Insulation of the cold attic: the method of thermal
The problem of heat conservation occurs in most homeowners. The question is not so acute for the residents of the southern regions, but everyone else every winter has a desire to start insulation of the dwelling. Qualitatively carried out work will allow not only to feel more comfortable in the room, but also very significantly save when paying bills for heating.
Warm air is lighter than cold air, so it rises up, which means that attic insulation is not the last thing to think about after building a new house or when carrying out repairs in an already operated room. Let us dwell on the technological aspects of the insulation and the nuances of the choice of materials for this.
Rules of work
Before we insulate the attic space of the house, let’s look at a number of rules that must be followed to achieve the best effect:
- If rolled insulation is used, then care must be taken to ensure the ventilation of the attic. If this is not done, then over time, condensate will form on the internal surfaces, adversely affecting the quality of all wood and not only structural elements.
- Work can be done in two ways: to insulate only the floor or the entire attic space. If you focus only on the ceiling, the problem of ventilation will not be so urgent, thanks to the natural design gaps.
- If there are ventilation hoods in the design, they should also be warmed.
What to choose?
To perform attic thermal insulation, you can use a variety of materials. The works are not too complicated from a technical point of view, and they can be done on their own, without hiring specialists.
- For a long time people used natural hay or sawdust. Environmentally friendly and low weight - attractive qualities, but you need to take into account their tendency to accumulate moisture over time, which will contribute not only to the appearance of an unpleasant smell as a result of rotting, but also the appearance of various insects and mold fungi. This technology is obsolete.
- Attention should be paid polystyrene foam. It is often confused with polyfoam, but they are similar except in appearance. Polystyrene is more durable and less prone to burning. Sheets of this material are light, and their installation is simple. They are not subject to rotting and have excellent thermal insulation qualities.
- It is possible to use expanded clay. It not only retains heat well, but also has soundproofing properties, which is quite important if metal is used as a roofing material. Besides, claydite does not burn, which is good from the point of view of fire safety. If the insulating layer is supposed to be laid with a thickness of more than 15 cm, then the total weight, which increases the load on the floor, will be quite significant, which can lead to damage.
- Mineral wool has excellent performance characteristics, such as: low weight, easy installation, good thermal insulation and resistance to mold, rot and similar negative effects. Thermal insulation of mineral wool can be used not only for floors, but also for the inner surface of the roof slopes. To do this, its layers are fixed with special fasteners - umbrellas. One of the most significant shortcomings of this material can be considered the fact that over time, mineral wool can be compressed, which will adversely affect its qualities.
- Also well proved polyurethane foam. It has excellent thermal insulation properties, but at the same time is quite expensive, which can be considered a disadvantage. If we take into account its estimated service life, approximately 50–70 years, then it is not that expensive.
First, the attic must be cleaned of debris and various items that are usually stored there. After that, the selected insulation is laid on the ceiling. On top of the insulator, you can lay the finishing coating. On the insulation of the attic is not worth saving either money or time.