How to choose a heater for the attic. Attic thermal insulation: from calculations and material selection to installation technology. Video: thermal insulation of the attic floor with mineral wool

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). The technical characteristics and features of all materials used for attic thermal insulation will be considered. 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, the attic floor is often decided to be used 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 of the roof of the house with external environment very large even standing .

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

Moreover, the roof, unlike concrete, either brick walls home is not monolithic construction- 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 limited bearing capacity, the paramount requirement for attic insulation is the minimum weight.

2 Overview of the best heaters

Among all thermal insulation materials on the market, the above requirements Three types of heaters are fully responsible:

• 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 last option has an order of magnitude better technical specifications, however, 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 walls and roofs of the attic, and the prospect of hiring contractors does not stop you, 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 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 (the optimal thickness of 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)

The arrangement of the attic with a competent approach solves the problem of the shortage of living space in a residential building. But in order to use the premises under the roof all season, high-quality thermal insulation is required, especially if the construction site is located in central Russia or even further north.

The building materials market offers traditional and new ways to solve this problem. In order not to get lost in the abundance of materials, our article will tell you which insulation is best suited for mansard roof and gable, how to choose and install it.

Heat exchange in the attic

Attic thermal insulation is a relatively new building technology that has become popular after heating has reached the under-roof spaces. In attics that are not heated, insulation is not so important.

After all, the air gap between ceiling and slopes covered with a snow cap perfectly retains heat in living rooms. Installing a heating system in the attic floor changes the situation in the opposite direction: the heated air rises to the ridge, and gives off its heat to the roofing material, due to which the snow melts from the roof.

To reduce energy losses, it is necessary to provide for the insulation of the mansard roof and the gable in one of the popular ways:

Compared to insulation from the inside, the outside is worse protected from moisture. In addition, so that the weight of the roof, snow does not damage the integrity of the layer, materials that can keep their shape well are chosen for external thermal insulation.

General material requirements

Although the quality and method of installation to a certain extent affect the effectiveness of the insulation of the mansard roof and the gable, the main thing is to correctly determine which material is best for this task. The builder argues that a good insulation should have the following qualities:

• Resistance to external factors . It is important for the thermal insulation material to withstand sudden temperature changes, repeated cycles of defrosting, freezing, without cracking, without changing its shape and structure during the entire period of operation.
• Low hygroscopicity. The insulation for the pediment and the roof of the attic has a low hygroscopicity, that is, it does not absorb moisture. Since an increase in humidity reduces the effectiveness of thermal insulation by half, increases the weight roof structure leads to mold and rot.
• Low thermal conductivity. Materials with low thermal conductivity do not heat up and "seal" the heat from inside the room, reducing the cost of heating the attic.
• Safety. For sheathing the pediment and the roof, a high-class insulation is used. fire safety, non-combustible and non-flammable. In addition, it is better to use materials that are not harmful to health and do not cause allergies.

When deciding which material is better to use for roof insulation, please note that the layer thickness is selected depending on climatic conditions in the region of construction - for middle lane Russia is recommended to use heaters with a thickness of at least 150 mm.

Types of materials

Mineral thermal insulation materials

This category includes insulation with a fibrous structure, produced in the form of a roll or plates, called mineral wool. They are made from waste glass industry, metallurgical production.

But for attic insulation, builders recommend stone wool based on basalt. Its operating temperature is 800-900 degrees, it does not burn and does not support combustion, it has high thermal and sound insulation characteristics.

Usually, stone wool is used for, since the slabs, and especially the rolls, have a fairly soft structure that collapses under the weight of the roofing material.

The thermal conductivity of this type of insulation is 0.035-0.04 W / m, but during operation and accumulation of moisture, this value increases by half over 3 years of use. Therefore, for effective thermal insulation, it is necessary to protect mineral wool from dampness with the help of waterproofing and vapor barrier.

Polymer heat-insulating materials

Recently, builders have begun to widely use materials based on expanded polystyrene to insulate the pediment and roof from the outside or from the inside. This method has become the most popular method in the reconstruction of old residential buildings. It has the following performance features:

1. A light weight. Layers of insulation based on expanded polystyrene weigh a few grams, so they do not increase the load on the truss system.
2. Low hygroscopicity. Expanded polystyrene absolutely does not absorb moisture, therefore it does not suffer from dampness, mold, does not lose its thermal insulation qualities during operation.
3. Does not conduct heat and sound. These properties make expanded polystyrene indispensable for houses located in the area of ​​busy highways and buildings with resonant roofing materials (metal tiles, corrugated board), which increase noise during rain.
4. fire resistance. Styrofoam-based insulation does not burn, but melts slowly, therefore it is considered safe.
5. Ease of installation. A wide range of material thicknesses from 10 to 500 mm facilitates its use in self-assembly. Also, its installation does not require a special tool, and you can cut the layers with a knife or saw.

The only drawback of expanded polystyrene is fragility. During installation and operation, the sheets are easily damaged, crumble. But this problem is solved by the use of extruded polystyrene foam, which is blown with special equipment under the film between the roof rafters.

Natural thermal insulation materials

Those who primarily appreciate environmental safety, as well as the natural origin of materials, should take a closer look at natural roofing insulation. They are produced from the fibers of industrial crops - hemp, flax.

In addition to cellulose, ecowool contains 12% antiseptic and fungicidal additives and 7% fire inhibitors. Performance characteristics of natural insulation compared to mineral:

• Low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of ecowool is lower than that of mineral materials, they are 0.032 W / kg.
• The absorbency of ecowool is two times less than that of mineral heat-insulating materials based on glass, basalt, and slag.
• Flammability class G1-G2, that is, in terms of fire protection, ecowool is less safe than mineral-based heaters.
• Ecowool has a looser structure than mineral wool, its density is 30-75 g / cu. m.
• Natural types of thermal insulation materials absorb sound 10% better.

Experienced builders note that ecowool best material for insulation from the inside of log, frame, log houses with an attic, since its characteristics are close to those of natural wood, its use reduces heating costs by 30%.

Thermal insulation of residential attic premises is the same required condition comfortable use, as the organization of natural lighting and ventilation. Remember that it is much more convenient and more efficient to insulate the attic during construction than during operation.

Video instruction

It is a well-known fact that in Russia at least 5 months a year (in the northern regions - all 8) a heating system works in any residential area of ​​​​a house. And in the open air at this time - a noticeable cold. And, if we are talking 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 attic gables, which is why the heat flow always moves towards the source of cold - out. And the task of insulating the attic is to stop this flow and minimize heat loss, for the purpose of which materials with low thermal conductivity are used, saying plain language, - heaters.

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

Requirements for attic insulation

So, what kind of insulation can be called the best for a mansard roof? It all depends on what exactly you expect from him, because for the thermal insulation of the attic of baths and saunas, where fire-resistant chimneys pass, it is difficult to come up with something better basalt insulation which can withstand up to 1000°C, but for warming an ordinary attic summer house this is a losing variant: all will be eaten by mice. 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. Profitability.
3. Durability.
4. Ease of installation.
5. Water repellent properties.
6. Noise isolation
7. Versatility

But let's approach this issue from a professional point of view. 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 "universal", then it can be used both for roof insulation and for walls, floors and ceilings. For finishing the attic - this is the most best option: we buy the material we like and immediately finish the walls, and the gables, and the floor. Quickly, and less problematic - now all insulation will have the same properties and will last the same for a long time.

And now about the absorption of sounds. But why is the roof soundproofing, because behind it there are no neighbors, no footsteps? Let's put it this way: for those whose house has a metal roofing (profile, metal tile), and at least once it rained, 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.

Another choice of insulation for the attic directly depends on what its supporting structure is made of: reinforced concrete, metal or wood. And the more combustible the material of the same rafters, the less combustible the insulation should be, so that later the “bohemian” space does not flare up 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:

And now about what kind of insulation is most suitable for the mansard roof of your particular house.

How is the attic insulated today?

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

Glass wool: both you want and it pricks

Fiberglass wool is one of the most inexpensive options. Its installation is simple, toxicity in closed not for humans, and the lack of organic matter makes such a heater unattractive for small rodents. And most importantly, glass wool has a second degree of fire safety, which is a lot.

The only significant drawback is fine glass dust that gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes and causes damage, and the skin begins to itch badly. Those. during such work, one cannot do without special closed clothing, gloves, a respirator and goggles with rubber elements. clothes after installation work will have to be destroyed - no washing will save her. Note that those who have ever, through negligence or stupidity, worked with glass wool with bare hands, then bypass it for the rest of their lives.

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. Due to its low weight, excellent vapor permeability and low hygroscopicity, this material cannot be overestimated. On sale you will find it both in the form of rolls and in the form of plates, the most different sizes and thickness - from 50 to 100 mm.

Heat in mineral wool is retained due to its multilayer structure, in the layers of which air is retained. At the same time, this insulation is also vapor-permeable, i.e. "breathes". And unlike polystyrene, small rodents do not start in mineral wool.

Of the minuses, it can be noted that mineral wool quickly collects dust in itself 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 is even able to hold fire if such a nuisance happens.

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

Izover as a heater is valuable not only for its thermal insulation qualities - it has high noise absorption. That is why, if you are going to equip the attic of your house for a nursery or a home cinema, then opt for this insulation. Then your evenings will be calm!

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 physics, materials of different densities together make it much more difficult for sound vibration to pass through. For example, after insulating a roof with a metal tile by Izover, the sound from the rain will no longer be heard.

But Ursa comes with insulation for sale in a convenient soft roll. As the manufacturer promises, Ursa heaters are made from a natural composition - fiberglass and quartz sand. There is nothing harmful or dangerous for humans and the environment here. And at the same time, it keeps heat remarkably, absorbs noise, and insects and rodents do not like the taste due to its inorganic origin.

And mineral wool serves all 50 years, while without signs of any rot, flowering or decay.

Basalt wool: an eco-friendly version of mineral wool

The safest and most well-known type of mineral wool is basalt. Let us remind you that basalt is a natural material, a stone that is melted in the 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 an attic, it’s easier to deal with them, don’t you agree?

Among the popular brands of basalt wool is Rocklight: excellent heat and noise insulation, non-flammability, ease of installation. In addition, the price of this insulation is pleasantly surprising, because. the quality is high enough. The fire safety of this insulation is at a height: the ability to withstand for some time even a temperature of + 1000C.

And Rocklite is quite durable, does not cake, and its vapor-permeable properties are preserved throughout the entire service life. A fungus never starts in this insulation, the walls "breathe", which is important for the attic.

Extruded polystyrene foam: the easy solution

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

But on their own, the attic is rarely insulated with expanded polystyrene alone: ​​this material is more valuable in combined insulation. Like in this example:

Styrofoam: cheap, cheerful and risky

One of the most inexpensive roof insulation. Styrofoam is primarily good because it can be easily installed with your own hands without calling any craftsmen, and it is especially convenient for sloping walls of an attic or roof.

Styrofoam has several density levels. That is why this material has good soundproofing, and therefore it will be possible to forget about the loud noise of drops knocking on the metal roof for a long time. Styrofoam is also good because it does not shrink over time.

The stiffness of the foam used depends on how strong the material will be for squeezing and bending. But the denser the material, the greater will be its flammability, so do not try to choose the toughest heaters to insulate the roof - because 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 - housing under the roof will be completely residential. And, I must say, this is really excellent thermal insulation, and many other qualities:

1. PPU has excellent thermal protection performance: only 2.5 cm will protect the attic from cold sweat just like 8 cm of mineral wool. Only expanded polystyrene can be called sufficiently 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 a frame or special fasteners. And the most valuable thing is that PPU does not have seams, while 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, what is the attic insulation most afraid of? Of course, moisture! And it’s not so easy to defend yourself from it right in the roofing pie. Unless, of course, we are talking specifically about PPU, which does not dampen at all and calmly contacts with 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 terms of its thermal insulation properties, this material is also vapor-permeable, i.e. "breathes". What is a valuable quality for an attic!
7. PPU is not eaten by mice, insects do not sharpen, it does not rot or grow moldy.

The only disadvantage of such insulation is that it is impossible to spray polyurethane foam on your own, without equipment. You will either have to 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 quite 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 they are already in dense rows along the roof. But sometimes they are used in a roofing cake as a full-fledged insulation, pre-treated from an unpleasant odor.

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

Ecowool: simple and environmentally friendly

Another very interesting novelty was the so-called ecowool. They make it from the waste of newspapers, finely cut and processed so that later they do not burn and do not rot. And as for the fear of many citizens that newspapers contain dangerous lead, this technology is long gone.

True, it is unlikely that it will be possible to insulate an eco-wool attic with your own hands so far - construction companies are engaged in this novelty.

And now we come to practice. And the last question that you ask yourself when buying the selected attic insulation is to take it in mats or rolls?

Which 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. Someone prefers to work only with slabs as more convenient, but for the majority it is the rolls that seem rational: rolled out and fixed, what could be easier?

Let's put it this way: it is really convenient to work with rolled material. They rolled it out to the desired length, cut it off, and twisted the cut piece. They brought a new skein to the right place, rolled it out again, straightened it and fixed it. Roll insulation is also convenient in that with a standard distance between the rafters of 61 cm, the roll can be easily cut in half with an ordinary knife, and its halves will fit perfectly into their niches - just roll them out:

But less convenient in practice for many is the packaging of rectangular plates, after which the most waste remains. But it is easier to transport, and the insulation in it does not bend, as in a roll, which is a critical issue for many materials:

And finally: when buying a heater, be sure to pay close attention to the integrity of the package, otherwise you will not end up with problems later. The packaging of the insulation must be completely sealed, slightly compressed, without a single scratch or torn film. Only in this way moisture will not get to the insulation before installation.

Now imagine what happens to the insulation in low-quality packaging: moisture and water vapor penetrate the material through holes and slots (and this goodness is everywhere), the insulation gets wet in places and changes its geometry. On the spot, you unpack the roll or slabs and proceed with the installation, and then it turns out that the insulation, swollen and heavy in places, does not fit in any way, the cracks are visible even to the naked eye. Having somehow suffered, you close all this stuff with clapboard or drywall - and that's it! After all, we do not leave ready-made insulated walls without finishing even for several hours - why? And as a result, not dried insulation is in a closed and dark space - perfect place for mold development. The consequences are usually not at all pleasing to the eye, and you will learn about their presence by bad smell out from under in a few weeks.

The attic of a private house can be used to store unnecessary things, or you can equip a full-fledged living space in this area with all the advantages that an attic floor provides. The most popular option is a bedroom or a children's room, but you can also arrange a gym or even a greenhouse here.

To bring these ideas to life, it is necessary to insulate the roof, so the question of which insulation is best suited for a mansard roof is especially relevant for those who want to equip additional square meters.

General requirements for thermal insulation materials

The roof structure is not monolithic. If it is not insulated at all, then cold air penetrating through the cracks will inevitably lead to the formation of condensation on wooden structures and, as a result, the appearance of fungus and mold.

If you want to use the attic all year round, then it is necessary that the insulation meets the following performance characteristics:

Overview of thermal insulation materials

About 30% of heat is lost through the roof, so no matter what materials were used roofing, mansard roof requires high-quality insulation.

The range of thermal insulation materials on the market today is so diverse that it is not at all difficult to get lost in this abundance. Below I have reviewed the most popular types of insulation, with all their advantages and disadvantages.

Modern glass wool is made from waste glass production and radically different from the glass wool that everyone remembers from Soviet times. It is a safe, soft material that does not cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin.

Glass wool is a universal insulation suitable for all types of surfaces and has the following technical characteristics:

• low thermal conductivity;
• does not ignite;
• resistance to temperature extremes in the range from -200 to +500 ° С;
• vapor permeability;
• water absorption coefficient up to 15%;
• environmentally friendly;
• excellent sound insulator.

In addition, glass wool has several disadvantages:

• undergoes shrinkage during operation;
• fibers have low density and increased brittleness;
• in terms of thermal insulation characteristics it is inferior to mineral wool.

When choosing an attic insulation, you should not forget about small pests that are often found in private homes - glass wool is inedible, so you are not threatened by the neighborhood with rodents.

Mineral wool

The structure of mineral wool consists of thin synthetic fibers randomly intertwined with each other. Cells with air are formed among the fibers, which provide the unique thermal insulation properties of the material.

The composition of the fibers includes small stone chips, clay, a small amount of fiberglass and many other ingredients. Among the advantages it is worth noting:

• excellent vapor permeability;
• low hygroscopicity;
• noise-absorbing properties;
• fire safety.

Even a non-professional can insulate the attic roof with mineral wool - the material is easy to use and practically waste-free. Due to the soft structure, it easily fills all the voids and the heat-insulating layer has no seams (when using rolls, in the case of plates, there will still be seams).

Despite all the advantages of mineral wool, it also has disadvantages:

• according to some experts, its fibers have carcinogenic properties;
• phenol-formaldehyde resin is used as a binder in the manufacture of mineral plates, which releases free formaldehyde for a sufficiently long time.

This is one of the varieties of mineral wool, which includes a natural component - basalt. Under production conditions, it is melted, and it turns into a thin fiber. The melting point of basalt is 1000°C, which is why the insulation is able to withstand heating up to this temperature.

Among fibrous heaters, basalt wool has the best technical characteristics and the highest price.

The only drawback, compared with similar materials, is a lot of weight, which must be taken into account when insulating the attic (the rafter system must be designed for such a load).

When buying basalt wool, give preference to a trusted manufacturer (for example, TechnoNIKOL products), since some unscrupulous companies, in an effort to reduce the cost of products, use components that emit toxic substances.

All mineral wool heaters are universal and are perfect for both attic insulation and floor, wall and facade insulation. However, due to the ability of the fiber to accumulate moisture, before insulating the attic, it is necessary to make high-quality waterproofing of the surfaces.

Extruded polystyrene foam

It's relative the new kind insulation in the market of thermal insulation materials, but has already gained great popularity. Extruded polystyrene foam is a "relative" of polystyrene, but due to manufacturing features, it surpasses it in terms of technical characteristics.

EPP passes through the extruder, resulting in a material whose structure consists of closed cells that can prevent the absorption of steam and moisture from the outside.

The properties of this unique material are striking in their versatility:

• thermal conductivity is lower than that of many insulating materials;
• even when completely immersed in water, there is no water absorption;
• tolerates frost well;
• resistant to most chemicals;
• no need for additional waterproofing;
• absolutely harmless;
• service life up to 50 years;
• sufficiently high compressive strength.

One could say that extruded polystyrene foam the best insulation for the roof, because with all the advantages it has a fairly low cost. However, there are two points that negate all its advantages - flammability and vapor tightness.

In view of this, use it for thermal insulation of wood truss system It is categorically not recommended, although there are a lot of materials on the Internet about the use of EPP as a heater for the roof, including the attic.

Styrofoam

Represents a budget option insulation. Its advantages:

• The low price and the possibility of do-it-yourself installation can significantly save money.
• it is practically weightless, and does not create an additional load on the roof structure.
• Due to its environmental friendliness, it is suitable for all types of premises, including children's institutions.

Unlike EPP, which has a closed structure, there are technological pores between the foam plastic granules, allowing steam to penetrate through it.

The disadvantages include the property of polystyrene is highly flammable (although there are species with a flammability class G1, i.e. non-combustible) and small rodents like to make their holes in it, so experts do not recommend using this material for internal insulation attic.

The video below shows a test for burning foam and polystyrene foam.

PPU

Polyurethane foam is a modern material applied to the insulated surface by spraying. It is due to the method of insulation that PPU has many undeniable advantages:

• when warming, the construction of an additional frame is not required;
• the heat-insulating layer turns out to be monolithic and excludes the appearance of cold bridges;
• absolutely not afraid of moisture and at the same time vapor permeable;
• if there are engineering structures or complex architectural forms in the attic, the joints are easily sealed by spraying;
• excellent adhesion to any type of surface, except for polyethylene;
• a layer of 25 mm can replace 80 mm of mineral wool;
• polyurethane foam is not liked by mice and insects, it is not subject to rotting and mold formation.

The disadvantages include the inability to perform insulation on their own - the work must be done by a team equipped with special equipment for spraying, which will require considerable financial costs.

Ecowool

What insulation can be better for an attic than an environmentally friendly, non-allergic material? Ecowool has all these advantages - a heater for 80% consisting of waste paper and waste paper production, and 20% - from an antiseptic and additives that prevent ignition.

Of its advantages, it is worth noting:

• with high quality - affordable cost;
• seamless thermal insulation layer;
• the possibility of blowing into hard-to-reach places;
• economical consumption when warming the room;
• high soundproof properties.

Unfortunately, like any other material, ecowool is not without drawbacks:

• during operation it is able to decrease in volume;
• accumulates moisture in itself, which leads to an increase in thermal conductivity;
• the application method is similar to PPU - the help of specialists and the use of special equipment will be required;
• drying time of the heat-insulating layer - from two to three days;
• it is not recommended to use near sources of open fire, because under the influence of high temperatures, ecowool can begin to smolder (after all, it is 80% paper).

Sawdust

The oldest method of insulation, which, despite the variety modern materials, still applies. There are good reasons for this:

• this is the most cheap way insulation;
• 100% environmental friendliness;
• work can be done by a person with minimal experience;
• a roof insulated with sawdust has sufficiently high heat-saving qualities if cement or clay mortar is added to the sawdust.

Despite all the advantages, insulation with sawdust is a very laborious process, which is increasingly becoming a thing of the past, giving way to modern technological materials. In addition, it is of little use for attic insulation, and is more used for thermal insulation. flat roofs outbuildings.

Calculation of the thickness of the insulation

The thickness of the insulation for attic insulation is calculated using a table of thermal conductivity coefficients of materials.

Table 1. Thermal conductivity coefficients of heaters

The exact indicator is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging - this value depends on the density of the material and the technology used in the production.

The thickness of the heat-insulating layer is calculated by the formula:

where R is the thermal resistance for the roof of a certain region, λB is the thermal conductivity of the insulation.

City		City	Thermal resistance R (m 2 * 0 C/W)
Moscow	4.67	Nizhny Novgorod	4.79
Krasnodar	3.54	Omsk	5.34
Sochi	2.95	Magadan	6.1
Rostov-on-Don	3.96	Chelyabinsk	5.09
Saint Petersburg	4.6	Tver	4.71
Krasnoyarsk	5.37	Novosibirsk	5.5
Voronezh	4.46	Samara	4.76
Ekaterinburg	5.19	Permian	5.17
Irkutsk	5.62	Ufa	4.96
Volgograd	4.18	Kazan	4.91
Astrakhan	3.97

Table 2. The coefficient of thermal resistance for the roof of some Russian cities

Let's say that you live in Moscow and want to insulate the attic with extruded polystyrene foam. The minimum thickness of the insulation will be 4.67*0.036=0.16 m.

The best option for insulating the roof of a residential building would be basalt wool.

Installation of this insulation does not take much time, it will help to avoid unnecessary debris (if you foresee the distance between the rafters a little less than the width of a roll or basalt wool mat) and save money if you do the work yourself. An additional important bonus is that the material is harmless to health and non-flammable, which eliminates the need for processing wooden structures flame retardants.

For a bath, it is necessary to select a heater that does not absorb moisture, and extruded polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam will do it best.

They have similar characteristics, so when choosing, be guided by the amount that you have (polyurethane foam spraying will be more expensive than polystyrene foam finishing).

In conclusion - video review various heaters and their areas of application:

Of course, all of the above about the choice of material for insulation mansard roof is not the ultimate truth, since a lot depends on financial capabilities, climate and a number of other factors. If you disagree with something, or have personal experience attic insulation (even if negative) - be sure to share your thoughts in the comments.

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:

1. Fire safety. They must not support combustion.
2. Perform soundproofing functions that prevent the penetration of noise from the outside.
3. The function of vapor permeability to ensure the necessary microclimate in the attic room.
4. Compliance with environmental, sanitary and building codes.
5. Strength and durability.
6. 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 open areas 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 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 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 layer thickness insulation 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. Between the insulation layer and the roof there should be ventilation in the form air gap. 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.

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