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

Correctly selected thermal insulation material is the key to effective insulation and an 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 roof). The technical characteristics and features of all materials used for thermal insulation of the attic 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 the arrangement, from a place of accumulation of various rubbish can turn into a full-fledged living space - after all, the 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 a 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 contact space of the roof of the house with the external environment is very large, even if they are standing.

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

Moreover, the roof, unlike concrete or brick walls of a house, is not a monolithic structure - it often contains a variety of cracks and gaps, which 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 helps not only to improve the temperature regime inside the house, but also performs additional sound insulation and protection from wind similarly.

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

1.1 What requirements should a high-quality insulation meet?

All of the above advantages of insulation can be achieved if you use high-quality thermal insulation materials. Consider the parameters for the choice of insulation for the attic.

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

2 Review of the best insulation

Among all the thermal insulation materials on the market, three types of heaters fully meet the above requirements:

• Mineral wool thermal insulation;
• Thermal insulation from extruded polystyrene foam;
• Foam thermal insulation (liquid foam, 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 pneumatic unit, foam insulation is supplied to the surfaces to be insulated with a hose.

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

Thermal conductivity of thermal insulation made of polyurethane foam is 0.02 W / mk, which is significantly lower than all popular heaters, density - 25 kg / m3, moisture absorption - no more 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 you are not stopped by the prospect of hiring contractors, then 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 expanded polystyrene

Mineral wool heaters are one of the most versatile heat-insulating materials; they can be used with equal success both for insulating an attic and for insulating 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 melting basalt rocks and then forming microscopic basalt fibers from the melt; slag wool - made from metallurgical waste - blast-furnace slag; and fiberglass insulation - made from cullet,

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

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

In terms of versatility, extruded polystyrene foam is not much inferior to mineral wool. You can insulate with your own hands not only the roof, 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 assortment of this company, for thermal insulation of the attic it is best to use the Technolight mineral wool from the TechnoNIKOL company, and Penoplex Comfort plates. Let's compare the main technical characteristics of these heaters for the attic.

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

Minvata Technonikol "Technolight" is produced in the form of slabs with dimensions 120 * 60 centimeters, the thickness of the slabs can be 4-20 cm. Penoplex slabs have similar dimensions, but the range of their thickness is somewhat less - from 2 to 15 centimeters.

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

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

3 Technology of attic insulation with mineral wool (video)

Arrangement of the attic with a competent approach solves the problem of a shortage of living space in a residential building. But in order to use the room under the roof all-season, high-quality thermal insulation will be 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. In order not to get lost in the abundance of materials, our article will tell you which insulation is best suited for the attic roof and gable, how to choose and install it.

Heat transfer in the attic

Thermal insulation of the attic is a relatively new building technology that became popular after heating reached the under-roof space. In attics that are not heated, insulation is not so important.

After all, the air gap between the ceiling and the slopes covered with a snow cap perfectly retains heat in living rooms. Installation of 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 loss, it is necessary to provide for the insulation of the attic roof and gable in one of the popular ways:

Compared to insulation from the inside, the outside is less protected from moisture ingress. 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 insulation of the attic roof and gable, the main thing is to correctly determine which material will best cope with this task. The builder claims 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, structure.
• Low hygroscopicity... Insulation for the gable and 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, increasing the weight of the roof structure leads to the formation of mold and rot.
• Low thermal conductivity... Materials with low thermal conductivity do not heat up and "seal" the heat from the inside of the room, reducing the cost of heating the attic.
• Safety... Insulation with a high fire safety class, non-combustible and non-combustible, is used for covering the gable and roof. In addition, it is best to use materials that are not harmful to health and do not cause allergies.

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

Types of materials

Mineral insulation materials

This category includes fiber-structured insulation, produced in rolls or slabs, called mineral wool. They are made from wastes of the glass industry, metallurgical production.

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

Usually, stone wool is used for, since slabs, and especially rolls, have a rather soft structure that crumples 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 in 3 years of use. Therefore, effective thermal insulation requires the protection of mineral wool from moisture by means of waterproofing and vapor barrier.

Polymeric thermal insulation materials

Recently, builders began to widely use materials based on expanded polystyrene to insulate the gable and roof from the outside or from the inside. This method has become the most popular method for renovating old residential buildings. It has the following performance characteristics:

1. A light weight... Insulation layers based on expanded polystyrene weigh a few grams, so they do not increase the load on the rafter 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 \u200b\u200bbusy highways and buildings with resonant roofing materials (metal, corrugated board), which increase noise during rain.
4. Refractoriness... Insulation based on polystyrene foam does not burn, but slowly melts, therefore it is considered safe.
5. Ease of installation... A wide range of material thicknesses from 10 to 500 mm makes it easy to use for self-assembly. Also, no special tools are required to install it, 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 out by special equipment under the film between the roof rafters.

Natural thermal insulation materials

Those who primarily value environmental safety, as well as the natural origin of materials, should take a closer look at natural insulation for the roof. They are made from 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.
• The flammability class is G1-G2, that is, in terms of fire safety, ecowool is less safe than mineral-based heaters.
• Ecowool has a looser structure than mineral, its density is 30-75 g / cu. m.
• Natural types of thermal insulation materials absorb sound by 10% better.

Experienced builders point out that ecowool is the 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 spaces is the same prerequisite for comfortable use, as is the organization of natural lighting and ventilation. Remember that insulating the attic during construction is much more convenient and effective than during operation.

Video instruction

It is a 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 \u200b\u200bthe house. And in the open air at this time - a tangible cold. And, if we are talking about the attic, which has the largest contact area with the open atmosphere, then you should take it seriously. Indeed, in winter there is a serious temperature difference on both sides of the roof and the gables of the attic, because of which the heat flow always moves to the source of the cold - outside. 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, in simple terms, heaters.

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

Requirements for attic insulation

So what is the best insulation for a mansard roof? It all depends on what exactly you expect from him, because for thermal insulation of the attic of baths and saunas, where fire-safe chimneys pass, it is difficult to come up with something better than basalt insulation, which can withstand up to 1000 ° C, but for warming an ordinary attic of a summer house, this is a losing option: everyone 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 insulating an attic, most people are interested in aspects such 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 perspective. Of course, the most valuable quality is the ability of the insulation to retain heat:

The second important point: is it possible to insulate the sloping walls of the attic and the floors with the same insulation. Therefore, pay attention: if the name of some 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 best option: we buy the material we like and immediately finish the walls, gables and the floor. Fast and less problematic - now all insulation will have the same properties and will serve the same long time.

And now about the absorption of sounds. But why should the roof have soundproofing, because there are no neighbors behind it, no stomping of feet? Let's just say: those in whose house a metal roofing (profile, metal tile), and it rained at least once, do not have such questions. 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.

Also, the choice of insulation for the attic directly depends on what its supporting structure is made of: reinforced concrete, metal or wood. And the more 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 an 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 attic roof of your particular house.

How is the attic insulated today?

The most popular materials for warming the attic are insulation based on mineral wool and fiberglass, and newer and so far little studied in everyday life - ecowool, foil plates and natural materials.

Glass wool: both want and prick

Fiberglass wool is one of the most inexpensive options. Its installation is simple, there is no toxicity in a closed form for humans, and the absence 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, which gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes and causes damage, and the skin begins to itch a lot. Those. during such work, one cannot do without special closed clothing, gloves, a respirator and glasses with rubber elements. After the installation work, the clothes will have to be destroyed - no washing will save it. Note that those who, through negligence or stupidity, have worked with glass wool with their bare hands, then bypass it all their lives.

Mineral wool: the priority is warm

Mineral wool is much more flexible in this regard. It consists of synthetic fibers and small chips from stone, clay and much more. Fiberglass may also be present in it, but already a little. Due to its light weight, excellent vapor permeability and low hygroscopicity, this material can hardly be overestimated. On sale you will find it both in the form of rolls and in the form of plates, in a variety of sizes and thicknesses - from 50 to 100 mm.

The heat in mineral wool is retained due to its multilayer structure, in the layers of which air is retained. Moreover, this insulation is also paronizayem, i.e. "Breathes". And unlike styrofoam, small rodents do not start in mineral wool.

Of the minuses, it can be noted that mineral wool quickly collects dust and is not resistant to moisture, and therefore its waterproofing must be thought out especially carefully. As for the fire safety of mineral wool, quartz sand is even able to delay the 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 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 the school physics course, materials of different densities together significantly impede the passage of sound vibration. For example, after insulating a roof with Isover metal tiles, the sound from the rain will no longer be heard.

But Ursa is supplied with insulation for sale in a comfortable 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. And at the same time it perfectly stores heat, absorbs noise, and does not like the taste of insects and rodents due to its inorganic origin.

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

Basalt wool: an environmentally friendly option for mineral

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

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

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

Extruded polystyrene foam: an 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 collecting a puzzle. But the price of this insulation, of course, will surprise you a little - after all, the cost is low.

But independently, the attic is rarely insulated with expanded polystyrene alone: \u200b\u200bthis material is more valuable in combined insulation. As in this example:

Styrofoam: cheap, cheerful and risky

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

Foam has several density levels. That is why this material has a 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 compression and bending. But the denser the material, the greater its flammability, therefore, for roof insulation, do not seek to choose the toughest heaters - you will not walk on them.

PPU: reaching the most difficult to reach places

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

The only drawback of such insulation is that it is impossible to spray PPU independently, without equipment. You will either have to hire an entire construction team or acquire a competent contractor.

Natural wool: sustainable, 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 a vapor-permeable building material. And its insulation coefficient is the same as that of basalt insulation - 0.045 W / mS.

Most often, such wool is put in bags, and they are already in dense rows along the roof. But sometimes it is used in a roofing pie as a full-fledged insulation, pre-treated to prevent an unpleasant odor.

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

Ecowool: simple and sustainable

Another very interesting novelty is the so-called ecowool. They make it from newspaper waste, finely cut and processed so that it does not burn or rot later. And as for the fear of many citizens that newspapers contain dangerous lead - this technology has long been a thing of the past.

True, it is unlikely that it will be possible to insulate the attic with an ecowool with your own hands - construction firms are engaged in this novelty.

Now we come to practice. And the last question that you will ask yourself when buying the chosen insulation for the attic 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 plates as more convenient, but for the majority it is the rolls that seem rational: rolled out and fastened, what could be easier?

Let's just say: 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 secured it. The 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 ideally fit into their niches - just roll them out:

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

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

Now imagine what happens to the insulation in poor-quality packaging: moisture and water vapor (and this good is everywhere) penetrate through holes and slots into the material, 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 swollen and heavy insulation does not fit in any way, the cracks are visible even to the naked eye. Having somehow worn out, cover all this stuff with clapboard or drywall - and that's it! After all, we do not leave finished insulated walls without finishing even for several hours - why? And as a result, the not dried insulation turns out to be in a closed and dark space - an ideal place for the development of mold. The consequences are usually not at all pleasing to the eye, and you will recognize their presence by an unpleasant smell from under within a few weeks.

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

To bring these ideas to life, it is required to insulate the roof, so the question of what kind of insulation is better suited for the attic 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 inside through the cracks will inevitably lead to the formation of condensation on wooden structures and, as a consequence, 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 operational characteristics:

Overview of thermal insulation materials

About 30% of the heat is lost through the roof, therefore, regardless of what materials were used for roofing, the attic roof requires high-quality insulation.

The assortment 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 reviewed the most popular types of insulation, with all their advantages and disadvantages.

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

Glass wool is a universal insulation suitable for all types of surfaces and having 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 noise isolator.

In addition, glass wool has several disadvantages:

• during operation, it shrinks;
• fibers have low density and increased fragility;
• in terms of thermal insulation characteristics, it is inferior to mineral wool.

When making a choice of insulation for the attic, do not forget about small pests that are often found in private houses - glass wool is inedible, so you do not threaten 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 fibers contain fine stone chips, clay, a small amount of fiberglass and many other ingredients. Advantages worth noting:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The only drawback, in comparison with similar materials, is a large 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, seeking to reduce the cost of production, use components that emit toxic substances.

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

Extruded polystyrene foam

This is a relatively new type of insulation on the market for thermal insulation materials, but has already gained great popularity. Extruded polystyrene foam is a "relative" of polystyrene, but due to the peculiarities of manufacturing it surpasses it in 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 with full immersion 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 is the best insulation for the roof, since, with all its advantages, it has a fairly low cost. However, there are two points that negate all its advantages - flammability and vapor permeability.

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

Styrofoam

It is a budget option for insulation. Its advantages:

• The low price and the ability to do-it-yourself installation can significantly save money.
• it is practically weightless, and does not create additional stress 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 granules that allow steam to penetrate through it.

The disadvantages include the property of polystyrene is highly flammable (although there are species with a flammability class G1, that is, they do not support combustion) and small rodents like to arrange their holes in it, therefore experts do not advise using this material for internal insulation of the attic.

The video below shows a test for the combustion of polystyrene and expanded polystyrene.

PPU

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

• when insulating, the construction of an additional frame is not required;
• the heat-insulating layer is 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 polyethylene;
• a layer of 25 mm can replace 80 mm of mineral wool;
• polyurethane foam is not fond of mice and insects, it does not rot and mold.

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

Ecowool

What kind of insulation can be better for the attic than an environmentally friendly material that does not cause allergic reactions? All these advantages are possessed by ecowool - a heater consisting of 80% waste paper and paper waste, and 20% of antiseptic and additives that prevent ignition.

Of its advantages, it is worth noting:

• with high quality - affordable cost;
• seamless heat-insulating layer;
• the possibility of blowing into hard-to-reach places;
• economical consumption when insulating a room;
• high sound insulation properties.

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

• during operation, it can decrease in volume;
• accumulates moisture in itself, which leads to an increase in thermal conductivity;
• the method of application is similar to PPU - you will need the help of specialists and the use of special equipment;
• the drying time of the insulating layer is 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, 80% is paper).

Sawdust

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

• this is the cheapest way to insulate;
• 100% environmental friendliness;
• work can be performed by a person with minimal experience;
• the roof, insulated with sawdust, has sufficiently high heat-saving qualities if you add cement or clay mortar to the sawdust.

Despite all the advantages, sawdust warming 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 insulating the attic, and is more used for thermal insulation of flat roofs of outbuildings.

Calculation of the thickness of the insulation

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

Table 1. Coefficients of thermal conductivity of heaters

The exact figure 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 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 coefficient of the insulation.

City		City	Thermal resistance R (m 2 * 0 С / 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
St. 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. Coefficient of thermal resistance for the roof of some cities in Russia

Let's say that you live in Moscow and want to insulate the attic with extruded polystyrene foam. The minimum insulation thickness will be 4.67 * 0.036 \u003d 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 the roll or the basalt wool mat) and will save money if you do the work yourself. An additional important bonus - the material is harmless to health and non-flammable, which eliminates the need to treat wooden structures with fire retardants.

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

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

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

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

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

Several different materials are used as insulation: mineral and glass wool, polystyrene, polyurethane foam, and other insulation. But not all of these materials are suitable for carrying out work on the thermal insulation of the attic for converting it into a real attic.

Requirements for materials for insulation

The materials used to insulate the attic must have:

1. Fire safety. They must not sustain combustion.
2. Perform sound protection functions that prevent the penetration of noise from the outside.
3. The function of vapor permeability to ensure the required microclimate in the attic room.
4. Compliance with environmental, sanitary and building standards.
5. Strength and durability.
6. Resistant to deformation.

According to the recommendations of many experts, the layer of insulation 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, one must not forget that the pediment is also a wall of the attic. A wooden pediment requires a thicker layer of insulation than brick walls.

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Some characteristics of heaters

It is widely used for insulation of walls, floors and ceilings foam. In the attic, the roof of the building serves as the walls and ceiling. For its insulation, it is not recommended to use foam 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 rises from the bottom up according to the laws of physics. The foam is completely impervious to moisture contained in warm air. This will cause condensation to form inside the room. As a result, within 1-3 years, the parts of the rafter structure will become damp, trickles of water will begin to flow through the insulation material, mold will appear, and the wooden parts of the roof will begin to rot.

Very common materials are mineral wool and glass wool. They have low cost and excellent high temperature resistance. When working with glass wool, special protective measures must be observed, since the smallest particles of glass, when in contact with open skin areas, cause severe irritation and significant pain. You can only work in protective clothing, gloves and glasses. The thickness of the thermal insulation layer made of 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.

Insulation elements of the attic roof: 1 - mineral wool; 2 - vapor and wind insulation (membrane); 3 - waterproofing; 4 - air flows; 5 - rafter; 6 - roof; 7 - attic sheathing.

The negative sides 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 an environmentally friendly material. 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 from 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 duration of the thermal protection equipment.

Sandwich panels are more expensive than mineral wool, but they guarantee the quality and durability of the insulation. They consist of several layers: vapor barrier, insulation, waterproofing, decorative.

Foam glass panels are relatively new and expensive insulation. Possesses high strength. The material is quite elastic and resistant to various mechanical influences. Ideal for thermal protection when using soft roofs.

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Insulation of the attic room

An attic roof usually consists of a truss system covered with roofing material. The rafters are installed every 60-100 cm. These gaps are filled with insulation. It is recommended to use mineral wool or fiberglass as a material for insulation. This material is available in the form of slabs or mats. They are stacked in layers, the number of which depends on their thickness. What should it be? produced based on the coefficient of thermal conductivity, which is indicated in the quality certificates. You can focus on the following data:

Coefficient Insulation thickness

• 0.035 150 mm;
• 0.04 180 mm;
• 0.044 200 mm;
• 0.045 205 mm;
• 0.046 210 mm;
• 0.047 215 mm;
• 0.05 225 mm.

With a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.04, the calculation of the average thickness of the insulation layer for different cities 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 cross-section of the rafter legs is less than the thickness of the layer of 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. There should be ventilation in the form of an air gap between the insulation layer and the roof. The size of the air gap is 25-50 mm. From above, the insulation is protected by a windproof membrane. It is better to use films "Tyvek HD", "Monaperm 450 VM", "Monarflex VM 310" for this purpose.

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

Thermal insulation is needed to create comfortable conditions in the attic. Then you need to insulate the roof and gables. A wide variety of materials can be used for these purposes. It is best to use mineral wool. It has excellent performance and is easy to install.

The calculation of the thickness of the thermal insulation layer is made by region of residence.

The colder the climate, the larger the insulation layer must be. Correctly arranged thermal insulation significantly reduces the heating costs of the building.