What is the best insulation for the attic roof? Insulation of the attic from the inside, if the roof is already covered: materials and technologies. Insulation of the attic with ecowool is one of the most effective ways to combat the cold.

The question of which insulation is best for the attic is relevant for those who decide to equip a living space under a high pitched roof of a private house. From ordinary room The attic of the house is characterized by increased heat loss. This is due to the fact that usually it does not have capital external walls without window openings, and on both sides and from above the room is separated from the street only by a roofing system of small thickness.

Mineral wool insulation

Criteria for choosing a heater for the attic

High-quality insulation allows you to make the attic suitable for year-round use. When choosing a heat insulator, it is necessary to pay attention to the performance characteristics of the materials, including comparing:

soundproofing properties;
ease of installation;
moisture resistance;
resistance to biological destruction;
lifetime;
profitability;
environmental friendliness;
fire safety.

But the main quality by which the material for insulation is evaluated is its coefficient of thermal conductivity, on which the ability to retain heat in the room depends.

From the point of view of ease of installation and use of insulation, preference should be given to universal materials. If the same heat insulator can be used for walls, roofs and floors, the insulation of all structures will last the same period.

Soundproofing properties are a particularly important parameter if the roofing is made of metal (folded roof, metal tiles, corrugated board). Gusts of wind, rain and hail make such a roof “sound”, and staying in the attic will cause discomfort.

Plate heaters well-known manufacturer

Since the roof frame is usually made of wood, it is desirable to use a fire-resistant and non-flammable insulation. Otherwise, an accidental fire will lead to the fact that the entire attic and roof will quickly be engulfed in fire.

To on wooden structures truss system and pediments did not form condensate and the insulation did not lose its thermal insulation properties due to moisture penetration, it is necessary to insulate the attic room with vapor and moisture-proof material, or use reliable hydro and vapor barrier. This affects the speed and complexity of the installation of the insulating layer, affects the preferences when choosing a material.

Insulation thickness

Table 1. The dependence of the thickness of the insulation on the coefficient of thermal conductivity

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 heaters

Polyurethane foam and ecowool - modern materials, which can be used as a heat insulator for attic rooms, but their installation requires the use of specialized equipment, the invitation of specialists. The rest of the popular heat insulators are available in the form of plates or roll materials of various densities and thicknesses.

The insulation is cut along the width of the span between adjacent rafter legs (or the gap between the laths of the lathing on the walls) and inserted by surprise. If the calculated thickness of the heat-insulating layer exceeds the width of the rafter leg, bars of a suitable section are stuffed onto the rafters from the side of the room.

Two-layer insulation is considered the most effective - after the gaps between the rafters are filled with a heat insulator, another layer of roll material (possible with a foil vapor barrier outer surface) is attached over the rafters with continuous joined strips. This will prevent the formation of cold bridges.

Laying a heat insulator between the rafters

Let us consider in more detail the main pros and cons of popular heaters that are suitable for thermal insulation. mansard roof and gables.

Fibrous roll and plate heaters

glass wool;
mineral wool;
stone (basalt) wool.

Their key advantage and at the same time a disadvantage is the ability to pass steam. Theoretically, moist warm air from the attic will escape through the breathable inner lining, heat insulator and roofing system, which will help maintain a favorable microclimate in the room. In practice, there are the following difficulties:

an increase in the moisture content of the fibrous insulation leads to a sharp decrease in its thermal insulation properties;
the insulation that has accumulated moisture (especially glass wool) is crushed, deformed, forming cold bridges;
the wood of the truss system begins to rot from contact with moisture.

To avoid these problems, it is necessary to mount a vapor barrier on top of the insulation from inside the room. And between roofing and thermal insulation must be laid waterproofing material.

roofing cake with waterproofing over insulation

Air exchange through fibrous insulation will be carried out only if the waterproofing and vapor barrier layer is made of special gas-permeable membranes. The vapor barrier must 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 entering it.

Membrane materials are much more expensive than ordinary or reinforced film, roofing felt or glassine. But these investments will justify themselves due to the durability of not only insulation, but also the roof truss system.

Super diffusion membrane

If a film is used as a vapor barrier, this will reduce the cost of construction, but this will nullify an important advantage of fibrous insulation - gas permeability. Perforated film should not be used, as it allows steam to pass through, which will accumulate in the insulation.

Performance characteristics of fibrous insulation

glass wool. To her positive qualities can be attributed:

fire safety (2nd degree of fire resistance);
environmental safety (does not contain resins);
unattractive for mice (do not build nests and moves);
affordable price.

The main disadvantage is that when working with the material, sharp glass dust is formed, the installation of a heat insulator requires accuracy and the use of protective equipment. In addition, over time, glass wool tends to deform, wrinkle, especially when moisture penetrates.

Mineral wool. The composition of the material includes fibers of various origins (production material - clay, stone, quartz sand, glass, etc.). Mineral wool is characterized by a multilayer inhomogeneous structure with air lenses. Due to this, the material dampens sound waves well. Mineral wool (primarily Isover, Ursa) is recommended for those who decide to make metal roofing.

Such a 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. Basalt wool should be chosen 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, easy to install. But when choosing a material for insulating the truss system, one should take into account enough big weight stone wool slabs.

If you have to choose a fibrous heat insulator, pay attention to the density of the material. The heat insulator should not lose shape even during prolonged use. For mineral, basalt wool, the density index 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 plates of various thicknesses), as well as polyurethane foam, which is applied to structures by spraying.

The advantages of polymer insulation include low weight and low thermal conductivity. Such thermal insulation will not overload the truss system and will successfully cope with the task of retaining heat.

The disadvantages of polymer insulation include extremely low vapor permeability. Gas exchange is not carried out through insulated structures, therefore, one cannot do without a well-thought-out ventilation system in the attic room.

Attic insulation with polyurethane foam

Thermal insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam (foam) and polyurethane foam will not let heat and steam pass to roof frame roof, therefore, it is not necessary to install a vapor barrier on the side of the room. Despite the fact that the dew point during the internal insulation of the gables will shift towards the heat insulator, moisture dangerous for wood will not condense.

All joints and junctions of thermal insulation made of foam plastic must be filled mounting foam and (after removing excess foam) are glued with reinforced tape so that the insulation layer is airtight.

Manufacturers produce penoplex of various densities. For pitched roof and attic walls, where heat losses are high, it is advisable to use plates with a density of 30-35 kg / m3.

If you decide to choose an inexpensive foam plastic, it is better to mount the insulation according to the same principle as fibrous plate materials. Unlike extruded polystyrene foam with a solid closed cell structure, the foam consists of many individual pellets compressed into a board. Technological pores remain between the structural elements, which are able to pass steam to wooden structures.

A suitable foam density is 35 kg/m3, the material must not crumble into individual balls when broken. Since the foam plastic smolders when ignited, releasing toxic substances and mice easily gnaw through it, 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 for many years, if purchased good material and take into account all the subtleties of its installation.

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

In this article, we will find out which insulation is best for the attic (for walls and roofs). Will be considered specifications and features of all materials used for thermal insulation of the attic. 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 of accumulation of various rubbish into a full-fledged living space - after all, extra "squares" can be used with 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 attic floor often decide to use as functional premises - a kitchen, a toilet, or a work room.

In order to turn the attic of the house into a comfortable attic for living, first of all, you 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 space of contact between the roof of the house and the external environment is very large, even if they are standing.

Uninsulated roofing is usually made from ordinary boards on which slate is laid - none of these materials has sufficient thermal conductivity, which could impede heat transfer

Moreover, the roof, unlike concrete, either brick walls at home, is not a monolithic structure - it often contains a variety of cracks and gaps that contribute to even greater heat loss.

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

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

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

1.1 What requirements should high-quality insulation meet?

All of the above advantages of insulation can be achieved if high-quality thermal insulation materials are used. Let's consider by what parameters it is necessary to carry out the choice of insulation for the attic.

Since the roof of the house, as a rule, is located on a system of wooden rafters with a limited bearing capacity, the primary requirement for attic thermal insulation is the minimum weight.

2 Overview of the best heaters

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

Thermal insulation from 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 made directly at the workplace by foaming raw materials. From the pneumounit, the foam insulation is supplied with a hose to the insulated surfaces.

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 it costs significantly more than penoizol.

The thermal conductivity of thermal insulation made of polyurethane foam is 0.02 W / mk, which is significantly lower than all popular heaters, the 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, the density is 28 kg / m3 as in.

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

2.2 Solid insulation - mineral wool and polystyrene foam

Mineral wool heaters are one of the most versatile heat-insulating materials; they can be used with equal success both for attic insulation and for insulation of walls, facades, floors and ceilings of a house.

The category of mineral wool insulation includes three types of materials: basalt wool - a material made by remelting basalt rocks and subsequent formation of 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 it is worth choosing this option from mineral wool heaters, but if finances are limited, then it is quite possible to use fiberglass heaters.

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

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

The main manufacturer of basalt wool in the domestic market is Technonikol, extruded polystyrene foam - Penoplex.

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

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-combustible material), Penoplex - G4 (highly combustible material);
Density, kg/m3: TechnoNIKOL - 35, Penoplex - 30;
Moisture absorption by volume when fully immersed for 24 hours: TechnoNIKOL - 1.5%, Penoplex - 0.5%.

Mineral wool TechnoNIKOL "Technolight" is produced in the form of plates with dimensions of 120 * 60 centimeters, the thickness of the plates can be 4-20 cm. Penoplex plates have similar dimensions, but their thickness range is somewhat 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, in most cases, experts combine these two materials - polystyrene foam 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 Attic insulation technology with mineral wool (video)

An attic room is an additional space in the house that can be used for personal use. In it you can make a living room or office, where it is quiet, cozy and warm. But to create this warmth, silence and comfort, you need to try a little. The most important stage in the device mansard roof- its insulation. Indeed, without it, staying in this room will be impossible in autumn and winter.

The main question that arises when insulating, which insulation is better for a mansard roof? After all, there are many options, but how to do right choice? Let's look at the criteria by which you need to choose a heat insulator and compare the most popular materials.

Criteria for choosing a heater for the attic

The choice of material for the attic should be approached quite seriously. All of them have their pros and cons.

But, when choosing a heater for a mansard roof, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

Thermal insulation characteristics of the material.
Good sound insulation insulation.
Ease of installation.
Insulation resistance to high temperatures.
Ecological purity.
Long service life.
Profitability.
The property of insulation to repel moisture.
The versatility of the material.

It is clear that the main criterion by which the insulation is evaluated is its ability to retain heat. For an attic room, this is very important. In addition, the material must be universal, so that it is possible to insulate not only the roof, but also the floors and walls of the attic. And if you do not want to hear gusts of wind and the sound of rain, then it should isolate the attic well from noise. All these criteria are important, and it is better if the insulation meets most of them.

Let's look at all the suitable materials with an example, and find out which insulation is suitable for this purpose.

Attic roof insulation

So, the most popular materials for insulating a mansard roof are mineral wool, glass wool, polyurethane foam (PPU) and polystyrene. They are most consistent with the indicators we talked about earlier. But there are also new materials that have not yet been studied so much. One of them is ecowool. The best insulation we will search from this list.

Mineral wool for attic insulation

One of the environmental insulation materials, which consists of molten rocks, clay and synthetic fibers. The material has a low weight, good vapor permeability and low hygroscopicity. Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate the material. In stores, it can be purchased both in roll form and as plates. The sizes and thickness are different, from 5 to 10 cm. Due to its fibrous structure, the material retains heat well. There is always a large amount of air in the fibers. The good news is that cotton wool is also vapor-permeable (it has the ability to breathe).

Note! Rodents will not start in mineral wool, which cannot be said about polystyrene.

If we talk about the disadvantages of insulation, then the main one is low resistance to moisture. If the material gets wet, it will lose its properties. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the waterproofing layer. And yet, the insulation quickly accumulates dust. However, the high resistance to fire pleases. In case of fire, cotton wool is able to delay the fire.

The most popular brand that is suitable for attic insulation is Ursa and Izover. The second version of the insulation has a fairly high rate of sound insulation, in combination with other advantages. And Ursa products are sold in convenient rolls that are easy to mount.

The service life of mineral wool for the attic is 50 years. It does not rot, bloom or mold.

Basalt wool for attic insulation

This is one of the safest and most famous types of mineral wool. It is made on the basis of basalt - natural stone. It is melted under technological conditions and thin fibers are made. You will not believe, but such cotton wool does not burn even at temperatures up to 1000 ˚C! The thing is that only at this temperature the stone begins to melt. Only here there is one drawback - the mice are very fond of this insulation. But in the attic they are easy to deal with.

The most popular brand of insulation is Rocklight. Products have excellent heat and noise insulation, do not burn and are quite easy to install. And more importantly, with such quality, the price is quite adequate. The insulation is able to last for many years without caking and retaining all properties.

Glass wool - I want it, but it pricks

The use of glass wool is not a new method. He has performed well over the years. This material is quite cheap, and installation is not so difficult. Indoors, it is non-toxic and not harmful to the body. And due to the fact that it does not contain organic substances, rodents do not eat it. I would also like to note that glass wool has a second degree of refractoriness. It's pretty good.

If we talk about the minuses of the material, then it lies in its composition. Glass wool has fine glass dust. When it comes into contact with the skin, it begins to itch, and if the dust gets into the eyes, it causes damage to them. The same goes for the respiratory tract. Therefore, when insulating a mansard roof with glass wool, it is important to take care of safety. All work is carried out in a protective suit, respirator gloves and goggles with a rubber element. Only then will you not suffer.

Note! After all the work, do not even think about washing clothes, it will not help. She will have to be thrown away.

Anyone who has ever tried a heater with bare hands prefers not to deal with him. Although if you do everything according to technology, then this is a worthy option.

Insulation of the attic with foam - cheap, but risky

The most affordable and popular material for attic insulation. Moreover, they insulate both the roof and the walls with the floor. The main advantage of the material is its low weight, ease of installation and good thermal insulation properties. All work on insulation can be done by hand, without the help of specialists. It is especially convenient to insulate sloping walls and roofs.

Styrofoam has several levels of density. Due to this, he has good indicators of sound and thermal insulation. In addition, it keeps its shape throughout the entire period of operation without shrinking. Its rigidity affects the strength of the material (bending and squeezing). But, there is one minus, it burns very well. The denser the material, the better it burns. Therefore, for the insulation of a mansard roof, rigidity is not the main indicator. After all, you do not need to walk on its surface.

Note! If you want to use Styrofoam, you need to get all the rodents out!

Ideal option for attic insulation - PPU

The advantage of PPU is that it can be supplied in two forms:

as finished boards.
As a spray.

It is preferable to choose the second option, since spraying achieves a monolithic structure, without seams and, accordingly, cold bridges. All of the above roofing insulation does not have this parameter. The room will be perfectly thermally insulated, there will be no noise, etc. Foamed polyurethane foam has many advantages:

The best indicator of heat conductivity. Surprisingly, a 2.5 cm polyurethane foam layer is identical in thermal conductivity to 8 cm mineral wool! Only expanded polystyrene approached PPU, lagging behind only twice.
No less important is the fact that for insulation with foamed polyurethane foam, it is not necessary to make a frame or special fasteners. The material is sprayed onto any surface and has high adhesion to it.
We mentioned the absence of cold bridges. Due to the monolithic design, they simply do not exist.
If a chimney or hood passes through the attic, sealing around them is easy to do by spraying. This also applies to other complex forms of roofing.
The worst enemy of a mansard roof is moisture. It's pretty hard to defend against it. But for PPU this is not a problem. It does not absorb moisture, does not dampen, can come into contact with any material and is vapor permeable (breathes).
Rodents do not touch PPU, it is not covered with mold, fungus and does not rot.
And finally, this attic insulation does not burn.

If we talk about the minuses, then it is one - for the insulation you need to have special equipment for spraying. Nothing will come of it without him. Therefore, you will have to hire professionals. Otherwise, this is an ideal option.

What is the best insulation for the attic roof, based on their thermal conductivity.

Ecowool as insulation for the attic

An interesting novelty is ecowool, made on the basis of waste paper. For its production, newspapers and other paper are taken, finely cut and processed with special means so that the insulation does not burn or rot. The material is environmentally friendly. Still, some are confused by the presence of dangerous lead in newspapers. But, this technology is already forgotten. The material has good performance of heat saving, sound insulation and fire resistance.

Nevertheless, it will not work to do the entire installation of the insulation on your own, since the method is new and requires a special approach.

Which is better - roll material or plates

Now let's move from theory to practice. For most, the type of material being sold (rolls or plates) is very important. Someone likes to work only with rolls, others vice versa. It's easier to just cut the insulation desired length, roll it out and fasten it.

In practice, this is how it works. roll material more convenient and easier to install. The work is done very quickly and conveniently: we measured, rolled out the insulation, cut it off and installed it. It is especially pleasant to work when the rafters have a step of 61 cm. Then you just need to cut the roll in half, and the parts will fit perfectly and tightly into the space.

With plates it is a little heavier, and the formation of cold bridges is greater. After trimming remains large quantity waste. But, such a heater is easier to transport. Nevertheless, which insulation for the attic to choose is a purely personal matter.

Many owners of suburban and country houses in order to increase the living space, an attic is equipped to create an office, bedroom, living room there. Such a room is called an attic. It needs to be insulated.

Several are used as a heater. different materials: mineral and glass wool, foam plastic, polyurethane foam, other heaters. But not all of these materials are suitable for thermal insulation of the attic to convert it into a real attic.

Requirements for insulation materials

The materials used to insulate the attic must have:

Fire safety. They must not support combustion.
Perform soundproofing functions that prevent the penetration of noise from the outside.
The function of vapor permeability to ensure the necessary microclimate in the attic room.
Compliance with environmental, sanitary and building codes.
Strength and durability.
resistance 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 the wall of the attic. A wooden gable requires a thicker layer of insulation than brick walls.

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Some characteristics of heaters

Widely used for insulation of walls, floors and ceilings foam. In the attic, the functions of the walls and ceiling are performed by the roof of the building. For its insulation, the use of foam is not recommended for the following reasons:

all elements of the roof, including the insulation material, must be well ventilated;
the insulation must pass air and moisture vapor well.

Warm air, according to the laws of physics, rises from the bottom up. Styrofoam does not let the moisture contained in warm air pass at all. This will cause condensation to form inside the room. As a result, parts will become damp within 1-3 years roof structure, trickles of water will begin to flow through the material of the insulation, mold will appear, wooden details the roofs will 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 observed, since the smallest particles of glass, when they get on exposed skin, cause severe irritation and significant pain. Work only in protective clothing, gloves and goggles. The thickness of the thermal insulation layer from mineral wool or glass wool is selected at the rate of 15-30 cm. It depends on the climatic zone in which the house is located.

Mansard roof insulation elements: 1 - mineral wool; 2 - vapor barrier (membrane); 3 - waterproofing; 4 - air flows; 5 - rafter; 6 - roof; 7 - attic sheathing.

TO negative sides This insulating material should be attributed to its slight deformation and hygroscopicity, which can lead to a decrease in thermal insulation properties. Glass wool is also not among the environmentally friendly 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;
incombustibility;
good sound insulation;
resistance to moisture and temperature extremes;
frost resistance;
protection against rodents and other pests;
resistance to the appearance of fungus and mold;
quick and easy installation.

For you can use felt, hemp, sawdust, reed slabs. But all these materials require preliminary antiseptic and flame retardant treatment. These operations significantly increase the terms 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.

Foamed glass slabs are relatively new and expensive insulation. Has high strength. The material is quite elastic and resistant to various mechanical influences. Ideal for thermal protection when using a soft roof.

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Insulation of the attic

The attic roof usually consists of a truss system covered with roofing material. Rafters are installed every 60-100 cm. These gaps are filled with insulation. As a material for insulation, it is recommended to use mineral wool or fiberglass. 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 she be? produced based on the coefficient of thermal conductivity, which is indicated in the quality certificates. You can refer to the following data:

Insulation thickness coefficient

0.035 150 mm;
0.04 180 mm;
0.044200 mm;
0.045205 mm;
0.046 210 mm;
0.047215 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 of Russia will be as follows:

City 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;
Yekaterinburg 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 than the thickness of the layer of insulating material, additional wooden bars are attached to them with the help of nails, screws or self-tapping screws. They must be treated with an antiseptic composition. Ventilation in the form of an air gap must remain between the insulation layer and the roof. The air gap is 25-50 mm. From above the insulation is protected by a windproof membrane. It is better to use Tyvek HD, Monaperm 450 VM, Monarflex VM 310 films for this purpose.

From below, a layer of insulation for the attic is covered with a vapor barrier film and the finishing lining is mounted from clapboard, drywall or other materials.

To create comfortable conditions in the attic room, thermal insulation is needed. Then you need to isolate 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 features and is easy to install.

The calculation of the thickness of the heat-insulating layer is made according to the region of residence.

How colder climate, the larger the insulation layer should be. Properly arranged thermal insulation significantly reduces the cost of heating a building.

It is quite possible for everyone to independently equip a living space under the roof home master. This raises the question of how to choose a heater for the attic roof, which one is better. Consider all options.

Why is attic insulation necessary?

In the cold season, when it works in the house, there is a significant temperature difference between the rooms and the street. Warm streams, according to the laws of physics, tend to the source of cold, therefore, they move towards the roof and walls. Where heated air comes into contact with a cold surface, condensation forms, which accumulates over time and destroys Construction Materials.

This phenomenon is especially noticeable in the attic room. It is also formed by a pediment, that is, elements that are in contact with street air on one side, and with indoor air on the other. Therefore, the main task of thermal insulation is to prevent the heated flow from reaching cold external surfaces. You can do this in two ways:

External insulation

It is laid during the construction process on top of the rafters. It is covered with a waterproofing film, the roof is mounted on top. As a result, the insulation lays down as a continuous sheet, without cold bridges. This is the main advantage of the method. The main disadvantage is the possibility of installation only during construction or major repairs.

Internal insulation

The insulation is mounted from the inside. It is inserted between the rafters, covered with layers of vapor and waterproofing. This is a more labor intensive method. In addition, it is not always possible to prevent the appearance of cold bridges. But you can mount the insulation in this way at any time after the completion of construction or overhaul.

Thus, well-placed thermal insulation does not release heated air streams to the outside, which reduces heating costs. In addition, it prevents the formation and accumulation of a large amount of condensate, which destroys building materials and thereby extends the life of the building.

What should be the insulation for the attic roof

When choosing the optimal insulation, you need to know what properties it should have. We have identified the main criteria:

Low thermal conductivity

The ability of a substance to transfer heat is expressed by a numerical coefficient. The lower this figure, the better the insulator is the coating. Modern models have a coefficient of less than 0.04 W / mK, which is quite enough for. The thickness of the insulator layer depends on the thermal conductivity. The lower the coefficient, the thinner the panel will be needed.

moisture resistance

In the under-roof space, condensate is present in varying amounts. For this reason, only a water-resistant insulator should be selected. Materials that get wet and lose their properties are categorically not suitable.

The ability to keep the shape

A very important quality, since the walls of the attic are tilted. The loose coating will simply “slide” down over time and cease to perform its functions. The insulation must be dense, long-term hold the shape.

Good sound absorption

The roof space needs good sound insulation. Drops of rain falling on the roof, especially if the roof is metal, strong wind create an unpleasant noise that interferes with the rest of the people who are here.

Environmental Safety

Living space under the roof is in difficult conditions. In summer it is stronger than all other rooms, it is heated by the sun, in winter it cools more. Therefore, the insulator must be as safe as possible. It is unacceptable if it releases even a small amount of toxic substances. Influenced high temperatures it can increase significantly.

fire resistance

The insulation must not ignite and support fire. People should have time so that in case of danger they can leave the house. It is important that during the smoldering process or the coating does not emit toxic substances, otherwise poisoning is inevitable.

How to choose a heater for the attic: options

The range of insulating sheets is diverse, but all of them can be divided into several groups:

glass wool

It is made from waste glass production, consists of small fragile fibers. Of the advantages, we note:

Low thermal conductivity, the thickness of the insulating layer is at least 120 mm.
Absence of toxic substances.
Low flammability.
Unattractive to insects and rodents, they do not settle in it.
Low.

The main disadvantage of glass wool is brittleness and dusting. Fine fibers are very fragile; when they are destroyed, fine dust is formed, consisting of sharp fragments. When they get on the skin, in the respiratory tract or mucous membranes, unpleasant sensations occur. If safety rules are not followed, diseases and allergic reactions are possible. Therefore, the insulation during installation is reliably insulated so that dust does not enter the room.

Glass wool is hygroscopic, it easily absorbs water. When wet, its thermal insulation characteristics deteriorate significantly. This is especially true for loose roll coatings. Slabs have a high density, therefore they are less hygroscopic. Over time, the fiber breaks and shrinks.

stone wool

The raw materials for its manufacture are volcanic minerals. The most affordable choice is a basalt canvas. Material advantages:

Low thermal conductivity, the minimum thickness of the insulating layer is 100 mm.
Complete safety for, the absence of phenol formaldehyde in the composition.
No dusting, brittleness and shrinkage. It holds its shape well, especially dense varieties.
Does not support combustion. Starts to melt at 800C.
Good soundproofing.
Vapor permeability, which allows the walls to "breathe".

The disadvantages of stone wool include attraction for rodents, which can choose it for their nests. Compared to other cotton wool, it is less hygroscopic, but it still absorbs water. For this reason, high-quality waterproofing is required. The cost is quite high.

slag wool

Made from blast furnace slag. The properties are close to stone, but there are a number of differences. Benefits to be listed:

Low thermal conductivity, insulation layer of at least 100 mm.
Good soundproofing.
Poorly supports combustion, begins to melt at 300C.

The main disadvantage is the presence in the composition of blast-furnace slags. When moistened, they begin to react with, gradually destroying them. It's dangerous for metal frames and other designs. In addition, slags contain toxic substances that, under certain conditions, can adversely affect human health. Slag is hygroscopic, but the higher the density of the insulation for the mansard roof, the less moisture it absorbs.

Styrofoam

It consists of compressed polystyrene balls filled with air. Thanks to this structure, it has:

Low heat transfer coefficient. The minimum warming layer is 70 mm.
. Water is almost not absorbed and does not destroy the coating.
Light weight, which greatly facilitates installation.
Significant density, so it holds its shape well and does not shrink.
Good soundproofing characteristics.
Low cost.

There are also significant disadvantages that need to be taken into account. The foam is vapor-tight; when using it in a roofing room where evaporation is concentrated, it will be necessary to equip an effective one. Otherwise, moisture will accumulate and destroy the building structure. Rodents like to live inside isolation. Another disadvantage is the flammability of the material. Moreover, together with the smoke in the combustion process, substances extremely dangerous to humans are released.

Extruded polystyrene foam

It is made of polystyrene, like polystyrene, but using a different technology. The result is dense foam boards. Their advantages:

Low thermal conductivity, about a third lower than that of foam. The minimum warming layer is 50 mm.
Light weight with significant density and rigidity.
Holds its shape well.
Not attractive to insects and rodents.
Complete waterproofness.
Service life 35-40 years and more.

Flammability and vapor impermeability are considered significant disadvantages of expanded polystyrene. In addition, its cost is quite high.

PPU or polyurethane foam

Representative of sprayable materials that are not yet widely used. The advantages of PPU are many:

Very low heat transfer. Since the thickness of the attic insulation depends on it, the minimum layer in this case is only 25 mm.
Mounting does not require fasteners or a special frame.
Based on any shape, it forms a continuous, seamless coating, which guarantees the absence of cold bridges.
Vapor-permeable, allows the base to "breathe".
Completely waterproof, can be used as waterproofing.
Good adhesion to any surface.
Not attractive to insects or rodents. Microorganisms do not grow on it.
Service life is more than 45-50 years.

This is the warmest of all the considered insulators. The main disadvantage of PPU is difficult installation. It requires special equipment to carry it out. It is impossible to lay the insulator on your own.

Ecowool

Made from cellulose obtained from recycling paper. The best decision if you choose which one to use with high environmental safety. Among the advantages it should be noted:

Low heat transfer, slightly higher than that of PPU. The minimum layer of material is about 30-35 mm.
Thermal insulation properties similar to . Keeps cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather.
Does not attract microorganisms, rodents and insects.
Forms a continuous insulating coating without cold bridges.
Poorly absorbs water, dries quickly.
Flammability is moderate, outdoors self-extinguishing is possible.

The disadvantages include only complex installation. It is applied to the base by spraying using special equipment.

Features of installation of rolls and plates

Often the same insulation can be produced in roll form or in the form of a plate. If there is a choice, it is worth stopping at a rolled canvas. It’s easier to work with him, and it’s also easy to calculate how much insulator you need, since there will be a minimum number of attacks. The work is done like this:

We roll out the cloth, measure the fragment of the desired length.
Cut the plate with a sharp knife.
We insert the part prepared in this way between the rafters by surprise.
We fix the panel with a counter-lattice or slats.

Thus, the heat insulator is laid over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe attic. With plates, they work a little differently:

Cut out the details right size. In this case, there are usually much more lunges than when working with a roll.
We insert the plate between the rafters.
We fix it with glue or plastic dish-shaped dowels.

In any case, steam and waterproofing must be equipped. When choosing a material, you should pay attention to the integrity of its packaging. Most insulation materials are hygroscopic. Water can get inside even through a small hole and ruin the panel.

It is not so difficult to equip from an unheated attic. Much depends on the correctly chosen heat insulator and its competent installation. It is important to take into account all the features of your home and the area where it is located. It is easier to insulate the attic during the building process, but if necessary, you can do this later. Don't skimp on the quality of the material. A non-certified, inexpensive coating is unlikely to last long, then you will have to pay for a new canvas and installation work.

Material prepared: Inna Yasinovskaya