Insulation of the attic roof allows you to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room during the cold season. In the process of carrying out the work, it is worth considering some of the nuances associated with the design features. The roof and walls of the room are a single whole or fit tightly to each other. Because of this, the space gets very hot in the summer and cools down in the winter months, making it difficult to maintain the right temperature.
Design
The thermal insulation scheme is a “pie” consisting of several layers: roofing, moisture barrier, ventilation gaps, thermal insulation, vapor barrier materials. Each of them is an integral element and has certain functions. Of particular importance are the ventilation gaps and the materials used for thermal insulation. It is theyform a comfortable microclimate in the room. Do-it-yourself insulation of the attic roof from the inside is necessary not only to keep warm in frosty weather, but also to reduce the degree of space heating in summer. Materials with a low level of thermal conductivity can cope with this task. As this parameter decreases, less heat escapes through the insulating layer, thus allowing the use of thin materials to achieve optimal conditions.
Why you need insulation
The role of thermal insulation in the construction of a house is invaluable. The walls of the attic, as noted earlier, in some cases are part of the roof. When heating a room during the winter months, the heat rises to the ceiling and passes to the material used to finish the roof. The layer of snow on it forms an air pocket and acts as a natural insulation. But this only applies to a situation where a material with low thermal conductivity was used in the arrangement of the roof. Otherwise, the snow cover begins to melt under the influence of heat coming from the inside, turns into an ice crust and leads to a cooling of the space. In addition, there is a possibility of damage and violation of the integrity of the roof due to the large mass of ice. Prevention of such problems is possible only if the insulation of the attic roof from the inside was done competently and using suitable materials.
No less important is thermal insulation in the summer heat. The use of materials with high thermal conductivity or their complete absenceleads to excessive heating of the room, due to which the temperature in it becomes uncomfortable to stay. A suitable temperature regime is formed using special materials and compliance with all the rules of work. First of all, it is necessary to build on the design of the roof and take into account its influence on the chosen type of thermal insulation.
Features
The main feature of the mansard roof is the parameters of the ventilation space located between the room and the external structure. Its dimensions are in the range of 15-20 cm, while the standard roof has an attic with dormer windows. For the formation of a suitable temperature regime, not only the insulation of the attic roof is important, but also the creation of high-quality ventilation. It prevents the formation of excessive moisture levels under the roof, thereby increasing the period of operation and the reliability of wooden structures. During the heating period, ventilation reduces the level of heating of the roof, respectively, the likelihood of the formation of an ice crust decreases. Part of the heat in the summer heat is removed from the space under the roof with the help of ventilation, which reduces the temperature in the room and prevents excessive heating of the internal structural elements.
Material selection
Before insulating an attic with a sloping roof from the inside, you need to choose the right material. It determines not only the thickness of the laid layer, but also the overall design of the heat-insulating cake.
OnIn the modern construction market, you can find various materials for insulation, they are presented in a wide range, so that the buyer can choose the desired option for any design and budget. The most widespread are polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, foamed glass, mineral wool and glass wool. Natural materials are also quite popular: paper, wood shavings and straw. To make the right choice, you need to consider several basic parameters:
- The level of thermal conductivity is of paramount importance. It is best to stop at a heater, the indicator of which is within 0.05 watts per square meter. m.
- Moisture resistant. Increasing this parameter improves material characteristics.
- Safety for human he alth.
- Fire retardant.
As noted earlier, special attention should be paid to the first two indicators.
Wadding
Glass wool and mineral wool have become widespread due to their low cost and ease of installation. It should be noted that their thermal insulation characteristics decrease over time. This happens for several reasons: use at high humidity levels and caking of the material. Cotton wool absorbs moisture, has low strength characteristics and lack of resistance to mechanical stress, which leads to gradual crumbling. The attic roof insulation technology using this material involves the formation of a thickcake, which includes several layers of cotton wool. To obtain the required thermal insulation characteristics, a vapor barrier and moisture barrier layer are also required.
Styrofoam
Polyfoam has a high level of heat retention and resistance to moisture. There are several varieties of material, each suitable for different purposes.
Extruded polystyrene foam has similar characteristics. It has a low level of thermal conductivity, but its cost is quite high, which is why many buyers opt for other options.
Natural materials
The best solution for people who prefer natural environmentally friendly materials is the insulation of the attic roof using granulated paper, foam glass, seaweed ladders, reeds and straw. Despite their excellent heat retention properties, they have some disadvantages. Seaweed, reeds and straw are flammable, and foam glass is a very fragile material. In addition, natural insulation requires compliance with certain conditions and the use of specialized tools, in particular, the last paragraph refers to granular paper.
What you need to know
Proper insulation of the attic roof consists of several stages - this is surface preparation, installation of the material and its fixing. It is necessary to take care of the formation of thermal insulation even in the process of creating a truss system and remember aboutthe need for a step to fix materials. It must be of sufficient size to allow the installation of insulation boards and the formation of a reliable roof structure. The use of an additional vapor barrier is only required for materials exposed to moisture.
Mansard roof insulation instructions
To begin with, a crate and a counter-crate are formed, on top of which a membrane is mounted, which is a waterproof vapor-transparent film. The space formed between the insulation and the counter-lattice acts as a ventilation gap.
Ventilation products are additionally equipped. The attic roof is insulated from the inside by laying the selected material between the rafters. Due to the fact that metal or wood is used for the manufacture of rafters, they have a high coefficient of thermal conductivity compared to a layer of insulation. For this reason, they become cold bridges. To prevent cooling of the structure, it is necessary to form an additional layer on the already laid layer of thermal insulation. In the process of work, difficulties may arise associated with the installation of the remaining elements of the attic structure, so it is worth noting the location of the rafters in advance.
Before the inner crate is formed, the heat-insulating layer is covered with a vapor-permeable membrane.
What to look out for
It is worth noting that the insulation of the attic roof is a necessary measure, soas soon as in this way it is possible to reduce the heating of the room in the summer heat and save on heating in the winter. The technique used is practically no different from the thermal insulation of a standard roof. Of particular importance is the arrangement of ventilation and the formation of layers in accordance with the overall design. The choice of materials depends on the preferences of the owner of the house, the main thing is to take into account their moisture resistance and degree of thermal conductivity.
The procedure for insulating the attic under a gable roof
First you need to free the room from unnecessary items that may interfere with the work, this item is especially relevant for a living space filled with furniture and other elements. It should be noted that the use of polystyrene is characterized by the formation of a large amount of debris during cutting, which is quite difficult to remove from the surfaces. Therefore, it is necessary to cover with a film all objects that cannot be taken out. It is recommended that you take care to eliminate drafts, as they will lead to a more intensive distribution of the pellets.
Then the rafters are carefully inspected for damage. If wood was used for manufacturing, then they must be treated with special antiseptic agents.
If necessary, the crate for thermal insulation is formed not on the rafters, but on the ceiling itself. Of course, this greatly simplifies the work and reduces time costs, but the ceiling height in the room will be less by about 15-20 cm, and it will also not be possible to check the condition of the truss system.
Then the vapor barrier membrane is fixed. It should be stretched very tightly and fit to the roof sheathing. The task can be simplified using a construction stapler. The joints of the material are formed with an overlap of 15 cm and fixed with adhesive tape. The best option would be reinforced tape, but in its absence, you can limit yourself to standard paper.
Insulation with Styrofoam
Styrofoam is a tough, lightweight material that can be cut with a regular knife. It is recommended to have several knives in stock, as the blades become dull quickly during the work. Of particular importance is careful dimensional matching to prevent gaps from forming. If the insulation of the roof of the attic with foam plastic is done correctly, a minimum number of gaps will form, and, as a result, high thermal insulation efficiency will be achieved. In some cases, the appearance of cracks becomes inevitable, especially often this happens with a curved shape of the rafters. For their sealing, polyurethane foam is used. If it is necessary to install an additional layer, you must wait until the foam has completely dried and continue laying after removing the excess that comes to the surface.
As a rule, the foam is securely fastened between the rafters without additional measures, but in some cases it becomes necessary to use special glue. From above it is covered with a film intended for interior work. After obtaining the necessary membrane tension, a metal guide profile is fixed orwooden rail. This element will become not only the basis for future cladding, but also an additional fastener for the film.
Conclusion
Insulation of the attic roof with the hands of one person is quite realistic, the main thing is to take into account the climatic conditions of the region and the purpose of the room, on average, the layer thickness is in the range of 15-20 cm. When laying the material in one layer, a large number of joints can form in order to To prevent this, it is recommended that the thinner foam be overlapped in a masonry pattern.
