The popularity of attics is growing rapidly. Developers consider this type of housing to be less expensive compared to the cost of equipping floor premises. In addition, many homeowners are attracted by the opportunity to implement specific architectural and design solutions, substantively developed by European specialists. Why has the transfer of under-roof zones to housing become actualized in our country only in the last 10 - 15 years? The answer lies in the climatic difference between continental Europe and the European part of the Russian Federation. Only modern technologies in the field insulating materials make it possible to choose insulation for the attic, providing a comfortable microclimate in a “house without walls” located somewhere in the Moscow region.

It is important to choose the right insulation for the under-roof space

The installation of attic roofs is functionally and technologically different from the work carried out on the main floors and in unheated attic spaces. Insulating the attic is associated with increased complexity of installation processes, the need for thermophysical calculations, as well as the importance of proper development of ventilation and vapor protection.

In non-residential attic spaces, thermal insulation is placed in the niches between the beams ceiling. The roof structure in this case plays the role of a barrier that protects the building from wind load, temperature expansion and atmospheric precipitation. Insulation for mansard roof, on the contrary, is part of roofing sandwich, designed to simultaneously perform all the functions inherent in the walls, ceiling and roof.

More moisture enters the attic than the floor spaces. Water penetrates from below in the form of rising vapor. Vapor barrier of the floor ceiling reduces the flow of moisture, but does not eliminate it.

The second factor in air humidification is associated with the inevitable condensation on the lower surface of the tiles or other roofing material. Moreover, the amount of this condensate on insulated roofs is greater than on cold roofs due to the increased temperature gradient. In addition, ventilated cold attic forms a buffer air cushion, effectively drying the roof from below. The absence of such a buffer in attics reduces natural ventilation wooden rafters and the insulation itself.

Placing thermal insulation directly under the roof slopes increases the rate of heat transfer, so insulation for the attic should be more energy efficient than insulating the floor between the dwelling and the cold attic.

Criteria for selecting insulating material

What is the best way to insulate an attic? Studying the properties of thermal insulators cannot give a substantiated answer to this question. It is necessary to correlate the characteristics of materials with their operating conditions. The specificity of attics is expressed in three main rules for their insulation:

1. Timeframe for completing thermal insulation work. Typically, freshly sawn wood is used for rafters. In this case, it is necessary to wait at least six months before insulation with materials with high vapor permeability.
   

   Even when using dried wood, a pause of at least 2 weeks is necessary after installing the roofing.

2. Choice of insulation thickness. The intensity of heat flow through the roof is much greater than the energy lost through the walls or foundation. The usual thickness of mineral wool of 100 - 150 mm does not solve the problem for attic insulation even in the southern regions of Russia. It is necessary to use special calculator programs, where climatic conditions, dimensions are substituted building structures and materials of all layers of the sandwich. In conditions of a temperate continental climate, the required design thickness of the insulator for a mansard roof is almost never less than 300 mm.
3. Design of rafter beams.

The height of the lumber profile should be 30 - 40 mm higher than the thickness of the thermal insulation layer. In this case, sufficient ventilation gap between waterproofing and insulation.

If work is underway to convert a cold attic into housing, then additional sheathing is usually used at the bottom of the rafters, increasing the installation height to accommodate the insulating layer.

To determine which insulation is best for your attic roof, make comparative assessment materials taking into account the above three rules in the following order:

1. Eliminate options that do not meet your requirements fire safety.
2. Eliminate options with high vapor permeability of insulation if you do not have time to dry the rafter wood.
3. Calculate the required insulation layer thickness for several options.
4. Create budget options. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the exclusion of a vapor barrier membrane from the sandwich composition in the case of using insulating materials with hygroscopicity close to zero.

Types of insulating materials used for insulating attic roofs

First of all, it should be noted that insulating inclined surfaces bulk materials not only inconvenient, but also impractical, since the fragments rolling down will block the ventilation gap. Therefore, sawdust, fluff pulp, expanded clay and similar insulation materials should be abandoned. On the other hand, it is permissible to carry out insulation with slabs obtained from a mixture of the listed materials with clay or cement. However, the weight of such slabs should be taken into account when calculating trusses.

Fireproof insulation

The only relatively inexpensive fireproof heat insulator is mineral (basalt) wool. It is for this reason that it has long remained the most popular option for use in attic sandwiches. How to choose a good mineral wool insulation for the attic? Is the usual rolled isover that we use for walls suitable? Such material will work well, but... not for long. The reason for this is high capillary activity. Therefore, it is necessary to choose materials with special impregnations that reduce hygroscopicity: mineral wool ROCKMIN PLUS, Izover Pitched Roof and other brands whose names have a direct indication of the area of ​​application that suits us.

Mixtures of insulating backfill with clay are also fireproof. The main problem with clay-mixed insulation is the very large thickness of the insulating layer and its excessive weight.

Among the most modern developments, PIR boards lined with heat-reflecting foil should be highlighted. They do not support combustion and have a record low thermal conductivity coefficient (0.024 W/m*K).

Insulation materials with the highest energy efficiency

Manufacturers building thermal insulation Brands of slabs made of extruded polystyrene foam (EPS) have been developed, specifically designed for the construction of attics and roofs of cold attics. These are Penoplex Pitched Roof, TechnoNIKOL Carbon Solid and other materials with a thermal conductivity coefficient of no higher than 0.030 - 0.034 W/m*K. Brands are distinguished by the ability to order panels of increased length (up to 4.5 m), which significantly speeds up installation work.

EPS is a flammable material, but building codes allow its use in attic equipment. To increase fire safety, infrared screens with a foil layer should be used. Despite the fact that their vapor barrier function is not required by EPS, foil can significantly increase the fire resistance of the sandwich.

Average, polystyrene foam boards allow to reduce the thickness of the attic insulation layer by 20% in comparison with mineral wool. The champions in heat conservation are sprayed polyurethane foam (PPU) and the already mentioned PIR boards. Due to the high toxicity of gases released during thermal destruction of polyurethane foam, this material is not recommended for use in residential attics. PIR boards do not have this drawback and are able to replace mineral wool with a 1.5-fold reduction in layer thickness.

Insulation materials with high specific noise absorption

Insulation with Zhivoizol - linen heat insulator

The noise insulation properties of attic roof insulation can be very important when using metal tiles, which enhance the noise of natural precipitation. Currently, slab materials have been developed that are characterized by a high noise reduction coefficient with a slight loss in energy efficiency to mineral wool. Among such developments, it should be noted pressed flax insulation, known under the market brands “thermolen” and “ZhivaIzol”. Plates made of this material absorb noise in all frequency spectra 20% - 30% more effectively than mineral wool and EPS.

Conclusion

The choice of insulation for an attic roof should be carried out in parallel with the development of roof trusses and the design of the entire sandwich, including roof cladding, membranes and sheathing. When converting cold attics into housing, it is important to minimize the thickness of the insulating layer and use insulators with the lowest thermal conductivity coefficient.

The wrong choice of insulation, or its insufficient thickness, not only leads to cold in the attic room. Even if you compensate low temperature intense heating, you may encounter:

• increased roof icing;
• reducing the service life of the roofing covering;
• failure of the drainage system.

Thus, competent design of a roofing sandwich for attics is important not only to ensure comfort for residents, but also from the point of view of increasing the service life of the building.

Video on the topic: how to properly insulate an attic

It is a known fact that in Russia, at least 5 months a year (in the northern regions - all 8) a heating system operates in any living space of the house. And under open air at this time there is a noticeable cold. And if we're talking about about the attic, which has the largest area of ​​​​contact with the open atmosphere, then you should take this seriously. After all, in winter there is a serious temperature difference on both sides of the roof and the gables of the attic, which is why the heat flow always moves towards the source of the cold - out. And the task of insulating the attic is to stop this flow and minimize heat loss, for which purpose materials with low thermal conductivity are used, speaking in simple language, – insulation.

But it's not that simple! Therefore, first of all, it is important to decide which insulation is best for the attic - based on the materials of its manufacture, planned operation and expected internal temperature. With us you will easily understand everything!

Requirements for attic insulation

So, what insulation can be called the best for an attic roof? It all depends on what exactly you expect from it, because for thermal insulation of the attic of baths and saunas, where fire-hazardous chimneys pass, it is difficult to come up with something better than basalt insulation, which can withstand up to 1000°C, but for insulating an ordinary attic of a summer house, this is a losing option: mice will eat everything. But what do you need?

Each material has its own valuable properties, and its disadvantages. When choosing a material for attic insulation, most people are interested in such aspects as:

1. Thermal insulation qualities.
2. Economical.
3. Durability.
4. Ease of installation.
5. Water-repellent properties.
6. Noise insulation
7. Versatility

But let's approach this issue from a professional perspective. Of course, the most valuable quality is still the ability of the insulation to retain heat:

The second important point: is it possible to insulate both the pitched walls of the attic and the floors with the same insulation? Therefore, pay attention: if the name of any insulation contains the word “station wagon”, then it can be used both for roof insulation and for walls, floors and ceilings. For finishing the attic, this is the best option: we buy the material we like and immediately finish the walls, gables, and floor. Fast, and less problematic - now all insulation will have the same properties and will last the same long time.

And now about sound absorption. But why does the roof need soundproofing, since there are no neighbors behind it, no trampling feet? Let's put it this way: for those whose house has a metal roofing (profile, metal tile), and it has rained at least once, such questions do not arise. It is clear that a non-residential attic can still be left without sound insulation, but when arranging a residential attic, it is important to understand that comfort is, first of all, silence.

The choice of insulation for the attic directly depends on what its supporting structure is made of: reinforced concrete, metal or wood. And the more flammable the material of the same rafters, the less flammable the insulation should be, so that later the “bohemian” space does not burst into flames like a match.

And finally, for attic insulation, due to the presence of constant water vapor in the room, the most valuable quality is still hydrophobicity:

Now let’s talk about which insulation material is most suitable for the attic roof of your particular home.

How do you insulate an attic today?

The most popular materials for attic insulation are insulation based on mineral wool and fiberglass, and newer and still little studied in everyday life are ecowool, foil boards and natural materials.

Glass wool: you want it and it hurts

Fiberglass wool is one of the most inexpensive options. Its installation is simple, there is no toxicity to humans when closed, and the lack of organic matter makes such insulation unattractive to small rodents. And the most important thing is that glass wool has a second degree of fire safety, which is quite a lot.

The only significant drawback is fine glass dust, which gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes and causes damage, and the skin begins to itch very much. Those. For such work, you cannot do without special closed clothing, gloves, a respirator and glasses with rubber elements. Clothes after installation work will have to be destroyed - no amount of washing will save it. Note that those who have ever, through carelessness or stupidity, worked with glass wool with bare hands, then pass her by for the rest of her life.

Mineral wool: priority is warmth

Mineral wool is much more flexible in this regard. It consists of synthetic fibers and small crumbs of stone, clay and much more. Fiberglass may also be present in it, but not much. Thanks to its light weight, excellent vapor permeability and low hygroscopicity, this material can hardly be overestimated. On sale you will find it both in the form of rolls and in the form of slabs, the most different sizes and thickness - from 50 to 100 mm.

Heat is retained in mineral wool due to its multilayer structure, in the layers of which air is retained. Moreover, this insulation is also vapor-proof, i.e. "breathes". And unlike foam plastic, small rodents do not grow in mineral wool.

Among the disadvantages, it can be noted that mineral wool quickly collects dust and is not resistant to moisture, and therefore its waterproofing must be thought out especially carefully. As for the fire safety of mineral wool, quartz sand can even retard fire if such a nuisance happens.

The most popular brands of mineral wool for attic insulation are Izover and Ursa.

Isover as an insulation material is valuable not only for its thermal insulation qualities - it has high noise absorption. That's why, if you are planning to equip the attic of your house as a nursery or home cinema, then opt for this insulation. Then your evenings will be relaxing!

Where does this property come from? It's all about the specially created air lenses of this insulation. And, as you remember from school course physicists, materials of different densities together significantly complicate the passage of sound vibration. For example, after insulating a roof with metal tiles with Izover, the sound of rain will no longer be heard.

But Ursa insulation is supplied for sale in a convenient soft roll. As the manufacturer promises, Ursa insulation is made from a natural composition - fiberglass and quartz sand. Nothing harmful or dangerous to humans and environment there is no. And at the same time, it retains heat remarkably well, absorbs noise, and is not liked by insects and rodents due to its inorganic origin.

And mineral wool lasts for 50 years, without any signs of rot, bloom or decay.

Basalt wool: an environmentally friendly option for mineral wool

The safest and most famous type of mineral wool is basalt. Let us remind you that basalt is a natural material, a stone that is melted in a factory and turned into thin fibers. Yes, this insulation really does not burn up to 1000°C - after all, this is the melting point of the stone. But mice really adore him, although at such a height as the attic, it’s easier to deal with them, don’t you agree?

Among the popular brands of basalt wool is Rocklight: excellent heat and sound insulation, non-flammability, ease of installation. In addition, the price of this insulation is pleasantly surprising, because... the quality is quite high. The fire safety of this insulation is excellent: it can withstand even temperatures of +1000C for some time.

Rocklight is also quite durable, does not cake, and its vapor-permeable properties are maintained throughout its entire service life. Fungus never grows in this insulation; the walls “breathe,” which is important for an attic.

Extruded polystyrene foam: an easy solution

Extruded polystyrene foam is attractive to many due to its simplicity and ease of installation, as well as the absence of itching on the skin. No discomfort! The insulation process itself looks like you are putting together a puzzle. But the price of this insulation, of course, will surprise you a little - the cost is low.

But the attic is rarely insulated independently, with polystyrene foam alone: ​​this material is more valuable in combined insulation. Like in this example:

Polystyrene foam: cheap, cheerful and risky

One of the most inexpensive roof insulation materials. First of all, polystyrene foam is good because it can be easily installed with your own hands, without calling any specialists, and it is especially convenient for sloping walls of an attic or roof.

Polystyrene foam has several density levels. That is why this material has good sound insulation, and therefore about the loud noise of knocking on metal roofing the drops can be forgotten for a long time. Polystyrene foam is also good because it does not shrink over time.

The rigidity of the foam used determines how strong the material will be under compression and bending. But the denser the material, the greater its flammability will be, so to insulate the roof, do not try to choose the hardest insulation materials - after all, you will not walk on them.

PPU: we reach the most inaccessible places

When the attic is insulated from the inside with sprayed polyurethane foam - polyurethane foam - the housing under the roof will be completely residential. And, I must say, this is really excellent thermal insulation, and many other qualities:

1. PU foam has excellent thermal protection properties: only 2.5 cm will protect the attic from cold sweat in the same way as 8 cm of mineral wool. Only polystyrene foam can be called fairly close in thermal conductivity to this material, which copes with its task almost twice as bad.
2. Here is another valuable advantage: when insulating with polyurethane foam, you will not need either a frame or special fasteners. And the most valuable thing is that PU foam has no seams, whereas seams are always cold bridges.
3. Also, if hoods and chimneys pass through the attic, around which it is especially difficult to create a seal, give preference to this insulation. The same applies to any complex shapes and surfaces.
4. And finally, what do you think is most afraid of? attic insulation? Of course, moisture! And it’s not so easy to protect yourself from it right in the under-roof pie. Unless, of course, we are talking specifically about polyurethane foam, which does not dampen at all and easily contacts any roofing material. And at the same time it is also vapor permeable!
5. Polyurethane foam also has excellent adhesion to any surface.
6. Unlike expanded polystyrene, which is close to polyurethane foam in its thermal insulation properties, this material is also vapor permeable, i.e. "breathes". What a valuable quality for an attic!
7. PUF is not eaten by mice, is not worn down by insects, it does not rot or mold.

The only disadvantage of such insulation is that it is impossible to spray polyurethane foam on your own, without equipment. You will have to either hire an entire construction team or get a competent contractor.

Natural wool: environmentally friendly, but problematic

Yes, in some areas, especially in the Caucasus, natural wool and felt are actively used as roofing insulation. And these are completely acceptable materials: wool felt is listed in SNiP as vapor-permeable construction material. And its insulation coefficient is the same as that of basalt insulation - 0.045 W/mS.

Most often, such wool is placed in bags, and in dense rows they are placed on the roof. But sometimes they are used in roofing as a full-fledged insulation material, pre-treated to prevent unpleasant odors.

Wool in the Caucasus is very cheap due to the large number of sheep. Therefore, it is easier to insulate with this material, which can be found in excess, than to purchase ready-made and expensive ones. And the disadvantages are quite significant: these are insects and rodents that simply adore everything natural.

Ecowool: simple and environmentally friendly

Another very interesting new product became the so-called ecowool. It is made from newspaper waste, finely cut and processed so that it does not burn or rot. As for the fears of many citizens that newspapers contain dangerous lead, this technology has long been a thing of the past.

True, it is unlikely that you will be able to insulate an attic with eco-wool yourself - construction companies are engaged in this new product.

Now we come to practice. And the last question that you ask yourself when purchasing the selected insulation for the attic is whether to buy it in mats or rolls?

What is more convenient: rolls or mats?

In fact, the form in which this or that insulation is sold plays a big role for many ordinary people. Some people prefer to work only with slabs as they are more convenient, but for the majority, rolls seem rational: rolled out and secured, what could be simpler?

Let's just say: it's really convenient to work with rolled material. They rolled it out to the required length, cut it, and rolled the cut piece. They brought a new skein to right place, rolled out again, straightened and secured. More roll insulation convenient because with a standard distance between rafters of 61 cm, the roll can be easily cut in half with a regular knife, and its halves will fit perfectly into their niches - just roll them out:

But in practice, for many, packing rectangular slabs turns out to be less convenient, which leaves the most waste. But it is easier to transport, and the insulation in it does not bend, like in a roll, which is a critical issue for many materials:

And finally: when buying insulation, be sure to pay close attention to the integrity of the packaging, otherwise you won’t end up with problems later. The insulation packaging must be completely sealed, slightly compressed, without a single scratch or torn film. This is the only way to prevent moisture from getting to the insulation before installation begins.

Now imagine what happens to insulation in poor-quality packaging: moisture and water vapor penetrate the material through holes and slits (and this stuff is everywhere), the insulation gets wet in places and changes its geometry. On site, you unpack the roll or slabs and begin installation, and then it turns out that the insulation, swollen and heavy in places, does not fit together in any way, the cracks are visible even to the naked eye. Having somehow suffered, you cover all this stuff with clapboard or drywall - and that’s it! We don’t leave finished insulated walls unfinished, even for several hours - why? And as a result, the not dried insulation ends up in a closed and dark space - perfect place for mold development. The consequences are usually not pleasing to the eye, but you will know about their presence by unpleasant smell from under in just a few weeks.

Most regions of Russia can “boast” of the prevalence of cold, which leads to heating of premises using heating systems. And if there is an attic floor, the situation becomes extremely serious. After all, the attic has the most large area contact with open air, which in winter period It gets quite cold. Therefore, the insulation of a room of this type should be approached very responsibly.

Due to the occurrence of large temperature differences across to different parties roof, the flow of heat begins to move towards the cold. Therefore, the task of insulating the attic is to put an obstacle in the way heat flow and reduce its heat loss. For this purpose, various insulation materials can be used, that is, materials with low thermal conductivity.

When deciding which insulation is best to use for the attic, it is important to consider not only quality characteristics material, but design features attic, materials for its manufacture, as well as the expected temperature indicators inside this room.

What properties should attic insulation have?

Each material has its own advantages and negative sides. In most cases, a consumer choosing insulation for an attic pays attention to the following:

• The ability of a material to retain heat.
• Operational period.
• Moisture resistant.
• How simple and easy it is to perform installation work.
• Is it possible to save on material?
• To what extent does the material reduce noise and extraneous sounds?
• Is it possible to use the material universally?

The second most important thing is the versatility of the insulation. Many people are interested in the question of whether it is possible to use one insulation for the roof, floor and walls of the attic. In this case, you need to carefully study the manufacturer’s recommendations on the packaging: if the term “station wagon” is present, you can safely purchase material for insulating the pitched walls of the attic and floor. The use of universal insulation helps to avoid the problem of varying degrees of insulation of surfaces.

The next significant property when deciding which insulation to choose for an attic is sound and noise absorption. Even taking into account the fact that there is no noise and trampling from neighbors in the attic room, the roof definitely needs sound insulation. This is especially true for attic rooms, the roof of which is covered with metal profiles and metal tiles. Insulation with good soundproofing properties helps create a comfortable environment in a residential attic.

An excellent choice for insulating an attic can be a material with low flammability. This property is very important for rooms with wooden load-bearing structure. When choosing insulation for an attic roof, you should remember the rule: the higher the risk of fire of the attic frame, the more non-flammable the insulation should be. Only in this case can the degree of fire on the entire floor be reduced.

Of no small importance for attic insulation are its hydrophobic properties, since water vapor will always be present in the room. It is best to use materials with low water absorption. Otherwise, it is recommended to use additional waterproofing.

Popular materials for attic insulation - which is better

To find out which insulation is best for the attic, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of some materials. Materials based on mineral wool and fiberglass are very popular when insulating an attic; little-known insulation materials are slightly behind them: ecowool, foil board and natural materials.

Glass wool

Among the budget materials for attic insulation, you can highlight fiberglass wool. She's different simple installation, lack of toxicity. The absence of organic components in the material makes the material uninteresting for rodents. But the main advantage of glass wool is its low degree of combustion.

A disadvantage is the presence of fine glass dust, which can cause damage to the mucous membrane of the eye and irritation on the skin. However, this problem can be solved by using personal protective equipment.

Mineral wool for attic roof

In the composition of this material you can find small stone or clay chips, as well as a small amount of fiberglass. Mineral wool is based on synthetic fibers, so it is safer for human health. The material is characterized by low weight, good vapor permeability and low hygroscopicity, which makes the material no less popular than glass wool.

The multilayer structure of mineral wool allows you to retain heat due to the fact that air can be retained in the layers.

However, the material contributes to the accumulation of dust and does not resist high humidity well. But this problem can be solved by performing waterproofing work.

Mineral wool belongs to a high fire safety class; particles of quartz sand in the material help to retard even open fire.

Among the large number of mineral wool manufacturers, there are two leaders who are most suitable as an answer to the question of which mineral wool is best for the attic.

Izover insulation has high thermal insulation properties and perfectly absorbs excess noise. Therefore, it is an ideal option for arranging a children's room or home cinema in the attic. In addition, such insulation will protect against the noise that raindrops make when hitting metal surfaces. Such properties of the material are ensured by the presence of special air lenses in the insulation cavity.

Ursa insulation materials contain only natural raw materials, in particular we are talking about quartz sand and fiberglass. Consequently, the material does not pose a danger to the environment and human health. It retains heat perfectly, absorbs most noise and sounds, and is not damaged by rodents. The density of mineral wool for the attic ranges from 30 to 225 kg/m3.

Mineral wool is characterized by a fairly long service life; for half a century the material does not bloom or rot.

Basalt or stone wool

The most popular and safest type of mineral wool is basalt wool. This material is based on natural stone- basalt, which under the influence of high temperature is melted and stretched into thin fibers. Basalt wool can withstand heating up to 1000 0 C, but is not able to withstand rodents.

The most popular brand of stone wool, Rocklight, is characterized by its ability to retain heat, absorb excess noise, fire resistance and easy installation. Wherein basalt insulation enough for an attic High Quality can be purchased at a relatively low price.

Another advantage of the material is durability and the ability to “breathe” over a long period of use. The vapor permeability of the insulation is of great importance when finishing the attic, as it prevents the appearance of mold and various fungi.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Simple and easy installation, no irritation on the skin during operation and a fairly low cost are just minor advantages of expanded polystyrene. However, in most cases the material is used in combination with other insulation materials. For example, the gaps in the frame are filled with mineral wool, and polystyrene foam is laid on top.

Styrofoam

The cheapest insulation option for the attic is polystyrene foam. It is lightweight, so the work can be done independently, without involving experienced craftsmen. This property is especially important when insulating sloping roof walls.

Polystyrene foam is an excellent soundproofing material, as it has several levels of density. In addition, it is not characterized by shrinkage during operation.

The density of insulation for an attic roof in this case shows the degree of its resistance to mechanical loads, but denser foam plastic is less resistant to fire. Therefore, to insulate the attic roof, you can choose materials with less rigidity, since in this place significant loads will not be placed on the insulation.

Polyurethane foam

Spraying polyurethane foam is a good way to insulate an attic. In addition, the material has the following properties:

• Excellent degree of thermal protection.
• Possibility of insulation without a frame and special fastenings.
• The absence of seams, which are always conductors of cold.
• Creating tightness in hard-to-reach places.
• No reaction with any roofing material, excellent resistance to moisture and vapor permeability.
• Good grip on any surface.
• Polyurethane foam is not afraid of rodents and insects, and is also not affected by mold and rot.

But polyurethane foam still has a drawback: it cannot be applied independently without special equipment.

Natural wool

In some regions, they are used as roof insulation. natural wool or felt. These materials have good vapor permeability and excellent thermal insulation properties.

Wool can be used independently, but its use in a roofing pie is considered more effective.

For the Caucasian region, wool is the most affordable insulation material, which gives a great advantage over ready-made, more expensive materials. But in this case, do not forget about insects and rodents that can live in natural material.

Ecowool

Relatively recently on construction market appeared new insulation- ecowool. For its production, waste newspapers are used, which are pre-shredded and treated with fire retardants and antiseptics. At the same time, dangerous lead, which, according to many, is contained in newspapers, is completely excluded from ecowool.

The composition of the material fully complies with environmental requirements, even during the smoldering process and with a sharp change in temperature. This property makes ecowool more effective and profitable compared to mineral wool and expanded polystyrene.

But due to insufficient knowledge, insulation with this material is carried out only by specialized construction organizations.

Which one to choose: rolled material or mats

When choosing insulation for the attic, the question may arise: is it better? roll material or slabs? In this case, the answer will be individual for everyone, since everyone has different preferences.

Practical experience shows that material in rolls is more convenient to use. Simply roll out the roll to the desired length and cut off a piece. In addition, when insulating a roof that has a standard distance between the rafters, you can easily cut the material in half and fill the free space with them.

In the case of insulation boards, the advantage is convenient transportation. However, practical application is more problematic since the slabs are rectangular in shape.

In conclusion, it should be recalled that when buying insulation for the attic, it is very important to pay attention to the packaging. There should be no scratches or damage on it that indicate a leak. Only in this case is protection against moisture getting into the insulation guaranteed before installation work begins. Moisture that gets onto the material through poor-quality packaging leads to the insulation getting wet and changing its shape. As a result, installation becomes difficult in many ways, and gaps form between the slabs. Besides wet material becomes a favorable environment for the growth of mold and mildew, which spoil appearance surfaces and become a source of unpleasant odors.

Properly selected thermal insulation material is the key to effective insulation and an optimal microclimate inside the attic. High-quality thermal insulation not only reduces heat loss from the building, but also helps reduce air humidity and eliminates the problem of mold and mildew.

In this article we will find out which insulation is better for the attic (for walls and roof). Will be considered specifications and the features of all materials used for attic insulation. By the way, we recommend.

1 Why do you need to insulate the attic?

The attic of a private house, with the right approach to arrangement, can turn from a place where various rubbish accumulates into a full-fledged living space - after all, the extra “squares” can be used to much greater benefit.

The attic floor, due to the slope of the roof, has a very interesting geometry, which makes it possible to create a first-class recreation area - a living room or a children's room. Also, they often decide to use the attic floor as functional premises - a kitchen, toilet, or work room.

In order to turn the attic of a house into a comfortable attic for living, you first need to take care of the insulation of this room.

Of all the places in the house, it is in the uninsulated attic that the maximum heat loss is observed. This is due to the fact that the area of ​​contact between the roof of the house and external environment very large even if they stand.

An uninsulated roof is usually made from ordinary boards on which slate is laid - none of these materials have sufficient thermal conductivity that could interfere with heat transfer

Moreover, the roof, unlike concrete or brick walls home, is not monolithic design— it often contains various cracks and gaps, which contribute to even greater heat loss.

Even if you install a powerful heating system in the attic, if the room is not insulated, due to high heat losses, its efficiency to maintain the required temperature may not be enough.

High-quality insulation of the walls and roof of the attic contributes not only to the improvement temperature regime inside the house, but also provides additional sound insulation and wind protection like.

The low thermal conductivity of the insulation works not only to retain heat, but also vice versa - in the attic it will be warm in winter, and cool in summer, since the thermal insulation of the walls and roof will not allow the room to warm up too much under the influence of sunlight.

1.1 What requirements must high-quality insulation meet?

All of the above advantages of insulation can be achieved if you use high-quality thermal insulation materials. Let's consider what parameters should be used to select insulation for the attic.

Since the roof of a house is usually located on a system of wooden rafters that have limited load-bearing capacity, the primary requirement for attic insulation is minimum weight.

2 Review of the best insulation materials

Among all the thermal insulation materials present on the market, the above requirements are fully met by three types of insulation:

• Thermal insulation made of mineral wool;
• Thermal insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam;
• Foam thermal insulation (liquid penoizol, foamed polyurethane foam).

2.1 Foam insulation

The category of foam insulation includes materials manufactured directly at the workplace by foaming raw materials. From the pneumatic unit, foam insulation is supplied via a hose to the surfaces to be insulated.

Among foam thermal insulation, the most popular options are liquid penoizol and foamed polyurethane foam. The latter option has an order of magnitude better technical characteristics, but costs significantly more than penoizol.

The thermal conductivity of polyurethane foam insulation is 0.02 W/mk, which is significantly lower than all popular insulation materials, density is 25 kg/m3, moisture absorption is not higher than 2%. The thermal conductivity coefficient of liquid penoizol is about 0.04 W/mk, density is 28 kg/m3, the same as .

If you want to get the most effective insulation walls and roof of the attic, and you are not deterred by the prospect of hiring contractors, it is recommended to choose insulation with polyurethane foam - this material has no analogues in terms of thermal insulation properties.

2.2 Solid insulation - mineral wool and polystyrene foam

Mineral wool insulation is one of the most versatile thermal insulation materials; they can be used with equal success both for insulating the attic and for insulating the walls, facade, floor and ceiling of the house.

Go to category mineral wool insulation There are three types of materials: basalt wool - a material made by melting basalt rocks and then forming microscopic basalt fibers from the melt; slag wool - made from waste from the metallurgical industry - blast furnace slag; and fiberglass insulation - made from cullet,

Basalt wool has the best technical characteristics and, accordingly, the highest price.

If you are not limited in funds, then this option is worth choosing from mineral wool insulation, but if finances are limited, then it is quite possible to use fiberglass insulation.

In terms of versatility, extruded polystyrene foam is not much inferior to mineral wool. You can insulate not only the roof, but also the surface of the walls and floor of the attic with your own hands.

The advantages of extruded polystyrene foam include low thermal conductivity, due to which even relatively thin layer insulation will be quite effective ( optimal thickness attic insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam is 4-10 mm).

The main manufacturer of basalt wool on the domestic market is TechnoNIKOL, and extruded polystyrene foam - Penoplex.

Among the assortment of these companies, for thermal insulation of the attic it is best to use Technolight mineral wool from the TechnoNIKOL company, and Penoplex Comfort slabs. Let's compare the main technical characteristics of these attic insulation materials.

• Thermal conductivity coefficient, W/mk: TechnoNIKOL – 0.036, Penoplex – 0.032;
• Vapor permeability, m/hPa: Technonikol – 0.6, Penoplex – 0.015;
• Flammability class: TechnoNIKOL - G1 ( non-flammable material), Penoplex – G4 (highly flammable material);
• Density, kg/m3: TechnoNIKOL – 35, Penoplex – 30;
• Moisture absorption by volume with full immersion for 24 hours: TechnoNIKOL - 1.5%, Penoplex - 0.5%.

Mineral wool TechnoNIKOL "Technolight" is produced in the form of slabs, measuring 120 * 60 centimeters, the thickness of the slabs can be 4-20 cm. Penoplex slabs have similar dimensions, but their thickness range is slightly smaller - from 2 to 15 centimeters.

As you can see, the technical characteristics of Penoplex are better than TechnoNIKOL mineral wool, both in terms of thermal conductivity and vapor barrier.

In general, in practice, experts in most cases combine these two materials - expanded polystyrene is used to insulate the walls and floor of the attic, and it is recommended to choose mineral wool for thermal insulation of the roof.

3 Technology of attic insulation with mineral wool (video)

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Which insulation is best for an attic roof - choose from 5 options

A high-quality insulated attic floor is excellent solution shortage of living space. It is possible to insulate a room under a roof with your own hands, but with such an abundance of thermal insulation materials, modern market It is important not to make a mistake with the choice. To make it easier for you to decide on the type and thickness of the material, then we will analyze in detail the characteristics of 5 insulation materials, plus I will make a short review of prices.

Where to look when choosing

The attic belongs to quite specific residential premises. The main difference is the absence of main walls. More precisely, some models have so-called attic walls (a continuation of the main wall), but their height often does not exceed 1.2 m, so they do not play a big role in thermal insulation.

Since there is no capital base, the entire load in terms of insulation falls on the thermal insulation materials. There are general ideas about what insulation for an attic floor should be.

• One of the most basic parameters when choosing a material is the thermal conductivity coefficient. Remember - the lower the thermal conductivity coefficient, the better the thermal insulation is considered;

• The material must be resistant to sudden temperature changes; during such changes it should not crack or shrink. In the attic part, thermal insulation from the street is separated only by roofing material, yes, it is a windproof membrane, so it is important how many freezing cycles the insulation can withstand;
• The level of hygroscopicity is no less important for any insulation, because the ability to absorb moisture significantly and in a short time can increase thermal conductivity. But even if the material is hygroscopic, it is desirable that when it dries it does not lose its properties;
• According to statistics attic room considered the most fire hazardous, a dry, unprotected roof, during a fire it burns out in 5–7 minutes. Ideally, the insulation should not burn at all or at least not support combustion;
• The complexity of the arrangement technology plays an important role. Even if you are not going to do this yourself, the more complex the installation, the more the craftsmen will have to pay for it;
• Thermal insulation occupies the bulk of the roofing pie and at such a concentration it is important that the material is completely safe for humans. Living in a toxic “bag” is not the best way to save money.

In practical terms, when it comes to purchasing, it is important to choose the thickness of the insulation. The thickness of the material depends on several factors:

• First of all, from the material itself, but we will talk about this later;
• The second criterion is density; here it is important to find the golden mean, and for each climate zone this mean is different;
• Again, hygroscopicity, water-permeable materials must be taken with reserve;
• But most main characteristic Thermal conductivity influences the thickness; it should be as low as possible.

What kind of insulation does the market offer?

If you are looking for a universal insulation that is the best in all respects, then I will tell you honestly - this does not exist in principle. Depending on the roof design and climate zone, there are more and less common materials.

Option No. 1: foam

Polystyrene foam is considered a proven, reliable and, importantly, inexpensive insulation material. It contains only about 3% polystyrene, and the remaining 97% is air. Polystyrene is indifferent to moisture, which means it does not absorb moisture at all.

With any insulation of a house, there is such a thing as the dew point. In a nutshell, this is the place where plus and minus meet; it is in this zone that condensation settles. So, with foam plastic, the dew point is inside the slab and, in principle, there cannot be condensation there.

The slabs are light, but at the same time quite rigid, which greatly facilitates calculations and installation. Like most insulation materials, polystyrene foam has good soundproofing properties. Although not everything is so smooth, this material also has a number of serious disadvantages.

The fact that the material does not absorb moisture is good, but at the same time, it does not allow it to pass through. The attic is the upper room in the building, therefore there is the highest concentration of household fumes.

If you decide to insulate the attic with polystyrene foam, you will have to install forced ventilation, otherwise the vapors will condense under the ceiling, which will lead to mold, after which the wood of the rafters will begin to deteriorate, and if the concentration is high, water will simply drip from the ceiling.

Polystyrene foam supports combustion, although it does not burn strongly; in the event of a fire it will release harmful, suffocating gases. Foam plastic is safe for humans, but rodents love to live in these slabs and it is very difficult to get them out.

For central Russia, slabs with a thickness of 50–70 mm are sufficient, in Siberia it is necessary to lay 100 mm, and the further north you go, the thicker it is. As for the brand, slabs from PSB-S-25 and denser are used here.

The prices in the article are current in the fall of 2017.

Option No. 2: extruded materials

Extruded polystyrene foam is, figuratively speaking, an advanced brother of polystyrene foam. The same polystyrene is used here, only the sheets are made by extrusion, as a result, instead of compressed balls, you get monolithic slab made of foamed polystyrene.

Many people consider such well-known brands as “Penoplex” and “Technoplex” independent species insulation materials. So - all this is extruded polystyrene foam, produced by different manufacturers.

Such slabs are distinguished by lower thermal conductivity, compared to foam plastic; it is lower by about a third. Where polystyrene foam is installed with a thickness of 70 mm, EPS can be installed with a thickness of 50 mm, plus the durability of the boards is at least 30–40 years, versus 20–25 years for polystyrene foam.

As for the minuses, almost everything that foam plastic has was transferred to extruded polystyrene foam (except that rodents do not live in it), plus it is almost 2 times more expensive.

Option No. 3: different types of mineral wool

Not everyone knows, but the term mineral wool combines several different materials, which differ in their characteristics.

Absolutely all types of wool absorb moisture, but slabs high density have the ability to retain their characteristics after drying.

Illustrations	Recommendations
	Stone wool. This direction is made from volcanic minerals. Insulate the attic stone wool considered the most the best solution. It is absolutely harmless, quite durable and does not burn. Most often, basalt wool is used for these purposes; it’s just that this mineral is the most common, and therefore affordable. The thickness of the slabs for attic insulation starts from 100 mm.
	Glass wool. Glass wool is much cheaper than its stone sister. The material is environmentally friendly, but not all brands of glass wool are good; budget models shrink quickly and require caution during installation (small glass needles dig into the skin).
	Slag. In terms of its thermal insulation characteristics, slag wool is not much inferior to stone types of wool, but for insulation interior spaces It's not worth taking it. This material is made from blast furnace slag and during operation, the slag releases vapors of phenol and other dangerous poisons.

For the attic and, in general, any roofing project, mineral wool should be taken in high-density slabs. Under no circumstances use soft mats; they are not suitable for roofing and will quickly become unusable.

Option No. 4: ecowool

A new unique material called ecowool is nothing more than a product of recycling waste paper. 80% of it consists of natural cellulose, the rest goes to additives and binders.

Ecowool is ideal for the attic, but to apply it to the walls and ceiling you need to invite specialists with special compressor equipment. This material is sprayed onto the surface. But thanks to the additives, it does not burn and does not lose its properties after getting wet.

Option No. 5: polyurethane foam

An excellent material for insulating any surface. In its structure, polyurethane foam is partly similar to polyurethane foam, although the composition is different. There is no need to worry about the solidity of the layer here, because the material is sprayed onto the walls and, after hardening, forms a sealed shell.

Polyurethane foam is durable, lightweight and does not support combustion, everything about it is good, except that the price of the material is quite high and specialists with equipment are needed to install it.

Conclusion

The attic is a specific room and when choosing insulation for it, you need to take into account all the pros and cons that were mentioned above. The video in this article contains other interesting nuances of choice. If you have any questions, write in the comments, I will try to help.

October 16, 2017

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