How to insulate the roof of the house
The condition of the roof of the house affects the comfort of living in it. The roof is affected by temperature changes, wind loads and precipitation. Poor thermal insulation is the cause of the extra heating costs and a sense of temperature discomfort. Only one way out: you need to warm. In this article we will describe how to insulate the roof of the house - outside and inside.
Selection of materials
The necessary thermal insulators must have the following physical and technical properties:
- low thermal conductivity;
- small coefficient of water absorption;
- density and fire safety.
Note! The lower the thermal conductivity, the better the heat is retained.
When wet, as a rule, materials lose their insulating quality. For this reason, all heaters have a high level of water resistance, help to maintain comfortable conditions in the premises of the house. Sufficient density allows to withstand a large external load, and resistance to fire and the spread of fire ensures the safety of the home.
The market offers a sufficient number of different heaters. It remains to make the right choice for a particular roof. Some popular thermal insulators:
- Mineral wool is a fibrous substance that is made from molten silicate raw materials. It is obtained by processing various rocks. It is sold in the form of rolls or plates. Various manufacturers offer insulation of various densities and sizes. However, the basic performance characteristics are the same. When using mineral wool is not required large material costs associated with the acquisition and installation. Minwat can be classified as economy class.
- Glass wool is similar in performance to mineral. It is a by-product in the production of fiberglass. Glass wool also retains heat well, but when working with it, it is necessary to observe increased safety measures.
- Polyfoam is a plastic product, the production of which is applied gas filling technology. In its structure, a large number of air bubbles, which significantly increases its insulating properties. It has high strength, sold in slabs and loose in bags. Among other heaters stands out ease of installation and relatively low cost.
- An improved version of the foam - extruded polystyrene foam. Its main advantage, in addition to good insulating properties, is not susceptibility to the influence of any kind of liquids. It is produced by extrusion, i.e. forcing molten material through molding holes.
Comparing different heaters, we can conclude: each is good in its own way. Cotton wool has excellent sound insulation properties, but they are exposed to moisture. When using them, you need to take extra care of hydro and vapor barrier. Foam plastics, on the contrary, are not afraid of water at all, but when using them for insulation, it is necessary to additionally apply a sound-proof gasket.
Requirements for materials
Good thermal insulators must meet the following requirements:
- certainly ecological purity, no harmful effects on the human body, no toxins and formaldehydes;
- minimum thermal conductivity, at 0.04 watts for every degree of temperature difference;
- low volumetric weight, it should not significantly increase the load on the design of the truss system;
- compliance with the original form during operation, it should not be creased, warped, sag;
- high vapor permeability to avoid condensation and high humidity underneath;
- excellent sound insulation qualities to protect not only the penetration of air from the outside, but also extraneous sounds;
- high fire and fire resistance, which will significantly reduce the likelihood of fire;
- high density, which characterizes the degree of thermal insulation properties.
Insulation technology
Consider options for thermal insulation of the roof of a wooden house using a variety of materials.
When using mineral or glass wool, it is necessary to determine the width of the insulation. If the insulator is laid in the intersectional space, its width should coincide with the distance between adjacent rafters.
Note! When assembling cotton products, it is imperative that you have special clothes and protective equipment to avoid the irritating effects of the fibers. Especially when it comes to glass wool.
The material fits into the niche and tightly, without the formation of voids, pressed against the surface of the roof. Top covered with vapor barrier. This may be roofing material, plastic film, glassine. The film is attached to rafters or parallel bars with the help of a construction stapler.
Thermal insulation can be closed with any finishing material. Quite often used drywall or wall paneling.
When using polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam as a heater, it is necessary to make special sections for its installation. The first in these sections is a vapor barrier. Then the insulation is tightly packed and pressed against the roof surface without gaps.
If necessary, you can put another layer. This will increase the level of sound insulation and increase the insulating properties. Sheathing decorative material, wooden lining or drywall is the last.
Of course, the best way out of the situation is to carry out insulation works in the process of building a roof. But, if a ready-made dwelling has been acquired and its heat-saving properties do not meet the requirements of operation, then it will be necessary to conduct additional measures for thermal insulation. If the insulation from the inside has already been done, then it is hardly worth doing such work outside.
We warm the ceiling
After completion of the roof insulation, it is necessary to do the ceiling (if we are not talking about the attic room). To carry out such insulation, you can use bulk materials: sawdust, slag, expanded clay. But you can use the insulators already discussed above: cotton or foam. The surest option is the combined one. First, close to the ceiling of the house are laid soft plates or rolls. Then we close them with a vapor barrier film and from above we fall asleep with bulk material.
The surface is leveled, covered with a waterproofing layer and the installation of wooden flooring is performed, which will function as an attic floor.
Outdoor work
This process is the most time-consuming, requires great care and appropriate training. It must be carried out in compliance with building and technical standards.
The first is made wooden obreshetka. For it, a cross-section beam is used fifty fifty fifty millimeters. Sections by the sizes are carried out, proceeding from the sizes of plates of a heater.
The waterproofing layer is laid on the prepared crate. It can be made of roofing material or thick plastic film. Over it heat-insulated plates are mounted. If it is a plate of soft material, then they fit a good waterproofing. All this is securely fixed. The last layer is the roof.
Despite the seeming simplicity at first glance, it is hardly possible for one person to cope with external insulation. The whole complex of work is carried out at a height on an inclined plane. Someone will have to submit materials and tools. Mandatory in this case, the insurance devices.
For quality results, it is important to comply with the entire technological sequence.
Note! If mistakes are made, the insulation layer can quickly become unusable, then all efforts and costs will be in vain. If possible, it is better to entrust all work to professionals. They are guaranteed to perform all stages in compliance with building codes and regulations.
We recommend, before carrying out all thermal insulation measures, to contact a specialized company that will assist in choosing the right materials for their quantity and price. After all, the total cost of insulation depends on it.