Warming the ceiling of the bath with clay is the oldest technology. Insulation of the bath ceiling with clay - the oldest technology Video - Cutting pipes in the ceiling

The bath is not only a place for washing. This is a place where you can simultaneously enjoy water procedures and heat, activate the immune system, metabolic processes, cause an accelerated cleansing of the body from toxins and toxins.

If the bath is poorly insulated, then a large amount of heat will simply go nowhere, and it turns out that energy is wasted. It is clear that it is better to make high-quality insulation once than to deal with the consequences later. After all, if there is no insulating layer on the floor beams, then they will simply get wet from condensate and quickly collapse.

Warming is carried out using the most different materials. Insulation of the bath ceiling with clay- an old and not financially expensive option.

This technology has been used for more than one hundred years, and therefore it has been worked out to the smallest detail, which allows you to carry out insulation yourself without special training and building skills.

Ways

The easiest way clay insulation begins with the ceiling sheathing with boards. Their minimum thickness should be 4 cm, but it is better if it is 6 cm. Before carrying out work, the boards must be dried well. In no case should you paint and varnish boards, because many paints and varnishes are simply not adapted to high temperatures and under its action can begin to release poisonous resins and polyesters into the space.

At all it is better not to use chemicals in the bath unless you intend to constantly inhale its destructive fumes.

After completing the sheathing, it is necessary to carefully and carefully cover the gaps between the boards with clay and wait for it to dry completely.

The next stage begins with the preparation of a mixture of sand and clay, which should be quite thick. This mixture covers all the boards laid on the ceiling. The thickness of the layer should be at least 5-7 cm. Next, you should wait until the layer is completely dry, and this can take quite a long time. A thick layer of sand is laid on the dried clay.

Then the ceiling is impregnated first with liquid vapor, and then dry. Clay, respectively, first soaks, and then finally dries up and acquires the ability to keep your bath warm for many years.

So that the insulated ceiling retains its heat-insulating properties for as long as possible The attic must be ventilated. The simplest and at the same time reliable way to create ventilation is two windows opposite each other.

Another way consists in warming with several layers of clay with intermediate layers of clay falling asleep with sawdust or expanded clay. In order to prepare the clay, it is slightly moistened and thoroughly mixed with straw until smooth. The straw is pre-crushed. The final consistency should be like soft plasticine or mortar, which is used in laying brick walls.

The layer of clay will again be 5-8 cm. After application, it must be carefully smoothed out. Particular care requires sealing the perimeter of the ceiling. Clay will dry in 20-30 days, provided that the temperature outside is above zero. After drying, cracks may appear. This is normal. On the cracks, you can apply another thinner clay layer, and fill it with sawdust, expanded clay or wood chips from above.

Banya is a favorite place for owners of private houses and summer cottages. They strive to equip this room as best as possible, choosing the best options for thermal and waterproofing. There is an opinion that it is necessary to give preference to the old ways of insulating ceilings and walls.

But on reflection, in most cases, the owners of the baths come to the conclusion that a rational way of improvement is a combination of traditional folk and modern methods. The fact is that the former, despite their environmental friendliness and free of charge, still lose to innovative ones in some respects. This will become apparent if we compare the thermal insulation characteristics of ceilings insulated with the methods used in past centuries and at the present time.

What covered the ceiling of the bath in the past

Residents of villages and settlements of past centuries for the improvement of housing and utility rooms used everything that nature gave. These are materials such as:


Dry birch and oak leaves were especially popular. It was believed that they were able to give the bath a special "spirit", giving health benefits.

Packed straw was used everywhere. It has the appearance of dense, irregularly shaped briquettes, which are difficult to break even with a strong pressure of a jet from a hose. The ancestors knew that backfilling the ceiling in the bath is a serious matter, and used not only heaters, but also a waterproofing agent - clay.

Experts are convinced that some materials cannot be used to backfill the ceiling of the steam room. The temperature in this room is too high, so its improvement requires the presence of heaters with a low flammability coefficient. The "pie" of the filling ceiling of the steam room was as follows:

  • clay coating;
  • layer of soil or sand.

Options for traditional backfilling of the bath ceiling (the arrangement of layers from the attic floor to the roof)

Modern ways of backfilling the ceiling of the bath

Expanded clay insulation

Qualitatively insulating the ceiling of the bath with expanded clay is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. Experts know that the best effect can be achieved by mixing granules of different diameters. This makes it possible to reduce void volumes, thereby increasing the density of the layer.

The standard technique provides for the method of free backfilling and subsequent pressing of the granules. As a result, the initial volume of material is reduced by 15-20%. Moreover, most of this effect is not due to the correct distribution of expanded clay grains relative to each other, but to their partial destruction caused by compression. Cracked granules lose a significant proportion of their thermal insulation properties. Therefore, the usefulness of this technique is questionable.

Expanded clay prices

expanded clay

Backfilling of expanded clay with subsequent compaction - photo, example

Maximum high-quality insulation expanded clay is possible only with manual distribution of granules of different diameters. This process is long and laborious. But all efforts will pay off handsomely: the heat-insulating layer will be dense and consisting of undestroyed grains.

Expanded clay has a lot of advantages, including low thermal conductivity. You can meet the opinion that this material creates an increased radiation background. But it is wrong. All enterprises producing ceramite work in strict accordance with GOST. This is a guarantee of product safety.

If the attic of the bath is planned to be used, a screed can be made over the backfill. This method allows you to get double benefit: insulate the ceiling of the interior and increase the comfort of the attic due to a flat warm floor.

Backfilling the ceiling of the bath with expanded clay. Instruction

Step 1. Waterproofing the bearing surface

You can use roll (roofing felt), film (membranes), coating (mastics) waterproofing. The best option: lay the sheets of roofing material on hot bitumen and glue the joints with them. It is important that the waterproofing covers not only the floor, but also the walls to the height of the backfill layer. For the northern regions, it should be at least 30 cm.

If a screed is made over the insulation, it is necessary to lay a damper tape around the perimeter of the room. Its purpose is to compensate for linear tensions in the concrete layer. The tape must cover the edges of the waterproofing coating.

Prices for roofing material

ruberoid

If you plan to lay a wooden floor, mount the crate from the boards installed on the ends, located at a distance of 60-80 cm from each other.

Step 2 Backfill

For backfilling, it is better to use expanded clay of different fractions, large and small, after mixing them with each other. During this work, a lot of dust will be released, so it is necessary to ensure the ventilation of the room. Expanded clay is poured in layers, the granules are evenly distributed and compacted with a construction trowel or plaster trowel.

Step 3. Backfilling the structural elements of the bath ( chimney, ventilation ducts)

In order for the insulation layer to be more dense, boxes of boards are knocked down around the structures protruding above the attic floor. These cavities are filled in the same way that the ceiling is insulated.

If a screed is being built, the following list of works is performed:

  • a layer of insulation is shed with cement milk;
  • put up beacons;
  • lay a reinforcing mesh with a cell edge of 5-10 cm;
  • pour cement-sand mortar.

Video - Floor screed with expanded clay

Backfilling the ceiling of the bath with sawdust

Sawdust and wood shavings are an effective, environmentally friendly heat insulator. Since wood is hygroscopic and prone to decay, this method of improving the bath requires the installation of high-quality vapor and waterproofing.

But this is not enough to achieve the best thermal insulation effect. Sawdust should not be poured onto the ceiling without prior processing. No matter how dry this material is, it will inevitably absorb moisture from the air. This will cause the development of decay processes.

In addition, insects can start in sawdust and shavings, which will harm not only the insulation, but also the ceiling. Therefore, before backfilling, a number of measures are taken to ensure a long operational period of the heat-insulating layer.

sawdust prices

Preparation of a mixture of sawdust with clay

sawdust mixed with clay different ways. The two most popular are:

  • shaping briquettes with their subsequent drying;
  • laying the wet mass directly on the floor.

In the first case, forms assembled from boards will be required.

Both in the first and in the second option, the main attention is paid to two processes:

  • clay preparation;
  • mixing it with sawdust.

Clay is prepared like this:

  • placed in a container of a suitable volume;
  • grind as much as possible;
  • pour water in a ratio of 1: 1;
  • leave to swell for 5-6 hours;
  • Water is added in small portions, achieving the consistency of thick sour cream.

You can mix sawdust with clay manually using a shovel. But a high-quality mixture can only be obtained using a concrete mixer.

If it is decided to make briquettes, the finished composition is laid out in forms knocked together from boards.

If the wet mass is laid on the ceiling, they provide high-quality ventilation of the room.

The surface of the layer is leveled with a spatula or trowel.

To increase the fire resistance of sawdust, they are mixed with cement, lime, gypsum. These materials can be combined. For example, high-quality insulation gives the following composition:

  • 10 buckets of sawdust and wood shavings;
  • 1 bucket of Portland cement grade not lower than M300;
  • 1 bucket of slaked lime.

The ingredients are mixed by hand or in a concrete mixer. This mixture can be molded into blocks or stacked raw way, as is the case with clay.

Backfilling the ceiling of the bath can be done in a continuous layer or in a crate. The first method is advantageous for its simplicity and low labor costs. The second allows you to make the heat insulator layer more dense and lay the floor.

Filling the ceiling of the steam room

The improvement of the steam room has its own characteristics. This room has the highest temperature and humidity levels. It is extremely important to avoid heat leakage here, but foil materials with a heat-reflecting effect cannot be used either from the attic side or from the side interior. The fact is that they can melt and lose their effectiveness.

To backfill the ceiling of the steam room, you need to take non-combustible materials:

  • ash;
  • slag (waste of metallurgical production);
  • dry sand;
  • priming;
  • expanded clay;
  • wood concrete (blocks made from a mixture of sawdust with clay, cement, lime).

Clay, roofing material, glassine and any modern coating materials (bitumen-based mastics) are suitable for waterproofing the ceiling of the steam room.

The best options for backfilling the ceiling of the bath

If you wish, you can find information about what conclusions the owners of the baths came to, by trial and error found optimal solutions for their buildings. They offer a list of materials and the sequence of their installation, but do not focus on the thickness of the backfill layer of the bath ceiling. It depends on the region where you live.

When determining this indicator for a particular structure, you can focus on the recommendations of experts:

  • the thickness of the layer of mineral wool for the southern regions is 15 cm, for the northern 20 cm;
  • expanded clay - 15-30 cm;
  • sawdust concrete (arbolite) - 10-15 cm;
  • dry compressed straw 30-50 cm;
  • dry sand - 10-20 cm.

Methods for backfilling the bath ceiling, which are the most successful combinations traditional and modern methods.

Mineral wool prices

mineral wool

Layer order from attic to roofOption 1Option 2Option 3Option 4Option 5
1 glassine, laid in 2-3 layers with a call on the walls to the height of the backfillruberoidfrom the side of the attic coating with clay (2-3 cm)vapor barrier layerroofing material from the side of the attic, penofol foil down from the side of the interior
2 dry sand 20-25 cmreed (outline)over clay 2 rows of basalt wool slabsstyrofoam crumbexpanded clay 10-15 cm
3 clay mixed with dry straw (adobe)from the side of the interior: foam foil down, a gap of 1-2 cm, facing materialplank flooringmineral wool in rolls or slabs

One of the modern ways to insulate the ceiling of the bath is the use of growing aerated concrete. It is also suitable for protecting the chimney.

Video - Cutting a pipe in a ceiling

Rest in the bath for connoisseurs of such procedures is a heavenly delight! Abundant steam, the aroma of herbs, goosebumps after a “massage” with a birch broom, bliss from contrasting contact with ice water - all this turns a trip to a bathhouse into a holiday and even more: some steam fans say they feel as if they were born again, recharged with energy, lost for at least ten years. Meanwhile, such a holiday is easy to spoil. Drafts, cold, ice drops falling from the ceiling - who would like this?! And what can we say about the health risk when the rest can end with a bad cold. Do not tempt fate, find something to insulate the ceiling of the bath, so that steam procedures go for the benefit of health and mood, and the building serves for many years.

Ceiling insulation: historical background

Now we can choose the better to insulate the ceiling of the bath, and earlier the "range" similar materials was limited. In the role of insulation in Soviet times, it was mainly natural raw materials, for example, earth, sawdust, tow moss and other materials with a low specific gravity, that acted. Now bath owners rarely use such heaters, since they have a number of disadvantages:

  • quickly begin to rot;
  • become a haven for all kinds of pests (rodents, insects, etc.);
  • short-lived.

Of course, it cannot be argued that natural raw materials are not suitable. But before insulating the ceiling in the bath with such materials, you need to weigh the pros and cons. And what can be said in favor of natural heaters?

  • price, which sometimes tends to zero, since you can find raw materials in household or ask a neighbor in the area;
  • environmental friendliness, thanks to which a healthy microclimate is created in the room.

It is up to you to decide whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, meanwhile, if you have a financial gap in the budget, then this is certainly an option, even if it is temporary.

To build and properly equip a bath, you have to sweat, but you are ready to go, right?!

Why old-fashioned insulation loses to a modern approach

Increasingly, steam lovers, deciding the better to insulate the ceiling in the bath, prefer artificial materials. Why it happens? Meet the long pros list:

  • durability;
  • high level sound insulation;
  • ease of installation / use;
  • safety (artificial raw materials are less susceptible to ignition than natural ones);
  • the ability to retain heat well;
  • no decay;
  • a light weight.

Worth paying attention! How to insulate the ceiling of the bath, which is used extremely rarely? Experts say that in this case, you can limit yourself to small expenses and not a laborious process of work, namely: lay a layer of roofing material on the ceiling, then cover it with a layer of insulation - any (even free raw materials, for example, earth or sawdust, will do).

It's not that hard to insulate a room, right?

Artificial materials for ceiling insulation

How and with what to insulate the ceiling of the bath from the outside, relying on modern technologies? What materials does the market offer today? What is the difference between raw materials and what does it consist of? Let's discuss these issues in detail.

If you want to protect the ceiling primarily from moisture, then the best raw material is mineral wool, which can take on 2 missions: insulation and a kind of "umbrella". Still, because it is made from the most reliable substances, among which are basalt, limestone, diabase and dolomite.

Experts say that the most heat-resistant mineral wool is made from rocks. This material not only protects against cold and moisture, but is also refractory, which, you see, is important for a wooden structure, which is usually a bathhouse "mansions". In addition, this type of wool is durable, you do not have to redo everything in a couple of years.

Mineral wool: will not miss rain, snow or wind

Ecowool

The main competitor of mineral wool for a number of reasons: it is cheaper, environmentally friendly, it saves heat better. Meanwhile, there is one "but" - the presence of special equipment on the farm. Of course, you can buy it to carry out the work, but then you will lose significantly in value.

And what does ecowool consist of? These are wood fibers obtained as a result of waste paper processing and treated with a mixture of special antiseptics.

Styrofoam

Lightweight not only in weight, but during installation, foam plastic is a derivative of plastic obtained by foaming the material. Perhaps the biggest drawback of foam is bulkiness, but this problem can be easily solved by cutting a large plate into pieces, especially since the material is cut perfectly.

It should be noted that polystyrene is actually a universal insulation, since it “gets along” on any surface, making it not only even, but also water, noise, heat and dust-proof.

Each of us is familiar with polystyrene, moreover, since childhood, right?!

Penoizol

This material is essentially the same foam, but in a liquid state, so it is much more convenient to transport and install it (even the smallest cracks can be repaired), but, alas, you need, as in the case of ecowool, to have special equipment, but penoizol itself costs mere pennies.

Penoizol is a cheap and reliable material, but requires the use of appropriate equipment

Fiberglass

A popular and inexpensive insulation that is being bought up from the shelves of hardware stores with a bang. Meanwhile, the main advantages of this material are lightness and sound insulation. But it still needs to be additionally prepared for moisture and cold - take care of a reliable water-repellent coating. If you are ready for a whole range of works, get fiberglass.

It's important to know! It happens that you are sure that the roof is waterproof, but an ice shower starts from the ceiling during bath procedures. How to explain it? Everything is simple. Even if the roof is intact, but not sufficiently insulated, then the steam, rising up, will turn into drops, naturally cold. These are the laws of physics. Meanwhile, an ice shower in the steam room is not so bad. If the ceiling is always damp, then mold and fungus will “eat” your bath sooner or later. Now you understand how important it is to fix problems before they turn into trouble?!

And then there's fiberglass. Handle it with gloves to protect your skin

Crazy hands: a master class from the people

“That’s all well and good, but is it possible to learn the special secrets of avid bathhouse attendants, home-grown builders and DIY craftsmen?” - you naturally ask. Of course, man is not guided by science alone, because sometimes worldly ingenuity even contradicts it. So let's talk about folk ways insulation of the ceiling in the bath, or rather about the cheapest and easiest, according to the "self-taught masters".

Materials and tools

So, what materials should you get hold of in order to "cheaply and cheerfully" insulate the ceiling?

  • clay;
  • straw;
  • sawdust;
  • water;
  • containers;
  • plywood;
  • foil;
  • slats;
  • self-tapping screws, nails;
  • instruments.

Agree, almost all of these materials can be easily found in a barn or asked from neighbors for whom such raw materials are simply rubbish?!

The abundance of choice of materials for insulation is striking, how not to make a mistake in choosing? Now you will know all the pros and cons

Step-by-step instruction

So we prepared necessary materials? It's time to get down to business:


Everything in your bath will now be warm, dry and comfortable, and the room will retain a magnificent view for a long time. You can invite guests and share that you are a real host and an expert in the field of bath "cases"!

Video fragment of ceiling insulation in the bath


Now you know how to insulate the ceiling, and how to do it at no extra cost.

Bath procedures have long and deservedly regained their popularity, but not as daily hygiene procedures, but as good way pastime, at the same time useful for the body.

At the same time, even in a small area, you can on your own build a bath.

Insulation of the ceiling of the bath with foam

Styrofoam, the most common insulating material of artificial origin, is largely due to its affordable cost compared to other similar heaters.

The disadvantage of polystyrene is its flammability and reaction to high temperature in the form bad smell and the release of harmful volatile compounds, so experts do not recommend using it to insulate the ceiling of a bath.

The advantages include very low weight and ease of installation, therefore, if no other insulation options are foreseen, all measures should be taken to avoid discomfort.

In addition to the fact that the joints of boards or wooden ceiling panels must be securely sealed, a polyethylene film flooring is made from the attic side, this will prevent the passage of steam, and a layer of foamed polyethylene foil is laid on top of the film, with the reflective side down and foam is already laid on top of it.

The total thickness of the insulation must be at least 20 cm, therefore, the installation is carried out in several layers.

Styrofoam is not laid around the chimney, according to the norms, the distance between the heated parts and the insulation should be at least 20 cm, so the pipe is enclosed with a square wooden box, inside which non-combustible insulation is poured - sand, expanded clay or earth.

Warming the ceiling of the bath with earth

The most economical option for insulating the ceiling in the bath is the use of improvised materials. If clay, sand or sawdust still needs to be obtained somewhere, then the soil can be taken completely free of charge.

The use of earth as a heater a hundred years ago was the only available option, and not only in baths, but also residential buildings, so it is not surprising that today, when building baths with limited budget, refer to him.

Before the embankment, the prepared soil is well dried in the open air, and in order to avoid the germination of plant seeds, the arrangement of nests by rodents and the appearance of insect colonies, the earth is mixed with lime.

It is necessary to make protection against moisture from below, since the soil absorbs it quite well and dries for a very long time, therefore, before filling, the entire insulated surface is upholstered with plastic wrap, and covered with a vapor barrier with foil on top, the latter should be turned down.

The soil is poured on top and leveled, the height of the layer must be at least 15 cm, due to the incombustibility of the material, no additional work is necessary near the chimney. Unlike other materials, the surface insulated with earth can be used, and flooring can be laid to make it convenient to move.

How to insulate the ceiling of the bath with clay

Clay used for coating stoves and other chores is also perfect as a heater for the bath ceiling. Inexpensive and sometimes completely free material, does not contain any chemically aggressive substances, while it is not picky about laying and does not have a service life.

It is advisable to use clay that has lain in the open air for a year, then the solution has best qualities, but if there is none, then any one is used. Lime or sawdust is added to the clay, about ten parts of clay, one part of lime and the same amount of sawdust, after which it is well mixed, achieving a homogeneous mass, it is advisable to have a concrete mixer at your disposal, since clay has a high viscosity.

The surface must be waterproofed, for this a polyethylene film is used, a layer of polyethylene foam with foil is applied on top of it, after which a solution is applied. Clay is laid with a shovel or by hand, but it must be compacted and allowed to dry.

To make drying go faster, you can arrange a draft if there is a window in the attic, and only after drying can the flooring be done, if it is provided.

Warming the ceiling of the bath with your own hands using earth, clay or foam, read the arguments in the article and make your choice


Bath procedures have long and deservedly regained their popularity, but not as daily hygiene procedures, but as a good way to spend time, at the same time useful for the body. At the same time, even on a small plot, you can build a bathhouse on your own. Bath ceiling insulation

Ways to insulate the ceiling of the bath with earth

At first glance, this seems absurd. In modern conditions of abundance of artificial materials and heaters for every taste and budget, resort to ancient methods of insulating roofs and ceilings, use the old "grandfather" methods? However, not everything is so obvious, because everything new is often well-forgotten old, and some technologies of the past remain relevant to this day, and the method of warming the ceiling of the bath with earth has not sunk into oblivion.

Regular exposure to hot air and water vapor on the ceiling of the bath requires a special approach to the issue of its insulation, both from the inside and from the outside (attic) side.

All methods of thermal insulation of roofs and ceilings can be subdivided:

  1. By type of materials used:
    • using natural natural materials;
  • hemmed (the ceiling is made from the inside, fastening to the floor beams);

Insulation with artificial materials

Main Options the use of mineral wool and expanded polystyrene in the form of mats, plates is considered. If the bath is not used for its intended purpose very often, then the insulation of the ceiling is often limited to a layer of mineral wool and roofing material.

For frequent use, other thermal insulation requirements: use of vapor barrier membranes, heat-reflecting foil, etc. These materials have their undeniable advantages: long term services, they are not subject to rotting, inedible for rodents, unsuitable for insects, light and strong enough, insulate from noise, easy and convenient to work with, increased fire resistance.

Warming with natural materials

The most popular way of warming the roof of the bath was popularly considered to be clay coating with the addition of sawdust. This mixture covered the ceiling of the bath from the attic side, and then additionally covered it with a layer of peat, sawdust, covered with moss, tow, a mixture of these materials with sand, etc.

The advantages are the availability of materials, almost free of charge, environmental friendliness, etc.

Ground insulation options

  1. There is an attic.

In this case, the insulation of the ceiling consists in the standard technology described above using natural materials. The method is not expensive, but requires physical labor and time. The ceiling is made of boards at least 4 cm thick, with their fastening to the floor beams or solid flooring. Work in progress from the outside attic!

Second phase- seal the seams between the boards with thick clay without additives. When the seams dry, the entire surface of the ceiling is covered with a mixture of clay with some other natural material - sawdust, for example. The layer must be at least 5 cm thick. After drying, a layer of earth of 10 or more centimeters is poured on top.

Principle of operation" Such insulation of the bath ceiling is as follows: when the bath is not in use, the clay absorbs moisture through the seams between the boards, protecting the ceiling from mold in cold damp conditions. When the bath is melted, the clay soaks from the steam, “transferring” excess moisture to the earth layer. When the bath room is fully heated, the clay dries up, forming a dense, reliable layer of thermal insulation. pitched roof at the same time it can be additionally insulated.

You may be surprised, but the above method of warming the ceiling of a bath with earth can be used even ... in the absence of a roof as such! The ceiling with a layer of earth in itself will be a roof, and moreover, it will perform, in addition to being useful, decorative function. We are talking about Scandinavian green roofs, where strawberries are grown, grass and even small shrubs grow.

The main difference such a roofing cake", arranged above the bath room, there will be additional layers of waterproofing, because. passing through the ground, precipitation should not be absorbed into the clay. Although a 10 cm layer of earth is sufficient to absorb rainfall, average rainfall does not always occur.

To create a grass-covered roof, waterproofing is laid on a layer of dried clay mixture.. Then a layer of geotextile is desirable (previously, tree bark, birch bark were used for this purpose), and the earth is poured at least 20 cm.

Options for insulating the ceiling of the bath with earth


There are traditional and innovative methods for insulating roofs and ceilings of baths; a special approach is required in view of especially harsh operating conditions. As well as modern materials original methods of thermal insulation are used using clay, sawdust, earth.

Internal and external insulation of the ceiling of the bath

Bath is not just a separate building, it is almost a philosophical category, an element of the culture of our people. How it is built, how it is insulated and “stuffed” will depend on the very desired healing effect for which this bath is visited.

It is important to create a thermos inside.

Exist various materials, which allow you to solve these problems, and warming the ceiling of a bath with mineral wool, for example, involves a whole technological chain of actions, as a result of which you get a guaranteed effect.

About ceilings and materials

Photo of simple wooden ceiling insulation.

What is good about any instruction is that it clearly and consistently describes the entire procedure that allows you to get a certain result. Here we will try to state everything clearly and consistently. As a result, we need to get an insulated ceiling of our own bath.

So let's get started. Modern designs of baths as buildings have two types of ceilings:

  • Wooden typesetting;
  • Reinforced concrete slab. In this case, the floor slab can be both industrial production and home-made.

And the insulation of the ceiling occurs both outside and inside this structural element.

Now about the materials that will allow you to insulate the ceiling of the bath with your own hands:

  1. Mineral wool, which we already mentioned at the beginning of the article. The most common insulation for baths and the point here is not even in the price component. Mineral wool insulation does not burn, does not emit toxic chemicals when heated. The disadvantage that it has, namely the fear of moisture, is easily solved by using steam and hydrobarriers.

ceiling insulation occurs both outside and inside this structural element.

Now about the materials that will allow you to insulate the ceiling of the bath with your own hands:

  1. Mineral wool, which we already mentioned at the beginning of the article. The most common insulation for baths and the point here is not even in the price component. Mineral wool insulation does not burn, does not emit toxic chemicals when heated. The disadvantage that it has, namely the fear of moisture, is easily solved by using steam and hydrobarriers.

new generation mineral insulation with all kinds of impregnations and patented names, even with a foil layer, special mixtures that fall asleep, blow out, but there are several but:

  • First but- application technologies do not differ at all from those that will be discussed;
  • Second but– special impregnations of the material, leading to the declared improvements in the material, of course, are present, but they will not give a tangible effect, from which the whole world will turn upside down;
  • Third but- the price of products will sometimes be much higher, but the effect is the same. For example, you can take foam glass. Excellent material, does not let water through and is absolutely indifferent to it, does not burn, does not deform under loads, does not crumble over time, well, everyone is good. Here's just one thing - the price of the product, the same fly in the ointment in a barrel of bath honey.

Internal insulation

The peculiarity of ceiling work is that the possibilities of using materials are somewhat limited. The reasons are clear, the work is done on weight.

Warming the ceiling in the bath from the inside provides for several technologies:

  • The easiest way is to use foamed polyethylene with a foil layer;
  • The second is more complex - laying mineral wool and foil polyethylene.

Let's take a look at them:

  1. How to properly insulate the ceiling in the bath with a simple method. In this case, it means that the internal insulation will be combined with the external one when the floor slab or plank ceiling is insulated from the side of the second floor or attic.

In this case, everything is very simple. A roll of foamed polyethylene foil is cut (with the expectation that a piece of material of at least 10 cm will enter the walls), cut and fixed. Fixing to concrete base made with special glue.

After drying, additional fixation is carried out with slats, on which a lining made of wood will be attached. Fixing to a wooden type-setting ceiling is carried out with staples of a construction stapler.

Advice! No matter how hard you try, but the joints will remain, they can be closed by two methods: the first is foil tape, the second is the fastening of the rails under the lining exactly at the joints.

We do this with joints.

  1. How to insulate the ceiling in the baths with your own hands, if it is not possible to insulate the floor slab from above.

In this case, you will have to resort to a complex method in the following sequence:

  • We glue a hydrobarrier on the base of the plate. It is necessary in order to avoid the absorption of moisture by mineral wool from a reinforced concrete structure. If you are insulating wooden ceiling the procedure is exactly the same. The only difference will be that the barrier film is not glued, but stapled;
  • Lathing bars are installed across the floor beams. They will act as limiters for mineral wool insulation. The pitch of the crate should be a few centimeters less than the width of the insulation mat;
  • We insert mineral wool between the bars and fill the vapor barrier on the bars;
  • Foiled polyethylene is installed on top according to the technology already described.

You understand how to insulate the ceiling in the bathhouse, we move on to insulating the ceiling from the side of the attic or the second floor.

External insulation

The issue is resolved with expanded clay.

In this case, several techniques are also allowed:

  • The first technique is that the beams and ceiling boards are lined with a vapor barrier. Then we solve the question of how to insulate the ceiling of the bath. As a heater, you can use the same mineral wool, you can insulate with expanded clay, even with sand.

In this case, mineral wool is simply laid according to the above technology, closed with a hydrobarrier, and floorboards are assembled on the beams. If expanded clay is used, then additional hydrobarriers can not be built. But in order to be able to move around the attic, it is necessary to think over the paths (in other words, throw a few boards along which you can go through the entire attic and get to any point in it).

And mineral wool will do.

    The second technique is insulation concrete slab. In this case, the ceiling insulation in the bath takes place according to the technologies already described, with the only difference being that you will need to build a wooden crate for insulation.

But it is better to cover the plate itself with a hydrobarrier, as it absorbs moisture very well. Then strengthen the crate, lay the insulation (for mineral wool, put another hydro-barrier) and then either build another floor, or keep the possibility of trouble-free movement around the attic.

Finally

How to insulate the ceiling of the bath, we described. This process is quite simple and does not require special skills, and he does not need expensive materials.

You will not be very surprised if you find out that it is even possible to insulate the bath ceiling with earth, instead of sand, expanded clay and even mineral wool.

Warming the ceiling of the bath with mineral wool, earth, how and with what to properly insulate the steam room with your own hands: instructions, photo and video tutorials, price


Warming the ceiling of the bath with mineral wool, earth, how and with what to properly insulate the steam room with your own hands: instructions, photo and video tutorials, price

Insulation of the ceiling in the bath

Saving resources for heating buildings and premises depends entirely on the quality of their thermal insulation. Particular attention should be paid to rooms with maximum humidity and temperature - baths, and in them the culprit of the largest loss of precious heat is the ceiling.

The quality of the wellness procedures taken in it ultimately depends on what kind of insulation for the ceiling of the bath will be chosen.

The possibility of using one or another heater in the bath is limited design features ceiling.

The ceiling in the bath according to the principle of installation is divided into:

  • Hemmed - equipped from the inside of the bath room, attached to the beams from below in view of the limited or completely absent attic space
  • Flooring - flooring made of tightly fitted wooden, edged boards rests on the load-bearing walls of the building. The option of laying on top of the beams is possible. In the flooring option, we will make a choice of how to insulate the ceiling of the bath from the outside, from the attic.

Since the hemmed ceiling is attached from below, it cannot physically withstand the heavy weight. This means that what to insulate the ceiling in the bath should be not only of high quality, but also light enough.

Effective and easy can be:

  • Styrofoam
  • Styrofoam
  • Basalt mineral wool
  • glass wool

Consider them on the subject of how it is possible to insulate the ceiling in the bath and what is the best way to insulate the ceiling in the bath?

These heaters are very light and are widely used in modern construction. But are they suitable for a bath room with high temperature and humidity?

Expanded polystyrene and polystyrene as insulation

They differ in one of the lowest indicators of thermal conductivity and do an excellent job of saving heat. But their use is possible only outside the premises.

Already at temperatures of about + 60 ° C, destructive processes begin in polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam with the release of harmful gaseous formations. It is easy to notice this by the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

But the worst thing is not even that. These materials are extremely flammable and are capable of releasing phenol when burned, which is fatal to humans when inhaled, even in very small doses.

Even a small, tiny fire can end a person's life.

Does anyone want such a heater for the ceiling in the bath?

The conclusion is simple and unambiguous: the insulation of the ceiling in the bath with polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam is strictly prohibited!

Basalt mineral wool

The most common and unrestricted insulating material, which is based on repeatedly intertwined inorganic fibers.

Basalt mineral wool has the same heat-saving characteristics as polystyrene, but at the same time it is completely devoid of its main disadvantages.

Safe to use both indoors and outdoors. Neutral to high temperatures, does not burn. Withstands temperatures up to +700C. Environmentally friendly, absolutely harmless to human health.

The term of impeccable service is up to 40 years. There are no conditions for the appearance of fungi or mold in basalt wool.

It is produced by manufacturers in rolls and basalt slabs, which makes it easy to mount them for room insulation. There is also a specially designed type of such cotton wool for a bath - foil on one side.

Conclusion: ceiling insulation in the bath with basalt mineral wool is the most optimal solution.

glass wool

This is the same mineral wool. As a candidate for ceiling insulation in a bath, it has the same excellent characteristics as basalt wool. But there is one significant "but".

Glass wool fibers are extremely brittle and can crumble into microscopic strands of fiber that can penetrate even under a person's clothing and cause severe itching.

What can we say about the bath, where a person is without clothes at all?

Conclusion: if there is something to cover the ceiling in the bath, then just not glass wool.

We dismantled all the light types of insulation and determined that only basalt mineral wool is suitable for a false ceiling in a bath.

Insulation flooring in the bath

The flooring ceiling is edged solid boards lying tightly to each other, leaning on the load-bearing walls of the bath. To give rigidity, the boards are fastened across with bars. The seams between the boards and the contacts with the walls are smeared with clay. The design turns out to be strong enough so that its heavier types can be used as a heater than mineral wool.

clay with sawdust

The traditional, time-tested option is to insulate the bath ceiling with clay and sawdust. Differs in natural environmental friendliness, safety and cheapness.

For different climatic zones, the clay layer will be different. Both its weight and the pressure on the wooden flooring will differ. This is perhaps the only disadvantage of choosing clay as the ceiling in the bath.

Made from natural material, the ceiling will retain its heat-saving properties for several decades.

Insulation of the ceiling in the bath with clay and sawdust is achieved with a layer thickness of 10-15 cm.

  • Along the perimeter of the flooring above the bath room, restrictive boards are installed so that a “ladle” is obtained. IN wooden frame baths in the upper log make an L - shaped cutout, where the horizontal platform is used as an emphasis for flooring, and the vertical one as a limiter.
  • Two layers of a vapor barrier are laid inside the “bucket”, in the form of a special film, foil or ordinary polyethylene.

Our advice! Since destructive processes begin in polyethylene with an increase in temperature, we recommend using aluminum foil.

  • A solution of clay is prepared with an admixture of wood sawdust. To prepare it, dry clay is dissolved in water to the consistency of sour cream, and then in a concrete mixer, or manually, mix it with wood chips
  • The resulting composition is evenly applied to the vapor barrier layer until design thickness insulation
  • Let the solution dry for a few days.
  • Cracks that appear after drying are again covered with clay
  • On top of the clay, it is possible to lay a waterproofing layer. This procedure is optional in this variant.

Conclusion: the traditional way to insulate the ceiling of the bath with clay and sawdust is still relevant today.

Insulation of the ceiling in the bath with expanded clay, a natural material, is very effective.

Expanded clay is a rounded granules of foamed clay after its heat treatment. Natural light material perfectly saves heat and is not at all afraid of moisture.

It weighs more than half as much as compared to its analog made of clay with sawdust.

  • In this option, the presence of a "bucket" is also mandatory, expanded clay is a very light material and it has a large "fluidity" /
  • We put two layers of vapor barrier in the "bucket" /
  • We fall asleep with an even layer of expanded clay. Depending on the climatic zone of the location of the bath, its thickness ranges from 15 cm to 30 cm.
  • It is not advisable to cover expanded clay with a hydrobarrier.

Conclusion: if you put expanded clay on the ceiling of the bath, then we get a guarantee of heat preservation.

Earth is a heater

Probably the most economical budget option would be to insulate the ceiling in the bath with earth or its mixture with peat.

But you will have to pour a rather impressive layer - at least 20 cm, which must be loose enough so that air can be retained in it.

There are many downsides to this option. This is both a lot of weight and a change in heat-saving characteristics over time.

This method is even more undesirable, in view of the germination of various plants in the ground and the destruction of bath structures by their roots.

This option has a very short lifespan. In a year or two, you will have to make a replacement - a couple of cubes of earth from the roof and a couple more cubes back.

Conclusion: warming the ceiling in the bath with earth is not a rational solution.

The well-known ceiling insulation in the bath with sawdust and, probably, the most controversial. This option has a lot of supporters who know exactly how to insulate the ceiling in the bath with sawdust.

Sawdust should be small, and their layer is about 20 cm high.

To be honest, it is hard to believe that organic sawdust, without the protection of inorganic clay, will be able to independently, easily and repeatedly withstand temperature changes over many years. Destructive processes will still begin, and sawdust will constantly lose its heat-saving properties.

After two or three years, you will have to change the sawdust completely for new ones.

Conclusion: insulating the ceiling in the bath with sawdust is not a rational solution.

Basalt mineral wool

Nearly ideal. It can be effectively used both in the hemmed version of the ceiling in the bath, and in the floor.

The presence of a foil type of basalt wool can significantly speed up the process of insulation, and foil tape will very simply solve the problem of the integrity of the protective vapor barrier layer.

We have considered almost all types and materials for insulating the ceiling in the bath and can draw a general conclusion.

  • Basalt mineral wool
  • clay with sawdust
  • Expanded clay.

How to insulate the ceiling of the bath, heaters for the ceiling: expanded clay, sawdust, clay, earth, polystyrene, mineral wool


What insulation for the ceiling of the bath is better to choose. Why it is impossible to insulate the ceiling in the bath with foam plastic and glass wool


When arranging a cottage or country house often the task of building a bath arises. The classical bath has developed a number of specific traditions dating back to ancient times. Previous generations have created proven construction and finishing technologies. Thanks to these techniques, the bath has unique healing properties. Today we'll talk more about how insulate the ceiling of the bath.

Ceiling insulation

During construction baths, installation and insulation of the ceiling is considered one of the important points. What's on the ceiling? In the process of using the bath, he undergoes a number of aggressive influences. Inside the steam room, conditions of high humidity and air temperature are created. hot steam rises to the ceiling, and if there is a small heat transfer through the ceiling, the space inside the bath will not warm up, and bath will not serve its intended purpose. There are many ways to insulate ceilings, consider some of them.

The old fashioned way insulate the ceiling of the bath

On the grooved boards, a solution of pasty clay about 5 cm is spread from the side of the attic with the addition of chopped rye straw. After drying, the clay cracks. This dried layer is rubbed with a solution composed of clay and sand. When both clay layers dry, a sand cushion 10-12 cm thick is poured on top. Clay-sand layers serve to absorb excess moisture, which is formed from wet steam. Due to the high temperature in the sauna room, when there is no steam, the clay layer dries out and retains heat in the bath.

Backfill method

Groove boards are nailed to the beams. They need to be proliferated. A layer of boards with moisture gaps is attached to the grooved boards. A layer of waterproofing is laid on top. A pillow of 20 cm from bulk types of heat insulators is poured onto the waterproofing layer. It can howl slag, sand, a mixture of sawdust with clay. good option with this method of insulation, backfilling with expanded clay granules is considered.

Combined method of how to insulate bath ceiling

The ceiling is sewn up with thick boards, the thickness of which is from 7 cm or more. A vapor barrier is laid on the boards (waxed paper, oiled cardboard, foil). Then a pillow is made of soft clay, on which a 15 cm thick insulation is laid.

As a heater, various organic and mineral heat-insulating substances are used. For example, sawdust with clay, expanded clay, modern mineral fiber materials. A sand-cement screed is made on top of the thermal insulation, and flooring is made on top. Mineral wool is additionally covered with a film or fiberboard sheets.

Combined method with sawdust

Two layers of boards are screwed to the beams with the help of screws, the first layer consists of not edged boards, and the second (on the inside) is a finishing lining made of aspen with gaps left. On top of this structure, cardboard is covered from the side of the attic, and on it - 2-5 cm of a clay layer mixed with sawdust. Next layer - 15 cm basalt insulation. This whole "pie" is covered with film and attic boards.

On the modern construction market, you can find a great variety of heaters made of jute, flax fiber and other materials. Good feedback meet about jute felt, which does not emit harmful substances.

It's several ways how to insulate the ceiling of the bath. I will be glad if I helped you with advice.