Insulated roof of the house. How to make the roof insulation from the inside correctly - a step-by-step guide. "Pie" of the roof: what is it

Insulation of the roof of the house is an important stage of construction or overhaul roofs. The choice of technology for installing a heat-insulating layer depends on the configuration of the roof, the type of insulation and the requirements that apply to the room located directly under the roof.

The need for roof insulation

How to insulate the roof to significantly reduce heat loss at home? First of all, you need to choose the right materials for insulation and strictly adhere to the installation technology. A high-quality insulated roof increases the thermal efficiency of the house by 15%, and allows you to turn the attic into a room suitable for year-round use.

The highest requirements are placed on the insulation of the roof of the residential attic of houses located in areas with cold winters. The roofing cake of summer attics or exploited attics may include a thinner layer of thermal insulation. The roof, under which an unused attic is located, is usually not insulated - thermal insulation is mounted on the floor of the attic or the ceiling of residential premises. An uninsulated non-residential attic is well ventilated, which prevents the wooden elements of the roof frame from rotting.

When installing pitched and flat roofs, different ways roof insulation.

Flat roof insulation

How to make an insulated roof during installation flat roof? It should be noted that a flat roof can be insulated both from the outside and from the inside.

The composition of the flat roof pie includes:

• vapor barrier;
• heat insulator;
• waterproofing layer of rolled material;
• bulk layer (drainage + cement-sand mixture).

External insulation is most conveniently performed using mineral basalt wool. You can also use expanded polystyrene and other rigid insulation. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that polymeric heaters cannot be used when installing roofing with high fire safety requirements.

Pitched roof insulation

The roofing pie of a pitched roof is made with insulation along the rafters. It is important to figure out how to properly insulate the roof of the house in order to prevent mistakes that will eventually lead to damage to wooden structures.

The most popular insulation in private housing construction is mineral wool. It is an easy-to-install non-combustible material that can be purchased at a low price. But the very structure of cotton wool contributes to the accumulation of moisture, which causes a significant decrease in the thermal insulation properties of the material, and also, over time, provokes decay of the elements of the truss system. Thus, when creating insulation, it is important to provide for proper ventilation and steam and waterproofing of the roofing pie.

Installation of a pitched roof heat insulator is carried out from the side of the attic during the construction or repair of the roof. If there are repair work, before laying the insulation, it is necessary to check the condition of the rafters - rotting elements must be replaced with new ones. It is also worth treating all wooden structures with a fire-retardant composition.

Pitched Roof Pie Includes:

• finishing roofing;
• hydrobarrier (layer of waterproofing material);
• heat insulator;
• vapor barrier;
• interior decoration (optional).

Proper roof insulation requires high-quality air exchange, for which it is necessary to create air gaps between:

• roofing waterproofing and roofing;
• insulation and hydrobarrier;
• vapor barrier and inner lining (if provided).

Air circulation (free inflow and removal) is provided by special air ducts, one of which must be located in the roof overhang, and the second - under the ridge.

Materials for thermal insulation of a pitched roof

Roof insulation technology involves the use various materials. The most popular heat insulators include mineral wool and glass wool (in slabs or rolls), slab polymer materials- polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene. The principles of their installation are similar, but it is worth noting that mounting board material much easier and more convenient.

As a waterproofing, roofing material or a waterproofing membrane is usually used, impervious to water, but capable of removing moisture from the insulation. The vapor barrier can be made from:

• roofing material;
• polyethylene film;
• parchment;
• foil materials laid with foil towards the attic.

To create a roofing cake with high functional characteristics, to create a vapor barrier, it is recommended to use a special vapor barrier membrane: it removes condensate outward from the insulation and does not allow steam and moisture to enter the roofing pie.

Stages of work on the insulation of pitched roofs

The scheme of roof insulation is quite simple. First of all, you need to measure the distance between the rafters. Cotton wool insulation boards should be cut according to the results obtained, adding 1 centimeter. This will allow you to fix the heat insulator by surprise between the rafters. This stage of work is greatly simplified if the roofing system is initially designed and installed for the use of plate heaters of a certain width.

If there is no waterproofing between the rafters and the already installed roofing, the hydro-barrier must first be fixed. The membrane should envelop the rafters, it is most convenient to fix it with a construction stapler to the rafters themselves and to the roofing sheathing in the openings between them. The waterproofing must be led under the overhang at the bottom of the roof to ensure the removal of moisture. It should be borne in mind that with this method of attaching the hydrobarrier, the insulation has to be mounted without the necessary air gap. For this reason, it is recommended to use a superdiffusion membrane as a waterproofing.

If there is a waterproofing layer under the roofing, nails are stuffed onto the rafters in increments of about 10 cm. The nails should be located at a distance of 3-5 cm from the waterproofing layer. Between the nails it is necessary to stretch the polyethylene thread or cord, knocking them to the end. This will help create an air gap between the hydrobarrier and the insulation. If the heat insulator is planned to be fixed with a cord, and not with a crate for the inner lining, nails must also be stuffed along the outer edge of the rafters.

If, when determining how to insulate the roof of the house, a cotton slab insulation was chosen, then the prepared elements must be slightly squeezed and inserted between the rafters. When using stiffer foam boards and similar materials, it is important that they are accurately sized so that the boards fit snugly into the opening. Warming is recommended to be carried out in two layers. If it is necessary to mount in the opening not solid sheets, but narrower fragments, joining them in length or width, it is necessary to ensure that the joints of the second layer do not coincide with the joints of the first. The heat insulator should not protrude beyond the plane rafter legs. If the rafters are not wide enough to mount two layers of insulation, an additional beam is nailed to them.

The heat insulator is fixed between the rafters with a stretched cord fixed on pre-stuffed nails. Or, as a fastener, a crate of slats is used, designed for mounting the interior cladding of the room. The slats are nailed to the rafters in increments of 30-40 cm. In this case, the vapor barrier is fastened with a stapler to the rafters before the lathing is installed: the thickness of the slats allows you to create the necessary air gap between the vapor barrier and the sheathing.

When installing the vapor barrier, special attention is paid to the tightness of the layer. The panel is laid with an overlap of at least 10 cm, the joints should be glued with adhesive tape in two layers. It is necessary to perform the installation of a vapor barrier around chimney and at wall junctions. On final stage sheathing is being installed using wood-containing or gypsum boards.

How to insulate the roof of a house correctly: video, insulation scheme, methods

Find out how to properly insulate your roof. Watch the video on how to insulate the roof of a house using various schemes, methods and types of insulation

How to insulate the roof with your own hands

When building a private house, attention should be paid not only to the thermal protection of walls and floors, but also to the insulation of roof structures. The temperature and humidity conditions of the room, and even the service life of structures, depend on the literacy of roof insulation measures. Work on the installation of thermal insulation material can be done by hand.

The need for insulation

From school course Physicists all know that heated air rises. If there is no thermal insulation, nothing prevents him from leaving the building. Because of this phenomenon, a large amount of heat loss occurs precisely through the roof or attic floors. Lack of adequate protection against cold and warm air loss can lead to the following problems:

• lowering the temperature in the room;
• increased heating costs in winter;
• condensation on the inner surface of the roof;
• the appearance of mold or fungus on the elements of the roof;
• destruction or damage to load-bearing structures, and bringing the house into disrepair.

The insulation of roof structures, as well as the insulation of walls and floors during the construction of multi-apartment residential buildings, must be checked by state or private expertise at the design stage. The thermal insulation of a private cottage completely depends on the future owner, no one checks its availability and a competent choice, but this does not lose its importance.

Warming methods

Do-it-yourself roof insulation largely depends on the design of the roof. There are two types of roofs: flat and pitched. Most often, flat roofs are used for the construction of multi-storey buildings, but it is possible to use them in the construction of a private cottage. Flat roofs can be constructed in two ways:

In the inversion, the order of the layers has been changed. This technology is used in the arrangement of the exploited roof. As a material for insulation in both cases can be used:

• Styrofoam;
• extruded polystyrene foam;
• mineral wool (in slabs);
• expanded clay.

The latter is quite cheap, but has lower heat-shielding characteristics. In most cases, roof insulation is applied from the outside. This allows you to simplify the installation process and make competent protection from the cold from the point of view of thermal engineering.

The scheme of laying insulation between the rafters

It is necessary to remember the strength of the material; additional measures will also be required to protect the insulation from mechanical damage.

When building a private house, the option with a pitched roof is most often used. It allows you to equip the attic or attic and has a more attractive appearance. Roof insulation wooden house or any other can be done in several ways:

• laying material between the rafters (the most common);
• laying insulation over the rafters;
• fastening from the bottom of the rafters.

Material selection

Insulation of the roof of a wooden house or a building made of other materials is carried out using the following materials:

Rarely used materials include:

• expanded clay;
• sawdust.

Scheme of roof insulation with mineral wool

Bulk materials are used to protect against the cold outside. They have an attractive price, but are quite difficult to install, so they are not widely used. It is better to use more modern technologies.

In general, materials for thermal protection measures must meet the following requirements:

• safety, no harmful effects on humans;
• environmental friendliness;
• small weight to prevent excessive loads on the truss system;
• resistance to crushing and sagging, sufficient strength and rigidity;
• soundproofing characteristics (especially important when using metal roofing);
• resistance to fire (especially important for wooden construction);
• if possible, good vapor permeability, which will provide additional ventilation of the room;
• good thermal performance.

One of the most important characteristics of a material is its thermal conductivity. This value must be specified by the manufacturer. The lower the value, the smaller the thickness of the insulation will be needed. In the absence of constraint in funds, it is better to choose materials such as mineral wool or polystyrene foam. The values ​​of their thermal conductivity depend on the manufacturer and are in the range of 0.03-0.04 W / (m2*ᵒС).

Thickness calculation

It is important not only to choose the right material for insulation, but also to correctly calculate its thickness. Insufficient will lead to condensation, and excessive indicates irrational consumption. Money. You can select the value "by eye" based on general recommendations, for example, regardless of the type of roof (pitched or flat), for insulation with mineral wool or polystyrene foam, a layer thickness of 150-200 mm is required.

It is best to perform a full-fledged thermal calculation, which takes into account modern requirements comfort and allows you to find the perfect balance of cost and quality. For a specialist, the implementation of such a calculation is not difficult. A person far from construction can use examples of calculations or the Teremok program, which is freely available and is quite simple and understandable.

Competent calculations at the design stage are aimed at saving the budget and ensuring the reliability of thermal protection.

Their implementation will not take a lot of time, but will avoid overspending during construction and additional repair costs during operation.

Flat roof insulation process

Depending on the type of roof, the insulation technology will be different. For flat roofs, the following order of layers is usually observed:

• load-bearing structure (most often reinforced concrete pavement);
• vapor barrier layer;
• thermal insulation material;
• cement-sand screed (reinforced for non-durable materials);
• waterproofing carpet, which acts as a topcoat.

If absolutely necessary, you can work from the inside of the room, but this method has several disadvantages:

• reducing the height of the room;
• transfer of the dew point inside the structure;
• inconvenience of work.

Thermal protection of a pitched roof

Before you properly insulate the roof of the house, you need to understand the order of the work. In the vast majority of cases, pitched roofs are insulated between the rafters. Warming the roof from the inside with your own hands is quite a feasible task. It is important to follow the correct order of laying materials from the bottom up:

• interior decoration;
• bottom crate;
• vapor barrier;
• rafters with insulation between them;
• waterproofing;
• wind protection;
• crate;
• roofing material.

If the thickness of the insulation is greater than the height of the rafter legs, counter rails are installed. It is better to use modern diffusion membranes as wind protection and waterproofing.

Competent insulation, regardless of the type of roof, requires a careful approach. To avoid problems during operation, it is necessary to choose the right thickness of the insulation, choose a reliable manufacturer and follow the installation technology. The fulfillment of these conditions will allow the roof to serve for a long time and contribute to the preservation of the normal temperature and humidity conditions in the building.

We insulate the roof correctly: how to avoid mistakes

Roof insulation will create heat in the house. How and what is better to insulate the roof of a private house, we will describe in detail in this article.

How to properly insulate the roof of a house: key points, methods

One of the main conditions affecting comfort in a house or cottage is a warm, reliable and durable roof. It should retain heat well, protect from moisture, protect from wind. When solving such a problem as insulating a roof, one should not save on the materials used. The roof is exposed to harsh conditions, experiencing large temperature fluctuations, the influence of precipitation, significant physical exertion under the influence of wind.

The main points of roof insulation

Roof insulation is one of the important stages of building insulation as a whole. It is the final structure of the building that performs the main function of protecting interior spaces from adverse external influences. High-quality thermal insulation of the roof will provide tangible savings in money during the further operation of the dwelling, reducing heating costs. After all, about 20-30% of heat loss occurs through the roof.

When deciding how to properly insulate the roof of a house, first of all, you should decide on the function of the attic space. If the attic is not planned to be made into a living room, then it is not necessary to insulate the roof from the inside. In this situation, it should be well insulated only attic floor to protect the premises of the uppermost floor from the effects of cold and heat loss. In a situation where a residential attic will be arranged in the attic, roof insulation from the inside is a must.

The method of performing work also depends on the design of the roof and the stage at which insulation is performed. The design can be pitched or flat, each of them has its own characteristics when performing work. When choosing a method, one should take into account the current stage of construction, since it is preferable to insulate the roof of the house at the design stage. The technology for performing work is the same for both a wooden building and a brick one.

It should be noted that before you insulate the roof of a wooden house, you need to carefully inspect all the details of the roof, rafters for dampness, signs of decay and various damage. Wooden structures must be treated with an antiseptic, badly damaged areas must be replaced. Electrical wiring elements located under the roof also require careful checking.

Materials for warming the roof of the house

The modern market offers a huge selection of materials for insulation, the most common include fiberglass and polystyrene boards, foam concrete, foamed glass, mineral wool boards. Each type of insulation is characterized different thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, strength and other properties. Mineral wool boards have been widely used, which compare favorably with other heaters in terms of their quality characteristics. Their use is acceptable for most types of roofs.

Mineral wool boards are positioned as a fire-resistant material with low thermal conductivity, good waterproofing and noise-absorbing properties. They practically do not deform during operation.

How to insulate a flat roof

To insulate a flat roof, two methods are used:

• The principle of a rolling ceiling - the insulation is laid on top;
• The principle of a false ceiling - insulation is knocked out from the inner surface of the ceiling.

Performing insulation work from the outside is a simpler and more convenient option. Several key points should be taken into account, among which it is necessary to highlight the ability load-bearing structure support the weight of the roofing material and insulation. It is possible that insulation according to the principle of a rolling ceiling will be enough to achieve comfortable living conditions in the house. Priority work on this method is more appropriate under the circumstances. The operation of the premises in the cold season will allow us to conclude whether it is worth doing insulation from the inside, based on the principle of a false ceiling.

For insulation outside the roof, which has a flat shape, it is better to use basalt mineral wool. Choice quality materials is especially important at this stage, since it is impossible to properly insulate the roof without this component.

Phased insulation of a flat roof occurs in the following sequence:

• With the help of a vapor barrier film, a layer is laid that serves as a vapor barrier;
• A layer of thermal insulation made of mineral wool boards is arranged on top of the film;
• Waterproofing is laid in the form of a rolled coating of roofing material, synthetic materials;
• Laying bulk material - insulation.

Important! If the work is carried out during the period of precipitation, then it should be noted that the waterproofing coating must be immediately laid on the insulation, not allowing the latter to become covered with water, snow, ice. For large areas, measures must be taken to prevent precipitation from falling onto the roof surface.

Before starting work on the insulation of the roof, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface of dust and debris. If there are large irregularities, it may need to be leveled. Thermal insulation boards are glued with a special cold mastic or glue. To achieve uniformity of the coating, it is necessary to lay mineral wool with half-overlapping of the seams. Laying an additional layer of slabs is allowed to improve thermal insulation, while the slabs are arranged "in a run", and the joints are glued with adhesive tape. The use of this technology avoids the appearance of "cold bridges".

Recently, the fire method of laying waterproofing has become widespread. A cement-sand screed with a thickness of more than three centimeters is being laid on mineral wool slabs. After the concrete becomes strong, the working surface is cleaned of dirt and excess sagging. The waterproofing carpet is glued under short-term exposure to fire, without changing its protective properties. The laying of the material is carried out with an overlap of ten centimeters, which ensures the strength and tightness of the coating.

How to insulate a pitched structure

The pitched roof of houses or cottages often serves as the basis for creating an attic, allowing you to get additional square meters living area. More stringent requirements are imposed on the insulation of the attic from the inside.

The design of the insulated roof is called the “roofing pie” due to the fact that it consists of several layers: a ventilation circuit under the coating, a waterproofing layer, another ventilation circuit (not always arranged), a heat-insulating layer and a vapor barrier.

Waterproofing helps protect your home from moisture. When water gets under the roof, the insulation begins to lose its properties, wood structures begin to rot. In addition, the air under an insulated roof and outside can differ significantly, the temperature difference causes condensation of moisture in the air on cold structures. Condensation can also occur inside the insulation, but the device of the ventilation circuits allows you to avoid this. Under the influence of supply air, water vapor is removed from under the roof without condensation. The waterproofing layer covers the construction logs and is attached to them with a stapler.

The presence of a ventilation circuit on the roof is prerequisite its functioning. The intake of fresh air must be arranged through a gap located on the overhang of the eaves, the exhaust is carried out through a ventilation device on the slope or ridge of the roof. It should be noted that all components of the structure must be ventilated. The ventilation device does not cause any particular problems for conventional gable roofs. For roofs with intricate geometry, this task is faced with certain difficulties, since various obstacles prevent the free movement of air: ventilation shafts, a chimney, windows and other structural elements.

The next layer is thermal insulation. The main characteristics of the material that affect the quality of insulation work are thermal conductivity and rigidity. The material must keep its shape, not deform under the influence of environmental conditions.

A vapor barrier layer attached to the rafters is laid on the thermal insulation layer. As a material for its device, a building membrane film is usually used.

The final stage in the insulation of the roof is the finishing of the "roofing cake" from the inside. The finished surface should be sheathed with drywall or chipboard for further wallpapering or other finishing work.

Roof insulation is an important component construction process to achieve comfortable living conditions. Competent performance of work will increase the period of flawless operation of the entire roof structure eliminating unnecessary repairs.

How to properly insulate the roof of a house

Roof insulation technology. Tips and tricks on how to properly insulate flat and pitched roofs.

How to insulate the roof of a house?

• Pitched roof features
• Step-by-step instruction
• Flat roof and the nuances of working with it

Each owner is concerned about the issue of economical consumption of resources for heating a private house. You can partially solve the problem by performing the roof insulation procedure. Thus, it is possible to reduce heat loss by up to 15%. The complexity and result of the work largely depends on how to insulate the roof and what its design is.

If the attic space is not used, then ceiling insulation is a sufficient measure to insulate the room.

If the attic is not planned to be used, you can limit yourself to insulating the ceiling of the house. The roof itself is insulated if the room under it will be used.

Pitched roof features

The scheme of insulation of a pitched roof.

Before insulating the roof, it is important to find out exactly how this task is performed in accordance with the type of roof. The pitched roof is insulated from the inside. In an old house, be sure to check the crate for the presence of rotten or damp boards. Damaged boards must be replaced with fresh ones, after which all wooden frame elements should be treated with an antiseptic and fire-fighting impregnation.

To make an insulated roof follows from several layers. The presence of the following materials is mandatory: waterproofing, insulation layer and vapor barrier. On request or need, interior decoration is carried out. Between the roof and the insulation, an air “cushion” should be organized, and there should also be a space between the waterproofing and the insulation. This is necessary for the free removal of the resulting moisture. In case it is planned decorative trim from lining or chipboard, it is necessary to provide an air gap in front of these layers.

Ensuring air circulation when insulating a pitched roof.

Before insulating the roof, two holes should be arranged between all layers to ensure free air circulation.

How to insulate the roof? To carry out work that is quite realistic to do on your own, you need the following materials:

1. Directly insulating material. Applicable mineral wool or glass wool. The second is available in slabs or in the form of a roll, however, in order to make an insulated roof, it is optimal to use slabs that do not deform. In addition, you can use foam.
2. Roofing material can be taken as a waterproofing material. A film that protects the layers from water, but allows evaporation of the moisture formed inside, is also suitable for this task.
3. For vapor barrier, you can choose one of the materials: roofing material, plastic film, foil, glassine. The recommended option is a special membrane that protects the insulation layer from water and steam, but allows the removal of the resulting condensate.

After choosing the material for each of the layers and preparing the roof, work can begin.

Step-by-step instruction

Between the boards of the frame, blocks of heat-insulating material cut to the width are laid.

1. It is necessary to measure the distance between the rafters, as well as the thickness of the boards. Next - cut the plates of insulating material. At the same time, their width should be 1 cm more than the step between the rafters.
2. If there is no insulation layer between the roof and the frame, it must be laid so that it envelops the frame beams. The material is fixed with a stapler. Having laid it around the entire perimeter, you should bring the lower edges under the bevel to organize the flow of water. Further, the thermal insulation is laid tightly to the previous layer, without forming voids.
3. If there is already insulation under the roof, space should be provided between it and the insulation layer. For this purpose, nails are driven in between the rafters (after 3-5 cm from the waterproofing). Then a thread is fixed on them, after which the nails are driven in until they stop.
4. Fixation of the insulating material can be carried out with a cord. In this case, nails must be hammered along the edges of the frame.
5. The next step is the installation of insulation. Mineral wool is placed between the boards of the frame, while you need to lightly press it, in the future it will take the desired shape. The foam is located in the cells between the elements of the frame. If necessary, two layers can be made. When laying slabs, do not match the joints of adjacent layers. It happens that the thickness of the frame boards is not designed for a double layer of insulation. Additional bars can save the situation.
6. Further, as after the previous layer, a thread or cord is pulled over the nails driven into the edges of the rafters. In addition to this method, fastening in the form of a crate of slats is used. They are nailed to the rafters with a distance of 30-40 cm.
7. The next task is to fix the vapor barrier. The canvas is overlapped by 10 cm. The joints of the layers must be sealed with adhesive tape or adhesive tape, and the insulation itself must be fixed with a stapler. It is important to qualitatively fix the vapor barrier at the intersection of the roof and the pipe. The service life of the insulation layer depends on how well this area is insulated.
8. In conclusion, you need to do the interior decoration of the roof in case you plan to organize an attic. Suitable chipboard, drywall or lining. It is important to maintain an air gap between the insulation and the finishing material. This can be done using not a stapler, but pressed strips for fastening.

Flat roof and the nuances of working with it

This design involves insulation both from the inside and outside. Before insulating the roof inside, it is necessary to perform external insulation and check whether it is sufficient.

The outer layer is made of mineral wool.

Such a material has properties that are indispensable for insulation - it does not burn, it passes steam well, has low thermal conductivity and lasts a long time.

The scheme of thermal insulation of a flat roof.

An alternative material is styrofoam, but it is not good enough in fire resistance.

For external insulation, the following sequence of layers is assumed: vapor barrier, insulation material, waterproofing and bulk layer. Any rolled material can be used as a waterproofing, for example, roofing material, and the bulk layer is made with expanded clay or a mixture of sand and cement.

An important criterion when choosing a material for external insulation is the strength of the supporting structure. You should make sure that the frame and floors are able to withstand the weight of both roofing materials and insulation. In this case, it is better to use a material that is not heavy in weight - polystyrene foam or mineral wool.

The execution of work involves the following sequence of actions:

1. Cleaning and leveling the roof surface.
2. Laying a layer of vapor barrier.
3. Insulation boards are installed. Fastening is done with glue or mastic, and the seams and joints must be sealed.
4. Finally, waterproofing is installed. At the same time, it is also worth taking care of sealing the seams.

In the case when the external insulation of a flat roof is not enough, the roof should be insulated from the inside. To do this, wooden planks are screwed to the ceiling in increments of 40 cm. A foam polystyrene plate is glued to these planks using mastic or glue. Then the next one is screwed to the bar, on which the next plate is glued. Upon completion of the overlap of the entire ceiling, a plastic film is attached. You can perform further surface finishing.

When performing roofing work, it is important to observe safety precautions. With the right approach and following the technology, all work can be done independently.

How to properly insulate the roof of a house: analysis of the entire technology of work from A to Z

How to insulate the roof of a house one day and forget about it for at least 30 years? To no repairs, leaks or other problems? It's real! It is only necessary to design a roofing cake correctly, choose an eco-friendly insulation and do not forget about vapor barrier. And what and how to do, we have disclosed in detail in our step by step master classes– learn and apply, everything is simple!

So, the insulation of the roof of the house in detail!

Stage I. Design

The main factor affecting the performance of the roofing cake and its durability is the humidity regime. Ideally, of course, if there is no moisture in the roofing cake at all - in any form. But in reality, it is always there, especially when it comes to a residential building where they breathe, cook and iron.

And how protected the insulation will be in such an environment depends on how competently the roofing pie was designed and how technologically the roof of the residential building was insulated, because there are no such problems with water vapor during the construction of industrial buildings or outbuildings. Just think carefully about what kind of waterproofing you need, what kind of insulation is suitable and how to close it from moisture.

Stage II. Waterproofing

The first step is to purchase high-quality waterproofing for the roof. So, in the application of conventional waterproofing films and in the laying of a diffuse membrane, the principle is far from being the same. The steam released from the insulation settles in the form of condensate and is brought out with the help of ventilation air for both insulators, only with the following difference:

• If a conventional film serves as a waterproofing, steam accumulates in the form of condensation right on it! Those. in the space between the insulation and the film.
• But when using a super-diffuse membrane, steam condenses in the form of small drops directly on the membrane, but not from the side of the insulation, but from the side of the roofing.

And now, what do you think is better for roofing insulation - so that the drops hang directly above it, or are outside the dense waterproofing? Do not forget also that the air from forced ventilation is taken simply from the street, and it is humid (for example, during rain).

Especially all this concerns fashionable metal roofs. The fact is that metal is a cold material, and condensate forms especially willingly for us. And, if you do not carefully consider the ventilation system for the evaporation of these drops, insulation from the first year of life will cease to fulfill its main functions. In general, the principle is quite simple: a "breathing" waterproofing membrane removes excess moisture from the insulation to its surface and successfully gets rid of it along with the condensate formed under the roof. Here is an example of its installation:

But what absolutely cannot be used as a waterproofing of a roofing cake of a residential building is glassine, roofing material, simple polyethylene, dense wind protection and advertising banners. And it is best to use modern membranes as waterproofing, which have additional vapor permeability. Such a film additionally removes the accumulated moisture in the insulation up, thereby maintaining its dry state.

So, the first step to a durable and problem-free roof is a high-quality "smart" vapor barrier, breathable waterproofing that can remove excess vapor from the insulation, well-thought-out ventilation. As well as additional systems such as a flow guide ( special device by Isover) and a roofing system like Paroc Air.

Stage III. Warming

So, at this stage, we select the appropriate insulation for the roof of your house.

Mineral wool: a classic of the genre

Here are the main advantages of insulating mineral wool boards:

• Good soundproofing.
• Fire resistance.
• Relatively light weight.
• No deformation even under heavy loads.
• Durability: service life - not less than 25 years.

Their installation is also not difficult:

It is especially convenient to insulate the attic floor with mineral wool:

If you purchased too thin insulation, then lay it in several layers, always with a joint offset of 20 cm each. It is clear that the more solid flooring we lay insulation, the less possible cold bridges we will have later.

Basalt wool: high environmental friendliness

Basalt insulation (a separate type of mineral wool) for the roof is produced with a thickness of 50-150 cm. Due to their porous structure, they hold heat well, they are difficult to get wet, and even when wet, moisture easily leaves without any damage.

Is it true, basalt slabs They are heavy and not easy to work with.

Styrofoam: with extreme caution!

So, polystyrene foam, or polystyrene foam, is polyethylene foam, which is produced in the form of sheets up to 20 cm thick and can be of different density.

Not a single specialist will advise to insulate the roof of a residential building, especially a wooden one, with foam plastic. Indeed, in such a house, if the thermal insulation was done incorrectly, styrene constantly negatively affects Airways human, blood, causes headache and other disorders nervous system. For example, in production shops, where block foam is packed, many workers complain of a constant dry cough and frequent sore throats. In addition, foam plastic and extruded polystyrene foam at a temperature of 80 ° C begin to melt and at the same time become toxic.

But at the same time, extruded polystyrene foam is the only type of thermal insulation that is officially recommended in the design of an inverted roof. All thanks to its resistance to moisture and valuable performance properties.

A good solution in terms of insulation can be the so-called sandwich panel, when mineral wool is placed between two steel sheets. Steam can no longer enter such a structure, and therefore there is no condensation and such a moisture-sensitive insulation retains its properties for a long time.

Backfill insulation: expanded clay, sawdust and foam ball

Infill insulation is popular to this day, although well-thought-out marketing of mineral wool boards is gradually replacing them. The main advantage of bulk insulation is that it can be mixed with almost any material, and even embedded directly into the structure. The most popular types of bulk insulation:

For a residential building, for example, expanded clay is one of the best options:

Vermiculite insulates the attic floor. This natural stone, which is mined to quarries. In terms of its properties, it is close to expanded clay, and is also good because it absorbs odors. For the attic - a significant plus, you see! A foam ball is individually frozen pores of expanded polystyrene. Usually it is mixed with special solutions.

But how to properly insulate the inside of the roof of the house with ordinary sawdust? They often insulate the floor of a non-residential attic by mixing shavings with cement. Here is the technology:

• Step 1. We interfere with the solution: 10 buckets of sawdust per 1 bucket of cement. You do not need to add much water, the main thing is that the mixture is only slightly moist. So, for dry sawdust, take ½ bucket of water, for rotten - just one bucket. First, pour 10 buckets of sawdust into the prepared container, then gradually water them with water from a watering can and mix all the time. Then we pour a bucket of cement into the sawdust and again knead everything thoroughly. In appearance, all this will look like shavings smeared in cement, but if you squeeze a little solution into a fist, it should not disintegrate, nor should it release water.
• Step 2. Now we lift this mixture into the attic and lay it out with a simple tamping with our feet. For insulation, 20 cm of such a layer will be enough.
• Step 3. When the mixture dries, the screed will be a solid layer that will not bend underfoot - just crunch a little.

And if you mix them with dry clay and fall asleep between the lags of the attic floor, then there will no longer be a need for a vapor barrier for the roof.

Clay is also suitable as a binder for sawdust:

Ecowool: excellent vapor permeability

The heat capacity of ecowool can be compared with mineral wool, and other indicators are also pleasing:

1. Fire class A. This material, due to special processing, is classified as difficult to ignite. Even in a fire, it does not support combustion and does not adversely affect the roof structure. As a result, with a strong flame, ecowool turns out just charcoal, which in turn does not allow the fire to spread and high temperature further.
2. The ability to "breathe", maintaining the exchange of air with the environment and withstanding any level of humidity. That is why special vapor barrier membranes are not needed for ecowool.
3. Preservation of properties even at high humidity - up to 23.5%, while other heaters in such conditions lose their thermal insulation by almost half.
4. biological stability. Ecowool is not affected by fungi or insects due to special processing with borax.
5. soundproof qualities. Ecowool is a class 2 sound-absorbing material.

This is how the thermal insulation of an ecowool roof usually looks like:

PPU: durability and practicality

The main value of polyurethane foam is durability: 1% moisture in polyurethane foam will change the thermal conductivity of this material by less than 10%. And this is a little. Another feature of the PPU structure is that the cells have a cross-linked molecular wall structure that does not allow molecules larger than a water molecule to pass inside. For comparison: an oxygen molecule is twice as large.

But let's make a couple of points. According to the correct technology, PPU is not poured into the attic, but sprayed. Here the difference is as essential as putting out a fire or putting out a burning object. In addition, the best PPU is afraid of direct sunlight: for the experiment, you can leave a piece under the sun, covering it only with a sheet of metal, and after a few days you will find only a loose substance.

Just decide first whether you need internal thermal insulation, or external:

And the process itself is quite simple. First, the roof is covered from the inside with a 30-cm layer of low-density polyurethane foam coating, only 60-80 kg / m3, and on top - more dense, with a thickness of 5 to 15 mm. The average thickness of both layers is about 8 cm for the snowy Russian regions.

And now about safety: consider roof ventilation so that PPU particles do not enter the living space. After all, depending on many factors (temperature, UV rays, humidity), the walls of such cells are gradually expanded. Usually all this happens within 15-20 years, while according to world standards, the warranty period of thermal insulation should not be less than 25 years. The sprayed polyurethane foam is formed into cells with a temperature of 80-120C, and when cooled to normal room temperature, the cells with gas are partially discharged (and freon and a little CO2 are used as gas, the thermal conductivity of which is worse than that of air). And over the years, air diffusion in PPU continues.

Stage IV. vapor barrier

And finally, in no case do not skimp on the vapor barrier of the roofing cake in the house.

Separately, we note that the pressure of water vapor directly depends on the air temperature. So the warmer, the higher the pressure. Have you ever noticed blistering bubbles on someone's bituminous roofing? This is just the result of excess pressure, which is under the waterproofing. The same applies to heaters in a roofing cake: the more places there are accidental ingress of moisture, the worse the vapor barrier used and the higher the air temperature, the worse it is for the heater.

And fix the vapor barrier correctly:

• Step 1. Lay a vapor barrier between the rafters, at least 0.2 mm thick.
• Step 2. Fasten the vapor barrier to the rafters with a construction gun with staples, and seal the joints that we overlap with adhesive tape.
• Step 3. With the same tape, we additionally close the attachment points with brackets. Necessarily!

Have you done everything as we suggested? Now you can sleep peacefully!

How to properly insulate the roof of a house: an overview of roof insulation technology

Everything about proper insulation roofs of a residential building: selection of insulation, hydro and vapor barrier, helpful tips. Video and photo instructions with detailed analysis all works

Consider how to insulate the roof of a wooden house in the case of a popular pitched roof type.

Load

During operation, the following negative factors affect the roof:

• sudden changes in temperature;
• precipitation;
• physical activity from the wind.

It is correct to carry out thermal insulation after shrinkage of the log house - usually this period takes about six months, as a result of which construction defects may appear: cracks, distortions, which must be eliminated.

Proper insulation of the roof of a wooden house is based on the basic principle - you can’t save money, because only a construction made of quality materials can cope well with the same wind.

Requirements

Basic requirements for heat-saving materials:

• ease of installation;
• good thermal insulation properties;
• the possibility of insulating various roofing systems;
• long service life;
• fire resistance;
• acceptable price.

These parameters are best suited for specially designed materials such as glass wool and mineral wool. In retail and wholesale networks, they can be purchased in rolls, in mats, which, if necessary, can be easily adjusted correctly to the size of the gap between the rafters.

The material can be cut, cut. It is suitable for a long period of use: it does not absorb moisture, has a sufficient level of sound insulation, and - unlike foam plastic - withstands heat well in summer.

Principle of operation

The principle of insulation is based on the use of attic spaces: if the owner does not make an attic, then it is not necessary to fully insulate the entire system - it is enough to properly insulate the floors (then air from the lower floors will not penetrate upwards, and cold will not leak from the attic). In the case of residential attic rooms insulating materials are indispensable. The total number of certain products is directly related to the chosen scheme.

Preparation

First, it is necessary to study the current state of the system by inspecting all the constituent structures, paying attention to the truss elements. It is imperative to eliminate all damage, fungus, rot, damp parts, and if significant damage is found, the rafters generally need to be replaced or repaired.

Requires complex processing of all wooden surface antiseptic substances. If there are any communications in the area of ​​​​the roof, then you need to check them too: many people forget to do this, mainly working with rafters, as a result of which water appears in the insulation system later.

Complex insulation

This method of isolation for the finished building is considered in the context of the absence of the need to dismantle the coating. The creation of an insulation system is very similar to the arrangement of a ventilation façade. This simple option does not require large financial expenses.

So, special attention should be paid to the layers of waterproofing and vapor barrier. The first layer is waterproofing. Sometimes it is present, since it was originally part of the roof structure. If it is not there, then you need to lay a hydro-barrier type film between the rafters and the roof: it perfectly retains moisture and allows steam to pass through. The film completely covers the rafter components, strengthening it with a construction stapler.

After waterproofing, lay directly insulation material. As a material, you should pay attention to mineral wool, which can be in the form of rolls and slabs with a minimum thickness of 10 cm. It is important that the layer does not exceed the thickness of the rafters.

Laying material between the rafters should be tight, without gaps. An additional fastening to the insulation will be given by a stretched cord made of nylon or wooden slats, which are nailed perpendicular to the rafters.

vapor barrier

After the insulation comes vapor insulation: it is worth using a vapor barrier film as a material. It is laid on top of the heat-shielding layer, and is also strengthened along the rafters. If an attic is being built from the attic, then it will be right to take care of the decorative finish of the insulated roof.

The finishing layer is sewn on top: it can be particle boards, plasterboard. Wallpaper can be glued on top. You can finish with plasterboard or chipboard. When equipping a mansard-type roof, thermal insulation must be combined with a special aluminum-based reflective film. The side of the film coated with a special reflective compound is attached from the outside.

The main purpose of the film is to reflect ultraviolet rays in the summer months - this will reduce the heating of the air in the attic. A waterproofing film to protect the insulation from fumes present in the heated air, on the contrary, is placed on the inside.

Materials for the outer part

The external insulation of the roof of a wooden house no longer requires cotton wool - it is too soft - but a more durable material. Insulating foam is suitable in this capacity: it has very good heat-saving characteristics, it is durable and fireproof.

Installation steps

The technology does not require much effort and consists of a sequence of the following steps:

• creation of a film barrier with vapor-tight properties;
• arrangement of an insulating layer due to foam boards;
• roofing material or synthetic analogue flooring in protection against water (reinforced with mastic resin glue);
• backfilling of materials.

This is a classic version that is used everywhere.

Polyurethane coating

However, it is not the only one: modern owners also use polyurethane foam as a material, which is much more efficient than polystyrene foam.

You should not carry out warming with your own hands: it is better to contact specialists who use the material in cylinders. The procedure is carried out as follows:

• the roof is being prepared - an inspection, a survey of the owners of the house and the development of a work plan;
• applied polyurethane foam.

The final layer receives all the qualities necessary for full-fledged insulation and lasts about 25-30 years. This technology saves a lot of time.

final stage

Insulation of the roof of a wooden house is completed by insulating the floor and ceiling of the attic, which will not allow warm air rushing upwards to collide with cold air streams descending from an uninsulated ceiling. The heat-insulating layer is arranged with waterproofing elements.

First, all the gaps between the beams, beams are clogged with tow, felt, or foam insulation is used. Further, the space between the beams is filled with mineral wool, expanded clay, slag are laid on top. If the attic is used as a living space, then it is correct to insulate the wooden floor, leaving a small gap between the boards and the insulation, which also helps to reduce the formation of condensate.

The attic of a residential building is a spacious room that should not stand idle in vain. Many owners equip a full-fledged living room, office, workshop, etc. there.

Most often in private housing construction, traditional gable roofs , as the most profitable option in our latitudes. They are effective both in summer rains and in winter snowfalls, have been tested for centuries and are quite reliable.

Eat shed structures roofs, when the roof is a plane with a slope in one direction. Most often, the slope is oriented to the north for more efficient illumination of the house by the sun. About warming shed roofs you can read .

Quite common hip (four-slope) roof construction, an option when there are no gables, and the slopes are directed in all directions. In addition, apply various variations structures, the basis for which are the above single and gable and hip roofs.

At the same time, the method of laying the roof and erecting the rafters remains unchanged and the difference is only schematic.. Therefore, the process of roof insulation depends only on its design and consists of the same actions.

Types of heaters

The most common method is to install a layer of insulation between the rafters and sheathing with sheet materials. Such a “pie” is the most beneficial from any standpoint, since the use of bulk insulation such as expanded clay is problematic in this case. Expanded clay can be used for flat surfaces with a slight slope, which is very rare.

Note!

The most commonly used materials are mineral wool (in slabs), And (spraying). They properly perform their functions, inexpensive and light weight. In addition, mineral wool and expanded polystyrene have sufficient rigidity for fastening from the inside, which is valuable when insulating an already finished roof.

These materials are only part of the “pie”, the presence is mandatory, which do not allow moisture (condensate) to be absorbed and allow the “pie” to breathe, i.e. ventilate. Without these features, the insulation may begin to mold., accumulate water and eventually ruin the rafters, which is fraught with undesirable consequences.

Since the insulation layer is sheathed from the inside with plywood, chipboard, drywall or other sheet materials, it will be possible to notice destructive processes only when they cause serious damage. Therefore, the technology of assembling the "pie" should not be neglected.

Do-it-yourself roof insulation in a private house

Consider the process of insulating the roof of a house with your own hands in general terms. Detailed information is provided at the link.

Roof insulation with mineral wool

Rules for laying thermal insulation

Schematic representation of the roof in section

We insulate the roof with mineral wool

The scheme of work is described above, but some nuances should be considered in more detail. Mineral wool is perfect for insulating the roof with your own hands. The choice of mineral wool is dictated by her availability and low price with excellent thermal insulation properties. Of all the varieties, preference is given to mineral wool " Ecobasalt“as the most convenient and efficient to use.

If the thickness of the slabs does not correspond to the height of the rafters, then laying is carried out in several layers in such a way that the joint of one layer overlaps with the integral part of the other for greater density and tightness. Rock wool sheet inserted by surprise and fixed with string. You can read more about it at the link.

Mineral wool as a heater is notable for the fact that it does not burn. Unlike other types of insulation, it is made from metallurgy waste or from rocks (basalt). Therefore, when using it, the residents of the house are insured against fire and the release of corrosive gases.

Roof insulation with polystyrene foam

The advantages (foam) are excellent thermal insulation ability, lightness, rigidity, excellent soundproofing properties, environmental friendliness and resistance to moisture. In addition, it is easy to use, easy to cut and process.

At the same time, there are also disadvantages. First of all - the price. Styrofoam is much more expensive than mineral wool. In addition, foam Difficulty filling irregular voids, you have to use additional mounting foam. But this does not guarantee against the appearance of cold bridges and, as a result, the formation of condensate.

Therefore, when insulating with polystyrene foam, it is necessary to carefully fit the pieces to the installation sites and fill the voids with foam.

Thermal insulation with polyurethane foam

A feature of this material is the way it is applied. Most often PPU used in liquid form, sprayed with a spray gun or pouring a pre-foamed substance onto the surface. In the first case, foam is formed, which, while solidifying, fills all the voids in the space between the rafters, thereby providing complete insulation of the roof and the most effective insulation. When pouring, the foam is fed into a pre-localized space through a technological opening. Foam fills the void and crystallizes.

Advantages:

• Easy. Almost the entire volume is air, the solid component accounts for only 2%.
• Waterproof.
• Harmless does not emit toxic substances.
• Doesn't get moldy, insects, rodents do not start in it.
• Provides reliable sound insulation.

As you can see, this material does not require water protection costs. The total cost of PPU insulation compared to other options is less than half. In addition, the material is requires preparation, is applied immediately and fills all the cracks, cracks, etc. Installation time is significantly reduced, the effect is maximum.

The service life of the material is very long, the characteristics do not change over time.

TO shortcomings method can only be attributed price, which is higher than that of polystyrene or mineral wool. But saving on hydro and steam protection, on preparatory operations makes the final cost of work much lower than when using other materials.

Useful video

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the practical side self-insulation roofs:

Conclusion

There are enough options for roof insulation to solve the problem of any convenient way. The costs in this case are fully justified, since their consequence is savings on heating and the possibility of using a full-fledged living space. The final choice is up to the landlord.

In contact with

Preservation of heat in the house is the most important factor in comfort and coziness, especially in the cold season. In addition to insulating the walls from the outside, the installation of thermal insulation for the roof also plays a huge role. How to insulate the roof of the house so as to extract maximum benefit from the work done? We deal with these questions on the pages of our site.

The choice of insulation

The modern market provides a wide range of heaters. Among them are mineral wool, polystyrene foam, expanded clay and others.

Most often, basalt mineral wool is used as a heater, because it has high thermal insulation properties, is easy to install, has affordable price. Fire safety is another advantage of mineral wool, which distinguishes it from the background of polystyrene.

Among the disadvantages of mineral wool, one can note the ability to absorb moisture. Therefore, without high-quality vapor barrier and waterproofing, over time, mineral wool may lose its high thermal insulation properties.

Styrofoam is also used for insulation. It has the notable advantage of being water resistant, however, due to the high flammability of this material, it is not recommended for pitched roofs with timber beams.

Other heaters, such as expanded clay or sawdust, are practically not used today due to the large weight that creates a load on the roof, installation difficulties, and low thermal insulation properties.

roof insulation technology

To understand how to insulate a roof, you need to know the technology of installing thermal insulation. And although this process differs depending on whether the roof is flat or pitched, nevertheless, roof insulation comes down to the following:

1. Vapor barrier.
2. Insulation.
3. Waterproofing.

When thinking about how to insulate the roof with your own hands, it is important to strictly follow the procedure, because this technology takes into account all the thermophysical processes that occur in the under-roof space.

vapor barrier

Warm moist air tends to rise and leave the building through the roof. And since mineral wool, widely used as a heater, tends to absorb moisture, the first barrier to warm air should be a vapor barrier layer. It should be made airtight, since even the smallest gaps can let in warm air and reduce the quality of the heat-insulating "pie".

Vapor barrier sheets should be laid with an overlap of 10 centimeters. All joints must be glued with special construction tape. If the material was damaged during the installation process, it should be replaced or the torn places should be sealed with adhesive tape. This is necessary in order to ensure the tightness of the vapor barrier layer.

If the pitched roof of a house with wooden beams is being insulated, the vapor barrier must be attached below the rafters, because constant moisture wooden structure can lead to its decay and destruction.

One of the materials for vapor barrier is polypropylene film. It is very strong, so the risk of damage to it during installation is very small. Polyethylene foam can also be used for a pitched roof, and liquid rubber for a flat concrete roof.

Waterproofing

After installing the insulation, a waterproofing layer should be laid. It will serve as a barrier to moisture entering the room. At the same time, waterproofing must be able to pass moisture in the form of vapors from inside the room. This is necessary so that if the vapor barrier layer is damaged over time and moist air begins to seep into the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthermal insulation, moisture does not remain there and does not spoil the insulation, but goes further through the waterproofing.

Thus, the insulation will be reliably protected on both sides from the negative effects of moisture.

Waterproofing flooring must start from the bottom. Cloths should be attached across the roof slope. Each next canvas must be overlapped by 10 centimeters.

flat roof insulation

The installation of thermal insulation for a flat roof is different from the insulation of a pitched roof. How to insulate a flat roof to ensure maximum heat conservation in the building?

Thermal insulation of a flat roof can be carried out both from the outside and from the inside. However, insulation from the inside is often used only in cases where, after external insulation, it is found that it is not enough.

The process of warming a flat roof from the outside

The insulation of a flat roof differs from the installation of thermal insulation on a pitched roof, because there is no rafter system, between which it would be possible to lay a heater. It is also not possible to create a crate on which waterproofing would be attached.

To start insulating the roof, you need to make sure that the surface is flat. You also need to clean it from debris and dust. Then you can proceed with the installation of the heat-insulating "pie".

Insulation of a flat roof begins with the laying of a vapor barrier layer. It must have high rates of retention of moisture leaving the room, because its penetration into the insulation layer can very quickly reduce its heat-shielding properties. The steam condensed due to the temperature difference spoils the insulation, and can also cause the waterproofing carpet to swell, so the vapor barrier layer must be reliable.

The next step is to install the heater. Most often they are mineral wool or polystyrene foam. If the roof must have a high fire safety, then mineral wool must be used. In other cases, polystyrene foam boards may also be suitable. Since a flat roof can be used, a rigid board insulation is needed. If we talk about mineral wool, its density should be from 125 kg / m 3, the density of the foam - at least 35 kg / m 3. Insulation plates must be laid butt-to-joint, and they must be fastened with telescopic dowels.

A layer of waterproofing is laid on top. They can be rolled roofing material. It is fixed with the help of the same dowels that hold the insulation.

On top of the waterproofing on a flat roof, a bulk layer of expanded clay or a cement-sand mixture should be created.

The process of insulating a flat roof from the inside

If the external thermal insulation is not enough, it is necessary to insulate the flat roof also from the inside. It should be noted that such insulation is not the main one, therefore it has a slightly different technology, for example, it does not require a waterproofing layer. To insulate a flat roof from the inside, wooden planks must be attached to the ceiling at a distance of 40 centimeters from each other. Insulation is attached to such strips. On top of it you need to lay a plastic film and then do it interior decoration ceiling.

The process of insulating a pitched roof from the outside

Most private houses have pitched roofs. It is best to insulate such a roof from the outside even during the construction of the house itself.

You need to start the insulation with the fastening of the vapor barrier layer. It must be attached to the rafters from the inside with galvanized nails or staples. It is important to take care of the tightness of the vapor barrier layer, for this the joints must be glued with adhesive tape. You also need to glue all the places where the vapor barrier adjoins the walls and other roof elements.

Then you need to proceed with the installation of insulation. You can use mineral wool in rolls or slabs. Having picked up the mineral wool slabs for the width of the span between the rafters, you can quickly lay the insulation. Using mineral wool in rolls, you need to pre-cut the material to the required width.

Important! The insulation must be laid without creating gaps and voids, and must also fill the space between the rafters without gaps. Rolled insulation must be fastened so that it does not roll during operation.

If the intended layer of thermal insulation is greater than the height of the rafters, you need to add boards so that after laying the insulation there is a ventilated gap of 5 centimeters. If mineral wool slabs are laid in two layers, then their joints should not coincide.

The next stage of thermal insulation will be the installation of waterproofing. The selected material must protect against the penetration of moisture into the room, but at the same time must have the ability to pass vapor from the inside.

Important! Waterproofing sheets must be attached to the rafters with galvanized nails or staples. They need to be fastened with a sag of 1 centimeter, because under the influence of temperatures waterproofing material may shrink. So the waterproofing will be protected from ruptures in the cold season.

Laying of waterproofing sheets starts from the bottom, each next sheet is overlapped by 10 centimeters.

After the installation of the waterproofing is completed, a counter-lattice and a crate are installed on top, this provides ventilation in the under-roof space. Next comes the installation of the roofing.

The process of insulating a pitched roof from the inside

If during construction the roof was not insulated, and it is not possible to remove the roofing, then pitched roof insulated from the inside. However, if the building was built a long time ago and there is no waterproofing, then you still have to remove the old roofing and install a diffusion membrane.

The order of the stages of insulation from the inside of the building is directly opposite to the installation of thermal insulation from the inside.

If waterproofing is present, then you can start with the installation of insulation from the inside of the building. Mineral wool in slabs is ideal for this. To prevent cotton wool from falling out, the width of the insulation should be a couple of centimeters more than the distance between the rafters.

Having mounted the heat-insulating layer, you should proceed to fixing the vapor barrier. It must be completely airtight, and for this all joints of the canvases, as well as junctions with walls and windows, must be glued with construction tape. Next, you need to attach the bars for mounting the inner cladding.

Having correctly carried out all the work on roof insulation, you can significantly reduce heat loss, as well as, if desired, equip the attic. In order for the effect of thermal insulation to be maximum, it is necessary to carry out all the stages of insulation in order, and also take into account all the nuances. Then the materials used will last for many years and provide comfort in the room, regardless of weather conditions.

Ceiling vapor barrier in houses with a cold attic is considered the most important construction stage. Vapor barrier components do not allow moisture to pass through, prevent condensation on the supporting structures, protect the insulation from the appearance of microorganisms, mold. Installing this system protects building materials from harmful to…

Recently, more and more homeowners are concerned about insulating the roof of their house, explaining this desire with high heat losses. After all, everyone knows that heat rises. In addition, a lot of materials for roof insulation have appeared on sale, and the insulation technology itself is “exaggerated” in advertising from almost every iron. Here, having looked “like a neighbor”, the compassionate owner buys expensive material, mounts it, as it seems to him, correctly, and after a few months the level of heat loss is restored. What happened? We go up to the attic, disassemble the roofing cake, look, and the insulation is wet and moldy, the rafters are wet and rotting. The picture is depressing - I wanted the best, but it turned out, as always. And the secret is that a properly insulated roof should be made in the form of a layered cake, where each element performs its function. In this article, we will tell you how to properly insulate the roof, and explain in which cases it can be insulated at all, and in which it is not worth it.

When to Insulate Your Roof

Before moving on to the technology of roof insulation, let's decide whether it is necessary to insulate the roof specifically in your case. So, if you are not going to use the attic as a residential floor, and it is a cold room under the slope, where all sorts of things that “maybe come in handy” are stored at most, then in this case the roof does not need to be insulated. In the case of a cold attic, the floors are insulated, i.e. floor of the attic, but not the ramp itself. It can even be clarified here that the insulation of the roof of a cold attic will work in a negative direction, and it will cease to perform its functions.

If the room under the roof slope is planned to be used for housing, i.e. as an attic with heating, then it is necessary to insulate the roof. The attic room must be completely isolated from the roof, so that the heat of the heated room does not melt the snow lying on the roof. The melted snow turns into ice and destroys the roofing material. It is also important to remove excess moisture from the under-roof space by arranging high-quality ventilation.

The better to insulate the roof - materials

There are quite a lot of materials for roof insulation. They radically differ from each other both in properties and structure. And taking into account the fact that “every sandpiper praises his swamp”, sometimes it is difficult to make a choice. In one place they say to insulate with polystyrene - cheap and cheerful, in another - with mineral wool, as there are many high-quality samples from different manufacturers, and still others advocate an innovative method of spraying polyurethane foam. Therefore, let's see what are the advantages and disadvantages of a particular material.

Mineral (basalt) wool- the leader in roof insulation at the moment. Its advantages, which are important specifically for roof insulation: it does not burn and does not support combustion, i.e. completely fireproof, the material is elastic, so it perfectly fits into the space between the rafters and keeps its shape in the future (slab positions), leaves no gaps between the rafters and the material. Here you can add a relatively low price, general availability, ease of use and excellent thermal insulation qualities.

The disadvantage of mineral wool is hygroscopicity. Unfortunately, like any wool, mineral wool absorbs moisture or steam, which causes it to get wet. Wet cotton wool loses its thermal insulation properties by almost 60 - 80%. Why is this happening? The fact is that mineral wool accumulates moisture, but does not give it away. As a result, once wet material will have to be thrown away. It is worth noting that this disadvantage can be dealt with, it is enough to carefully protect the cotton wool from moisture, and it will last for many years.

Expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) has recently enjoyed enviable popularity, by the way, absolutely undeservedly. For example, it is categorically not recommended to insulate the roof with them, and there are several reasons for this: polystyrene foam burns and drips with fiery drops, the material crumbles and eventually becomes unusable, when cutting, the edges crumble, as a result, gaps form between the material and the rafters, which have to be sealed. Surviving a fire in a foam-insulated attic is almost impossible.

So, despite the obvious advantages of expanded polystyrene: light weight, low price, moisture resistance, when insulating the attic, it must be put aside. Please note that the very specifics of using foam as a heater suggests that it will be hidden by plaster or screed. In other words, he is good in his place - in wet facade and under the floor screed.

Extruded polystyrene foam- in fact, an improved foam and an excellent material for insulation, where rigidity is important. Unlike foam plastic, it burns, but does not support combustion, keeps its shape and has a structure that does not crumble or collapse during cutting and installation. Also, the advantages of extruded polystyrene foam are moisture resistance, durability, light weight, strength and rigidity, excellent thermal insulation properties (a smaller layer is required than mineral wool).

polyurethane foam they began to use it for roof insulation quite recently, but they have already managed to advertise to smithereens. This material is a gas-filled plastic. It is sprayed using a special installation, and the indisputable advantage of this technology is that there are absolutely no gaps left. In addition, polyurethane foam does not burn, does not absorb moisture, weighs little and keeps its shape. And spraying the material not only into the space between the rafters, but also on inner surface rafters, avoids cold bridges, which are wooden beams. The disadvantage of polyurethane foam is vapor impermeability, the attic room turns out to be a little damp if you do not equip high-quality supply and exhaust ventilation.

Polyurethane foam insulated roof: video example

Ecowool or cellulose wadding has also been used for insulation more recently. It has a number of advantages: it does not burn, is environmentally friendly, "breathes", weighs little and is also blown into all cracks, does not absorb moisture. Neither evaporation of ecowool, nor its small particles can harm human health, unlike basalt wool.

When wondering what is the best way to insulate a roof, you need to understand that each material is good in its place.

mineral wool it is convenient to insulate the roof by laying it between the rafters. This design is convenient and maintainable; if necessary, the roofing pie can be disassembled and the rafters inspected. This is extremely important for the roof.

Styrofoam it is better not to insulate the roof, we have already decided on this.

extruded polystyrene foam it is convenient to insulate flat roofs and slopes with a small angle of inclination by laying the material on top of the rafters from the outside. The material is tough enough to perform well under roofing material. It is possible to lay XPS between the rafters, but it is not very convenient, since there will always be gaps between the rafter beam and the material. Blow out those cracks mounting foam short-sighted, it collapses from frequent changes in temperature cycles, from time to time. Also, to inspect the rafters, the entire layer of foam will have to be cut and removed.

polyurethane foam- the material, of course, is durable, but it is short-sighted to use it for roof insulation. In fact, you are burying the rafters in a layer of polyurethane foam. You will not be able to inspect their condition without removing the material. This is a very significant drawback - the roof becomes unrepairable.

Ecowool can be used in attic floors, characterized by a large area and spaciousness. This is due to the fact that the layer of ecowool for roof insulation is 500 mm, it is this width that the space will have to be taken under the structure into which the ecowool will be blown.

How to properly insulate the roof

After you have decided on the material, it's time to get acquainted with the technology of working with it. The entire structure of the insulated roof will depend on the material chosen, as well as the place of its installation.

There are several options for arranging roof insulation: laying insulation between the rafters, laying insulation outside under the roofing material, installing insulation inside the attic room up to the rafters and blowing the material onto the surface between the rafters. Let's take a closer look at some of them, the most popular, in which more mistakes are made.

Laying insulation between the rafters

As an example, let's consider the option when mineral (basalt) wool is laid between the rafters with a layer of 250 mm. This material requires strict adherence to the installation technology.

Mineral wool insulation cake (from inside to outside):

• Finishing material (drywall);
• ventilation gap;
• Vapor barrier membrane (protects mineral wool from vapors);
• Mineral (basalt) wool;
• Waterproofing membrane (lets steam out, but does not let water in);
• ventilation gap;
• Roofing material.

It is convenient to carry out all work on roof insulation in this way at the stage of building a house, but if the moment is missed, then you will have to remove the roofing material, otherwise it will turn out to be of poor quality.

Stages of work:

• After mounted roof structure roofs, but have not yet started laying roofing material, you need to take care of roof waterproofing. To do this, a waterproofing superdiffusion membrane is spread over the rafters. It is important not to confuse the sides, since one side does not allow water to pass through, and the other does not allow steam to pass in the opposite direction. It is necessary to lay outward with the side that is waterproof. Start work from the bottom, from the cornice overhang, moving up. The canvases are laid with an overlap of at least 10 - 15 cm, and the joints are glued with construction tape. The waterproofing film must not be laid tight, as with the onset of frost it will shrink and may be damaged at the attachment points. Therefore, they spread it with a sag of about 2 cm by 1 m. The film is attached to the rafters with staples of a construction stapler, if there is no such tool, galvanized nails with a wide hat can be used.
• Next stage - formation of a ventilation gap, through which excess vapors escaping from the insulation will be removed. On top of the waterproofing, a crate is stuffed from wooden slats thickness from 2.5 to 5 cm. The thickness depends on the width of the ventilation gap that is required. The slats are fixed with galvanized self-tapping screws, having previously made holes in the slats so as not to injure the waterproofing film with a sharp object once again.
• Mounted on top of the crate roofing material.

• Next stage - laying insulation, therefore, it is necessary to move inside the attic room. First, mineral wool is unpacked and allowed to rest so that it takes its normal shape. Then the canvases and slabs (as convenient) are cut into the required segments. The distance between the rafters is taken as the basis. The width of the mineral wool web should be equal to the distance between the rafters plus 20 - 30 mm to form a tension so that the material becomes "in the thrust". Mineral wool can be cut with ordinary construction knife, but be sure to wear gloves, a respirator and tight clothing so that the microparticles of the material do not get on the skin.

• Then the mineral wool canvases are pushed into the space between the rafters. The edges of the material near the rafters will turn out to be slightly bent, so you need to press on the middle of the canvas, it will spring and the edges will straighten.

• New stage - arrangement of vapor barrier. On top of the mineral wool sheets, a vapor barrier film is spread and fastened, which will not allow wet vapors from the living space to pass into the insulation. Film sheets are also overlapped, glued with adhesive tape and attached to the rafters with staples of a construction stapler.
• Then it executes ventilation gap so that the steam accumulated near the film can be vented. To do this, a crate of 25 mm thick laths is stuffed over the vapor barrier film.
• Mounted on top of the crate finishing material walls and attic ceiling - most often it is drywall.

Insulated roof - photo example.

This completes the roof insulation. All materials are in place: wooden rafters and insulation are reliably protected from moisture that can enter through a leaky roof, inside the insulation is protected from steam that comes from the room, and the whole structure is maintainable. If there is a need to inspect the condition of the rafters, you will have to dismantle the drywall, crate and vapor barrier film, and then mount it again.

If you want to insulate the roof of an old house and you don't want to remove the roofing material, you can secure the waterproofing membrane from inside the attic by wrapping it around the rafters and wrapping it inside the spaces between the rafters. A heater is placed on top. This design is worse than the previous one, since the rafters are unprotected from the influence of the environment.

If you are interested in a question, how to insulate soft roof , then the answer is simple - using the same technology as described above. The only difference is that moisture-resistant plywood is stuffed onto the crate, which forms the gap between the waterproofing membrane and the roofing material. A soft roof is laid and fastened on top of the plywood sheets.

Flat roof insulation

The technology of flat roof insulation stands apart. Here it is not possible to mount insulation between the rafters, and laying it on top of the roof is fraught with the difficulty that the material must be exceptionally strong. Thus, mineral wool and ecowool, as well as polyurethane foam, are swept aside and only extruded polystyrene foam and basalt wool slabs of increased rigidity remain.

Insulated flat roof:

• Vapor barrier on top of the roof (not necessary for XPS);
• Extruded polystyrene boards or basalt wool boards;
• Waterproofing with bituminous mastic and roofing material;
• Cement-sand mixture screed.

Stages of work:

• Flat roofs most often represent either a floor slab, or less often - sheets of corrugated board. A vapor barrier film must be laid on top of the floor slab. If corrugated board is laid on the roof, then vapor barrier material is not needed at this stage.

• Plates of extruded polystyrene foam are laid on top of the film, always spaced apart. Fasten with dowel-nails. It is better if the EPS will be laid in two layers - the first is thicker than 70 - 170 mm, and the second is smaller - 30 - 50 mm. The main thing is that the joints of the plates do not coincide, so all cold bridges in the form of cracks will be blocked.

• Ruberoid and TechnoNIKOL are spread over the EPPS and glued to the slabs, for example, using bituminous mastic. This is the main waterproofing layer of a flat roof, so it must be done very carefully, leaving no gaps and trying not to damage the coating.
• It is laid on top of the waterproofing with roofing material concrete screed. This is mandatory if the roof is passable, and optional if it will not be walked on.

Extruded polystyrene foam slabs have unique strength and rigidity, they will not collapse when walking, but basalt wool slab positions are also good. Only they still have the same drawback - hygroscopicity, which XPS is completely devoid of.

Insulating the roof from the outside is usually decided out of desperation, when the attic room is so small that every centimeter is important. In this case, the insulation can be laid on top of the rafters from the outside, and extruded polystyrene foam is used for this.

Stages of work:

• Sheet material is attached over the rafters - wooden planks, plywood. It will serve as a base for insulation.
• A vapor-tight membrane is laid over the sheet material (not necessary, since XPS is not afraid of moisture).
• Further, XPS sheets are fastened with dowels with a mushroom cap, always in a run.
• A crate for the ventilation gap and a counter-crate for fastening the roofing material are mounted.
• Roofing material is attached.

Sometimes it is advised to fix a waterproofing membrane over the XPS boards, but it is not necessary, since the material is not afraid of moisture.

Roof insulation is a fairly easy task, it is quite possible to do it yourself. But do not forget that each material requires compliance with the technology of its use. Do not ignore the requirements of hydro and vapor barrier of mineral wool, otherwise all your work will go down the drain.

How to insulate the roof: video - instructions