You spend a lot on heating, insulate the attic with mineral wool. Insulation of the attic floor in a private house - effective ways to keep warm

Over time, every owner of a private house thinks about attic insulation. After all, every year the materials lose their original qualities, which leads to the loss of heat that escapes through the attic.

Thermal insulation of the house is a priority that must be addressed before the onset of cold weather. So, as everyone knows that warm house- this is far from the one that is well heated, but the one that does not let all this heat through.

It should also be noted that the insulation of the attic of a private house with polystyrene foam or any other insulation will make it possible to significantly reduce heating costs.

That is why the question of how and with what to insulate the attic becomes as relevant as possible.

As a standard, this kind of insulation is necessary in underused rooms. It is also important to note that they must necessarily be equipped with properly equipped roof ventilation.

The attic, together with its ceilings, performs a very important function, namely, it acts as a boundary between heat and cold. A large amount of condensate accumulates here and this happens as a result of the intensive effect of moisture on the attic. And this must be taken into account when warming your private house.

Many firms and companies offer similar services, but it often happens that the prices for their services are too high and many people think about insulating the house on their own. You can insulate your house with your own hands. However, for this it is important to take into account all the features of the installation of a particular insulation.

The following describes in more detail all the materials that can be used as insulation for the attic. Here, all the advantages will be considered, as well as their disadvantages, and everything so that in the end you can choose the best option for yourself.

But first you need to determine the main types of heaters:

• bulk;
• slab;
• roll;
• sprayed.

It should be noted that each of the options has its own characteristics and can be used as a heater for the attic. It is important to understand that only the main materials that have received the most positive feedback are listed here.

Warming with mineral wool, ecowool

Mineral wool, perhaps, is by far the most popular material for warming the mountain. This is a classic in the construction industry. After all, it is used by both professional teams and people who decide to deal with the issue of insulation on their own.

Such a wide popularity of mineral wool was achieved due to its excellent performance characteristics. Especially if you take into account basalt mineral wool. It is non-flammable and easy to install.

It is also worth considering some of its other advantages, which include:

• Simplicity in the process of operation, while working with mineral wool, there are absolutely no problems, even for those who insulate the attic on their own.
• It has a "breathing effect" and it is due to this that a good microclimate is created.
• Not amenable to combustion.
• Allows you to create good sound insulation.
• Environmentally friendly material.
• Many note its property not to lose shape even over a long period of use.
• It has a relatively small weight, which in no way affects the main structure.
• Rodents and other pests will not be able to spoil it.
• The minimum level of thermal conductivity.
• One of the cheapest materials that is suitable for insulating the attic of a private house.

It should also be said that mineral wool is sold both in rolls and in slabs. And this makes it possible to choose the most suitable option, which will be easier for you to lay.

Important! If you decide to insulate the attic with mineral wool, then you should take care of both waterproofing and vapor barrier. This is due to the fact that this material is afraid of moisture. And if you ignore this moment, then after a while the mineral wool will lose its original appearance and its performance characteristics.

Attic insulation with polystyrene foam

Everyone who is wondering how to insulate the attic has the idea to use polystyrene foam. And this is not at all accidental, since this material is even more common than mineral wool. It is also used by professional builders in their work, and for independent work it fits perfectly.

The main feature that polystyrene has is an acceptable price. It is actually the cheapest building material that can be used as attic insulation.

It is also important to note that expanded polystyrene is much denser than cotton wool, and therefore it is a pleasure to lay it, since it is an “obedient” material. It can be easily processed and laid in the right place.

In addition, there are a number of other advantages:

• Perfectly keeps its original shape.
• Not affected by moisture.
• Low thermal conductivity, an order of magnitude lower than that of mineral wool.
• The ability to create excellent sound insulation.

But along with a large number of advantages, this material also has significant disadvantages, which include the following indicators:

• Highly flammable, just one spark is enough for the foam to begin to smolder.
• It does not let steam through, and therefore it is impossible to achieve the effect of "breathing walls" with this insulation.
• If you do not additionally protect the polystyrene foam, then the rodents will gnaw it “with pleasure”, and therefore you can end up without attic insulation.

Despite all its shortcomings, polystyrene still remains one of the leaders in the field of attic insulation. After all, fires do not happen so often, additional protection of the material can be used from rodents, but the "breathing effect" is not so important on the mountain.

Therefore, we can conclude that for such a low price, this is just a great option.

Insulation for the attic

A similar method of warming the mountain in a private house is the most fashionable today. It is used by almost all companies that offer such construction services.

The main advantage that this attic insulation has is that it independently fills all the space, voids and at the same time creates a uniform and continuous layer. You no longer need to cut blocks in order to close up all the holes.

In Russia today, two blown heaters are used: blown wool and ecowool.

The latter consists of 80% cellulose fibers. They are also made from the most common waste paper, but the remaining 20% ​​are a wide variety of additives, which can be boric acid, which acts as an antiseptic, and snowstorm as a fire retardant.

Blown wool is completely composed of standard mineral substances, which are designed for thermal insulation. It is important to note that it is highly crushed.

Insulation with bulk materials: expanded clay

If you are still thinking about how to insulate the attic in a private house, then you should pay attention to expanded clay. This is one of the most simple ways insulate the attic and at the same time without turning to specialists.

Expanded clay is balls that are poured onto the floor, trying to distribute them as evenly as possible. As you already understood, they can only insulate the floor, the ceiling will not work, in no way.

The advantages of the material include the following:

• Not flammable.
• Resistant to low temperatures.
• Has high strength.
• Creates excellent sound insulation.
• Environmentally friendly material that does not affect human health in any way.
• Has a long service life.
• Provides good thermal insulation.

The material is poured on top of the roofing material, the minimum layer must be at least 15 cm. In order to be able to walk in the attic, you will need to make a concrete screed.

Sawdust as insulation for the attic

The technical characteristics of this material are in no way inferior to modern synthetic insulation.

Important! Sawdust for insulation is used extremely rarely, since there is a large selection of other materials on the market that are much easier to work with.

Sawdust Benefits:

• Sawdust is an environmentally friendly material.
• Low cost.
• Long service life.
• Low thermal conductivity.
• To create such a heater, you do not need any special equipment or a special tool.

polyurethane foam

This material occupies a leading position in the table of environmental safety, and therefore it can be safely bought.

Important! This material shows excellent adhesion, and therefore can be used with absolutely any materials.

Characteristic properties of polyurethane foam:

• not susceptible to moisture;
• high level of sound insulation;
• practically incombustible.

Stages of attic insulation

In order for the insulation to serve for a long time and there are no problems with it, it is necessary to strictly observe the technology. This is the only way to be sure of the quality of the insulation.

Attic preparation

The first stage is the preparation of the attic.

And first of all, it is necessary to put things in order in it, by this we mean:

• cleaning of all unnecessary items;
• all wooden parts should be pre-treated with a special compound that protects the material from decay, as well as from the formation of fungus;
• if there are metal surfaces, then they should be taken care of, or rather, treated with a special primer or anti-corrosion compound;
• from all cracks should be removed old insulation, rags, as well as sawdust.
• if cracks are found in the attic, then they need to be repaired mounting foam.

The second stage - waterproofing

When insulating the mountain, this stage is one of the most important, since many materials do not tolerate moisture well and may even lose their original characteristics. That is why it is necessary to take care of the good. Also, waterproofing helps to avoid the appearance of corrosion on metal floors.

The third stage - laying insulation

Depending on the chosen insulation, we begin to distribute it evenly over the floor, as well as the walls and ceiling, unless, of course, it is expanded clay or sawdust.

It is important to ensure that all layers are the same, and there is no gap between the heaters. At this stage, you need to be as careful as possible.

Fourth stage - vapor barrier

Vapor barrier is a prerequisite, both for and for reinforced concrete. It must be laid directly on the ceiling, only in this way can it protect the insulation from the resulting vapors that can accumulate in the heat insulator, passing through the ceiling.

Fifth stage - counter-lattice

After the previous stages have been completed, you can begin to complete the wall (roof) decoration. For this you can use various materials: lining, drywall or plywood.

The sixth stage - insulation of engineering communications

To do this, you can purchase mineral wool and wrap it around the pipes, and then wrap everything with roofing felt and secure it with wire. This is the easiest way to insulate communications.

As you can see, there are no special difficulties in warming the attic. The main thing is to carefully follow the instructions and do everything consistently, and then you will be able to do this procedure no worse than professionals.

After all, now you can choose the most suitable material as a heater.

Through an uninsulated attic, a large amount of heat escapes, for which money is paid. As a result, the room temperature does not rise, and utility costs rise. The only way out is to insulate a cold attic with inexpensive building materials. If you have time and extra money, you can insulate the roof, but this is not necessary, because it is enough to insulate the ceiling from the side of the attic and all the heat will remain in the room.

Why is attic insulation needed?

If the attic is not insulated, the likelihood of mold growth in the room increases.

The floor area in a private house is equal to the ceiling area, through which most of the heat escapes. In a cold living room, more moisture forms, so the likelihood of fungus formation increases, which leads to respiratory diseases in the future. The most unpleasant sensations occur in the bathroom, the floor and walls in which do not have time to dry out, discomfort is created, in addition, the cold in the bathroom contributes to colds when there is a sharp change in temperature. Children in such conditions are more likely to get sick.

Insulating materials, for the most part, drain water well, so when insulating, condensate will not accumulate on the walls. Warm air dries out excess moisture, while the walls and floor warm up.

If the roof slopes and the gable are insulated, moisture will not form in the attic and the smell of mold will not be heard. This is a more difficult job, but doable, since the materials are light in weight.

It is best to carry out work on the insulation of the attic with your own hands, so as not to spend extra money on wages. Choose a heater technical specifications, calculate its quantity and lay it according to available technologies. All work may take 1 day.

Thermal insulation materials

In the market of heaters you can find both natural and artificial materials. Their difference lies in cost, efficiency, service life, thermal conductivity.

Mineral wool

Basalt wool

Mineral wool or its varieties - glass wool, basalt insulation, slag wool - are characterized by an increased coefficient of thermal conductivity due to the structure of randomly arranged fibers. Cold air in winter does not penetrate into the room from the outside, and in summer it is cool in it, since the cotton wool does not allow the air streams cooled by the air conditioner to pass through.

• The material does not crumble and does not cause an allergic reaction. You can work with stone wool without protective equipment.
• Service life is about 50 years.
• Mineral wool from volcanic rock comes in different densities - you can choose the appropriate option for any region, including the coldest.
• Basalt wool is a lightweight material, so one person can handle its installation.
• Mineral wool from basalt does not burn. It can be melted at very high temperatures, so the attic will be safe.

Additional pluses basalt insulation is to reduce the noise level in the room, since sound waves cannot pass through the layer of air that is among the fibers. At the same time, the denser the material, the smaller the air gap and the more sounds it transmits, so the insulation can be chosen with average thermal conductivity and sound insulation.

Basalt insulation can be used to insulate the chimney, then even more heat will remain in the room where there is a stove or fireplace.

When using glass wool and slag wool, you will have to wear a protective suit, goggles and gloves, as thin fibers break and can get into the respiratory system, eyes and skin. These materials are also non-combustible, but melt at much lower temperatures. In this case, the material loses its structure and useful properties.

Styrofoam

Styrofoam does not weigh down the ceiling structure, but has a low strength factor

Insulation of the attic in the house cold roof can be done with foam. This material also has advantages:

• Low weight and cost.
• Does not highlight harmful substances when heated, so it is chemically neutral and safe.
• Contains a flame retardant that does not support combustion.
• Microorganisms and mold do not start in the foam.
• Does not weigh down the structure of the ceiling.

Of the shortcomings:

• Low coefficient of strength, therefore, additional protection of the material is required in the form of boards laid on top supported by logs. This will require additional costs and time.
• The material does not allow air to pass through, so dampness and condensation may form in the room.
• Rodents that are found in private homes damage the foam, build burrows out of it, so additional coverage is needed.

Styrofoam is used most often for outdoor work under plaster. As a heater for an attic in a private house, it is not profitable - it requires large investments to protect the material itself.

Styrofoam ceiling insulation in a house with a cold roof is more profitable from the inside, but it can lower the ceilings.

Penoplex (expanded polystyrene)

Thanks to the spongy structure, foam is easy to cut

Penoplex insulation is made from granules of synthetic material polystyrene or expanded polystyrene. This is a heater, which is a porous structure with separately located cells. Cells do not touch each other, which on the one hand is a positive quality, on the other - a negative point. The fact is that polystyrene foam does not pass moisture well, it will accumulate inside the room, causing dampness.

The advantage of polystyrene is its cost and small thickness. The air inside makes up 98% of the total volume of the material, which is why it is so cheap. Compared to stone wool, the thermal conductivity is lower. To achieve good thermal insulation, it is necessary to buy polystyrene foam of greater thickness, which will cost more.

Penoplex is flammable, therefore, in terms of fire safety absolutely useless. The melting point is 75 degrees, so it can not be laid next to heating appliances. In the attic it can be a chimney from the stove.

polyurethane foam

Insulation with polyurethane foam

In terms of service life, as well as heat-retaining characteristics, it is worth paying attention to polyurethane foam, which is applied by spraying. In this case, there is no need to build logs for laying mineral wool or expanded clay, save money by purchasing cheap fragile materials.

In a short time, you can create a monolithic floor in the attic, in which rodents will not settle, mold will not start, and cracks will not appear. When using polyurethane foam, you do not have to buy additional vapor and waterproofing.

Expanded clay bulk

Expanded clay is resistant to ignition and exposure to a humid environment

You can insulate the attic with expanded clay. This is a durable material that is used in bulk with prepared cells. If you need to move around the attic, you will have to build a floor on wooden logs from above. Advantages of expanded clay:

• strength;
• durability;
• does not absorb moisture;
• retains heat well;
• passes air;
• can be used in combination with other materials, which is preferable.

Most often, expanded clay is combined with mineral wool or polyurethane foam is sprayed onto it so as not to waste time building a frame.

Thermal insulation layer thickness

To insulate the attic in a house with a cold roof, you can use heat-insulating materials of any density, since the room is not residential. If you plan to lay mineral wool on the roof slopes, you can prepare a material of lower density and thickness, since as a result the ceiling insulation will be double, but laid in two places.

For ease of movement on soft insulation, it is necessary to build paths made of wood or other material so as not to violate the properties when compressing the heat-insulating layer.

Preparing the attic for insulation

Attic ready for insulation

Before starting work, it is necessary to calculate the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room and the amount of building materials. The main thing is the thickness of the insulation, which is needed in middle lane where the temperature can drop to minus 30 degrees. The thickness of the mineral wool must be at least 20 cm.

After calculations:

• Remove all debris and dust so that the seal does not absorb it.
• Seal the cracks in the roof with construction foam.
• Remove sharp objects. They can damage the protective layer of cotton wool.

After cleaning, you can bring Construction Materials, tools, as well as an additional lamp for illumination.

vapor barrier

Vapor barrier - required condition when working with mineral wool

According to the laws of physics, warm air saturated with steam will always rise up, passing through walls and ceilings. This process is called diffusion.

Different materials have different degrees of vapor permeability. High resistance to the diffusion process can be provided by the formation of condensate or the accumulation of moisture between floors. In such places, floors are usually made of wood, and wood, saturated with moisture, loses its strength.

When the lower room is warming up, and the upper one is cold, a vapor barrier is a must. In the case of stone wool, you can buy material with a hydrophobic coating that will not allow steam to pass into the cold room above, where water drops form from it.

AT technical documentation There are two concepts: steam resistance and vapor permeability coefficient. These are different concepts.

To organize the vapor barrier, two materials are used - a film to cover the entire area and adhesive tapes to connect the layers of hydrophobic insulation so that steam does not penetrate into the cracks.

The characteristics by which the vapor barrier is chosen should take into account strength (polyethylene film is not suitable), UV resistance, since the sun's rays sometimes enter the windows, which can damage materials.

Waterproofing

Installation of a waterproofing layer

To protect the attic from flooding, and ceilings and repairs from water drips, it is recommended to lay a layer of waterproofing material on the roof slopes.

• Built-up - overlapped and connected with a burner. Most cheap option- synthetic materials.
• Sprayable. A solid film-membrane is created.
• Powder. Water is added to it immediately before installation.
• liquid - suitable for concrete floors, soaking into their surface.
• Coating on a bituminous basis.

Before you buy waterproofing, you need to re-read the properties: the material must pass air, but retain water. Some cheap films create a greenhouse effect in a cold, unheated attic, causing mold to form on the walls.

In order for the house to be warm, and we did not have to overpay for heating, we need to take care of high-quality insulation walls, floors and roofs. It is also important to insulate the ceiling of a private house in the attic. There are several options for insulating the attic in a private house inexpensively and efficiently. How to do it yourself, what materials can be used for this? Let's consider this question in more detail.

How to insulate the attic of a private house correctly?

The attic is the space sloping roof which is not used for residential purposes. If the roof slopes are not thermally insulated, insulation material can be placed on the ceiling that separates the space under the roof from the living rooms.

The roof space that is not used for living is often devoid of an insulating layer, which creates the need for laying a buffer zone to insulate the ceiling. The complete absence of such insulation is allowed only when the room is unheated, for example, a garage. In other cases, it is necessary to retain the heat that is used to heat living rooms, since warm air tends to rise up. To save money spent on heating, it is necessary to prevent its leakage through the roof.

Before starting repairs, it is very important to learn how to properly insulate the attic in a private house, and many factors should be taken into account. These include the design features of the roof and the height of the attic.

The better to insulate the attic of a private house with a concrete floor

Concrete floor - monolithic or prefabricated is intended, as a rule, for a residential attic. Sometimes, however, such a solution is also used for a non-residential roof. How and how to insulate the attic floor in a private house made of concrete?

The concrete floor is insulated after the construction and finishing of the roof. This operation will be simple as long as we have convenient access to the attic, and also if the height of the attic allows free movement.

The most commonly used material in such cases is mineral wool. Compressed mats are especially recommended, which are gradually expanded up to the nominal thickness. The elastic surface easily fills all the nooks and crannies in the attic. The mats should be placed close together without any gaps between them that could lead to heat leakage.

It is much more difficult to achieve this result with more rigid materials such as expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene or polyurethane foam.

To create a structure, insulation must be laid between wooden beams, to which boards or wood panels will be screwed to form the floor.

It is also possible to make a mineral lining from a mineral solution that is poured over the insulation insulated with foil, but this solution is rarely used.

How to insulate the attic of the house with loose insulation?

If the attic is too low, then so that the work is not very difficult and time-consuming, good decision there will be insulation using one of the bulk insulating materials:

• granulated cotton;
• polystyrene granules;
• cellulose fibers.

The thickness of the insulation layer depends on the material used and the thermal permeability of the ceiling. The average thickness is approximately 20 cm.

How to insulate a wooden ceiling?

If the ceiling is wooden, it is better to insulate the attic of a private house with your own hands in a slightly different way. Thermal insulation is placed primarily between the beams. In this case, mineral wool materials or wood derivatives are used. How to insulate the attic of a private house with mineral wool? Thanks to their excellent elasticity, the boards or mats fill the gaps between the ceiling beams very well. Before insulating the attic of a private house with mineral wool, a lining should be laid from the bottom of the roof. If it's going to be a drywall suspended ceiling, it's a good idea to place an extra insulating layer on the underside of the attic. will also be isolated wooden beams, which has a very positive effect on the heat transfer of the entire layer.

Also, if the ceiling is insulated in this way, it will be easier to build a floorboard or OSB floor over it. If you decide not to insulate false ceiling, then an additional heat-insulating layer will be located in the attic. The construction of the floor will then be more difficult for two reasons. First you need to nail beams with a section of 4 x 6 cm perpendicular to the ceiling beams and put an insulating layer between them, in addition, the surface of such a floor will eventually turn out to be higher, thereby reducing the height of the attic.

A photo. When insulating a wooden ceiling, the thermal insulation material is placed primarily between the beams

Polystyrene in its traditional form is not used to insulate wooden ceilings, but it is possible to fill the space between the beams with polystyrene granules. However, the light weight of such backfill, despite good thermal insulation, does not give the ceiling satisfactory sound insulation. Also, this type of insulating material does not provide sufficient fire protection for wood.

Among bulk heaters, mineral wool granules or cellulose fibers are much more profitable. Both products have very good thermal insulation properties, provide good sound insulation and protect the structure in the event of a fire.

In buildings that have an unused attic, it is cost effective to implement a roof truss structure. Prefabricated elements replace traditional rafters. They form large triangles that are closely spaced next to each other.

The space under the roof with such a design is severely limited by bevelled beams. At the same time, it is almost impossible to isolate such an attic with slabs or mats. The most rational solution in this case is insulation with a blower using polystyrene granules or cellulose fibers.

The air flow fills the space through holes in the gable walls, through a hatch in the roof, or through the so-called viewing hole.

Bulk material is able to crumble very densely in all nooks and crannies of this attic. Insulation work should be carried out only after the construction of the ceiling is completed. It is also necessary to check if the ceiling can support the weight of such insulation, it may be necessary to provide adequate reinforcement.

Attic ventilation

Since many of the thermal insulation materials, including rock wool, lose their insulating properties as a result of high humidity, you need to make sure that the attic space is provided with sufficient ventilation. Good ventilation is provided by air intakes on the eaves and outlets made in the gable walls. They must be protected with a net to prevent the entry of birds and small animals. It is advisable to cover the top layer of highly elastic insulating materials with a windproof film, then less heat will be blown out of the insulation.

How to insulate an attic in a private house video

Every child from a school physics course knows three things: distance is equal to speed multiplied by time, a photo actually draws light on paper, and warm air is much lighter than cold air and, accordingly, in a room will rise up anyway. And at the top of a private house, under the very roof, of course, there is an attic. If the attic is not insulated on time, then as soon as the autumn-spring cold sets in, the residents of the house will feel that a chilly wind is blowing from the ceiling, and the heat is lost to no one knows where. But this is the case if the attic is not insulated.

Surely, many people remember such a problem of modern architecture: buildings that were built in the 20-21 centuries are fragile and short-lived, while stone churches, cathedrals, old mansions stand for centuries, millennia, and at the same time it is always dry and warm inside. The fact is that earlier, in the absence of modern materials and technologies, such tasks had an architectural solution: the air itself maintains the desired temperature and humidity in such places. This idea has been well implemented in many modern materials, for example, in ecological wool. The roofs of buildings, in the old days, were most often made gable, so that in winter the snow lingered longer on the surface and prevented the penetration of cold air into the rooms; attic spaces were made with special small windows on the sides - with their help they controlled the temperature in residential premises both in winter and in summer. There was no need to insulate the roof slope. But in the 21st century, relying on the thermal insulation properties of snow alone (very weak, although there were enough of them at that time) is unreasonable, and the need for comfort from mankind has increased significantly since then, so the temperature in the room is +15-20 degrees in winter no longer considered acceptable.

The price, quality, time of work will directly depend on what material the owner of the house chooses for thermal insulation. With scientific progress, it has become possible to synthesize many new materials, some with specially enhanced thermal insulation properties. And someone, in the old fashioned way, prefers to insulate the attic with straw or environmentally friendly reeds. There is room for fantasy.

Almost always, thermal insulation is laid in three layers: the first is the processing of floors - sometimes it is required to lay, sometimes just smear a layer of clay; the second is a layer of heat-insulating material, the thickness of which can vary from two to five centimeters; the third, optional, layer may be a cement-sand screed, on which the floor will then be laid.

It is already difficult to call an insulated attic space an attic, it is quite suitable for the title of an attic. The one who decided to insulate the ceiling will no longer have an attic, but will have an attic, a warm room that can eventually be turned into a guest room, a bedroom for a child or a cozy winter garden in which the whole family will gather in the evenings. Attic spaces are a good find for creative people and just for those who like to surround themselves with a cozy atmosphere.

Material classification

Before the owner, who thought for the first time how to insulate the ceiling of the attic, there is another difficult question. ? It is not enough to lay the material, it is also important to choose it correctly. After all, there are a huge number of materials on the market today, and it is not always clear whether they are suitable for the area in which the house is located; in some areas the temperature is lower, in some it is higher.

Often if the owner uses bulk materials, he encounters difficulties afterwards if he decides to turn the attic into full attic and lay the floor. with slabs and roll materials such problems usually do not arise.

The choice is wide enough, so you can choose the material you need price category, affordable and high quality. In terms of importance, the first factor is thermal insulation properties, the second is resistance to temperature extremes, and the third is ease of use. In addition, each material has a number of additional properties that must be considered when choosing.

It costs nothing to choose an eco-friendly or even natural material, use similar materials, which is important, will not adversely affect the health of residents, which cannot be said about toxic substitutes. In addition, the same foam will contribute to the rapid decay wooden roof. The material must be chosen carefully.

Many dishonest sellers tend to sell as much material as possible and at a higher price, without caring whether this type of thermal insulation is suitable for a particular owner, which is why you should be careful when choosing a material.

Insulation of the ceiling from the attic is a rather simple process, even a non-professional can handle it on their own.

Warming with bulk materials

The oldest method of insulation is considered to be backfill material. Suitable if the floors are made of wood.

As bulk materials, you can use sawdust, straw, reeds, glass wool, expanded clay, flax. They are inexpensive and widely available. Ecological wool will cost more. Sometimes algae, slag, polystyrene are used as bulk materials for insulation. On top of bulk materials, as a rule, the floor is not laid; for ease of movement, several boards can be laid.

Sawdust is one of the cheapest materials, you can even get it for free if there is a working sawmill nearby. Sawdust as a heater was used hundreds of years ago. A significant disadvantage is that mice often like them, and they arrange their holes in the sawdust, so when working, you should first pour a layer of slaked lime with carbide or use some other folk remedy. Sawdust is poured with a layer of 1-2 cm. Sawdust - the material is so combustible that in order for the layer not to ignite, it should be sprinkled with slag processing or similar material. Be especially careful when using sawdust near chimneys and other heat sources.

Bonfire (flax) - cheap material, resistant to decay, light, loose. Linen is not liked by rodents and insects, since it is inconvenient to move in linen layers - the material quickly crumbles. Warming the ceiling in the attic with a fire has a number of disadvantages, for example, this material sometimes cakes, but you can always fill up a new layer! Also, the material is highly flammable, which is both a plus in disposal and a minus in operation. Flax is covered with a layer of 1.5-4 cm. If the owner decides to insulate the attic with a fire, then it will no longer be possible to make a full-fledged floor there, but you can lay boards for ease of movement. Linen needs drying, so it is suitable if ventilation is provided in the attic.

Straw is poured in a layer of 2-5 cm. On top, in order to avoid fires, before pouring the material, the floors should be smeared with a layer of clay. Straw, like sawdust, is prone to attack by rodents, so it will also need protection.

Eco-friendly wadding is made from recycled cellulose (recycled paper) and additives that reduce flammability. Ecowool is the most reliable and fireproof material among bulk ones, its soundproofing properties will be a nice bonus. In general, soundproofing is never superfluous in the house. Owners of private houses can sometimes hear, in windy weather, how loudly something falls and rolls somewhere upstairs, in the attic. In fact, these are just wind games, a frequent coincidence. Lay ecowool on vapor barrier film, so that there are no gaps left, with a layer of 2.5-5 cm. (It is important to consider that over time, ecowool becomes caked, so more in this case is better). On top of the ecowool, soon, after two weeks, lignin appears, a protective crust.

Glass wool is an old proven way to insulate an attic. Glass wool has many advantages: safety, moisture resistance, etc. and one significant disadvantage: high toxicity. Laying should be done only in tight clothing, a respirator. After laying, the clothes are burned. In addition, glass wool quickly caking, and it will often have to be replaced. Glass wool is laid in a layer of 2-2.5 cm.

Expanded clay, although bulk material, is also suitable for insulating concrete floors (read also: ""). It is convenient in that after laying it, it is possible to make a full-fledged floor in the attic, which is difficult to achieve with most bulk materials. Expanded clay is laid with a layer of 2-2.5 cm, a cement-sand screed is placed on top with a layer of 0.5 cm.

How to insulate the attic ceiling with bulk material, technology:

1. Lay kraft paper on the floors. As a substitute, you can use cardboard, glassine or something else like that. The second preparation option: smear the overlap with clay 2-3 cm and sprinkle with sand - so that in case of cracks in the clay, the sand fills them up.
2. Fill up the material. The thickness of the layer depends on the material itself and the expected temperatures of the area.
3. It is best to produce thermal insulation not in one, but in two layers.
4. Lay boards on top of which you can move around.

Do not forget that the hatch to the attic also needs to be insulated!

Mineral wool is no less toxic than glass wool, so work should be carried out with similar precautions.

Algae practically does not burn, and with the help of special treatment, flammability can be reduced to almost zero;

Algae have the same thermal insulation properties as synthesized materials. Algae ladders are laid with a layer of 2-3 cm. It is quite possible to lay a real floor on top. Perhaps, algae are the most environmentally friendly and most useful material for thermal insulation, such a coating will have a positive effect on the health of residents, mainly due to the high iodine content, installation is simple, algae will last a long time and with benefit.

Linen insulation

Linen insulation outperforms mineral wool by the fact that it is much more environmentally friendly than the latter. It is perfect if the house is built from natural materials, such as wood, etc.

Laying the material is very easy. Before laying linen rolls, the gaps of the ceilings are covered with clay, after which the material itself comes. There should be no gaps at the joints.

Insulation of the ceiling with sawdust, more on the video:

Insulation with board materials

The slab material will completely block the access of oxygen to the ceilings, so it makes no sense to use ceiling insulation from the attic side with the help of slabs if the house is built from natural materials.

Foam polystyrene, mineral wool in plates, straw, algae, reeds are popular as board materials.

Lay slab materials only on a flat surface, if there are flaws, it is better to fix them. A vapor barrier film is placed on top of the ceilings. After laying the slab material, it will be possible to lay a real floor in the attic.

Dense extruded polystyrene foam (otherwise polystyrene) is well suited for attic insulation. A significant disadvantage is flammability and toxicity. When laying the gaps at the joints of the plates, it is necessary to fill with mounting foam. A cement-sand screed is placed on top of the slabs with a layer of 4-5 cm. The screed is quite capable of replacing a full-fledged floor, but if you wish, you can lay boards, etc.

Reed is an eco-friendly natural material that has appeared on the market of heaters quite recently. It is absolutely non-toxic, of course, safe, it burns weakly, after processing it is possible to achieve complete fire safety. Reeds are one of the few board materials that are suitable for insulating houses made of natural materials.

The choice of material for thermal insulation is a serious matter, it is better not to be mistaken in it. After all, the temperature in the house, the quality of life of the family living in it, and the life of the building as a whole depend on the thermal insulation, so the insulation of the ceiling from the attic is an important and necessary thing.

Even if the winter has dragged on, and the weather is not happy, the conversion of a cold attic into an attic should not be postponed until better times. But, given our difficult climate, insulation will have to be given maximum attention.

A cold attic is an untapped potential, a space that works at best as a repository of forgotten and unnecessary things. Attic - the potential realized as you need: romantic bedroom, cozy living room, games room, bathroom with a stunning view of the surroundings. There are other differences as well.

How to turn an attic into an attic?

A large-scale alteration of a private house or cottage is regarded by law as a reconstruction requiring approval. Reconstruction is considered to be such actions that change the parameters of the house as a whole - volume, number of storeys, height, appearance. Without agreeing and making changes to the documents, you can only insulate the roof, it is permissible to insulate the floor and ceilings of a cold attic. The installation of windows is also considered a reconstruction, as is the replacement of load-bearing structures.

An obligatory stage is a preliminary check of the possibilities of the house. Only project documentation and expertise construction company will make it possible to say with confidence that the foundation, walls and truss system will withstand the increased load.

Attention:

arrange a full residential attic it is possible if the height of the attic exceeds 1.8 meters. Otherwise, you will have to change the roof truss structure. A compromise option for a low attic that does not require restructuring is a children's playroom or a bathroom without a shower.

How to properly insulate a cold attic?

If your intentions are serious, easy installation Batteries in the attic won't help. You will have to start with a large-scale inspection of the entire roof and floors. Only complete and high-quality insulation and thermal insulation of a cold attic will turn an abandoned floor into a favorite attic.

A cold-type roof, conceived when building a house with a non-residential attic, differs in design from a warm one. In essence, it represents truss system, on top of which the waterproofing and the roof itself are laid. The air in the attic in this design plays the role of a buffer that reduces heat loss at home. When converting an attic into an attic, the roof must be brought into line with the changed requirements.

In a warm roof with full insulation of slopes there is a so-called " roofing cake» from layers:

External coating. Metal tile, slate, ondulin, corrugated board, ceramic, cement-sand, slate, bituminous, composite tiles. Sheet materials they cost less and are easier to install, but serve less, piece ones, like tiles, better insulate the house, serve for a long time, but at a higher cost.

Waterproofing. Protects the entire structure and the insulation layer from rain, snow, moisture.

Ventilation gap. Provides natural ventilation roofs and remove moisture.

Thermal insulation. Retains heat, reduces heat loss.

Vapor barrier. Protects insulation and rafters from moisture from the room. Especially if you are planning a kitchen in the attic.

Interior decoration. Lining, timber, plywood, other materials.

Attention:

in order for the microclimate in the attic to be optimal in any weather, all surfaces are needed - the floor, ceiling, walls and slopes. This is also important from the point of view of sound insulation: the noise on the upper floor should not interfere with the inhabitants of the lower one, and the sound of drops on the roof should not wake those sleeping in the attic.

How to choose material?

All heaters are divided into several groups according to physical properties:

Monolithic or massive stacked on the ceiling in large blocks. A reliable option, fewer joints, but the removal of excess moisture from the air is blocked, condensation may appear.

Fibrous or porous. The spaces of the internal structure are filled with air bubbles that retain heat. A classic example is mineral wool, the most common insulation material for private homes.

Bulk insulation- for example, expanded clay and sawdust; create a dense heat-insulating layer, allowing surfaces to "breathe". But expanded clay is heavy, and it is difficult to work with sawdust.

Important parameters all heaters that need to be taken into account - the cost and ease of installation, weight, which does not give a significant load on the supporting structures, resistance to moisture, fire and environmental friendliness. Let's compare the pros and cons of the most common heaters.

Attention:

in most cases, in terms of price-quality ratio, mineral wool is the most reasonable option for insulation for a cold attic.

Insulation technologies

The method and sequence of actions depend on the selected insulation. For example, ecowool is laid in a “dry” way, directly on the surface of the floors, or “wet”, spraying a special adhesive mixture using equipment. Insulation of a cold attic with foam plastic involves mounting the material with glue or screws and strengthening it with a frame made of profiles. Sawdust is mixed with cement, poured into cells from antiseptic-treated beams and left to dry.

The general sequence of warming a cold attic:

1. All major work goes along with the installation of insulation.
2. Windows are placed after laying waterproofing and before installing insulation and vapor barrier.
3. First, waterproofing is laid on the internal planes of the roof, walls and floor.
4. Then close waterproofing material rafter system.
5. Thermal insulation is mounted, fibrous materials are covered with vapor barrier.
6. Then the attic windows are insulated, paying special attention to the space under the windowsill and slopes.
7. Finally, it's time to finish the surfaces.

Attention:

the laying of communications takes place at the stage of rough insulation work. It is important to take into account two points: the fire hazard of the selected material and the importance of urgent access to communications. So, when choosing fire hazardous materials like polystyrene foam and ecowool, it is reasonable to make the wiring external. And if you have chosen short-lived sewer pipes, which you may have to change after some time, access to them will be easier if the attic is insulated with sheet and soft materials.

Heating and attic decoration

Laying thermal insulation is not enough if you plan to operate the attic all year round. Additional heating will be required, the installation of stairs from the lower floor and, of course, the installation of windows for constant access to natural light.
If the house has a heating system, you can connect to it while warming the attic. Do not forget to check how much power the boiler is designed for and whether it can withstand an increase in load, especially if a room is planned upstairs, such as a bathroom, laundry room or kitchen.
Electric batteries and infrared heaters do not require installation, they can be moved from place to place.
Heated floors warm the attic well over the entire area, unlike radiators and heaters. Electric floors consume electricity, but are easier to install. Water heated floors are more difficult to lay, but they are less expensive to operate. Both options are suitable for wooden houses with attic.

Do not forget to arrange a staircase that is comfortable for permanent use, allocating a sufficiently large area below, in the corridor or hall. Optimal slope 30-40 degrees will provide a step depth of 20-25 and a height of about 15 centimeters. The height of the ceiling above the stairs must be at least two meters, the width of the stairs must be at least one meter.

What can go wrong?

Even if you have thought through the reconstruction, from legal aspects to careful selection of material, the process itself is always unpredictable. Keep your finger on the pulse of repairs, if not always, then at least at checkpoints.

Vapor barrier:

The vapor barrier membrane is laid differently depending on the design of the ceiling.

If the roof does not have a high-quality vapor barrier layer, or it is made carelessly, with breaks, any evaporation will inevitably completely or partially get into the thermal insulation layer of mineral wool and turn into water there. In winter, moisture will freeze, and then appear again in the form of leaks. Isolation will be required.

Insulation installation:

It is impossible to lay mineral wool without a vapor barrier; it is important to leave a gap to remove excess moisture between the thermal insulation and the roof, installing the crate;

The main errors when laying fibrous or monolithic insulation are usually associated with an incorrectly selected width or thickness of the material.

The gaps between the insulation and the beams will become "cold bridges". If the material is inflexible, like polystyrene, the joints are filled with mounting foam during the insulation of a cold attic.

Windows installation:

Roof windows require good qualifications of installers.

Windows need to be insulated: otherwise, all efforts for thermal insulation will be nullified.

Instructions for warming a cold attic

1. If insulation occurs with the installation of windows, the transfer of load-bearing structures, the alteration of the roof, it must be coordinated. Simple insulation of the attic does not need to be coordinated. If the height of the attic is less than 1.8 meters, its full use will be difficult.

2. Check if the house is ready for attic renovation. Will the foundation withstand the additional load? Is the heating boiler prepared for heating new rooms?

3. When choosing a heater, pay attention not only to its cost and ease of installation, but also to weight, environmental friendliness and durability. Maybe for you optimal solution there will be a combination different materials on the ceiling, floor and ceilings of a cold attic.

4. Don't forget to choose skylights and additional equipment for them, for example, the possibility of automatic closing in the rain.

5. Choose a way to heat the new attic and think in advance how the stairs to the attic floor will be installed.

6. Flaws in attic insulation can lead to drafts, leaks, high humidity in the room. Finding the source of problems is more difficult than preventing problems in advance at the stage of attic repair.