How to insulate the ceiling in the bath

When building a bath, one of the important points is the correct insulation of the ceiling. In contrast to the insulation of the roofs of ordinary buildings in the bath, you should use a special technology for preserving heat, because on the inside the room heats up to +100 ° C and the humidity is elevated, and on the other - dry air and temperatures below 0 ° C. Ceilings have the function of preventing the release of heat, while at the same time they should easily tolerate a significant difference in temperature inside and outside. 

Usually they try to put two insulating layers on the inside of the ceiling and on the outside. An important role is played by the presence of an attic, as well as its degree of thermal insulation. Before insulating the ceiling in the bath with your own hands, you need to choose a suitable insulation material.

There are a large number of different insulating materials that have different mechanical, technical and operational properties. They can be divided into two types: natural and artificially created. Moreover, natural can be made both industrially and independently.

Natural insulation

Natural insulation использовались в течение длительного времени и их используют по настоящий день. Рассмотрим некоторые из них.

A mixture of clay, sawdust and straw

Such a composition can significantly reduce heat loss, but requires tight installation of blocks to each other or solid fill. It is applied to the coating of boards with an installed layer of hydro and vapor insulation. To prepare the mixture take two parts of clay and carefully soak it in water. Then add three parts of straw mixed with sawdust there and mix until a homogeneous mass is obtained. This procedure can be performed both manually and in a concrete mixer.

After the mixture is prepared, it can be poured onto the ceiling surface with a layer up to 10 cm thick, provided that the bath has not yet been completed and the roofing material is not laid. Otherwise, it is poured into molds and placed on a flat surface in a dry place and dried for 25–30 days depending on the ambient temperature. When cracks appear, they are sealed with a newly prepared solution. Then the blocks are installed on the ceiling of the bath, compacted and top coated with the same composition.

Note! To improve the quality of thermal insulation from above, you can spill a layer of sawdust of ten-centimeter thickness. In the presence of ventilation in the attic, a layer of clay is laid up to 20 mm.

This method is the cheapest, especially for residents of the village, since there it will not be difficult to find these components for insulation. The main disadvantage of this type of insulation is the high flammability of materials and the impossibility of laying wiring inside the ceiling. From the point of view of the properties of wood and straw, they are not beneficial, since in the presence of moisture they can rot, and undried sawdust can swell and, thus, cause cracking of the clay.

Ecowool

Ecowool состоит из переработанных листов макулатуры, которые обрабатываются составами от гниения и вредителей. Вата обладает низкой теплопроводностью, высокой пожаробезопасностью, тепло– и звукоизоляцией. Благодаря натуральности она может контролировать уровень влажности в помещении.

The material is loose, which causes some difficulties in its installation. If you install it yourself, it is possible to increase the consumption of insulation, and if the ceiling is not properly attached, it can either pull out the brackets, or vice versa, it can sink. It is laid in a seamless way and is able to fill all hard-to-reach places. At a humidity of up to 25%, the properties of cotton wool do not change, but when this threshold is exceeded, it is crushed and loses thermal insulation characteristics, which will require the complete replacement of the entire layer.

Artificial insulation

Artificial materials for thermal insulation have higher performance properties than natural ones. This is due to the fact that artificial insulation is devoid of almost all of their shortcomings inherent in natural materials, so they:

• practically do not absorb moisture;
• insects and rodents are not interested in them;
• less flammable;
• possess lower coefficient of heat conductivity and are steady against sharp differences of temperatures.

But they have significant drawbacks:

• may be toxic to the human body;
• release harmful substances during combustion;
• lose their properties when water gets on them and therefore require mandatory waterproofing.

Consider some of these materials.

Pennyzole

Penoizol is a foamed plastic, classified as a foam and having a gel-like state. It freezes on contact with air over a wide range of temperatures, even in freezing temperatures. It is mainly used to isolate cavities and crevices that are inaccessible to other materials. He is able to flow into various bottlenecks due to his good penetrating ability and fill any volumes, and to form an absolutely even layer on the surface.

At cost, it is inexpensive and therefore can be used in almost any construction conditions without any significant restrictions. Its service life is more than 50 years. Unlike other heaters, it is very light in weight. At the same time, it has a low degree of flammability, flammability and emits few toxic substances.

Note! Penoizol can absorb up to 20% of moisture, partially losing its properties, but after drying it completely restores them. The presence of porosity allows steam to pass without preventing the appearance of condensate on the surface, while maintaining an optimal climate in the bath.

 The disadvantages include the presence of shrinkage of up to 5% of the total amount, as well as the loss of insulating properties due to non-compliance of the casting technology. Therefore, you need to know how to properly apply it on a warming surface.

Mineral wool is made of artificial fibers and can be made in the form of rolls and blocks, depending on the density. It is characterized by high resistance to sudden changes in temperature and to aggressive environments, as well as sound insulation properties. Minvat can be used to isolate rooms and appliances heated to high temperatures, as it is non-flammable and does not deform when heated. Mechanical influences are not afraid of it.

Note! Upon contact with water, mineral wool loses its properties completely and does not restore them after drying. With proper operation, this insulation can last for several decades.

Styrofoam

The foam is made of polymers by foaming, which has a light weight, as it consists of 90% of the airspace. Its density is significantly lower than other types of insulating materials, which allows it to be used on all types of ceilings.

In order to prevent flammability, various additives are added to them, which increase their ignition temperature. It is easily cut, to give it the necessary form is not difficult. Able to tolerate any temperature extremes. It does not absorb moisture, but at the same time it does not “breathe”, which does not allow maintaining an optimal climate inside the bath. Therefore, many people do not recommend using it as a heater for bath ceilings. I must say, its use does not require the use of a waterproofing layer.

Обратите внимание! Styrofoam хрупкий, так что при монтаже и транспортировке нужно с ним бережно обращаться. Также он разрушается под действием покрытий на основе лаков и красок.

Features of the use of thermal insulation materials

As the main material for ceilings, moisture-proof materials should be selected to prevent their swelling and warping, as well as the loss of other performance characteristics. Ceilings can be insulated by laying insulating layers or bulk. The planes are used in small rooms with spans between beams of no more than two meters, and beams more than 50 mm thick.

When using bulk insulation, it is necessary to form a side around the entire perimeter of the ceiling. At the same time high speed of installation and low cost of warming will be provided. It should be understood that the heat insulator is not protected, and the attic can not be used for any needs.

Podshivny ceilings should be insulated in cases where there is an attic space. This design allows you to safely walk on the ceiling without damaging the insulating layers, and to store there various things. On the inner surface is laid out a multilayer structure in the form of a sandwich. From the outside, an additional layer of insulation is laid, and on top is a waterproofing film. Board floors are covered to provide access to the roof.

Double insulation allows for maximum heat retention inside the bath and to ensure effective ventilation of the attic.

Universal method

Before insulation, it is necessary to treat the wooden surfaces of the ceiling with antiseptics, if this has not been done before. On the side of the room, a vapor barrier is attached to the beams. For baths, it is desirable to install a vapor barrier material with an external aluminum layer, which will not only keep the heat in the room, but also reflect the heat back. In this regard, reduced heating costs, and the bath heats up faster.

The vapor barrier is placed in one layer overlap with a distance of at least 10 cm and secured with a construction stapler. The seams are glued with aluminum foil. A crate is installed above it in the direction perpendicular to the beams. It will serve as the basis for the installation of insulation and cladding material. In this case, a gap is formed between the skin and the vapor barrier surface, which will create conditions for heat reflection, and a close-packed insulation will not allow condensation to form.

Laying insulation material produced from the outside. It is tightly joined to wooden surfaces and between them. Gaps and cracks are unacceptable, since this causes significant heat loss. Having laid a layer, from above establish external waterproofing which is fixed by means of the stapler. At the same time it is necessary to ensure a tight fit to the beams and insulation to prevent moisture from entering the layers. A ceiling lining is formed over the waterproofing. From the side of the attic above the formed layers, it is necessary to install a subfloor, which will not only ensure their integrity, but also provide an opportunity to maintain the roof and roof frame.

In the place where the chimney is located, it is necessary to use non-combustible materials and make high-quality binding to reduce heat loss. Usually around the chimney do strapping of refractory bricks or wrapped it with mineral wool using a waterproofing layer.

In order to understand how you can insulate the ceiling of the bath with your own hands, you should take into account many factors, including high-quality thermal insulation properties, ease of installation, material cost. To make an unambiguous choice in favor of natural or artificial materials is difficult. Apply this or that material is possible only after studying the design of specific premises and their area.

Video

Here you can see the video, how to properly insulate the ceiling of the bath:

This video shows how to insulate the ceiling of the bath with sawdust: