Attic and attics are rarely designed for the purpose of further use for use as residential premises. Usually, such plans leave the possibility of further alteration, the main point of which is thermal insulation. Such work, as a rule, is performed on the basis of wooden structures, since concrete and reinforced concrete foundations are initially finished with protective and heat-insulating materials. In other cases, the insulation of the attic of the house, attic floor or attic can be performed as an optional addition, the main purpose of which is to provide a comfortable microclimate.
Features of attic insulation on beams
Attic rooms, the construction of which is represented by wooden trusses, are rightly called "cold". Such objects do not differ in high power resistance in comparison with concrete platforms, but they have their own advantages, many of which come down to the wide possibilities of using insulators. Traditionally, warming of the attic flooring from wood is carried out throughout the casing, which is laid on the crate. If in the case of reinforced concrete, a special tool for installation is often required, then equipping a wooden structure with insulation can be carried out by ordinary carpentry tools. Of course, the best option is the initial calculation for the use of a specific insulator as an addition to the beam structure. In this case, the master will be able to perform the correct and most rational arrangement of beam elements, from the point of view of further installation of the insulator. However, foam materials in this regard are not demanding and organically enter the power structure of any attic.
General requirements for insulation
The main task is to save heat. At the same time, attics and attics are not always insulated in order to form a favorable microclimate directly at the place of work. Objects with "cold" attics, for example, it is advisable to supplement with insulating panels and to maintain optimal temperature conditions on the lower floor. In addition, the insulation of attic floors on wooden beams should include a waterproofing function. By itself, the choice of a lightweight wooden structure implies a decrease in protective qualities, in terms of the formation of a barrier against moisture and steam. Partially this function is performed by the outer skin in the roofing material, but it may not be enough. Therefore, the moisture protection function should also be included in the list of characteristics of the main layer of the internal insulation.
Insulation technology
In fact, the insulation operation is the implementation of a multilayer flooring, which will act as a universal insulator. Work is carried out at the stage when the crate installation is completed. That is, as a base, a draft base should be prepared, which can simultaneously be the floor of the attic and the ceiling of the lower room. Beams are located on it, the length of which can reach 4 m. It is best to use multi-level insulation of attic floors on wooden beams, the technology of which provides for separate laying of steam, heat and waterproofing. First of all, the film material is laid. Typically, polypropylene or polyethylene is used for this - in both cases, preference should be given to reinforced solid flooring. This is followed by the main layer of thermal insulation, the options for which will be considered separately. Here it is worth combining the function of heat and waterproofing, using a coating with a film protective layer. The final stage will be the finishing of the insulation. For this, you can use wood-particle panels or logs - depending on the requirements for further operation of the room.
Mineral wool insulation
Stone or basalt mineral wool is considered the most common type of heat insulator, which is used not only in working with attic rooms. For ease of installation, the material should be purchased in a roll. This will allow you to perform the operation without the difficulties associated with the calculation of the size of the coating. Work also begins with laying a film base, on which the main insulation of the attic floor will be further formed. With your own hands in construction mittens, you should firmly tamp the insulator over the entire area in the inter-beam farms. The height of the flooring can correspond to the width of the beams - the main thing is that large voids do not form. Further, the material is covered with finishing panels.
Polystyrene insulation
In terms of performance of target functions, this is the best solution. Foamed polystyrene foam is advantageous both for its heat-insulating properties and as a barrier against moisture. That is, when laying, you can completely confine yourself only to polystyrene foam, without using auxiliary layers for hydro and vapor barrier. As a rule, insulation of attic floors on wooden beams is the laying of pre-cut panels of a suitable shape in the truss between the beams. But it is important to consider that the weakness of the foam is combustibility. If this drawback is not of particular importance in the insulation of a reinforced concrete structure, then the situation is different in working with a wooden attic. The inclusion of an additional refractory layer, which can be represented by a foil thin insulator, will help to eliminate this defect. The fireproof layer is laid on top of the foam, and then the finish is mounted.
Polyurethane foam insulation
This is a specialized heat insulator, which is focused on use in residential premises. The advantages of polyurethane foam include hygroscopicity, resistance to moisture, incombustibility and environmental cleanliness. The material is available on the market in the form of panels that are easily processed at home, allowing you to form the right-sized plates. As a result, through simple manipulations, you can perform high-quality and durable insulation of the attic flooring on wooden beams. Installation is carried out without the use of auxiliary layers of refractory and waterproofing protection, since polyurethane foam has special barrier coatings on both sides. However, for the sake of economy and if there is no need for universal insulation, you can use a simplified version of polyurethane foam without external layers of protection.
What material should not be insulated?
Virtually all bulk insulators are not suitable for warming an attic with wooden beamed ceilings. These include sawdust, expanded clay, slag, etc. The exclusion of such options from the spectrum of suitable solutions is due to their general disadvantage. High-quality isolation in this case is possible only if a thick layer of the embankment is formed. The result is a heavy and not always permissible, for reasons of structural reliability, attic insulation. Methods of forming heat-insulating embankments can be used in work with lower floors and with concrete floors, but in the structure of wooden beam trusses this solution reduces the overall reliability of the roof.
Insulator manufacturers reviews
In the domestic market, insulators are widely represented by different brands. The greatest trust among specialists is enjoyed by Izospan and TechnoNikol products. The products of these companies cover the segment of waterproofing and universal solutions for heat conservation. High-quality insulation of attic floors on wooden beams will also help materials from foreign companies such as Juta and Tyvek. In addition to the effective performance of basic functions, users note the high durability of such products and environmental friendliness.
Conclusion
When choosing a means of attic insulation, one should proceed from a number of aspects of the future operation of the room. If the object will be used as a living room, then the best solution would be to use traditional mineral wool. But if we are talking about a comprehensive increase in energy-saving functions, then the insulation of attic floors on wooden beams should be done with universal insulators. It will also be useful to assess the possibility of transition of the basic insulation of the ceilings to the under-roof space. But in this case, it is important to emphasize both the preservation of heat in the attic and the protection against water with steam fumes.