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For roof insulation, along with mineral wool and polystyrene foam, expanded clay is very widely used. It has good thermal properties, but has a number of nuances that must be taken into account to perform effective thermal insulation.

The insulation in question consists of porous granules of various sizes, obtained by high-temperature firing of clayey rocks.

Depending on the particle size, several fractions are distinguished:

crushed stone;
gravel;
sand.

In addition to size, individual particles differ in the roundness of their shapes. Crushed stone contains grains with pronounced edges and sharp corners. Calibrated sand consists of small round particles with a diameter of up to 5 mm.

The gravel fraction with grain sizes from 10 to 40 mm is mainly used as a heat insulator for roofing structures. Using sand will place too much stress on supporting structures.

Gravel, on the contrary, will not be able to provide effective thermal insulation due to the grain size being too large and, as a result, cold air freely passing between them.

Expanded clay has a number of properties that allow it to be successfully used for effective performance:

However, not everything is so rosy. There are also negative aspects that hinder its widespread use and do not allow other insulation materials to be forced out of the market:

high hygroscopicity - moisture is easily absorbed and extremely slowly released back into the environment;
Compared to other insulation materials, it is quite heavy. Its bulk density for different brands ranges from 250 to 600 kg/m3.

The nuances of using fill-in insulation

The technology for using expanded clay has a number of features that must be taken into account. Otherwise, the results of the work done will be very far from expected, and everything will have to be redone.

Expanded clay is a bulk material. It is best used on flat or slightly sloping surfaces.

If the slope exceeds 5°, then filling the space between the rafters should be carried out in the same way as filling frame walls with bulk insulation - in small portions with gradual lining of the wall.

All work is done outside. This imposes some restrictions regarding weather conditions. The presence of rain or high humidity during the technological process is unacceptable.

To prevent getting wet, the backfill must be reliably protected. Rolled waterproofing is laid on the outside. On the room side, a vapor barrier protects from humid air. To ensure tightness, insulation rolls must be laid overlapping and the joints sealed with bitumen mastic or tape.

To perform effective thermal insulation, the minimum thickness of the backfill should be 20-30 cm.

The weight of the insulation imposes its limitations on the strength characteristics of the roof structure. The most optimal is to overlap from reinforced concrete slabs when installing a flat roof.

A wooden pitched roof must be strengthened by using structural elements larger cross-section, the use of additional crossbars, stops and struts. In addition, the fastening of the internal cladding boards must be reinforced. They must rest on additional bars or thick boards connected to the rafters using bolted fasteners.

Insulation of a flat roof

The main area of application is . The horizontal surface allows you to conveniently and without unnecessary difficulties realize all the advantages of the material.

At the initial stage, the surface must be cleared of debris. Special attention Pay attention to the presence of small sharp stones that can damage the vapor barrier fabric.

A vapor barrier is rolled out over the entire surface. It is very convenient to use thick polyethylene film for this purpose. For more durable protection, double coating can be used.

The main stage of insulation is backfilling. It is very good if a calculation is made in advance of what thickness of insulation will be required for specific conditions. In this case, you can immediately complete the entire complex of work.

Most often, the thickness of the backfill is selected approximately within the range of 30 - 40 cm. Further, if the thickness achieved is not enough, after the first cold season additional internal insulation ceiling with foam plastic or mineral wool.

Then a reinforced screed is performed. It will allow you to move freely on the roof during its maintenance.

The final stage is the installation of one or two layers of rolled waterproofing. To give the roof an aesthetic appearance, an additional roof covering is installed on top.

This can be bitumen or classic tiles, slate, painted metal corrugated sheets, etc.

Insulation of pitched roofs

Things are a little more complicated. The most important thing here is to achieve uniform filling of the insulation layer into the space between the rafters.

To prevent particles from rolling off, the space between the support beams is divided by horizontal bridges. As they are filled, the cells are covered with boards from the outside.

After the entire volume of the space between the rafters is filled, waterproofing and finishing are carried out along the sheathing boards. roof covering. The vapor barrier film is fixed along the rough interior lining from the side of the room. Sealing rules for insulating materials here are similar - overlapping panels and gluing joints.

As you can see, expanded clay, although not an entirely easy-to-work material, is quite versatile. Carrying out simple measures allows you to create ideal conditions for its operation and perform insulation various designs roofs.

The roof is one of the elements of the building envelope. Its main function is to provide a thermally insulating barrier space that protects inner part buildings from harmful atmospheric influences (rain, snow, wind, hail, etc.). Heat loss in a building with an uninsulated roof is about 15-30%.

Flat roof roof pie

If laying is done on metal, should be cleaned from oxidation products and painted with an anti-corrosion compound.

First layer on the basis is carried out . You can use both membrane and ordinary polyethylene films. Using a vapor barrier with one foil side will provide an additional effect of heat reflection into the room. Anyone fits overlap, and is also pulled tight. The joints are glued together with specialized tape.
Expanded clay insulation is carried out in strips. To do this, guide rails are attached to the vapor-insulated base in increments of 2-3 meters. The thickness of the expanded clay layer must correspond to the calculated value. A smaller layer will not provide necessary thermal insulation, and a thicker one can lead to the destruction of the load-bearing structure being covered.
After backfilling the entire area, leveling and compaction expanded clay layer.
A layer is laid on top of the expanded clay or a cement strainer, improving the strength and rigidity of the structure.
To assess the quality of completed thermal insulation works, you need to warm the room to a certain temperature, while closing all doors and windows.
After a couple of hours, check the thermometer readings before and after. If there is a significant drop in temperature, then you need to inspect the insulated surface for gaps and cracks.

Floor lathing allows you to divide expanded clay into separate cells and serves as joists for the subfloor

Leveling the expanded clay layer using a building level

CAREFULLY!

Laying and compacting expanded clay must be done very carefully so as not to damage the fragile porous elements.

The nuances of insulating pitched and flat roofs

With ideal evenness and plane of the roof, the slope of which does not exceed 5°, the work, without much difficulty, is carried out in the manner described above. When insulating pitched roof It is necessary to ensure that the space between the rafters is filled evenly. To do this, jumpers are placed transversely between the support beams. As a result, peculiar cells are formed, which, as they are filled, are sewn up with boards.

Useful video

We invite you to familiarize yourself with useful video about roof insulation with expanded clay:

Conclusion

Expanded clay – cheap, high quality and versatile bulk insulation . With its help, you can thermally insulate almost any room without having specialized skills.

In contact with

To ensure that your home is always warm and cozy with the onset of winter, you need to take care of roof insulation in advance. That's all for today more people Expanded clay is chosen as insulation. It is widely available and inexpensive, as well as environmentally friendly and has excellent performance characteristics.

Expanded clay is a lightweight porous material in the form small size granules obtained by firing clay. It has gained popularity both among professional builders and home craftsmen, thanks to the following technical indicators:

high heat and noise insulation;
frost-resistant qualities;
fireproof qualities;
strength, resistance to rotting;
long service life, resistance to temperature changes.
Expanded clay, the price of which is much lower than the price of other thermal insulation materials, can last, unlike them, for many years. Its main advantages are:

high thermal conductivity;
light weight;
not susceptible to chemically aggressive environments;
does not emit toxic substances into the atmosphere;
this is the only one thermal insulation material, which does not require special knowledge, skills and experience when working with it.
But this material also has its drawbacks, although they are few:

to achieve a high level of heat and sound insulation, you need to lay out the material in a fairly thick layer;
is not resistant to moisture, therefore, when insulating damp rooms, a special film for waterproofing should be used;
the material is quite fragile, and damage to the granules leads to a decrease in the quality of thermal insulation.
Tools and materials, necessary insulation expanded clay roofs

In order to insulate the roof yourself you will need following materials and inventory:

expanded clay for the roof;
shovel and buckets;
a log or stick to compact the insulation layer, and a lath to level it;
waterproofing film;
roofing felt in rolls;
sharp knife;
tiles or tiles for external covering.
Steam and waterproofing for expanded clay

Steam and waterproofing of the insulating layer is important stage roof arrangement, which in no case should be overlooked. As mentioned earlier, expanded clay is capable of absorbing moisture. At the same time, its thermal insulation qualities sharply deteriorate, and it itself becomes much heavier than in dry form. This can lead to dire consequences, including the collapse of the ceiling. Thus, if the expanded clay layer is allowed to become wet, the service life of the roof can be sharply reduced, and repairs will be required much earlier than planned.

Neither of existing species thermal insulation materials cannot properly protect the room from the cold unless it itself is protected by vapor and waterproofing. Vapor barrier material is usually installed with inside premises, because it protects the insulation from vapors arising inside the room, and the waterproofing is installed from the outside, because it protects the insulation from moisture coming from the street.

The most common waterproofing materials are films and membranes. Materials such as styrofoam, polyethylene film, foil, glassine.

Styrofoam is a type of foam plastic and has excellent vapor barrier properties. Glassine is roofing cardboard impregnated with bitumen. It is sold in rolls and is very good for waterproofing roofs. Foil and plastic film are often used to protect against condensation because liquid does not accumulate on them.

Roof insulation with expanded clay

Most often, when insulating roofs, builders use the following types of expanded clay:

expanded clay crushed stone is a large material with granules up to 4 cm in size. It is equally good for insulating the roof, as well as for insulating the floor and walls;
expanded clay gravel is also a coarse-grained material, the granules of which also reach 4 cm in size and have an angular shape;
Expanded clay sand is a finely dispersed material, the particles of which are no more than 5 mm in size. It is used as thermal insulation, in which the layer thickness does not exceed 5 cm.

It is quite possible to insulate the roof yourself if you cannot pay specialists.

Before starting work, it is necessary to study some features of the insulation process. First of all, you should pay attention to design features building, its walls and roof. The insulation process should consist of several stages:

internal lining;
vapor barrier;
laying insulation;
surface finishing.
Description of works:

When insulating a roof with expanded clay, the thickness of the layer of material should be 25 cm. It is poured directly onto the vapor barrier film in the required quantity quickly and accurately to avoid damage to the granules.
For good heat and sound insulation, it is better to pour a thicker layer, but it is important not to forget about the maximum load that the roof can withstand. In this matter it is better to stick to the golden mean.
Then the expanded clay is carefully leveled and compacted so that there are as few voids as possible between its particles. This is done either by hand or using a special machine. It is advisable to make a screed on top of the first layer to give additional rigidity and strength to the entire structure, as well as to level the surface.
Also, between the outer and inner layers, several channels should be installed through which air will circulate and excess moisture will be removed.
Next, a rolled roofing material is placed directly on the insulating layer, which will press it down with its weight. It should overlap and have no gaps. At the same time, to ensure the tightness of the seams, it is better to insulate them using construction tape or bitumen mastic.
The next step is to lay tiles or tiles.
Many companies engaged in the sale of building materials, as well as shops and construction hypermarkets offer to buy expanded clay.

What is the best way to arrange a home to make it cozy and warm? The building loses up to 20% of its heat through the roof. Therefore, when deciding on the insulation of a building, it is necessary to decide how and with what to insulate the roof.

Roof insulation with expanded clay is one of the oldest methods, but it is still quite often used for thermal protection of buildings. Expanded clay is recognized as a universal insulation material. Its popularity is due to its low price and high performance characteristics.

Material properties

Since expanded clay is a material that has a natural base, it has strength and durability that synthetic materials do not have. Its service life is an order of magnitude higher than wood insulation. Another advantage is that rodents do not grow in its layer.

The raw material for making expanded clay is clay, so it is not afraid of rotting. Its structure cannot be changed by low temperatures in severe frosts or high temperatures in hot weather. It is not destroyed by moisture.

Expanded clay is produced by melting and firing clay. To do this, only certain varieties are selected, pre-dried and crushed.

Raw materials are loaded into the oven drum type, which rotates at a certain speed. Heated air is supplied to the oven. As it moves down the drum, the clay begins to stick together into lumps, sinter, and rotation gives it a rounded shape.

The quality of expanded clay and the size of its granules are achieved by regulating the temperature of the heated air and the rotation speed of the furnace. As a result, the output is an environmentally friendly material with excellent thermal insulation, soundproofing, fireproof and frost-resistant characteristics.

Kinds

Several types of expanded clay can be used as insulation - crushed stone, gravel, sand.

But crushed stone has sharp edges, and sand is heavy. Therefore, gravel is more suitable for roof insulation. It allows you to fill all cavities and create a high-quality thermal insulation layer. For the best effect, expanded clay gravel is mixed with foam chips. It is possible to use expanded clay of several fractions at once.

A layer of 10 cm insulation is comparable to 25 cm wooden beam, with a 60 cm thick expanded clay concrete slab, with a meter brickwork. But it’s better if the layer exceeds 15 cm, then it turns out maximum effect. In addition, such insulation is 3 times more economical than wood, and 10 times more economical than a brick wall.

Technology

Expanded clay insulation is a process that does not require special knowledge and can therefore be done independently. The main thing is to take into account the design features of the building, walls, roof slope and know correct sequence performance of work.

Traditional roof thermal insulation technologies require a certain procedure: first, the internal lining is done, then a vapor barrier is applied, a layer of insulation is laid down, waterproofing is applied, and the entire roof covering is completed. When using expanded clay, the essence of the process is the same.

Thermal insulation of the ceiling in a wooden house

When insulating wooden structures It is important to protect the surface from moisture. To do this, a vapor barrier is installed. Foil, foil-coated isolon, roofing felt or polyethylene film are suitable as a vapor barrier material.

The metalized side of the vapor barrier should be directed into the living space. The material must be laid with an overlap, with an overlap of approximately 10–15 cm on the wall. To exclude the possibility of moisture penetration, all seams and joints must be taped.

If a foil vapor barrier is used, then metallized tape is used to process the joints, the film can be glued with ordinary tape, and rubber-bitumen mastic is used for roofing felt.

The vapor barrier must cover the floor beams.

Then a layer of expanded clay is poured and leveled. Sometimes experts advise laying a small layer of soft clay on the vapor barrier before backfilling for additional heat and sound insulation. The recommended thickness of the expanded clay layer is 14–16 cm.

It is important to leave a gap between the insulation and the future floor so that during operation there is no squeaking from the friction of expanded clay granules against each other.

The filling of the material must be done very carefully so that the granules are not damaged. Otherwise, the thermal insulation characteristics of the insulating layer will decrease.

Expanded clay absorbs moisture well, which is why it becomes very heavy. Therefore, a second layer of moisture-repellent coating is laid on top of the insulation or a cement-sand screed is made.

The final stage of work is installation of the floor covering.

Falling asleep with expanded clay wooden ceiling, it is necessary to take into account the strength of the structure. Using expanded clay to insulate a false ceiling in wooden house only permissible with a large margin of fastening strength. For example, if there is additional sheathing. Otherwise, the structure may not withstand the load.

Laying on a reinforced concrete base

If there are reinforced concrete slabs on the roof of the upper floor, the thermal insulation process is simplified. In this case, the bottom layer of vapor barrier is not needed. On concrete plates fill a layer of expanded clay gravel, compact it, and if possible make a screed.

The screed provides the necessary rigidity and levels the surface for laying roofing felt roll carpet. It is important to provide for the presence ventilation ducts to remove excess moisture.

If desired, any waterproofing materials can be laid on top of the roofing material, paving slabs, which increases the service life of roofing structures. In Germany, roofs are very common, covering them in a similar way, but instead of paving slabs they use a lawn carpet. They call such structures “green roofs”.
In conclusion, I would like to remind you that high-quality roof insulation depends on the materials used, correct calculation load-bearing structures, roof slope, good waterproofing.

The roof is one of the elements of the building envelope. Its main function is to provide a heat-insulating barrier space that protects the interior of the building from harmful atmospheric influences (rain, snow, wind, hail, etc.). Heat loss in a building with an uninsulated roof is about 15-30%.

Therefore, properly equipped roof insulation will allow you to significantly save on heating costs.

More than half a century of experience insulating roofing structures with expanded clay has shown that this is one of the most versatile, effective and reliable methods.

What is expanded clay?

Expanded clay – lightweight and highly porous thermal insulation material, having a dark brown shell. It is made by firing clay or shale at a temperature of 1050-1300 degrees Celsius for 25-45 minutes. With different processing modes of the clay base, it is possible to obtain expanded clay with a bulk density of 0.35 to 0.6 g/cm3.

Depending on the form, there are three varieties:

Expanded clay gravel. The cellular elements have a streamlined oval shape. The grain size is 5-40 millimeters. Used when the required thickness of the insulating layer is more than 5 centimeters.

Expanded clay crushed stone. The dimension of the elements is similar to expanded clay gravel. Has a cube shape with sharp protruding corners and edges. This type of expanded clay is obtained by crushing large pieces of expanded clay.

Expanded clay sand. The grain size is in the range 14-50 millimeters. Small dimensions allow the use of expanded clay sand with a heat-insulating layer thickness not exceeding 5 centimeters. It is also used as a filler for concrete and other types of mortar.

Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay

Compared to widely used slab insulation materials such as mineral wool, expanded clay is much more profitable. When insulating a roof with expanded clay, no special skills or abilities are required. Use of bulk thermal insulation does not require adjustment of elements and additional fastenings y. Roof insulation with expanded clay has the following advantages:

Expanded clay – highly environmentally friendly material. It does not decompose and does not emit toxic gaseous fumes that are hazardous to human health.
Not edible for rodents.
Has increased frost resistance. Can withstand up to 25 cycles of complete freezing and thawing.
Fireproof and fireproof material.
Excellent warmth and soundproofer.
When insulating with expanded clay wooden surfaces, their service life increases to 50 years.
Easy material.
Resistant to chemical attack.
Cheapness, cubic meter slab insulation will cost several times more than expanded clay of the same volume.
When using high-quality expanded clay insulation, the thermal conductivity of which is 0.07-0.16 W/m, heat loss is reduced by 70-80%.

Expanded clay – bulk material, it fills almost the entire provided volume. This, unlike slab insulation, allows for the most effective insulation of small cavities.

Disadvantages of expanded clay insulation

The lightness of the material is relative. So, when installing thermal insulation a layer of expanded clay of 10-40 centimeters is required. Even such light-weight porous elements in such a volume will create a significant load on the underlying supporting structures.
Expanded clay strongly absorbs moisture, which negatively affects its thermal insulation properties. It is imperative to install layers of hydro- and vapor barrier.
Fragility material can lead to mechanical damage to the integrity of the granules. Water will get into unprotected pores and voids, which will lead to the loss of the positive properties of expanded clay.

How to determine the optimal insulation thickness?

In accordance with regulatory documentation, the required thickness of the thermal insulation layer depends on climate zone in which the building is built, and the area of the insulated room.

The climate zone is determined by special maps, they can be found in SNiP or TKP in thermal engineering.

The required insulation thickness depends on the value thermal resistance of the calculated structure (R). This is a standard value, depending on the climatic region, as well as on the type of insulated structure.

The values for the floor, walls and ceiling will vary significantly. If you do not know what layer of expanded clay is needed to insulate the roof, then we suggest you use the formula below.

Roof insulation with expanded clay: layer thickness and calculation formula (P):

Where k is the thermal conductivity coefficient of the material. For expanded clay, its value is 0.16 W/m*k.

Alternative types of insulation

Expanded clay is not the only widespread thermal insulation material used in roofing structures. Let's look at the most common options:

Expanded polystyrene, better known as a type of polystyrene foam. The thermal protection of such material is much better than that of cotton insulation. Layer polystyrene foam insulation will be much thinner. Styrofoam does not absorb water, quite hard and durable. The use of specialized additives allows for increased fire resistance. But, if the material does catch fire, toxic gases will be released that are dangerous to human health and life. Unlike expanded clay, mice and rats love to chew foam.

Basalt wool and mineral wool. The fibrous structure of this type of insulation ensures its high saturation with air. This allows them to be used as a thermal insulation material. When laying fiberglass, you will need additional protection: gloves and a respirator. Disadvantages include: susceptibility to rotting, as well as high cost.

Polyurethane foam. Foam insulation manufactured directly on the construction site. Application is carried out with a special gun. The expansion of the material after application allows you to create a monolithic insulating structure. He lightweight and fire resistant. The service life is about half a century. The disadvantage is the need to use specialized equipment and an experienced team for high-quality work.

Ecowool. A material containing 80% cellulose fiber and 20% fire-resistant and antiseptic additives. Has good heat and sound insulation. Ecowool forms a seamless coating that eliminates the formation of cold bridges. Service life – more than 50 years.

Roof insulation with expanded clay: technology and features

Required tools and materials:

Vapor barrier;
Waterproofing;
Rake used for compacting and leveling;
Shovel;
Buckets;
sharp knife;
expanded clay

Before insulation, some preparatory work should be carried out. They include leveling and cleaning the covered surface, as well as sealing cracks and cracks. You can read more about roof insulation here.

Flat roof roof pie

If laying is done on metal, should be cleaned from oxidation products and painted with an anti-corrosion compound.

First layer a vapor barrier is performed on the base. You can use both membrane and ordinary polyethylene films. Using a vapor barrier with one foil side will provide an additional effect of heat reflection into the room. Any vapor barrier material is laid overlap, and is also pulled tight. The joints are glued together with specialized tape.
Expanded clay insulation is carried out in strips. To do this, guide rails are attached to the vapor-insulated base in increments of 2-3 meters. The thickness of the expanded clay layer must correspond to the calculated value. A smaller layer will not provide the necessary thermal insulation, and a thicker one can lead to the destruction of the load-bearing structure being covered.
After backfilling the entire area, leveling and compaction expanded clay layer.
A layer of waterproofing is laid on top of the expanded clay or a cement screed is installed, which improves the strength and rigidity of the structure.
To assess the quality of the thermal insulation work performed, it is necessary to warm the room to a certain temperature, while closing all doors and windows.
After a couple of hours, check the thermometer readings before and after. If there is a significant drop in temperature, then you need to inspect the insulated surface for gaps and cracks.

Floor lathing allows you to divide expanded clay into separate cells and serves as joists for the subfloor

Leveling the expanded clay layer using a building level

CAREFULLY!

Laying and compacting expanded clay must be done very carefully so as not to damage the fragile porous elements.

The nuances of insulating pitched and flat roofs

With ideal evenness and plane of the roof, the slope of which does not exceed 5°, the work, without much difficulty, is carried out in the manner described above. When insulating a pitched roof, it is necessary to ensure that the space between the rafters is filled evenly. To do this, jumpers are placed transversely between the support beams. As a result, peculiar cells are formed, which, as they are filled, are sewn up with boards.

Useful video

We invite you to watch a useful video about roof insulation with expanded clay:

Conclusion

Expanded clay – cheap, high-quality and universal bulk insulation. With its help, you can thermally insulate almost any room without having specialized skills.

We insulate the roof with expanded clay

With the current construction of a building, the question of whether it is necessary to insulate the roof is no longer an issue; information about what kind of insulation to use is becoming more and more interesting. For fifty years, roof insulation with expanded clay has been considered the most reliable and effective way. Today's building materials market is capable of providing wide choose insulation materials for roofing, among which expanded clay occupies not the last place, since it is able to provide the greatest thermal protection.

Scheme of expanded clay production.

Advantages of expanded clay

Without a doubt, this insulation is the most economical material; with its help, you can easily achieve the highest level of sound and heat insulation, while incurring low costs. Based on the fact that expanded clay is made from clay rock, or rather from several types of it, it is an environmentally friendly material and absolutely fireproof. It is also rightfully considered one of the most durable building materials, since there is no moisture condensation during its operation.

Scheme of roof insulation with expanded clay.

The crumbly and porous structure of this insulation prevents the appearance of rodents in it. All the positive aspects of expanded clay also include high resistance to low temperatures, which makes it possible to use it in extreme climatic conditions. An important point, in particular for the upper floors of buildings, is the good sound insulation of this insulating material for roofing, which is another advantage of its use.

One of the main aspects of any building material is environmental Safety. Expanded clay is made from completely pure clay without the use of any chemical additives; Based on this, it is absolutely safe for the human body, which cannot be said about synthetic insulation materials that are popular nowadays. The final result of the material is achieved by firing the clay. The finished granules have an oval shape.

Selection of expanded clay fractions.

As a rule, the roof is insulated using expanded clay gravel, sand or crushed stone. A special feature of using expanded clay gravel is that it can fill different cavities, thus creating thermal insulation for the roof. Often, in order to increase thermal insulation, expanded clay gravel is used mixed with foam chips.

In order to insulate a flat roof with expanded clay, you must first pour the prepared material onto the floor slabs, then you need to cover it on top, as an option, with rolled roofing felt. If desired, paving slabs can be laid on top. A huge advantage is that the service life of a roof made in this way increases several times. This technology is very popular in European countries. So, for example, in the UK such roof insulation is called “green” roofing, the only difference is that they use a lawn carpet instead of paving slabs.

The construction of the roof structure described above is the most inexpensive. Such a combination of price and practicality cannot be provided today by any of the existing roof designs.

As you can see, this material has a whole list of universal qualities. But, despite the positive tandem of all these properties, it also has some disadvantages.

Disadvantages of expanded clay

And one of the main disadvantages is its fragility. This makes it necessary to handle it very carefully. Even when we insulate the roof by backfilling, this leads to damage individual elements materials that lose some of their qualities, which can lead to poor-quality roof insulation.

Thus, in order to properly insulate the roof, you need to be extremely careful. This insulation should only be used in the form of a dry fill. It is unacceptable to add it to cement or mortar. This will have absolutely no effect.

Expanded clay does not tend to give up moisture. At the same time, the process of absorption of even the smallest particles of water is very active. When performing insulation, this property can become not only the main positive side, but also a significant problem.

However, this building material is the only insulation whose use does not require construction skills. Everyone, without any complications, is able to perform insulation efficiently and quickly.

Roof insulation with expanded clay

Roof insulation with expanded clay is a reliable and effective method. Without a doubt, this insulation is considered the most economical material; with its help, you can achieve the highest level of thermal insulation, while incurring low costs.

Source: kryshikrovli.ru

Roof insulation with expanded clay

Roof insulation with expanded clay is the oldest and most frequently used method of thermal protection for a home. The comfort of living depends on the reliability of the roof, and this material helps ensure this reliability over time. Today we will tell you how to use expanded clay for roofing.

Features of roof insulation with expanded clay

Expanded clay is a porous insulating material of dark brown color, obtained by firing clay for 30-45 minutes at a temperature of +1200 degrees. The raw materials are crushed and loaded into a special oven, which is capable of rotating at a given speed. As the clay moves through it, it sticks together into lumps, and the rotation of the kiln gives them a rounded shape. The size of the granules and their quality are regulated by the speed of rotation of the apparatus and the temperature of the hot air in it.

Expanded clay gravel. Its particles have a smooth oval shape and size from 5 to 40 mm. The material is used to insulate foundations and enclosing structures with a required thickness of insulating backfill of more than 50 mm.

Due to the fact that sand weighs a lot, and crushed stone has inconvenient torn edges, expanded clay gravel is more suitable for thermal insulation of the roof. They can fill any cavity, creating a reliable insulating layer. To insulate roofs, you can use expanded clay of several fractions at the same time, and also add foam chips to it for greater effect.

Advantages and disadvantages of roof insulation with expanded clay

Since expanded clay is based on a natural base, it in many ways successfully competes with synthetic insulation materials. The structure of expanded clay cannot be disturbed by temperature changes, moisture, or rotting.

Bulk insulation does not require joining of elements and installation of fasteners.

A disadvantage of expanded clay insulation is the significant load the material places on the roof, despite the low weight of its porous granules. After all, the mass of a backfill layer with a thickness of 100-400 mm is very significant. Another disadvantage of insulation is its excessive absorption of moisture. Soaked material loses its quality. Therefore, when insulating a roof with expanded clay, a protective waterproof film should be laid on it.

Roof insulation technology with expanded clay

Preparing for work

Before insulation, the roof, if it is old, must be repaired. From a flat concrete surface, it is enough to remove peeling insulation, remove debris, and seal cement mixture potholes and cracks identified during inspection, and if necessary, fill in a new screed.

Thermal insulation with expanded clay flat roofing

The horizontal plane of the top floor allows you to realize all the advantages of bulk insulation without unnecessary problems. The planned roofing cake with expanded clay should consist of several layers, which are laid alternately.

Thermal insulation of a pitched roof

It is more difficult to insulate a pitched roof with expanded clay. The main thing here is to achieve uniform distribution of the insulation layer in the cavity between the rafters. If the roof slope is more than 5°, then filling this space should be carried out using the technology of internal backfilling of frame walls - in small portions with stage-by-stage covering of the structure.

To summarize, it should be said that although expanded clay is not entirely convenient to work with, it is quite versatile. The simple technology of its installation makes it possible to insulate flat roofs and pitched roofs with expanded clay equally successfully.

Do-it-yourself roof insulation with expanded clay

The use of expanded clay for thermal insulation of roofs, its features, advantages and disadvantages, technology for insulating roofs of various types.

Source: tutknow.ru

Expanded clay as roof insulation

Expanded clay is widely used for roof insulation, along with mineral wool and polystyrene foam. It has good thermal properties, but has a number of nuances that must be taken into account to perform effective thermal insulation.

Properties of expanded clay

Expanded clay is a very affordable and easy-to-use insulation material.

The insulation in question consists of porous granules of various sizes, obtained by high-temperature firing of clayey rocks.

The gravel fraction with grain sizes from 10 to 40 mm is mainly used as a heat insulator for roofing structures. Using sand will place too much stress on supporting structures.

Gravel, on the contrary, will not be able to provide effective thermal insulation due to the grain size being too large and, as a result, cold air freely passing between them.

Expanded clay has a number of properties that allow it to be successfully used for effective thermal insulation:

low thermal conductivity coefficient;

Expanded clay has a number of positive qualities as insulation

However, not everything is so rosy. There are also negative aspects that hinder its widespread use and do not allow other insulation materials to be forced out of the market:

high hygroscopicity - moisture is easily absorbed and extremely slowly released back into the environment;
Compared to other insulation materials, it is quite heavy. Its bulk density for different brands ranges from 250 to 600 kg/m3.

The nuances of using fill-in insulation

The technology for using expanded clay for roof insulation has a number of features that must be taken into account. Otherwise, the results of the work done will be very far from expected, and everything will have to be redone.

Expanded clay is a bulk material. It is best used on flat or slightly sloping surfaces.

All work is done outside. This imposes some restrictions regarding weather conditions. The presence of rain or high humidity during the technological process is unacceptable.

To perform effective thermal insulation, the minimum thickness of the backfill should be 20-30 cm.

The weight of the insulation imposes its limitations on the strength characteristics of the roof structure. The most optimal flooring is made of reinforced concrete slabs when installing a flat roof.

A wooden pitched roof must be strengthened through the use of structural elements of a larger cross-section, the use of additional crossbars, stops and struts. In addition, the fastening of the internal cladding boards must be reinforced. They must rest on additional bars or thick boards connected to the rafters using bolted fasteners.

Insulation of a flat roof

The main area of application is insulation of flat roofs. The horizontal surface allows you to conveniently and without unnecessary difficulties realize all the advantages of the material.

At the initial stage, the surface must be cleared of debris. Particular attention should be paid to the presence of small sharp stones that can damage the vapor barrier fabric.

A vapor barrier is rolled out over the entire surface. It is very convenient to use thick polyethylene film for this purpose. For more durable protection, double coating can be used.

The flowability of expanded clay makes it easy to fill slopes or horizontal roofs with it

Most often, the thickness of the backfill is selected approximately within the range of 30 - 40 cm. Further, if the thickness achieved is not enough, after the first cold season, additional internal insulation of the ceiling is carried out with foam plastic or mineral wool.

Then a reinforced screed is performed. It will allow you to move freely on the roof during its maintenance.

The final stage is the installation of one or two layers of rolled waterproofing. To give the roof an aesthetic appearance, an additional roof covering is installed on top.

This can be bitumen or classic tiles, slate, painted metal corrugated sheets, etc.

Insulation of pitched roofs

With a pitched roof, things are a little more complicated. The most important thing here is to achieve uniform filling of the insulation layer into the space between the rafters.

To prevent particles from rolling off, the space between the support beams is divided by horizontal bridges. As they are filled, the cells are covered with boards from the outside.

After the entire volume of the space between the rafters is filled, waterproofing and finishing roofing are carried out along the sheathing boards. The vapor barrier film is secured to the rough internal cladding on the room side. The sealing rules for insulating materials are similar here - overlapping panels and gluing joints.

Using expanded clay in roof insulation: properties and features (photo, video)

Often the buyer has to choose between price and quality. If we are talking about roof insulation, ordinary expanded clay with its unusual properties. These are the ones that will be discussed in the article.

Source: uteplenievdome.ru

Insulation materials

To ensure that your home is always warm and cozy with the onset of winter, you need to take care of roof insulation in advance. Today, more and more people are choosing expanded clay as insulation. It is widely available and inexpensive, as well as environmentally friendly and has excellent performance characteristics.

What is expanded clay, its advantages and disadvantages

Expanded clay is a lightweight porous material in the form of small granules, obtained by firing clay. It has gained popularity both among professional builders and home craftsmen, thanks to the following technical indicators:

high heat and noise insulation;
frost-resistant qualities;
fireproof qualities;
strength, resistance to rotting;
long service life, resistance to temperature changes.

Expanded clay, the price of which is much lower than the price of other thermal insulation materials, can last, unlike them, for many years. Its main advantages are:

high thermal conductivity;
light weight;
not susceptible to chemically aggressive environments;
does not emit toxic substances into the atmosphere;
This is the only thermal insulation material that does not require special knowledge, skills and experience when working with it.

But this material also has its drawbacks, although they are few:

to achieve a high level of heat and sound insulation, you need to lay out the material in a fairly thick layer;
is not resistant to moisture, therefore, when insulating damp rooms, a special film for waterproofing should be used;
the material is quite fragile, and damage to the granules leads to a decrease in the quality of thermal insulation.

Tools and materials required for roof insulation with expanded clay

In order to insulate the roof yourself, you will need the following materials and equipment:

expanded clay for the roof;
shovel and buckets;
a log or stick to compact the insulation layer, and a lath to level it;
waterproofing film;
roofing felt in rolls;
sharp knife;
tiles or tiles for external covering.

Steam and waterproofing for expanded clay

Steam and waterproofing of the insulating layer is an important stage in the construction of the roof, which in no case should be overlooked. As mentioned earlier, expanded clay is capable of absorbing moisture. At the same time, its thermal insulation qualities sharply deteriorate, and it itself becomes much heavier than in dry form. This can lead to dire consequences, including the collapse of the ceiling. Thus, if the expanded clay layer is allowed to become wet, the service life of the roof can be sharply reduced, and repairs will be required much earlier than planned.

None of the existing types of thermal insulation materials can properly protect a room from the cold unless it itself is protected by vapor and waterproofing. Vapor barrier material is usually installed on the inside of the room, because it protects the insulation from vapors arising inside the room, and the waterproofing is installed from the outside, because it protects the insulation from moisture coming from the street.

The most common waterproofing materials are films and membranes. Materials such as styrofoam, polyethylene film, foil, glassine are also very often used.

Roof insulation with expanded clay

Most often, when insulating roofs, builders use the following types of expanded clay:

expanded clay crushed stone is a large material with granules up to 4 cm in size. It is equally good for insulating the roof, as well as for insulating the floor and walls;
expanded clay gravel is also a coarse-grained material, the granules of which also reach 4 cm in size and have an angular shape;
Expanded clay sand is a finely dispersed material, the particles of which are no more than 5 mm in size. It is used as thermal insulation, in which the layer thickness does not exceed 5 cm.

It is quite possible to insulate the roof yourself if you cannot pay specialists.

Before starting work, it is necessary to study some features of the insulation process. First of all, you should pay attention to the design features of the building, its walls and roof. The insulation process should consist of several stages:

internal lining;
vapor barrier;
laying insulation;
surface finishing.

When insulating a roof with expanded clay, the thickness of the layer of material should be 25 cm. It is poured directly onto the vapor barrier film in the required quantity quickly and accurately to avoid damage to the granules.
For good heat and sound insulation, it is better to pour a thicker layer, but it is important not to forget about the maximum load that the roof can withstand. In this matter it is better to stick to the golden mean.

Then the expanded clay is carefully leveled and compacted so that there are as few voids as possible between its particles. This is done either by hand or using a special machine. It is advisable to make a screed on top of the first layer to give additional rigidity and strength to the entire structure, as well as to level the surface.
Also, between the outer and inner layers, several channels should be installed through which air will circulate and excess moisture will be removed.
Next, a rolled roofing material is placed directly on the insulating layer, which will press it down with its weight. It should overlap and have no gaps. At the same time, to ensure the tightness of the seams, it is better to insulate them using construction tape or bitumen mastic.
The next step is to lay tiles or tiles.

Many companies engaged in the sale of building materials, as well as shops and construction hypermarkets offer to buy expanded clay.

How to insulate a roof with expanded clay, Construction Portal

Insulation To ensure that the house is always warm and cozy with the onset of winter, it is necessary to take care of roof insulation in advance. Today, more and more people choose

Source: strport.ru

The use of expanded clay for roofing

Roof insulation with expanded clay is the most popular method

For the first time, roofs began to be insulated using expanded clay more than half a century ago. Of course, the modern market building materials offers insulation materials in a wide range, but many continue to consider expanded clay insulation as one of the best for well-equipping a flat or pitched roof.

Important! It is expanded clay that will ensure the almost complete absence of problems that may arise regarding condensation, and will also eliminate such a problematic phenomenon called the “dew point”.

The roof is the most important element of any residential structure. For the interior space of a home, it is the primary protection. Both the comfort of living and cozy conditions in the house completely depend on how reliable it is. And expanded clay is a material that helps ensure such qualities for a long time.

Characteristics

Expanded clay is a very light porous material that is obtained by firing slate and clay

Having a natural base, this building material has good strength and can last quite a long time, unlike synthetic materials. With roof insulation using expanded clay, there is no risk of rotting processes, such as, for example, wooden materials, the structure does not change under the influence of low temperatures in cold weather or elevated temperatures in hot weather. Water that gets into the insulation does not affect it in any way. Thus, expanded clay is recognized as a universal material for insulation.

Important! According to its characteristics and properties, expanded clay is recognized the best option for roof insulation. Indoors, this way you can achieve the greatest indoor comfort.

It should be noted that in pitched roofs there is very little space for thermal insulation. In this regard, flat roofs are much more convenient.

How to insulate a roof using expanded clay

The initial stage of work will be similar to those performed when using any other material. The ceiling must be protected from the accumulation of condensation due to warm air escaping upward. You can use foil insulation, aluminum foil or vapor barrier film for this. It is absolutely easy to insulate a flat roof with expanded clay.

Insulation of a flat roof with expanded clay - a lightweight option for roof insulation

Expanded clay should not be poured directly onto the vapor barrier. First, the layer of material must be fixed, and then covered with a layer of soft clay. It itself is good enough to insulate from noise and has excellent thermal insulation properties. For this reason, it should act as the first layer for insulation, and the expanded clay filling should act as an intermediate layer.

When performing insulation for flat or pitched roofs, expanded clay gravel is mainly used. It is extremely convenient for filling recesses and small cavities. Sometimes, to improve thermal insulation, it is combined with expanded polystyrene chips. Using this insulation, the roof installation scheme is quite simple. First, expanded clay is poured onto the surface of the attic, which must be evenly distributed to create as even a surface as possible. A thickness of 15 cm will not place excessive load on the floors.

After this, roofing felt carpet is laid. Choose better material, produced in rolls. It presses down the expanded clay layer and secures it better. If the attic is intended to be used for its intended purpose, you can fill it with a cement-sand screed. This will contribute to the thermal insulation of the ceiling and can serve as solid foundation.

You can also lay any waterproofing or paving slabs on top of the thermal insulation layer to inform it additional protection from atmospheric influences, which will also increase the service life of the roof. For example, in Germany such flat roofs are common when a “lawn carpet” covering is used instead of tiles - this is called a “green roof”.

How to handle insulation

Expanded clay is a material that has many universal qualities. Of course, there are some disadvantages that the material has. For example, fragility - this forces you to handle the material as carefully as possible.

Important! Laying the insulation by pouring should be done carefully so as not to damage individual particles. When broken, the particles lose some quality, and effective thermal insulation is not achieved. By carefully handling expanded clay, you can achieve efficiency in insulation with small financial investments and minimal effort.

The basis of expanded clay is simple clay. The material is brought to its final state by firing. The resulting granules are oval shaped. It happens that manufacturers use the same technology as in the production of sand.

By absorbing moisture, the granules do not tend to give it back. But they can absorb even small particles of water very actively. When insulating, this can be both an advantage and a disadvantage.

How to properly make a semi-dry screed with expanded clay

Roof insulation is used exclusively in the form of dry bedding and creating a layer with certain thickness. If, as an experiment, granules are added to concrete or cement, it does not give any effect.

This insulation material is practically the only one that does not require special construction skills to work with it. It is possible to carry out insulation efficiently and quickly without incurring large expenses. The quality of the work will depend on the materials that will be selected for the work, on the slope of the roof, on the correctness of the design calculations, on the waterproofing, and the thickness of the layer must also be correctly calculated. Thus, if the owner of the house has little experience in construction, it would be better to trust the roof insulation with expanded clay to professionals. Otherwise, the desire to save on their services can lead to undesirable consequences.

Roof insulation with expanded clay: how to handle this material

Insulating the roof with expanded clay will help cope with problems that arise with the formation of condensation. In addition, the material is quite durable, and

Source: utepleniedoma.com

Thermal insulation of the ceiling of a residential building

The final stage of ceiling insulation with expanded clay

What types of expanded clay are there:

fire resistance;
water resistance;
low price;
rodents do not grow in it.

It is best to insulate the ceiling of a wooden house with expanded clay/

Useful additions

Insulating a home - materials, technologies, tips

The final stage of ceiling insulation with expanded clay

About reducing heating costs own home many owners think about it. When energy costs become more and more expensive, heating becomes a problem, but it is not difficult to get rid of it by doing good thermal insulation residential premises.

Approximately 15-20% of all heat in residential premises escapes through the ceiling. In order to prevent heat leakage, in a private house the ceiling should be insulated using some of the insulating materials. Today's market offers a large variety of high-quality materials for insulation, from which you can choose something based on the characteristics of the room and corresponding purchasing power.

Insulation of the ceiling of a private residential building

Expanded clay is a budget insulation material that will allow you to insulate the ceiling very well

Each of the building materials for insulation has both advantages and certain disadvantages. Quite high-quality thermal insulation of the ceiling can be done using building materials such as polystyrene foam, mineral wool, expanded clay, etc. It is recommended to carry out any operations regarding insulation at the construction stage, since work on re-laying the covering, installing insulating materials and ceilings takes a lot of time and money. If you have no experience in such work, you should not take it on yourself at all.

The effectiveness of thermal insulation will depend on a careful approach to compliance with technology. Building materials for ceiling insulation not only perform a heat-insulating function, but also help improve sound insulation; in addition, they prevent the formation of mold and condensation, which makes living in the premises much more comfortable.

How does expanded clay differ from other insulation materials?

Expanded clay is the material that is most often chosen for thermal insulation in a private wooden house. It is produced in the form of oval-shaped granules - the material is lightweight and porous. The raw material for production is clay, from which expanded clay is obtained by firing - thanks to this, the material itself is clean and environmentally friendly, and does not pose a danger to human health.

What types of expanded clay are there:

expanded clay gravel (granules 5-40 mm in diameter). It is used to insulate various parts of the building, such as walls, floors and ceilings in a private wooden house. In addition, it is used in the production of concrete.
expanded clay sand (grains 0.14-5 mm in diameter). They are used as additives for a mixture of concrete and mortars, thermal insulation fills with insulation, where the thickness is up to 50 mm.

If we compare it with other building materials for thermal insulation, insulating ceilings with expanded clay in a private wooden house has multiple advantages. Insulation materials, as a rule, are made from raw materials that can decompose, and the materials emit substances that are quite toxic to the human body. Advantages of using expanded clay:

fire resistance;
water resistance;
low price;
good sound insulation properties;
rodents do not grow in it.

Ceiling thermal insulation technology in a private house

It is best to insulate the ceiling of a wooden house with expanded clay/

The process of insulating the ceiling in a private wooden house does not belong to the category of very complex ones - it is not difficult for anyone to carry out, even with minimal construction skills. Work on insulation using expanded clay should begin with laying hydro- and vapor barriers. To carry out these operations, a layer of material that is intended for vapor barrier must be laid on the prepared wooden ceiling - it will also be a waterproofing agent.

For these purposes, it is possible to use both innovative developments of building materials and cheaper analogues, such as polyethylene film, roofing felt, aluminum foil. The material should be placed on the floor, here it will be more convenient to cut them into strips the right size– their width should be 10 cm greater than the distance between ceiling beams.

Backfilling the material is the next stage of work.

Expanded clay will need to be compacted - so it is better to prepare sand and gravel right away. This way it will be possible to compact the material without breaking the granules or deforming them. The surface should be leveled.

Pouring a screed from a mixture of sand and cement.

Laying covering on the floor. The final flooring may not be installed - but if you plan to visit the attic space more often than once a year, this part of the work should still be completed. More often than others, a board is chosen for the floor in order to arrange it perpendicular to the beams, which will serve as a support, as other options include plywood, laminate, chipboard.

Advice. If expanded clay has spilled between the joists, to the level at which the attic floor will be installed, you should not add a couple of centimeters to it, otherwise later the granules will creak when walking.

Useful additions

After you have an even layer of expanded clay granules on the attic floor, you can additionally fill in the screed - this will enhance the thermal insulation and serve as a solid foundation for the attic space.

When re-laying the waterproofing layer, the likelihood of the expanded clay becoming wet is reduced to almost zero. In the case where a screed is to be poured on top, it is not necessary to lay another layer of moisture-repellent cover.

Advice. Once the decision has been made to insulate the ceiling in a private wooden house with expanded clay, the first step is to eliminate the possibility of moisture penetration into the material. To enhance the insulation effect, a layer of crushed clay should be laid on top of the vapor barrier before laying expanded clay.

The high cost of heating and the simple desire not to waste money inevitably lead to thoughts about thermal insulation methods country house or cottage.

And the only option in this case will be proper insulation of the home. Moreover, it is necessary to insulate both the walls and floors, as well as the ceilings. And the cheapest, but at the same time very effective insulation technology, is the use of kermazite.

What is expanded clay, its advantages and disadvantages

Technology of insulation of interfloor floors and ceilings using expanded clay

Checking the quality of insulation.

What is expanded clay, its advantages and disadvantages

Expanded clay is a type of insulation made from natural slate clay. It is produced by firing in special rotary kilns, where small pieces of clay are foamed and then given a hardened outer surface.

Due to this, porous expanded clay acquires such qualities as:

excellent sound and heat insulation;
extremely light weight;
Fire safety;
resistance to decomposition and rotting;
environmental Safety.

In addition, due to the low consumption of raw materials and the simplicity of manufacturing technology, the cost of expanded clay is one of the lowest insulating materials on the market. However, insulating the ceiling with expanded clay has a couple of important features.

Firstly, expanded clay often comes filled with a lot of dust and crumbs. Therefore, when insulating the ceiling, it is extremely undesirable to pour it directly onto the floor boards. You will definitely need some kind of insulating material.

Secondly, despite its absolute resistance to moisture, expanded clay absorbs it very readily. But this material is no longer able to dry quickly. Accordingly, if there is even the slightest probability of it getting wet, then a layer of waterproofing must be laid on top of the expanded clay layer.

Taking into account the combination of both the positive qualities of expanded clay and its disadvantages, the basic rules for working with it have been derived.

Expanded clay can only be poured onto the substrate. It is best if it is a vapor barrier substrate, lined with the foil side facing the room to be insulated. This is especially important when insulating ceilings in bathhouses, where the humidity level is very high and without vapor barrier the insulation would inevitably get wet.
Waterproofing made of waterproof material should be installed on top of the expanded clay layer. In the case where you plan to walk on an insulated surface, then the best option a small layer of cement-sand screed will be poured.
Expanded clay reveals its thermal insulation potential best when the backfill thickness is from 10 to 20 cm.

In total, you can find three types of expanded clay on sale, with slightly different purposes:

expanded clay crushed stone with a grain size of 0.2-0.4 cm, which has an angular shape with pronounced edges and is used only for insulating foundations;
expanded clay gravel, most often used as insulation for interfloor floors and ceilings. It has a round or oblong shape with a grain of 0.1-0.2 cm;
expanded clay sand. Due to its fine grain and small size, it is not used as insulation.

Technology of insulation of interfloor floors and ceilings using expanded clay

To begin with, you should completely free the insulated surface from foreign objects, and also, if possible, get rid of construction debris and dust. Direct insulation attic floors expanded clay can be divided into several stages.

Vapor barrier sheets are cut and laid in such a way that an overlap is formed between adjacent sheets. In addition, you will also need to organize an overlap on the surrounding beams, walls and exhaust pipes heating, if any.
Installation of beacons. With beacons it is much easier to fill the expanded clay in an even layer with a completely horizontal surface. As such, you can use either self-tapping screws of sufficient length, or pieces of wooden beams, or a combination of both (pieces of timber with screws screwed into them).
Expanded clay backfill. It is best to use expanded clay for backfilling, consisting of elements different sizes. This will allow them to fit more tightly and adhere more tightly to each other, which will ensure better thermal insulation. When backfilling, the beacons should be flush with the surface of the expanded clay cushion.
Laying waterproofing. This process is completely similar to laying a vapor barrier. There will be differences only if a cement-sand screed is laid on the expanded clay as insulation. Here you will need to slightly moisten the solution before pouring it. upper layer expanded clay so-called cement laitance, i.e. as liquid a solution of cement in water as possible. This will allow the screed to lie firmly and tightly on the expanded clay.

Checking the quality of insulation.

It is easiest to check the quality of installed expanded clay insulation during the cold season. The most convenient tool for this operation that clearly demonstrates the results is a thermal imager. However, most often you can do without it.

To identify heat leakage through the ceiling in a residential building, you will need to do the following:

measure the temperature in the attic;
turn on the heating to maximum and wait a few hours;
Re-measure the temperature in the attic.

If the temperature difference is noticeable, i.e. more than a few degrees, this clearly indicates heat leakage through the ceiling. Accordingly, it will be necessary to inspect the installed expanded clay insulation and eliminate defects.

In relation to a bathhouse, the control process is even simpler. It is enough to splash more water on the hot stones and go up to the attic. IN winter time Leak points will reveal themselves as visible streams of rising steam and snow-white frost on the expanded clay.

Insulating the ceiling with expanded clay, which is not difficult in itself, is the most rational way to save heat in a house or bathhouse.

The availability of both the insulating material itself and the technology for working with it makes expanded clay almost the only possible option thermal insulation of ceilings, which you can do yourself.

Insulating the ceiling with expanded clay is one of the ways to avoid heat leaks and save on fuel costs. This event is especially relevant for owners of a country house or residents of the private sector, because up to 20% of heat is lost through ceilings in winter. A layer of environmentally friendly material can significantly reduce heat loss and make it possible to burn less coal or gas, thereby minimizing emissions harmful substances in atmosphere.

Expanded clay: advantages and disadvantages

Like any material, expanded clay has its pros and cons. To make an informed choice, you need to get acquainted with the properties of insulation. Among the products of this type offered on the market, expanded clay is not a new product: it has been used for several decades and has managed to prove itself to be of the best quality.

Bulk thermal insulation consists of granules of 3 different fractions. Any type of expanded clay is suitable for roof insulation; materials of different sizes can also be combined. It is important to know that effective insulation of the ceiling from the cold can only be achieved by backfilling a layer 30-40 cm thick.

Expanded clay granules are made from fired slate clay. During the firing process, the surface of the lump is sintered, and the inner layer acquires pronounced porosity, noticeable at the fracture.

It is the cavities of the bubbles that give expanded clay its insulating properties, since air has relatively low thermal conductivity. Materials such as penoizol, EPS, polystyrene foam, etc. are constructed using the same principle. But, compared to them, expanded clay has its advantages.

Among the advantages of granular thermal insulation made of clay:

absolute fire safety, since expanded clay does not burn, does not melt and does not release harmful substances when heated;
lightness, which is important when insulating the ceiling;
resistance to mold, rot or damage by rodents, since ceramics are biologically stable and quite hard;
ease of use of the material;
long service life - expanded clay can withstand more than 25 cycles of thawing and freezing and does not decompose.

The price of 1 m³ is low and comparable to the cost of other heat insulators (mineral wool, expanded polystyrene).

Among the disadvantages, the most obvious drawback is the presence of dust generated during the firing and transportation of granules.

Like other insulating materials, expanded clay is capable of absorbing moisture, which reduces its insulating properties. All insulation materials have an increased tendency to absorb moisture. It can be considered a disadvantage, but the easiest way is to take appropriate measures and protect the insulating material from water.

Bulk material inconvenient for insulating suspended ceilings. Despite their lightness, the granules have weight and create additional stress on the coating.

Technology of ceiling insulation with expanded clay granules

Before insulating the ceiling, be sure to lay a layer of membrane (polyethylene, for example) that is impervious to dust and vapors. In cases where thermal insulation is installed in a bathhouse, this becomes of particular importance due to large quantity water vapor in the air. No other preparatory actions are required: the loose insulation will perfectly fill all the unevenness and easily penetrate into niches and gaps between structural elements.

To work on ceiling insulation you will need the following materials and tools:

thick polyethylene film or isolon, foil, etc.;
scotch;
expanded clay of any fraction;
bucket and shovel;
a tool for leveling the backfill (even a rake will do);
cement and sand for screed, sheet materials for covering - if necessary.

Screed or flooring is done if it is planned to use the attic space as a residential or utility room. Their installation is optional and remains at the discretion of the owner.

How to insulate a concrete floor?

For concrete floors Expanded clay, as ceiling insulation, is an ideal material. Concrete, impermeable to dust and vapors, does not require even minimal preparation. Therefore, backfilling can be done in just a few hours.

To make the expanded clay layer even, you need to install beacons made of thin bars or boards at a height equal to the thickness of the layer. These elements are leveled horizontally using a building level.

When purchasing expanded clay, you need to take into account the shrinkage coefficient of the granules.

It is approximately equal to 1.2, so it is better to buy a little more. Laying consists of pouring the contents of the bags between the beacons and leveling the layer using the rule. If desired, you can do without beacons, taking level measurements directly along the backfill.

If you do not plan to walk in the attic, then it is enough to lay a layer of polyethylene on top, connecting the panels with tape. The film protects the backfill from moisture from the atmosphere. But you can protect expanded clay in another way:

Pour the granules with cement laitance (a liquid solution of cement in water) and dry the backfill for at least 7 days.
Place on top reinforcing mesh and make a screed from cement-sand mortar.

A screed on top of expanded clay will protect the bulk material from moisture and make it possible to move around the heat insulator without the risk of destroying its layer. The ability to retain heat with this method does not suffer at all.

Ceiling insulation in a wooden house

The technology for insulating the ceiling in a wooden house involves the use of a moisture barrier. To do this, you can take any material from those that are used for a similar purpose. The most affordable is polyethylene film.

It is advisable to lay a waterproofing layer across the ceiling joists to securely cover them too. The width of the film is usually no more than 3 m, so individual strips will have to be joined together. This is also done using a certain technology:

roll out a strip of polyethylene over the surface, covering the beams protruding above it;
lay the next panel with an overlap of at least 5 cm on the previous one;
Tape the joint with wide stationery tape.

When the polyethylene is laid, a protective material should be applied to it. For this you need ordinary clay. It needs to be crushed (a fraction of about 1 cm) and covered between the joists with a layer of 5 cm.

What layer of expanded clay is needed to insulate the ceiling in this case? According to building codes, expanded clay insulation begins to effectively perform its function at a thickness of 10 cm. This layer is sufficient for thermal insulation of a bathhouse or garage that does not require constant heating.

In a private house in central Russia, you will have to fill the entire space between the joists with insulation until a thickness of about 20 cm is reached.

Only in this case will it be possible to carry out high-quality thermal insulation of housing. Calculating the volume of granules in cubic meters is simple: you need to calculate the area of the ceiling and multiply it by the thickness of the layer, expressing the value in meters. Add about 20% to the resulting figure for shrinkage.

It is best to buy expanded clay of different sizes: by mixing a large fraction with a smaller one, you can achieve a dense layer that practically does not lose height.

Backfilling is done in the same way as in the previous case. When using a rake to level the granules, you should turn them over with their teeth facing up so as not to tear the polyethylene. After the heat insulator is laid, polyethylene is again spread over it and the log, joining the strips with an overlap and securing them with tape.

When the ceiling opens onto a residential attic, you need to pour expanded clay so that there is a gap between it and the attic floor covering. If this is not done, the grains will constantly creak under the feet of those who walk above. But when backfilling is done correctly, expanded clay will also serve as a soundproofing material.

Sometimes it is necessary to insulate sloping attic ceilings.

For this purpose, it is better to choose other types of insulation. Bulk material cannot be laid on an inclined surface: round granules will roll down. Expanded clay backfill is used only on a horizontal plane.

Self-leveling mixtures should not be used to fill expanded clay screed.

The liquid mass will flow between the granules until it saturates the entire insulation, and when the thickness of the layer is large, the repair will cost a lot of money. If you need to make poured floors in the attic, you first need to lay a concrete screed, and then apply a thin layer of leveling mixture.

By pouring expanded clay to a thickness of only 10 cm, you can already save up to 70% of the heat that escapes into the atmosphere through the ceilings. The popularity of expanded clay for insulating ceilings in private wooden houses is due to its low thermal conductivity and low price. The fire safety of granules is also important.

By insulating the roof, it is possible not only to reduce heat loss in the premises during the heated period, but also to provide protection from overheating in the summer. You can thermally insulate the roof from the attic side various materials, one of which is currently expanded clay.

Let's look in order at all the main advantages and disadvantages of this insulation and find out how to do it yourself, in compliance with all the rules and technologies. The video for this lesson will help you.

Expanded clay - its characteristics, types and properties

Expanded clay is light, finely porous, round granules obtained by melting clay and then firing it in special pyrogenic ovens at temperatures above 1000 C.
Expanded clay, as a material for insulation, is used quite widely in the construction industry. They insulate house roofs, floors, walls and interfloor ceilings. Very good feedback You can also find information about expanded clay as insulation on the Internet, which once again confirms its high thermal insulation qualities.

The main advantages of expanded clay granules as insulation are as follows:

is an absolutely environmentally friendly material;
has high thermal insulation properties;
is not subject to rotting, decay and decomposition for a long time;
it does not harbor rodents, as well as mold and fungi;
fireproof and not afraid of fire;
resistant to low temperatures and moisture;
has high soundproofing qualities;
has a low price compared to other materials for insulation (mineral wool, basalt insulation, etc.).

The main disadvantage of expanded clay is its fragility. It is this minus of this insulation that requires careful and careful handling of it when carrying out a complex of do-it-yourself work to insulate a roof or floor, since the thermal insulation qualities of damaged expanded clay granules are greatly reduced.

The lack of ability to release moisture is another drawback that can develop into a significant problem after some time. Therefore, in very damp rooms, insulation with expanded clay should be abandoned, or a special waterproofing film should be used.

There are three types (fractions) of expanded clay distinguished by the size of the granules and their structure:

Sand (fine fraction), in which the granule size is from 1 to 5 millimeters in diameter. Most often, this fraction of expanded clay is used when carrying out a complex of work on leveling various bases (roof, floor, etc.) or is used to prepare solutions;
Gravel (middle fraction), in which the size of the granules varies approximately from 5 to 40 millimeters. This fraction of expanded clay is mainly used for insulating floors, roofs, walls and ceilings;
Crushed stone (large fraction) is the same size as gravel, but is obtained by crushing fairly large pieces of expanded clay. In addition to insulation, crushed stone is also used to fill lightweight concrete structures.

Based on such a characteristic as bulk density, there are 10 grades of expanded clay, which are designated by numbers from 250 to 800. This indicator corresponds to the number of kilograms of material per cubic meter. The lower the density of expanded clay, the higher its thermal insulation properties as insulation.

For each brand of expanded clay, according to bulk density, corresponding standards for tensile strength are established, which are determined by squeezing granules of various markings in cylinders specially designed for this purpose. This indicator is important during construction, as it determines the scope of expanded clay, taking into account the optimal load on the structure.

Do-it-yourself roof insulation technology with expanded clay

Insulating the roof in a bathhouse with expanded clay or insulating the roof in a wooden house has its own characteristics and requires compliance with certain technologies. However, despite the apparent complexity of the work, almost anyone can insulate a roof with expanded clay if they approach the matter correctly.

At the initial stage, before, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. If the roof is old, then it needs to be repaired, and the old insulation and debris must be removed. Removing insulation and removing debris also applies to the new roof.

For roof insulation work you will need the following devices, tools and materials:

expanded clay of the required fraction;
buckets and shovel;
film for vapor and waterproofing;
sharp knife;
a stick for compacting and a rake for leveling (you can use the rule).

A layer of vapor barrier is first laid on the prepared roof surface (the floor area in the attic), which is necessary to protect the insulation from vapors occurring inside the room. To do this, the vapor barrier material is cut into strips whose width exceeds the distance between the ceiling beams by 10 - 15 centimeters. The vapor barrier strips are overlapped with each other, and the seams and joints are additionally reinforced or glued to make the connection tight.

Please note that the height where the vapor barrier material will be attached exceeds the level of expanded clay backfill by 5 - 10 cm. All elements of the roof structure must be covered with vapor barrier: the surface of the attic floor, rafter beams and the chimney.

On top of the vapor barrier layer, many specialist builders advise additionally laying a small layer of pre-kneaded dry clay for additional noise and heat insulation. After data preparatory work You can directly fill the expanded clay of the required thickness.

To insulate the roof, the expanded clay layer should be approximately 12 to 16 centimeters. The thickness of the expanded clay layer directly depends on the strength of the structure and climatic conditions. Backfilling of insulation must be done carefully to avoid damage to the expanded clay granules if possible.

To protect expanded clay from moisture from the outside, lay on its surface waterproofing material, and a cement-sand screed is made on top.

Roofing felt, foil, glassine, foil-coated isolon, styrofoam or polyethylene film are traditionally suitable as hydro- and vapor barrier materials.

After the work on insulating the roof of the house with your own hands is completed, the flooring is installed in the attic if it is used as a living space. Otherwise, these works can be neglected. Pitched roof(sloping roof) is insulated in the same way.

If the roof has reinforced concrete floor, the insulation process is greatly simplified, since the bottom layer of vapor barrier is no longer needed, and expanded clay is laid directly on the concrete slabs. After laying, the expanded clay layer must be compacted, waterproofing must be applied and a screed must be made on top of it to protect it from damage.

Insulating the roof is quite a responsible job, so if you do not want to do it every year, it is better to do this work efficiently, once and for many years.

Storage tank for heating boiler. Heat accumulator for your home heating system. The principle of operation of the storage tank

The nuances of using fill-in insulation

Insulation of a flat roof

Insulation of pitched roofs

The nuances of insulating pitched and flat roofs

Useful video

Conclusion

Material properties

Kinds

Technology

Thermal insulation of the ceiling in a wooden house

Laying on a reinforced concrete base

What is expanded clay?

Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay

Disadvantages of expanded clay insulation

How to determine the optimal insulation thickness?

Alternative types of insulation

Roof insulation with expanded clay: technology and features

The nuances of insulating pitched and flat roofs

Useful video

Conclusion

We insulate the roof with expanded clay

Advantages of expanded clay

Disadvantages of expanded clay

Roof insulation with expanded clay

Features of roof insulation with expanded clay

Advantages and disadvantages of roof insulation with expanded clay

Roof insulation technology with expanded clay

Expanded clay as roof insulation

Properties of expanded clay

The nuances of using fill-in insulation

Insulation of a flat roof

Insulation of pitched roofs

Insulation materials

The use of expanded clay for roofing

Characteristics

How to insulate a roof using expanded clay

How to handle insulation

The final stage of ceiling insulation with expanded clay

It is best to insulate the ceiling of a wooden house with expanded clay/

Useful additions

Insulation of the ceiling of a private residential building

How does expanded clay differ from other insulation materials?

Ceiling thermal insulation technology in a private house

Pouring a screed from a mixture of sand and cement.

Useful additions

What is expanded clay, its advantages and disadvantages

Technology of insulation of interfloor floors and ceilings using expanded clay

Checking the quality of insulation.

Expanded clay: advantages and disadvantages

Technology of ceiling insulation with expanded clay granules

How to insulate a concrete floor?

Ceiling insulation in a wooden house

Expanded clay - its characteristics, types and properties

Do-it-yourself roof insulation technology with expanded clay

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