The attic is much more susceptible to cooling than other rooms of the house, due to the fact that there is no so-called “thermal cushion” above it, that is, the area of its contact with the external environment is much larger than other rooms. Therefore, many owners of a residential attic are wondering - how to insulate the attic? This process must be approached with particular care.
Consider how to insulate the attic. Different materials are used as insulation: mineral wool, glass wool in bags, alabaster blocks, but it is best to insulate with wood fiber boards (fiberboard). Such a plate with a thickness of 12 mm is equal in its thermal characteristics to a brick wall. Fiberboard is also an excellent soundproofing material.
How to insulate the attic with fiberboard? It’s not so difficult, since fiberboards when insulating walls, ceilings and floors do not require any additional materials and time. Fiberboard has a different thickness, they are easy to cut, because it is essentially soft and lightweight material. It does not deform under the influence of humidity and from temperature changes. By the way, it is convenient to glue wallpaper on fiberboard.
Upholstery of wooden walls with this material can be done by one person. The sizes of the plates are different. The average size of one plate is 250 by 122 cm. The length of the nails with which the fiberboard is nailed to the walls should be at least 35 mm. It is recommended to hammer nails in a checkerboard pattern. Fiberboard nailed directly to the rafters. Nails must be galvanized. If the distance between the rafters is too large, additional bars are installed between them, to which the insulation material is attached. Insulating panels must necessarily be in close contact with each other, the joints are sealed with a special material for insulation of joints, adhesive tape or foil.
It’s more difficult to beat the ceiling. Plates are applied to the ceiling and propped up with special T-shaped props. When upholstering the ceiling, it is advisable to use safety glasses for obvious reasons. For electrical wiring in fiberboard, grooves can be cut.
The floor of the attic is insulated with roofing paper and roofing material in two layers, on which the fiberboard M-20 and PT-100 are applied. A good insulation is the carpet, which is often covered with flooring in hotel rooms and corridors. Thanks to the special composition, which is impregnated with the carpet, it can be easily cleaned with a wet cloth and use cleaning products. Carpeting is glued with bustilate to the fiberboard.
Consider some points that will help to understand how to properly insulate the attic. External work on the insulation of the attic roof should be carried out only in dry weather. Before upholstering with fiberboard, it is necessary to carefully inspect the walls of the room. If the wall is wooden, then it must be treated with some antiseptic. Metal surfaces are treated with an anti-corrosion primer. If there are damp places, they must be dried; if there is damage in the structural sections, replace them.
The surface of the wall that will be upholstered with material should be flat, then there will be no obstacles to the circulation of air. If the wall has irregularities, it is leveled with the help of a lathing. In this case, a gap of about 2 cm is left between the insulation material and the roof. Ventilation openings are made at the bottom and top of the roof for every 10 square meters. meters.
How to insulate the attic with other means? For their installation, special devices are often needed. For example, to insulate the attic room with ecowool, you need a special installation that grinds packs of material and blows particles between cavities using a compressor.
Now you know how to insulate the attic with your own hands.