The question of which insulation is best for the attic is relevant for those who have decided to equip a living space under the high pitched roof of a private house. The attic differs from an ordinary room in the house due to increased heat loss. This is explained by the fact that it usually does not have permanent external walls without window openings, and on both sides and above the room is separated from the street only by a roofing system of small thickness.
Mineral wool insulation
Criteria for choosing insulation for the attic
High-quality insulation makes the attic suitable for year-round residence. When choosing a heat insulator, you need to pay attention to the performance characteristics of the materials, including comparing:
- noise insulation properties;
- ease of installation;
- moisture resistance;
- resistance to biological degradation;
- lifetime;
- efficiency;
- environmental friendliness;
- fire safety.
But the main quality by which insulation material is evaluated is its thermal conductivity coefficient, on which the ability to retain heat in a room depends.
From the point of view of ease of installation and use of insulation, preference should be given universal materials. If the same thermal insulator can be used for walls, roof and floor, the insulation of all structures will last the same period.
Sound insulation properties - especially important parameter, if the roofing decking is made of metal (seam roofing, metal tiles, corrugated sheeting). Gusts of wind, rain and hail make such a roof “sound”, and staying in the attic will cause discomfort.
Slab insulation famous manufacturer Since the roof frame is usually made of wood, it is advisable to use insulation that is fire resistant and flame retardant. Otherwise, an accidental fire will cause the entire attic and roof to quickly become engulfed in fire.
To wooden structures rafter system and gables, condensation did not form and the insulation did not lose its thermal insulation properties due to moisture penetration, it is necessary to insulate attic room vapor- and moisture-proof material, or use reliable hydro- and vapor barrier. This affects the speed and complexity of installing the insulating layer and influences preferences when choosing a material.
Insulation thickness
Table 1. Dependence of insulation thickness on thermal conductivity coefficient
The manufacturer indicates the thermal conductivity coefficient on the packaging of the material. This indicator depends on the production technology and the density of the insulation. The table below shows the average values:
Table 2. Thermal conductivity coefficients of some insulation materials
Polyurethane foam and ecowool are modern materials that can be used as a heat insulator for attic spaces, but their installation requires the use of specialized equipment, inviting specialists. Other popular heat insulators are available in the form of slabs or rolled materials various densities and thickness.
The insulation is cut along the width of the span between adjacent rafters (or the gap between the sheathing slats on the walls) and inserted at random. If the calculated thickness of the heat-insulating layer exceeds the width of the rafter leg, bars of a suitable cross-section are placed on the rafters from the room side.
The most effective is considered to be two-layer insulation - after the gaps between the rafters are filled with heat insulation, another layer roll material(possible with a foil-coated vapor barrier outer surface) is attached on top of the rafters with continuous butted strips. This will eliminate the occurrence of cold bridges.
Laying thermal insulation between the rafters Let's take a closer look at the main pros and cons of popular insulation materials that are suitable for thermal insulation. mansard roof and pediments.
Fiber roll and slab insulation
- glass wool;
- mineral wool;
- stone (basalt) wool.
Their key advantage and at the same time disadvantage is the ability to pass steam. Theoretically, wet warm air from the attic will leave through a breathable interior lining, heat insulator and roofing system, which will help maintain a favorable indoor microclimate. In practice, the following difficulties exist:
- an increase in the humidity of fiber insulation leads to a sharp decrease in its thermal insulation properties;
- insulation (especially glass wool) that has absorbed moisture becomes wrinkled and deformed, forming cold bridges;
- The wood of the rafter system begins to rot from contact with moisture.
To avoid these problems, it is necessary to install a vapor barrier on top of the insulation from inside the room. And between the roofing covering and thermal insulation should be laid waterproofing material.
Roofing pie with waterproofing over insulation Air exchange through fibrous insulation will only take place if the waterproofing and vapor barrier layer is made of special gas-permeable membranes. The vapor barrier should allow air to pass through, but retain moisture coming from the room. A gas-permeable waterproofing barrier must release moisture from the insulation and prevent water from penetrating into it.
Membrane materials are much more expensive than conventional or reinforced film, roofing felt or glassine. But these investments will pay off due to the durability of not only the insulation, but also the roof truss system.
Superdiffusion membrane If you use film as a vapor barrier, it will reduce the cost of construction, but it will reduce important advantage fiber insulation – gas permeability. Perforated film should not be used, as it allows steam to pass through and will accumulate in the insulation.
Performance characteristics of fiber insulation
Glass wool. To her positive qualities can be attributed:
- fire safety (2nd degree of fire resistance);
- environmental safety (does not contain resins);
- unattractive to mice (they do not build nests and passages);
- affordable price.
The main disadvantage is that when working with the material, caustic glass dust is formed; installation of the heat insulator requires care and the use of protective equipment. In addition, over time, glass wool tends to deform and wrinkle, especially when moisture penetrates.
Mineral wool. The material contains fibers of various origins (manufacturing materials - clay, stone, quartz sand, glass, etc.). Mineral wool is characterized by a multilayer heterogeneous structure with air lenses. Due to this, the material dampens sound waves well. Choosing mineral wool (primarily Isover, Ursa) is recommended for those who have decided to make metal roofing.
This heat insulator is fire-resistant, does not rot, and is easy to install. But rodents can settle in it, whose nests, passages and waste products reduce the performance properties of the insulation.
Basalt wool. Consists of fibers obtained by melting rock. Withstands heat up to 1000 degrees, does not spread combustion. You should choose basalt wool carefully, checking quality and safety certificates: some manufacturers, in an effort to reduce the cost of products, use resins that emit toxic substances.
Basalt wool Basalt wool is resistant to fungus, but can be damaged by rodents. This is a good sound insulator and easy to install. But when choosing a material for insulating a rafter system, you should take into account the fairly large weight of stone wool slabs.
If you have to choose a fiber insulator, pay attention to the density of the material. The heat insulator should not lose its shape even after prolonged use. For mineral basalt wool the density indicator should be about 40-45 kg/m3.
Polymer materials for insulation
We choose a polymer heat insulator for the roof and walls of the attic. This can be polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam (these two types of insulation are available in the form of sheets and slabs of various thicknesses), as well as polyurethane foam, which is applied to structures by spraying.
To the benefits polymer insulation This may include low weight and low thermal conductivity. Such thermal insulation will not overload the rafter system and will successfully cope with the task of retaining heat.
The disadvantages of polymer insulation include extremely low vapor permeability. There is no gas exchange through insulated structures, so you cannot do without a well-thought-out ventilation system in the attic.
Insulating the attic with polyurethane foam Thermal insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam (penoplex) and polyurethane foam will not allow heat and steam to pass through to the roof rafter frame, therefore, there is no need to install a vapor barrier on the room side. Despite the fact that the dew point during internal insulation of gables will shift towards the heat insulator, moisture, dangerous for wood, will not condense.
All joints and junctions of foam insulation must be filled polyurethane foam and (after removing excess foam) taped with reinforced tape so that the insulation layer is airtight.
Manufacturers produce penoplex of various densities. For pitched roof and attic walls, where heat loss is high, it is advisable to use slabs with a density of 30-35 kg/m3.
If you decide to choose inexpensive foam plastic, it is better to install insulation according to the same principle as fiber board materials. Unlike extruded polystyrene foam with a continuous closed-cell structure, polystyrene foam consists of many individual granules pressed into a slab. Technological pores remain between the structural elements, which are capable of allowing steam to pass to wooden structures.
A suitable foam density is 35 kg/m3; at a break, the material should not crumble into individual balls. Since polystyrene foam smolders when ignited, releasing toxic substances and is easily chewed through by mice, this is not the most best material for internal insulation.
Polymer insulation for the attic should not be considered as a soundproofing material for the roof - it will not save you from the sound of raindrops. But if you insulate the floor with it, it will reduce the vibration load from steps, creating acoustic comfort in the rooms under the attic.
The selected insulation option will last long years, if purchased good material and take into account all the subtleties of its installation.
It should immediately be noted that windproof film in this case, it is fixed in exactly the same way as when insulating materials in mats.
- Wet application of the material is carried out using special equipment that sprays material mixed with water and a special glue.
Ecowool is sprayed under pressure, so the material fills all the gaps and cracks, thus creating good heat and sound insulation.
After spraying, excess material is removed using a special roller and at the same time leveled.
Another installation option could be to fill closed wall or floor cavities with wet ecowool.
A vapor barrier film is first fixed and stretched on the walls from the inside, a hole is made in it, through which the space is filled with thermal insulation material - ecowool.
- The dry insulation method is excellent for laying ecowool on the attic floor. This method can be done manually or using the same equipment.
If insulation is done manually, the insulation is simply removed from the packaging and loosened. Then it is distributed between the floor beams and compacted. The thickness of the layer should be equal to the height of the floor beams.
However, it is better to install the insulation under pressure using special equipment.
Ecowool is tightened on top vapor barrier film, and on top of it slats with a thickness of 20 ÷ 25 mm are placed on the beams - this lathing will create the necessary ventilation gap. After this, the floor covering is laid.
Video: “dry” method of application ecowool
Sputtering polyurethane foam
It is increasingly used for thermal insulation of buildings both inside and outside. It is especially popular for frame buildings and attics.
The only hitch in carrying out the work yourself may be complex equipment for spraying polyurethane foam, without which it will simply be impossible to do. There is an option to rent a device from a specialized company, but this will also be expensive, not to mention buying it. In addition, you need to learn how to configure it correctly and have at least basic skills in working with it.
Perhaps it will be easier and cheaper to invite a specialist who will do this work quickly and accurately. For small volumes, the process can be started and completed in one day.
Spraying can be carried out on any surface - smooth and rough, plywood, metal or even a dense vapor barrier film reinforced with rope weaving.
Sprayed polyurethane foam forms a seamless surface, while penetrating into all small and large gaps and sealing them hermetically.
PU foam can be sprayed directly onto inner surface roof and sew up on top decorative material- this insulating layer will be sufficient if the building is located in a climate zone with mild or moderate winters.
Video: insulating the attic with sprayed polyurethane foam
So, each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Of course, the price of insulation, the complexity or availability of its installation play a big role, but still the issues of thermal insulation efficiency and safety should come to the fore, so you need to focus on the material that will create the most comfortable atmosphere in the attic room and, at the same time, bring minimum damage to the health of the residents of the house.
find out detailed information, from our new article.
Many owners of country houses and country houses in order to increase the living space, they will equip an attic space to create an office, bedroom, or living room there. Such a room is usually called an attic. It needs to be insulated.
Several are used as insulation different materials: mineral and glass wool, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, other insulation materials. But not all of these materials are suitable for thermal insulation work. to convert it into a real attic.
Requirements for materials for insulation
Materials used for attic insulation must have:
- Fire safety. They should not support combustion.
- Perform sound protection functions that prevent the penetration of noise from the outside.
- Vapor permeability function to ensure the necessary microclimate in the attic room.
- Compliance with environmental, sanitary and construction standards.
- Strength and durability.
- Resistant to deformation.
According to the recommendations of many experts, the insulation layer should be 25-30 cm. It is better to arrange a double or triple layer. This method of insulation prevents the appearance of cold bridges. When insulating the attic, we must not forget that the pediment is also a wall of the attic. Wooden pediment requires a thicker layer of insulation than brick walls.
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Some characteristics of insulation
Foam is widely used for insulating walls, floors and ceilings. In the attic, the functions of walls and ceiling are performed by the roof of the building. It is not recommended to use polystyrene foam to insulate it for the following reasons:
- all roof elements, including insulation material, must be well ventilated;
- the insulation must allow air and moisture vapor to pass through well.
According to the laws of physics, warm air rises from bottom to top. Polystyrene foam does not allow moisture contained in warm air to pass through at all. This will lead to the formation of condensation from inside the room. As a result, parts will become damp within 1-3 years. truss structure, trickles of water will begin to flow through the insulation material, mold will appear, and the wooden parts of the roof will begin to rot.
Very common materials are mineral wool and glass wool. They have low cost and excellent resistance to high temperatures. When working with glass wool, special protective measures must be taken, since the smallest particles of glass come into contact with open areas skin cause severe irritation and significant pain. You can only work in protective clothing, gloves and goggles. The thickness of the thermal insulation layer made of mineral wool or glass wool is selected at the rate of 15-30 cm. This depends on the climatic zone in which the house is located.
Insulation elements mansard roof: 1 – mineral wool; 2 – vapor and wind barrier (membrane); 3 – waterproofing; 4 – air flows; 5 – rafter; 6 – roof; 7 – attic cladding.
The negative aspects of this insulating material include its slight deformation and hygroscopicity, which can lead to a decrease in thermal insulation properties. Glass wool is also not environmentally friendly safe materials. Therefore, it is preferable to use mineral wool. You need to purchase mineral wool based on a density of 40-45 kg per cubic meter. This is optimal. Mineral wool is a material that provides:
- environmental safety;
- non-flammability;
- good sound insulation;
- resistance to moisture and temperature changes;
- frost resistance;
- protection from rodents and other pests;
- resistance to fungus and mold;
- quick and easy installation.
You can use felt, hemp, sawdust, and reed slabs. But all these materials require preliminary antiseptic and fire retardant treatment. These operations significantly increase the life of thermal protection equipment.
Sandwich panels are more expensive than mineral wool, but guarantee the quality and durability of the insulation. They consist of several layers: vapor barrier, insulation, waterproofing, decorative.
Foam glass slabs are a relatively new and expensive insulation material. Has high strength. The material is quite elastic and resistant to various mechanical influences. Ideal for thermal protection when using soft roofing.
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Insulation of the attic room
The attic roof usually consists of a rafter system covered roofing material. The rafters are installed every 60-100 cm. These gaps are filled with insulation. It is recommended to use mineral wool or fiberglass as insulation material. This material is available in the form of slabs or mats. They are laid in layers, the number of which depends on their thickness. What should it be like? is produced based on the thermal conductivity coefficient, which is indicated in quality certificates. You can rely on the following data:
Coefficient Insulation thickness
- 0.035 150 mm;
- 0.04 180 mm;
- 0.044 200 mm;
- 0.045 205 mm;
- 0.046 210 mm;
- 0.047 215 mm;
- 0.05 225 mm.
With a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.04, the calculation of the average thickness of the insulation layer for different cities in Russia will be as follows:
City Thermal Insulation Thickness (mm):
Table for calculating the average thickness of the insulation layer for different cities of Russia.
- Arkhangelsk 220;
- Astrakhan 160;
- Anadyr 290;
- Barnaul 210;
- Belgorod 170;
- Blagoveshchensk 230;
- Bryansk 190;
- Volgograd 160;
- Vologda 210;
- Voronezh 180;
- Vladimir 200;
- Vladivostok 190;
- Vladikavkaz 150;
- Grozny 150;
- Ekaterinburg 210;
- Ivanovo 200;
- Igarka 290;
- Irkutsk 220;
- Izhevsk 210;
- Yoshkar-Ola 210;
- Kazan 200;
- Kaliningrad 170;
- Kaluga 190;
- Kemerovo 220;
- Kirov 210;
- Kostroma 200;
- Krasnodar 140;
- Krasnoyarsk 210;
- Kurgan 210;
- Kursk 180;
- Kyzyl 240;
- Lipetsk 180;
- Magadan 250;
- Makhachkala 130;
- Moscow 190;
- Murmansk 220
- Nalchik 150
- Nizhny Novgorod 200;
- Novgorod 190;
- Novosibirsk 220;
- Omsk 210;
- Orenburg 190;
- Eagle 190;
- Penza 190;
- Perm 210;
- Petrozavodsk 210;
- Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky 190;
- Pskov 190;
- Rostov-on-Don 160;
- Ryazan 190;
- Samara 200;
- St. Petersburg 190;
- Saransk 190;
- Saratov 180;
- Salekhard 280;
- Smolensk 190;
- Stavropol 150;
- Syktyvkar 220;
- Tambov 180;
- Tver 200;
- Tomsk 230;
- Tula 190;
- Tyumen 210;
- Ulyanovsk 190;
- Ulan-Ude 230;
- Ufa 200;
- Khabarovsk 220;
- Cheboksary 200;
- Chelyabinsk 200;
- Chita 240;
- Elista 160;
- Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 210;
- Yakutsk 290;
- Yaroslavl 200.
If the section rafter legs less layer thickness insulation material, additional wooden blocks are attached to them using nails, screws or self-tapping screws. They must be treated with an antiseptic composition. There should be ventilation in the form of an air gap between the insulation layer and the roof. The air gap is 25-50 mm. The insulation is protected on top by a windproof membrane. It is better to use Tyvek HD, Monaperm 450 VM, and Monarflex VM 310 films for this purpose.
The bottom layer of insulation for the attic is covered with a vapor barrier film and a finishing cladding is installed from lining, plasterboard or other materials.
To create comfortable conditions in the attic room, thermal insulation is needed. Then you need to insulate the roof and gables. A wide variety of materials can be used for these purposes. It is best to use mineral wool. It has excellent characteristics and is easy to install.
The thickness of the thermal insulation layer is calculated according to the region of residence.
The colder the climate, the larger the insulation layer should be. Properly installed thermal insulation significantly reduces building heating costs.
One of the main measures when arranging an additional residential floor in the attic of a private house is insulation of the attic roof. To create a thermal insulation barrier under the roof, you must select optimal material and carry out the work correctly, on which the quality of the microclimate in the attic will depend.
Unlike the main building, the attic space does not have main walls, which are a serious obstacle to heat exchange with external environment. The heat transfer resistance of a thin roof tends to zero, so the first feature of insulation will be a thicker layer of thermal insulation material when compared with a similar process on the walls of a house. If the thermal insulation barrier turns out to be insufficient, it will be difficult to heat the attic room in winter, and during summer heat achieve comfortable coolness.
The first feature of attic roof insulation will be a thicker layer of thermal insulation material
When building a rafter system, they often do not count on the additional load that can come from an array of insulation and subsequent finishing materials. Taking this fact into account, it is necessary to choose thermal insulation with a minimum density, and therefore weight. Ideally, when the design of the attic is carried out immediately during the construction of the house, then it is possible to take into account the upcoming loads and make a roof frame with the necessary margin of safety. But this is not always the case. The decision to convert a spacious attic into a living space often comes when there is a need for additional square meters.
When converting the roof into a reliable fence from external influences, take into account the characteristics of the roofing material. If the roof is not sealed, Special attention pay attention to protection from possible ingress of moisture and wind load. Also pay attention to the “sound” of the roof. Roofing materials made of metal are very loud during rain or hail, so good sound insulation will be necessary. When deciding how to insulate the roof when arranging an attic space, take into account the listed features.
To understand which insulation is best for an attic roof, you need to know the list modern materials from this series and their operational characteristics, taking into account the peculiarities of their use in the situation under consideration. Now for insulation building structures use the following materials:
- polymer (foam plastic, penoplex, polyurethane);
- produced on the basis of natural raw materials (mineral wool, ecowool);
- composite (varieties of penofol).
Polystyrene foam is the most popular insulation material in construction due to its low cost and good thermal insulation properties.
Polystyrene foam is the most popular insulation material in construction due to its low cost and good thermal insulation properties. The priority area of application of the polymer is thermal insulation of facades. Inside, foam is used with caution, mainly in technical buildings. It is not recommended to insulate a home from the inside with this polymer due to the inadequacy of the material fire safety requirements– it is flammable and emits very toxic smoke when burned. Private homeowners often take risks when using polystyrene foam for internal insulation living rooms, prioritizing the low cost of insulation and ease of use.
Extruded polystyrene foam or penoplex (commercial name of the material) according to chemical structure similar to polystyrene foam, but a fundamentally different production method contributed to good result. Penoplex at high temperatures ah melts, but does not burn, it is much stronger and does not crumble when cutting, and is absolutely impervious to moisture. By specific gravity polystyrene is equal to or slightly superior to foam plastic (available in various options density). In terms of thermal insulation properties, these polymers are similar, but penoplex has slightly better sound insulation characteristics. As insulation for the attic, polystyrene is a priority if you choose from these two polymers.
Materials based on polystyrene foam are produced in the form of slabs of various thicknesses
The described materials based on polystyrene foam are produced in the form of slabs of various thicknesses. This makes it possible to carry out insulation yourself. The third material from the polymer group - polyurethane foam - involves a completely different technology for its use. It is applied to work surface in the form of a foamed substance, which subsequently polymerizes and becomes solid. To form a thermal insulation layer, special expensive equipment is used to mix several components and apply the resulting substance to insulated surfaces. Hardened polyurethane foam has a cellular structure, low density and good resistance to heat transfer and sound conduction. This material is becoming increasingly popular for thermal insulation in construction; it is also used for insulating attic roofs.
The most commonly used insulation materials based on natural raw materials are varieties of mineral wool. The material is produced by forming mats or slabs from fibers of molten minerals. Mineral wool is produced in various densities (from loose material to rigid slabs) and is used both for external use and for thermal insulation from the inside. Mineral wool does not burn, allows steam to pass through, is non-toxic, retains heat well and does not allow sound vibrations to propagate. For internal insulation, such as creating a thermal barrier for an attic room, mineral wool is a good choice.
The most commonly used insulation materials based on natural raw materials are varieties of mineral wool
Roofs can be insulated with another natural-based insulation – ecowool. This heat insulator began to be used quite recently. Its basis is cellulose flakes, which are wetted special composition and are applied to the insulated surface, like polyurethane, forming the necessary layer. Ecowool is used primarily for internal insulation, including thermal insulation of roofs when constructing attic rooms. The work is carried out by specialized teams who have at their disposal necessary equipment and knowledgeable about the process technology. The thermal insulation layer formed by cellulose flakes has approximately the same performance characteristics as mineral wool. The only difference is the ability of mineral wool to support combustion.
Penofol refers to composite materials and consists of a layer of polyethylene foam covered with polished aluminum foil. How independent insulation It is rarely used; more often it is used to enhance the thermal insulation effect of one of the materials listed above. This combination is also applicable when insulating the attic. In this case, a complex of mineral wool plus penofol is often used, which is simultaneously used as a vapor barrier from inside the attic space.
One of the ways to lay insulation is before installing the roof, that is, from the outside
When deciding how best to insulate an attic roof, you need to take into account not only the properties of the materials, but also the method of their installation. Thermal insulation measures can be carried out before the installation of the roof, that is, from the outside, and from the inside, when the roof is ready. Next, we’ll look at how to properly insulate an attic roof in both situations.
Insulation from the outside - convenient if planned in advance
It is convenient to insulate the roof during roofing works, what roofers usually do. This is done when the attic space is pre-designed. More often in such situations, extruded polystyrene is used as insulation. What is the essence of technology? After construction frame structure roofs with inside slats are placed perpendicular to the rafters, forming at the same time a lath for sheathing finishing material from the inside and the basis for laying insulating boards. The use of moisture-resistant penoplex makes it possible not to use a vapor barrier from the inside; you can install the insulation directly on the wooden sheathing.
Penoplex boards are tightly laid in the spaces between the rafters, forming a continuous thermal insulation barrier. The thickness of the insulating layer corresponds to the transverse size of the rafters, that is, it is made maximum. To do this, it is often necessary to lay penoplex in several layers, placing the plates with mutual displacement in order to reduce the likelihood of the formation of cold bridges. The resulting gaps between the insulation and the rafters are filled with polyurethane sealant. A moisture-proof sheet is laid and fixed along the top of the rafters and insulation, forming a continuous surface, after which slats are filled for installation of the roofing material.
Ignore the use of moisture protective film, despite the hydrophobic properties of penoplex, it is impossible, because under the roof there are also ones whose service life the presence of moisture can greatly reduce.
It is much more convenient to lay insulation from the outside, but practice shows that not everyone is able to foresee the possible arrangement of the attic in advance. If the roof has already been made, it is not advisable to dismantle the roofing material for the convenience of laying insulation, so in such situations it is necessary to deal with internal thermal insulation. Read about how you can insulate an attic roof from the inside in the next section.
Installation from the inside - methods available for implementation
How to properly insulate an attic roof with an installed roof? The principle of thermal insulation, regardless of the material and technology used, is the same - to fill the spaces between the rafters as tightly as possible with insulation. This can be done with polyurethane foam or ecowool, but you will have to hire specialized teams involved in this type of activity. Using polystyrene foam, polystyrene or mineral wool, you can create a reliable thermal insulation barrier yourself, saving considerable money.
Let's look at how to insulate an attic roof using medium-density mineral wool, which is available in the form of piece mats, as a heat insulator. This material will reliably protect the interior of the attic from external temperatures and noise, while being permeable to steam, which will create a comfortable microclimate in the room.
The workflow consists of the following steps.
- 1. If the roof was built a long time ago, most likely there is no moisture-proof membrane installed under the roofing material. In this case, you need to start by installing the protective film. It will not be possible to attach it completely, so we cut the canvas according to the pitch of the rafters (a little more) and fix it in the spaces between the load-bearing beams, overlapping adjacent fragments by about 15 cm.
- 2. Let's start laying the mineral wool. The material is unpleasant to work with, especially when installed at the top (fine prickly dust falls off), so you should make sure you have a respirator, safety glasses, gloves and a closed suit. We cut the mineral wool fragments so that they are slightly wider than the pitch of the rafters. By doing this, you will not have to additionally fix the material; it will hold on its own, and moreover, there will be no gaps between the insulation and the rafters. If mineral wool is laid in two layers, make sure that the seams between the individual fragments do not match.
- 3. When all the spaces between the rafters are filled with mineral wool, you need to create a vapor barrier from an appropriate film. It is more convenient to roll out the canvas perpendicular to the rafters and attach it to load-bearing beams stapler. Adjacent canvases also need to overlap each other.
- 4. The last stage will be the creation of a counter-lattice (the slats are fixed perpendicular to the rafters), which will become the basis for the installation of gypsum plasterboard or OSB boards.
Why do you need to insulate the attic?
Before examining in detail how to insulate an attic from the inside, it makes sense to consider design features coatings pitched roof. It is a multilayer system consisting of the following elements:
- vapor barrier;
- insulation;
- ventilation-air gap;
- waterproofing;
- external roof.
Some homeowners, trying to save on material, exclude one of the layers, but this mistake can be costly later. The fact is that, according to the laws of physics, heat always rises, and if the roof is poorly insulated, it will leak out onto the street, which will cause the cost of heating the house to be significantly higher.
It is quite simple to identify a poorly insulated attic in winter: if at subzero temperatures the snow does not lie on the roof, but melts, this means that heated air penetrates through the roof layer.
It's worth saying that Negative consequences insufficient insulation of the attic will be felt not only in winter, but also in summer: the summer sun heats up roofing to high temperatures, and heat penetrates into the room.
Which insulation for attic roof is better?
On construction market there is a huge amount thermal insulation materials with similar properties that can be used to insulate an attic.
Criterias of choice
When choosing insulation for an attic roof, you should pay attention to several main factors:
- coefficient of thermal conductivity;
- fire resistance;
- moisture resistance;
- environmental friendliness of the material.
The thermal conductivity coefficient is the main criterion for a heat-insulating material, which should be taken into account when deciding how to insulate an attic roof. This coefficient reflects the ability of the material to release heat outside or transmit it from the outside. The lower the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient for a heat insulator, the better its thermal insulation properties.
Fire resistance is the ability of a heat insulator to withstand high temperatures (fire). In contrast to the thermal conductivity coefficient, the quality of the thermal insulation material is better at maximum fire resistance values.
Moisture resistance is an indicator that reflects the ability of a material not to transmit or absorb moisture. Living in a house will be comfortable only if the heat insulator does not emit carcinogenic substances. There are heat insulators that are made from natural materials; they are distinguished by the best environmental friendliness. All these indicators should be taken into account before insulating the attic from the inside.
Which insulation is best for the attic?
Taking into account the characteristics described above, you can begin to select the type of insulation, and then the manufacturer. Let's consider the most popular insulation for attic roofs, these include:
- mineral wool;
- linen or cotton fabric insulation (a modern analogue of glass wool, has a fibrous structure, breathable, environmentally friendly);
- glass wool;
- extruded polystyrene foam.
Mineral wool
From this list best characteristics Mineral wool is different: this porous heat insulator is made from mineral raw materials, which means it is highly environmentally friendly. In addition, this material is easy to work with, and with its help you can insulate the attic yourself. One of the disadvantages is the need for careful waterproofing, since the material absorbs moisture and is susceptible to rotting.
Mineral wool is fire resistant, and the thermal conductivity coefficient is in the range of 0.35-0.47. Insulating the attic from the inside with mineral wool allows for good heat conservation and good sound insulation.
Glass wool
It has the same properties as mineral wool, but is more durable. However, it has a low fire resistance coefficient and is quite toxic when burned. Its cost is lower than other thermal insulation materials, so it is used quite often for insulating technical premises.
Mineral and glass wool also have a very attractive price, so insulating the attic from the inside with these materials will not require significant investment.
Extruded polystyrene foam
Durable heat insulator, made in the form of plates with a porous structure. Repels moisture without absorbing or letting it pass through, therefore it is often used as external (facade) insulation load-bearing walls buildings and attics, with a broken roof structure. Significant disadvantages of this heat insulator are high flammability, release of toxins during combustion and oxidation from heat, and air tightness.
Environmentally friendly and natural materials
Modern solutions aimed at maintaining health and environment, contain a minimum chemical fibers and are non-toxic when burned. To such building materials These include domestic and foreign innovations for insulation, such as:
- Ecolen;
- Ecowool;
- Cotton fabric insulation.
The main differences between these materials are that they allow air to pass through, while providing high-quality heat and sound insulation. They are hypoallergenic and filter odors well. In addition, laying such insulation for an attic roof is much easier, since Ekolen and other fabric insulation do not emit toxic substances and practically do not disintegrate into fibers, you will not need PPE OD (products personal protection respiratory organs) during work.
When laying ecowool through a sprayer, you must first cover the surface of the attic with film, leaving a hole that can be insulated later. It is also recommended to cover the floor and walls, especially if the room has already been used as a living space and will not be used for production. major renovation.
Do-it-yourself insulation of an attic roof from the inside video
Insulation of the attic roof: installation stages
So, the thermal insulation material has been selected, now you can insulate the attic roof from the inside. This work consists of several stages:
- preparing a site for installing insulation;
- installation of material;
- fastening the heat insulator.
The insulation is laid in a cellular structure in the space between the rafters, so the width of the insulation mats must correspond to the pitch of the rafters. The heat insulation is laid from the lower edge of the roof arch, while the heat insulation mats are laid overlapping. This technology allows us to minimize heat loss and reduce material waste.
With sudden changes in temperature outside the roof and inside the room, condensation occurs. To remove this moisture, you need to take care of the design of the ventilated space. This space is created by screwing the insulation onto self-tapping screws to the rafters of a wooden counter batten, the height of which will create the ventilation space.
To ensure the highest possible thermal insulation, it is necessary to exclude any cold bridges, so another thinner, continuous layer of material is laid on top of the rafters. The only drawback this method- the fact that visually the rafters become hidden, and subsequently the installation of new ones to them structural elements(most often facing) becomes difficult. The way out of the situation will be to mark the location of the rafters with a marker. If problems arise at any stage of the project, the video will help you sort out controversial issues and perform insulation as efficiently as possible.
A vapor-proof film, which is attached over the insulation, will help protect the structure from moisture coming from the room. The next step is to secure the structure using lathing. On final stage Reflective thermal insulation is provided, on top of which finishing can be carried out.
Do-it-yourself attic roof insulation video
Finishing the ceiling in the attic
Finishing the ceiling in the attic is not only aesthetic, but also practical significance. Finishing the ceiling with fiberboard or plywood is one of the simplest and inexpensive options finishing. In addition, these materials have a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.2. This means that the ceiling will become an additional barrier to the cold.
The French came up with the idea of using the attic as a living space; they made it not just a room, but a place of relaxation. Achieve the same effect in own home you can use a stretch ceiling, which will help hide the structural elements of the attic space and make it more attractive. Besides, suspended ceiling can be very practical.
The fact is that no matter how well you insulate the attic, the sound insulation of this room will still be much inferior to the main rooms (the thickness of the roof is significantly inferior to the thickness of the walls of the house). Therefore, in rain or hail, the attic can be a little noisy. A suspended ceiling will help reduce this disadvantage.
Bottom line
Using these instructions it is possible to ensure that a once unattractive attic can be called with complete confidence French word attic. Not only will this room not be inferior to all other rooms, on the contrary, at any time of the year and in any weather there will be a desire to be here.
