Deciding to expand the living space of a private house, many owners attach an attic. This solution allows you to save space on the site, not to occupy the fertile soil layer with an additional extension. Attic insulation is carried out using different materials. They differ in a lot of characteristics. How to perform this process will be discussed in detail below.
The need for insulation
Insulation of the attic from the inside allows you to create a warm, comfortable room. It will be possible to live in it both in summer and in winter. This is an additional floor, which will expand the living space of the house. It should be borne in mind that the height of the attic should be between 2.5 m. It should be convenient to walk here, and the usable space should be at least 50%. Also, the overlap between the attic and the lower room must be strong so that you can walk on it.
The price of attic insulation can be quite high if you hire builders for this. Therefore, many owners of private real estate prefer to carry out all the work on their own. This saves significant family budget funds. To cope with the task, you need to consider the technology of installation of insulation.
This work will need to be done for a number of reasons. If you do not insulate the attic, its operation in the winter will be impossible. It will be cold here. To heat a room that does not have thermal insulation is also difficult. It will take a lot of energy to heat it. Also, the insulation will allow you to create additional sound insulation. It also increases the comfort of using the attic. In rain or strong wind, extraneous sounds will not interfere with relaxation.
It should be noted that attic insulation will need to be performed not only from the inside of the roof slopes. If the annex has walls, they also need to be covered with a layer of insulation. At the same time, the floor of the attic should also not be left without attention. In this case, it will be necessary to take into account the features of the structure itself.
The heat loss of the attic depends on the material from which it is built. It can be wood, brick, cellular materials, etc. Each of these materials has its own indicator of thermal conductivity. Before starting work, you need to carry out the correct calculation of the dimensions of the space. It is necessary to calculate the area that needs to be insulated. This will allow you to purchase the necessary amount of materials. In this case, the configuration of the roof is taken into account. It can have one or two slopes, a different, more complex configuration.
Features of the installation of thermal insulation
Doing warming the attic with your own hands is a responsible event. If you make a mistake, the work will have to be redone. In this case, the insulation will not be effective, and the room will be cold. It is important to draw up an attic plan before starting work. It should show all communications that are in this part of the house. Also, the material from which this floor is built is taken into account. You need to know what indicator of thermal conductivity it has. The plan also indicates what material the load-bearing floors are made of. It can be wood, metal or reinforced concrete. Next, the calculation of the amount and thickness of the insulation.
It is worth considering that the attic can be completely above the living room. In this case, floor insulation is easier. But it happens that the building is displaced beyond the floor. In this case, part of the attic is supported by columns. Its floor will require more materials for insulation.
Many owners of private real estate know that wall insulation is best done outside. This allows you to move the dew point, optimizing heat loss. However, insulating the attic from the inside is a generally accepted option for warming. All surfaces that need insulation are in the living space of the building. Only the pediment will require a separate external insulation. It is mounted in the process of attic insulation.
When creating a living space that will remain warm even in winter, you need to consider the advice of specialists. They argue that the reduction of heat loss is provided by two materials. First of all, of course, it is insulation. However, even with the right choice, installation that does not meet the requirements of building codes can lead to heat loss.
To prevent this, the insulation is protected with a special film. This is a waterproofing that prevents moisture from entering the insulation. If it is not installed, the insulation will get wet. In this state, it easily conducts heat to the outside. Therefore, you need to find out before starting installation how to choose and install a heater correctly.
Recommendations about the choice of insulation
Insulation of the attic from the inside, if the roof is already covered, is quite simple. If the roof has not yet been installed, special attention should be paid to its arrangement. The choice of materials for attic insulation depends on this. Roofing pie also involves the installation of steam, hydro and thermal insulation. The roof can be finished with any materials that comply with building codes for this type of roof.
A wide selection of heaters is on sale. They can be synthetic, mineral. Also, thermal insulation can be presented in the form of plates or in rolls. The cost is also significantly different. Experts advise to purchase material in plates. It is tougher, so it keeps its shape better. Such qualities make it possible to carry out insulation with fewer fixing elements.
It should also be taken into account that the insulation of the attic ceiling, as well as its walls, must be carried out using special technology. Between the insulation and the wall, you will need to leave a ventilation gap. In this case, the indoor climate will be healthy. Otherwise, fungus and mold may develop under the material. This can lead to malaise, allergies, asthma, etc.
When choosing materials, you need to consider with what step the roof rafters are mounted. The width of the plates or roll materials is chosen in accordance with this indicator. If the dimensions of the thermal insulation do not coincide with the step of the rafters, the installation will become more complicated. This nuance must be taken into account when choosing thermal insulation.
You can choose almost any insulation that has proven itself in practice. However, the main advantages and disadvantages of each of them need to be considered in more detail. When choosing, they also take into account the climatic features of the area in which the house is built.
Mineral, glass and ecowool
Insulating the attic from the inside with mineral wool is a good option. This material has several varieties. It happens basalt, stone, glass wool. They differ in manufacturing technology, fiber thickness and the material from which they were made. The operational qualities of each type of mineral wool depend on this.
The fibers in the structure of the wool are laid with a certain density. Between them is air. This gives the material high thermal insulation qualities. Cotton wool can be produced in slabs or rolls. The first option is tougher. Mineral wool is a non-combustible material. Therefore, it can be stacked even in wooden attics. In this case, the composition of this insulation does not include any toxic substances, so cotton wool is called environmentally friendly insulation.
Modern types of cotton wool are easy to install. They do not emit microscopic dust particles into the air. This negative property distinguished the previous varieties of cotton wool. It can also be said that such a type of insulation as glass wool used to cause irritation when it came into contact with the skin. Today, technology has improved significantly. Glass wool with very thin fibers is on sale. Previously, production could not provide such indicators. Fine fibers cannot cause microdamages to the skin. Therefore, working with such material is simple and safe.
Do-it-yourself insulation of the attic with mineral wool is very simple. This material easily fits into the prepared compartments from the frame. This insulation can be used for insulation of walls, floors. However, screed must not be poured on top of mineral wool. It is not strong enough.
One of the new materials is ecowool. It can be laid dry or wet. In the first case, a large amount of dust rises into the air. Wet laying method requires a lot of time. After such an installation, ecowool should dry thoroughly. This type of thermal insulation is very soft. It must be stuffed into the prepared space with a margin of about 25%. If this is not done, over time the material will sit down and lose its original qualities.
Polyfoam and expanded polystyrene
Warming the attic with polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam is also one of the possible options. It is a synthetic material. It is made in the form of plates with different dimensions. There is a big difference between polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam.
It should be noted that synthetic materials are completely devoid of the ability to pass steam. Therefore, their installation should be carried out using waterproofing. Otherwise, a fungus may appear on the wall under such insulation. It will destroy walls, reducing the life of the building. At the same time, the indoor microclimate will not be healthy. Polyfoam and expanded polystyrene are combustible materials. When heated, they can release toxic substances into space. Therefore, not all types of attics are allowed to use this material.
Insulation of the attic with polystyrene will cost much cheaper than using other materials. This is a fairly fragile material. In terms of its heat-insulating properties, it is inferior to both expanded polystyrene and mineral wool. Therefore, the thickness of the foam plates should be large.
Expanded polystyrene is a rigid material that can be used for floor insulation. Its sheets can have a much smaller thickness than that of foam. At the same time, the cost of expanded polystyrene will also be significantly higher. This material is often used for external insulation of gables. In the room, synthetic heaters are almost never used.
It should be noted that polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam can be attacked by pests (mice, insects). This leads to the rapid destruction of the insulation layer. For internal insulation it is better to use environmentally friendly mineral wool.
Other varieties of insulation
The thickness of the attic insulation depends on the properties of insulating materials. It is better to choose such varieties that are able to retain heat indoors, while not taking up much space. They cost more. However, with a significant thickness of the insulation, the interior space of the room can significantly decrease. It will be uncomfortable here.
One of the new materials that can be used to create insulation is polyurethane foam. It is sprayed onto any surface under pressure. This allows you to insulate the plane with any bias. This is very convenient when creating a heat-insulating layer inside the attic. In this case, no gaps are formed in the material. This avoids the appearance of cold bridges.
Polyurethane foam does not need a vapor barrier. It is very tight to the surface, absolutely not letting in moisture. Therefore, you can not be afraid of the appearance of condensation on the back of the finish. The cost of this material can be quite high. In this case, you will need to use special equipment or hire specialists.
The insulation of the attic from the inside with your own hands can also be done using foil roll materials. Thermal insulation of this type has a small thickness, which is an advantage when finishing a small attic space. Moreover, it can be made of different materials. The simplest type of basis for such a heater is foamed polyethylene. He can not boast of high thermal insulation ability. The top layer of the foil allows you to reflect heat and direct it back into the room.
It is best to give preference when choosing such insulation based on foam rubber. Such material has a black color. One side of it is also covered with foil. With a thickness of only 5-7 mm, this insulation is able to provide the same quality of thermal insulation as polystyrene foam with a thickness of 3 cm.
Cost of materials
In order to make the right decision about the choice of type of thermal insulation, one must also consider their cost. If the owners of the house want to perform the insulation of the attic with basalt mineral wool, they should expect that this material will cost about 150 rubles / m². This material may shrink, but it can be installed on a broken roof. Glass wool will cost less. This material can be purchased on average at a price of about 100 rubles / m². Types of mineral wool differ in terms of strength and thermal conductivity. The price may also depend on the manufacturer of the material.
Ecowool is affordable. It can be purchased at a price of 40 rubles / kg. This material has an antiseptic impregnation, which does not allow pests to destroy it during operation.
Do-it-yourself insulation of the roof of the attic, as well as its gables, can be done using polystyrene foam. This material costs from 3 to 3.5 thousand rubles / m³. Expanded polystyrene will cost more. It can also be used to create a layer of floor insulation. The cost of polystyrene foam averages from 4 to 5.5 thousand rubles / m³. It is a durable material. Its installation on the inner surface of the roof of a broken shape is problematic.
The cost of polyurethane foam will be quite high. It is not sold by volume, but by weight. The cost of this material is from 200 to 300 rubles / kg. It should be borne in mind that when using this type of insulation, it will be necessary to provide additional costs for the purchase or rental of equipment or the payment of workers.
Foiled varieties of insulation can vary in cost depending on the type of base material. If it is made of foamed polyethylene, the cost of insulation will be from 50 rubles / m². Varieties of materials that are made of foamed rubber can be purchased at a price of 150 rubles / m² or more. The cost is affected by the thickness of the insulation, its density and performance.
Thermal insulation of the roof and gables
Insulation of the roof of the attic requires the use of hard varieties of insulation. Slopes are downhill. Therefore, over time, soft material may deform. You can use basalt wool slabs, polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene. Between the rafters you need to tightly install a heater. You will also need to lay a layer of thermal insulation under or above the beams. Insulation should be kept by the crate.
If the width of the insulation was not enough to completely fill the gap between the rafters, a strip with an appropriate width is cut from the material. In order for the insulation to be firmly pressed to the rafter system, you need to cut an additional piece with a margin of 2-2.5 cm more. This strip is driven with force into the space between the beam and the insulation plate.
All details must be tightly joined together, even if the surface configuration is complex. It is necessary to create an additional layer of insulation around the perimeter of window openings. Leave a ventilation gap between the insulation and the roof. In this case, it is necessary to apply vapor barrier from the side of the room and waterproofing from the side of the roof.
The insulation of the roof of the attic from the inside is carried out after a layer of thermal insulation is installed on the gables. It can be laid inside layered masonry. In some cases, it will be necessary to create a ventilated facade for decoration. Between the pediment and insulation leave 4 cm of free space. You can also glue polystyrene foam or mineral wool on the wall surface. In this case, waterproofing is used and additional reinforcement is carried out before the finish.
Thermal insulation for floors
Warming the attic from the inside with your own hands involves the creation of a layer of thermal insulation for floors. In this case, one must take into account their type and material features. In the presence of reinforced concrete floors and self-leveling floors, very strong material must be used. Such a heater is polystyrene foam. From above it is poured with a screed and almost any type of finish is used.
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