Insulating an old roof from the inside with your own hands. How to insulate the roof of a house from the inside? Material: general selection

In some cases, insulating the roof from the inside is a prerequisite for a comfortable microclimate in the house. These include the conversion of a non-residential attic into a heated attic floor, as well as the replacement roofing, for example slate, on metal tiles or corrugated sheets, on which condensation and ice easily form due to temperature changes.

Roof ridge structure for insulation

Insulation of the roof from the inside is carried out using any suitable heat-insulating materials with one condition: they must provide waterproofing on the outside and vapor permeability on the inside. In other words, moisture from condensation should not enter the insulation layer, but at the same time water vapor should be successfully removed from the interior of the attic or attic space.

Principles of roof insulation from the inside

Fibrous insulation materials such as mineral wool are best suited for these purposes. Unlike insulation with polystyrene foam, penoplex or polyurethane foam, they conduct water vapor well, and the direction of removal of water vapor from the inside to the outside is ensured by the use of special membrane films.

Moisture removal is necessary not only to reduce humidity in attic room. Fibrous insulation, when wet, loses some of its heat-insulating properties, wrinkles and deforms. Therefore, when insulating a roof from the inside, it is necessary to strictly observe the sequence of layers of the so-called “pie”. The first layer with inside usually happens decorative finishing, any material can act as it: lining, drywall, plywood. Often it also plays the role of a backing that provides support for the insulation. Next, you need a small ventilation gap of 2-3 cm to ensure free air circulation. The next layer is a vapor-permeable membrane, and the direction of vapor removal should be directed towards the insulation. The insulation itself must be of sufficient thickness for good thermal insulation, at least 3 cm. For a residential attic floor, a layer of insulation of 10 cm or more is usually laid. A vapor-permeable waterproofing film with windproof properties is placed on the insulation, and the direction of steam removal should be directed from the insulation outward. Thus, the “thermal insulation cake” protects against moisture penetration into the insulation from the outside, but does an excellent job of removing water vapor from the room, which provides comfortable humidity.

Laying layers of insulation on the roof

Roof insulation technology from the inside

We insulate the roof using foam insulation

There are other ways to insulate a roof, for example, the popular method of spraying foam insulation, such as polyurethane foam. No special preparation is required for this, but the roof sheathing is made continuous and coated with an antiseptic. Spraying polyurethane foam requires a special installation that supplies carbon dioxide under pressure, so it is most often impossible to do it yourself. To insulate the roof from the inside with polyurethane foam, you need to call specialists who will apply a layer of foam to the entire attic space required thickness. Once expanded and dried, the foam forms a seamless and waterproof layer with low thermal conductivity. The disadvantages of this method include its vapor permeability, therefore, when insulating the roof from the inside with polyurethane foam in a residential attic floor it is necessary to install forced exhaust to remove excess moisture.

Thermal insulation of the roof will save up to 25% of heat, and metal roofs will eliminate the formation of ice and condensation, which will extend their service life. If there are living rooms, the insulation layer should be selected in accordance with the thermal calculations.

The development of individual housing construction and growing interest in suburban housing have led to the need to increasingly resolve issues related to the improvement of one’s own home. If wall insulation and interior decoration rooms usually do not cause any difficulties, then insulating the roof from the inside often becomes a problem. It will not be possible to avoid this issue, because the reduction of heat loss in the house and the overall level of comfort in the premises depend on the work done and its quality.

Before you insulate the roof from the inside, you need to decide on the insulation method. In principle, the choice is influenced by only one factor - whether the attic will be used as an attic or serve as a non-residential premises. If the owners of the house plan to equip another room under the roof, then the roof itself will need to be insulated directly from its inside.

When the area of the attic or its other features do not allow organizing another living space there, then the issue of insulation must be resolved in relation to the ceiling, which is the ceiling for the rooms of the house.

Updated:

2016-09-25

By insulating the roof from the inside with your own hands, you will achieve two important advantages. Firstly, you will be able to get rid of heat losses, which in houses with uninsulated roofs amount to 15%. Secondly, by insulating the attic space, you will get additional space that can be turned into a full-fledged living room.

Photo of roof insulation

To execute effective insulation roof from the inside of your home, you will need to use the appropriate materials. They have special requirements that must be taken into account when choosing.

Density. Thermal insulation properties are higher for those materials whose density is low. For roofing, it is recommended to choose an average density;
Thermal conductivity. Try to use materials that have the lowest thermal conductivity. So the protective layer will practically not release such significant heat from under the roof;
Water absorption. This is the property to absorb and retain moisture in the pores of the material. We don’t need to accumulate moisture, so when choosing thermal insulating glass wool or mineral wool, be sure to check whether it is hydrophobic;
Resistant to low temperatures. Most roof insulation materials can easily withstand temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius. This is quite enough for any region of our country. But check how many cycles of freezing and thawing the material can withstand;
Fire resistance. The material must not present a hazard in this component. You can get rid of this disadvantage of some heat insulators through special impregnation;
Chemical resistance. The selected thermal insulation should not be destroyed or lose its properties under the influence of chemical substances. But you must not allow contact with them either;
Environmental friendliness. Since many equip the roof space under the roof in residential attic, you need to use only safe, environmentally friendly materials based on natural or non-hazardous components.

Insulation materials used

Taking into account all the requirements for materials for insulating the roof from the inside, the choice will be between several optimal options for heat-insulating roofing materials.

Mineral wool. This is the most popular way to insulate a roof from the inside. Choose basalt wool, be sure to ask in the store when buying mineral wool, product safety certificate. The dimensions, thickness, and geometry of the products are selected in accordance with the parameters of the roof itself.
Glass wool. Not so long ago, glass wool was used very widely in matters of roof insulation. But now the emergence of safer, environmentally friendly materials has brought glass wool to the background. The thermal insulation properties are not bad, the efficiency is high level. But when insulating a roof with glass wool, be sure to follow safety precautions, wear protective suits, gloves, goggles, and protect your respiratory tract from glass dust. For allergy sufferers, such material is contraindicated.
Polymer insulation. These include slabs made of polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene. At the price, it is a very attractive option for roof insulation, but in practice it has its drawbacks. To begin with, expanded polystyrene and polystyrene burn easily and produce copious amounts of smoke, which is dangerous to the body. They should be chosen for roof insulation only in situations where there are no alternatives.
Expanded clay. If you have insulated the floor in your house, expanded clay will be very familiar to you. It has excellent thermal insulation properties, but it is incredibly difficult to use when insulating a roof from the inside. Theoretically, it is possible to use it, but in practice, not all experienced craftsmen undertake such work.

Stages of roof insulation

Photo of insulation - mineral wool

Now we can begin to consider the main stages of work aimed at insulating the roof from the inside. First, we advise you to watch the video instructions and familiarize yourself with all the nuances of thermal insulation visually, using the example of experienced craftsmen.

Process internal insulation roofing includes four main stages.

Installation of a waterproofing layer on the roof. It is best to lay the waterproofing layer at the installation stage roofing material onto the roof surface. The material is mounted perpendicular to the rafters, maintaining a slight sag. The smooth side of the waterproofing should face up. Be sure to glue the strips of waterproofing fabric with tape to prevent the formation of cracks and gaps. Then on rafter legs it is required to fill the counter-battens with the help of bars, and lay the sheathing of boards on them. Laying the roofing material begins on top of the board. If the roof coverings have already been completed, the waterproofing layer will have to be installed under the rafters using a stapler. All joints are carefully taped with tape.
Installation thermal insulation material. Take thermal insulation mats of the required thickness and lay them between the rafters. Laying should be done using a spacer or using a rough hem. The hemming is made of thin slats, fishing line, and twine, which are fastened with nails to the rafters. Fill the entire space between the rafters with mats of thermal insulation material. Excess elements are cut off with a sharp knife. If you want to achieve the maximum effective thermal insulation In order to equip the attic for living space, all layers of material are laid offset from the bottom seam.
Installation of vapor barrier on the roof. Vapor barrier films have one smooth side, which must be laid in the direction of the insulating material. The rough side is responsible for absorbing moisture vapors and is therefore directed indoors. It is very important to lay the vapor barrier film correctly so that it can work effectively. By mixing up the sides of the installation, condensation will soon begin to appear on the surface. The material is mounted with a stapler, the joints are connected with tape.
Installation of profiles or guide bars. They are necessary for the installation of cladding decorative materials and creating the necessary ventilation gap.

Foamed roof insulation

Today, roof insulation using foam insulation is becoming increasingly popular. A striking example is polyurethane foam.

The method of roof insulation in this way has several features:

The roof does not require additional preparation from the inside;
The roof sheathing must be solid, carefully treated with antiseptics;
For spraying polyurethane foam on the roof, use special installations. They provide pressurized carbon dioxide. In the video you can see how they function;
The method of roof insulation with foam insulation requires the invitation of specialists. Purchasing the unit is not financially profitable;
A layer of foam is applied to inner surface roofing, achieving the required insulation thickness;
When the foam dries, it forms a layer of waterproof, seamless material on the roof that has low thermal conductivity;
The only drawback of insulation with foam insulation is its vapor permeability. To eliminate it, you need to equip the attic with an exhaust system. But it is only required for arranging a residential attic.

It is not difficult to insulate the roof from the inside with your own hands. But before starting work, you need to study the theory, choose best option insulation and follow the sequence of laying layers of thermal insulation.

First of all, you need to be able to choose the right material for roofing, hydro- and thermal insulation. Today, the market is overflowing with high-quality insulating roof insulation materials with excellent performance properties.

When choosing a material for insulation, you need to pay attention to the following points:

thickness of the thermal insulation layer: it should be at least 25 mm, and 10 cm is considered ideal;
performance characteristics;
material cost;
resistance to climatic and mechanical damage.

In addition to the above, the configuration of the roof is also of great importance.

The following types of roofs are distinguished:

flat,
pitched,
tent,
attic.

Particularly popular materials for insulation are mineral wool slabs, foam concrete, polystyrene foam and fiberglass slabs, polyurethane foam, and foam glass.

Each of the insulation materials differs from others in terms of environmental friendliness, thermal conductivity, water absorption, vapor permeability, and strength. The differences also concern the price.

One of the most popular materials is mineral wool. Its popularity is explained by its low thermal conductivity and ability to withstand high temperatures.

Mineral wool can be produced on the basis of different materials.

There are the following types of this material:

based on basalt,
based on fiberglass,
Styrofoam,
expanded polystyrene,
foam glass,
cellulose materials.

At its core, a warm roof is a special roof format with a layer of insulation embedded in it, thanks to which it perfectly retains moisture.

Mineral wool the first two types are a pretty good choice. But it should be remembered that the moisture-absorbing properties of fiberglass are not very high.

In addition, the use of wool implies additional costs for installing vapor and waterproofing protection both inside and outside.

Styrofoam It is a cellular (foamed) mass of plastic. The density of this material is significantly lower than the density of the polymer (raw material), since the bulk of its volume is occupied by gas.

This results in fairly high sound and thermal insulation properties this material. The thermal insulation qualities of polystyrene foam are quite high, provided that the operating temperature of a particular type of material is not higher than the temperature of its destruction and loss of structure (destruction temperature).

Its advantages include non-toxicity. Certain types (expanded polystyrene) are even allowed for contact with food. The lightness of polystyrene foam makes it very convenient for use in construction.

Among the disadvantages of the material are the following:

Although foam plastic is sufficiently resistant to microorganisms and is unfavorable for the development of fungi and algae, its rough surface can create favorable conditions to fix algae colonies (microorganisms) on it;
in addition, today on the building materials market there is foam plastic, which during use, under certain operating conditions, can harm both the consumer qualities of the building and the health of the people in it;
the material is easy to process, but requires compliance with safety rules: a prerequisite is to carry out work on outdoors or in rooms with good ventilation.

In the photo, the scheme of roof insulation with polystyrene foam: 1 – Drywall; 2 – Rafters; 3 - Extruded polystyrene foam; 4 – Lathing; 5 – Waterproofing.

Expanded polystyrene boards are also an excellent choice as a material for insulation. One of their main advantages is the prevention of the formation of so-called cold bridges (due to which heat leakage occurs).

This is achieved thanks to special stepped or tenon-groove joints. The material also has very high moisture resistant properties. Its use makes it possible not to install additional protection from snow and rain.

In addition, expanded polystyrene is characterized by high strength and load-bearing capacity. Upon completion of installation insulation materials you can get a complete structure that can withstand high temperatures and stress.

Nowadays, extruded polystyrene foam is often used. This material almost universal and can be combined with any type of work.

The price of insulating materials depends on their quality characteristics, density, size, thickness.

For example, a foam sheet measuring 100x100 cm, the density of which is 25, the thickness is 40 mm, costs 80 rubles; with a thickness of 50 mm the price is 100 rubles; and if the sheet thickness is 100 mm, then the cost increases to 200 rubles.

IN last years Another insulation is becoming popular - isover. Thanks to a special manufacturing technology, the fiberglass structure contains air, which causes its extremely low thermal conductivity.

One of the most important qualities glass wool– durability (service life can be 50 years or more). Its other advantage is that it practically does not burn and provides high vapor impermeability.

Together with heaters, materials for waterproofing are also used, the purpose of which is to protect against moisture. The most popular materials today are polyurethane, mastic, roofing material, etc.

Do you know what it is? Everything about her correct device and installation.

How to mount rafter system hipped roof described in this. There you will find detailed video on this topic.

Important rules for insulation

When insulating the roof, make sure that the insulation material does not cover the ventilation gap.
When using a superdiffusion membrane, it is necessary to install materials for thermal insulation close to it.
When using a conventional roofing film, gaps must be provided above and below the film.
The joints of adjacent insulation boards should be staggered.
The width of the seal must be greater than the distance between the rafters so that it fits snugly against the rafters.
Attention should be paid to the tight fit of the heat-insulating plates to each other.
Using mineral wool slabs A waterproofing material is also needed. Installation must be carried out efficiently, special attention this will require making joints.
If there is a large pitch between the rafters, the material should be additionally secured from the room side: screw self-tapping screws into the rafters, and stretch the wire between them.
If the rafters have a large cross-section, the insulation is placed between the beams and under them.
Builders with extensive experience advise using two layers of 100 mm each, rather than four layers of 50 mm, for a 200 mm insulation layer.

Preparing for insulation

The choice of specific insulation is determined by the configuration of the roof.

Conventional insulation pitched roof will not cost as much as insulating a hipped roof.

Speaking about the advantages of thermal roofing, it should be noted excellent sound and heat insulation and protection of the main covering from damage. This affects the installation technique.

There are a few important points that must be completed before starting roof insulation work:

checking roof parts. If dampness, rotting or damage is detected, they should be replaced;
treating roof elements with an antiseptic;
examination electrical wires, water supply and heating parts (if they are available under the roof).

Roof insulation materials

The process of roof insulation also involves the selection of insulating materials.

The main ones are:

polyethylene films,
perforated,
reinforced with fabric,
reinforced with mesh.

Since the films are one-sided, when using them you need to pay attention to which side they are laid. Otherwise, you can achieve the opposite effect.

Errors in thermal insulation

Although at first glance insulation seems to be an easily feasible process, independent execution work, some errors are possible.

Most often this concerns the wrong choice of material and its width. Insufficient width of the insulation causes the formation of cracks and low efficiency of building insulation.

Another mistake is the use of damp material, which leads to the formation of rust on metal elements, rotting of the structure of bulkheads and rafters and the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the under-roof space.

If the humidity of the insulation is high, it will be impossible to avoid the penetration of water into the house.

The next mistake concerns the lack of hydro- and vapor barrier. The layer of thermal insulation material must be protected from the accumulation of water and moisture.

Therefore, moisture-proofing materials will be necessary for the thermal insulation layer on the outside and protection of the under-roof space. On the residential side, protection from the effects of water vapor is created using a vapor barrier.

The process of insulating a roof from the inside

The ideal choice for pitched roofs are slab or roll materials. They are laid between the rafters, on the sheathing.

During the insulation process, care must be taken to protect the insulation material from below (using a vapor barrier film) and from above (using sealing tape). There must be a gap between the roof covering and the insulation.

In addition to laying thermal insulation material between the rafters, you can use another method: laying them on the rafters. If the work is done correctly, it is possible to ensure not only heat, but also sound insulation of the building.

Pitched roof: insulation features

The insulation of a pitched roof, under which there is supposed to be a living space, has its own characteristics. If there is high humidity in the attic, it is recommended to use reinforced films with foil applied to one side.

Special attention should be given to the areas where the ceiling meets and external walls. In these places, the insulation should adhere more closely to the walls.

If there are eaves, care must also be taken to insulate them to prevent cold air from entering the under-roof space.

In difficult areas, the film is used to attach construction stapler, which greatly simplifies the whole process. You can also use wooden slats.

Insulation of the attic roof

The attic needs insulation more than other rooms, since it is not protected from the cold from the outside. In addition, it has a large area of interaction with the external environment.

With increased requirements for thermal insulation, the requirements for the quality of thermal insulation materials also increase. The most popular material for attic insulation is mineral wool.

A vapor barrier layer is placed on the inside of the insulation, and a waterproofing layer on the other. It is also necessary to provide space for ventilation to remove excess moisture and ventilate the room.

Taking into account the requirements for the quality of heat conservation, when creating thermal insulation for an attic roof, it is advisable to use tiles or slate as a roofing material. It is better not to choose metal.

Garage roof

In regions with very cold climates, it is necessary to take care of insulating the garage. Most often, glass wool is used for this, which is produced in rolls.

For convenience, the width of the material in them corresponds to the rafter pitch. Glass wool has sufficient density, which is another plus.

If the beams are so wide that it is possible to make 50 mm holes in them between the insulation layer and waterproofing material, then you can fix glass wool between the rafters.

If the thickness is insufficient, the insulation is attached over the installed rafters. The final thickness of the layer of thermal insulation material will be 10 mm.

A vapor barrier should be installed on top of the glass wool to protect the garage area from steam. Special bars are stuffed from above and the lining is laid. Dry plaster, lining, plasterboard or other material can be used as cladding.

Cost of insulation work

Prices for roof insulation may vary depending on the material, its thickness, and type of roof.

You can refer to the following rates:

external thermal insulation. Spraying cost square meter material with a thickness of 2.5 cm, a density of 29-32 kg per sq. m is 480 rubles per sq. m. With a thickness of 5 cm, the price of work increases to 750 rubles per square meter. m.;
internal insulation. Spraying price 1 sq. m of material with a density of 9-12 kg per square meter. m with a material thickness of 5 cm is 390 rubles per sq. m, 10 cm – 480 rub., 15 cm – 720 rub., 20 cm – 960 rub.

Thus:

An important point when installing a roof is its insulation;
Today's market offers a huge selection of insulation materials;
When purchasing, you must take into account the type of roof;
it is also necessary to take care of hydro- and vapor barrier;
The cost of work depends on the quality characteristics of the selected material and type of roof.

Watch a video on how to properly insulate a roof:

- almost the most main element in the house. It protects the building from precipitation and makes it possible to organize normal conditions in the house.

And like other structures, it almost always requires high-quality insulation. Especially when it comes to unprepared roof structures made from ordinary slopes.

Here, the lack of insulation will simply be a fatal mistake, which will lead to a serious decrease in the temperature in the house.

1 Features of insulation

Do not be mistaken in thinking that you do not need roof insulation if you have an attic space. Most pitched roofs are always equipped with an attic space.

This is possible due to the fact that the slopes are formed at an angle in any case; they are mounted on special supports. Unlike the same roofing material, which flat roofs insulated immediately on the floor.

But even in the case of roofing felt, it is necessary to take care of insulating the roof with foam plastic, penoplex or other suitable insulation.

The presence of an attic, of course, creates a kind of air gap, similar to a veranda or dressing room at home.

But if you are considering the design of a slate roof or other similar solutions, then the entire system is so flimsy that it is simply not capable of retaining cold air, which means that the attic does not fulfill its functions.

If we are talking about processing the attic, then there is nothing to think about at all. The attic roof must be insulated, otherwise the house will always be cold.

We also note that when treating an attic, it is necessary not only to tightly lay the insulation, but also to seal it with a vapor barrier film, and also think through finishing solutions.

And let us immediately note that finishing will largely determine the method of insulating the pitched roof and how much time and money you will have to spend on this process, as is the case with.

2 What material to use?

Builders pay serious attention to the selection suitable material. Indeed, it is the insulation that determines what properties the structure will ultimately have and how effectively it can protect you from the cold in the future. The prices for all the work depend on it.

In your work, you can use a wide variety of insulation materials, but in most cases they use only a few options, which have proven themselves to be the best.

So, when arranging thermal insulation for a pitched roof, they use:

mineral wool;
Styrofoam;
Polyurethane foam.

Let us now analyze each of the presented materials separately.

2.1 Mineral wool

Mineral wool is very often used when insulating an attic or ordinary slate roof. And in general, in this regard, it is rightly considered number one in the world of insulation.

2.2 Expanded polystyrene

You can also use polystyrene foam for insulation, it’s good. At a low price, it has almost the same characteristics. Same as the previous material discussed. Absolute hydrophobicity and lack of reaction to external influences make it very durable.

But polystyrene foam burns in fire and has a vapor-proof structure. And if you can still somehow cope with the second factor, then the flammability of polystyrene foam can no longer be removed.

And using insulation with a flammability class when finishing a wooden roof is already a rather risky decision.

It is also a little more difficult to insulate with polystyrene foam. Since, unlike mineral wool, it needs to be cut very clearly in order to be correctly and securely fixed between the rafters. There are no such problems with cotton wool, because it can deform and shrink to a certain percentage of its volume.

IN Lately Increasingly, foam plastic that has gone through an extrusion process is used to insulate pitched roofs. That is, it was melted in a furnace under high pressure.

This insulation costs more, but has higher performance and a flammability class of G1 (regular polystyrene foam has a flammability class of G2 or even G3).

2.3 Polyurethane foam

In our area, polyurethane foam is rather exotic. But over the past few decades, it has begun to rapidly gain popularity.

This insulation is made from polyurethane foam. It can be produced both in slabs and in the form of liquid foam. It is not recommended to use slab polyurethane foam for roofing; if you consider how much it costs and all its properties, then it will be much more profitable to use mineral wool.

But applying liquid polyurethane foam is a much more interesting and useful process. The fact is that in liquid form polyurethane foam can be filled with frames of any shape. It will evenly fill all the cracks and openings, and without your participation in this.

Agree, it’s much more convenient to work this way, especially if you need to process a slate roof structure or sloping roof. Where the frame is extremely uneven.

Plus, polyurethane foam in its finished form does not require thorough hydro- or vapor barrier. And it has a flammability class of NG, that is, it does not burn in fire.

2.4 Insulation technology and its nuances

Now let's turn to insulation technology. In part, if all the rules are followed and the nuances are taken into account, the work can be done independently.

Insulating a roof from the inside with your own hands will largely depend on the type of insulation used. That is why we spent so much time analyzing modern variations.

So, the easiest way to work is when it is necessary to arrange thermal insulation gable roof and do . In this case, you can work with any insulation. If you have to finish a roof with complex shapes, then you will have to tinker with foam plastic.

There can also be problems with mineral wool, but only if you decide to buy rigid slabs, and such slabs are almost never used for internal roof insulation.

With foam plastic, you will have to spend time on very precise adjustment to the frame and the size of the rafters; in case of an error, you will have to cut it off and measure everything again. It’s easier to work with mineral wool, but not much.

But polyurethane foam in liquid form is almost ideal. But it can only be applied with special equipment and with protection. Therefore, you will no longer be able to work on your own. You'll have to turn to the experts.

2.5 Operation algorithm

The technology itself is very simple and consists of creating a kind of insulating cake from waterproofing, thermal insulation and vapor barrier.

On both sides, the cake is closed with a crate and flooring. If you need to work in the attic, then inner part limited to only one crate.

When finishing the attic, boards or any other are stuffed on top of it. finishing coat. Even including plastering.

Stages of work:

We inspect the surface of the roof frame, if necessary, repair the slopes.
We install a waterproofing film.
We lay the insulation between the rafters. If the dimensions of the rafters are not enough, we install another level of the frame (this happens very rarely).
If necessary, we mount the second level of insulation. We lay it with bandaging of the seams between the slabs to reduce the likelihood of the appearance of cold air bridges.
Additionally, we fix the thermal insulation with screws or dowels.
We lay the vapor barrier film.
We stuff the sheathing.
Installing the finish coat.

When working with polyurethane foam, you can completely avoid installing a vapor barrier. And its application always occurs in one step, by filling the frame with foam.