Is it possible to insulate walls with glass wool? Which insulation for the roof is better: select according to the criteria and use a calculator to calculate the thickness of the roof insulation. Type #2 – bulk cellulose insulator

The most important condition comfortable living in own home at any time of the year and with the lowest possible costs for energy resources used for heating and air conditioning needs, you are a reliable Moreover Almost all areas of the building must be insulated. Roofing is no exception, which, by the way, is not always remembered by inexperienced novice developers.

If you look at the percentage of heat losses of any building that does not have proper thermal insulation, you will see that the “lion’s share” of them falls on the attic floor and roof. The specifics of this site general design the house also imposes special requirements on the materials used for its insulation. Let's try to understand this issue to help the reader exclude possible mistakes and do right choice. So, what is the best roof insulation?

The need for roof insulation

First of all, it is necessary to dispel doubts about the need for roof insulation. Let's start with this.

The limited area of ​​land for building a house, and simply considerations of the most efficient construction with the lowest possible costs, often encourage owners to make useful use of the attic space. Attic “floors” are very popular these days, when the attic turns into a full-fledged living space, no different from other rooms in terms of convenience and comfort. Can be placed in the attic utility room, for example, a warm pantry, office or workshop.

It is clear that with this approach to beneficial use in the attic, there is no doubt about the insulation of the roof. Whatever type roofing neither was elected - none of them will provide the required protection from the winter cold. And in the hot summer period, the roof slopes heat up in the sun to such an extent that staying in an uninsulated attic becomes not only uncomfortable, but even completely unbearable from the heat. This, by the way, should never be discounted - insulation, or more correctly, thermal insulation of the roof helps to ensure an optimal microclimate in the attic at any time of the year.

But what about those whose immediate construction plans do not include converting the attic into a useful space? Maybe we should limit ourselves only to high-quality thermal insulation of the attic floor?

How is the attic floor insulated?

The ceiling of a room bordering on top of an unheated and uninsulated attic becomes not a “bridge”, but an entire “highway” for heat losses. This can be eliminated by performing a whole range of thermal insulation works. – read in a special publication on our portal.

Of course, we can limit ourselves to this. But it would be better to listen to the arguments in favor of insulating the roof slopes, even if this is associated, of course, with additional costs:

• All details rafter system And internal arrangement attic space will be protected from the destructive effects of temperature and humidity changes. Therefore, the durability of the entire roof structure as a whole will increase.

• Energy efficiency increases sharply when considered on a building-wide scale. That is, the insulation of the roof, even with high-quality thermal insulation of the attic floor, will still make its “mite” in achieving the most comfortable conditions during minimum costs from external source energy.
• Most modern insulation materials have the ability to effectively absorb sound vibrations. Insulated roof slopes will not become “resonators” during heavy rain or hail. This is especially true for roofing materials traditionally considered “noisy” - metal or slate.

• Finally, what seems unnecessary or temporarily unfulfillable today may turn into a pressing need in the future. This means that current circumstances may lead the owners of the house to the idea of ​​​​the need to expand the usable area due to the attic space. It’s better to have a warm attic right away than to do it from scratch later, which can often involve remodeling or replacing individual elements rafter system that has already experienced long-term negative influence of external factors. Sometimes such work cannot be carried out without temporarily removing the roof covering. In short, it will be much more expensive. So it makes sense to think ahead in advance.

Criteria that roof insulation must meet

To make the right choice, you need to know the criteria by which this material should be evaluated. There are many of these criteria, and it should immediately be noted that not a single insulation material fully meets all of them. So you often have to choose which advantage to give preference to.

So, the “ideal” material for thermal insulation of a roof seems to be one that meets all the following requirements:

• Of course, thermal insulation qualities should be placed in the first position. The material must have low thermal conductivity, that is, create the maximum possible resistance to heat transfer under specific application conditions. This indicator can be assessed by looking at the thermal conductivity coefficient, which must be indicated in the list of thermal insulation characteristics. To insulate the roof, where you can’t really “scatter” with the thickness of the insulation and the weight of the thermal insulation structure, they try to use materials with a thermal conductivity coefficient of no more than 0.05 W/m×C°. And the lower this figure, the better.
• The second most important factor is the density of the material. Nobody needs unnecessary overloads on the rafter system. So the less the insulation layer that is sufficient to create comfortable conditions weighs, the better.
• The problem with many insulating materials is their excessive hygroscopicity, that is, the ability to absorb moisture literally from the air. And overmoistening always leads to at least a loss of thermal insulation qualities. This means that ideally the insulation should have a minimum moisture absorption, and even better – pronounced hydrophobicity. This is especially important in roof conditions, where exposure to moisture cannot be avoided.
• Insulation material must retain its qualities over a wide temperature range. That is, thermal insulation should “work” equally well both in extreme frosts and in the peak of summer heat.

• The most important qualities of a material, especially used for roof insulation, are indicators fire safety. This concerns fire resistance, the ability to become a flame spreader, smoke generation, toxicity of combustion products. The ideal material appears completely non-flammable, but, alas, in this matter many insulation systems are far from doing well.
• The stability of the material, that is, its durability under real operating conditions. An ideal insulation should not change shape or volume, be resistant to chemical or biological decay, spontaneous or due to external negative influence one type or another.
• The insulation should not serve as a breeding ground for microorganisms, nor should it be an attractive place for nests of insects, birds, and mice. And this, by the way, is also a very difficult problem to solve.
• Thermal insulating material during operation should not pose a danger in terms of the release of fumes harmful to human health or other environmental pollutants.
• For those who are going to carry out thermal insulation work on their own, the clarity and simplicity of working with the material is important, which does not require excessive effort, special experience, or special equipment.
• Finally, an important criterion for any building material, including insulation materials, has been and remains affordability.

As you can see, the quality assessment criteria thermal insulation materials- so many. And now we will begin to “try on” them with insulation materials that are suitable for thermal insulation pitched roof.

What is the best roofing insulation?

This post will focus on the most common V private construction pitched roof. Flat roofs have their own specific thermal insulation properties, and the materials used for this purpose may be different. Yes, they are widely used bulk insulation, special mortars with special filling, high-density mineral wool slabs and other materials. This issue requires a separate detailed consideration, so it will be omitted in this article.

And for pitched roofs, where on the insulation itself will not have a significant mechanical effect, they still try to use materials with a small specific gravity. They can be divided into three groups:

• Insulation with fiber structure.
• Rigid insulation with a gas-filled porous structure.
• Sprayed insulation.

These groups are also heterogeneous - materials can vary significantly in both basic composition and performance characteristics.

Insulation materials with fiber structure

This group of materials has one thing in common - they all represent an interweaving of thin fibers, due to which a layer of immobilized air is created enclosed in them. And this, in turn, becomes a thermal insulation layer. But the starting materials for the production of fibers can have serious differences, even down to their “nature” - mineral or organic. The first includes all types of mineral wool, the second subcategory includes cellulose-based ecowool.

Mineral wool

For thermal insulation building structures V residential buildings Two types of mineral wool are used. In the first of them, fibers are formed from a melt of quartz glass, in the second, rocks of the basalt group serve as raw materials for production. Hence the names - glass wool and stone (basalt) wool.

There is another type of mineral wool - it is made from waste from metallurgical enterprises, slag. But it has not become widespread in residential construction, since it is inferior in both insulating qualities and durability. Yes and in terms of environmental safety Not everything is all right with her either. In a word, there is no particular point in focusing your attention on it.

Prices for mineral wool

mineral wool

But you should take a closer look at glass wool and basalt wool.

Mineral wool based on glass fibers

For the production of glass wool, broken glass and purified quartz sand are used as raw materials. After the mass is melted in ovens, thin fibers are drawn out of it using a special technology, which are then pressed into “carpets” using binding additives. At the final stage of production, the products are cut into blocks or mats of standard sizes.

The production process has been worked out for a long time, there is also no shortage of raw materials, and therefore the cost of glass wool is quite affordable, which predetermines its wide popularity. Inlet form - blocks (plates), mats in rolls and in Lately easy-to-install plates in rolls are also practiced.

TO dignity m of glass wool include the following:

— The specific gravity of the insulation is small, and therefore its installation does not require much physical effort, and the thermal insulation system does not exert a significant load on the roof structure.

— Glass wool blocks or mats have good elasticity. That is, they can be laid in spaces that are somewhat smaller in size - after straightening, they fit quite tightly to each other and to the enclosing elements (in this case, most often to the rafter legs).

“The same quality allows us to significantly reduce the volume of material when packaging it on the production line. This property allows you to reduce overhead costs for transporting insulation. And after removing the packaging, the blocks or mats, expanding, take on the specified dimensions.

— The material is flexible, that is, it can be used for thermal insulation of complex, for example, curved or broken areas without additional cutting into smaller fragments.

At the same time, glass wool also has certain flaws which should never be forgotten:

- Such a heater has a fairly high hygroscopicity. Therefore, when using Special attention addresses the creation of a reliable vapor barrier from the attic side, and the possibility of free evaporation of moisture from the roof side. Otherwise, the insulation will quickly become damp and lose all its thermal insulation qualities.

— Glass fibers are characterized by rather high brittleness. This means that vibrating effects are completely contraindicated for glass wool. Small broken fiber particles become a serious irritant for the skin, eyes and mucous membranes of the respiratory system, that is, thermal insulation work should be carried out in compliance with special measures protection. Measures should be considered to completely exclude the possibility of these particles entering the atmosphere of the residential area of ​​the house during operation, as they cause allergic reactions.

- The emission of formaldehydes, which are part of the binders, is also one of the disadvantages of the material. But this is more typical of cheap heaters of unknown brands (or even those that do not have any trademark at all - this happens too!) Leading manufacturers are trying to nullify emission indicators, and many modern types of glass wool are approved for use not only in residential and public buildings but even in educational and medical institutions.

A few more words can be added about the “branding” of glass wool. The fact is that the construction market is filled with inexpensive materials of highly dubious origin. In the production of such glass wool, either outdated technologies are used, or the process of technological control is completely absent. Such mats are characterized by high fiber fragility and strong shrinkage, and glass wool can turn into dust in just a few years. Naturally, there can be no question of any quality of thermal insulation of the roof here. So the pursuit of cheapness often results in considerable additional costs.

If you have already decided to use glass wool for roof insulation, then you should pay attention to quality products, for example, from the companies Ursa or Isover.

For example, let's take a closer look at the insulation from the line « UrsaGeo". For roof insulation from this series are suitable « A private house» , "M -11" And "Pitched Roof", whose name speaks for itself.

The basis of all these materials is glass fiber with the addition of special mineral components that reduce the disadvantages characteristic of glass wool. Products from this range are considered completely safe for both humans and the environment.

The products of the Ursa company are characterized by a number of special advantages:

— The material belongs to the group completely non-flammable heaters. Not only does the insulation not ignite on its own, it can become a barrier to the spread of flame.

— The company’s technologists managed to reduce the emission of binding organic compounds to such a low level that it can not be taken into account at all - it does not in any way affect the cleanliness of indoor air.

“Thanks to special mineral additives, which are the company’s technological secret, the glass fibers received additional elasticity, that is, it was possible to reduce their characteristic fragility.

— Many types of Ursa Geo thermal insulation, in particular Pitched Roofing, use the interesting URSA Spannfilz technology. This expression can be literally translated as “elastic felt.” The special structure of the fiber board gives it increased elasticity, and the insulation blocks fit very well between the rafters, which makes it possible to do without even additional fastening. And the tight fit eliminates the formation of voids, unfilled with insulation.

— Insulation materials are produced in a form that is very convenient for installation. For example, the “Pitched Roof” material consists of slabs in a roll, which greatly simplifies cutting in right size, if necessary.

— The manufacturer guarantees a long period of correctly laid thermal insulation without loss of its insulating properties, without shrinkage and destructuring– at least 50 years.

The main characteristics of fiberglass insulation from the Ursa Geo line, which is excellent for thermal insulation of a pitched roof, are given in the table.

	A private house	M-11	Pitched roof
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W/m×°С	0,045	0,044	0,040
Vapor permeability, mg/m×h×Pa	0,65	0,64	0,64
Fire safety class	KM0	KM0	KM0
Flammability group	NG	NG	NG
Operating temperature range, °C	60÷+220	60÷+220	60÷+220
Water absorption in 24 hours, kg/m², no more	1	1	1
Release form	mats on a roll	mats on a roll	slabs in roll
Dimensional parameters, mm
- length	8350	7000; 9000; 10000	3900; 3000
- width	1200	1200	1200
- thickness	50	50; 10	150;200
approximate cost	1100 rub/m³	roll 1200×10000×50 mm - 1220 rub.	980 rub. with a thickness of 150 mm; 1070 rub. with a thickness of 200 mm.

Basalt-based mineral wool

Fibers obtained from molten rocks gabbro-basalt groups have a number of advantages over glass ones. They become thinner and longer, they have more elasticity and much less fragility. All this gives mineral wool on this basis higher performance qualities. All the advantages inherent in glass wool are also inherent in basalt wool, and there are, in addition, a number of advantages.

Prices for basalt wool

basalt wool

It is even visually noticeable that high-quality basalt wool has a clearly homogeneous structure; it is given clear geometric shapes. It is much easier to work with such insulation - it is certainly not worth neglecting skin and respiratory protection, but it does not cause as much irritation as glass wool.

Better with basalt wool and with hygroscopicity - special processing sharply reduces moisture absorption, and products from some manufacturers even have properties close to hydrophobicity. But this still does not give grounds to refuse vapor barrier. Vapor permeability is high, that is, when the necessary conditions are created, even moisture that accidentally penetrates into the material will easily evaporate through the ventilation gaps of the roofing pie.

Products from well-known brands are also doing well with formaldehyde emission indicators - insulation materials have sanitary certificates with approval for safe use in any residential area. By the way, it would never be a bad idea to check for a copy of such a certificate when purchasing any insulation material.

Basalt wool slabs are extremely easy to install - both due to their precise “geometry” and due to their pronounced elasticity. And besides, manufacturers provide other “chips”. For example, “ROCKWOOL LIGHT BUTTS SCANDIC” slabs, popular among builders, have an edge “spring-loaded” using a special technology, which ensures their precise and reliable fixation at the installation site - between rafters, beams,

An excellent solution for roof insulation - ROCKWOOL LIGHT BUTTS SCANDIC slabs with a springy edge zone, which makes installation simple and very reliable

Basalt wool has few significant disadvantages (if we are talking about really high-quality products from well-known brands). Perhaps this can only be attributed to the higher cost of the material.

The range of basalt insulation materials is quite wide. Along with the “heavyweights” in this area of ​​​​production - the companies ROCKWOOL, PAROC, TechnoNIKOL, the companies Basvul, Isobel, Izovol and others offer quite worthy products. Before purchasing, it makes sense to take a closer look at the brand you like - trustworthy companies always have informative Internet portals, and a network of representative offices has been organized throughout Russia.

As an example to familiarize yourself with the physical and operational characteristics, you can take the already mentioned above insulation “ROCKWOOL LIGHT BUTTS”. By the way, another advantage of it is that when packed in production it is compressed by more than half due to vacuum technology. But when the packaging is removed, the slabs take on the specified dimensions without any loss of their performance.

Name of the main operational parameters of the material	Indicators
Thermal conductivity coefficient (W/m×°С):	0,039
Specific gravity (kg/m³)	30
Flammability group	NG
Fire safety class	KM0
Vapor permeability (mg/(m×h×Pa), not less than	0.03
Moisture absorption when partially immersed	no more than 1kg/m²
Dimensions	800 ×600 mm (XL slabs - 1200× 600 mm)
thickness	50 or 100 mm (XL slabs - 100 and 150 mm)
approximate cost	- with a thickness of 50 mm - 145 rub./m² - 100 mm - 285 RUR/m² - 150 mm - 430 rub/m²

The service life of such thermal insulation is estimated at no less than 50 years.

Organic-based fiber insulation – ecowool

This insulation appeared in widespread use not so long ago, and is even unknown to many. Meanwhile, it shows very good thermal insulation qualities.

The basis for the production of ecowool is ordinary cellulose fibers obtained from wood waste, paper and other waste raw materials. The total cellulose content in this insulation reaches 80 ÷ 85 percent. The rest is additives that ensure the biological stability of the material ( boric acid) and special fire retardants that increase the resistance of cellulose to fire.

Thermal performance indicators of ecowool are very decent: the thermal conductivity coefficient is approximately in the range from 0.038 to 0.043 W/m×° WITH, that is, quite comparable to mineral wool.

The material is famous for its environmental cleanliness (hence its name), and antiseptic treatment reliably protects it from decay and decay, and from damage by pathogenic microflora. Rodents and insects do not make nests in ecowool.

According to the degree of flammability, the material belongs to group G 2 - low-flammable, self-extinguishing. Combustion products do not contain toxic substances, which is typical, for example, of synthetic insulation.

Ecowool is quite hygroscopic, so issues of reliable hydro- and vapor barrier will definitely have to be thought through. But due to the capillary structure of natural fibers, moisture also easily evaporates from the material without disturbing its qualities. Interestingly, in this way, ecowool insulation stands are able to “automatically” maintain optimal humidity balance in the room.

Prices for ecowool

Ecowool is laid using “dry” and “wet” technologies. But application by the “wet” method, that is, by spraying, is not particularly justified on roof slopes that have a negative slope on the attic side - there will be too much waste. Therefore, most often this insulation is blown into cavities that are created using vapor barrier membranes or internal lining attic space.

Insulation of roof slopes with ecowool - the material is blown into the created cavities using a special installation

The density of the insulating layer, depending on the application method, ranges from 40 to 75 kg/m³.

TO shortcomings Similar insulation includes the following:

— Even the “dry method” of laying ecowool (with the exception of floor insulation) requires a special installation. In addition, to perform such work well, well-developed skills are needed.

— The process of laying ecowool is very dusty in any case. You cannot start it without personal protective equipment.

The cost of ecowool ranges from 20 to 35 rubles per kilogram. Usually she comes on sale in sealed plastic bags, packaged in 15 or 20 kilograms.

It seems - not so much. But if you look at the price lists of services provided by manufacturers or distributors of such insulation, you will see that you will also have to pay approximately the same amount for installation. And without special equipment it is extremely difficult to do this. This, perhaps, is the most important “minus” of such thermal insulation.

Sprayed insulation

One of the most effective ways to insulate a roof is to spray foam insulation on the back side of the roof slopes. With this approach, the thermal insulation layer becomes almost seamless, that is, without leaving cold bridges.

There are several types of such materials. But the closest thing to “ideal” in terms of all criteria for thermal insulation quality is polyurethane foam.

Perhaps the most reliable and effective method thermal insulation of pitched roof - spraying polyurethane foam

The thermal conductivity coefficient of polyurethane foam is very low, estimated at less than 0.03 W/m×°C. The material shows excellent adhesion to almost all surfaces. A closed cell makes the insulation layer vapor-tight, which means that in some cases you can do without additional costs for vapor barrier.

However, all the advantages of the material are also combined with a rather high price. Moreover, polyurethane foam is synthesized directly on the job site from two initial components, for which special installations. That is, “lovers of independent creativity”, one way or another, will have to resort to calling a brigade. And this also costs a lot of money.

There is, however, a caveat - disposable mini-installations for spraying polyurethane foam have recently appeared in construction stores. However, their price is no lower than the cost of professional services.

If you look at the price lists of construction companies in the Central region of Russia, the cost of spraying polyurethane foam 100 mm thick on an area of ​​1 m² ranges from 1100 to 1400 rubles, depending on the manufacturer of the initial components. Agree, it’s very expensive.

We can talk about polyurethane foam for a long time and a lot, but we will limit ourselves to the above brief information. The fact is that on our portal a special publication is devoted to this type of insulation. By the way, it also talks about another type of foam insulation - penoizol, which can also be used for thermal insulation of roofs.

Prices for polyurethane foam

polyurethane foam

Special thermal insulation technology - foamed insulation

These differ from all other insulation materials, first of all, in their special application technology. Read about the advantages and disadvantages and the features of working with them in a special article on our portal.

Rigid insulation boards on a synthetic basis

Polystyrene based materials

This group of insulation materials includes the familiar white foam and extruded polystyrene foam. Despite the similarity in chemical composition, the difference in the performance qualities of these materials is very large.

• Let's start with foam. And here we will immediately express a categorical judgment, with which some may not agree. However, using foam plastic for thermal insulation of roof slopes is extremely undesirable.

There are no words - foam plastic captivates with its low price, quite decent thermal insulation characteristics, lightness, and ease of installation. What more could you want?

But let's take a closer look at its shortcomings:

— The production of polystyrene foam is a fairly simple process that does not require highly complex equipment. And they do this business everywhere, very often without observing any technical requirements. So talking about any quality standards is simply ridiculous.

— The main disadvantage of polystyrene foam is its flammability. And this material not only spreads flame very well, but also emits deadly toxic substances when burning. Literally a few breaths - and a person receives powerful poisoning, leading to the most tragic consequences. Statistics of fire tragedies show that if polystyrene foam catches fire, people have little chance of surviving even in a not very large fire. Is it worth planting such a “bomb” on such a vulnerable part of the building from the point of view of fire danger as the roof?

Prices for PIR boards

The main component of such boards is polyisocyanurate foam (abbreviated as PIR). It is a gas-filled rigid structure with isolated cells.

Thanks to the special production technology and the specifics of the polymer itself, insulation boards are still considered unsurpassed for its thermal insulation qualities. So, the manufacturer claims an absolutely fantastic thermal conductivity of 0.022 W / m × ° WITH! In fact, in real conditions, it can, of course, be more, but even 0.025 is a very good indicator.

The material is characterized by high mechanical strength - up to 120 kPa at 10% deformation. At the same time, the density of the slabs does not exceed 40 kg/m³

Wide operating temperature range: from – 70 to + 110 °C.

Almost complete hydrophobicity - a closed cell does not allow moisture to penetrate inside.

PIR-plates can be covered with foil, which gives them additional slickness from moisture. Other types of coatings are also practiced.

Many slab models have convenient tongue-and-groove locking connections, allowing you to cover large areas with a seamless coating.

One of the “pioneers” in the production of such thermal insulation was Russian company"TechnoNIKOL". In its product range - plates for insulation of any parts of the building, including - for the roof. At the same time, the company also offers ready-made solutions - sets of materials for thermal insulation of the roof between the rafters, under them and above them - at the choice of the consumer.

Standard sizes watering - 600×1200 mm. The thickness is selected according to need - there is a range of slabs with a thickness from 25 to 150 mm.

There is no doubt - such thermal insulation materials have a great future. But so far they have not become widespread - simply because of the high cost. So, depending on the specific type, the type of external coating and the thickness of the slabs, the price for them varies from 11 to 15 thousand rubles per cubic meter.

TechnoNIKOL is not the only company that has mastered the production of these innovative materials. Watch a video about the insulation of a pitched roof with PIR boards from the company " PirroGroup."

Video: Insulation of roof slopes with innovative thermal insulation - PIR-boards “PirroGroup”

Appendix: How to determine what thickness of insulation is required?

If there is certainty with the choice of insulation, then the question will inevitably arise - what thickness of thermal insulation should be made to ensure comfortable conditions in the attic. We will need to make a small calculation, and a convenient online calculator will help us with this.

The calculation is not particularly complicated. The algorithm is based on the fact that the thermal insulation system being created must create a total resistance to heat transfer no less than that established by the standards for a particular region, taking into account its climatic characteristics. You can find out the normalized thermal resistance from the attached diagram map. Please note that in this case we are interested in the red numbers - for coatings. This figure in the “three” is always the largest.

The second quantity required for calculation is the thermal conductivity coefficient of the insulating material. The operational values ​​of these coefficients for insulation materials, about which discussed in this publication.

If desired, you can also take into account the lining of the attic space, if it is solid. The materials of such cladding also have certain thermal insulation qualities. And this can, although not particularly large, still reduce the required thickness of the insulation. However, this item is optional, and if the skin is not taken into account, simply leave its thickness at the default value of 0 mm.

The final result will be shown in millimeters. It remains only to lead to standard thicknesses selected insulation, rounded up. For example, it turned out to be 132 mm. You can use two-layer insulation with slabs 100 and 40 mm thick, or use slabs 150 mm thick. Here you can already choose for reasons of cost-effectiveness of one or another possible option and according to the planned insulation installation scheme.

At the level with the walls, the roof of the house is the leader in heat loss, so it is simply necessary to insulate the roof of the house during construction or during the operation of the home. The insulated roof will keep temperature regime in the house and provide comfortable living conditions. To get the desired result, you need to follow some rules and adhere to the technologies that we will tell you about in the article.

The choice of materials for insulation

The main materials used for roof insulation are polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, mineral wool and glass wool. There are other materials, but they are fundamentally inferior in quality to the materials proposed, so we will not consider them, but will consider how to properly insulate the roof of a house with the materials we propose.

Polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam

Polystyrene foam and expanded polystyrene are common insulation materials that have many qualities. This material is not only resistant to moisture and does not break down, but is also durable.

To the listed qualities, one must add the fact that, according to statistics, these two materials have the lowest thermal conductivity, therefore, the most the best way protect the house from heat loss. In addition, polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are quite easy to install, but more on that later.

Mineral wool and glass wool

Mineral wool and glass wool, as well as polystyrene, are excellent insulating materials, but differ in their qualities and specifics of operation. These two materials also have low thermal conductivity, have a much lower weight, unlike foam, which makes them more suitable for insulation. wooden houses with a not very reinforced roof frame.

The negative quality of using mineral wool and glass wool as a roof insulation is that these materials, unlike the first two, are very susceptible to moisture, and therefore require the combined use of waterproofing materials and mastics. In addition, cotton wool tends to stray and exfoliate over time. And dust granules containing cotton wool particles are very strong allergens.

Roof insulation technology

So, having decided on the question of how to insulate the roof, we proceed to calculate the required amount of materials. Depending on the design of the roof frame, you may need timber and plank to create sectors in the absence of open roof rafters. The technique of roof insulation varies depending on the material chosen.

Roof insulation with mineral wool or glass wool

The first step when using these materials is inner surface roofs are sheathed waterproofing material or mastic, if the surface is solid. This action will help protect the insulation from exposure to moisture from the outside. The next step is the construction of sectors, they will be required in the absence of rafters in the roof structure. Insulating material is purchased with a width equal to the width between the rafters or beams of the sectors.

Next, the insulation is laid between the beams on the previously laid waterproofing and is located as close to each other as possible. When the insulation is laid on top, it must be covered with a vapor barrier material. This action will help protect the insulating wool from moisture from inside the room. After covering the roof with a vapor barrier, the inside can be covered with clapboard or other building materials for cladding the premises, so you should end up with a room similar to the image in the figure.

Video review: How to insulate a roof

How to insulate a roof. detailed instructions by ISOVER

Insulation with polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam

The insulation technique with these materials is the same as for glass wool insulation. Sheets of foam plastic are laid in sectors or between rafters. The foam sheets, as in the first case, must be laid closely. For more best result You can lay the foam in two layers. After laying expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam, the surface should be sheathed, as in the first case.

Video review: Roof insulation with polystyrene foam

Roof insulation with polystyrene foam

The methods of roof insulation described above are suitable for insulating private, suburban and country houses. The roof can be insulated both from the outside and from the inside. The techniques for insulating the roof vary, but the principle remains the same. In cases where cotton wool is used, primary waterproofing and covering the insulation on top with insulating material will be necessary.

Wall insulation spend as , so .

If it is necessary to insulate walls, then, as a rule, choose one insulation option: either from the inside load-bearing wall, or from external.

It is also possible to insulate a wall on both sides, but this is not always necessary: insulation options are selected based on climatic conditions, construction features, and individual preferences.

Indoor insulation is installed on the inside of the building.

The disadvantages of this option are the following:

• the free space of the room decreases;
• the likelihood of dew point formation inside the wall or between the insulation and the wall.

Internal insulation of the walls of a house is good because:

• weather conditions will not affect the work schedule;
• If the building has cladding, it is possible to preserve it unchanged.

At internal insulation it is necessary to install a reliable vapor barrier inside the building.

Insulation of external walls is carried out from the outside of the building. With this type of thermal insulation, the usable area of ​​the structure is preserved; there is no need to install a vapor barrier layer. However, if the cladding of the building has already been completed, it must be dismantled.

External insulation

Pie wall elements

Before insulating the walls of the house and attic, it is necessary to correctly lay the layers of the cake. A pie wall is sequentially laid layers of materials, which serve to ensure a comfortable microclimate in the house.

Pie wall elements wooden house are:

• wood timber frame. Most often made of beams 15x15 cm;
• horizontal wooden sheathing, sometimes a metal profile is used;
• insulation made of mineral wool or expanded polystyrene;
• multifunctional membrane, which performs the function of protection from winds and at the same time acts as a vapor barrier. It is a dense polyethylene film;
• vertical lathing;
• finishing material;
• vapor barrier film;
• internal cladding (plasterboard, lining).

wall pie

For all wooden wall elements nessesary to use quality wood , which must be dried naturally. In addition, materials should be chosen of high quality and durable so that the walls perform their functions for many years.

Types of insulation - which is better?

For proper internal insulation of a wooden house, they are used insulation materials that, while maintaining thermal insulation properties, do not cause unpleasant odor, fireproof and environmentally friendly.

The most common options for internal insulation are:

• mineral basalt wool. It is the most popular material for wall insulation. The features of this material are: good thermal insulation properties, high level sound insulation, fire resistance, strength, high hygroscopicity, due to which it is necessary to install piping made of vapor barrier films;
• foam boards. Because the material can release styrene, extruded polystyrene foam is used, which requires a containment system. The material has good thermal insulation, has soundproofing properties, however, it is quite fragile;
• glass wool. It has greater thermal conductivity than mineral wool, but the price of the material is significantly lower than basalt slabs. The material crumbles a lot, so it should be laid in protective equipment: crumbs of material are harmful to health. In addition, it is necessary to mount enclosing structures;
• isoplats. Insulation, which consists of compressed flax fibers and wood board. Ideal thermal insulation material from an environmental point of view, and also durable enough that it does not require the installation of fencing systems;
• polyurethane foam, which is installed by spraying it onto the surface, is installed using special equipment. Modern and quite expensive material.

Comparative characteristics of thermal insulation

The type of insulation should be chosen based on the characteristics of the building, climatic conditions, and the purpose of the building.

Wall gap sealing and insulation

IN wooden beams dried using appropriate technology, cracks form that need to be sealed.

Means for sealing cracks are:

• sealants and other synthetic products: resins, mastics, mounting foams. Synthetic sealants should not have an acrylic substance. Silicone seals must have a high level of frost resistance. The mixtures are placed deeply into the gap, and after drying the area is leveled. Polyurethane foam is used in places where facing work will subsequently be carried out;
• wood shavings mixed with wood glue. Used at any stage of finishing, as well as during additional inspection. The prepared mixture is poured into the previously cleaned crack of dust, then, after complete drying, the area is processed by grinding. The method is advisable to use for small cracks;
• decorative mixtures for sealing;
• fibrous materials- caulk (moss, wool, tow). Pre-cleaned cracks, impregnated with antiseptics and solutions that prevent the formation of mold, mildew, and dampness, are clogged with caulk.

NOTE!

Insulation at the joints of timber is carried out using sealants, mixtures or adhesive shavings. If the wall is made of logs, then the joints should be sealed only with fibrous materials.

The tree requires permanent care and timely sealing of cracks that may appear over time. Regular wood inspection will help prevent the gap from growing, which can reduce the insulating properties of the walls.

Sealing tow

Sealing with sealant

Preparing the sheathing and installing it

For lathing walls inside a wooden dacha, they are made from wooden materials. Metal lathing is installed when the wall is covered with moisture-resistant plasterboard.

Lathing installation work includes row preparatory work in the following order:

• mark for installation of sheathing. The width of the crate is selected based on the width of the insulation minus 2-5 millimeters. The insulation should stand up against the crate;
• preparation of corner posts. Necessary for making an even corner of the wall. The height of the beam 50x100 mm should be equal to the height of the room. A smaller beam 50x50 mm is attached with self-tapping screws to the edge of a large beam, forming a right angle;
• execution of corner posts for all corners of the room;
• preparation of vertical boards for sheathing: boards are cut according to the height of the room in quantities corresponding to the pitch, 2 - 5 cm less than the insulation board.

Installation of the crate starts from the corners: using self-tapping screws, the corner posts are installed in place, their vertical position is checked with a level. Further, from the corners to the center, the remaining boards of the crate are attached along the entire perimeter.

The next step is to install strips around the wall openings.

CAREFULLY!

All wooden elements the lathing must be treated with solutions against mold, mildew, and moisture.

After installing the lathing, a layer of heat-insulating material is laid.

Installation of sheathing

Vapor barrier and waterproofing of walls

When insulating walls internally, it is necessary to install a vapor barrier and waterproofing layer.

Vapor barrier materials can be:

• polypropylene films;
• foamed polymer films;
• foil films;
• diffusion membranes.

The vapor barrier layer is produced taking into account the specifics of its installation:

• The film should be attached to the sheathing using an overlapping stapler, and the joining points should be taped;
• the lathing on which the vapor barrier is attached should be no more than 5 cm;
• the vapor barrier layer is laid using the continuous contour method around the entire perimeter.

Installation of vapor barrier

A waterproofing layer, which protects against moisture coming from outside, is laid on the wall. Laying nuances:

• the waterproofing film is attached to the sheathing, leaving space for ventilation;
• a profile is attached to the film;
• Insulation is laid between the profile, and then a vapor barrier layer.

Wall waterproofing

The most popular waterproofing material is roofing felt. Vapor barriers and waterproofing must be installed to prevent condensation and ensure dryness of the wall pie. Now let's look at ways to insulate walls from the inside.

Insulation of walls from the inside in a private house using mineral wool

Before insulating the walls from the inside, it is necessary to secure the sheathing.

Mineral wool is a material that has good thermal insulation properties, easy to install and durable.

It is necessary to lay mineral wool slabs between the sheathing boards in such a way that no gaps are formed.

Besides:

• mineral wool is secured with nails and dowels (fungi);
• lay the material from bottom to top;
• The edges of the mineral wool are slightly pressed for a tighter fit.

Mineral wool should be laid in an even layer: without creases and waves, if the installation is multi-layered, the joints should not overlap or form cracks.

After the insulation is securely fastened, a vapor barrier layer is laid on it.

Insulation with mineral wool

Do-it-yourself insulation of walls from the inside using polystyrene foam

The installation technique with polystyrene foam is quite simple, and if done correctly, it can provide reliable thermal insulation in the house.

Insulation with expanded polystyrene occurs in several stages:

• if the walls are made of round logs, then they need to be trimmed;
• between the lathing slats, panels of material are placed in a tight fit;
• the slabs can be additionally secured with foam blades;
• eliminate possible gaps using polyurethane foam.

Insulation with polystyrene foam

Insulation with polyurethane foam

Modern thermal insulation polyurethane foam is very well suited for insulating a wooden house from the inside, however, it requires compliance with certain requirements.

First of all, it is necessary to clean the walls from dust and sawdust, protect the floor, windows and doors with protective materials.

• perform sheathing in 60 cm increments with 4x4 cm or 5x5 cm timber;
• spray polyurethane foam between the sheathing boards;
• wait up to 12 hours until the layer of material dries completely;
• level the excess material in accordance with the level of the sheathing.

Insulation using polyurethane foam

Thus, it is possible to carry out warming inside quite effectively. If you carry out all the stages of laying cake materials using proven technology, you can achieve a good result: the walls will retain heat well in the room and thereby create a favorable indoor microclimate on cold days.

Useful video

Video instruction for insulating the walls of a private house:

In contact with

- this is a fibrous insulation, which is one of several types of mineral wool, but differs from basalt in its smaller fiber diameter and two to four times longer. These two indicators have a significant impact on the properties of the material.

The main properties and specifications glass wool, describes the technology of insulation and the specifics of working with the material.

Properties of glass wool as a heater

This material has:

The negative qualities include:

Types of glass wool

Thanks to a variety of additives, glass wool is produced in different forms:

• rolls;
• matah;
• shell.

In addition, to perform specific work, this insulation is combined with materials such as aluminum foil, polyethylene foam, and waterproofing film.

Specifics of wall insulation

Let's consider two main methods of insulation:

Roof insulation

It is better to install the second layer not from below, but from above the rafters. In this case, a diffuse membrane is laid on top of the insulation layer. The diffuse membrane should overlap the ridge.

Note: insulation over the rafters is carried out only in sunny weather, because To do this you need to remove roofing material.

Foil thermal insulation of the roof from the inside If the area is dominated by rainy weather, then the priority method of insulation with the second layer will be to fasten the wool from the bottom of the rafters. When using foil glass wool, it must be laid metal surface inside the room.

See overview video about insulating walls with glass wool:

To save comfortable temperature in the home and reduce heating costs, it is necessary to insulate the floor in wooden house. There are several technologies for the procedure. The choice of material depends on the stage of construction or renovation and the financial capabilities of the owner.

How to insulate the floor?

A common problem in a wooden house is poor thermal insulation of the floor. This is due to the fact that cold air from the ground easily penetrates into the cracks of the wood. Warming a wooden floor can be carried out in three ways:

• below, that is, above the cellar;
• from above, reducing the height of the living room;
• arranging the so-called double floor.

1. The height of the rooms on the first floor remains unchanged.
2. You can choose any insulation, regardless of its rigidity.
3. The wooden floor and coating are reliably protected from freezing.
4. Condensation settles outside the floor, which prevents the boards from rotting.

When choosing insulation, you should pay attention to the following materials:

• expanded clay;
• mineral wool;
• Styrofoam;
• dry screed;
• glass wool;
• expanded polystyrene;
• penoplex;
• sawdust;
• ecowool;
• penofol.

Floor insulation with mineral wool

The most popular insulation for wooden floors is mineral wool. Its advantages are:

1. Low thermal conductivity, so the floors will be reliably insulated.
2. Fire resistance, which helps stop the spread of flame in the event of a fire.
3. Light weight.
4. High noise insulation characteristics.
5. Easy to install.
6. Reasonable price.

The main disadvantage of the material is its rapid deformation upon contact with water, so when choosing this insulation option, it is imperative to install a vapor barrier layer. Insulation mineral wool must be done in protective clothing, gloves and goggles. When it comes into contact with the skin, it causes allergic reactions accompanied by itching and burning.

Floor insulation with dry screed

An alternative to the usual pouring of concrete is the use of the so-called dry screed, which is made on the basis of gypsum fiber and is sold in any hardware store. Proper insulation of the floor in a wooden house with a dry screed is carried out only after complete shrinkage of the structure, which lasts about a year after construction. If the home is made of freshly sawn wood, then shrinkage can last up to five years.

Dry screed is valued for:

• high degree of thermal insulation;
• fire resistance;
• ease of installation, which almost any homeowner can handle on their own;
• good sound insulation;
• possibility of using any finishing coating.

The main disadvantages include:

1. Relatively high cost square meter material.
2. Low resistance to moisture, so the waterproofing layer must be made with high quality. Otherwise, deformation of the screed will lead to damage flooring.

Glass wool floor insulation

A relatively inexpensive option is to insulate a wooden floor in a private house with glass wool. This material is made from broken glass and small crystalline fractions. The insulation does not burn and conducts heat poorly. It is sold in rolls. As in the case of mineral wool, work with insulation is carried out in special clothing. Because of its softness, glass wool settles quickly, so professionals recommend replacing it about once every 10 years.

Floor insulation with foam plastic

More long term polystyrene foam has a It consists of slabs of white granules of very light weight. Its constant advantages:

• simplicity and ease of installation;
• low cost;
• fire resistance;
• The material is not afraid of moisture, but does not allow air to pass through.

Insulating the floor with polystyrene foam in a wooden house can be done independently, armed with plates, a knife, guides and polyurethane foam with construction gun. A layer of waterproofing for such material is necessary to preserve the wood. However, the foam should be reliably protected from the penetration of rodents, which can make their burrows in it.

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam

A modern derivative of foam plastic is extruded polystyrene foam. Both materials are made from styrene granules, but using different technologies. Expanded polystyrene slabs have a closed cell structure. Thanks to this, he has:

• exceptionally low thermal conductivity;
• waterproofing characteristics;
• good sound insulation;
• high strength with low weight.

The technology for insulating the floor in a wooden house with extruded polystyrene is similar to laying polystyrene foam. Such plates have long term services, why they are used in construction industrial buildings, airports and road strengthening. The biggest disadvantage of the material is its high cost relative to other types of insulation, which is compensated by its performance characteristics.

Floor insulation with penoplex

A type of extruded polystyrene foam produced in Russia is penoplex. The materials are identical with the difference that penoplex produced by the company of the same name is a registered trademark. Floor insulation with penoplex in a wooden house can be carried out with slabs of different thicknesses from 20 to 100 mm. It is laid under the screed, on it and as an intermediate heat and moisture insulating layer.

The only drawback of the material is flammability. Depending on the surface that needs to be insulated, the shape and design features there are:

• penoplex comfort with an edge in the shape of the letter “L”, ensuring the absence of through seams;
• penoplex foundation with the highest plate density;
• penoplex pitched roof U-shaped;
• penoplex wall with roughness for better adhesion to the surface.

Floor insulation with expanded clay

A proven and long-known construction technique is insulating the floor with expanded clay in a wooden house. Foamed and baked clay granules of approximately the same diameter have a porous structure, low weight and increased strength. Due to the presence of pores, the material absorbs moisture, which can negatively affect wood that is not protected by a vapor barrier layer.

Insulation of the floor in a wooden house with expanded clay is carried out using sand and gravel in a ratio of 2:1:1. To provide reliable protection from cold air masses rising from the ground, the layer of the embankment in mid-latitudes varies from 15 to 20 cm. In regions with a harsh climate, it is increased to 30-40 cm. Under its own weight, the material can become compacted. This should be taken into account when calculating the load on the foundation of a home.

Floor insulation with sawdust

If during construction a lightweight foundation was provided that cannot withstand heavy loads, then insulation of the subfloor in a wooden house can be done using a mixture of sawdust and cement or clay. In the woodworking industry, sawdust is considered waste, which is collected and treated with special chemicals to repel rodents and insects and is supplied as an inexpensive and reliable insulation material.

Floor insulation with sawdust in a wooden house can be carried out using different methods:

1. in bulk. In this case, sawdust is mixed with dry slaked lime powder in a ratio of 4:1. The thickness of the layer depends on the climate of the region in which the home is built.
2. Using cement mortar . In this case, sawdust, lime and cement are mixed with water and laid out in special forms. After complete drying, you get full-fledged insulation boards of your own production.
3. Instead of mortar, you can add clay and evenly apply the resulting composition to the entire surface of the subfloor.

Ecowool floor insulation

Relatively new building material is polyurethane foam or ecowool. The material consists of cellulose, fire retardants and antiseptics. Not afraid of moisture and fire. Insulation of a wooden floor from below in a private house with ecowool can be carried out in two ways:

1. Bulk using special construction mixer, which is needed to fluff the material. After hardening, a dense, light and reliable thermal insulation layer is obtained.
2. In order not to dismantle the entire floor, you can use the services of professionals who, using a compressor, will blow the insulation into any existing hole in the floor. The material straightens itself and evenly fills all voids.

Floor insulation with penofol

Another modern thermal insulation substance is penofol, which is a combination of thin aluminum foil and foamed polyethylene. Insulating the floor with penofol in a wooden house provides not only good thermal insulation, but also sound insulation. The insulation sheet has a thickness of 3 to 10 mm. The material is not durable, so after 5-7 years the insulation procedure will need to be repeated.

How to insulate the floor in a wooden house?

Depending on the design features of the home, floor insulation in your wooden house can be carried out according to different technologies. It is important to take into account the type of foundation, features basement, ceiling height and financial capabilities of the owner. The main stages of floor insulation are as follows:

1. Dismantling old flooring, if any.
2. Cleaning and leveling the rough surface.
3. Installation of a waterproofing layer if necessary.
4. Laying wooden logs, treated with an antiseptic.
5. Installation of the selected insulation material.
6. Another layer of vapor barrier is laid on top if necessary.
7. The structure is sheathed with plywood, fiberboard or chipboard sheets.

Insulation of the floor in a wooden house is necessary and important stage both during the construction and renovation of the purchased home. By spending once on insulation, you can significantly save on heating costs and delay the time of replacing rotted wood. The choice of thermal insulation materials is wide, so you can easily choose the right option, based on their construction characteristics and the availability of funds.