the floors of the first floor with a cold basement, external walls, attic floors, mansard roof. Mineral wool can be used as a universal type of insulation.
Insulating the floor with mineral wool allows you to ensure a comfortable floor temperature and retain heat in the room. Due to its non-flammability, the material can be used in both wooden and stone construction without any fear.
What is mineral wool
This insulation is a material with a fibrous structure. The fibers are arranged in a chaotic manner. Each manufacturer has its own preparation recipe. All components are melted at very high temperatures and then broken into fine fibers in a centrifuge. Next, mineral wool is produced using heat treatment.
Types of mineral wool
For the construction of a house, mineral wool is produced in three types.
- Glass. The material is made from broken glass.
- Stone. This type can be called the most common. Most often you can find material made from basalt fiber, but it is also made from other minerals. It is easier to insulate with stone wool compared to the other two.
- Slag. It has the lowest thermal insulation characteristics and increased fragility. Not suitable for facade works and pipelines.
In addition to this classification, there is a division according to the form in which mineral wool is produced.
- Rolled material has low rigidity, therefore it is mostly used for insulating the walls of a house or the floor along joists.
- Rigid mineral slabs or mats are excellent for use in insulating floors and attic roofs.
To insulate the floor covering, it is preferable to use the second option, since hard mineral wool will provide reliable operation floor under load.
Advantages and disadvantages of the material
TO positive qualities mineral wool can be classified as:
- good thermal insulation;
- simple installation technology; mineral wool does not require special fastening in the floor structure;
- low degree of moisture absorption from the environment;
- reasonable price;
- resistance to high temperatures and open fire;
- safety for humans while complying with the technology;
- resistance to bacteria, mold and mildew.
Thanks to these qualities, mineral wool has become widespread in both wood and stone construction.
But one cannot help but mention its features and disadvantages, which include:
- the need for additional protection for workers: overalls, gloves, masks;
- it is necessary to protect the insulation from moisture, the technology includes vapor barrier and waterproofing;
- ability to absorb water, inability to use in wet areas;
- high degree of shrinkage when installation and operating conditions are violated;
- when laying in a wooden building between the joists, it is necessary to provide a gap of 3-5 cm between the insulation and the floor covering structure.
If these features are not taken into account, insulation will become dangerous for humans, for example, the lack of special clothing for workers will lead to particles of material getting on the skin and into the lungs. This will cause irritation, itching, and allergic reactions.
Application for floor insulation
As floor insulation in a house mineral wool slabs apply in the following cases:
- in the floor structure of the first floor in the presence of a cold basement or underground;
- in the design of interfloor ceilings to increase sound insulation;
- in the design of the attic floor in the presence of a cold attic.
For an individual house, when installing, in all cases it is necessary that the technology be strictly followed, otherwise the insulation will not perform its function.
Insulation technology
When laying insulation, the technology must be strictly followed. The insulation “pie” depends on the type of floor, so let’s look at the instructions below.
First floor covering
If there is a cold basement or underground, insulation of the floor structure is required. Regardless of the building in which the work is carried out, wooden or stone, the layers are laid in the following order when installing mineral wool on top:
IN wooden house construction slab or roll material is laid between the lags, observing the order of layers. It is possible to secure the material from below; this is more intelligent from the point of view of thermal engineering, but it is very labor-intensive.
Insulation with mineral wool from below
Sound insulation of interfloor ceilings
As protection against sound propagation, mineral wool is placed in the floor pie in the following order:
The event is especially effective when constructing brick or concrete house, but in a wooden one it won’t be superfluous either.
Note that in reinforced concrete floors to dampen impact and airborne noise 3-5 cm of mineral wool under the screed is enough. And in wooden floors, the layer of material should be at least 5-10 cm.
Insulation of the attic floor
If the building has a cold attic, it is necessary to protect the ceiling top floor. In a wooden building, mineral wool is laid between the joists, in a stone building - both between the joists and under the cement screed.
The installation procedure is the same as in the previous case. The difference lies in the material of the attic flooring and the thickness of the insulation layer.
In this case, protection of the structure is carried out to prevent excessive heat loss from the room to the cold attic. Heated air accumulates under the ceiling and, in the absence of necessary measures, easily enters the attic space, creating large heat losses for the house.
Thickness calculation
In an individual house there are no requirements for thermal protection of structures, so the thickness of the insulation can be selected approximately. It depends on the climate of the area; for most cases, protection with mineral wool 100-150 mm thick will be sufficient.
To calculate a more accurate value, you can use the help of a specialist or the simple Teremok program. It can be found freely available on the Internet.
Mineral wool is a modern thermal insulation material that, if used correctly, will last a long time and reliably protect building elements. The material is suitable for working with all types of floors from basement to attic.
Insulation of floors with mineral wool: attic, floor of the 1st floor
Due to its non-flammability, the material can be used in both wooden and stone construction without any fear.
Insulation of the attic and attic floor
For comfortable operation of the building, it is necessary that the attic floor be well insulated to prevent the temperature of the ceiling surface from dropping below the dew point. Otherwise, moisture spots will certainly appear on the ceiling and walls, which will only worsen appearance rooms, but will also cause mold growth and the development of fungi, which are difficult to get rid of. Therefore, increased demands are placed on the thermal protection of the attic floor.
Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic
In accordance with the standards, the heat transfer resistance for the attic floor must be no less than the following value: Ro = 4.15 m 2 °C/W. The attic floor of a country house is insulated with slabs of mineral (basalt) or glass wool. Insulation boards must be laid in the spaces between ceiling beams or on floor slabs. Mineral wool is laid on a vapor barrier layer or on plastic film.
Foil thermal insulation material is laid with the shiny side down. The space between the beams is filled with a layer of heat-insulating material. To reduce heat loss through cold bridges, another layer of thermal insulation is laid on top of the beams.
To reduce heat loss from lightweight fiber insulation due to drafts, it is protected with vapor-permeable windproof material. The use of such material allows you to increase the thermal protection of the attic floor and protect the insulation from getting wet if drops of moisture get on it (in case of damage to the roof or leaks).
From the eaves, the insulation layer should also be protected from the wind by high-density mineral wool slabs or boards that are installed on the edge.
Roof attic insulation
An attic or attic space divided into compartments by partitions can be insulated in different ways.
- The first method: if the attic is non-residential, then only the floors – the ceiling of the building – should be insulated.
- The second method: if the attic has an attic, then you need to insulate the roof, in addition to the floors.
To insulate the roof of the attic and rooms, the following are usually used:
- Construction felt.
- Mineral wool in various designs.
- Styrofoam.
- Polyurethane foam.
- Basalt, glass wool, ecowool.
Floors in the attic can be insulated with the following materials:
- Construction felt, mineral wool, glass wool.
- Foam silicate slabs.
- Expanded clay, slag, ash, sawdust, straw, reeds.
Before insulating the attic, the joints of the floor and roof are checked, the cracks are sealed with tow soaked in lime mortar. You can also use polyurethane foam, silicone adhesives and sealants.
Before carrying out work, all wooden structures are coated with antiseptic and fire retardant compounds.
When insulating a roof made of asbestos-cement sheets, special attention should be paid to the gaps that are formed by the waves of asbestos-cement sheets. If there are cracks, they are filled with tow in lime mortar.
Availability is checked protective covers, collars and aprons in places where asbestos-cement sheets adjoin parapets, pipes and walls. The covering elements should be extended onto the protective ceilings by at least 15 cm.
An alternative option for insulating the attic is to insulate the ceiling in a private house. The effect of the work will be approximately the same.
And here are instructions for insulating an attic ceiling. We'll tell you step by step how to carry out the work from start to finish.
Insulating the attic with various materials
To insulate attic spaces and the attic in a private house, different insulation materials are used:
The insulation process is the same for all materials, so let’s look at attic insulation using mineral wool as an example.
Before you begin insulating the attic, it is necessary to waterproof the roof. Mineral wool is universal and easy to use, has low thermal conductivity and density, and withstands well high temperature and insensitive to aggressive environments. Mineral wool is also an excellent sound insulator.
Attic slopes can be insulated with slabs and mats made of mineral wool. The slabs are more rigid, and the mats are more elastic; this property helps to lay them better and more densely. Mineral wool mats with foil coating are also used for vapor barrier.
Since the thickness of mineral wool is usually greater than the thickness of the rafters, overlays are made on them to increase the thickness. Also, the rafter system is pre-impregnated with an antiseptic solution.
Mineral wool is laid in the spaces between the rafters on the sheathing and covered with a vapor barrier film. The vapor barrier film is laid overlapping on rafter system. The width of the overlap of the canvas is visible on the film - a line is drawn along the edge of the canvas. Film joints are insulated special glue and adhesive tape.
Floor insulation with expanded clay
Expanded clay should be laid on the attic floor on roofing felt. The thickness of the expanded clay layer is determined by the thermal conductivity of the floor, but in any case, the thickness of the expanded clay should be at least 15 cm, and better - 20-25 cm.
It is known that up to 15% of the heat from a house can escape through the ceiling. Therefore, to reduce heat losses, the ceiling is insulated with expanded clay and other materials. Expanded clay not only retains heat, but also increases sound insulation.
Expanded clay is usually used to insulate concrete floors. To do this, it is covered with a layer of 200-250 mm, and a cement screed up to 50 mm thick is poured on top. The screed will serve as the floor.
The cement-sand mortar for the screed must be of a dense consistency so that it does not flow into the expanded clay backfill.
Insulation with mineral wool
- Mineral wool should be laid from the farthest point of the attic.
- The insulation must be cut on a hard surface.
- Beams, pipes, ventilation shafts, etc. should be covered with insulation.
- Mineral wool should be laid in a layer of at least 25 cm.
When working with mineral wool, personal protective equipment is required. These include safety glasses, rubber gloves, a respirator and clothing with long sleeve. Do not work near open food or drinking water. Contact of mineral wool on the skin causes irritation and itching.
In fact, mineral wool is widely used in construction, for example, when insulating facades with mineral wool.
Insulation with polyurethane foam
The attic is insulated with polyurethane foam by spraying onto the partitions, roof, gables and attic floors, so the thermal insulation layer is obtained without seams or joints, that is, a monolithic vapor-tight layer is obtained.
Polyurethane foam has a low thermal conductivity coefficient, so the thickness of the polyurethane foam layer is several times smaller than the layer of mineral wool or polystyrene foam.
The use of polyurethane foam increases usable area attic space.
An attic insulated by spraying a layer of polyurethane foam is not affected by humidity, condensation does not form on the walls, because polyurethane foam retains warm air inside. Moisture does not pass through polyurethane foam and cannot settle on a cold roof.
Insulation with sawdust
Floor insulation with sawdust is used only in non-residential attics, since when walking, the sawdust will gradually become compacted, which will lead to the appearance of cracks in the concrete screed. The most common recipe for a solution using sawdust for insulating an attic floor:
- Ten buckets of small sawdust.
- One bucket of cement, grade no less than 300.
- One bucket of fluff lime.
- Ten liters of water with antiseptic. It could be boric acid copper sulfate, laundry soap.
The volume of water varies depending on the moisture content of the sawdust. Ready solution of sawdust is laid in layers 20-25 cm thick and compacted. All building materials used in the walls of the house must be vapor permeable. That is, you cannot use roofing felt, polyethylene, roofing felt and other materials that do not allow moisture to pass through.
When insulating, the layer of sawdust on top is covered with panels made of plywood, fiberboard or boards. The thickness of the sawdust layer on the walls should be at least 15 cm, on the ceilings and on the floor - at least 25 cm. When insulating the floor, a cement screed 5-10 cm thick is placed on top of the sawdust.
Do-it-yourself insulation of the attic and attic spaces - materials and methods of insulation
Insulating the attic of a residential building is necessary to avoid heat leakage and to save energy resources when heating the building. Use of various insulation materials
To eliminate the largest heat losses in a residential building, it is impossible to do without insulation. The process of insulating the floor of the first floor using wooden beams located above the basement begins at the construction stage, but the work can be done after construction. Mandatory thermal insulation and sound insulation are also required. horizontal structures upper floors.
Benefits of wood
Floors are horizontal structural elements of buildings and structures that divide them into floors or separate them from technical rooms (attic or basement). Depending on what material the building is constructed from, the floors can be monolithic, prefabricated reinforced concrete or wooden.
For the construction of a private house, floors on wooden beams are most suitable, since their weight is less than that of structures made from other materials, and constructing them with your own hands is cheaper and easier.
Wooden interfloor ceilings can be installed in houses made of any material, with the exception of monolithic reinforced concrete. They are erected simultaneously with the construction of the walls, as the latter are built to the height of the next floor. In frame wooden buildings, floors can be made simultaneously with the construction of the frame of the entire building, even before it is insulated and covered.
Correct floor design
Interfloor wooden floors are arranged on beams. They are usually used as timber. The size of the section depends on the size of the span that needs to be covered, as well as on the size of the expected load on the floor and the types of wood used. Most often, timber with a section width of 100 mm and a section height of 150-200 mm is used.
Next, the ceiling itself is formed by installing the floor boards of the upper floor and hemming the ceiling materials of the lower floor. You can often see that floor boards are laid directly on beams, but it is more correct to first install logs on the beams, and then make flooring from the boards over them. The second option is the most preferable, as it will allow for proper interfloor insulation along wooden beams.
The fact is that in the pie, which the filling of the interfloor ceiling is so similar to, there must be layers of vapor barrier.
They are made of a special membrane with a certain coefficient of vapor permeability, and the top layer of the membrane allows steam to pass in only one direction - from the insulation into the air. Therefore, an air gap is needed between the membrane and the plank floorboard, which will remove steam from under the boards. Otherwise, the latter will simply begin to rot.
In this case, the membrane is laid on the interfloor floor beams, and the air gap is formed due to the thickness of the logs laid perpendicular to the beams.
Steam is removed from under the boards through specially cut holes in the floor or slotted skirting boards used to edge the perimeter of the room.
Note! The bottom layer of the membrane must be made of a material with a very low vapor permeability coefficient.
This is necessary so that moisture from the lower rooms does not seep upward through the interfloor ceilings, and also does not linger in the layers of insulation. All air from the floor should be vented into the atmosphere only through ventilation ducts or windows for ventilation.
Insulation layers
So, if you imagine a cross-section of the interfloor insulation cake, it will consist of the following layers:
- upper floor flooring boards;
- logs;
- floor vapor barrier;
- beams with a layer of heat and sound insulation laid between them;
- ceiling vapor barrier;
- ceiling cladding.
In multi-storey buildings, insulation of the interfloor floor is relevant only if this floor is made between the basement and the first floor, as well as in the case of the floor between the upper floor and an unheated attic.
If the ceiling separates two residential heated floors, then the role of insulating material for insulation is negligible. In this case, the soundproofing properties of the structure are much more important. Despite the fact that it is warm and soundproofing materials are included in the same group when classified according to purpose and technological characteristics, their properties may be different.
These differences must be taken into account when using this or that material in a specific interfloor covering.
Insulation materials
Various thermal insulation materials can be used as interfloor insulation for a wooden house:
- glass wool;
- basalt wool;
- slag;
- Styrofoam;
- penoplex;
- expanded clay;
- foamed polyurethane;
- shavings, sawdust.
The choice is based on the availability of the material, its cost, and characteristics. Thus, mineral wool and expanded clay are the most acceptable from the point of view of fire safety. At the same time, penoplex does not absorb moisture, does not cake, and has high thermal insulation properties. Sometimes materials are combined to increase thermal protection.
Various types of cotton wool
Most often, for insulation of interfloor ceilings, they take different kinds construction thermal insulating mineral wool. They are made by melting and drawing fibers from raw materials. These fibers are then intertwined on special machines and formed into mats or rolls. In some cases, such mats or rolls are stitched with synthetic threads to increase the strength of the products.
For glass wool, the raw materials are waste and waste from glass production; for mineral wool and basalt wool, igneous rock melts are used. Slag is produced by melting blast furnace slag.
Different types of cotton wool have different properties. They have different densities and different thermal conductivities. These characteristics depend not only on the type of feedstock, but also on the specified production parameters.
Foam plastic and penoplex
These are two similar materials in properties and production method. The starting materials for their production are plastics of various compositions. During the production process, they foam and, when hardened, are formed into sheets of the correct geometric shape. The difference is that penoplex is squeezed out through special device– extruder.
Both foam plastic and penoplex have closed pores filled with gas in their volume. Only in polystyrene foam it is ordinary air, and when foaming polystyrene foam, carbon dioxide is usually used. In terms of thermal conductivity, both materials are almost identical. But due to the fact that in the mass of penoplex the pores are distributed more evenly and they themselves have almost same size, its strength is much higher.
Very often, when forming sheets of penoplex, their ends are not made even, but in the form of two or more ledges. When insulating, two adjacent sheets, connecting to each other during installation, provide better insulation, since the joints are not blown through and retain heat well.
Expanded clay
Note! Expanded clay is environmentally friendly material. It is durable and will not rot or decompose.
Polyurethane
Foamed polyurethane is used, as a rule, for insulating basement and attic floors. It is simply applied using special equipment, and later it foams in air and takes on a three-dimensional shape. The advantage of using such material is that it fills all the leaks and cracks in the ceiling structure, allowing you to create a sealed water- and windproof thermal protection.
Sawdust
Wood shavings and sawdust have recently been used much less frequently, but more recently they have also been used to insulate interfloor ceilings, filling the cavity between the beams. To prevent such insulation from rotting inside the ceilings, it is treated with special compounds that kill putrefactive bacteria and woodworms. When laying, shavings or sawdust are mixed with lime.
Vapor barrier
To properly insulate interfloor ceilings, it is not enough to use only materials with thermal insulation properties. If you do not protect the insulation from the action of moisture located in the interior of the premises, various microorganisms will multiply in the material, which can subsequently lead to mold or mildew. To avoid this phenomenon, it is necessary to make correct vapor barrier insulation.
Any of the many options produced by industry can be used as a vapor barrier. Ready-made protective membranes are very widely represented on the building materials market. When building and insulating a private house with your own hands, you can use available materials if you know their strength and vapor barrier properties and use them correctly.
As the main layer, the coefficient of vapor permeability of which should be minimal, you can use ordinary polyethylene film or foil. This layer is laid below the insulation, preventing moisture vapor from the basement or lower floor from penetrating into it.
As the second layer, which will be on top of the insulation, you can use wax paper or glassine. These materials have greater vapor permeability than foil or polyethylene. They will facilitate the free release of vapors from the thickness of the insulation upwards.
Work technology
The most effective will be the insulation of the interfloor ceiling if it is carried out during the construction process. It is in this case that all the subtleties can be taken into account and all available materials can be used.
If the interfloor ceiling is not yet ready, but only consists of a set of wooden beams laid on load-bearing walls, it is necessary to install a layer of vapor barrier on the lower surface, and then hem the ceiling of the lower floor. As a result, if you look at the ceiling from the upper floor, it will look like several long boxes formed by the beams and ceiling covering.
It is in these boxes that you need to put the insulation. After the material is laid in the space between the beams, it must be covered with a second layer of vapor barrier. Sheets or panels must be overlapped and glued together. Logs are installed immediately along the top layer of vapor barrier, on which the floor boards of the upper floor will subsequently be laid.
If you do insulation of the finished interfloor ceiling, as often happens during overhaul residential buildings, the insulation will have to be installed on the underside of the ceiling. To do this, from the side of the ceiling of the lower floor or basement, a frame is arranged on wooden blocks or metal profiles. Insulation is secured between the frame elements using special fasteners. Next, a lower layer of vapor barrier and a ceiling covering are mounted along the frame, close to the insulation.
Properly performed insulation will protect from frost and heat in summer time, will provide good sound insulation.
The attic floor separates the heated part of the building from the cold part. Choosing the right material and thickness of the insulator means reducing heat loss and saving material costs in heating season. Let's talk about insulating the attic floor using wooden beams with your own hands.
Construction of a wooden attic floor
The load-bearing elements in the attic wooden floor are beams. They are made from coniferous wood. The cross-sectional size of the beams is taken based on the load that the element absorbs. ABOUT correct calculation We told you about wooden floor beams in the article “How to calculate wooden floor beams”.
For each specific climatic conditions and depending on the ability of the material to resist heat transfer, according to the thermal engineering calculation, its own value for the thickness of the heat insulator is obtained.
Scheme of attic floor insulation: 1 - joists; 2 — cranial bars; 3 - plank board or boards; 4 - vapor barrier; 5 - counter-lattice for ventilation gap; 6 - insulation; 7 - clean floor; 8 - ventilation gap
A subfloor made of wooden panels or boards is mounted on skull blocks. Next, a membrane-type vapor barrier is laid, insulation is laid on it, which is covered with another layer of membrane.
If the attic is in use, a clean floor is laid on top. If not, then running boards (min. 40 mm thick) are laid along the beams. All wooden elements are antiseptic. To ventilate wooden structures, when laying a clean floor, a gap is left between it and the insulation.
Selection of material for insulation
Bulk materials
Expanded clay
You can insulate attic floors bulk materials, which includes expanded clay. It has a relatively low weight (250-600 kg/m3) and high resistance to heat transfer. Ease of installation and relative low cost determine the choice of this material.
Vermiculite
Expanded vermiculite is obtained by heating vermiculite rock to a temperature of 700 ° C, which at the same time increases in volume by 25 times. Its thermal conductivity is from 0.13 W/m K, and its volumetric weight is up to 200 kg/m 3.
Perlite
Expanded perlite also belongs to bulk thermal insulation materials. Perlite rock is crushed and fired to produce a porous structure. Expanded perlite is environmentally friendly, does not burn and is bioresistant, and has high thermal insulation properties (0.052 W/m K). Its volumetric weight is 160-250 kg/m3.
Piece materials
Piece insulating materials are manufactured in the form of: sheets, rolls, plates, mounting shells and segments. To insulate attic floors, slabs and rolls are most often used. At the same time, the insulation roll type preferable, since it does not leave joining seams, which slightly, but worsen, the resistance to heat transfer.
Basalt wool
Mineral wool slabs and rolls of basalt fibers are the most popular thermal insulation material in house construction. It is made from crushed and molten basalt by blowing. Basalt wool has low thermal conductivity (0.32-0.048 W/m K) and low volumetric weight. This material is biostable, environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive.
Glass wool
Glass wool in its characteristics is very close to mineral wool. It is also obtained by melting the starting material, which is in this case is a glass fight. Glass wool has longer threads, greater chemical resistance and strength, and is less expensive than mineral wool.
It is produced in the form of slabs, mats, rolls, reinforced and with a reflective layer. The volumetric weight of glass wool ranges from 25 to 200 kg/m3, heat absorption is 0.035-0.045 W/m K. The disadvantage of fiberglass is the need for personal protection during installation.
Expanded polystyrene
TO slab insulation also includes expanded polystyrene (foam plastic). This is a cheap, lightweight, moisture-resistant material with good thermal insulation properties. In private housing construction, it is often abandoned due to rodent damage and low resistance to high temperatures.
Extruded polystyrene foam (penoplex) has good properties insulation, less fire hazardous than simple polystyrene foam, but when burned it releases toxic substances.
Polyurethane foam
Slab polyurethane foam (foam rubber) has a high resistance to heat transfer (0.029-0.041 W/m K) and low volumetric weight (30-80 kg/m 3). Rigid types of this material are used in construction. Sprayed polyurethane foam creates continuous surface insulation, both thermally and hydrologically. It is also resistant to temperature changes and is durable in use (up to 20 years).
Foam glass
Foam glass is a type of glass that has a cellular structure. It has low thermal conductivity (0.04-0.08 W/m K), water resistance, high strength and fire safety. The percentage of porosity of foam glass reaches 80-95%. Volumetric weight varies from 100-200 kg/m 3.
Peat slabs
Organic thermal insulation materials include peat slabs. They are made from young sphagnum moss using a wet and dry method. Under the influence of temperature, peat fibers stick together. Peat slabs are divided into ordinary and moisture-resistant. Their volumetric weight is 170-300 kg/m3, the coefficient of thermal conductivity is 0.05-0.07 W/m·K.
Fiberboard boards
Fiberboards are made from wood fiber, which is first mineralized and then mixed in the required proportion (cement - water). Thermal insulation boards have lower volumetric weight (300-350 kg/m 3) and thermal conductivity (0.085-0.95 W/m·K) than structural fiberboard.
It is quite easy to make a fiberboard mixture yourself and lay it directly in place. You can first make slabs out of formwork using special technology the right size, and then mount them on the ceiling.
Reeds
Reed, which is practically the cheapest, is also used as a thermal insulation material. It is made from compressed reed stems sewn together with steel wire.
The volumetric weight of reed is 175-250 kg/m3, the coefficient of thermal digestibility is 0.05-0.08 W/m·K. Its disadvantages are low fire resistance and biostability, high water absorption and damage by rodents.
Ecowool
Ecowool (cellulose wool) is an environmentally friendly thermal insulation material. It is made from recycled cellulose raw materials with the addition of antiseptics and fire retardants. Most often they are boric acid and borax.
In stores you can find it packaged in plastic bags. When laying, the ecowool is loosened and then laid out at the insulation site. In fact, the density of the insulation should be at least 35 kg/m 3 for the ceiling, which is quite difficult to determine by eye.
This thermal insulation material has good thermal conductivity - 0.037-0.042 W/m K, low volumetric weight (28-63 kg/m 3), moderately flammable and bio-resistant. Ecowool can prevent about 20% moisture from entering the inner layers, while maintaining its thermal insulation properties.
Cork boards have been used for thermal insulation for a long time. They are made from crushed waste from cork production by mixing with glue or heat treatment. Pressed slabs in special molds are dried at a temperature of 80 °C.
The volumetric weight of cork insulation is small and amounts to 150-250 kg/m 3, the thermal insulation value is high (0.04-0.08 W/m K). The advantages of this insulator include:
- biostability;
- low water absorption;
- low volumetric weight;
- relatively high strength as a heat-insulating material;
- fire resistance (slowly smolders);
- not affected by rodents.
Features of laying thermal insulation on a wooden floor
Insulation made of mineral and glass wool is installed with mandatory vapor barrier. By absorbing water, the insulation loses its thermal properties, so careful protection from moisture is needed. Vapor barrier films laid with an overlap of 100 mm.
Thermal insulation with a reflective coating reduces heat loss from the floor. It is placed with the foil down. The use of penofol is justified only in baths and saunas.
If the thickness of the thermal insulation material is greater than the height of the floor beams, it is necessary to lay additional slats to create an air gap. Multilayer thermal insulation is installed with overlapping joints.
The dimensions of rigid thermal insulation boards are adjusted with special care so that the gaps do not increase the thermal conductivity of the floor. Otherwise, the installation of this type of insulation does not differ from the installation of thermal insulation from mineral wool slabs.
Bulk heat insulators are evenly distributed throughout the entire space between the beams, observing the required (calculated) layer thickness. Since almost all of them absorb moisture, such an insulator is protected from moisture on top and bottom by a membrane film.
The choice of material for thermal insulation of the attic floor is determined by the following criteria:
- Material costs, including delivery costs.
- Local availability of material.
- Easy to install.
- Health safety.
- Fire safety.
You can reduce the stress of a building's structure by choosing insulation with a lower volumetric weight and a low heat absorption rate.
