Frame house 

How to insulate the roof of a house. Do-it-yourself roof insulation from the inside. Inspection of the rafter system and roof covering

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.

What is the best way to insulate the roof of a house: choosing materials for insulation

When choosing the best way to insulate a roof, it is important to take into account not only the cost of the material itself, its technical parameters, but also the installation features. You can install many types of heat insulator yourself, but in some cases the use of special equipment is required.

Principles for choosing insulation

To choose the right insulation for your roof, you should first pay attention to the type of roof. It can be flat or pitched - depending on the design features, some requirements for the material differ.

In general, when selecting a heat insulator for a roof, the following parameters are assessed:

  • thermal conductivity (the lower this parameter, the more effective the insulation);
  • moisture resistance;
  • long service life without loss of performance properties;
  • stability of shape (material capable of maintaining geometric parameters is more reliable);
  • specific gravity (preference is recommended to be given to materials with low density that do not weigh down the roof structure);
  • frost resistance (with temperature changes, the thermal insulation material should not lose its properties);
  • sound insulation (this parameter is one of the key ones when choosing insulation for a roof covered with a “noisy” roofing material);
  • fire resistance;
  • environmental friendliness (the material should not emit toxic substances).

The best insulation for roofing is a lightweight, non-flammable, safe and durable material that is suitable for the design of the roof frame.

Errors that significantly affect the quality and reliability of roof insulation include:

  • savings on quality (it is recommended to use insulation from reputable manufacturers);
  • installation of a heat-insulating layer that is not thick enough;
  • violation of installation technology (insufficiently high-quality waterproofing and vapor barrier, presence of joints and through seams in the insulation layer, lack of ventilation gaps in the pitched roof pie).

Today on the construction market you can find a wide range of thermal insulation materials for roofing. First of all, these are materials:

Each type of insulation has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Mineral wool

Roof insulation with mineral wool is today one of the most popular thermal insulation options for flat and pitched roofs. This insulation has a fibrous structure and is made from rock melts. Mineral wool is supplied to the market in the form of rolls or slabs (mats).

When choosing this insulation, you need to carefully consider the thickness and density of the material.

The advantages of mineral wool include:

  • high level of thermal insulation;
  • affordable price;
  • non-flammability;
  • environmental Safety;
  • ease of installation;
  • biostability (does not rot, is not damaged by rodents, insects and microorganisms);
  • vapor permeability;
  • soundproofing;
  • stability of geometric dimensions.

Rigid basalt slabs made of mineral fiber are used for external insulation of flat roofs. Mineral wool of less thickness and density is suitable for insulating pitched roofs. Stone wool acts as one of the fire protection elements of the roofing system.

Insulating a roof with mineral wool requires a careful approach to ensuring reliable hydro- and vapor barrier of the heat-insulating layer and creating ventilation gaps. This avoids moisture accumulation in the insulation. Otherwise, the thermal insulation properties of mineral wool will deteriorate, and the rafter structures may begin to rot.

Glass wool

Glass wool is a time-tested thermal insulation material, similar in its characteristics to mineral wool. Melted glass is used to make it. Glass wool is available in rolls and slabs. This is a non-flammable, environmentally friendly insulation with soundproofing properties.

When installing glass wool thermal insulation, it is necessary to use protective equipment and follow certain installation rules to avoid health hazards.

Before insulating a roof with mineral wool, you need to select a material to create a vapor barrier, while a number of manufacturers produce glass wool slabs with a foil coating on the outside. This speeds up and simplifies the installation of this thermal insulation material.

Expanded polystyrene

Extruded polystyrene foam (foam) is a popular board material that is used for roof insulation. It is characterized by high thermal insulation characteristics and is resistant to moisture. Due to the fact that polystyrene foam does not absorb vapors, the slabs can be mounted directly on the waterproofing without creating an air gap in the pitched roof.

The flammability of polystyrene foam and its vapor permeability make this roof insulation material unsuitable for installing flat soft roofs.

When insulating a pitched roof, foam slabs are laid between the rafters in one layer. It is necessary to ensure that the edges of the slabs fit snugly against the wooden structures. The joints must be filled with polyurethane foam, and reinforced tape must be glued on top.

Polyurethane foam

  • low thermal conductivity;
  • low specific gravity;
  • soundproofing properties;
  • biostability;
  • waterproofing properties (due to the clogged cell structure).

Polyurethane foam is produced in the form of rigid slabs, and can also be applied to the roof structure by spraying.

PPU slabs have sufficient rigidity. They are easy to cut and drill and do not lose their shape during use. Their installation is carried out using the same technology as thermal insulation of the roof with slabs of extruded polystyrene foam.

Spraying polyurethane foam is a modern technology that has already earned recognition. The application of the insulating layer is carried out using special equipment, and this is the main disadvantage of this material. The main advantage of sprayed polyurethane foam is the ability to create a monolithic heat-insulating layer, since the foaming material fills all the cracks.

Roof insulation with foam insulation is similar to using sprayed polyurethane foam. In terms of its technical characteristics, penoizol (urea-formaldehyde foam) is close to conventional polystyrene foam. The advantages of the material include the combination of its price and quality. Taking into account the thermal conductivity coefficient, the cost of penoizol is lower than mineral wool, basalt slabs, and extruded polystyrene foam. The polymer material is safe for human health.

Spraying of penoizol is carried out using a foaming unit. The hose approaches the installation site of the insulation, and the foam fills the required gap. Thermofen in its frozen form is a material that does not weigh down structures and does not have any harmful effects on them.

Penoizol differs from sprayed polystyrene foam in its higher level of moisture absorption, which is about 5%. Therefore, there is a need to install a vapor barrier.

When installing a flat roof, various materials are used to insulate the roof of the house. These include foam concrete, consisting of:

  • concrete;
  • cement;
  • sand;
  • blowing agent.

Foam material allows you to create durable and reliable roof insulation. Due to its low density, foam concrete does not create high loads on supporting structures and retains heat well. The advantages of the material include:

For the installation of foam concrete, a special mobile installation is used. The insulation layer can be from 30 to 150 mm.

This material is also used when installing flat roofs. Expanded clay is a bulk insulation material that is laid on the floor slab or the outer surface of the roof. The material must be compacted and covered with a screed, while maintaining the required angle of the roof slope to ensure the removal of precipitation.

The use of expanded clay leads to a significant increase in loads on building structures and the foundation of the building, which must be foreseen at the design stage. The quality of such insulation largely depends on the correct execution of installation work.

Foam glass

When choosing how to insulate the roof of a private house, you can pay attention to an environmentally friendly material with high thermal insulation characteristics - foam glass. This material is made by foaming glass mass with carbon, it differs:

  • resistance to deformation;
  • durability;
  • biostability;
  • resistance to steam and water;
  • non-flammability.

Foamed glass is used for thermal insulation of all types of roofing, regardless of the materials from which it is made. When installing insulation, it is important to take into account its low absorbency and use polymer acetate glue to ensure high adhesion.

The use of foam glass allows you to add elasticity to a soft roof and level its surface. This is a suitable material for arranging flat roofs in use.

Ecowool (cellulose) is an insulation material made from waste paper. This is an environmentally friendly material that has excellent heat-insulating and sound-proofing qualities. To avoid such disadvantages of cellulose as flammability and susceptibility to damage from rodents and microorganisms, ecowool is treated with fire retardants and bioprotective compounds.

Ecowool is a lightweight and cheap material. But insulating a roof with ecowool requires a special approach when it comes to installing a heat insulator between the rafters. Closed “boxes” should be created from slab materials, into which ecowool is blown, completely filling all the cracks. The disadvantages of this insulation include the need for special preparation for installation and the use of specialized equipment.

Roof insulation with sawdust was popular before the advent of modern high-tech materials. Wood processing waste is an environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic, breathable, but flammable material, which must be taken into account when choosing a heat insulator. In addition, sawdust is susceptible to rotting and can serve as a habitat for rodents.

Using bulk material such as sawdust, it is not the roof structure of the house that is insulated, but the ceiling. Ecowool can be used in the same way. A uniform layer of sawdust allows for high-quality insulation of the ceiling of residential premises. To improve the thermal insulation properties, sawdust can be mixed with clay and treated with the attic floor.

The use of sawdust is possible only if the attic space is not in use.

The correct choice of insulation and high-quality installation of the roofing pie will allow you to provide a healthy microclimate in your home all year round, and save on heating in winter.

What is the best way to insulate the roof of a private house: mineral wool, sawdust, ecowool


Find out how best to insulate the roof of a private house. Comparison of materials for roof insulation with mineral wool, sawdust and ecowool

How to properly insulate a roof in a private house?

  • How to properly insulate the roof of a house
  • Selection of insulation material
  • The procedure for roof insulation

Having owned a private house, it is necessary to ensure a certain temperature regime in it for comfortable living. To accomplish this task, you need to maintain the required temperature in his rooms. To comply with this condition, the house must be properly insulated. As you know, heated air rises to the ceiling and then to the roof. Heat loss through the roof of a house is over 30%. Therefore, to maintain heat in the house, especially if there is an attic space under the roof, it is necessary to insulate the attic from the inside. To do this, you need to know how to insulate the roof of a private house correctly.

Scheme of a roof made of corrugated sheets.

How to properly insulate the roof of a house

To properly install thermal insulation in a private home, you need to know how to insulate the roof and what is the sequence of work performed.

Firstly, in order for the roof of the house to be insulated correctly, insulation materials should be selected correctly. In this matter, it is better to consult a specialist.

Secondly, during the preparation and calculation of materials, it is necessary to take into account the roof configuration.

Thirdly, when deciding how to properly insulate a roof, you need to consider the strength characteristics of the roof itself.

Before starting roof insulation work, it is necessary to carefully inspect the roof of the house from the inside. Any detected defects and various damages must be repaired. Then all wooden structures, especially rafters and sheathing, must be coated with antiseptic and fire retardants. Inspect the pipelines and electrical wiring running through the attic. If necessary, cover the pipelines with thermal insulation (protection against condensation), and place the electrical wiring in a protective casing.

Selection of insulation material

To know how to insulate the roof of a house, you need to study the characteristics of the materials used for this. Materials widely used for roof insulation include:

Ensuring air circulation when insulating a pitched roof.

  • mineral wool and glass wool;
  • expanded polystyrene;
  • foam concrete;
  • polyurethane foam;
  • liquid polyurethane foam.

All types of insulation have their own indicators of thermal conductivity, breathability, moisture resistance and environmental friendliness. Insulation materials have different strength and service life and, of course, cost.

The most popular is mineral wool in the form of mineral wool slabs. It has the following advantages:

  1. Low thermal conductivity coefficient.
  2. Fire resistance.
  3. Suitable for any type of roof.
  4. It is quite easy to install even by one person.

The disadvantage of mineral wool is its high moisture absorption coefficient. When wet, it loses its heat-insulating properties and strength qualities.

The procedure for roof insulation

The insulation process begins with the installation of insulation. The insulation is installed from inside the attic between the rafters. A wind-moisture-proof membrane (waterproofing film) must be installed on top of the insulation. It is installed on the rafters and secured with a counter-lattice during the construction of the house. The sheathing is attached to the counter-lattice, and then the roofing covering.

Roof slab insulation scheme.

Thus, between the sheathing and the waterproofing film, a ventilation channel with a height of about 50 mm is obtained, providing ventilation of the under-roof space. With the help of this channel, moisture vapor that has penetrated from inside the attic is removed, which prevents the insulation from getting wet. For effective ventilation, supply ducts are installed under the roof canopy, and exhaust openings are installed in the ridge part.

The insulation boards must be installed very tightly between the rafters so that when it shrinks, cold bridges do not arise. To do this, they must be approximately 10 mm wider than the distance between the rafters. The slabs must be installed in two layers in a checkerboard pattern so that their joints overlap. The slabs should be installed in such a way as not to block the ventilation gap of the under-roof space. The slabs are secured by placing bars with a cross section of 50x50 mm on the rafters. Since the thermal conductivity of rafters is higher than that of insulation, it is recommended to place another layer of insulation between the fastening bars. In the case where the distance between the rafters is greater than the width of the slabs, they are additionally secured with tensioned wire fixed to the surface of the rafters. A vapor barrier membrane is attached over the installed insulation. It is installed with overlapping strips of approximately 10 cm, the joints are fastened together with tape.

After completing the roof insulation work, the attic space is sheathed from the inside with clapboard or sheets of plasterboard.

Knowing how to insulate a roof and doing this work yourself, you can significantly improve the comfortable living conditions in your home and save money.

What is the best way to insulate the roof of a house: choosing materials for insulation with your own hands (photo)


How to insulate a roof in a private house yourself. Step-by-step instructions for insulating an attic space. Features of the work. Rules for choosing insulation.

What is the best way to insulate the roof of a private house?

Heat loss through the roof of a one-story house can be up to 30% of the total, so increased requirements are placed on the choice of insulation.

Proper insulation of the roof of a private house reduces heat loss and heating costs in winter, and also maintains a comfortable indoor temperature in summer, preventing it from rising.

Depending on the characteristics of the implementation of the pitched roof and the building materials used, the following are distinguished:

  • warm roof,
  • cold attic (ventilated roof).

Warm roof consists of several layers (“pie”) of materials with different characteristics: waterproofing, vapor barrier, thermal insulation. Laying them on the roof structure in a certain sequence allows you to achieve the best operating conditions for each layer.

If it is planned cold attic, then only the attic floor is insulated along the floor joists. The roof slopes are not insulated from the inside. This solution improves the humidity conditions during the operation of the roofing pie.

Roof insulation materials

When choosing insulation for a pitched roof, you need to take into account a number of requirements: the material must keep its shape throughout its entire service life, not form voids, and maintain thermal insulation properties.

Among the large range of insulation materials on the market, the most suitable for insulating the roof of a private house and meeting the specified requirements are:

Mineral wool

It is a fibrous insulation made from molten and frozen rocks. It has a high degree of thermal insulation and dampens noise well.

Available in rolls or slabs, due to its light weight it is easy to transport and install on site. During use, it does not lose its shape or shrink.

Popular brands: Rockwool, TechnoNIKOL, Izolight.

  • density 35 – 40 kg/cub.m,
  • thermal conductivity 0.036 – 0.041 W/(m*K),
  • incombustible,
  • water absorption 1 kg/sq.m,
  • vapor permeability 0.3 mg/(m*h*Pa).

Glass wool

Mineral wool based on fiberglass is produced using a similar technology, by remelting quartz sand or cullet. The material holds its shape well, retains heat, does not allow sound to pass through, and can withstand temperatures up to 500° without burning. Also available in the form of slabs or rolls.

Popular brands – Ursa, Knauf.

  • density 15 – 20 kg/cub.m,
  • thermal conductivity 0.035 – 0.042 W/(m*K),
  • incombustible,
  • water absorption<1 кг/куб.м.

Polyurethane foam

Sprayed polyurethane foam insulation (PPU) is a liquid that, under certain conditions, enters into a chemical reaction, foams, and then hardens into a porous solid material that forms an insulating layer.

The thermal insulation properties of polyurethane foam are high, it hermetically covers the entire surface to be treated, does not emit harmful substances after hardening, and adheres to any base.

To apply sprayed two-component polyurethane foam, special equipment is required. Some types of polyurethane foam are available in easy-to-use aerosol cans, for example Polynor insulation. Working with this material is no more difficult than spraying polyurethane foam.

  • density 60 – 80 kg/cub.m,
  • thermal conductivity 0.023 – 0.032 W/(m*K),
  • incombustible,
  • water absorption 0.002 kg/cub.m.

Expanded clay refers to bulk insulation - these are porous clay granules, light in weight and different in size. It has a low thermal conductivity coefficient, a high level of sound absorption, is absolutely environmentally friendly, and non-flammable. It is often used to insulate attic and interfloor ceilings.

  • density 300 – 500 kg/cub.m,
  • thermal conductivity 0.09 – 0.1 W/(m*K),
  • incombustible,
  • water absorption 10 – 25%.

There are a number of insulation materials, the use of which as thermal insulation materials for the under-roof space is undesirable due to unfavorable “side” effects:

Ecowool. It is made from cellulose fiber, therefore it is a highly flammable material, despite being treated with fire retardants. Its application requires complex equipment, and during use, ecowool shrinks over time - it becomes compressed and loses its heat-insulating properties.

Sawdust– a natural product that is unsafe from a fire point of view: it ignites quickly and burns well. Sawdust provides a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms and habitat for rodents and other small animals. Absorbing moisture well, they rot and mold, shrink, and their thermal insulation properties gradually decrease.

Expanded polystyrene. This material is available in the form of rigid slabs. It is undesirable to use expanded polystyrene for roof insulation, since when the temperature rises to 80°C, it releases toxic substances that are life-threatening. This material is used as insulation only under plaster or concrete-cement screed.

Comparison of the main characteristics of insulation materials

Work order

1. Installation of waterproofing film

When installing waterproofing, leave a gap of 4–6 cm between the film and the heat-insulating material. This is necessary for unhindered air circulation, due to which moisture evaporates. To provide the necessary ventilation gap, a counter-lattice made of bars is placed on the rafters.

The film is laid across the slope and secured with staplers with an overlap of 10 cm. The upper fragments are placed on the lower ones, and the seams are secured with adhesive tape.

2. Laying thermal insulation

Thermal insulation material is measured and cut taking into account the distance between the rafters. The insulation is laid from bottom to top in the spacer between the rafters, this ensures reliable fixation and the absence of gaps. Remains and excess insulation are not thrown away, but are used for thermal insulation of hard-to-reach places.

3. Installation of a vapor barrier layer

When installing the film, it is important not to confuse the outer and inner surfaces, since the vapor barrier is designed in such a way that it does not allow moisture to pass into the material, but brings it out.

The vapor barrier is fixed with staplers along the rafters. The overlap is done at least 10 cm both along and across the roof slopes, and the seams are secured with sealing self-adhesive tape.

The final stage is the installation of the counter-lattice, which serves as the basis for the interior decoration of the attic space.

Common mistakes when installing insulation

Violation of the technology for installing heat insulators can lead to the following negative effects:

  • the formation of “cold bridges” – occurs when the integrity of the “roofing pie” is violated (for example, the gaps between the insulation are not coated with moisture-resistant mastic),
  • the formation of many icicles on the eaves in winter - occurs when warm air from the room penetrates through the roof, which leads to melting of snow,
  • increased heat loss, in comparison with the calculated ones, occurs when laying damp thermal insulation materials or when carrying out work at high humidity.

There are a large number of thermal insulation materials for roofs on the market. Choosing the right insulation will ensure the maintenance of a comfortable temperature in the house, the absence of toxic emissions, reducing heating costs in winter and air conditioning in summer.

How to insulate the roof of a private house: choosing insulation material


Technology for insulating the roof of a private house: choice of material, diagram and procedure for installing insulation.

Without high-quality thermal insulation at home, it will not be possible to save on heating in winter. Walls and floors are not the only ways through which heat leaves a living space. In addition to them, it is also necessary to insulate the roof.

Internal insulation scheme

A kind of pie is a high-quality insulation of the roof from the inside, consisting in almost all cases of three main layers:

  1. Waterproofing
  2. Thermal insulation
  3. Vapor barrier

However, the basis of the entire structure is the rafter system, which will act as a base link. The easiest way is to lay a thermal insulation layer inside it.

Properly selected materials for each layer of the pie are the basis for high-quality insulation. The market is rich in various products, but you should not pay attention only to cheap options, giving preference to the golden mean.

The main purpose of the waterproofing layer is to protect the insulation from moisture from outside. It accumulates inside it, destroys the structure of the material and renders it unusable. The task of the vapor barrier layer is to prevent rising vapors from passing through.

To protect against wet environments, special membrane or film materials are used. The permeability indicators of the former are better, but their market value is more expensive. Since it will not be possible to ensure complete sealing of the insulation, it is necessary to provide ventilation gaps and seams.

Introductory video on insulating a pitched roof in a house

Choosing thermal insulation material

Many manufacturers offer consumers a variety of thermal insulators, each of which has positive and negative sides. Among all operational characteristics, special attention is paid to the following:

  • Level of moisture absorption - the lower this ability of the materials in question, the longer their service life can be counted on
  • Thermal conductivity – it should be as low as possible. However, this indicator is relative, since an increase in porosity and importance can significantly worsen it
  • Low-density insulation materials have much better thermal insulation properties

Video on material selection

You should also pay attention to such characteristics as environmental friendliness, chemical resistance, flammability and frost resistance.

The most widely used materials for insulating roofs from the inside are mineral wool and glass wool. They have all the necessary characteristics and are relatively easy to use.

Expanded polystyrene is no less popular. In addition to high thermal insulation properties, it practically does not absorb moisture, is durable and rigid, resistant to high temperatures and open fire. A significant disadvantage is the susceptibility to rodent infestation. That is why it has not become widespread.

Other, less common methods of internal insulation are also possible:

  • The use of spraying is one of the most expensive methods, which is recommended to be entrusted to a professional craftsman. If you need to insulate a conventional attic, you should choose this method. Material costs will be paid off by performance characteristics
  • Insulation with liquid compounds (polyurethane foam or foam concrete) is not very popular, as it requires the use of specialized equipment to carry out the work

If thermal insulation of a classic attic space is required, additional insulation is provided above the ceiling (expanded clay, sawdust, sand, etc.).

Let's start insulating the roof with our own hands

The most common case is the insulation of pitched roofs using rolled materials. First of all, you need to draw up instructions for yourself, following which you can count on high quality results. Let's consider the case when the roof has not yet been laid.

First, you need to go through the attic again and make sure that all the components are in perfect order. If defects are found (rotting, cracks, etc.), they should be eliminated immediately.

Sometimes various communication systems are laid on the roof: electrical wiring, heating, water supply, etc. They are also subject to thorough inspection and elimination of defects. Only after order has been established can further work begin.

The first step will be to apply a waterproofing film to the outer surface. In order for it to fulfill its purpose, several rules must be taken into account:

  • It is necessary to lay the film across, and at the joints, stripes of about a meter are applied, which are glued with tape.
  • It is necessary to select a material for waterproofing only after purchasing insulation so that they match each other’s characteristics
  • Under no circumstances should you pull it tightly over the surface. At sub-zero temperatures it will begin to shrink and, as a result, may burst.

Having completed the work with waterproofing, it is necessary to begin arranging the sheathing. For it, beams treated with antiseptic materials with a size of no more than 25 mm are recommended. Corrosion-resistant self-tapping screws are used for fixation

Roofing materials can be attached directly to the sheathing. Things will be a little different with a soft roof. It is recommended to place moisture-resistant plasterboard or chipboard between it and the wood.

The next stage is laying thermal insulation material into the gaps between the rafters. It is recommended to adjust the slabs to the width between the rafter opening; the mats are cut into pieces equal to each other.

The material is laid in such a way that there are no gaps between the elements. It should also not be pressed very tightly against the roof so that there is a ventilation gap.

Another feature is the laying of thermal insulation material not in one, but in two layers. At the same time, they are positioned relative to each other with an offset so that the through joints are closed.

Having finished laying the insulation, you can proceed to the next stage - tensioning and fastening the vapor barrier film or membrane. It is recommended to nail it to the rafters with staples. It, unlike waterproofing, is stretched much tighter.

Next, you can proceed to the final stage of insulating the roof from the inside - interior finishing. A wooden frame is placed on top of the vapor barrier film, to which the desired finishing material will be attached.

Video on thermal insulation using polyurethane foam

Some useful tips

When insulating a roof from the inside, not everything can go as smoothly as it seems at first. In addition, any rafter system has its own characteristics.

We list a number of rules that may be useful when performing roof insulation work:

  1. Particular attention to waterproofing and vapor barrier must be paid when working with mineral insulation. They are most susceptible to the accumulation of moisture inside, causing destructive effects.
  2. Sometimes, for a light roof, the roof truss system is constructed from timber of a small cross-section. In this case, you will have to use a combined method of thermal insulation, placing the material not only between the beams, but also under them
  3. When the pitch of the rafter system is too large, the insulation is additionally fixed with wire, which is pulled between the screws screwed into the rafters
  4. To ensure that the insulation is not tightly located between the rafters, its width must be greater than the similar characteristic of the openings
  5. You should not make too many layers of insulation. For example, for thermal insulation with a thickness of 20 cm, two layers of 10 cm each would be better than four layers of 5 cm each.
  6. The insulation can be placed close to the super diffusion membrane. In all other cases it is necessary to leave a ventilation gap
  7. It is necessary to monitor ventilation gaps, which should not be blocked by thermal insulation material

In custody

Absolutely everyone can make high-quality insulation of the roof from the inside, which will serve for decades, reliably retaining heat and keeping out the cold. However, for those who do not want to waste their time and energy, professionals offer their services. The cost of work can vary between 5-25 USD. e. per square.

For a long time in our country there have been no problems with roof insulation issues. Straw or dried reeds were used for this. With the help of such materials, it was possible to protect a residential building from rain and cold without much difficulty. However, modern coatings are not endowed with sufficient thermal insulation qualities. With all the modern features of technological progress, approximately 30% of the heat escapes through modern equipped roofs. Therefore, modern homeowners need to solve the problem of insulating the roofs of their residential buildings from the inside. This article provides detailed information on this issue.

By equipping an attic, the usable space in a private home can be increased by approximately 40%. This will also require relatively low costs.

The attic roof, in addition to the usual function of the roof to protect the building from wind and all kinds of precipitation, creates special conditions for more comfortable living. First of all, this part of the building helps protect against heat in summer and frost in winter. The design of the attic is considered light when compared with ceilings or walls. The main reason is the comparative lightness of the attic design used.

Often, approximately 30% of body loss in a building occurs on the roof. Consequently, thanks to fairly effective insulation, it will be possible to reduce heat loss by about 30%. Sufficiently effective roof insulation provides direct savings in building maintenance costs by reducing the total cost of payment for heating the premises.

You must always remember that warm air can rise. As a result, the temperature of the air mass under the ceiling is approximately 2 degrees higher compared to the space in the middle part of the room. Consequently, the difference between the temperatures inside and outside the building near the ceiling will be higher than near the walls. Thus, heat loss through the roof of a residential building increases significantly.

Insufficient insulation of the roof in winter leads to the formation of icicles and the growth of an ice crust on the constituent elements of the roof and various drainpipes. Icing can damage the integrity of the roof covering. After this, leaks will certainly appear when the ice begins to melt.

If the insulating layer is not effective enough, the under-roof space will begin to become damp over time. With high humidity, mold and mildew form. A wooden truss structure may swell, which may result in a reduction in the service life of the roof.

Insulation of a cold roof

If the roof is cold, then the heat-insulating layer should not be placed on the slopes, but rather on the floor of the attic. It is in this place that the heat flow directed from below from the living space will stop moving. The cold from the roof will not descend into the rooms. Thus, the air temperature in the attic will always be in the approximate range of +1 to -2 degrees.

An attic space equipped in this way will serve as a high-quality air gap between the rooms in the building and the thin ceiling. Various rolled and slab and loose floors and insulation materials are suitable for attic floors. Since there is no slope on the ceiling, there is no thermal insulation in such rooms.

After insulation, the roof must be properly ventilated. Ventilation must not be compromised. Dormer windows should still remain opposite each other. You also need to equip aerators and ventilation ridges. The eaves must provide round-the-clock access to fresh air from the street. As a result, the temperature in the non-residential space in the attic should be as close as possible to the street temperature. The living space will be separated from it below. This will ensure proper thermal insulation of the floor.

Internal insulation system

Now it is clear that heat can escape from a room not only through open window or doorways. Such design elements are considered a very significant factor taking into account the need to conserve and conserve energy resources. A properly equipped and insulated roof on the inside must retain from 18 to 29% of the heat in a living space.

Therefore, you need to understand some laws of physics: during the heating process, the air mass rises, and then goes into the environment in all existing ways. However, in a situation where the building is properly insulated, the air mass from inside will not circulate. Therefore, resources spent on heating will be significantly saved.

A standard insulation system is made of three main elements:

  • Vapor barrier. A layer, the main function of which is to contain the accumulation of warm air mass in the upper part of the building and subsequently prevent condensation that forms after the air mass cools in the attic;
  • Insulation. The functional purpose of such a layer can be determined by its name. For such purposes, materials are used that differ in their basic technical characteristics;
  • With the help of such elements, fairly good protection of a residential building from the penetration of precipitation is ensured. Such a layer is installed literally immediately under the roof. This allows you to increase the protective functions of the elements.

The rafter structure is used as the basis for the entire roof insulation system. Thanks to the use of these elements, the installation of other materials is easier. Before starting the installation of insulating structures, you will have to familiarize yourself in detail with the available options and the technological features with which the installation is carried out. Taking into account the data obtained, the most suitable option for installing a roof insulation system in a private house is selected.

Preparation for installation

Before installing the insulation, you need to prepare the surface. First of all, you need to check the wooden rafters for mold, rot or mildew. If such defects were found in small quantities, you can use sandpaper and clean them. After this, the materials are treated with antiseptics and painted. In this way, the destructive effects on wood from the environment are blocked. When the rafters are severely damaged, they will have to be replaced.

Checking the electrical wiring for serviceability is considered the next stage of preparatory work before installing a roof insulation system in a private house. All damaged elements will have to be repaired, worn wires will have to be replaced, try to ring each switch, perform a detailed check of each connector, joints and fastening elements, and connection points. If the electrical wiring is unsuitable, it is better to re-equip it.

Before installing thermal insulation on the roof, electrical wiring must be installed with the support of professionals. This way you can avoid serious difficulties in the future.

In existing construction practice, several methods of installing insulating roofing are considered:

  1. Internal insulation.
  2. External insulation.

Internal roof insulation is considered the most common installation option for a thermal insulation system, used for flat or pitched roofs. They are manufactured using the following technology:

  • First of all, the internal lining of the building is equipped;
  • After this, a vapor barrier is provided;
  • It is equipped with thermal insulation, as well as protection from moisture and wind.

The last layer of thermal insulation is the roofing material.

The insulation must be provided with a specific width that adapts to certain climate conditions. The main requirement for such material is considered to be minimal weighting of the roof. When installing, you need to leave special gaps through which moisture will escape from the structure.

External insulation is carried out using rigid slabs on flat roofs. The materials are pressed down with special concrete slabs or ordinary pebbles. It is imperative to determine the strength of the roofing when carrying out such installation work.

Minvata

This type of insulation is considered the most common among modern builders. Many professionals recommend using this particular material as the basis for an insulating layer.

Since the composition of such materials may differ, everyone will be able to choose the right product for themselves, taking into account the necessary quality characteristics. When purchasing mineral insulation, you will have to ask the seller for a safety certificate.

Styrofoam

The use of polystyrene foam boards for insulating the roof of a residential building is considered very dangerous due to low fire resistance characteristics. It is best to use polymer materials when equipping non-residential premises. Equipping a building with foam plastic will cost much less. But it is best to use this material for external insulation of the walls of a house. For a flat roof, experts recommend using expanded clay.

This material is known for its fairly high thermal insulation qualities. This material consists of many small hot clay fractions that will gradually roll down. The use of expanded clay can be justified in the process of insulating pitched and flat roofs, floors and attic floors.

Polyurethane foam

This material is endowed with minimal thermal conductivity. However, this method of roof insulation in a private house is considered one of the most expensive. Installation of polyurethane foam blocks is carried out literally in a matter of hours without any particular difficulties. The material can be applied to any surface. The roof can be insulated both from the outside and inside the building. Even a person with minimal professional training can use special portable installations.

However, it should be taken into account that during the work of applying insulating material in the room, good ventilation must be ensured. It is not recommended to apply such insulation to the roof in winter. The sprayed mixture increases in volume many times over and hardens well.

In the video of roof insulation, you can clearly see the process of installing thermal insulation material for different types of roofing.


Insulation materials

There are different materials for roof insulation. When choosing, you should take into account compliance with the following requirements:

  • Fire safety;
  • weight. The roof structure must withstand the load created by the insulating material.

Pay attention to the environmental friendliness of the material. This is especially important if the attic space will be used as a living space.

Additionally, they perform a soundproofing function. Such materials are environmentally friendly, light in weight, durable, fire resistant and easy to install.

If insulation is performed with slabs, a fastening structure should be provided for them. In this case, the volume of the room will noticeably decrease, so for small rooms slabs are not the best option.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is saving on insulating material. Cheap thermal insulation materials not only have higher thermal conductivity, but may also contain harmful substances. For example, relatively affordable polystyrene foam is not recommended for use in residential areas. In addition, this material is not fireproof.


Another common mistake is the gaps between the heat insulator. The rolled material must be installed with an overlap. This will eliminate heat loss through the gaps between the heat insulation strips. In addition, the cracks may increase over time, which will lead to increased heat loss.

In the process of insulating the floor in the attic, it is necessary to lay a layer of heat insulation on wooden beams. Otherwise, heat will escape through them due to the formation of so-called “cold bridges”.

To insulate the beams, you will have to increase the thickness of the insulating layer. This leads to additional costs, but provides high quality thermal insulation.

When purchasing cotton wool materials, check the integrity of the packaging. If it is violated, do not purchase the material. There is a high probability that the cotton wool is saturated with moisture.

Photo of roof insulation










Today, insulating the roof of a house is a mandatory process. Small financial investments and simple construction operations will provide an opportunity to save a lot on heating. After all, as practice shows, heat loss through the roof is up to 20%. Therefore, in this article we will tell you what insulation materials are used for this, what technologies are used.

Insulating the roof will protect the entire house from the effects of cold Source pinterest.com

Types of thermal insulation material used

Thermal insulation of the roof includes insulation of the slopes of the structure, or more precisely the space between the rafters. We are not talking about thermal insulation of the attic floor, where bulk materials can be used. Therefore, expanded clay, sawdust, perlite, vermiculite, etc. are not used in this case.

The main types of insulation materials used in the thermal insulation process are mineral wool, polystyrene foam boards and polyurethane foam. The first two are mats and slabs, the second is a colloidal mass in the form of foam, which polymerizes in air into a durable coating with the best thermal characteristics. But it should be noted that polyurethane foam is not a cheap material.

House roof insulation technology

Roof insulation is carried out using two almost identical technologies.

    Above when the roofing material has not yet been installed.

    From inside the attic when the roof covering is already installed and secured.

Methods for insulating a roof from the outside and inside Source kabel-house.ru

First option

It starts from the inside anyway, that is, from the side of the rafter system.

    First along the rafters (across) vapor barrier membrane is installed. Laying is done in overlapping strips with an offset of 10-15 cm. The vapor barrier strips are attached to the rafters with metal staples using a stapler. The joints between them are closed with self-adhesive tape or construction tape.

    Produced rafter system filing slab, slatted or sheet materials: plywood, chipboard, OSB, edged boards, lining, plasterboard, etc.

    Now the whole process carried from above the rafters. Thermal insulation material is laid between them so that its edges are pressed tightly against the rafter legs. Minimum gaps should not be allowed, which during operation will become cold bridges, that is, they will allow cold air to pass through them.

    On top of the rafters waterproofing membrane is installed in exactly the same way as the vapor barrier underneath. The waterproofing film must be installed from the roof eaves towards the ridge across the rafters. In this case, the edges of the upper stripes should cover the edges of the lower ones. The film should not be stretched too much; a slight sag will make it possible to compensate for changes in its dimensions at negative and positive temperatures.

    All that remains is install the sheathing and roofing material.

Installation of sheathing for waterproofing Source interistroy.ru

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer turnkey services. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.

Option two

Insulating a roof from the inside is, on the one hand, a simple process, but on the other hand, it requires knowledge of some nuances. Let's start with thermal insulation using polyurethane foam, as the simplest, but also the most expensive.

This foam insulation adheres to any building material, regardless of its adhesive properties. Therefore, polyurethane foam is applied without preliminary preparation of rafters and roofing material. It is supplied under pressure through a hose and a special nozzle.

Applying polyurethane foam to the roof from inside the attic Source svetvam.ru

It should be noted that polyurethane foam is a material that is afraid of sunlight. Under their negative influence, it dries out, turns brown, cracks and breaks. Therefore, if there are dormer windows in the attic through which the sun will penetrate into the attic space, then the insulation will have to be covered. If the sun's rays do not penetrate under the roof, then the thermal insulation layer does not need to be covered with anything.

Insulation with mineral wool slabs

Let us immediately note that mineral wool is a hygroscopic material, that is, it absorbs moisture well. Under its influence, it quickly loses its thermal properties. Therefore, it is important to properly waterproof the roof. From the inside it is done like this:

    vapor barrier film is installed so that it fits the roof rafters and covers the space between them (this is clearly visible in the photo below);

Waterproofing the rafter system from inside the attic Source roomester.ru

    between the rafters mineral wool mats are laid(the photo above also clearly shows how to do this), the main requirement is that the insulation does not protrude beyond the rafters, but is pressed tightly against them;

    above vapor barrier film is stretched, which is laid in strips, like the top waterproofing, only it is stretched along the rafters;

Installation along the rafter system from inside the vapor barrier membrane Source beton-stroyka.ru

    All that remains is to stuff it onto the rafter system from the inside sheet or slab material.

Insulation with polystyrene boards

Insulating the roof from the inside with polystyrene foam boards is almost no different from the previous option. It is simply necessary to indicate that polystyrene foam is a practically non-hygroscopic material. Particularly in this regard, slabs under the Penoplex brand have performed well. In all respects, it is better than mineral wool with one drawback - expanded polystyrene boards support combustion. But this does not prevent them from being used for insulating roof structures.

Let us add that the advantage of using polystyrene foam boards is the ability to refuse protective layers. That is, there is no need to use waterproofing films. Therefore, the slabs are simply laid between the rafter legs. The main requirement is a minimum number of gaps and cracks with minimum dimensions between the insulation boards and between them and the rafters. Therefore, the insulation is cut as accurately as possible in accordance with the installation pitch of the rafters.

If gaps cannot be avoided, then they are filled with a special adhesive composition, which is similar to polyurethane foam, only it does not expand in volume. The material will not only fill the cracks, but will also attach the insulation to the rafter legs.

Installation of foil-coated polystyrene foam boards between rafter legs Source ezlocal.com

Today, manufacturers offer Penoplex with a foil coating, which increases the thermal insulation characteristics of the slabs by reflecting thermal radiation emanating from inside the rooms of the house. That is, thermal energy is conserved.

Penofol insulation

This insulation is a layer of foamed polyethylene, covered either on one or both sides with foil. Flexible, thin and cheap, but with good thermal insulation properties, penofol has recently become more often used in thermal insulation processes. When insulating the roof of a wooden house from the inside (and not only in a wooden one), it is used as a roll covering.

It is simply placed from the inside of the attic on the rafter legs and secured to them with metal staples or small nails with a wide head. The main thing is to lay the joints joint-to-joint and seal the joint itself with self-adhesive film with a foil coating. Then slats are made along the rafters (this is sheathing), along which sheet or slab material will subsequently be installed.

Roof insulation with foam Source evroremont-kmv.ru

Which insulation is better

It all depends on such a characteristic as thermal conductivity. The smaller it is, the better the thermal properties of the material, the smaller the layer it can be laid.

Please note that the thermal conductivity of penofol is not the best on the list. But the thickness of this material is 4 mm. The thickness of mineral wool is 50 mm, polystyrene foam boards are 47 mm. In this regard, polyurethane foam still wins. It has better thermal characteristics than other insulation materials, and the applied layer does not exceed 50 cm. In addition, foam insulation is applied in a non-joint manner. The layer is solid and durable.

Video description

Step-by-step insulation of the roof from the inside is shown in the video:

Generalization on the topic

Insulating a roof in a wooden house (and not only) is a serious process that requires a special approach to construction work. The main task is to choose a thermal insulation material and strictly follow the technology of its installation.