How and with what materials can the attic and the roof be insulated? Is it possible to insulate the roof from the outside? We will try to answer these and many other questions within the framework of the article.
Overlap or roof
Let's start with the main thing: first, we need to decide what exactly is to be insulated. Whether to build a cake of waterproofing and insulation on the roof or insulate the ceiling?
The answer is ridiculously simple. If the attic room is planned to be used as a residential attic, the roof is insulated. If the attic is used only for storing rarely used things, the obvious choice is to insulate the floor between the residential part of the house and the attic.
Causes?
- The area of insulation in this case will be much smaller. If so, our costs will also decrease.
- It is immeasurably easier to insulate the ceiling than the roof. The thermal insulation material can be simply laid on a horizontal surface: there will be no problems with its fixation.
Useful: the attic can be summer, used only in the warm season. And in this case, it is wiser to insulate the floor.
Insulation of a flat roof stands apart. In this case, there is no particular choice: we will not only have to insulate the roof, but also provide reliable waterproofing with rainwater drainage.
Insulation schemes and materials used
Flat roof
It is with her that we will begin our review of possible schemes.
Polyurethane foam
Roof insulation with foam implies the use of an industrial installation for spraying the components. Excellent adhesion of polyurethane foam allows you to insulate the roof with minimal preparation: you just need to thoroughly clean the surface of debris.
Thanks to the ability to apply a layer of variable thickness, an experienced operator can combine the insulation of a flat roof with the alignment of the recesses and the creation of the slope necessary for the water to drain.
High density foam is used for roofs - 60-80 kg / m3. This material is non-combustible and has excellent waterproofing properties as a pleasant addition; however, additional water protection will be required. As a rule, a reinforced screed is poured over the insulation, on which additional waterproofing is laid - liquid rubber or, much cheaper, roofing material on bitumen mastic.
The material is very practical and durable; its main drawback is its high price.
Expanded polystyrene, polystyrene
The material has a solid load; however, it is distributed evenly over its entire surface thanks to the screed lying on top. The use of extruded polystyrene foam or C-35 foam is recommended.
The material allows you to easily carry out roof insulation with your own hands. On a surface cleaned of debris, sheets of insulation are laid out with minimal gaps; in order to avoid the appearance of cold bridges, the seams are foamed. The screed laid on top ensures the slope of the roof (creating a slope for water drainage).
With the use of extruded polystyrene foam, it is possible to create a so-called inversion roof: the insulation is placed not under the waterproofing, but on it. A layer of drainage or even soil may be present on top. The inversion scheme is typical for an exploited roof (see also the article).
Mineral wool
The method of application is completely identical to the previous material (Read also the article).
There are also several nuances associated with mineral wool:
- Only glued insulation in the form of slabs is used.
- The thicker side of the slab should be facing up.
- The material is hygroscopic. Correct insulation with its use includes a layer of waterproofing between the mineral wool and the screed. In addition, a vapor barrier layer is laid under the slabs on a concrete base or profiled sheet.
Floor insulation
Now let's look at ways to insulate the floor between the residential part of the house and the unused attic.
Expanded clay, slag, sawdust
Warming with expanded clay on a concrete floor is one of the cheapest. However, it will be quite time consuming: it is not easy to drag a few cubic meters of material into the attic.
Actually, in the case of a monolithic or slab reinforced concrete floor, no additional measures for vapor barrier or insulation protection are required: expanded clay or slag is covered with a continuous layer. Thickness - at least 25 centimeters.
If the floor is wooden, a slightly more complex scheme is used.
- A plank board is sewn down along the beams.
- A vapor barrier film is laid on it.
- The insulation is filled in to the full thickness of the beams.
Mineral wool
In this case, the instructions are a little more complicated: mineral wool slabs fill the space between the beams and are separated from the surrounding air by two layers of vapor barrier - from the bottom and from the top.
Expanded polystyrene
Its use is most meaningful if you want to turn the attic into a summer attic.
One simple solution looks like this:
- Plates of extruded polystyrene foam with a thickness of 2-3 centimeters are laid out on a flat floor surface. Concrete does not require any gasket between it and the insulation; it is best to lay penofol on a wooden surface with a reflective layer down. The seams are glued.
- The flooring is laid on top - plywood, OSB or chipboard plates in two layers with overlapping seams. In this case, the floor will not play underfoot. The layers are fastened with short screws with a pitch of no more than 25 centimeters.
- Linoleum is spread along the flooring or a laminate is laid on a substrate.
Useful: the loggia or cold floor on the first floor can be insulated in the same way.
Pitched roof
Well, what does the insulation of the second floor look like under the roof? Obviously, in the case of an attic, we will have to use the space between the rafters for insulation.
In all cases, waterproofing must be present under the roof. The film is fixed with a stapler at the stage of roof installation: it is laid in horizontal stripes, starting from the bottom. It is necessary that the inevitable condensation on a roof made of metal or profiled sheet does not get into the insulation.
Then the actual roofing material is laid along the crate. For slate and metal tiles, a lathing made of a bar with a cross section of at least 25 mm is recommended; for all types of soft roofing (bituminous tiles, roofing felt, etc.), the assembly of a solid shield is required.
Any insulation made of hygroscopic material is protected from the inside with a vapor barrier film with mandatory gluing of the seams.
How can roof insulation be performed?
- Polyurethane foam is also used for roof insulation. The space between the rafters is foaming; in this case, there is no need for a vapor barrier.
- Cellulose-based can be sprayed in a similar way. When laid wet, it also forms a continuous layer of thermal insulation between the rafters.
- The technology of roof insulation using mineral wool slabs is simple and unpretentious: the slabs are inserted between the rafters. For additional fixation, you can use a cord stretched between nails driven into the side surfaces of the rafters.
Attention: in this case, the vapor barrier should be insulated with special attention. Mineral wool is hygroscopic, and its thermal insulation properties are highly dependent on the moisture content of the material.
- Foam plates are also inserted between the rafters; the seams are foamed. The calculation of the required thickness of this insulation for each climatic zone can be found in SNiP II-3-79 “Construction heat engineering”.
- Finally, extruded polystyrene foam can also be used to insulate the roof from the outside. It is glued onto a solid board - board or plywood; then it is protected by waterproofing - roofing material with gluing of seams with bitumen mastic. Of course, the use of a burner in this case is unacceptable: the material is not heat-resistant.
Conclusion
As you can see, roof insulation with your own hands and using industrial equipment is possible at any stage of construction. In the video presented in this article, you will find additional information on this topic.
A rare owner of a country estate in our latitudes is not concerned about keeping warm. The number of extravagant people is decreasing at a staggering speed among domestic owners. There are few people who are ready to easily throw money for heating the air outside their own roof.
The idea of saving money is firmly rooted in the minds preoccupied with the choice of "cruising" methods of saving. An effective way to achieve a tangible effect at minimal cost is flat roof insulation. As a result of properly executed thermal insulation, costs will be significantly reduced.
Insulation of flat roofs is carried out according to special rules that differ from the principles of thermal insulation of pitched counterparts. The analogy can be traced only in the sequence of laying the layers of the roofing cake. Flat structures do not have rafter systems, among the elements of which it is convenient to place a heat-insulating layer.
There is nothing to nail the battens to form a ventilation gap to ventilate the components. Instead of channels for ventilation, if necessary, a kind of air is created due to the partial adhesion of the coating to the underlying base.
According to building traditions, a flat roof is arranged by successively placing its components on top of each other. Traditional components include:
- Vapor barrier. Plays the role of an obstacle on the way of household vapors. Located on the side of residential, household, etc. premises.
- Thermal insulation. Prevents the passage of heat waves from the inside to the outside of the building and in the opposite direction. At the same time, it copes with the duties of a barrier for sound vibrations.
- Waterproofing... Covers thermal insulation from the outside, protecting it from atmospheric water. It is laid in 4-6 rows, depending on the size of the roof slopes, directing water to the water intakes, and on the technical characteristics of the roofing material. The outer waterproofing layer of a conventional roof serves as a topcoat. When constructing ballast roofs, gravel, soil and vegetation layer, paving slabs, etc. are laid on top of the waterproofing.
Violation of the sequence of the arrangement of layers and laying rules ends in disastrous for the owners, who are forced to lay out considerable sums for repairs or even for a total reconstruction of the roof.
Note that the aforementioned layers, together with their sequence of laying, are used only if it is necessary to preserve the heat obtained when heating the premises.
There is no reason to insulate the roof of a summer kitchen or a shed for storing country equipment. In such situations, the roofing cake includes only waterproofing if it is arranged on a concrete base, or consists of a prefabricated screed and waterproofing if corrugated board is used as a base.
Classification of insulated flat roofs
The external simplicity of a flat roof can lead to deep bewilderment of home craftsmen who want to quickly build a roof over private property. Those who recognize a flat roof as a budget option will also be surprised.
If the roof is built according to the mind: with the proper number of waterproofing layers, with insulation of the required thickness, with parapets, a drain and its heating, in the end it will cost quite decently, but it will also work flawlessly.
Flat roofs of the following categories are subject to insulation:
- Combined, they are not attic. Their roof structure is aligned with the ceiling. Warming is carried out by laying thermal insulation with accompanying layers over the base. The advantage of the combined systems is that they practically do not need to be cleared of snow in winter. After all, the floor is regularly heated from the inside. Insignificant snow deposits are easily eliminated by the natural force of the wind, which is why it is recommended to equip such roofs not with parapets, but with lattice fences. Disadvantage: the condition of the roof is difficult to monitor. The slightest damage will be reflected by leaks, followed by a serious restoration of the roofing pie.
- Attic having two subspecies within the category. The attic floor of the first subspecies is complemented by a light superstructure on top. It is clear that in such cases the ceiling should be insulated. In the scheme of the second subspecies, the attic superstructure and the ceiling are independent structures. This means that insulation is permissible for both of them. The advantage of attic structures is the free monitoring of the condition of the roof and timely detection. The owners can dry the roofing cake by simply airing the attic. Among the significant advantages is the ability to carry out insulation upon completion of the roof construction. The disadvantage lies in the impressive cost, which, however, pays off due to long-term operation and rare repairs.
The second category of attic roofing systems assumes that thermal insulation can be placed either within the superstructure or above the floor. However, the priority is the second option for laying insulation for a flat roof.
According to the second scheme, an air chamber is formed between the roofing and the thermal insulation system. This is an attic that divides the structure into two parts with a different temperature background.
The difference between the outside and inside temperature of the attic roof will not be as significant as with structures without an attic. The temperature drop will not be as sharp and destructive. Plus a minimum of condensation, which is the secret to the longevity of attic roofs.
Analysis of technical nuances
The choice of a method for insulating a flat roof is influenced by a number of circumstances, including the financial capabilities of the building owner, the required thermal insulation parameters and the bearing capacity of the building.
Almost all types of materials used to protect walls and ceilings are used as insulation: expanded clay, lightweight concrete, slabs of mineral and synthetic materials. However, the list of popular options for insulating flat roofs is now headed by:
- Expanded polystyrene- a rigid material obtained by pressing and sintering styrene granules. Lightweight, sufficiently strong slabs are used as an interlayer over which a screed is poured.
- Extruded polystyrene foam- a rigid material obtained by mixing styrene granules with a blowing agent using high temperature and pressure. Everything is kneaded and conditioned in an extruder, and then extruded from it with simultaneous molding into plates of standard dimensions. It is used as a basis for finishing roofing and as a heat-insulating layer for a concrete screed.
- Mineral wool- fibrous semi-rigid and rigid material obtained as a result of melting silicate rocks, metallurgical waste or mixtures thereof. Depending on the density, it is used as a basis for a waterproofing device or as a component of a multilayer insulation system.
Polystyrene representatives are attracted by the closed structure of granules sintered together and by minimal moisture absorption. The extrusion namesake of the previous representative has the lowest thermal conductivity. Mineral wool pleases with the ease of laying. The advantages of all these options include the lightest weight, resistance to combustion and stability of insulating qualities.
The distressing disadvantage of mineral wool is that the procedure for insulating a flat roof with it from the outside must be timed to a period without rains. The stage of laying the thermal insulation must be completed on the start day without transferring part of the work to the next day. If mineral wool gets wet, it will have to be completely changed, because the material will lose the insulating properties laid down by the manufacturer.
The type of insulation suitable for the arrangement is determined in accordance with the protocol SP 02.13130.2009, which regulates the adoption of measures to ensure the fire resistance of the object under construction. The thickness of the insulation is calculated in accordance with the requirements of the collection of rules on thermal protection of structures SNiP 23-02-2003.
Manufacturers of roofing insulation produce an assortment of materials with different parameters of density, compressive strength, and thickness. Using the products supplied to the construction market, it is possible to arrange an insulation system with the necessary characteristics for any project scenario.
In addition to standard heat-insulating plates, wedge-shaped plates are produced from these materials, which are used in organizing the natural movement of atmospheric water to drainage facilities. Fillets are produced, installed along the lines of conjugation of vertical planes with the horizontal surface of the roof.
Fillets prevent the formation of puddles and stagnation of water near parapets, adjoining walls, square in terms of chimneys, skylights, etc. It should be remembered that it cannot be considered as a worthy replacement for the insulation layer. It is obliged to solve only the issues of water disposal.
The choice of insulation method depending on the base
Insulated roofing systems are arranged on a profiled steel sheet or on a reinforced concrete base. Reinforced concrete bases include slabs, reinforced cast and prefabricated screeds. Pouring a cement-sand screed is carried out only on concrete bases and only if the strength characteristics of the base are sufficient.
The method of installing the insulation system and the characteristics of the required type of thermal insulation are selected depending on the type of base:
- Insulation of a roof with a base of reinforced concrete slabs is carried out using mineral wool, covered from above with a precast or cement-sand reinforced screed. The compressive strength of the insulation material must be 40 kPa and more. Deformation parameters are not less than 10%. When installing a two-layer insulation system, the compressive strength of the lower tier should be at least 30 kPa, the upper tier from 60 kPa.
- The flat roof to be repaired is insulated in two layers. The bottom layer is made up of plates with compression resistance values from 30 kPa, similar data of the top layer from 60 kPa with the possibility of deformation changes not more than 10%.
- The insulated roof on the corrugated board must have a two-layer structure. The strength indicators of the lower tier laid on the tops of the corrugated sheet should be from 30 kPa, the same data for the layer laid on top should be from 60 kPa. The deformation limit is 10%. If a device is planned on top of a bitumen-polymer roof, the material is laid directly on the thermal insulation system.
It is allowed to lay thermal insulation on galvanized corrugated board without a preparatory leveling layer made of flat slate or particle board, if the thickness of the slab is twice the distance between the corrugations. The insulation must rely on the flat component of the profiled sheet with its own area of at least 30%.
Mechanical fasteners for insulated flat roofs are set at the rate of 2 units per slab. If the roof is built on a concrete base, the cover and insulation are fixed at the same time.
Along vertical lines, around chimneys and other penetrations, the installation frequency of fasteners is increased. Insulation of flat structures along the profiled flooring is fixed separately from the waterproofing coating.
Insulation laying rules
The principles of laying flat roof thermal insulation are closely related to the rules for constructing a roofing pie, because insulation is its most significant and most impressive part in terms of volume. Remember that the heat-insulating material can be overlapped with a cement-sand screed or serve as the basis for laying the waterproofing together with the topcoat.
When pouring over the material of the solution for the screed device, the surface is leveled to install beacons that determine the power of the thermal insulation system.
The specifics of the thermal insulation device on a flat roof:
- The installation of thermal insulation boards starts from the corner located in the lowered roof area. If during the construction process the slope of the structure was not observed, then the first elements should be timed to the place of installation of the water intake funnels or gutters.
- Insulation plates are placed on the profiled flooring so that their long side is perpendicular to the corrugations in order to install fasteners in different ridges.
- When installing multilayer thermal insulation, the slabs are positioned according to the principle of seam spacing. Those. the layout of the slabs in each layer should resemble brickwork. In addition, the butt lines and crosshairs of the upper tier should not coincide with the analogs of the lower tier. For this, the heat-insulating plates of the second tier are cut out in the order suggested by the manufacturer of the material.
The cutting method shown as an example, which has been repeatedly tested in practice, can significantly reduce costs.
Mounting options for thermal insulation boards
The fixation of the slab insulation is carried out in accordance with the type of roof being constructed. To fix the thermal insulation layer on a flat roof, the following methods are used:
- Mechanical... Fixation is carried out by the so-called telescopic fasteners, the elements of which consist of self-tapping screws screwed into the base with plastic fungi passing through the thickness of the roofing cake. Special anchors are hammered into concrete slabs, and fastened to the ties with screws with plastic sleeves.
- Glue... Thermal insulation and other components of the roofing cake are glued to hot bitumen-polymer mastic. The insulation is glued evenly, at least 30% of its area must be in contact with the base. The device of roofing systems with bituminous or bitumen-polymer coating is not used in rainy weather, because completely deprives the insulation of the opportunity to part with excess steam. It is possible to glue it at any time of the year if there is a roofing membrane to complete the cake, allowing the excess vapor accumulated in the thermal insulation to pass outside.
- Ballast... The insulation laid on a flat roof is simply covered with a waterproofing carpet, on top of which a gravel-pebble mixture is poured or paving slabs are installed on plastic supports. The components of the system lie loose, fastening the cake only around the perimeter and around the roof penetrations.
Ballast roofs are now very popular green roofs. True, these are inversion systems, because the order of stacking the layers of the pie is somewhat different from the traditions. The insulation is laid on the waterproofing, which at the same time acts as a vapor barrier.
The thermal insulation is covered by a geo-drainage polymer membrane, produced specifically for roofs with greenery. A soil-vegetation layer is formed on the drainage layer.
Thermal insulation device from the inside
In a physical sense, it is not very convenient to lay insulation plates from the inside of a structure with a flat roof. Not everyone will be able to work for a long time with arms outstretched.
But it is practical, because you can work, regardless of rain, snow, squall wind, scorching sun. It is also not necessary to perform all actions for thermal insulation in one day, because the material will not get wet.
Work on installing thermal insulation from the inside proceeds in the following order:
- A block, both or one of the sides of which is equal to the thickness of the insulation plate, are screwed along the line of joining the ceiling and wall. For the device of internal insulation, coniferous lumber and polystyrene foam plates, which perfectly keep their shape, are suitable.
- We install a similar bar from a bar against the opposite wall.
- We glue the polystyrene foam board on hot bitumen mastic or glue to the ceiling and side edge of one of the planks. We firmly press the insulation to the mating surfaces. We fill the conditional strip with insulation plates completely. If necessary, we trim the outermost slabs according to their actual dimensions.
- We screw the block on the side of the heat-insulating strip we have created, pressing it tightly to the mating elements.
- Pressing the expanded polystyrene, we again form and glue a strip of insulation.
- We alternate the screwing of the bars with the gluing of thermal insulation until we fill the ceiling plane.
- We fasten a plastic wrap to the bars with a stapler and sheathe the ceiling with plasterboard or similar material.
Before installing thermal insulation on the inside of the building, it is necessary to think over and calculate how where and at what height to place lighting electrical appliances.
Recently, more and more homeowners are concerned about insulating the roof of their home, explaining this desire by high heat loss. After all, everyone knows that heat rises up. In addition, many materials for roof insulation have appeared on the market, and the insulation technology itself is "exaggerated" in advertisements from almost every iron. Having looked "like a neighbor's", the compassionate owner buys expensive material, mounts it, as it seems to him, correctly, and after a few months the level of heat loss is restored. What happened? We go up to the attic, disassemble the roofing cake, look, and the insulation is wet and moldy, the rafters are wet and rotting. The picture is depressing - I wanted the best, but it turned out, as always. And the secret is that a properly insulated roof should be made in the form of a layered cake, where each element performs its function. In this article, we will tell you how to properly insulate the roof, and explain in which cases it can be insulated at all, and in which it is not worth it.
When it is necessary to insulate the roof
Before moving on to the technology of roof insulation, let's decide whether it is necessary to insulate the roof specifically in your case. So, if you are not going to operate the attic as a residential floor, and it is a cold room under the slope, where the maximum is stored all sorts of things that "what if suddenly come in handy", then you do not need to insulate the roof. In the case of a cold attic, the ceilings are insulated, i.e. the floor of the attic, but not the ramp itself. Here you can even clarify that the insulation of the roof of a cold attic will work in the negative direction, and it will cease to perform its functions.
If the room under the roof slope is planned to be used for housing, i.e. as an attic with heating, then it is imperative to insulate the roof. The attic room must be completely isolated from the roof, so that the warmth of the heated room does not melt the snow lying on the roof. Melted snow turns into ice and destroys the roofing material. It is also important to remove excess moisture from the under-roof space by arranging high-quality ventilation.
The better to insulate the roof - materials
There are quite a lot of materials for roof insulation now. They are fundamentally different from each other in properties and structure. And given the fact that “every sandpiper praises his own swamp,” sometimes it is difficult to make a choice. In one place they say to insulate with foam - cheap and cheerful, in another - with mineral wool, since there are many high-quality samples from different manufacturers, and still others advocate an innovative method of spraying polyurethane foam. Therefore, let's see what the advantages and disadvantages of this or that material are.
Mineral (basalt) wool- the leader in roof insulation at the moment. Its advantages, which are important precisely for insulating the roof: it does not burn and does not support combustion, i.e. completely fireproof, the material is elastic, so it fits perfectly into the space between the rafters and keeps its shape in the future (slab positions), leaves no gaps between the rafters and the material. To this you can add a relatively low price, general availability, ease of use and excellent thermal insulation qualities.
The disadvantage of mineral wool is hygroscopicity. Unfortunately, like any cotton wool, mineral wool absorbs moisture or steam, which makes it wet. Wet wool, on the other hand, loses its thermal insulation properties by almost 60 - 80%. Why is this happening? The fact is that mineral wool accumulates moisture, but does not give it away. As a result, once wet material will have to be thrown away. It is worth noting that this drawback can be fought, it is enough to carefully protect the cotton wool from moisture, and it will last for many years.
Expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) lately it has been enjoying enviable popularity, by the way, absolutely undeservedly. For example, it is categorically not recommended to insulate the roof for them, and there are several reasons for this: expanded polystyrene burns and drips with fiery drops, the material crumbles and eventually becomes unusable, when cutting the edges crumble, as a result, gaps are formed between the material and the rafters, which have to be repaired. Surviving a fire in a foam-insulated attic is almost impossible.
So, despite the obvious advantages of expanded polystyrene: light weight, low price, moisture resistance, it must be put aside when insulating the attic. Please note that the very specificity of using foam as insulation suggests that it will be hidden by plaster or screed. In other words, it is good in its place - in a wet facade and under a floor screed.
Extruded polystyrene foam- in fact, an improved foam and an excellent material for insulation, where rigidity is important. Unlike foam, it burns, but does not support combustion, keeps its shape and has a structure that does not crumble or collapse during cutting and installation. Also, the advantages of extruded polystyrene foam are moisture resistance, durability, light weight, strength and rigidity, excellent thermal insulation properties (a smaller layer is required than mineral wool).
Polyurethane foam began to be used for insulation of roofs quite recently, but have already managed to advertise to smithereens. This material is gas-filled plastics. It is sprayed using a special installation, and the indisputable advantage of this technology is that there are absolutely no gaps left. In addition, polyurethane foam does not burn, does not absorb moisture, weighs little and keeps its shape. And spraying the material not only into the space between the rafters, but also on the inner surface of the rafters, avoids cold bridges, which are wooden beams. The disadvantage of polyurethane foam is vapor permeability, the attic room turns out to be a little damp, if you do not equip high-quality supply and exhaust ventilation.
Polyurethane foam insulated roof: video example
Ecowool or cellulose wool has also been used for insulation more recently. It has a number of advantages: it does not burn, is environmentally friendly, “breathes”, weighs little and also blows into all cracks, does not absorb moisture. Neither the evaporation of ecowool, nor its small particles are capable of harming human health, unlike basalt wool.
Asking the question, what is the best way to insulate the roof, it is necessary to understand that each material is good in its place.
Mineral wool it is convenient to insulate the roof by laying it between the rafters. This design is convenient and maintainable, if necessary, the roofing pie can be disassembled and the rafters can be inspected. This is extremely important for the roof.
Styrofoam it is better not to insulate the roof, we have already decided on this.
Extruded polystyrene foam it is convenient to insulate flat roofs and slopes with a small angle of inclination by laying the material on top of the rafters from the outside. The material is tough enough to perform well under the roofing material. It is possible to lay EPSP between the rafters, but it is not very convenient, since there will always be gaps between the rafter beam and the material. It is short-sighted to blow out such cracks with polyurethane foam, it collapses from frequent changes in temperature cycles, from time to time. Also, to inspect the rafters, the entire layer of foam will have to be cut and removed.
Polyurethane foam- the material, of course, is durable, but it is short-sighted to use it for roof insulation. Basically, you bury the rafters in a layer of polyurethane foam. You will not be able to inspect their condition without removing the material. This is a very significant drawback - the roof becomes unrepairable.
Ekovatu can be used in attic floors, which are characterized by a large area and spaciousness. This is due to the fact that the layer of ecowool for insulating the roof is 500 mm, it is of this width that the space will have to be allocated for the structure into which the ecowool will be blown.
How to properly insulate the roof
After you have decided on the material, it's time to get acquainted with the technology of working with it. The entire structure of the insulated roof will depend on the selected material, as well as the place of its installation.
There are several options for arranging roof insulation: laying insulation between the rafters, laying insulation outside under the roofing material, installing insulation inside the attic to the rafters and blowing material onto the surface between the rafters. Let's take a closer look at some of them, the most popular ones, in which they make more mistakes.
Laying insulation between the rafters
As an example, let's consider the option when mineral (basalt) wool with a layer of 250 mm is laid between the rafters. This material requires strict adherence to installation technology.
Mineral wool insulation cake (from the inside to the outside):
- Finishing material (drywall);
- Ventilation gap;
- Vapor barrier membrane (protects mineral wool from vapors);
- Mineral (basalt) wool;
- Waterproofing membrane (lets out steam, but does not let water in);
- Ventilation gap;
- Roofing material.
All work on roof insulation in this way is convenient to perform at the stage of building a house, but if the moment is missed, you will have to remove the roofing material, otherwise it will turn out to be of poor quality.
Stages of work:
- After the roof truss structure has been mounted, but have not yet started laying the roofing material, you need to take care of roof waterproofing... For this, a waterproofing superdiffusion membrane is spread over the rafters. It is important not to confuse the sides, since one side does not allow water to pass through, and the other - in the opposite direction of the steam. It is necessary to lay out with the side that is waterproof. Work begins from the bottom, from the eaves, moving up. The canvases are laid with an overlap of at least 10-15 cm, and the joints are glued with construction tape. The waterproofing film should not be placed in tightness, since with the onset of frost it will shrink and may be damaged at the attachment points. Therefore, they spread it with a sag of about 2 cm by 1 m. The film is attached to the rafters with the staples of a construction stapler, if there is no such tool, you can use galvanized nails with a wide head.
- Next stage - ventilation gap formation through which excess vapors coming out of the insulation will be removed. On top of the waterproofing, a crate of wooden slats with a thickness of 2.5 to 5 cm is stuffed. The thickness depends on the width of the ventilation gap, which is required. The slats are fixed with galvanized self-tapping screws, having previously made holes in the slats, so as not to injure the waterproofing film with a sharp object once again.
- Mounted on top of the lathing roofing material.
- Next stage - laying insulation, therefore, it is necessary to move inside the attic room. First, the mineral wool is unpacked and allowed to lie down so that it takes its normal shape. Then the canvases and slabs (whichever is more convenient) are cut into the required lengths. The distance between the rafters is taken as a basis. The width of the sheet of mineral wool should be equal to the distance between the rafters plus 20 - 30 mm for the formation of tension, so that the material becomes "spaced". You can cut the mineral wool with an ordinary construction knife, but be sure to wear gloves, a respirator and tight clothing so that microparticles of the material do not get on the skin.
- Then the sheets of mineral wool are pushed into the space between the rafters. The edges of the material near the rafters will turn out to be slightly bent, so you need to press the middle of the canvas, it will spring and the edges will straighten.
- New stage - arrangement of vapor barrier... On top of the sheets of mineral wool, a vapor barrier film is spread and attached, which will not let wet vapors from the living room inside the insulation. The sheets of the film are also laid with an overlap, glued with adhesive tape and attached to the rafters with staples of a construction stapler.
- Then executed ventilation gap so that steam accumulated near the film can be eroded away. To do this, a crate of 25 mm thick slats is stuffed over the vapor barrier film.
- Mounted on top of the lathing wall decoration material and the ceiling of the attic - most often it is drywall.
Insulated roof - photo example.
This completes the roof insulation. All materials are in place: wooden rafters and insulation are reliably protected from moisture that can get through a leaky roof, from the inside, the insulation is protected from steam that comes from the room, and the whole structure is repairable. If there is a need to inspect the condition of the rafters, you will have to dismantle the drywall, lathing and vapor barrier film, and then mount it again.
If you want to insulate the roof in an old house and do not want to remove the roofing material, you can fix the waterproofing membrane from the inside of the attic by wrapping the rafters with it and wrapping it inside the space between the rafters. Insulation is laid on top. This design is worse than the previous one, since the rafters are unprotected from the influence of the environment.
If you are interested in a question, how to insulate a soft roof, then the answer is simple - using the same technology as described above. The only difference is that moisture-resistant plywood is stuffed onto the crate, which forms a gap between the waterproofing membrane and the roofing material. On top of the plywood sheets, a soft roof is laid and attached.
Insulation of a flat roof
The technology of flat roof insulation stands apart. Here it is not possible to mount insulation between the rafters, and laying it on top of the roof is fraught with the difficulty that the material must be extremely durable. So mineral wool and ecowool, as well as polyurethane foam are swept aside, and only extruded polystyrene foam and plates of increased rigidity from basalt wool remain.
Flat insulated roof device:
- Vapor barrier on top of the roof (not necessary for EPS);
- Extruded polystyrene foam or basalt wool slabs;
- Waterproofing with bituminous mastic and roofing felt;
- Cement-sand screed.
Stages of work:
- Flat roofs are most often either a floor slab, or less often - corrugated sheets. On top of the floor slab, it is necessary to spread a vapor barrier film. If corrugated board is laid on the roof, then the vapor barrier material is not needed at this stage.
- On top of the film, slabs of extruded polystyrene foam are laid, be sure to sprawl. Fastened with dowel-nails. It is better if the EPS will fit into two layers - the first is thicker than 70 - 170 mm, and the second is less than - 30 - 50 mm. The main thing is that the joints of the plates do not coincide, so all cold bridges in the form of cracks will be blocked.
- Roofing material and Technonikol are spread on top of the EPSP and glued to the slabs, for example, using bitumen mastic. This is the main layer of waterproofing of a flat roof, so it must be done very carefully, leaving no gaps and trying not to damage the coating.
- A concrete screed is laid on top of the waterproofing with roofing material. This is necessary if the roof will be walk-through, and not necessary if it will not be walked on.
Plates of extruded polystyrene foam have unique strength and rigidity, they will not slip when walking, but the slab positions of basalt wool are also good. Only they still have the same drawback - hygroscopicity, which EPS is absolutely devoid of.
They usually decide to insulate the roof from the outside out of despair, when the attic is so small that every centimeter is important. In this case, the insulation can be laid on top of the rafters from the outside, and extruded polystyrene foam is used for this.
Stages of work:
- On top of the rafters, sheet material is attached - wooden boards, plywood. It will serve as the basis for insulation.
- A vapor-tight membrane is laid on top of the sheet material (not necessary, since EPS is not afraid of moisture).
- Next, EPS sheets are attached with dowels with a mushroom head, always at a distance.
- The lathing for the ventilation gap and the counter lathing for fastening the roofing material are mounted.
- Roofing material is attached.
Sometimes it is advised to fix a waterproofing membrane on top of EPSP boards, but it is not necessary, since the material is not afraid of moisture.
Roof insulation is a fairly easy matter, it can be done independently. But do not forget that each material requires compliance with the technology of its use. Do not ignore the requirements for waterproofing and vapor barrier mineral wool, otherwise all your work will go down the drain.
How to insulate the roof: video - instructions
Flat roofs are less popular in private buildings compared to pitched roofs. They are mainly used in the construction of multi-storey residential buildings and industrial facilities. According to statistics, only 5% of private houses and cottages have this type of roof.
But when erecting outbuildings, garages, terraces, this type of roof is used quite often. A flat roof is influenced by various kinds of loads: precipitation, wind, temperature differences, sun, installation loads, etc. Therefore, flat roof insulation is a complex undertaking that requires a thorough approach.
Thermal insulation technologies
The method of insulation and the sequence of work depends on the type of flat roof. They are traditional and inverted. Inverted roofs are usually maintenance roofs. Traditional roofs do not perform additional functions.
Thermal insulation of traditional roofing
"Roofing cake" of traditional type roofs is made of the following layers:
- concrete base or metal profile;
- vapor barrier;
- insulation material;
- waterproofing layer.
The sequence of interlayers for thermal protection of an inversion roof is somewhat different. In this case, the insulation system looks like this:
- bearing base;
- waterproofing;
- insulation material;
- geotextile;
- backfilling with rubble;
- topcoat.
Operated and unexploited roofs
Non-exploited roofs have only a basic protective function.
The surfaces of the exploited roofs can additionally serve as a garden, a terrace, a sports ground, and a recreation area. Therefore, the insulating structure of the operated roof must be especially strong and reliable. When installing a single-layer insulation system on such a roof, a concrete screed must be made over the insulation.
Green roof.
Single and double layer insulation
Depending on the number of layers of insulation, the insulation system can be two-layer and one-layer.
With a single-layer system, the thermal insulation layer is made of insulation material of the same density. In this case, the heat insulator must be sufficiently dense and durable.
This design is usually used in the reconstruction of an old roof or in the construction of warehouses, industrial buildings and garages.
When installing a two-layer insulation system, two layers of insulation are laid. The bottom layer has the main heat-shielding function. It has a large thickness compared to the top layer, high thermal insulation characteristics. In this case, the strength of the material can be relatively low.
The upper layer of insulation additionally has the function of redistributing the load. Its thickness is less, while the density and compressive strength must be high.
The two-layer construction allows to achieve high strength of the insulation system with a relatively low weight. As a result, the load on the floors is reduced.
Material selection
When choosing insulation for a flat roof, you need to take into account the following material characteristics:
- strength;
- density;
- thermal insulation properties;
- Fire safety;
- soundproofing characteristics.
The following materials can be used for thermal insulation:
- mineral basalt wool, due to the air in the structure, the material has high thermal insulation properties, and the fibers of the insulation firmly adhere to each other, providing it with high tensile strength;
- ecowool - a material made of cellulose, which is treated with fire retardants in order to make the insulation non-combustible;
- polyurethane foam - a modern sprayed heat insulator, which forms a homogeneous surface without seams;
- extruded polystyrene foam is a popular insulation that has good thermal insulation qualities, is not afraid of moisture, is easy to install, and is available;
- aerated concrete is a modern material that is as strong as concrete and as light as foam.
Laying the vapor barrier
When insulating a traditional roof, a vapor barrier material must be laid on top of the base. If this is not done, then the insulation will gradually accumulate moisture and lose its thermal insulation properties, air pockets are formed, the roof is deformed.
Polyethylene and polypropylene films or fused bitumen materials can act as a vapor barrier. Lack of films in the presence of seams. Bituminous materials form a uniform, tear-resistant surface.
It is imperative to lay the vapor barrier not only on a horizontal surface, but also on the wall just above the level of the insulation.
Installation of insulation
After laying the vapor barrier layer, you can proceed to the installation of the insulation material.
Thermal insulation with mineral wool
Not every type of mineral wool is suitable for insulating a flat roof. The material must be strong enough to withstand the loads during installation and operation. Therefore, special high-strength mineral plates are used.
Installation of insulation can be done in two ways: dowels or bitumen. The process of fastening to bitumen is rather complicated and expensive. Therefore, this method of mounting slabs is advisable when laying on a concrete base. Then you don't have to buy specialized dowels, which are more expensive, and drill holes in concrete.
If the base is made of profiled sheet, then it is more convenient to fix the plates mechanically using adhesives or dowels. In the case when it is planned to install a cement-sand screed, it is not necessary to fix the slabs.
When choosing a mechanical method of fastening insulation for a flat roof, the vapor barrier must be made of weldable materials so that the holes formed in the base can be tightened.
When laying the insulation in two layers, the lower plates are coated with bitumen, and the upper ones are installed so that the seams between the plates of the upper and lower layers do not coincide. This is necessary so that cold bridges do not form.
The use of expanded polystyrene
The principles of roof insulation with extruded polystyrene foam are similar to insulation with mineral wool. At the same time, polystyrene foam plates have slot locks, which greatly simplify the process of their installation. To prevent moisture ingress, all seams are glued with tape.
Waterproofing
To protect the roof from water, a waterproofing layer must be installed. At the same time, on traditional roofs, it is installed on a heater, and on inverted ones - under a heater. The installation of the waterproofing membrane follows the same principle as the installation of the vapor barrier. Waterproofing can be made of rolled, welded materials or steel profiled sheets.
Insulation with polyurethane foam
The stages of work described above can be skipped if such modern material as polyurethane foam is used as insulation. It is sprayed onto the surface to be insulated using special installations. The result is an even sealed layer without seams. Additional vapor and waterproofing is no longer required. The material can be applied to almost any substrate. Service life - from 25 years. The disadvantages of polyurethane foam insulation are its high cost and the need to call specialists.
How successfully a flat roof is insulated depends on strict adherence to certain rules and generally accepted technology. Here are some of them.
Following instructions
Any modern insulation system involves the implementation of a number of rules established by the manufacturer. Basically, the order of work is the same everywhere. The difference lies in the details. Some types of insulation require the use of only certain adhesives. Take another - damage the surface. Therefore, when purchasing a turnkey system, be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions.
Preparation of the base
Before performing insulation work, the base must be carefully prepared. It must be cleaned of ice or snow in winter and free of moisture and debris in summer.
Proper styling process
The installation of the insulation is carried out "by yourself". You should start from the edge that is opposite the roof exit. You need to move along special inventory walkways in order to evenly distribute the mechanical load. The direction of stacking is periodically changed.
The soft roof is not metal, it does not conduct heat. But just a thin layer of bituminous coating is not enough to keep the house warm. How to insulate a soft roof?
It makes sense to make a cold roof if the house is operated exclusively during the summer season. In other cases, the installation of a soft roof with insulation is performed.
How to insulate a soft roof?
Regardless of the type of roof (flat or pitched), it is preferable to insulate the soft roof with basalt wool. Its distinctive property is incombustibility.
This is important because:
- the private sector is dominated by wooden buildings;
- the rafter system of the pitched roof is usually wooden;
- most of the flat roofing rolls are either welded or laid on hot bitumen.
Expanded polystyrene insulation for the roof is not the best option: all types of EPS are to some extent flammable and release toxic substances during combustion. Also, complete insulation with this material is impossible!
The minus of mineral wool is hygroscopicity. But when using an absolutely sealed bitumen coating and a full ventilation device to drain condensate, this disadvantage will not appear.
The advantages of basalt insulation for a soft roof include an affordable price and ease of installation.
How to insulate a soft shingle roof
When constructing complex roofs (round, curved, mansard), flexible shingles are the most suitable material. It is flexible and follows the contour of the base. When decorating attic superstructures, installation is obtained with a minimum of waste. But the insulation of an attic with a roof made of soft tiles is even more important than roofs with any other configuration, because due to roof windows, heat loss increases.
Consider, using the attic as an example, the structure of a roofing pie with insulation: 
- top layer - tiles;
- lining carpet;
- solid base for coating - sheets of moisture-resistant plywood;
- crate, boards 10 by 2.5 cm or 7.5 by 2.5;
- counterbeam 5 by 5 cm. Necessary for full ventilation of the roof space, because the absolute tightness of the bituminous tile prevents the free drainage of condensate from the house;
- windproof (aka waterproofing) membrane;
- rafters with insulation placed between them;
- if you lay additional insulation soy, you need to stuff another 5 by 5 beam on the rafters from the inside;
- vapor barrier film;
- ceiling panels.
Installation sequence:
1. Plates are installed between the rafters and close to each other.
2. Lay a hydro / windproof film on top. The adjacent strips are laid with an overlap, the joints are glued with mounting tape. Fastening - with a stapler to the rafters.
3. Stuff the bars of the counter-lattice along the rafter legs. With this installation direction, the air will move freely under the roof from the overhang to the ridge.
4. The sheathing boards are stuffed parallel to the ridge. The total thickness of the board with counterbeam is 10 centimeters.
5. Moisture-resistant plywood or OSB is placed on top of the board with a gap in the joints. Fastening with galvanized nails or self-tapping screws.
6. On top of the plywood, lay the underlay and covering in accordance with the instructions for the model.
7. An aerator is installed on the ridge and covered with a ridge tile on top.
8. From the side of the attic, a vapor barrier film is hemmed to the rafters - with an overlap, the joints are glued with tape.
9. Sew up the ceiling of the attic with clapboard, boards or other material.
note
For the construction of pitched roofs, it is recommended to choose basalt insulation 15 centimeters thick, with a density of 30-40, so that the layer does not sag over time.Our work
Roll-up soft roof technology with insulation
The base of a flat roof can be made of reinforced concrete slabs, thick corrugated board with high corrugation, wooden boards:
- corrugated board should be chosen galvanized, corrosion-resistant;
- the wooden floor must be treated with antiseptics;
- on a reinforced concrete slab, in order to avoid its further destruction, all cracks, cavities, irregularities must be repaired.
Procedure for assembling the cake:
1. Install the vapor barrier membrane.
2. Lay the basalt wool slabs. Fix to the base with dowels or self-tapping screws.
3. If at the base of a reinforced concrete slab that can withstand the load of a cement-sand screed, a waterproofing film and a screed 2-10 cm thick are placed on top of the insulation.
4. A bituminous roof is fused over the screed in 2-3 layers.
If the floor is made of wood, it will not support the weight of the screed. In this case, it is recommended to choose a polymer membrane (PVC, EPDM, PVO) for the topcoat. A layer of geotextile is placed on top of the insulation, a membrane is placed on it. Fastening is carried out mechanically.