We learn how to insulate the roof of a house from the inside. How to insulate a roof How to insulate a roof in a house

It is necessary to insulate the roof of a house only when it is planned to make the attic spaces residential. If an attic is not provided, then it is not the roof that needs to be insulated, but the ceiling. The quality of roof insulation has almost no effect on the microclimate in the rooms; this is an unnecessary waste of time and large financial resources.

Currently, the construction industry has mastered the production of a wide range of products with excellent performance indicators. Such a wide choice often puts inexperienced developers in a difficult position. They only read manufacturers' advertising brochures, and based on this information it is difficult to make a specific choice. All companies describe only the positive aspects of their products and do not talk about the negative ones. The article will provide objective comparative characteristics of various materials used for roof insulation. This information will allow you to make an informed decision in each specific case.

By what physical parameters are insulation materials classified?

As can be seen from the table, there is no ideal roof insulation for all cases; each has its own strengths and weaknesses. They must be taken into account before making a final decision.

Performance characteristics of roof insulation

Let's consider the most used modern materials; there is no point in talking about the currently rather exotic bulk insulation materials. Not only are they almost never used, but they are also far inferior to modern technologies in all respects. What is the most common way to insulate a roof today?

Prices for mineral wool

Mineral wool has now almost completely replaced glass wool.

What are its advantages over traditional insulation?

1. Lower thermal conductivity values. Mineral wool has a thermal conductivity of 0.03-0.05 W/m×K, glass wool has a thermal conductivity of 0.41 W/m×K. The higher the density of mineral wool mats, the higher the thermal conductivity. In practice, the difference in thermal conductivity can be neglected; it is leveled out due to the gaps in the places adjacent to the rafter system.

   

2. Elasticity and manufacturability. These indicators are interconnected, so it makes sense to consider them simultaneously. Glass wool manufacturing technology assumes that the diameter of the fibers will be approximately 15 microns, the diameter of mineral wool fibers is much smaller and does not exceed 2–8 microns. This explains the difference in terms of manufacturability and elasticity. It is difficult to work with glass wool; thick glass fibers damage and irritate the skin; you need to use gloves and a respirator. Mineral wool is much softer and does not have such disadvantages. In addition, it is more elastic; after removing static loads, it completely restores its original thickness. Glass wool cannot be completely restored; thick glass fibers break.

   

3. Weight. It has a significant effect in the case of a large slope of the pitched roof. If the slope is large, the material may deform under its own weight. According to this performance indicator, mineral wool is ahead of glass wool.

   

With regard to environmental friendliness, fire resistance, hygroscopicity and chemical resistance, the materials are almost no different from each other. But there is one note - the cost of mineral wool is much higher than glass wool.

The service life of mineral wool is practically unlimited, but provided that the material is not damaged by rodents.

Mineral wool can be rolled or pressed. How do their performance characteristics differ?

It has a thickness from 5 cm to 15 cm. The width of the sheets is standard 60 cm, the length may vary for each manufacturer. The advantages of such cotton wool are the speed of installation. The sheets are tightly inserted between the rafters and are kept from falling out by taut ropes; no additional fixation is required. Cotton wool can be easily cut with an ordinary mounting knife.

The material is tightly rolled into rolls, and after removing the packaging, the factory thickness is restored. It has two advantages: low price and the ability to insulate rafter systems with complex geometries.

Prices for expanded polystyrene

Widely used modern insulation material. The density, depending on the specifics of the manufacturing technology, ranges from 16–30 kg/m3; the higher the density, the greater the load the insulation can withstand.

There are brands of polystyrene foam that do not support open combustion; they melt, and fire occurs after a strong increase in temperature. Such expanded polystyrene can be used for insulating flat roofs of multi-story buildings; there are no restrictions for private houses. For example, paper ignites when heated to +2300°C, wood at +2600°C, and modified polystyrene foam spontaneously ignites at a temperature of +4900°C.

Expanded polystyrene is very afraid of hard ultraviolet radiation, but for roof insulation this does not matter, the material is located under the roof covering. Service life is approximately thirty years. The slabs are easy to cut; all roof insulation work can be performed without special expensive tools and devices.

To reduce the number of cracks, they need to be foamed with construction foam.

Practical advice. Professional builders strongly recommend using high-quality imported foam; it has high elasticity. Domestic materials crack when compressed - the fixation strength of the plates decreases, and thermal conductivity increases.

Expanded polystyrene is almost non-hygroscopic; in two days of direct contact with water, it absorbs no more than 2% of the volume of moisture. Such low values ​​have no observable negative impact on performance.

Thermal conductivity depending on density 0.028–0.034 W/m×K.

Polyurethane foam

One of the least flammable plastic insulation materials, it can be used in liquid form. But such insulation of the roof of a private house has more disadvantages than advantages and is not recommended by professional builders. It is much more profitable to do insulation with ready-made slabs. Up to 99% of the pores are closed, which almost completely eliminates the absorption of moisture; thermal conductivity, depending on the type of polyurethane foam, is 0.019–0.028 W/m×K. Service life of at least 20 years if manufacturers' recommendations are followed, withstands frosts down to -160°C.

The material is technologically advanced; the release of harmful chemical compounds into the air does not exceed the norms controlled by state standards. Weight no more than 60 kg/m3, has excellent adhesion to all building materials, which simplifies the process of finishing the internal surfaces of attic spaces. One of the important advantages is that it is little damaged by rodents. For example, slabs of foam plastic can be completely turned into dust by a mouse within one year.

Penoizol

It is characterized by very low weight (from 10 kg/m3), thermal conductivity in the range of 0.036–0.038 W/m×K. The difference between the material and other types of polymers is a large number of open pores, which increases vapor permeability to 0.21. Vapor permeability is a positive parameter for roof insulation - excess moisture is removed without problems, and the risks of condensation are minimized. But there are also problems. Condensation not only increases thermal conductivity, but also destroys the insulation when it freezes.

It does not support an open fire on its own; the service life is at least 50 years, but subject to several conditions:

• penoizol must be reliably protected from UV rays;
• relative humidity should not exceed the current tolerance ranges.

Penoizol insulation with a thickness of only 5 cm provides the same thermal protection of structures as 7.5 cm thick foam plastic, 12.5 cm thick mineral wool or 34 cm thick wood.

The material is easily cut with an ordinary hacksaw, but in the process a lot of small crumbs are formed. It is necessary to take measures to prevent it from getting into all areas of the house.

Liquid insulation

Some polymer materials can be sprayed onto the roof in a liquid state. This method has no advantages, but only some disadvantages. Let's list just a few of them.

These are not all problems, you can add to them an increase in time and cost, a large influence of the human factor, etc.

Modern and fashionable insulation, manufactured from recycled materials. More than 80% of the composition is recycled cellulose, the rest is fillers and binders. To insulate the roof, it is recommended to use pressed ecowool; it is easier to work with, and its performance indicators are much superior to powder wool. Thermal conductivity is in the range of 0.032–0.040 W/m×K, density up to 75 kg/m3, vapor permeability 0.3 mg/m×h×Pa.

Relatively large weight can create difficulties when insulating the roof; additional loads must be taken into account at the design stage of the rafter system. To increase fire resistance, a fire retardant is added to the material; inhibition of the development of microorganisms is achieved by adding boric acid. As can be seen from the composition, there is no reason to call such a material absolutely environmentally friendly.

A wide selection of insulation materials by name, unfortunately, does not mean an equally wide selection of performance properties. Minor differences in thermal conductivity do not play a noticeable role. They are nullified during certain deviations from the recommended insulation technology, and such deviations will always exist.

Practical advice on choosing insulation for the roof of a private house

Prices for windproof membranes

Windproof membrane

There are several practical tips that will provide real assistance when planning work on insulating the roof of a private house.

Correctly calculate the estimated cost of work. The costs must include not only the price of the insulation, but also the cost of its delivery. If the work is carried out independently, then it can be ignored. But if construction companies are involved, the estimated cost of insulation increases significantly. Most of them simply price their services - they are equal to at least half the cost of all materials. But these are minimum values; there are companies whose cost of services exceeds the cost of purchasing insulation materials.

Wind protection for roofing

These are synthetic modern membranes with a fairly high cost. In addition to the membranes, you need to make a counter-lattice for natural ventilation - add the cost of lumber and hardware.

Compare the technical characteristics of various insulation materials. At the same time, you should not pay much attention to thermal conductivity indicators; it differs only slightly. The weight and elasticity of the material are important for longevity. Information should be taken not only from manufacturers’ websites about the benefits; look for practical user reviews. Especially those who, for one reason or another, had to deal with roof repair work after it was insulated.

Soberly assess the complexity of the recommended technologies with your capabilities. The roof is not a building element with which you can experiment. Even seemingly insignificant violations of technology can cause very big problems for the structure as a whole.

Before starting work, you need to prepare materials and tools in advance. Do not allow interruptions in insulation due to a shortage of insulation or other materials. After work resumes, some previously installed structures will have to be dismantled, and this costs money.

Always try to buy insulation of the required thickness. If, taking into account the climatic zone of residence, the thickness of the insulation should be 15 cm, then it is much more profitable to buy sheets of the same thickness, rather than making three layers 5 cm thick. You can come across assurances that if three layers are laid with offset joints, cold bridges will be eliminated. This is not true, there are no cold bridges where there are completely no joints, that is, in the entire slab. In addition, one slab of polystyrene foam or mineral wool 15 cm thick costs less than three 5 cm each. And lastly. It is much faster to install one layer of insulation than three.

It is not recommended to begin insulation immediately after the construction of the roof is completed. We need to wait for the first rain and make sure there are no leaks. Noticing and eliminating problems that have arisen due to a violation of the roof’s tightness after insulation is much more difficult and will always cost several times more.

Video - Insulation for the roof of a private house

No matter how modern and high-tech the heating system of a house is, it will not help to survive the frost if the roof of the building is poorly, incorrectly or not at all insulated. Scientists have calculated that it is through the roof that up to 30 percent of the thermal energy is lost if the insulation is not properly insulated. And this is an extra expense for the owner of the premises. How to avoid them? Insulate the roof. The process can be organized independently without involving specialists. The main thing is to choose the material, prepare the tools, and study the sequence of work.

Types of insulation for roofing

Obviously, to insulate the roof you need direct insulation. In order to perfectly fulfill your “professional duties”, namely, to protect the room from the cold, the insulation must meet the following requirements:

• rigidity. The material should not be too soft or pliable, otherwise it will not stay in the chosen place, but will move down or sag;
• low water absorption capacity. If the material absorbs moisture well, it will swell quickly. There can be no question that the room will be comfortable;
• low vapor permeability. Everything here is the same as in the case of water absorption. If matter absorbs steam, it swells and, accordingly, becomes unsuitable for further use;
• relatively light weight. Too heavy insulation means additional load on the walls and foundation. If this load was not taken into account when calculating the roof, problems with the operation of the building may arise;
• self-extinguishing ability or non-flammability. If the roof catches fire, the flames will quickly “eat” the entire building. That is why it is so important to pay special attention to the non-flammability of the selected substance;
• good sound insulation. When, for example, rain hits a roof covering, the sound can be very loud. It can disturb the peace of all residents of the building. To avoid such troubles, the insulation must effectively absorb noise.

It would be good if the material was also environmentally friendly. Then you won’t have to worry about the health of your household once again.

Today all insulation is divided into:

• tiled;
• roll;
• sprayable.

The right to choose, of course, remains with the owner of the premises. WITHThe first two types are easier to work with, while the third is considered more reliable, but difficult to use. To spray, you must master the application technique using a pump or a special sprayer.

There are insulation materials that do not need to be laid, but sprayed inside the rafter frame

The most suitable for roof insulation are:

• fiberglass;
• basalt wool;
• expanded polystyrene;
• extruded polystyrene foam;
• ecowool;
• cotton;
• foam concrete.

To understand which material to choose, you need to understand in more detail the technical characteristics of each of them.

Fiberglass: cheap and available

Fiberglass is made from recycled and melted glass. It is stretched into fibers and used in construction. The advantages of insulation include:

• cheapness;
• availability;
• ease of use;
• low thermal conductivity;
• resistance to water and steam.

You need to work with fiberglass as carefully as possible, it can injure the skin

At the same time, you need to work with fiberglass very carefully. Glass particles that come into contact with the skin can cause microcuts, which can result in serious irritation. It is sometimes very difficult to remove fiberglass from your hands on your own - you will probably have to see a doctor. But if you work carefully, using a protective suit, gloves and goggles, then nothing like this will happen.

Fiberglass loses its shape too quickly, so it is not suitable for long-term insulation.

Basalt wool: keeping up with the times

Basalt wool is based on foamed and molten stone. So there is no doubt about the durability of the coating. The advantages of such insulating material include:

• rigidity;
• resistance to fire and high temperatures;
• ease of use;
• safety;
• environmental cleanliness;
• long-term operation.

Basalt wool is considered a very strong and reliable insulation material, and it is quite easy to use.

Working with basalt wool is easy - it is sold in the form of slabs of different sizes. They are attached to the surface using special glue or ordinary nails. However, the cost per square meter here is not the lowest, so this type of insulation is relatively expensive.

Expanded polystyrene: polystyrene foam in other words

Is it permissible to use polystyrene foam for roof insulation? Disputes on this matter between experienced builders do not subside to this day. Summarizing numerous opinions, we can draw the following conclusion: use is permissible in those regions where there are no too harsh and frosty winters.

Expanded polystyrene for insulation is best used in warm areas where the climate is relatively mild

Expanded polystyrene itself does not absorb water and steam, but is too susceptible to changes due to mechanical stress. Any increased load will render the material unusable. It turns out - money down the drain.

Extruded polystyrene foam: reliability in action

Extruded polystyrene foam is essentially a symbiosis of polystyrene foam with freon or carbon dioxide. The material is really durable - this fact has been repeatedly proven during practical tests.

Extruded polystyrene foam does not burn and is not afraid of high temperatures

It is important that extruded polystyrene foam has the following characteristics:

• reliability;
• strength;
• resistance to external influences;
• durability;
• ease of use;
• low thermal conductivity;
• resistance to water and steam;
• non-flammability;
• resistance to chemical compounds;
• ability to prevent the formation of fungus and mold.

By the way, this insulation is considered environmentally friendly. It does not burn and stays firmly in place. But the price for it is not small. The expenses will be significant.

Ecowool: definitely safe

Even from the name ecowool it is clear that this material is very clean from an environmental point of view. In this regard, it can be used without any fear. Ecowool insulation does not harm the body and the environment. It is often used to insulate roofs, floors, and walls of private houses. It's inexpensive and practical. Plus to everything:

Pure cotton and linen: super eco-friendly

Today, cotton and linen are used extremely rarely for insulation. Only residents of very warm parts of the globe can afford this. The fact is that linen and cotton absorb moisture and steam too well, they quickly lose their shape and do not have the required level of rigidity.

Cotton is an environmentally friendly material, but it absorbs moisture very actively and because of this it loses its shape and collapses

Often linen and cotton are used as additional insulation to the main insulation. Such a system has the right to life and is successfully applied even in the Far North.

Cotton and linen insulation is placed under the main one so that moisture from the outside does not get on them.

Those who think that linen and cotton are cheap will be disappointed. Eco-friendly coatings are quite expensive, but not every building owner can afford them.

Foam concrete: this is strength

Foam concrete and strength are practically synonymous words. Very reliable, strong and resistant to external influences material. In addition, it is famous for:

• low thermal conductivity;
• the ability not to absorb moisture and steam;
• resistant to fire and high temperatures.

One bad thing is that foam concrete weighs a lot. If the installation of such insulation was not provided for at the construction stage of the building, then it is advisable to abandon its use. Otherwise, problems with the foundation and walls may arise.

Foam concrete is very heavy, it greatly increases the load on the walls and foundation

How to choose roof insulation for a private house

The homeowner is not limited in choosing roof insulation. Each material has its own characteristics, pros and cons. Of course, a lot depends on how much money the home craftsman has. If finances allow, it is better to choose basalt or extruded polystyrene foam. For a more modest budget, the materials are different - polystyrene foam, fiberglass.

Basalt wool, foam concrete, expanded polystyrene are approximately in the same price segment. It is important to take into account that foam concrete is quite heavy, and its use cannot always be called reasonable.

When choosing, you need to check the following material capabilities:

• is it capable of absorbing water and steam;
• is it burning?
• Is it capable of self-extinguishing?
• can it give off and absorb heat;
• how it is affected by external loads.

It’s good if the material can be attached to regular foam or nails. This will significantly reduce the costs and workload of the owner of the building.

In some cases, polystyrene foam is applied by spraying. This method is considered innovative, but it is very difficult to do it yourself. To do this, you will have to devote a couple of days to theory, purchase a pump or a special sprayer - this is again an extra expense. Are they planned in the budget?

Spraying polystyrene foam is a rather difficult process, not everyone can do it correctly

It’s good if you have the opportunity to test the insulation in person. Its total thickness must be at least 200 millimeters. Then it will be warm and comfortable under the roof.

If a living room is planned under the roof, then the insulation layer should be thicker than if an attic space is installed under the roof.

Laying rules

The process of roof insulation involves more than just attaching the material to wooden rafters. This is a complex technological process consisting of the following stages:

1. Preparing the surface for work.
2. Installation of a waterproofing layer.
3. Ventilation device.
4. Laying insulation.
5. Installation of a vapor barrier layer.
6. Laying the top covering on the roof.

To properly install insulation, you must:

1. Measure the area to be finished.
2. Draw up a rough plan and drawing of insulation. Let it be approximate and sketchy, but it will greatly facilitate the task.
3. Make an accurate calculation of the insulation required to complete the task.

What else you need to know in order to install insulation efficiently:

And the most important rule: act slowly and very carefully. This is the only way to properly insulate the roof.

Step-by-step instructions for laying insulation

You can lay insulation in different ways:

• between the rafters;
• under roof cladding;
• in front of the rafters.

Which option is preferable? It all depends on the area of ​​the roof, its general condition and the desire of the master.

To carry out the work you will need:

• the insulation itself;
• waterproofing;
• screws, nails;
• construction stapler;
• polyurethane foam;
• wooden bars for sheathing, 2–3 centimeters wide;
• protective clothing, gloves.

The process of self-insulation of the roof consists of the following steps:

1. It is necessary to carefully inspect the roof covering for damage. This is done if you first laid the outer covering and then decided to insulate it. If there are damages, they must be repaired.

   Before you start insulating, the roof must be repaired

2. Now you need to prepare the rafters for work - sand them, clean them of dirt, and treat them with an antifungal compound.

   It is important to pre-treat wooden rafters against fungus and destruction

3. Next, a waterproofing layer is laid. Most often, modern membrane waterproofing is used, which has long proven itself positively. It’s great if the insulation is self-adhesive, otherwise it can be secured using a construction stapler.

   It’s good if the waterproofing is self-adhesive, it’s very easy to work with.

4. Then you need to make a ventilation gap. Otherwise, condensation will accumulate under the roof, and it will simply be unbearable to operate the building. The space for ventilation is at least 5 cm. But it should not be more than 15 cm. Counter battens are placed on the waterproofing layer, and the main sheathing and roofing are already attached to it.
   

   The sheathing is mounted on the waterproofing layer and is responsible for creating a ventilation gap

5. If the insulation material is attached from the inside, it should be laid in the space between the rafters. It must go joint to joint without any gaps at all, otherwise the insulation will not be normal. The slabs must be installed by surprise, and all resulting irregularities must be coated with foam.

   The insulation must be laid joint-to-joint so that there are no gaps between it and the rafters

6. A vapor barrier membrane must be laid on top of the insulation. Often intermediate slats are nailed between it and the insulation to create a second ventilation gap. Its presence guarantees complete elimination of possible condensation.
7. After this, you can install the finishing coating. To do this, rough sheathing is placed on the rafters, and finishing material is installed on top.

If all layers are made sequentially, the material is attached without gaps, and only high-quality tools and coatings are selected for the work, then no problems should arise during further operation. It is important to always remember your own calculations and drawings and focus on them.

In order for the work to be as efficient as possible, it is important to make at least an approximate drawing indicating the order of work.

In no case should the insulation sag by more than 10 centimeters. If this happens, it means there are problems with the material or installation. Before fastening, any material must be tested for functionality right at home: you can pour water on it and put a small weight on it. If the insulation holds up, it can be safely attached under the roofing cladding material.

Video: how to lay insulation on a roof

To ensure that your home is always warm and comfortable, it is important to take care of high-quality roof insulation. For this, various materials can be used: basalt wool, ecowool, expanded polystyrene and its extruded analogue, linen and cotton, foam concrete. The choice depends on the financial capabilities and preferences of the owner of the building. It is important that the insulation meets all safety requirements and is clean in every sense for people and the environment. If installed correctly, the insulation will last at least 20 years. And foam concrete or basalt - generally all 50!

This time I decided to tell you how to insulate a roof from the inside with your own hands. Despite the fact that this operation is quite simple, it contains a number of nuances, which you will learn about below.

Insulation technology

The process of roof insulation can be divided into four stages:

Preparation of materials

First of all, you need to decide on the choice of thermal insulation material.

There are several options:

• polystyrene foam is a cheap thermal insulation material with low thermal conductivity - 0.037 - 0.043 W/mK. Despite these advantages, polystyrene foam is not often used for roof insulation, since it is a flammable material and has zero vapor permeability. Another serious disadvantage of expanded polystyrene is that during the combustion process it releases toxins;

• mineral wool is an environmentally friendly and fireproof material with a low thermal conductivity coefficient - 0.032 - 0.048 W/mK. Due to its good vapor permeability, it allows the roof to “breathe”. Therefore, in my opinion, mineral wool is the best option for roof insulation;

• extruded polystyrene foam is a more durable insulation material than regular polystyrene foam, which also has low thermal conductivity - 0.028-0.034 W/mK. Thanks to special additives, extruded polystyrene foam, as a rule, has a flammability class of G1, i.e. is a slightly flammable material. Another advantage of EPS is that the material is not afraid of moisture, and therefore does not require hydro-vapor barrier.

As for the disadvantages, they include the high price (on average 4000-4500 rubles per cubic meter). Another disadvantage is low vapor permeability.

If the attic space will be used as a living space, it is best to use basalt wool as insulation. This material is the most environmentally friendly.

Also, to insulate the roof from the inside you will need some other materials:

• vapor barrier;
• antiseptic impregnation for wood;
• wooden slats.

Roof preparation

Before insulating the roof of a house with your own hands, you need to prepare the roof as follows:

1. if the housing has already been used, it is imperative to inspect the rafters for damage and other defects. If rotten or cracked parts are found, they must be replaced, repaired or strengthened;
2. if the thickness of the rafters is less than the thickness of the insulation, it needs to be increased. To do this, boards or beams should be attached to the rafters;
3. then all wooden parts of the roof, including rafters, must be treated with an antiseptic. Thanks to this, the tree will be protected from rotting and all kinds of negative biological influences.

Impregnation is applied using a brush. You can also use a spray bottle. Detailed instructions for using the composition are usually available on the packaging;

1. If waterproofing was not performed during the installation of the roofing or it became damaged over time, it must be done from the inside. For these purposes, a superdiffuse membrane should be used.

Roof waterproofing from the inside is attached to the rafters and sheathing using a stapler or even nails and wooden strips. The lower edge of the film should be brought under the roof overhang to drain condensate.

Roof insulation

Now you can start insulating the roof with your own hands.

The work is done like this:

1. First, create a ventilation gap between the vapor barrier membrane and the waterproofing. To do this, you need to step back from the waterproofing film a centimeter and a half and nail nails to the rafters. Then, between the nails, you need to pull a cord in a zigzag pattern, which will serve as a limiter;

1. then a vapor barrier membrane is attached to the rafter legs. To fix it, you can use a stapler.

It must be said that if extruded polystyrene foam is used, there is no need to create a ventilation gap and install a vapor barrier. Ordinary polystyrene foam, although slightly, still absorbs moisture and therefore needs a vapor barrier;

1. Now you can insulate the roof. To do this, the insulation boards must be placed between the rafters.

Keep in mind that the slabs must fit snugly against the rafters, as well as against each other. If gaps appear between the insulation, they will serve as cold bridges, and accordingly, the effectiveness of thermal insulation will decrease.

To fix the slabs between the rafters, you can hammer in nails and pull the threads in a zigzag pattern, as in the photo above.

1. After the insulation of the pitched roof is completed, another layer of vapor barrier should be secured to the rafters. In both the first and second cases, the membrane strips must be overlapped by 10 cm. In this case, the joints should be taped;

1. You need to secure the sheathing on top of the vapor barrier using slats or boards. The lathing will provide ventilation space between the finishing material and the vapor barrier. In addition, it will allow you to level the surface before installing the finishing coating if the attic will be used as a living space.

If the house is just being built, you can insulate the roof from the outside during the installation of roofing material. In this case, a lining is first made from the attic side, after which a vapor barrier and the insulation itself are laid on it. Thanks to this, there is no need to additionally fix the thermal insulation between the rafters.

This completes the thermal insulation of the roof of the house with your own hands. Now all that remains is to install the finishing material - drywall or, for example, lining.

Insulation of gables

If you are insulating the roof of a house from the inside for the purpose of arranging a residential attic space, you must also insulate the gables, unless, of course, the roof is gable. Let me remind you that the pediment is a part of the wall located between the roof slopes.

The process of insulating gables from the inside looks like this:

1. to provide ventilation space, wooden slats are fixed on the pediment with a pitch of 0.5 m vertically and 2-3 cm horizontally;

1. a vapor barrier is attached to the slats, resulting in a ventilation gap;
2. Next, vertical racks are installed. You can attach them to the slats using corners and screws or direct hangers.

In order for the inner surface of the gables to be smooth, the racks must be placed in the same plane. To do this, first install the two outer posts in a strictly vertical position, and then fasten several threads to them at different levels. Use the threads as beacons to align the remaining posts;

1. then the work is carried out in the same way as when insulating the roof - the space between the racks is insulated, after which the vapor barrier membrane is fixed and the sheathing is installed;
2. On the façade side, on the gables under the canopy, several small holes need to be made for the ventilation gap to work, i.e. removed moisture.

This is, perhaps, all the information on how to insulate the roof of a house with your own hands.

Conclusion

From the article you learned the main nuances of insulating a roof from the inside, which will allow you to cope with this task without the help of specialists. I recommend watching the video in this article. With any additional questions regarding roof insulation, you can contact me in the comments, and I will try to answer you as soon as possible.

When choosing the best way to insulate the roof of a private household, it is necessary to take into account not only the cost of the building material, its technical characteristics, but also the nuances of the installation work. You can install the insulation yourself, but in some cases it is better to use the services of experienced roofers.

Rules for choosing insulation - the better to insulate

When selecting thermal insulation material, first of all, pay attention to the type of roof, which can be pitched or flat. Features of the roofing structure affect the requirements for insulation.

When choosing it, a number of parameters are analyzed:

• thermal conductivity - the lower its value, the more effective the insulation will be;
• long service life without loss of quality;
• moisture resistance;
• ability to maintain original parameters;
• environmental friendliness - the insulation does not contain toxic substances;
• frost resistance - in the event of a temperature difference, the thermal insulation material should not deteriorate its performance properties;
• specific gravity - preference should be given to insulation with low density, which will not weigh down the roof frame;
• fire resistance;
• sound insulation – is of great importance when installing “noisy” roofing coverings, for example, metal tiles.

When deciding how to insulate the roof of a private house, it is not advisable to make mistakes that affect the quality of thermal insulation work:

1. Saving money on quality. Experts recommend purchasing insulation from manufacturers that have proven themselves well for a long time.
2. Laying a layer of insulation of insufficient thickness.
3. Violation of installation technology.

All materials used for thermal insulation of roofs in private households are divided into several groups:

• in the form of slabs;
• roll;
• sprayed;
• bulk.

Mineral wool for the roof of a private house

When choosing how to insulate the roof from the inside of a private house, many people prefer mineral wool. It is used for insulation of flat and pitched roofs. This material with a fibrous structure is produced from rock melts. On the building materials market, mineral wool is sold in the form of mats (slabs) and rolled products. When making a choice, you should take into account its thickness and density.

Among the advantages of mineral wool:

• high degree of thermal insulation;
• non-flammability;
• environmental cleanliness;
• stability of parameters;
• easy installation;
• affordable price;
• soundproofing;
• absence of rodents and microorganisms.

Sufficiently rigid mineral fiber slabs are used for external insulation of flat roofing structures. Mineral wool with a lower thickness and density is used to insulate pitched roofs.

Insulation using this material requires the installation of hydro- and vapor barriers and ventilation gaps. These layers prevent moisture from collecting in the insulation. Otherwise, the thermal insulation qualities of mineral wool are reduced, and rotting processes begin in the rafter system.

Glass wool

It is sold on the construction market in rolls and in the form of slabs. This is an environmentally friendly insulation material with good soundproofing qualities. When installing a heat-insulating layer using glass wool, roofers use protective clothing and special equipment and follow safety precautions so as not to cause harm to health.

Before insulating the roof of a private house using mineral wool, you need to select a vapor barrier material, and at the same time, glass wool slabs may already have a foil coating on the outside - its presence simplifies the installation of the thermal insulation layer.

Roof insulation with foam plastic

This popular tile material is also called extruded polystyrene foam. It is used to insulate roofs. It has high thermal insulation and is resistant to moisture.

Since the material does not absorb vapors, it can be laid directly on the waterproofing layer without creating an air gap. The flammability and vapor permeability of polystyrene foam makes it unsuitable for arranging an insulated flat soft roof.

When insulating a pitched roof, tile foam is placed between the rafters in one layer. In this case, the edges of the material should be tightly adjacent to the wooden structures. Also, the joints of the plates need to be treated with polyurethane foam and then reinforced tape should be glued on top.

How to insulate with polyurethane foam

The material is known among experts as a good choice for insulating the roof of a private house, as it has a number of advantages:

• insignificant specific gravity;
• waterproofing properties due to the presence of a clogged cell structure;
• noise insulation qualities;
• low degree of thermal conductivity;
• biostability.

Polyurethane foam is produced in the form of slabs with sufficient rigidity. It can also be applied by spraying. During operation, PU foam boards retain their shape and are easy to drill and cut. The products are installed in the same way as roof insulation is installed using expanded polystyrene.

Despite the fact that polyurethane foam spraying is a recently emerging technology, it has deservedly received recognition. The application of a heat-insulating layer is carried out using equipment, which is considered the main disadvantage of this method. Among the advantages of sprayed polyurethane foam, the high quality of the heat-insulating layer should be noted, since the coating turns out to be monolithic - the foaming composition fills all the cracks without exception.

Penoizol

The technology for insulating the roof of a private household using penoizol has much in common with the use of another material - sprayed polyurethane foam. Its technical characteristics are similar to polystyrene foam. Among its advantages, the combination of affordable price and good quality should be noted.

When looking for a solution to the cheaper way to insulate a roof, penoizol can be called such a material. Its price is less than that of extruded polystyrene foam, mineral wool, and basalt slabs. This polymer material is completely safe for human health.

Foaming equipment is used to spray penoizol. You need to bring the hose closer to the place where the insulation is being installed and fill the gap with foam. After hardening, the thermofoam will not have any harmful effects and will not weigh down the structure. Penoizol differs from sprayed polystyrene foam in its high degree of moisture absorption (almost 5%), so it is necessary to lay a vapor barrier layer.

Foam concrete

This material is used when it is necessary to solve the problem of how to insulate the roof of a private house with a flat roof.

Foam concrete is made from:

• cement;
• concrete;
• sand;
• means for the formation of pores.

The use of foam material results in the creation of strong and durable roof insulation. Since foam concrete has a low density, it does not place high loads on the supporting frame and retains heat well.

Advantages of foam concrete:

• environmental friendliness;
• vapor permeability;
• fire safety.

To lay foam concrete, a special mobile installation is used. As a result, the insulation layer should be 3–15 centimeters.

Expanded clay

It is used when arranging flat slopes. Expanded clay is a bulk type of insulation. It is placed either on the floor slabs or on the outer surface of the roof. The heat insulator is sealed and covered with a screed, and the required slope of the slope must be observed to ensure the removal of precipitation.

When using expanded clay, the loads on both the foundation of the building and the roofing structures increase significantly. This nuance should be taken into account when drawing up design documentation for a private house. The quality of such thermal insulation depends on compliance with insulation technology.

Foam glass

Refers to environmentally friendly materials for insulating the roof of a house. It has high thermal insulation properties. It is produced by foaming glass mass with carbon.

As a result, foam glass is resistant to deformation processes, moisture and steam, it is durable and non-flammable. This insulation is used to provide thermal insulation on all types of roofs, regardless of what materials they are made of. When installing foam glass, polymer acetate adhesive is used to ensure a high degree of adhesion.

The use of this insulation gives elasticity to the soft roofing covering and allows it to be leveled. This is one of the best options for thermal insulation of flat roofs that are planned to be used.

Ecowool

To make insulation such as ecowool, waste paper is used. This heat insulator is environmentally friendly with excellent sound and heat insulating properties. But, as you know, cellulose is a flammable material and can be damaged by rodents and microorganisms. For this reason, ecowool is treated with bioprotective compounds and fire retardants.

This material is lightweight and inexpensive. But the installation of roof thermal insulation requires a special approach when it is necessary to install ecowool between the rafters. Closed “boxes” are made from tiled materials, then insulation is blown into them, completely filling the cracks with it.

Among the disadvantages of the heat insulator, it should be noted that it is necessary to prepare for installation and use special equipment.

Wood sawdust

Long before the advent of modern thermal insulation materials, sawdust, a wood waste product, was especially popular when it was necessary to insulate the roof of your own home. They are environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic, but flammable, which must be taken into account when choosing an insulation option. In addition, rodents love to live in them, and sawdust is also susceptible to rotting.

This bulk material does not insulate the roof structure, but only the ceiling. Ecowool can be used similarly. By laying sawdust in an even layer, the ceilings of residential premises in their own homes are effectively insulated.

In order to enhance the thermal insulation properties, sawdust is mixed with clay and the attic floor is treated. Their use is possible only on the condition that the attic space will not be used.

The correct choice of insulation and high-quality arrangement of the roofing pie allows you to provide a microclimate favorable for its residents in a private household throughout the year, and save on heating in winter.

Do-it-yourself roof insulation in a private house is a responsible and complex undertaking.

But, knowing the basic requirements and techniques for working with roofing materials, completing the task will not be difficult and will save significant money.

Preparation for insulating the roof of a private house largely depends on the design of the existing roof. If additional thermal insulation of an existing flat roof is required, you need to find out the condition of the roofing pie; for this, a pit measuring 1x1 m is selected, and the condition of the insulation is assessed.

When in working condition, it is possible to install insulation over the existing carpet, however, this method increases the load on the supporting structures and is not always feasible. If the insulation is locked or destroyed, the existing roof is dismantled and a new pie is laid.

To ensure the quality of thermal insulation of a pitched roof, the following work must be performed before insulation:

1. Check the serviceability of the waterproofing layer and repair if necessary.
2. Check the condition of the drainage system.
3. Coat wooden structures with a fire retardant and fungicidal composition.

Choice of materials and design

How to insulate the roof of a private house? The insulation market is saturated with a variety of materials, which makes choosing difficult. To insulate a residential building with your own hands, it is advisable to select a material based on two criteria: fire resistance and thermal conductivity. That is, the material must be safe and effective.

Insulation materials

The most commonly used extruded polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are effective, but flammable, so they cannot be recommended for insulating housing, especially with wooden roof structures.

Non-flammable materials include slabs and mats based on stone, basalt and mineral wool, foam glass and flax slabs.

Their thermal conductivity coefficient is approximately the same from 0.042 to 0.047, but their cost and service life are different. The greatest durability is guaranteed by manufacturers of flax slabs - from 60 years and above, but their cost is also above average, followed by basalt slabs. The remaining insulation materials occupy the same price niche.

Calculation of the insulation thickness using a simplified scheme can be carried out using the formula:

δ = R x λ

In this formula:

δ – calculated size, meters;
R– standard thermal resistance;
λ – thermal conductivity coefficient of the insulation used.

The standard thermal resistance depends on the climatic zone of construction:

The thermal conductivity coefficient of Rockwool stone wool mats is 0.038 with a volumetric weight of 35 kg/m3. We calculate for Moscow:

δ = 4.67Х0.038=0.17746 m,

that is, to insulate the roof slope of a house in the Moscow region, the required insulation thickness is 180 mm.

How to insulate the roof of a private house? The choice of materials also depends on the roof design. Flat roofs and pitched roofs require different materials. We will consider each option.

Insulation of a flat roof

The composition of the roofing pie for a flat roof looks like this:

1. Waterproof carpet.
2. Insulation.
3. Vapor barrier.
4. Screed to create a slope.
5. Cover plate.

As a waterproofing carpet, 4 layers of rolled fused bitumen-polymer material, for example Technoelast, Krovlyelast, are laid. The top layer should have a protective coating of stone chips.

It is possible to perform a membrane roof with mechanical fastening to the slab. The membrane is laid in 2 layers, but the cost of such a cake is much higher.

It is advisable to use non-flammable insulation from materials of mineral origin - basalt, mineral, glass wool. The insulation is laid in 2 layers: below - soft mats, on top - slab material that can withstand periodic human walking without losing its shape.

Vapor barrier - a layer of geotextile prevents water vapor from entering the insulation from the room.

The screed for creating a slope is also made of light, fine-grained concrete, its height depends on the length of the slope, the minimum thickness is 10 mm, the angle of inclination is 1.5%.

The covering slab in low-rise housing construction is usually made of lightweight concrete, but it is also possible to find monolithic reinforced concrete on a metal profiled flooring.

Insulation of pitched roofs

Let's look at ways to insulate the pitched roof of a private house. This can be done in two ways:

• Option 1 – insulation of the attic floor, in this case the attic remains cold;
• Option 2 – insulation of the roof slope, in this case the owners have additional living space at their disposal.

Option 1

Insulation is the simplest and least expensive: in this case, you can use the most budget-friendly bulk insulation - expanded clay, as well as slag. Geotextiles or any other material with similar properties are laid over the ceiling, a layer of insulation is poured on top of it, and a lightweight concrete screed is placed on top of it. To make it possible to walk around the attic, walkable flooring is laid.

The thermal conductivity coefficient of slag is significantly greater than that of modern insulation materials, which means that the layer thickness will be greater and the load on the floor will be higher. If the ceiling is made of wooden beams and it is necessary to reduce the load on them, it is better to insulate the attic floor with mineral or stone wool.

First, a vapor barrier is laid, fastened with a stapler to the rafters. The canvases are mounted with an overlap of 10 cm, the edges are sealed with tape. Insulation mats are placed in the spacer between the beams. Then another layer of vapor barrier film is placed, and on top of it is a flooring made of moisture-resistant chipboard or other boards.

Option 2

Repeats the insulation of floors with mineral wool: a layer of vapor barrier material is laid between the coating material and the insulation, then insulation is installed between the rafter structure, which is protected from condensation from the premises with another layer of vapor barrier film; to create a flat surface, the slope is sewn up with board material: chipboard, fibreboard, OSB.

As you can see, to create a high-quality insulating layer, you need not only insulation, but also non-woven materials to protect the heat insulator itself - a vapor barrier membrane on the outside and a vapor barrier layer on the inside. Carrying out work using the above technology guarantees the durability and reliability of the structure, and improves the microclimate of your home.