How to properly insulate a roof. How to properly insulate the roof and the ceiling underneath it? Insulated roof technology

Insulating the roof of a house is an important stage in the construction or major repair of a roof. The choice of technology for installing a heat-insulating layer depends on the configuration of the roof, the type of insulation and the requirements for the room located directly under the roof.

The need for roof insulation

How to insulate a 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%, allowing you to turn the attic into a room suitable for year-round use.

The highest demands are placed on insulating the roof of a residential attic of houses located in areas with cold winters. The roofing pie 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 attic floor or the ceiling of the living premises. An uninsulated non-residential attic is well ventilated, which prevents rotting of the wooden elements of the roof frame.

When installing pitched and flat roofs, different methods of roof insulation are used.

Thermal insulation of flat roofs

How to make an insulated roof when installing a 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 made of rolled material;
• bulk layer (drainage + cement-sand mixture).

External insulation is most conveniently performed using mineral basalt wool. You can also use polystyrene foam and other rigid insulation materials. It should be taken into account that polymer insulation cannot be used when installing roofing coverings with high fire safety requirements.

Insulation of a pitched roof

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

The most popular insulation in private housing construction is mineral wool. This is an easy-to-install, non-flammable material that can be purchased at a low price. But the structure of the wool itself promotes the accumulation of moisture, which causes a significant decrease in the thermal insulation properties of the material, and also, over time, provokes rotting of the elements of the rafter system. Thus, when creating insulation, it is important to provide for proper ventilation and vapor and waterproofing of the roofing pie.

Installation of a pitched roof heat insulator is carried out from the attic side during the construction or repair of the roof. If repair work is being carried out, 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 compound.

The pitched roof pie includes:

• finishing roofing covering;
• 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:

• under-roof waterproofing and roofing;
• insulation and water barrier;
• vapor barrier and internal lining (if provided).

Air circulation (free inflow and removal) is ensured by special vents, one of which should be located in the roof overhang, and the second under the ridge.

Materials for thermal insulation of pitched roofs

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

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

• roofing felt;
• polyethylene film;
• glassine;
• foil materials laid with foil towards the attic.

To create a roofing pie with high functional characteristics, it is recommended to use a special vapor barrier membrane to create a vapor barrier: it removes condensation outside from the insulation and does not allow steam and moisture to pass into the roofing pie.

Stages of work on insulating a pitched roof

The roof insulation scheme is quite simple. First of all, you need to measure the distance between the rafters. The slabs of cotton wool insulation should be cut according to the results obtained, adding 1 centimeter. This will allow you to fasten the heat insulator between the rafters. This stage of work is greatly simplified if the roofing system is initially designed and installed based on the use of slab insulation boards of a certain width.

If there is no waterproofing between the rafters and the already installed roofing, you should first secure a water barrier. The membrane should envelop the rafters; it is most convenient to fasten it with a construction stapler to the rafters themselves and to the roof sheathing in the openings between them. The waterproofing must be installed under the eaves at the bottom of the roof to ensure moisture drainage. It should be taken into account that with this method of fastening the hydrobarrier, the insulation must be installed without the necessary air gap. For this reason, it is recommended to use a superdiffusion membrane as a waterproofing material.

If there is a waterproofing layer under the roofing, nails are placed on the rafters in increments of about 10 cm. The nails should be located at a distance of 3-5 cm from the waterproofing layer. It is necessary to stretch a polyethylene thread or cord between the nails, tamping 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 lathing for internal cladding, nails must also be driven along the outer edge of the rafters.

If, when deciding how to insulate the roof of a house, you chose cotton slab insulation, then the prepared elements must be slightly compressed and inserted between the rafters. When using stiffer foam boards and similar materials, it is important to accurately size them so that the boards fit snugly into the opening. It is recommended to carry out insulation in two layers. If you have to mount not solid sheets into the opening, but narrower fragments, joining them along the length or width, you need to make sure 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 of the rafter legs. If the rafters are not wide enough to install two layers of insulation, additional timber is nailed to them.

The heat insulator is fixed between the rafters using a stretched cord secured to pre-filled nails. Or, as a fastening, a lathing made of slats is used, intended for mounting the interior lining of the room. The slats are nailed to the rafters in increments of 30-40 cm. In this case, the vapor barrier is stapled to the rafters before installing the sheathing: the thickness of the slats allows you to create the necessary air gap between the vapor barrier and the sheathing.

When installing a 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 taped with adhesive tape in two layers. It is necessary to install the vapor barrier around the chimney and at the junction with the walls as efficiently as possible. At the final stage, the sheathing is installed using wood-based or plasterboard boards.

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

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

How to properly insulate a roof with your own hands

When building a private house, you should pay attention 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 the structures, depend on the correctness of roof insulation measures. You can do the installation of thermal insulation material yourself.

The need for insulation

Everyone knows from school physics 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 through the roof or attic floors. Lack of necessary protection from cold and loss of warm air can lead to the following problems:

• lowering the room temperature;
• increased heating costs in winter;
• condensation on the inner surface of the roof;
• the appearance of mold or mildew on roof elements;
• 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 ceilings during the construction of multi-apartment residential buildings, is necessarily checked by state or private expertise at the design stage. Thermal insulation of a private cottage depends entirely on the future owner; no one checks its availability and wise choice, but this does not make it lose its importance.

Insulation methods

Do-it-yourself roof insulation largely depends on the roof structure. There are two types of roofs: flat and pitched. Most often, flat roofs are used for the construction of multi-story buildings, but they can also be used in the construction of a private cottage. Flat roofs can be constructed in two ways:

In inversion, the order of layers has been changed. This technology is used when arranging a serviceable roof. The following can be used as insulation material in both cases:

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

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

Layout of insulation between 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 an attic or attic and has a more attractive appearance. Insulation of the roof of a wooden house or any other can be done in several ways:

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

Material selection

Insulation of the roof of a wooden house or 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 requirements:

• safety, absence of harmful effects on humans;
• environmental friendliness;
• low weight to prevent excessive loads on the rafter system;
• resistance to creasing and sagging, sufficient strength and rigidity;
• sound insulation characteristics (especially important when using metal roofing);
• fire resistance (especially important for wooden construction);
• if possible, good vapor permeability, which will provide additional ventilation of the room;
• good thermal protection characteristics.

One of the most important characteristics of a material is its thermal conductivity. This value must be indicated by the manufacturer. The lower the value, the smaller the thickness of the insulation will be needed. If you are not short on money, it is better to choose materials such as mineral wool or expanded polystyrene. The values ​​of their thermal conductivity depend on the manufacturer and are in the range of 0.03-0.04 W/(m2*ᵒC).

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 waste of 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 expanded polystyrene, a layer thickness of 150-200 mm will be required.

It is best to perform a full thermal calculation that takes into account modern comfort requirements and allows you to find the ideal balance of cost and quality. For a specialist, performing such a calculation will not be difficult. A person who is far from construction can use examples of calculations or the Teremok program, which is freely available and 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 much time, but will allow you to avoid cost overruns during construction and additional costs for repairs during operation.

The process of insulating a flat roof

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

• load-bearing structure (most often reinforced concrete covering);
• vapor barrier layer;
• thermal insulation material;
• cement-sand screed (reinforced for weak materials);
• waterproofing carpet, which serves as a finishing coating.

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

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

Thermal protection of pitched roofs

Before properly insulating the roof of a house, you need to understand the procedure for carrying out the work. In the vast majority of cases, pitched roofs are insulated between the rafters. Insulating a roof from the inside with your own hands is a completely feasible task. It is important to follow the correct order of laying materials from bottom to top:

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

When the thickness of the insulation is greater than the height of the rafters, counter-battens are installed. It is better to use modern diffusion membranes as wind protection and waterproofing.

Proper insulation, regardless of the type of roof, requires a careful approach. To avoid problems during operation, it is necessary to select the correct insulation thickness, choose a reliable manufacturer and follow the installation technology. Fulfillment of these conditions will allow the roof to last a long time and help maintain normal temperature and humidity conditions in the building.

We insulate the roof correctly: how to avoid mistakes

Insulating the roof will create warmth in the house. We will describe in detail how and what is the best way to insulate the roof of a private house 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, and protect from wind. When solving such a problem as insulating a roof, you should not skimp on the materials used. The roof is exposed to harsh conditions, experiencing large temperature changes, the influence of precipitation, and significant physical stress under the influence of wind.

Key points of roof insulation

Roof insulation is one of the important stages of insulation of the building as a whole. It is the final structure of the building that performs the main function of protecting the interior from adverse external influences. High-quality thermal insulation of the roof will provide significant savings in money during the further operation of the residential premises, 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, you first need to decide on the function of the attic. If the attic is not planned to be a living room, then it is not necessary to insulate the roof from the inside. In this situation, only the attic floor should be well insulated in order to protect the room on the top floor from the effects of cold and heat loss. In a situation where a residential attic will be built in the attic, insulating the roof from the inside is a mandatory measure.

The method of performing the work also depends on the design of the roof and the stage at which insulation is carried out. The structure can be pitched or flat; each of them has its own characteristics when performing work. When choosing a method, you 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 the work is the same for both a wooden building and a brick one.

It should be noted that before insulating the roof of a wooden house, you need to carefully inspect all parts of the roof and rafters for dampness, signs of rotting and various damages. Wooden structures must be treated with an antiseptic; severely damaged areas must be replaced. Electrical wiring elements located under the roof also require careful inspection.

Materials for insulating the roof of a house

The modern market offers a huge selection of materials for insulation; the most common include fiberglass and polystyrene foam boards, foam concrete, foam glass, and mineral wool boards. Each type of insulation is characterized by different thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, strength and other properties. Mineral wool boards are widely used; they compare favorably with other insulation materials in 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 rolled ceiling - insulation is laid on top;
• The principle of a false ceiling is that the insulation is lined from the inner surface of the ceiling.

Carrying out insulation work from the outside is a simpler and more convenient option. Several main points should be taken into account, among which it is necessary to highlight the ability of the supporting structure to withstand the weight of the roofing material and insulation. It is possible that insulation based on the rolling ceiling principle will be enough to achieve comfortable living conditions in the house. Priority implementation of work using this method is more appropriate under the current circumstances. Operation of the premises in the cold season will allow us to draw a conclusion about whether it is worth doing insulation from the inside, based on the principle of a false ceiling.

To insulate the outside of a roof that has a flat shape, it is better to use basalt mineral wool. The choice of 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:

• Using a vapor-proof film, a layer is laid that serves as a barrier to steam;
• A layer of thermal insulation made of mineral wool slabs is placed on top of the film;
• Waterproofing is installed in the form of a roll covering made of roofing felt and synthetic materials;
• Laying bulk material - insulation.

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

Before starting roof insulation work, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface of dust and debris. If there are large irregularities, it may require leveling. Thermal insulation boards are glued using special cold mastic or glue. To achieve uniformity of the coating, it is necessary to lay mineral wool with semi-overlapping seams. Laying an additional layer of slabs is allowed to improve thermal insulation, while the slabs are spaced out and the joints are taped. The use of this technology allows you to avoid 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 laid on mineral wool slabs. After the concrete becomes strong, the working surface is cleaned of dirt and excess buildup. The waterproofing carpet is glued under short-term exposure to fire without changing its protective properties. The material is laid 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, which allows you to get additional square meters of living space. More stringent requirements are imposed on the insulation of the attic from the inside.

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

Waterproofing allows you to protect your home from moisture. When water gets under the roof, the insulation begins to lose its properties, and 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 design of ventilation circuits allows this to be avoided. Under the influence of supply air, water vapor is removed from under the roof without condensation. The waterproofing layer covers the construction joists and is attached to them using a stapler.

The presence of a ventilation circuit on the roof is a prerequisite for its functioning. The supply of fresh air must be arranged through a gap located on the overhang of the eaves; exhaust is carried out through a ventilation device on the slope or ridge of the roof. It should be noted that all structural components must be ventilated. The ventilation device does not cause any particular problems for conventional gable roofs. For roofs with intricate geometry, performing this task faces certain difficulties, since the free movement of air is impeded by various obstacles: ventilation shafts, chimneys, 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 and not deform under the influence of environmental conditions.

A vapor barrier layer is laid on top of the thermal insulation layer and attached to the rafters. Construction membrane film is usually used as a material for its construction.

The final stage in roof insulation is finishing the “roofing cake” from the inside. The finished surface should be covered with plasterboard or chipboard for further wallpapering or other finishing work.

Roof insulation is an important component of the construction process, allowing you to achieve comfortable living conditions. Proper execution of the work will ensure an increase in the period of impeccable operation of the entire roofing structure, eliminating unnecessary repairs.

How to properly insulate the roof of a house

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

How to insulate the roof of a house?

• Features of a pitched roof
• Step-by-step instruction
• Flat roofing and the nuances of working with it

Every owner is concerned about the issue of economical consumption of resources for heating a private home. The problem can be partially solved 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 insulating the ceiling is a sufficient measure to insulate the room.

If you do not plan to use the attic, you can limit yourself to insulating the ceiling of the house. The roof itself is insulated if the room underneath is to be used.

Features of a pitched roof

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. Insulation of a pitched roof is done from the inside. In an old house, it is necessary to check the sheathing for the presence of rotten or damp boards. Damaged boards must be replaced with fresh ones, after which all wooden frame elements must be treated with an antiseptic and fire-resistant impregnation.

An insulated roof should be made from several layers. The following materials must be present: waterproofing, insulating layer and vapor barrier. If desired or necessary, interior finishing is carried out. There should be an air “cushion” between the roof and the insulation, and there should also be space between the waterproofing and the insulation. This is necessary to freely remove the resulting moisture. If you plan to decorate with lining or chipboard, you need to provide an air gap in front of these layers.

Ensuring air circulation when insulating a pitched roof.

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

How to insulate the roof? To carry out work that can be done independently, the following materials are required:

1. Directly insulating material. The use of mineral wool or glass wool is allowed. The second is produced 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 polystyrene foam.
2. You can use roofing felt as a waterproofing material. A film that protects the layers from water, but allows the evaporation of moisture formed inside, is also suitable for this task.
3. For vapor barrier, you can choose one of the materials: roofing felt, plastic film, foil, glassine. The recommended option is a special membrane that protects the insulating layer from water and steam, but allows the condensate that forms to be removed.

After selecting the material for each layer and preparing the roof, work can begin.

Step-by-step instruction

Blocks of thermal insulation material cut to width are laid between the frame boards.

1. You should measure the distance between the rafters, as well as the thickness of the boards. Next, cut the slabs of insulating material. In this case, their width should be 1 cm greater than the pitch 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, the lower edges should be beveled to organize water drainage. Next, the thermal insulation is laid tightly to the previous layer, without forming voids.
3. If there is already insulation under the roof, you should provide space between it and the insulation layer. For this purpose, nails are driven between the rafters (every 3-5 cm from the waterproofing). Then the thread is fixed on them, after which the nails are driven in until they stop.
4. Fixing the insulating material can be done with a cord. In this case, nails need to be driven in along the edges of the frame.
5. The next stage is laying insulation. Mineral wool is placed between the frame boards, and you need to press it lightly; later it will take the desired shape. The foam is located in cells between the frame elements. If necessary, you can make two layers. When laying slabs, you should 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. Next, as after the previous layer, the 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 lathing made of slats is used. They are nailed to the rafters at a distance of 30-40 cm.
7. The next task is fixing the vapor barrier. The canvas is laid with an overlap of 10 cm. The joints of the layers must be sealed with adhesive tape or tape, and the insulation itself must be secured with a stapler. It is important to properly fix the vapor barrier at the intersection of the roof and pipe. The service life of the insulating layer depends on how well this area is insulated.
8. Finally, you need to do the interior finishing of the roof if you plan to create an attic. Chipboards, plasterboard or lining are suitable. It is important to maintain an air gap between the insulation and the finishing material. This can be achieved using not a stapler, but pressed strips for fastening.

Flat roofing and the nuances of working with it

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

The outer layer is made of mineral wool.

This material has properties that are indispensable for insulation - it does not burn, allows steam to pass through well, has low thermal conductivity and lasts a long time.

Scheme of thermal insulation of a flat roof.

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

For external insulation, the following sequence of layers is assumed: vapor barrier, insulating material, waterproofing and bulk layer. As waterproofing, you can use any rolled material, for example, roofing felt, and the bulk layer is made of 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 ceilings 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 work requires the following sequence of actions:

1. Cleaning and leveling the roof surface.
2. Laying a vapor barrier layer.
3. Insulation boards are being laid. Fastening is done with glue or mastic, and 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 cases where 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 polystyrene foam board is glued to these planks using mastic or glue. Then the next one is screwed to the plank, onto which the next plate is glued. Upon completion of covering the entire ceiling, a polyethylene film is attached. Further surface finishing can be done.

When performing roof insulation work, it is important to follow safety precautions. With the right approach and following 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 once and forget about it for at least 30 years? So that there are no repairs, leaks or other problems? It's real! You just need to properly design the roofing pie, choose environmentally friendly insulation and not forget about the vapor barrier. We explained in detail what and how to do in our step-by-step master classes - study and apply, it’s simple!

So, insulating the roof of a house in detail!

Stage I. Design

The main factor influencing the performance characteristics of the roofing pie and its durability is the humidity regime. Ideally, of course, if there is no moisture in the roofing pie at all - in any form. But in reality it is always there, especially if we are talking about a residential building where they breathe, cook and iron.

And how protected the insulation will be in such an environment depends on how well the roofing pie was designed and how technologically the insulation of the roof of a residential building was carried out, because there are no such problems with water vapor in 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 protect it from moisture.

Stage II. Waterproofing

First of all, purchase high-quality waterproofing for your roof. Thus, in the use of conventional waterproofing films and in the installation 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 removed outside with the help of ventilation air in both insulators, only with the following difference:

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

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

This is especially true for fashionable metal tile roofs. The fact is that metal is a cold material, and condensation forms especially readily for us. And, if you do not carefully consider the ventilation system to evaporate these droplets, insulation will cease to fulfill its main functions already from the first year of life. In general, the principle is quite simple: a “breathable” waterproofing membrane removes excess moisture from the insulation onto 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 waterproofing for the roofing pie of a residential building is glassine, roofing felt, simple polyethylene, dense wind protection and advertising banners. And it is best to use modern membranes, which have additional vapor permeability, as waterproofing. This film additionally removes accumulated moisture in the insulation to the top, 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, and thoughtful ventilation. As well as additional systems such as a flow guide (a special device from Isover) and a Paroc Air type roofing system.

Stage III. Insulation

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 sound insulation.
• Non-flammability.
• Relatively light weight.
• No deformation even under heavy loads.
• Durability: service life – at least 25 years.

Installing them is also not difficult:

It is especially convenient to insulate attic floors with mineral wool:

If you purchased insulation that is too thin, then lay it in several layers, always with the joints offset by 20 cm each. It is clear that the more continuous we lay the insulation, the fewer possible cold bridges we will have later.

Basalt wool: highly environmentally friendly

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

True, basalt slabs have considerable weight and are not easy to work with:

Foam plastic: with extreme caution!

Thus, polystyrene foam, or expanded polystyrene, is foamed polyethylene, which is produced in the form of sheets up to 20 cm thick and can vary in density.

No specialist will recommend insulating the roof of a residential building, especially a wooden one, with polystyrene foam. Indeed, in such a house, if the thermal insulation was not done correctly, styrene constantly negatively affects the human respiratory tract, blood, causes headaches and other disorders of the nervous system. For example, in production workshops where block foam plastic is packaged, many workers complain of a constant dry cough and frequent sore throats. In addition, polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam begin to melt at temperatures above 80°C and 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 inversion roofing. All thanks to its resistance to moisture and valuable performance properties.

A good solution in terms of insulation may 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 moisture-sensitive insulation retains its properties for a long time.

Loose-fill insulation: expanded clay, sawdust and foam ball

Loose-fill insulation is still popular today, although well-thought-out marketing of mineral wool boards is gradually replacing them. The main advantage of fill-in insulation is that it can be mixed with almost any material, and even implemented directly into the structure. The most popular types of fill-in insulation:

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

Vermiculite is used to insulate the attic floor. This is a natural stone that is quarried. In terms of its properties, it is close to expanded clay, and is also good because it absorbs foreign odors. For the attic - a significant plus, agree! A foam ball is individually frozen pores of polystyrene foam. It is usually mixed with special solutions.

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

• Step 1. Mix the solution: 10 buckets of sawdust per 1 bucket of cement. You don't need to add a lot of water, the main thing is that the mixture is only slightly damp. So, for dry sawdust take ½ bucket of water, for rotten sawdust - just one bucket. First, pour 10 buckets of sawdust into the prepared container, then gradually water them with water from a watering can and stir all the time. Then pour a bucket of cement into the sawdust and mix everything thoroughly again. In appearance, all this will look like shavings smeared in cement, but if you squeeze a little of the solution into a fist, it should not disintegrate, nor should it release water.
• Step 2. Now we lift this mixture into the attic and spread it out by simply tamping it 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 under your feet - just crunch a little.

And if you mix them with dry clay and pour them between the joists of the attic floor, then you will no longer need 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 encouraging:

1. Fire safety class A. Thanks to special processing, this material is classified as highly flammable. Even in a fire, it does not support combustion and does not negatively affect the roof structure. As a result, with a strong flame, ecowool produces simply charcoal, which in turn prevents the fire and high temperature from spreading 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 insulation materials in such conditions lose their thermal insulation by almost half.
4. Biological stability. Ecowool is not affected by fungi or insects due to special treatment with borax.
5. Soundproofing qualities. Ecowool is a class 2 sound-absorbing material.

This is what ecowool roof insulation 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 not much. Another feature of the PUF structure is that the cells have a cross-linked molecular structure of the walls, which does not allow molecules larger in size than a water molecule to enter. For comparison: an oxygen molecule is twice as large.

But let's note a couple of points. Using the correct technology, polyurethane foam is not poured into the attic, but sprayed. The difference here is as significant as putting out a fire or putting out a burning object. In addition, the best polyurethane foam is afraid of direct sunlight: for an experiment, you can leave a piece in 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 inside of the roof is covered with a 30-centimeter layer of low-density polyurethane foam coating, only 60-80 kg/m3, and on top - a more dense one, with a thickness of 5 to 15 mm. The average thickness of both layers is about 8 cm for snowy Russian regions.

And now about safety: consider roof ventilation so that PU foam particles do not enter the living space. Indeed, depending on many factors (temperature, UV rays, humidity), the walls of such cells are gradually expanded. Usually all this happens within 15-20 years, whereas according to world standards, the guaranteed service life of thermal insulation should not be less than 25 years. 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 the gas used is freon and a little CO2, whose thermal conductivity is worse than that of air). And over the years, the diffusion of air into the polyurethane foam continues.

Stage IV. Vapor barrier

And finally, do not under any circumstances skimp on the vapor barrier of the roofing pie in the house.

Separately, we note that water vapor pressure directly depends on air temperature. So, the warmer it is, the higher the pressure. Have you ever noticed raised bubbles on someone's asphalt roofing? This is precisely the result of excess pressure that is under the waterproofing. The same applies to insulation in a roofing pie: the more places where moisture accidentally enters, the worse the vapor barrier used and the higher the air temperature, the worse it is for the insulation.

And secure the vapor barrier correctly:

• Step 1. Place a vapor barrier with a thickness of at least 0.2 mm between the rafters.
• Step 2. Secure the vapor barrier to the rafters with a construction gun with staples, and seal the overlapping joints with adhesive tape.
• Step 3. Using the same tape, we additionally cover the fastening points with staples. Necessarily!

Did you do everything as we advised? Now you can sleep peacefully!

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

Everything about proper insulation of the roof of a residential building: selection of insulation, hydro- and vapor barrier, useful tips. Video and photo instructions with a detailed analysis of all work

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Insulating the roof from the inside is the best option for work for several reasons.

Roof insulation is done only for residential attic spaces; due to this, heat losses are significantly reduced and living comfort is increased. Today, companies produce a wide range of insulation materials, all of which have both positive and negative sides. When choosing a specific insulation, it is important to know its features and take into account the characteristics of the building’s rafter system.

There are many names of materials for insulation, but they are all divided into two large groups.

Table. Roof insulation groups.

Name of insulation	Operational and physical characteristics
	This group includes mineral wool from basalt, glass wool from recycled glass and ecowool from waste paper. Cotton wool insulation can be pressed in the form of mats of standard sizes or rolled. There are options for spraying liquid ecowool. In terms of thermal conductivity and weight, the listed types are almost the same from each other. Mineral wool is the most expensive.
	Polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, etc. All these insulation materials are made on the basis of the same polymer and differ in production technology and some additives. Most often they take the form of slabs of various thicknesses and sizes; they can differ significantly in terms of physical strength. Thermal conductivity is almost the same; minor fluctuations in practice have no effect. The price range is wide. Can be used in liquid form (sprayed) or as slabs.

As an example, we will look at the two most common options for insulating a roof from the inside. The examples are not only budget-friendly, but also effective. The process is divided into several stages, and the final quality of the work depends on the correct execution of each of them.

Prices for foam plastic

Styrofoam

Inspection of the rafter system and roof covering

A very important stage of preparation for insulation. Inspect all elements of the roofing system, check the condition of the roof covering. If problems are discovered, they must be corrected immediately.

Measure the distance between the rafter legs, this will help you navigate the choice of insulation. The fact is that all insulation has standard width dimensions. This simplifies and speeds up installation work and reduces waste. The width of the insulation is 60 cm, but, unfortunately, some manufacturers allow fluctuations in one direction or another by several centimeters. The distance between the rafter legs should be within 56–57 cm. In practice, it is rare to find such correct roofs.

See if a wind barrier is installed between the roof and the attic, and if it has vents for natural ventilation. This is very important in cases where insulation is planned to be done with mineral wool.

Prices for vapor barrier materials

Vapor barrier material

Selection and purchase of materials

The most commonly used materials for roof insulation are mineral wool and polystyrene foam; we will dwell on them in detail. If you have a simple gable roof, then insulating it is not very difficult technologically. The situation is completely different with a sloping or hipped roof. These structures have many different stops, purlins, ties and other elements that strengthen the rafter system. During insulation, you have to cut the mineral wool or foam plastic, make various folds and bends. As a result, the complexity of the work increases and the amount of waste increases.

But this is not all the problems. Complex roofs will never be able to be hermetically sealed with a vapor barrier layer; there will always be places through which moist air gets into the insulation. For mineral wool this is a very unpleasant phenomenon. Experienced builders recommend insulating complex roofs with foam plastic rather than taking risks with mineral wool. Wet cotton wool not only almost completely loses its heat-saving abilities, but also accelerates the putrefactive processes of wooden structures of the rafter system.

Roof insulation work

The technology of work largely depends on the chosen material, but for all cases there are general tips.

If you have the opportunity to work with an assistant, great, the insulation process will go much faster. There is no such possibility - no problem, all the work can be done independently.

Many home owners are wondering whether to insulate the roof of their house from the inside with their own hands. An insulated roof has several advantages over a cold one. In this article we will talk about how and with what to sheathe the inside of the roof, and what is required for this.

Advantages of an insulated roof:

1. Thanks to insulation, heat loss can be significantly reduced, up to 15% of the total losses. In view of the periodic increase in the cost of electricity and the constant desire to reduce the volume of its use, this solution will come in handy.
2. After insulation, the house will have additional living space located under the roof, which can be used for your own needs.

Insulation of the roof from the inside can be carried out when, for some reason, the owners made such a decision during its operation.

It is worth noting that it is possible to achieve high-quality insulation, maintain warmth and comfort in the house, and also extend the service life of the roof if you use only high-quality materials.

If, according to the project, insulation is provided initially, then it is best to do it from the outside, even before the roofing material is laid. As a rule, you cannot do without this if you decide to build a house in an area with unfavorable weather conditions.

What is a house roof pie?

A roofing pie is a layered structure that includes roof insulation elements. At the heart of this design is a rafter system that holds the remaining elements. In cross-section, such a pie has a clear sequence of elements, the first of which is the roofing material.

The roofing pie consists of the following layers:

• roofing;
• lathing or continuous covering;
• counter-lattice to form a ventilation gap;
• waterproofing;
• thermal insulation;
• vapor barrier;
• lathing for internal cladding;
• internal lining.

The finished structure will reduce heat loss in winter, and in summer it will eliminate overheating of the space under the roof. It will also prevent precipitation from reaching the thermal insulation from the outside, and water vapor from penetrating from the inside of the room.

What materials are needed for the roofing pie?

How effective the insulation of the roof from the inside will be depends not only on the thermal insulation material, but also on the hydro- and vapor barrier. All other components of the roofing cake do not have a significant effect.

It is worth noting that the roof structure is constantly exposed to the following types of loads:

• the mass of the entire roof is a constant factor;
• precipitation and method of roof operation;
• temperature changes;
• ultraviolet radiation;
• chemical reagents dissolved in the air;
• windage of the roof and resistance to air flows passing through the attic;
• moisture and condensation accumulating inside the attic.

Functions of waterproofing and vapor barrier materials

The purpose of waterproofing is as follows:

1. Prevent moisture from penetrating the insulation from the outside.
2. Help remove excess moisture from the insulation that has penetrated from the room.

For waterproofing, special film and membrane materials are used. If we are talking about waterproofing film, then it is a three-layer material with micro-perforation, the central layer of which is a polypropylene mesh, laminated on both sides with polyethylene.

Membranes are non-woven materials in which hydro- and vapor barrier is provided by the central layer, and the outer ones are designed to impart strength. Such materials are usually called superdiffusive. The advantages of membranes over films are that they are better permeable to vapor, therefore, there is no need to create an air gap before installation.

If, before insulating the roof, a waterproofing film is installed inside, it should be laid with some clearance so that excess steam can be freely discharged. Without such an indentation, the insulating material will quickly begin to get wet and cease to perform its direct functions. The durability of membranes is significantly greater than that of films.

As for vapor barrier materials, their main function is to create a barrier for moist air from inside the room so that it does not enter the insulation. As a rule, a vapor-proof film is used for this.

Types and characteristics of materials for do-it-yourself insulation

Before insulating a finished roof, you should decide on the material for interior work.

The choice should be made taking into account the following characteristics:

1. Density. This indicator directly affects the quality of heat transfer of the material. The lower the density, the higher the porosity. As porosity increases, the thermal conductivity of the material decreases, which means its thermal insulation properties increase.
2. Heat transfer. This indicator affects not only the degree of porosity, but also the temperature and humidity level of the material. As these indicators increase, heat transfer also increases.
3. Ability to absorb moisture. To prevent the insulation from absorbing and retaining moisture between the fibers, it is treated with special hydrophobic substances. In particular, the presence of such treatment should be clarified when purchasing mineral and glass wool.
4. Flammability.
5. Ability to withstand low temperatures.
6. Chemical resistance.
7. Environmental friendliness.

Based on the indicated characteristics, the optimal materials for insulating a metal roof from the inside are the following varieties:

1. Mineral and glass wool. You can purchase such materials both in the form of individual slabs and in rolls. In terms of fire resistance, mineral wool is slightly superior to glass wool.
2. Polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam. Available in slabs or extruded products. This material is quite flammable and releases toxic substances when burned. Therefore, it requires additional fire protection.
3. Polyurethane foam. This material can be presented in the form of panels or liquid formulations. The latter are applied to the roof surface using special equipment, so specialized teams of builders are engaged in such work.

Method of insulating a roof from the inside - how to insulate it correctly

There simply cannot be a single approach to the process of roof insulation, since each case will have its own subtleties. It all depends not only on the roof configuration, but also on the roofing used. In particular, if a soft roof is used for the roof, the roof should be insulated from the outside, even before laying the material. In addition, the technology for fixing the insulation in the case of flat and folding roofs will also vary. That is why it is very important to know how to properly insulate a roof from the inside in one case or another.

If the waterproofing film has not been laid beforehand, insulation must begin with its fastening. Please note that the ventilation gap must be at least 2 cm. Alternatively, additional slats can be nailed to the rafters or sheathing.

A superdiffusion membrane will be the best choice, since there will be no need to create an additional gap between it and the insulation.

To ensure reliable insulation, the material is fixed in several layers - at least two. In this case, you can avoid through seams between pieces of material. The thickness of the insulating layer will be about 15-20 cm. If the thickness of the rafter legs is less than this value, then the insulation is also mounted on top of the rafters. In this case, the lathing for interior decoration will press both the insulating material and the vapor barrier.

It will be more difficult to attach insulation to a flat roof. Since there is no additional support for the insulation, several bars need to be nailed to the ceiling so that the distance between them is less than the width of the insulation material, and the height is equal to its thickness.

Next, rolled material or special plates are tightly inserted between these bars. In addition, they can be attached with mastics or special glue. At the next stage, the insulating layer and vapor barrier film are fixed with lathing for internal finishing material.

Of course, a high-quality insulated roof will not only save money on heating and retain as much heat as possible, but also make your stay in the house cozy and comfortable. True, thermal insulation materials must be of high quality, so that you do not have to replace them soon and spend additional money.

A warm home is every person's dream. Its appearance, size, design - all this is not as important as the ability to be warm and retain warm air. This is especially important in winter. An integral part of maintaining heat in the house is its insulation. After all, without it, heat loss can be more than 50%. The main part falls on the ceiling and roof.

If you have already sealed the windows and doors, insulated the walls and floor, and done everything to prevent heat from escaping through them, then the next stage is the roof. And here a number of questions arise: how to insulate the roof? Should I do it from the outside or from the inside? What is the best way to insulate a roof? We will look at the answers to all these questions in this article. You will learn how to properly insulate the roof of a house.

Requirements for material for insulation

Before moving on to choosing insulation, it is important to understand the requirements for its qualities and characteristics. After all, if you use low-quality or incorrect insulation, you will only waste your efforts, time and money. There will be no result from such work. What should the material be? Let's consider the main criteria:

1. Low specific gravity so as not to load the roof.
2. Low thermal conductivity to retain maximum heat.
3. Easy to install.
4. The ability to hold its shape without deforming.
5. Good indicator of moisture resistance.
6. Fire resistance.
7. High-quality sound insulation of the room.
8. Ecological cleanliness.
9. Price-quality ratio.
10. Durability.

Since the roof is an unusual space, it is important that the material meets most of these requirements. What can you choose from?

Classification and selection of materials for insulation

There are a large number of insulation materials that have been successfully used for many years. They can be divided into four groups:

Of these, the following materials are used to insulate the roof both inside and outside:

• mineral or basalt wool;
• glass wool;
• Styrofoam;
• expanded clay;
• ecowool;
• polyurethane foam (PPU);
• expanded polystyrene.

Each of them has both its disadvantages and advantages over others. For example, expanded clay is environmentally friendly, has good thermal insulation properties and its price is low. This is bulk material. The difficulty is that he is not easy to work with. It is difficult to secure and evenly distribute it in a horizontal plane.

Expanded polystyrene suppresses noise well, has low thermal conductivity, is durable and strong. But when in contact with fire, it begins to melt and release toxic substances. And the vapor barrier of the material is low.

But PPU is a material that has a lot of advantages: the lowest thermal conductivity, fire resistance, environmental friendliness, light weight, installed without cold bridges, does not deform, absorbs sounds and is resistant to moisture. But, it does not breathe and is applied by spraying with a special unit.

In Russia, the two most popular insulation materials for roof insulation are mineral wool and polystyrene foam. Some prefer the first option, others the second. But what is better to insulate the roof: cotton wool or polystyrene foam?

What to choose for roof insulation

If you want to decide, you need to compare these materials according to some criteria. The first of them is the ability to pass steam (breathe). As for foam plastic, its ability to transmit steam is 0.03 mg/(m h Pa), which is 10 times less than that of mineral wool. Although the foam does not breathe, it does not accumulate moisture; it flows down. It turns out that this indicator is a draw.

If we talk about the fire resistance of the material, the leader is immediately clear. Polystyrene foam burns like a match, as soon as you bring a fire source to it. But the combustion temperature of mineral wool is 1000˚C, since it is made of molten rocks. Therefore, taking into account fire safety, mineral wool is a 100% option for roof insulation.

Ease of installation is an equally important indicator. The foam is durable, elastic and easy to install in the space between the rafters. It is safe and easy to work with. And all joints are blown with foam or sealed with tape. As for mineral wool, it is produced in rolls and slabs. Installing the insulation is also convenient, and due to its structure, the joints are invisible and minimal, so there are no cold bridges. It's a draw here.

Since the roof is in direct contact with a source of moisture (rain, snow), it is important to know how the material reacts to moisture. Polystyrene foam is excellent in this regard. It does not absorb moisture, repelling it. Moisture does not spoil the insulation. But mineral wool is hygroscopic, and if it gets wet, its ability to conserve heat is significantly deteriorated. The winner for roof insulation is PPS.

What can we say about the thermal conductivity index? After all, this is the most important property for insulation. If you look at the diagram below, it immediately becomes clear who the winner is in this stage.

The next criterion is the environmental friendliness of the insulation. And then mineral wool bursts forward. It is created exclusively from natural materials suitable for roof insulation.

Note! Both materials have the property of isolating a room from noise at a good level.

The penultimate indicator is durability. Polystyrene foam can last from 10 to 25 years. This is pretty good, but if you compare it with mineral wool, then its indicator is up to 50 years, which is twice as long.

And finally we get to the issue of price. Everything is very clear here: polystyrene foam will cost you much less than mineral wool. Therefore, if you want to insulate a garden house, or simply do not have enough funds, then polystyrene foam is the best option.

If the question arises whether it is possible to insulate a roof with foam plastic, then the answer is yes. After all, in fact, the only main drawback of the material is that it burns, and rodents like to spoil it. But, if there are no fire hazards on your roof, and your house is reliably protected from fire, then you can safely insulate the roof with polystyrene foam. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s insulating a garden house or your residential building. Still, the choice of material is yours.

Roof insulation from the inside

It is much more convenient to insulate the roof not from the outside, but from the inside. Work is safer, faster and easier. Let's find out how to insulate a roof with foam plastic with your own hands, using the example of a gable roof. The job is to lay the foam in the space between the rafters. Ideally, insulation should be carried out at the stage of roof construction. Then you can make the pitch of the rafters so that you don’t have to cut the material to width, but simply insert the finished mat. In addition, it is important to follow the technology for constructing the correct roofing pie. The photo shows what it looks like.

First, waterproofing is laid on the rafters, which is fixed with a counter-lattice. It also provides a ventilation gap. The sheathing is filled onto the counter-lattice and the roofing material is laid. Now you can begin to insulate and vapor barrier.

The recommended thickness of foam plastic for roofing is no less than 100 mm. If the thickness of the rafters is standard (180-200 mm), then the material will ideally fit into the space flush with the rafter leg without extension. So, the progress of work is as follows:

This is the most popular option. But there is a small nuance - the rafters act as cold bridges. They are made of wood, and we saw its thermal conductivity in the diagram above. Therefore, for maximum heat conservation, the roof can be additionally insulated with penoplex. It is pre-attached on top of the foam on the outside, covering the rafters. Then the cold will not penetrate into the room. That's all, in the end, if it is an attic roof, all that remains is to sheathe everything inside and finish it. The room is insulated and completely ready.

Note! As for mineral wool insulation, it is carried out according to almost the same scheme, only the joints between the slabs or rolls do not need to be sealed with foam.

Conclusion

From the information provided, you learned the requirements for insulating materials, the best options and the technology for insulating the roof with your own hands. All that remains to be done is to choose the material and make insulation. You will save significant money not only on installing the roof yourself, but also on heating the house. After all, heat loss through the roof can range from 20 to 25%. And with an insulated roof, you won’t be afraid of any frost.

By insulating only the external walls of the house, it is impossible to achieve a good heat-saving result. Due to the fact that the foundation walls are deepened into the cold soil, concrete becomes an excellent conductor of heat - it cools quickly in winter. And it is through it that cold and moisture will penetrate into the room.

Therefore, the most important stage in the construction of any building, country house or industrial facility is the flooring and further insulation of the roof. The air inside a room is always warmer than outside, with a lower density, so according to the laws of physics it rises and tends to leave the building.

Insulating the roof will ensure comfortable living in the house, creating an optimal temperature and saving energy costs on heating. Therefore, information on how to properly insulate a roof comes first among all measures for thermal insulation of a building.

To determine the need, it is worth observing the house in winter: if there is snow on the roof, then the heat is well retained in the room, and if it has melted, this indicates a loss of warm air.

What goals are being pursued?

By insulating a house from above, you can achieve one of two goals. The first goal is to create the most favorable temperature conditions only inside living rooms without actively using the attic space. In this case, thermal insulation can only be carried out from the attic or ceiling inside the house. In this case, the attic itself remains cold, the air temperature in it will be similar to the outside one.

At the same time, the space itself with such roof insulation is well ventilated and can be used for storing things that are resistant to drafts and humidity. The second goal is to turn the attic into an attic space or even a living room. In this case, it is necessary to insulate not only the floor, but also the roof and gables - the main measure will be insulating the roof from the outside.

Design is of great importance. It is the type of roof that gives an idea of ​​the possibility of using the attic and determines the procedure. There are several types of roofing.

A pitched roof is a flat surface. As a rule, they are not used for private houses, but they are often found in the architecture of city buildings, industrial facilities and utility buildings - garages, bathhouses, sheds, etc.

A gable (pitched) roof consists of two planes located at an angle to each other. Moreover, the slopes can be of different sizes: for example, in attics, the area of ​​one slope is much larger than the area of ​​the second, and the angle between them is located closer to the edge of the roof.

A broken roof has several slopes, i.e. the surface is a broken line. This design helps to increase the internal space under the roof, and the lower slopes are almost vertical, forming side walls for the room.

Working methods

The roof insulation technology is presented in the form of a “roofing cake” - a multi-layer structure consisting of external waterproofing, the insulation itself and internal vapor barrier.

If necessary, a special windproof material capable of transmitting water vapor is laid on the waterproofing.

When choosing a material, special attention should be paid to the load-bearing structures of the roof itself and the attic floor - they must withstand the load, which increases when laying heat-insulating layers.

The “roofing pie” principle is used for thermal insulation of any type of roof according to the following scheme. The very first obstacle to wind, precipitation and cold is the roofing covering - tiles, metal tiles, galvanized steel.

It is necessary to leave a ventilation space up to 5 cm thick under this material, and only then waterproofing in the form of polymers is fixed onto the pre-prepared sheathing. The absence of an air gap can lead to constant wetness due to condensation, which will flow down, forming icicles along the eaves of the building.

After the waterproofing layer comes the insulation itself. Typically, mineral wool and polystyrene foam are used for the roof. Insulation of a pitched structure involves fixing a heat insulator between the roof rafters, and the fastening must be tight so that there are no gaps between the sheets. Hard-to-reach areas are filled with scraps of mineral wool or covered with dry material (expanded clay, for example).

After thermal insulation comes a layer of vapor barrier. It can be glassine, roofing felt or foil film. The shiny surface should face the inside of the room. The vapor barrier sheets are overlapped with each other, and the joints between them are taped with metallized tape in the vertical and horizontal direction.

The scheme assumes the presence of another ventilation gap, up to 2-3 cm thick, between the vapor barrier layer and the finishing finishing - siding, lining. An air gap is needed to prevent the insulator and the entire roof structure from getting wet with condensation. Thus, insulation can be done independently, knowing all the rules and being careful.

Features by roof type

When insulating a roof with slopes, it is important to create absolutely sealed layers of waterproofing and vapor barrier. In addition, the insulation itself must be located tightly enough to the rafters so that “cold bridges” are not created at the joints - cracks through which cold air can penetrate into the room, simultaneously damaging all layers of insulation and the roof itself.

First, you should inspect all beams for rot or damage - later there will be no access to these structures, since they will be covered with insulating materials. The pitch between the wooden blocks should correspond to the size of the slabs. The latter fit into the prepared frame without a gap. All small cracks are caulked or blown out with construction foam.

How to properly insulate a roof with slabs? First of all, they should not be adjacent to the floor. It is important to provide a gap between the insulator and the roof, as a constant flow of fresh air will help cope with moisture. Secondly, they also have to be insulated from moisture with special films or foil.

Broken roof

Insulating a sloping roof is the most difficult process, since it is necessary to process several planes at once. Typically, the attic in this embodiment is used as a living room.

In addition, remote windows and balconies can be constructed in the lower slopes of a sloping roof, and this makes the thermal insulation procedure even more complex.

Excluding attic

If the roof is to be insulated, then the attic floor is supposed to be finished, since there is almost no free space here. The floor can be finished on top using rolled thermal insulation. The materials used for this are mineral wool, expanded clay or expanded polystyrene. When thermal insulation of a flat structure is carried out with expanded clay or other dry means, a clay or cement screed is applied over the insulator, or, as an option, a wooden covering.

Thermal insulation can be carried out in a simple way - the roof floor is covered with sawdust or boiler slag, less often straw straw is used. Usually it is enough to pour a layer of 5-10 cm. The presence of flammable materials should be avoided near the pipes. The advantage of this method is its low cost and simplicity of work.

Using slabs

You can also insulate the attic floor with slabs. The execution procedure is as follows: wooden formwork is made on the floor and insulator slabs are laid between the wooden beams. Afterwards, all the cracks are filled with polyurethane foam. If mineral wool is used, it must be additionally protected from moisture by wrapping it in plastic film. In addition, it is inconvenient to move on the slabs, so they will have to be sheathed with finishing materials.

Another option for a non-residential attic is to fill the floor with foam insulation. Pouring foam is sprayed onto the surface and quickly hardens, forming an even layer. The insulation can insulate all cracks and hard-to-reach corners, does not burn or deteriorate from moisture, and is not attractive to rodents.

However, this method is somewhat more expensive, since it requires special equipment to operate.

Installation errors

Before insulating the roof, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the main mistakes in the work. Firstly, savings on thermal insulation material. Secondly, leaving gaps - roll insulation should be overlapped, as even small gaps will reduce the effect. Thirdly, when insulating the attic floor, you should not allow the wooden beams to remain uncovered. In this case, they will become a “cold bridge” through which cool air will penetrate into the room.

The insulation layer should be increased so that the beam is inside the structure. When purchasing slabs, be sure to check the integrity of the packaging - if it is damaged, then there is a high probability that the cotton wool has become saturated with moisture.

Material selection

Do-it-yourself roof insulation begins with analyzing the properties of the insulator. Particular attention should be paid to the following criteria:

• flammability;
• lightness - it is necessary to calculate whether the ceilings will withstand the load. The lighter the design, the better.

Before insulating the roof, it is important to analyze such a parameter as volumetricity. Since some materials have a high thermal conductivity coefficient, others have a low coefficient, in the first option it will be necessary to increase the thickness of the structure.

For the slabs, an additional fastening should be constructed, which will also take up some of the free space. The main task is to insulate the room, minimizing the living space.

To insulate the ceiling and pitched roof, experts recommend purchasing fiber material - it has low thermal conductivity and insulates the room from noise. In addition, cotton insulation is easy to install, durable (up to 50 years), fireproof and does not contain harmful substances.