The better way to insulate the roof of a house. Proper insulation of the roof of a house: technology and video

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 the existing flat roof need to find out the condition roofing pie, for this, a pit measuring 1x1 m is selected, and the condition of the insulation is assessed.

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

To guarantee the quality of thermal insulation pitched roof, before insulation it is necessary to perform the following work:

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.

From non-combustible materials offer 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:

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

δ = 4.67Х0.038=0.17746 m,

that is, for insulating the roof slope of a house in the Moscow region required thickness insulation – 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. Upper layer must have a protective coating of stone chips.

IMPORTANT: Deposition is carried out using construction hair dryer, without the use of open flame.

Possible execution membrane roofing with mechanical fastening to the plate. 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.

PLEASE ATTENTION: It is possible to insulate the roof of a private house with polystyrene foam, but since this insulation is flammable, it is advisable to lay a 15 mm thick screed of light, fine-grained concrete on top of it to prevent possible contact with fire.

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, minimum thickness 10 mm, tilt angle 1.5%.

The covering slab in low-rise housing construction is usually made from lightweight concrete, but it is possible to meet monolithic reinforced concrete on 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 higher than that of modern insulation materials, which means the layer thickness will be greater and the load on the floor will be higher. If the overlap is made according to wooden beams and, it is necessary to reduce the load on them, attic floor It is better to insulate 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 by another layer of vapor barrier film; to create a flat surface, the slope is covered with board material: chipboard, fibreboard, OSB.

As you can see, to create a high-quality insulating layer, you need not only insulation, but also nonwovens to protect the heat insulator itself there is 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.

A well-calculated and high-quality installed rafter system, a durable, reliable, non-leaking roofing covering – all this is wonderful. But we must not forget about one more thing - about effective thermal insulation of your home from the upper direction, that is, from the side of the roof and attic floor. Insufficient or incorrectly performed insulation of these elements of the building becomes not only the cause of poor comfortable conditions life in the house, but also, most importantly, sharply reduces the normal service life of many building materials and structures constructed from them.

Typically, issues of roof thermal insulation are thought through at the design stages of the rafter system or attic floors, and the insulation system itself is installed in parallel with construction. But if suddenly, due to certain circumstances, it turns out that the roof in a house purchased, for example, is not insulated at all, or the effectiveness of thermal insulation is clearly insufficient, the owners will have to seriously address this issue on their own. That’s when the information on how to insulate the roof of a house with your own hands, given in this publication, will come in handy.

Why is it necessary to insulate the roof?

First of all, you need to have a very precise idea of ​​how important it is to insulate the roof outside or inside.

• The climatic conditions in most regions of Russia cannot be called “mild” - even in the southern regions there are often very harsh winters. Heating costs during the cold season usually become prevalent and “eat up” a considerable part of the family budget. But with poor-quality insulation, spending on energy literally turns into “money for air.”

Look at an approximate diagram of heat losses of an uninsulated or insufficiently insulated private house:

A roof with a roof that does not have effective thermal insulation simply “steals” almost a third of the energy costs spent on heating a home. Of course, we can’t even talk about any kind of efficiency. But even with such a completely unjustified expenditure of funds, it will be almost impossible to create a truly comfortable microclimate in the house.

• With coming summer heat lack of thermal insulation also turns into serious problem. The large roof area acts as a kind of " solar collector", warming up in the sun and then transferring this flow of thermal energy down into the premises of the house. As a result, there is nothing to breathe in the rooms, or climate control equipment works with increased intensity, which, again, leads to completely unjustified costs.
• The lack of thermal insulation has a very negative impact on the condition of building structures. Normal human activity is always accompanied by the release of large volumes of water vapor, which condenses at the boundary of heat and cold, at the so-called “dew point,” turning into water. Oversaturation of wooden parts of the roof structure with moisture leads to the activation of rotting processes, to the destructuring of wood due to freezing and thawing cycles with the appearance of deep cracks, to the appearance and development of colonies of pathogenic microflora - mold and mildew, and to the appearance of insect nests.

Warm air, due to its low density, always “floats” upward.

Realizing this, homeowners strive to insulate this part of the building.

The list of modern heat insulators is quite extensive and it can be difficult for an uninformed person to cope with this task quickly.

The material presented below will help assess the strengths and weak sides various materials and decide how to insulate the roof of a private house.

Ideally, the thermal insulation material should have the following properties:

1. Have high thermal resistance: this parameter is the main characteristic thermal insulation material, by which one can judge its ability to retain heat. But in practice, it is usually not the thermal resistance that is indicated, but the inverse value - the thermal conductivity coefficient. The lower its value, the better the material insulates. Today, a coefficient of 0.035 - 0.04 W/m*degree is considered good.
2. Be environmentally friendly: The rapid development of the chemical industry has resulted in the emergence of a variety of materials that are simply dangerous to use inside buildings. This problem is relevant - no one is surprised anymore by stories about linoleum, paint or wallpaper glue, the smell of which makes people faint. You need to pay close attention to the composition of the heat insulator, especially if the roof is supposed to be insulated from the inside.
3. Have as low a density as possible: excess weight increases the load on the foundation of the house, and manufacturers try to take this factor into account. The density of modern insulation materials varies within a very wide range - from 11 to 350 kg/cubic meter. m. By choosing a lighter material, we reduce the load on building construction, which means we get the opportunity to make them less material-intensive.
4. Do not be afraid of contact with water: the air in living spaces always has high humidity, and the insulation is always located in the temperature difference zone. It would be good if he were not afraid of the steam turning into condensate.
5. Be non-flammable: this property is highly desirable, however, it must be taken into account that the fire resistance requirements for a heat insulator depend on the material from which the walls are built. IN wooden house There is no point in using non-flammable insulation, but brick insulation does.
6. Be resistant to active life biological environment: Some materials may be damaged by microorganisms (such as mold), insects or rodents. It is advisable that the selected heat insulator does not fall into this category. Private houses are usually located in places where nature is not particularly harassed, so for their owners this property of a heat insulator is of particular importance.
7. Be convenient to install and easy to process. The easiest way to install insulation is in the form of rigid slabs and since the roof, like the walls, is flat design, it suits her best.
8. Keeps shape well, do not wrinkle or compact under its own weight.
9. Loads. In some situations, the heat insulator may be required to be able to withstand significant loads (insulation of flat roofs).
10. Price. Have as low a cost as possible.

Perhaps it was not entirely correct to indicate the last property at the end of the list, because for many it is the price that is the main criterion for choosing a material.

Materials for roof insulation

So, let's look at the best way to insulate the roof of a private house.

All insulation materials existing at the moment can be divided into three types:

• fibrous (usually called cotton wool);
• porous (foam);
• bulk.

Let's look at each of the categories in more detail.

Fiber insulators

These materials are very effective - most of them have a thermal conductivity coefficient below 0.04 W/m*degree. But we must take into account that they are hygroscopic. Once saturated with moisture, fibrous materials completely lose their thermal insulation properties.

Therefore, with outside fibrous insulation should be protected from atmospheric moisture with a waterproofing film (in addition to roofing), and vapor barrier - from the side of the living room.

All fiber insulation provides good sound insulation.

Another important advantage is that they are made only from natural raw materials.

It could be:

• cellulose (Ecowool);
• natural stone (usually basalt), glass, blast furnace slag and others similar materials, which are melted to obtain fibers (mineral wool).

The first two varieties are used relatively rarely, since they have a short service life, are susceptible to rotting and burn well, although they are treated with special bio-fire-retardant additives.

But mineral wool turned out to be much more in demand. It does not burn, does not smoke when heated and is not damaged by fungi or insects. Its most popular varieties are:

If you live in a private house and want to save on heating, do not ignore the issue of ceiling insulation, because warm air flies up and goes through the attic to the street. The next article will tell you about the best way to insulate the ceiling in a private house.

It is made mainly from glass industry waste and has the form of flexible mats.

The material is cheap, but has a number of disadvantages:

• it hurts your hands and generates a lot of dust, so installation must be done with gloves and a respirator;
• does not hold its shape: you have to apply a large number of fasteners;
• contains phenol-formaldehyde resins, which act as a binder (they emit harmful fumes).

A more worthy option is glass staple fiber wool. It is considered a type of glass wool, but is less dangerous, is almost resistant to moisture and can be produced in the form of rigid slabs.

Basalt wool

More practical insulation, but more expensive than glass wool. In a modern design basalt wool Doesn't create dust or irritate your hands. It can be produced in the form of flexible mats and soft elastic slabs, as well as hard slabs that can withstand significant loads (up to 70 kPa).

Some brands of basalt wool also contain phenol-formaldehyde. It is better not to use such materials for interior work.

Porous (foam) materials

Porous heat insulators are inferior to fibrous ones in soundproofing properties, but they are moisture resistant and have low or even zero vapor permeability.

There are several subgroups in this group:

Polymer heat insulators

These materials are very light and have a lower thermal conductivity coefficient than mineral wool: 0.035 - 0.037 W/m*degree. This subgroup is very extensive.

Here are just some of its representatives:

• expanded polystyrene (foam plastic) foamed and extruded;
• foam-PVC;
• foamed polyethylene;
• polyurethane foam (spray foam);
• polypropylene foam;
• various polyolefin foams;
• foam rubbers.

Of the listed materials, polystyrene foam is usually used for roof insulation. It is inexpensive and comes in the form of rigid slabs, which greatly simplifies installation. Extruded polystyrene foam is slightly more expensive than foamed polystyrene, but is more durable: its compressive strength is 500 kPa, while that of foamed polystyrene is from 40 to 50 kPa.

For filling small cracks and hard to reach places Polyurethane foam, better known as polyurethane or construction foam, is usually used.

It should be borne in mind that most polymer heat insulators burn well, emitting extremely toxic smoke. Even those varieties that, due to the addition of a fire retardant, are considered non-flammable, smoke. True, for a private house the smoke generation factor is not as important as for a high-rise building, where residents of apartments located above the fire zone may suffer from smoke.

Another disadvantage of polymer porous heat insulators is that rodents happily eat them. If a mouse finds access to polystyrene foam, it will gnaw out a whole hole in it.

Foam glass

Compared to the types of heat insulators described above, this material is quite heavy (130 - 180 kg/cubic m) and has a high thermal conductivity coefficient (0.076 W/m*degree).

But it has a number of undeniable advantages:

• compressive strength high level– from 700 to 1200 kPa;
• absolute environmental safety (does not generate dust, does not contain harmful components, does not emit hazardous fumes);
• unprecedented durability: according to calculations – 100 years;
• non-flammability;
• resistance to aggressive reagents (glass is corroded only by hydrofluoric acid and strong alkalis).

Produced in the form of granules and slabs.

Expanded clay

An inexpensive material in the form of granules made from clay.

Bulk heat insulators

A backfill made of some fine-grained material is similar in structure to porous heat insulators. You can add sawdust or seed husks; if you need a non-flammable option, boiler slag will do.

Insulation of a pitched roof

The pitched roof is insulated from the inside, so Special attention attention should be paid to the environmental friendliness of the heat insulator.

The use of polystyrene foam and other polymeric materials is undesirable, since when heated (in the summer the roof gets quite hot), they begin to emit harmful fumes.

The best way to insulate such roofs is basalt wool in the form of elastic slabs (they hold well between the rafters).

If you are not going to use the attic, insulate not the slopes, but the attic floor, for example, bulk material. With uninsulated slopes, the attic will be better ventilated and the rafters will not require repairs longer.

Insulation of a flat roof

Such a roof is usually insulated from the outside, so the environmental friendliness of the material fades into the background.

But the requirements for its strength are increasing - it must withstand snow loads and people on the roof.

This criterion is satisfied by extruded polystyrene foam, foam glass and a special variety basalt slabs, characterized by increased rigidity and density.

Complete with the main insulation, additional slabs of a special shape can be supplied, allowing for a slope of 1.5%.

Basalt slabs are laid using 1-layer and 2-layer technology. In the second case, you can do without a cement-sand screed.

Video on the topic

When making a choice about 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 implementation 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 case of drop temperature regime 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 roof frame;
• fire resistance;
• sound insulation – has 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 flat roof structure. 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 rafter system the processes of decay begin.

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 in a private house using mineral wool, you need to select 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 heat-insulating 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 air gap. The flammability and vapor permeability of polystyrene foam makes it unsuitable for arranging an insulated flat soft roof.

For thermal insulation 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 wooden structures. Also, the joints of the plates need to be processed polyurethane foam and then glue reinforced tape 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, since 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 it should be noted high quality heat-insulating layer, 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. By technical specifications it is similar to foam plastic. Among its advantages, it is worth noting the combination affordable price and good quality.

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 exert high loads on load-bearing frame and retains heat perfectly.

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 refers to bulk type 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 project documentation on a private house. The quality of such thermal insulation depends on compliance with insulation technology.

Foam glass

Environmentally friendly clean 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 to ensure high degree For adhesion, polymer acetate glue is used.

The use of this insulation gives elasticity to the soft roofing covering and allows it to be leveled. This is one of best options thermal insulation 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.

The light material and inexpensive. But the installation of roof thermal insulation requires a special approach when it is necessary to install ecowool between the rafters. From tile materials They make closed “boxes”, then blow insulation 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, it was especially popular to insulate the roof when necessary. own home used sawdust, which is a waste product from wood processing. 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 roof structure, but only ceiling. Ecowool can be used similarly. Having laid the sawdust in an even layer, in own homes high-quality insulation of residential ceilings.

In order to enhance thermal insulation performance sawdust mixed with clay and treated with attic floor. 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.

How to insulate a roof with your own hands? First of all, let's talk about the roof parameters that are responsible for its thermal insulation qualities. One of the main ones is the presence of an insulating “pie” - a multi-layer structure that does not allow heat to leave the structure.

What to look for when choosing materials?

How to insulate the roof of a private house? What characteristics and dimensions of roof insulation should be?

Thermal insulation materials are characterized by:

• thermal conductivity coefficient;
• density;
• ability to absorb water;
• flammability;
• environmental safety.

These parameters should be taken into account when choosing thermal insulation materials. Let's talk about them in a little more detail.

The coefficient of thermal conductivity (thermal conductivity) in the case of insulation materials should have the smallest possible value - it is this that determines the insulating qualities of materials. A low value of this parameter indicates the material’s ability to better retain heat.

The density of the insulating material, that is, its mass in a volume of 1 m 3 (we remember, who forgot, school course physics) determines the weight load on the rafter support system of the roof, walls and, accordingly, on the foundation of the building.

The moisture absorption coefficient in roof insulation should also be minimally low. Since the majority heat-insulating materials when moisture gets into them, they lose their heat-insulating qualities, negating the effectiveness of all roof insulation work. Therefore, waterproofing and vapor barrier of insulating material must be approached with all responsibility and seriousness. And the insulation material must have high moisture resistance - in other words, low moisture absorption capacity.

Flammability - determines the tendency of a material to ignite easily and maintain the combustion process. Naturally, it is necessary to use materials with low flammability in order to avoid the possibility of “one-time heating” from the roof of the building.

Today it is fashionable to talk about the environmental safety of the material. This also applies to roof insulation. After all, even minor emissions of substances harmful to human health, “multiplied” by a significant time spent in a building, can significantly reduce the time that person remains in full health.

Let's sum up the interim results! So, which roof insulation is best? We answer: the material must have low thermal conductivity with high moisture resistance, have sufficient mechanical strength, do not support combustion and be safe for human health! Like this! Do we all know? Let's go to the construction supermarket!

Which insulation to choose for a roof in a store?

The current state of the building materials market allows even a specialist to get lost in it. The “counter” of insulating materials for the roof is more “narrow”, but still, to navigate it you need to know at least the main types of insulation. This will help you communicate more easily, both with the sales consultant and with the craftsmen, if you decide to resort to their services for organizing roofing work.

As part of roof insulation, we will focus on:

• mineral wool (mineral wool);
• glass wool;
• polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene);
• We’ll also talk about extruded polystyrene foam.

Mineral wool

Mineral wool (mineral wool) is fibrous material, obtained by melt and spray minerals mountain origin. Due to its fibrous structure, such mineral wool is an excellent thermal insulation material.

This material is supplied to the work site either in the form of rolls or in the form of slabs. This material has a fairly high density, which in some samples reaches 200 kg/m3.

WITH financial side mineral wool can be called " budget insulation“- both the material itself and the prices for installation work are quite “democratic”.

Glass wool

From the point of view of operational functionality, glass wool is similar to mineral wool. The raw material for its production is glass production waste. When choosing it, you should study the indicators discussed above and choose the best option.

Attention! Be careful! Work with glass wool must be carried out in a protective suit and in compliance with safety rules when working with glass wool, which can cause harm to health when working with it.

But in general, the use of glass wool can effectively and permanently solve the issue of roof insulation.

Styrofoam

The use of polystyrene foam as insulation is determined by its cellular structure. This is a material formed by foam polymer material, frozen in this state. The density of polystyrene foam is quite low, which, combined with its high thermal insulation qualities, determines the popularity of use. of this material. Polystyrene foam also has good sound insulation parameters. Polystyrene foam is produced only in the form of slabs of various thicknesses and various densities. The price of this material is the lowest of all the listed materials.

Extruded (extruded) polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam is “related” to polystyrene foam chemical composition, but incomparably higher performance characteristics in the field of thermal insulation.

This is due to fundamentally different technological processes their production. If the production of polystyrene foam consists of repeated “steaming” of polystyrene granules placed in a block mold with water vapor. The granules increase in volume many times over until they occupy the entire shape, as a result of which they “sinter” with each other. But as the granules increase, the micropores on their surface also increase.

This leads to a weakening of the bonds between the foam granules over time, and especially under the influence environment. As a result, the material can crumble into granules under the influence of the slightest mechanical force. Weak connections between granules also explain the “fragility” of the material during fracture deformation.

Extruded polystyrene foam has no such disadvantages. During the manufacturing process in an extruder, the entire volume of raw materials is first heated to the melting temperature, a homogeneous mass is formed, which undergoes further transformation. The result of the process is a strong microporous structure of closed cells filled with gas, interconnected by molecular bonds. The “closedness” of the cells determines the water resistance and vapor permeability of such polystyrene foam at high thermal insulation parameters.

Thermal insulation materials - let's compare a little...

What is the best way to insulate the roof of a house? You decide…

Cotton materials, unlike polystyrene foam and expanded polystyrene, are also good sound insulators.

But, at the same time, mineral wool is highly susceptible to moisture. If the insulation absorbs moisture up to 2% percent of its mass, it will lose up to 50% of its effectiveness. Therefore, such thermal insulation material requires increased attention in terms of organizing waterproofing and vapor barrier.

Attention! When purchasing, pay attention to the integrity of the packaging - you can buy already “moistened” mineral wool.

It should also be understood that the cotton wool fibers themselves are hydrophobic (they repel cotton wool), but being “in the body” cotton material, they form microvoids between themselves, into which moisture is “absorbed” very well. Pay attention not to the hydrophobicity of cotton wool, but to such a parameter as moisture resistance.

The flammability of the material must also be taken into account. It is advisable to use materials with flammability class G1. Materials of this group will extinguish themselves when the source of ignition is eliminated.

Which insulation to choose for the roof? Suitable for your budget, installation capabilities and desired effect.

Roof insulation with mineral wool

Before insulating the roof with mineral wool, it is necessary to calculate the roof insulation and decide on the method of its installation: from above (in the absence of a roof covering) or from the inside.

The first method, in our opinion, is preferable, as it provides more convenient access to truss structure roofs.

Mineral wool insulation is a fairly elastic material, which makes it easy to install a spacer by cutting the width 2-3 cm more than the distance between the rafters.

The design of the roofing “pie” is as follows:

Depending on the material used for waterproofing, there are two options for its installation:

Let's consider the option of external installation of thermal insulation for the roof during its construction. The diffusion waterproofing membrane Fakro Eurotop N35 with a vapor permeability value of 1300 g/m2 per day was used as a waterproofing agent. This material can be safely placed on the surface of the insulation, which makes it easier to install insulation boards.

Mineral wool produced by TechnoNIKOL was used as a thermal insulation material.

The sequence of work or how to properly insulate the roof of a house with mineral wool:

Attention! This article discusses high-rise roof insulation work as an example. Recommended for independent execution Follow safety precautions and use safety equipment!

1. Lay one row waterproofing membrane on the roof overhang, securing it with a stapler.

2. On top of the laid film along the rafters we punch counter battens (25x40 mm) 66 cm long. This length of counter battens will allow you to conveniently fasten the first rows of the sheathing while on the roof itself.

3. Focusing on the edges of the rafters, screw in the first lathing strip with self-tapping screws, which should be 10-15 mm thicker than all the others (30x30 mm, 30x50 mm or 30x100 mm).

This is dictated by the fact that the edge of the metal tile sheet will not lie on the crest of the wave, but will lie on a plane. To compensate for the discrepancy in heights, the first rail is taken thicker.

4. Each subsequent sheathing beam must be 350 mm apart from the previous one (the wavelength of the metal tile).

5. Now that there are 3-4 rows of sheathing, and they can be used to move along the roof, we move on to the “internal” work. WITH inside We use a stapler to punch through the membrane-type waterproofing film, and on top of it we screw the internal sheathing with self-tapping screws, which will serve as a support for the heat-insulating material.

6. Lay layers of mineral wool with outside roofs. In this case, two layers of insulation were used, so when laying it it is necessary to use offset joints.