Attic insulation and vapor barrier on the roof ridge. What is the best way to insulate a mansard roof? Insulation of walls and floors from the inside

11.05.2020

Competent warming attic from the inside allows you to use the room all year round in addition, it helps to significantly save on heating and electricity costs for heating the building as a whole.

Attic insulation options depend on at what stage of house construction. In the article, we will figure out how to properly perform thermal insulation, the better it is to insulate the premises, and we will offer step by step instructions how to make attic insulation from the inside with your own hands.

How to insulate the attic floor

How to properly insulate the floor on reinforced concrete floors

To insulate the floor, first we clean the stove from debris and dust, close up cracks and irregularities cement-sand mortar. Next, we carry out waterproofing of the slab, coating method bituminous mastic on 2 layers, or we lay roofing material, the joints must be overlapped and hermetically glued with a blowtorch - this will protect the insulation from condensation.

We lay insulation on the floor, it can be mineral or basalt wool, expanded clay, polystyrene, polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, etc. Pore insulation is laid on the insulation, then a reinforcing mesh with a cell of 600 * 600 mm or more, from reinforcement with a cross section of up to 6 mm.

The fittings are poured with a cement screed, after which you can start finishing the floor, the material is selected depending on the design of the attic.

Photo of floor insulation in the attic, the insulation layer should fit snugly against the logs

How to make floor insulation on a wooden floor

Before insulating the wooden floor in the attic, be sure to treat the old coating with a refractory compound and antiseptics. Further, for insulation, logs are stuffed from a bar of 100 * 100 mm, in increments of 500-600 mm. The logs are sheathed with a waterproofing membrane, and on top of it, a heater is laid very tightly between the beams, all gaps should be sealed with mounting foam. The insulation is covered with a vapor barrier, always overlapping by 150 mm. On top, you can attach sheet material: plywood, chipboard, OSB, on which the fine finish is laid, or cover it with a floorboard for painting.

How to insulate the ceiling in the attic

Hemming is extremely rare, since this is already a low room. But if such a need arose, in mind severe frosts, or features require it, then, first of all, it is necessary to stretch the vapor barrier membrane around the perimeter of the future ceiling. Next, we install a crate of wooden bars or metal profiles, with a cell of 600 * 600 mm. Inside the crate we place a heater, mineral wool. The crate is sewn up with another layer of vapor barrier, then you can hem the ceiling with facing materials.

Crate for insulation of the attic ceiling

Advice: If the attic is planned to be insulated with slab materials, then they are mounted on top of the crate. The frame should be reinforced with stiffeners so that the crate does not sag from the weight of the insulation.

What insulation to choose for the attic

The question of how best to insulate the attic from the inside is very acute, and see, reviews on the forums vary dramatically, each material has its undeniable advantages, as well as disadvantages.

Styrofoam

Attic foam insulation is the most a budget option keep the heat in the room. To insulate the attic space, a layer of foam plastic with a thickness of at least 100 mm is required. It is an almost weightless material, easy to install, suitable for insulation and. But it burns, gets moldy, and besides, rodents use it to organize their moves throughout the house. Despite the fact that this method of insulation has passed the test of time, the question of whether it is worth it to insulate the attic with foam plastic, the reviews differ from “by no means” to “only foam plastic”, remains open. We invite you to watch the instructions, which describe in detail how to perform attic insulation with foam plastic, the video clearly demonstrates all the advantages and disadvantages of working with this material

Extruded polystyrene foam

Insulation of the attic floor with extruded polystyrene foam, as a rule, is performed outside the building. Despite the fact that many consider this material to be foam, their chemical composition is very different. Expanded polystyrene tolerates chemical influences well, has a thermal conductivity lower than that of polystyrene, and practically does not allow moisture to pass through. Even if water has penetrated the surface of the insulation, the material will retain its thermal insulation characteristics during freezing and thawing. Expanded polystyrenes have different densities, the higher this indicator, the heavier the insulation, the lower the density, the better the heat and sound insulation properties. But extruded polystyrene foam is destroyed upon contact with complex carbohydrates, it is also deformed by ultraviolet rays, therefore, it is not recommended to use nitro-based paints.

Watch the video on how to insulate the attic with your own hands with extruded polystyrene foam

Penofol

Insulation of the attic with penofol is financially costly, relative to polystyrene. This is a new roll insulation, which is a competitor for mineral wool. It has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, a good thermal insulator, and is resistant to moisture. The huge advantage of penofol is that it protects the room from the effects of radioactive substances, but does not tolerate mechanical loads well, and requires skills when laying the heat-insulating layer, a violation of the technology leads to a deterioration in the heat-insulating characteristics of the insulation.

Polyurethane foam spraying

Thermal insulation, made by spraying polyurethane foam, has no joints, and, therefore, cold bridges. Such insulation does not require the cost of preliminary preparation of the attic for thermal insulation, the material is poured to the thickness of the attic rafters and more. The insulation is sprayed directly on the walls, floor, ceiling with special equipment. PPU is resistant to fungi, and practically does not allow moisture to pass through, but it does not tolerate the effects of esters and concentrated acids.

Ecowool

Ecowool consists of 80% cellulose, and 20% of antiseptics and flame retardant additives. When using this material for attic insulation, it is necessary to take into account the volume, since the insulation is greatly loosened. To perform high-quality attic insulation with ecowool, a layer about 200 mm thick should be applied. This is an eco-friendly insulation, lays on the surface like papier-mâché, manually or mechanically, does not form joints. It has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, is resistant to fungi and bacteria, and practically does not burn. The installation of a heat-insulating layer requires knowledge of the application technology and professional skills.

Warming with ecowool, this method of thermal protection requires skills and knowledge of the technology of applying material to the surface

Mineral wool

Using mineral wool for insulation is the most popular way to keep warm in the attic. Depending on the composition and density of wool, it can be placed in a spacer or in a special frame. Mineral wool does not rot, but absorbs moisture, because of this, its thermal insulation characteristics decrease, and the moisture-saturated insulation becomes noticeably heavier, which places significant loads on the rafters and the attic roof. When insulated with mineral wool, there is practically no waste left, it is easy to cut. To insulate the attic floor, a layer 100-200 mm thick is required, depending on design features structure. When working with mineral wool, wear a protective suit and goggles.

Attic insulation, video instruction on how to properly lay a heat-insulating layer of mineral wool

Sawdust

I would like not to leave the old grandfather and almost free way insulation. The device of a heat-insulating cake using sawdust. This is eco friendly way insulation, time-tested. Sawdust is mixed with lime and an insulating layer 100 mm thick is laid. Such thermal insulation is several times inferior to modern heaters, in addition, it is a fire hazardous method of insulation. But if this is a country house, and according to the attic project, a cold unheated room, then this method of insulation is fully justified.

To insulate the attic, you can use both traditional materials and modern heaters, the main thing is to correctly calculate the thickness of the heat-insulating layer

The market is now huge selection insulation: rockwool stone wool, slab foam, backfill, plates, mats, etc. Which insulation is best for the attic depends on which room should be insulated: if it is a warm attic, then basalt wool, polyurethane foam have advantages, and if it is cold, foam and sawdust. The second criterion for choosing a heater is how much you are willing to spend on thermal insulation. It is believed that universal heaters cannot be in principle, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. We have tried to find the best for you. helpful tips how to insulate the attic, video materials will help you understand the intricacies of the thermal insulation device with each specific material.

The subtleties of insulation and hydro-vapor barrier of the attic

How to properly install insulation?

Thinking about how to insulate the attic floor, we often lose sight of important things. For example, a large role in the effectiveness of insulation is played by how correctly the material was laid.

The material should be laid in two layers, where the second overlaps the seams and joints of the first.
The thickness of the rafter legs and the first layer of insulation should be the same. Otherwise, the plates of the second layer will get bends, which leads to a loss of joint density.
The width of the insulation should be equal to the distance between the rafter legs. So the plates will lie flat, with full adjacency, the insulation of the attic floor from the inside will turn out to be complete.

The second layer of insulation does not stay in place, what should I do?

With the insulation of the attic with slab materials, there are usually no problems - they stand between the slats of the counter-batten by surprise. Roll types are soft, they sag and, as a result, fall out of their place. A logical question arises: how to properly insulate the attic with your own hands so that everything is securely fixed? The problem is solved with nails and a synthetic cord:

We fill small nails along the edges of the rails of the counter-batten.
The cord is tied to the topmost nail.
The material is inserted into place and secured with a cord, overlapping from one rail to another.

We work like this until we finish the insulation of the attic with our own hands.

How to insulate walls under roof slopes?

If a internal walls living attic under a sloping roof are made vertical, in addition to choosing how to insulate the walls of the attic from the inside, there is another task: the placement of insulating material. You do not need to do this directly along the bevels of the roof. The insulation is placed on the shields that will serve as the walls of the future room. And so that the material does not fall into the space under the roof, on the reverse side, the shields are hemmed with scraps of boards. Wall insulation from the inside, the photo of which you see below, is performed in this way.

Is it possible to replace the steam protection of the floor with moisture protection?

Usually, the attic floor insulation cake in the country house consists of a layer of waterproofing, insulation and vapor barrier. The idea of installing moisture protection instead of vapor protection seems logical - protecting the floor from spilled water. Not so simple. The heater works as long as it is dry. Thermal insulation performance decreases with increasing humidity levels.

If we fill the floor with a vapor barrier, the water will sooner or later evaporate, and the insulation will restore its properties. When moisture protection is on top, and water somehow gets inside the ceiling, there will be no way out for moisture. We get: the lack of floor insulation in the attic floor and the presence, over time, of mold under it.

How to properly install a vapor barrier?

Insulation of the attic floor from the inside is never complete without the installation of vapor barrier membranes. This process has its own nuances:

Foil membranes are installed with the shiny side into the room.
The positioning of ordinary fiberglass sheets is determined by touch - with the smooth side towards the insulation, the rough side - into the room.
Installation of any vapor barrier cloths is carried out in strips, in a horizontal direction, from bottom to top.

These rules apply to the insulation of the attic floor both along the bevels of the roof and along the gables.

How wide should the ventilation gap between the roof and the insulation pie be?

The width of the ventilation gap depends on the type of roofing material, and not on how you are going to insulate the attic from the inside:

Bituminous tiles, roll materials, asbestos cement sheets, galvanized steel - under them should be at least 50 mm.
Any corrugated sheets such as metal tiles, profiled galvanized steel - from the roofing material to the attic insulation layer from the inside, we leave a gap of 25 mm.

How to avoid mistakes during attic insulation with polystyrene foam?

You can not use dowel-mushrooms during the insulation of the attic with foam. Reviews usually do not reflect this, but the multiple cold bridges resulting from the process increase heat loss.
When thinking about how to insulate the attic with foam, remember that this material is not suitable for wooden surfaces.
Should be avoided polyurethane foam to eliminate gaps between foam boards. It is better to choose a material that has a tongue-and-groove connection. If you need to put together the cut parts - just fit them with a knife.

Which is better, basalt wool or slag?

Many are at a loss as to which insulation is best for the attic. This is especially true of slag and basalt mineral wool - they are called in one word, they look similar. The latter is better already because it has a lower thermal conductivity coefficient - 0.12. For slag wool, this indicator is 0.48. Another advantage of basalt insulation is the absence of formaldehyde in the composition. Therefore, when deciding how best to insulate the attic from the inside, it is preferable to stop at basalt wool.

What to do if the thickness of the insulation turned out to be greater than the height of the crate?

If, while insulating the attic gable from the inside, you find that the insulation is too thick and protrudes above the crate, in no case should it be crushed. The heat-preserving properties of the material directly depend on its density: the smaller it is, the greater the effect of the insulation.

By crushing, for example, slag wool, we compact it, worsening its properties. How to insulate the pediment of the attic without redoing the crate? Just increase its thickness by stuffing the slats of the desired section on top. They do the same with the bevels of the roof, increasing the rafters in width.

Is it possible to do without insulation of the insulated attic floor?

Deciding how to insulate the attic for winter residence we often doubt whether it is necessary to take such care of the hydro- and vapor barrier of the floor. In theory, if the floor is well insulated and insulated along the walls and roof, this can be omitted. However, do not forget that warm air tends to rise up, and with it the moisture rises. That is, the floor of the last floor receives moisture from the whole house. Therefore, in the winter version of the attic, the insulation layers must be enclosed in water and vapor barrier membranes.

If you decide to settle in the attic space, you need to take care of its comfort. To do this, the attic should be insulated from the inside. How to do it efficiently and what materials to choose: tips and tricks, as well as detailed instructions- in our article.

The attic, unlike other rooms in the house, is colder, because it is most exposed to environment, bad weather. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively insulate the attic floor. Having correctly selected the materials, as well as having studied the technology of their installation, this work can be done by hand.

What is the best insulation for the attic?

The difficulty of choosing a heat-insulating material lies in the fact that attics are different architectural form, their surfaces are often uneven. Therefore, for each type of housing, there are different recommendations for warming the attic floor from the inside.

What is the best way to insulate the attic from the inside? The choice of material depends on many factors:

To insulate the attic floor, various heat insulators can be used. Consider their main characteristics.

Insulation options

Thermal insulation with sawdust is economical, it allows you to fill even hard-to-reach places. In combination with cement (gypsum) and antiseptic - sawdust forms a mixture that does not burn and does not attract pests.

Attic floor insulation with sawdust

Affordable, inexpensive and lightweight insulator that can be used on flat loft surfaces. But attic foam insulation has a number of disadvantages: due to the low vapor permeability of the foam, dampness can occur, and drafts can occur due to gaps between the insulation plates. A significant drawback of this material is that mice often make their holes in it. Also, foam plastic, like its other analogues, emits toxic smoke when burned.

Styrofoam

More preferable is the insulation of the attic floor with polystyrene foam. This material practically does not form joints during laying and does not attract rodents, provides good heat and sound insulation.

Another type of foam is extruded polystyrene foam. Insulation of the attic floor with extruded polystyrene foam provides high-quality heat and sound insulation, lack of moisture. The material is light and durable, but has disadvantages: flammability, fear of UV radiation.

Penofol insulation provides excellent heat, noise and waterproofing of the room, protects against radioactive rays, but the material is not strong enough.

Using penofol to insulate the attic floor

polyurethane foam

Insulation of the attic floor with polyurethane foam is carried out by spraying the mixture onto the surface. Among the advantages of polyurethane foam: quick installation, good thermal insulation, resistance to moisture, does not attract rodents. Disadvantages: low resistance to high temperatures, concentrated acids, esters.

Good tightness is ensured by attic insulation with polyurethane foam, consumer reviews are an excellent confirmation of this.

Mineral wool

Insulation of the attic floor with basalt mineral wool meets all the parameters of high-quality insulation. The material is not combustible, does not absorb moisture, retains heat. Due to its elasticity, mineral wool fills voids well and stays in place.

This material consists of processed cellulose. It is supplied in crushed form and applied using a special tool. Advantages of attic insulation with ecowool: environmental friendliness, seamless insulation, high heat and vapor barrier, easy installation, resistance to moisture, microorganisms, fire.

The disadvantages of ecowool include the fact that certain qualifications are required to work with it.

With such diversity building materials the question arises: what kind of insulation to choose for the attic? The main indicator to be guided by is the coefficient of thermal conductivity. It is indicated on the packaging of the material, or in the quality certificate. Based on these data, a calculation is made whether it will be enough to lay one layer of insulator, or whether it is necessary to do double laying in order to avoid possible heat losses.

Tip: For high-quality and reliable thermal insulation of the attic floor, choose a heater with a thermal conductivity coefficient of no higher than 0.05 W / m * K.

In order to choose the right insulator, there is a certain method for calculating its density.

Wall heat transfer resistance formula (R req). It looks like this: Rreq=(1/А1) + (L/k)+(1/А2)

Where A1 is the heat exchange index of the attic floor wall from the inside (8.7 W / m 0C).

A2 - an indicator of heat exchange at the outer plane of the wall (which is 23 W / m 0C).

L - denotes the thickness of the wall material (meters), and its thermal conductivity coefficient - k.

How to insulate the attic floor: methods of thermal insulation

The main ways to insulate the attic:

outdoor - requires special equipment and additional labor;
internal - you can do it yourself.

Internal insulation of the attic floor is carried out in several stages:

How to properly insulate the attic from the inside: the roof

There are many materials for attic roof insulation. The process of thermal insulation can be carried out in several ways:

between the roof rafters;
over the roof structure;
under the rafters.

The most effective option is combined insulation.

To perform thermal insulation work on any surface, the technology for mounting materials must be observed.

Attic floor insulation scheme - pie (insulation)

First, waterproofing is laid along the rafters.

Important: At the same time, a gap is left between the roof and the material - an air gap necessary for good ventilation and protection of the roof structure from decay.

The thickness of the air gap depends on the material of the roof covering. If it is wavy, then it should be at least 2.5 cm, if flat - twice as much.

Then comes a layer of insulation, and finally - a vapor barrier film.

Important to know: For tightness, the material of the vapor barrier is overlapped, and the joints are sealed with adhesive tape.

For the formation plasterboard ceiling profiles are attached.

Step by step roof insulation

After the roof of the attic is insulated, the thermal insulation of the gable should also be carried out, otherwise the attic floor will not become a full-fledged warm room.

Insulation of the pediment of the room is best done from the outside. But, since it is quite problematic to insulate the walls of the attic from the outside, in wooden house, a house made of foam concrete or brick, laying a heat insulator is also possible from the inside.

To insulate the pediment of the attic floor, foam plastic, mineral wool, light fiberglass-based insulation are used. Particularly effective is the insulation of the pediment with mineral wool. If the premises will be used as residential, the material must have a thickness of at least 250 mm, for non-residential premises 100-120 mm is sufficient.

The order of insulation is as follows: first, slats are fixed to the walls for laying a heat insulator (at a distance of 60 cm from each other). Next, cotton wool is laid at random between the racks of the crate.

Laying mineral wool by surprise

A vapor barrier membrane is stretched over the crate and fastened finishing material- drywall, lining, wood panels.

Sheathing of the attic floor with drywall after insulation

To keep the heat in the attic floor, you should choose the right windows. Window blocks for installation in the pediment must have a two- or five-chamber double-glazed window. This will ensure high-quality thermal insulation of the roof space.

In order to reduce heat loss in the attic to a minimum, the floor of the room should be insulated. The method of thermal insulation depends on the type of flooring of the floors of the house.

So for hardwood floor floors, two layers of a vapor-tight membrane are laid, between which an insulator is mounted.

Insulation of wooden floors between floors with cotton wool

If the attic has a ceramic or self-leveling floor, then the insulation for it must be heavy-duty (for example, isoflor). On top of it is a film that is overlapped, finding on the walls.

Thermal insulation of the self-leveling floor

For reinforced concrete flooring of the floor, wooden flooring along the logs can also be used.

Do-it-yourself insulation of the attic from the inside - floor

Logs are installed on soundproof pads, and when installing heat-insulating plates, ventilation gaps are made in the corners.

Insulated attic floor ready for finishing, photo

Since this room borders on the external environment, the highest requirements are imposed on the insulation of the attic floor, because with improper thermal insulation, heat will leave the house.

Properly performed insulation of the attic floor of the house will significantly reduce heating costs, create a favorable microclimate in the house and increase the service life of structural elements.

Examples of attic insulation, video and photo instructions on the best way to insulate the attic from the inside: foam, mineral wool, polyurethane foam, choice of insulation

How to make attic insulation from the inside with your own hands? Detailed photo and video instructions on how to insulate the attic floor, comparison and advice on choosing heaters: mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, penofol

How to insulate the attic from the inside and which insulation to choose?

Proper insulation of the attic from the inside allows you to use the room all year round, in addition, it helps to significantly save on heating and electricity costs for heating the building as a whole.

Options for insulating the attic depend on at what stage of the construction of the house the attic floor was laid. In the article, we will figure out how to properly perform thermal insulation, the better it is to insulate the premises, and we will offer step-by-step instructions on how to do the attic insulation from the inside with your own hands.

If the attic was planned at the design stage of the house, then all rooms are insulated in a complex, in this case, the type of insulation is initially correlated with the specifics of the attic room. If the attic floor is cold, it is planned to use it only in warm weather, then it is enough to insulate the floor.

If the attic is to be used as permanent housing, then multi-layer insulation of the attic from the inside is assumed, it is important to pay attention to the insulation of not only the roof, but also the floor, walls, if any, then the ceiling. Also, attic heating will have to be integrated with the heating system of the house.

Features of attic insulation

Insulation of the attic floor will prevent the cooling of the house and significantly save money on heating all rooms. From the course of physics, it is known that warm air rises, so the temperature under the attic ceiling is on average 2 o C higher than in other rooms. And under the same conditions of insulation, heat loss through the attic increases significantly. As you can see, the attic is a specific room, which is why more serious requirements are put forward for the insulation of this room. Of course, you should start insulating the attic floor from the roof. There is an algorithm for creating a thermal cake for insulating an attic roof, in which each layer has its own fundamental significance:

roofing material;
counterlattice;
waterproofing;
a gap for free air flows for ventilation of thermal insulation;
insulation;
vapor barrier membrane;
crate;
clean finish.

But besides the roof, the attic also consists of gables - vertical walls, the floor, which is the floor and ceiling of the lower floor. Sometimes a ceiling is hemmed on the attic floor, which provides additional insulation of the building as a whole, since an air gap is formed between the roof and the premises.

Please note: If icicles form on the roof of the house, then the thermal insulation of the attic is made in violation of the technology. Warm air flows out into the street, the snow on the roof melts, and freezes again from the cold outside temperatures.

How to insulate the vertical walls of the attic floor

Before insulating the attic floor, seal all large gaps with jute or soft insulation. To the insulation of the pediment - vertical wall lofts have special requirements. Ideally, the attic gables, made of foam concrete, timber, brick, should be insulated from the outside of the building. A layer of thermal insulation is laid between the outer part of the wall and the facing layer of the house: decorative brick, clapboard, blockhouse, siding panels, leaving an air gap for ventilation. But if this opportunity is missed, or you need a warmer residential attic for permanent residence, then you can insulate the gables from the inside.

The vertical wall insulation scheme is identical to the attic roof insulation:

facade material;
a counter rail that forms an air gap and holds the waterproofing layer;
waterproofing - a membrane, perforated films that let steam out and do not let moisture in; for cold and damp areas, it is recommended to use an anti-condensation film - a waterproofing film, which on the one hand resembles a fleecy material, it absorbs moisture, which in turn prevents the formation of drops and wetting of the insulation;
insulation;
vapor barrier, "breathing membrane", non-perforated films, polyethylene films reinforced with an aluminum layer, which will protect the insulation from getting wet;
finishing material.

Step-by-step instructions for insulating attic walls:

Wall insulation should begin with their treatment with fire-fighting and antifungal compounds.

Along the perimeter of window openings, it is necessary to make a structure of bars for joining the heat-insulating cake with skylights. After that, a layer of waterproofing is attached to the walls with the help of a counter-lattice (slats with a section of 20 * 20, 20 * 40 mm). The slats will create the necessary clearance to ventilate the heat-insulating cake. Perhaps the pediment in your case consists of beams or rafters, then the waterproofing layer is fastened with staples close to the beams, and the thickness of the beams will serve as a gap between the insulation and the wall. Be sure to overlap the waterproofing by 150-200 mm.

Further, if the wall is straight, with the help of mushroom dowels, a slab insulation is attached, tightly to each other, it is desirable to seal the joints with mounting foam. If a soft material is chosen as a heater - mineral wool, then it is necessary to make a frame from a metal profile, with a step of 500 mm. The frame should move away from the wall by 100-200 mm, it depends on the thickness of the insulation layer. The thickness of the attic insulation is calculated for each house individually, and depends on the selected thermal insulation material, its density and heat transfer coefficient. Mineral wool is placed in the resulting gap.

How to fix the insulation

If the attic is intended for permanent residence, and the house is located in a cold climate zone, then combined attic insulation is recommended. In this case, the first layer of insulation is covered with a vapor barrier, then the second layer is laid, which is clamped with a crate of metal profiles or timber. And again, a layer of vapor barrier is laid.

Attic insulation, photo of a thermal insulation layer made of mineral wool, soft materials fastened to the wall with a crate

Then the insulation is sewn up with a vapor barrier membrane, as well as an overlap, like a waterproofing material, and you can proceed to finish the attic floor.

How to insulate the attic floor

How to properly insulate the floor on reinforced concrete floors

To insulate the floor, first we clean the slab from debris and dust, close up cracks and irregularities with a cement-sand mortar. Next, we carry out waterproofing of the slab, by coating it with bituminous mastic for 2 layers, or by laying roofing material, the joints must be overlapped and hermetically glued with a blowtorch - this will protect the insulation from condensate.

The fittings are poured with a cement screed, after which you can start finishing the floor, the material is selected depending on the design of the attic.

Photo of floor insulation in the attic, the insulation layer should fit snugly against the logs

How to make floor insulation on a wooden floor

How to insulate the ceiling in the attic

The ceiling in the attic is extremely rarely hemmed, since this is already a low room. But if such a need arose, in view of severe frosts, or this is required by the features of the interior of the attic, then, first of all, it is necessary to stretch the vapor barrier membrane around the perimeter of the future ceiling. Next, we install a crate of wooden bars or metal profiles, with a cell of 600 * 600 mm. Inside the crate we place a heater, mineral wool. The crate is sewn up with another layer of vapor barrier, then you can hem the ceiling with facing materials.

Crate for insulation of the attic ceiling

What insulation to choose for the attic

The question of how best to insulate the attic from the inside is very acute, and see, reviews on the forums vary dramatically, each material has its undeniable advantages, as well as disadvantages.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Polyurethane foam spraying

Warming with ecowool, this method of thermal protection requires skills and knowledge of the technology of applying material to the surface

Mineral wool

Using mineral wool for insulation is the most popular way to keep warm in the attic. Depending on the composition and density of wool, it can be placed in a spacer or in a special frame. Mineral wool does not rot, but absorbs moisture, because of this, its thermal insulation characteristics decrease, and the moisture-saturated insulation becomes noticeably heavier, which places significant loads on the rafters and the attic roof. When insulated with mineral wool, there is practically no waste left, it is easy to cut. To insulate the attic floor, a layer 100-200 mm thick is required, depending on the design features of the structure. When working with mineral wool, wear a protective suit and goggles.

I would like not to leave the old grandfather's and almost free way of warming. The device of a heat-insulating cake using sawdust. This is an environmentally friendly way of warming, time-tested. Sawdust is mixed with lime and an insulating layer 100 mm thick is laid. Such thermal insulation is several times inferior to modern heaters, in addition, it is a fire hazardous method of insulation. But if this is a country house, and according to the attic project, a cold unheated room, then this method of insulation is fully justified.

To insulate the attic, you can use both traditional materials and modern heaters, the main thing is to correctly calculate the thickness of the heat-insulating layer

The subtleties of insulation and hydro-vapor barrier of the attic

How to properly install insulation?

Thinking about how to insulate the attic floor, we often lose sight of important things. For example, a large role in the effectiveness of insulation is played by how correctly the material was laid.

The material should be laid in two layers, where the second overlaps the seams and joints of the first.
The thickness of the rafter legs and the first layer of insulation should be the same. Otherwise, the plates of the second layer will get bends, which leads to a loss of joint density.
The width of the insulation should be equal to the distance between the rafter legs. So the plates will lie flat, with full adjacency, the insulation of the attic floor from the inside will turn out to be complete.

The second layer of insulation does not stay in place, what should I do?

We fill small nails along the edges of the rails of the counter-batten.
The cord is tied to the topmost nail.
The material is inserted into place and secured with a cord, overlapping from one rail to another.

We work like this until we finish the insulation of the attic with our own hands.

How to insulate walls under roof slopes?

If the internal walls of a residential attic under a sloping roof are made vertical, in addition to choosing how to insulate the walls of the attic from the inside, you have another task: the placement of insulating material. You do not need to do this directly along the bevels of the roof. The insulation is placed on the shields that will serve as the walls of the future room. And so that the material does not fall into the space under the roof, on the reverse side, the shields are hemmed with scraps of boards. Wall insulation from the inside, the photo of which you see below, is performed in this way.

Is it possible to replace the steam protection of the floor with moisture protection?

How to properly install a vapor barrier?

Insulation of the attic floor from the inside is never complete without the installation of vapor barrier membranes. This process has its own nuances:

Foil membranes are installed with the shiny side into the room.
The positioning of ordinary fiberglass sheets is determined by touch - with the smooth side towards the insulation, the rough side - into the room.
Installation of any vapor barrier cloths is carried out in strips, in a horizontal direction, from bottom to top.

These rules apply to the insulation of the attic floor both along the bevels of the roof and along the gables.

How wide should the ventilation gap between the roof and the insulation pie be?

The width of the ventilation gap depends on the type of roofing material, and not on how you are going to insulate the attic from the inside:

Bituminous tiles, rolled materials, asbestos-cement sheets, galvanized steel - there must be at least 50 mm under them.
Any corrugated sheets such as metal tiles, profiled galvanized steel - from the roofing material to the attic insulation layer from the inside, we leave a gap of 25 mm.

How to avoid mistakes during attic insulation with polystyrene foam?

You can not use dowel-mushrooms during the insulation of the attic with foam. Reviews usually do not reflect this, but the multiple cold bridges resulting from the process increase heat loss.
When thinking about how to insulate the attic with foam, remember that this material is not suitable for wooden surfaces.
The use of mounting foam to fill gaps between foam boards should be avoided. It is better to choose a material that has a tongue-and-groove connection. If you need to put together the cut parts - just fit them with a knife.

Which is better, basalt wool or slag?

What to do if the thickness of the insulation turned out to be greater than the height of the crate?

Is it possible to do without insulation of the insulated attic floor?

When deciding how to insulate the attic for winter living, we often doubt whether it is necessary to take care of the hydro and vapor barrier of the floor. In theory, if the floor is well insulated and insulated along the walls and roof, this can be omitted. However, do not forget that warm air tends to rise up, and moisture also rises with it. That is, the floor of the last floor receives moisture from the whole house. Therefore, in the winter version of the attic, the insulation layers must be enclosed in water and vapor barrier membranes.

Options for insulating the attic from the inside, the choice of materials: polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, mineral wool, photo examples of how to insulate the attic floor

Do not know what is the best way to insulate the attic from the inside? Review of heaters: polystyrene foam, mineral wool, foam plastic and polyurethane foam, which is better? Photo and video materials for do-it-yourself attic insulation.

Attic insulation and materials used

Loss of thermal energy is limiting common problem in many old and new private homes, which in turn leads to increased consumption of electricity or other types of heating energy, which is best avoided. It is for this reason that the insulation of the attic, walls, basement and ceiling is an extremely relevant topic, for which a certain scheme is used.

Arrangement of the attic floor allows you to create additional places for recreation in your home.

In rather old residential buildings there is a small attic space, which is used by the owners quite rarely and which needs to be insulated. Newer and more modern buildings have mansard roofs that allow you to equip additional living space in the attic, which must be insulated.

How to insulate the attic?

Insulating material is the main part of all thermal insulation work, and its choice should be taken extremely responsibly. The choice of the right insulation for each individual house has striking differences and depends on the characteristics of the house itself, the climatic conditions of the region where the building that needs to be insulated is located.

Most inexperienced developers give their preference to such insulation material as polystyrene, believing that it is better. But it is worth noting right away that such material does not have high-quality and acceptable characteristics, except for the extremely low cost, and this is the only good characteristic.

Mansard roof insulation scheme.

Styrofoam is not able to pass a sufficient amount of moist air, which causes increased humidity inside the attic residential floor. Do not forget that after drying truss system, between such insulation material and the truss system an empty space is formed in which it will circulate cold air which is best avoided. Do not lose sight of rodents who prefer polystyrene to other insulating materials. In other words, you should not opt for such a material that can insulate the house.

Similar in composition, but having differences in use, is expanded polystyrene, the installation of which should be considered in more detail, which will allow you to do right choice. The peculiarity of this insulation material is that it must be laid under the rafters, which, in turn, prevents the formation of gaps between the material and the rafter system.

In order for the laying of such a heater to be of the highest quality, its plates have special grooves or spikes, with the help of which the plates are connected closely.

Insulation system on the truss system

The most popular and sought-after insulation material in private construction is mineral wool, the availability and quality of which are suitable for any type internal insulation attic residential floor. Among the positive characteristics of this insulation, it is worth noting the low level of flammability, moisture resistance and extremely high strength and durability. The analogue of this insulation is glass wool, which is often used for this type of insulation of the attic residential floor. This type of insulation has some differences from mineral counterparts:

Scheme of insulation of the truss system.

due to the longest possible fibers, this material has higher sound insulation, strength and elasticity, which is quite important in this matter;
special attention should be paid to the extremely low hydrophobicity, which has a positive effect on the entire process of saving thermal energy;
and the last difference from mineral wool is that this insulation material can be used at fairly low temperatures, which is ideal for cold regions.

Modern insulation with ecowool material

Ecowool is a fairly new insulation, with which you can reduce heat loss almost any building. The peculiarity of this material is that initially it is in a liquid state and is blown into the gaps between the rafter system and the finishing material under pressure.

After drying, this insulation forms a high-quality insulating layer that does not conflict with wood and ideally retains heat inside the room. It is worth considering the fact that ecowool is made of paper, which is ideally combined with the wooden truss system of the attic.

This insulation contains a natural type antiseptic, which allows you to count on maximum protection against harmful insects, fungus and harmful mold. In addition, this material has high sound insulation, which is ideal for the attic.

The entire operational period, this material is in its primary state, without settling or sagging. In other words, the use of such a heater can be considered the most acceptable if the cost of installation work suits the developer.

Scheme of insulation work

Scheme of single-layer insulation.

The design of the attic depends on many factors, the first of which are the design and projection characteristics of the roof itself. This suggests that attic insulation should be approached as individual work, which can have striking differences. The first thing to disassemble is the method of warming the frame structure of the attic, of which there are 3:

insulation over the frame structure;
insulation under the frame structure;
insulation of the frame structure from 2 sides.

The first floor insulation scheme can be used in the case when the general insulation of the house is carried out along the entire facade, which implies that the frame structure of the floor belongs to its walls. In this embodiment, it is necessary to insulate not only the inside of the attic floor, but also its outer part. The second scheme of insulation of such a floor implies the presence of balcony canopies, where only inner part walls.

It is possible to apply the latest scheme for warming the supporting frame only if it is made of lumber, because metal beams in this embodiment, it will freeze, which will cause condensation and damage to the roofing system.

Do not forget about the high-quality insulation of not only the frame, but also the walls, floor and ceiling. This is necessary in order to organize the most comfortable living environment, while maintaining the maximum amount of thermal energy inside the residential floor. You should not start such warming in a chaotic manner, because for this there is a pre-designed procedure. So, in what order should the work described above be performed?

First of all, you should pay attention to the insulation of the attic floor, for which you need to use correct thermal insulation. If the room has not been used at all before, then such actions will not cause complications, because the interfloor ceiling already acts as an excellent basis for warming the floor structure.

Scheme of insulation of the attic floor.

Between wooden lags you can lay almost any insulation material, among which it is preferable to use mineral wool. The laying of the insulation fiber should be carried out in such a way as to exclude the presence of cracks and gaps between the insulation plates, which will increase the level of thermal energy safety on each of the floors.

After that, you can proceed to the insulation of the ceiling, which to some extent acts as a finish of the supporting frame attic construction. You can achieve high-quality insulation of the ceiling using the same mineral wool or expanded polystyrene boards.

Only after that it is worth starting to insulate the walls, which will subsequently be finished with any available finishing material. For such work, you need to choose the highest quality insulation material that will not be harmful to the health of residents, and will also be able to last as long as possible and with maximum quality.

Common mistakes during insulation work

Insulation of the ceiling, floor or walls of a residential attic can have many errors, which subsequently lead to a violation of the integrity and performance of the insulation material itself. It is worth starting a description of such errors with damage to the material by moisture, which can come from both inside and outside the attic.

External penetration of moisture can cause poor-quality installation of roofing material, organization ventilation holes or installation horizontal windows. In other words, all these stages of construction should be given maximum attention, which will save time and money that will be required to repair the entire floor.

Scheme of insulation of the attic wall.

In order not to expose the insulation material to moisture from inside the room, it is necessary to protect it from all sides with a special membrane film, which acts as a vapor barrier. Such a film has 2 sides, which indicates the care of the developer during its installation. Incorrect arrangement of the membrane will lead to even greater damage to the insulation material, and as a result, to the supporting frame of the mansard roof.

The second mistake developers make when insulating a mansard roof is the lack of attention to wind protection. If such protection is not provided for in the design, then in winter time years at strong winds cold air will circulate between the insulation material and the roof, which will cause internal discomfort, as well as cause condensation under the roof. To avoid this, it is necessary to lay a special windproof film on the outside of the insulation material, which has excellent air permeability resistance.

When insulating the walls or ceiling of such a room, it is necessary to isolate the insulation material from mechanical damage. To insulate walls and ceilings, mineral wool is most often used, which has good resistance to mechanical stress. But if polystyrene foam material is used for such work, then it must be protected from the formation of dents and cracks, which, in turn, will increase its functionality and service life.

So, the wall and ceiling insulation scheme does not have any particular difficulties if all the conditions for such work are met correctly. The methods of this type of insulation work have some similarities and imply extreme caution when working with the selected material. In order to properly insulate a residential attic space, any described scheme will do, but it is better to choose the option that is ideal for a particular house design. Using all the recommendations presented, we properly keep the heat in the house.

The better to insulate the attic: scheme

Getting ready for winter period, many developers are asking an important question, what is the best way to insulate the attic? There are many materials for insulation: this is polystyrene, and mineral wool, etc.

When in force different reasons it is required to increase the living space - the easiest and most budgetary way is to turn a cold attic into warm attic. Insulation of the mansard roof from the inside does not require capital investments and it is quite possible to do it yourself.

To properly insulate the roof of the attic from the inside, you must first work out a few questions:

The choice of materials for insulation.
The choice of insulation design.
Work technology.

Depending on the chosen design, you will need one or another insulation and other consumables. According to design roofing cake production technology is changing.

The choice of insulation

How to insulate a mansard roof? To insulate the roof of the attic from the inside, you should select a material that has the following qualities:

Low thermal conductivity - the lower the thermal conductivity, the smaller the thickness of the insulation is required to ensure comfort in the house.
Low water absorption - such a heater will not accumulate water vapor from the air.
Vapor permeability - this quality will allow the roof to breathe.
fire safety - the best way combustibility group N/G.
Environmental friendliness - no harmful emissions during operation.
Durability.

Let us consider in detail the better to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside. The most commonly used materials for insulation are expanded polystyrene, materials from different types mineral wool; polyurethane foams (PPU); ecowool.

Expanded polystyrenes

Expanded polystyrenes have long and firmly occupied a vast niche in the market of heaters. Basically, two types of polystyrene foam are used - foamed and extruded.

With almost the same indicators of thermal conductivity, water absorption and vapor permeability, their main difference is the combustibility group: expanded polystyrene foam belongs to the combustibility group G3 ... G4, extruded graphite-containing polystyrene foam - G1 ... G2 and does not support combustion, however, both of them emit harmful toxic smoke during a fire.

Mineral wool insulation

There are several heaters based on mineral wool fibers:

Stone wool - based on gabbro and diabase melts.
Basalt wool - from the melt of basalt.
Glass wool - from cullet.
Slag wool - from the melt of blast-furnace slag.

It is better not to use the last two materials inside residential premises, since glass wool is dusty with microscopic fibers harmful to humans, causing skin itching and problems with respiratory system up to asthma and oncology, and slag absorbs moisture and may have residual radioactivity.

Slabs and mats made of stone and basalt wool are an excellent eco-friendly insulation, durable, non-combustible and economical. The negative characteristics include water absorption of the material, and therefore it is required to protect it from external vapors with a vapor-windproof membrane, from the inside of the room - with a vapor barrier film.

Polyurethane foams

Polyurethane foam (PPU) is by far the most effective insulation. For comparison: where an 80 mm thick PPU layer is sufficient, you will need 120 mm of expanded polystyrene and 150 mm of stone wool.

Polyurethane foam is used in insulation in two forms: slabs and foam. Installation of plates does not differ from the installation of other plate heaters, while spray insulation requires special expensive equipment.

PPU has a flammability group G2 ... G3, does not absorb moisture, rodents are indifferent to it, however, it has low vapor permeability, and therefore in the attic, insulated with this material, a forced ventilation device will be needed. When spraying, special precautions are required in the form of a set of protective clothing and a gas mask, since PPU contains isocyanate. After polymerization, the insulation is harmless.

The cost of polyurethane foam is higher than analogues, however, the material does not require the creation of a cavity, it can be sprayed onto vertical surfaces.

Ecowool

Ecowool is a cellulose-based foam insulation, for which insulation will require special equipment and the creation of a cavity into which ecowool foam is fed.

The insulation contains a flame retardant, thanks to which the combustibility group is reduced to G3, it is economical and environmentally friendly, but its cost, taking into account the involvement of special equipment, is higher than insulation with expanded polystyrene or mineral wool.

Having decided on the best way to insulate the attic roof, we turn to the question of how to properly insulate the attic roof.

Design choice

The choice of roof structure depends on the chosen heat insulator. How to properly insulate the roof of the attic, consider the example of slab and sprayed heaters.

Insulation with mineral wool and expanded polystyrene

When used as a heater, mineral wool slabs or mats or expanded polystyrene slabs, the design of the roofing pie will look like this:

Coating.
Counter grille to create a ventilated gap.
Crate.
Rafter system.
Wind and waterproof membrane.
Insulation.
Vapor barrier.
Interior finishing - lining with OSB, chipboard or plasterboard.

The main difficulty in performing attic insulation from the inside is to bring the thickness of the truss system in accordance with the required thermotechnical calculation of the thickness of the insulation. Here you can apply the laying of insulation in two layers:

A moisture-windproof membrane is mounted on the rafters, and it must be laid very freely.
1 layer of insulation is inserted between the rafters.
It is mounted perpendicular to the rafters of the rail with a size corresponding to the thickness of the second layer of insulation, with a step corresponding to the width of the plates.
2 layers of insulation are inserted between the rails.
A layer of vapor barrier material is attached to the rails.
The internal lining of the attic walls is carried out with the selected material.

This method will eliminate the possibility of the appearance of cold bridges at the junction of the heat insulator plates and at the same time insulate the truss system with its insufficient resistance to heat transfer.

PPU spray insulation

Before insulating the mansard roof with a sparse crate with large gaps between the boards, it will be necessary to install additional boards to create a plane for spraying PPU.

Since in order to bring the thermal resistance of the attic fence with polyurethane foam to the standard value, a smaller thickness of the heat-insulating layer will be required, it will also be necessary to insulate the rafters so that they do not become a cold bridge. This problem can be solved with the help of an internal counter-lattice. The roof structure will look like this:

Coating.
Ventilated gap.
Control grid.
Crate.
Rafter system with a layer of insulation between the rafters and PU foam spraying on the rafters.
Additional counter-lattice mounted perpendicular to the rafters.
Internal lining of the walls of the attic.

Sprayed polyurethane foam - a mixture of specially prepared components - polyol and isocyanate. The components are fed to the spray gun under pressure, here they are mixed in a ratio of 1:1. The layer is applied with a thickness of not more than 1.5 cm, the next layer - after the previous one has dried. You can work with polyurethane foam at a base temperature of +20 to 30 ° C, otherwise the material consumption increases due to the deterioration of foaming.

Polyurethane foam in cylinders of the Polynor brand also appeared on sale, which does not require special equipment for application, which makes it easier to do the insulation yourself.

Conclusion

Now you know how to properly insulate the roof of the attic from the inside, which is not much different from roof insulation, and the technology for insulating sheer end walls completely repeats the insulation of the walls of the house. Get extra warm floor in the house due to the previously cold attic - good way increase in living space. To create a comfortable microclimate in the attic, significant efforts and large financial costs are not required.

The attic floor is often used for housing, so it is necessary to carry out the insulation correctly in order to create comfortable conditions. The technology is similar to similar work in any other room, but the peculiarity is that the attic is separated from the street by gables and roofing, and not by capital walls. All surfaces need to be insulated, and since they differ in device, the installation of the insulation is carried out in different ways.

What is the best way to insulate a mansard roof

Usually on the attic floor there are no load-bearing walls with high thermal insulation characteristics, therefore, the insulation of the roof and gables must be carried out especially carefully and efficiently. Only in this way you can feel comfortable and cozy in the attic both in summer and in winter.

If we compare the roof of the attic room and the main walls, it is clear that it cannot compete with them in terms of thermal insulation. In addition, the roof cannot withstand heavy loads. All this must be taken into account when choosing a heater.

Properly insulated attic can significantly increase the living space of the house

In order to maximize the usable volume of the attic floor, the following rules must be followed during its construction:

to reduce the load on the truss system, light ones are chosen roofing materials, in this case it is not recommended to use natural tiles;
to reduce the layer of the roofing cake, modern and effective heat-insulating materials are chosen;
special attention is paid to the organization of ventilation of the roof space, otherwise moisture will accumulate in the room and the thermal insulation properties will deteriorate.

Properly performed ventilation and waterproofing of the mansard roof allows moisture to be removed from under the roof space, which ensures effective thermal insulation and a long service life of the materials used.

For the attic roof it is necessary to choose light materials

The number of required layers and the thickness of the heat-insulating “pie” depend on the choice of insulation. The attic has its own design features, so the insulation must meet the following requirements:

have low thermal conductivity, experts recommend using materials with a coefficient below 0.05 W / m * K;
due to possible roof leaks, the insulation must be moisture resistant and lose a minimum of its properties after getting wet;
have a small weight so as not to overload the truss system, it depends on the density of the material, which should be in the range of 14–50 kg / m 3, it is not recommended to use denser heaters;
should not burn and support combustion;
since the heat-insulating material is laid on the roof, this requires that it keeps its shape well and does not slip over time, forming gaps;
withstand significant temperature changes, not be afraid of frost;
have a long service life.

Materials for insulation

For the insulation of the attic roof, the following materials are most often used:

Mineral wool. This is an excellent solution, it does not burn and does not support the combustion process, it is easy to install, has a low weight, high thermal insulation characteristics. In addition, mineral wool has an affordable cost, therefore it is popular and in demand. Depending on the location of the insulated building, the thickness of its layer can be from 150 to 300 mm. The main disadvantage is that this material absorbs moisture well, so you need to make high-quality waterproofing.
Mineral wool can be in rolls and mats, perform roof insulation roll materials more difficult
Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene. This material has a low weight, good thermal insulation characteristics, low moisture permeability, but its main drawback is a high degree of fire hazard. During the laying of the foam, it crumbles, so there are gaps that must be additionally sealed. After some time unprotected from exposure external factors the foam plastic begins to gradually collapse, therefore, experts do not recommend warming the attic with this material.
To insulate the attic, it is necessary to use foam plastic with a thickness of at least 50 mm, if necessary, it can be laid in several layers
Extruded polystyrene foam. This is good insulation for carrying out these works, as it is durable, not afraid of moisture, does not burn and keeps its shape well. A sufficient layer of material is 5–10 cm. Extruded polystyrene foam has a low vapor permeability, therefore, in order to create comfortable conditions in the attic, it is necessary to do it right supply and exhaust ventilation, and this additional time and expenses. In addition, its price is higher than that of conventional foam.
When insulating the roof with extruded polystyrene, good ventilation is necessary
Polyurethane foam. For installation, special equipment is used, which allows you to apply the material without cracks and gaps. It has good thermal insulation characteristics, low weight, does not burn, moisture-proof, but its disadvantage is low vapor permeability. Without the organization of forced ventilation, it will be uncomfortable to be in such a room due to high humidity.
It will not be possible to carry out work on insulation with polyurethane foam on your own, as professional equipment is needed
Ecowool. This is the most suitable material for attic insulation. It is also applied without gaps, penetrates into all cracks and fills them well, is not afraid of moisture, does not burn, is light in weight and has good vapor permeability, and is environmentally friendly. In addition to the fact that the cost of this material is high, it will not work to insulate the attic with ecowool on its own, therefore, specialists will have to be invited to perform these works.
Special equipment is used to apply ecowool
foil materials. They not only insulate the room, but also reflect heat. In order for such materials to effectively fulfill their purpose, the mirror layer must be directed inside the attic. A gap of about 5 cm is left between the insulation and the vapor barrier.
Foil insulation is used for hydro, heat and sound insulation.

In each case, the choice of the most effective insulation for the attic must be approached individually. When using mineral wool, the heat-insulating "pie" can be disassembled, the condition of the rafters assessed and, if necessary, carried out repair work and then put everything back in place. If sprayed materials were used, then it will not be possible to inspect the rafters.

The better to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside

When choosing materials for attic insulation from the inside, the climatic conditions in which the house is located are taken into account. Each material has its pros and cons. most popular and available material, with which the attic is insulated from the inside, is basalt wool. Installation is carried out in several layers, while overlapping the seams. Usually a layer 15–20 cm thick is sufficient.

Basalt wool is laid in several layers

Professionals often use polyurethane foam. It has high adhesion, so after application there are no gaps left. Polyurethane foam has high thermal insulation characteristics, so it is applied in a smaller layer, unlike other materials, which will need much more. But keep in mind that the cost of this material is high and installation will not work without special equipment. Expanded polystyrene plates are often used, the thickness of the required layer will depend on the density of the material used.

If you are insulating the mansard roof from the inside yourself, then it is best to use expanded polystyrene, basalt or mineral wool, as they are simply mounted. Often they are combined: first mineral wool is laid, and then expanded polystyrene plates.

How to properly insulate the roof of the attic

The technology for carrying out these works is not difficult, especially if the insulation is performed with mineral wool. During the installation of thermal insulation, personal safety measures must be observed: be sure to wear tight and closed clothing, use goggles, gloves and a respirator.

Work sequence:

Preparatory stage. All wooden surfaces are well treated with antiseptics, metal parts are coated with anti-corrosion impregnation.
Treatment of wooden roof elements with an antiseptic can significantly increase their service life.
Waterproofing attachment. A waterproofing film is fixed on the rafters, and a crate is mounted on top. The waterproofing material is overlapped between the crate and the rafters, all seams are glued with a mounting film, for example, Ondutis BL or Ondutis ML. First, the tape is attached to the canvas located below, it is done 5–6 cm from the edge, then the protective layer is removed from the tape and the upper canvas is fixed. Laying material is carried out from the lower slope of the roof. First, the film is fixed with a stapler, and then wooden counter-rails are installed to create a ventilation gap. You can fasten the slats to the rafters with nails or powerful staples, but it is better to do this with self-tapping screws. Then proceed to the installation of insulation.
Laying of insulating layers is carried out in a certain sequence.
Heater installation. The insulation is laid between the rafters, work starts from the bottom and gradually moves up. In order for the insulation to fit snugly, its size should slightly exceed the distance between the beams. To fix the insulation, special anchors or frost-resistant glue are used. This applies to roll and plate insulation, such as mineral wool, polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam. Ecowool and polyurethane foam are applied using a special installation, so there are no unfilled voids.
Vapor barrier attachment. After laying the last layer of insulation, the installation of a vapor barrier is carried out. It is attached to a wooden crate laid on a heat-insulating layer. Do not stretch the vapor barrier membrane too much, it should sag by 2–3 cm, this will ensure that there is a ventilation gap between the thermal insulation and the exterior finish.
The final stage is the installation of finishing materials. To do this, a crate is made over the laid vapor barrier, you can use wooden slats or a metal profile, and already on it, with the help of special screws, sheets of drywall, plywood, chipboard or lining are fixed.
Installation of drywall is carried out on a metal or wooden crate, which is attached to the rafters over the vapor barrier

When installing the insulation, the plates should be tightly adjacent to each other, and to eliminate cold bridges, it is recommended to lay a second layer with overlapping joints.

Useful tips for selection and installation various kinds insulation:

if mineral wool or fiberglass is used, then to ensure high thermal insulation characteristics, their layer should be 15–20 cm;
basalt wool can withstand temperatures up to 1000 ° C, does not absorb moisture, but it is damaged by rodents;
A 2.5 cm layer of polyurethane foam in terms of its thermal insulation characteristics corresponds to an 8 cm layer of mineral wool;
A 15 cm layer of ecowool in terms of thermal insulation characteristics corresponds to a 50 cm wood;
so that the rolled or slab material fits snugly between the rafters, its width must exceed the distance between them by 1–2 cm.

Features of installing insulation for a mansard roof

During the design of the building attic floor it is necessary to correctly calculate the distance between the rafters in order to ensure maximum structural strength. When installing insulation between the rafters, it is necessary to lay the material back to back so that there are no gaps left, otherwise cold bridges form.

Only correct styling of all elements will effectively insulate the attic

During the installation of waterproofing, all work is carried out from the lower slope of the roof and the material is overlapped. On top of the insulation mats, it is recommended to lay another continuous layer that will completely cover the rafters. Wooden or metal rafters have a higher thermal conductivity than insulation and are cold bridges. If they are closed with insulating material, it will be inconvenient to mount the finishing elements. To simplify this task, it is necessary to mark the location of the rafters during the installation of the last layer of insulation.

If we talk about the insulation of the mansard roof from the inside, then not all materials are convenient to install, it is almost impossible to lay roll insulation normally. To strengthen the rafter system, various connections are often used, which complicate the laying of the insulation layer.

Video: attic roof insulation from the inside

Insulation of the pediment of the attic from the outside

When insulating the pediment from the outside, most specialists and home craftsmen use extruded polystyrene foam or ordinary foam. To carry out this work, you will need scaffolding, since doing everything with the help of a ladder will be difficult, long and tiring.

The technology of warming the pediment from the outside consists of the following steps:

First, the walls are prepared. To do this, they are cleaned of dirt, and then primed. The primer will allow the adhesive to show its characteristics better. It is recommended to prime in two layers, the second is applied after the first has dried.
If you plan to use a finishing material such as siding, then for its fastening it is necessary to make a crate. It can be made of wooden beams or galvanized profiles. The height of the crate should correspond to the thickness of the insulation used.
To make it easier to install the foam, the step of the crate should be equal to the width of the sheet, then the material will lie tightly and the waste will be minimal
The foam sheet in the corners and in the center is smeared with glue and pressed for 30-35 seconds to the surface of the gable.
If the foam will be plastered, then it is better to additionally fix it with plastic dowels.
If the foam will be plastered, it must be fixed with dowels, and if siding is mounted, then it is enough to fix it only with glue
After laying the insulation, a waterproofing film is attached. If the crate is wooden, then this is done with a stapler, and it is fixed to the profile with the help of a counter-crate, on which the siding is then attached. To create a gap between waterproofing and decorative trim, the thickness of the crate should be 20–30 mm.
On the last step siding is being installed or the foam is plastered, and then painted.
Both metal and vinyl siding can be used to finish the gable.

Video: attic gable insulation

It is not difficult to insulate the attic with your own hands, it is enough to have basic knowledge and skillful hands. If we talk about the insulation of the pediment, then when using a hinged facade, it is better to take such heat-insulating material as mineral wool. If the facade is wet, then it is better to insulate with foam. Only with the observance of the developed technologies and the correct implementation of the stages of work on the insulation of the attic, the expected result will be obtained. If everything is done correctly, then you can use the attic as a living space throughout the year.

Even at the stage of designing and building a private house, the purpose of each room and its design are thought out. Sometimes, over time, you want to expand the existing squares without significant financial investments. This is easy to achieve by performing insulation from the inside. If the roof is already covered, the installation work is somewhat more complicated. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the technologies used.

Read in the article

Video: how to insulate an attic for winter living if the roof is already covered

The lack of living space can be compensated if it is reasonable to dispose of the available squares. Living in a private house, you should definitely turn it into a comfortable living space. For those who do not know how to insulate the attic for winter living, a video of the process will definitely help you understand all the intricacies.

We propose to consider in detail all the stages of insulation from the inside, including preparation for installation work and choosing the right one.

Preparing the attic space before starting insulation work

If the attic will be used as a living space, you should prepare for thermal insulation work. This room must meet certain requirements that are prescribed in the relevant regulatory documents. Here, unlike the attic, the roof should have a slope, and the ceiling should not be lower than 2.5 m.

At the preparation stage, you should decide on:

type of thermal insulation materials that will be used for attic insulation. The level of heat loss and the comfort of living in this room will directly depend on this;
communications that will be brought to the attic. To do this, you should decide and correctly select the appropriate engineering solutions;
how the load-bearing elements will be decorated.

Each of these points can have a serious impact on the order and quality of thermal insulation work from the inside. The choice of heat and water insulator will affect the performance of the room. With insufficient thickness at the top it will be cold, with an excess - there is a high probability of condensation.

What tools will be needed to complete the work

The choice of specific equipment and tools depends on the type of thermal insulation material. As a rule, for installation work from the inside, you should prepare:

scissors and a knife, with which other materials will be cut;
a construction stapler with ospreys of a suitable size, with which you can fix the panels;
tools for working with the material from which the house is built. Wood needs a chisel, a mallet, a planer, and a chisel;

In addition to heat-insulating material, to insulate the attic from the inside, you should have available:

steam and;
bars for the device of the crate, if its installation is provided for by the chosen method;
hardware. It is worth buying screws and nails of different sizes;
construction tape;
mounting foam.

The choice of insulation for the attic roof

Manufacturers offer a wide range of thermal insulation materials. Each of them has its own distinctive features, which should be taken into account when choosing for a mansard roof. We offer to get acquainted with each of them, so that it is easier to choose best option.

Styrofoam

The budget option, which is most often resorted to when insulating the attic (and in vain). Easily processed and assembled by hand. Well suited for the attic, as it has a low specific gravity and low thermal conductivity. But at the same time, it has the biggest and most significant drawback: it is extremely combustible and rodents love it very much.

Extruded polystyrene foam

The performance characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam are comparable to the properties of foam. However, the process of forming a heat-insulating coating is somewhat different, which will avoid the formation of gaps. The presence of stepped joints ensures reliable fixation of the elements and protects the attic from the penetration of cold from the outside. We would like to note that this material is also combustible and requires the most serious assessment to choose it as a heater.

Mineral wool

Heat insulator used everywhere. This is a natural material, which contains a certain amount of synthetic fibers to improve performance. Differs in affordable cost. It is sold in rolls or plates, which greatly simplifies the installation process.

glass wool

Insulation with longer fibers than mineral wool. This contributes to an increase in elastic characteristics and soundproofing properties. In terms of hydrophobicity, it is somewhat inferior to the mineral analogue. Differs in low combustibility. The absence of toxic substances in the composition makes it possible to use glass wool for the internal thermal insulation of the attic.

stone wool

The most expensive type of cotton wool used when performing. Consists of basalt fibers. Can be supplied in slab form. It costs more than its counterpart - glass wool, but at the same time it allows you to form a better heat-insulating coating.

Ecowool

The basis of the material is paper - an environmentally friendly material. Before application, the composition is thoroughly crushed. After that, using special equipment, it is blown into the voids, thereby preventing the appearance of a draft.

polyurethane foam

Modern thermal insulation material, ideal for insulating the attic from the inside. The technology used makes it possible to form a dense coating that does not have cracks and gaps. By giving preference to this technology, you can not be afraid of drafts and cold for at least 30 years.

Penofol

One of the options for foamed polyethylene, widely used in the insulation of attics of modern buildings. The presence of a one- or two-sided coating provides high reflective characteristics and good soundproofing properties.

An overview of the advantages and disadvantages of certain types of insulation for the attic

Each of the listed heat insulators can be used to insulate the mansard roof of a private house and has its own advantages and disadvantages. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the advantages of each type so that you can compare them with each other and give preference to a specific insulation.

Styrofoam, differing in affordable cost, has:

low water absorption. Water that has fallen on the surface will not be absorbed, but will simply flow down;
light weight;
low thermal conductivity.

The disadvantages include low vapor permeability. As a result, the attic can be hot and stuffy, and high humidity may cause mold. Shrinkage of a wooden structure during operation can lead to the appearance of gaps between the foam plates. Often they start up between sheets of insulation. Well, as mentioned above, in the event of a fire, it instantly ignites and emits poisonous gas.

To the benefits extruded polystyrene foam worth considering:

light weight, which reduces the requirements for load-bearing structures;
long service life if the installation was carried out according to all the rules;
high compressive strength;
the ability to perform installation work with your own hands. You just need to figure out how to properly insulate the attic roof with extruded polystyrene foam;
resistance to decay;
the possibility of applying a finish coating on the heat insulator layer.

Of the shortcomings, increased flammability should be noted. Impregnation with flame retardants minimizes this negative property.

To the main benefits mineral wool worth considering:

availability;
high heat and sound insulation properties;
ease of installation work from the inside. The insulation is easy to cut and fit. With it, you can perform the insulation of the broken line from the inside;
long service life;
biological durability. The material is unattractive to rodents;
small specific gravity.

However, such a heater accumulates moisture quite well. When planning to insulate the attic from the inside with mineral wool, you should take care of the availability of high-quality hydro and vapor barrier.

Key Benefits glass wool are the absence of toxic substances and low flammability. When properly installed, it is able to retain heat well inside the house.

Attention! When insulating the attic with glass wool, it is imperative to use personal protective equipment.

stone wool reliable in operation and safe for others. It has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and almost zero flammability. Able to withstand significant external influences. The formed coating has good characteristics.

To the virtues ecowool worth considering:

environmental friendliness, so that it can be safely used to insulate the attic from the inside;
good thermal insulation characteristics;
formation of a dense layer minimizing heat loss;
the presence in the composition of borax, a natural antiseptic that protects wooden structures from decay and mold;
good soundproofing characteristics of a layer of small thickness;
preservation of characteristics for a long time. After ten years of operation, the thickness of the insulation remains unchanged.

Among the shortcomings, the complexity of application and high cost should be noted.

polyurethane foam has high performance. Shrinkage of a wooden house is unable to affect the characteristics of the formed heat-insulating layer. The coating has optimal hardness and is not afraid of moisture. During installation from the inside, it is possible to refuse the formation of a vapor barrier layer.

The disadvantages include the need to use a special sprayer. This can be a serious problem for those who planned to do the insulation from the inside with their own hands, since such equipment is quite expensive. In addition, it is necessary to have sufficient knowledge and have certain skills in order to independently apply a high-quality dense coating.

Penofol in demand when insulating attics from the inside, since such a heater:

Safe. It does not harm human health and the environment.
It has a low level of thermal conductivity.
Allows you to form a closed system of air bubbles with the necessary level of vapor permeability.

Attention! Attic insulation with penofol requires significant financial investments.

The nuances of attic insulation with different geometry of the roof of the house

Insulation of the mansard roof has a number of features dictated by the specifics of the room itself. The complex design of the attic space requires a competent approach. Otherwise, it will be difficult to avoid the appearance of either condensation.

How to insulate the roof of a house from the inside with your own hands, if it has a rather complex geometry? The answer to this question in each case is sought individually. The choice is made in favor of hard insulation, since soft materials slip at a large angle of inclination. Thermal insulation work from the inside in this case is best done using plates. The crate is mounted in such a way that the rafters are located at a distance that is 10-15 mm less than the width of the plates. This will avoid the appearance of cracks through which cold can penetrate into the room.

Attention! To create comfortable conditions, it is necessary to insulate the walls of the attic from the inside with your own hands, as well as other surfaces.

Considering that the rafter legs of a complex roof are cold bridges, after laying the slabs, a continuous layer of insulation is attached on top of the laid mats. Its thickness is much less than the main heat insulator. A vapor barrier is placed on top.

Do I need to arrange waterproofing under the insulation

The presence in the molded pie is a must. Thus, it is possible to prevent the formation of condensate or the infiltration of atmospheric precipitation into the room. As a result, the service life increases, and the reliability of the formed heat-insulating layer increases.

Most often, the choice is made in favor of waterproofing films: diffusion, superdiffusion breathable, anti-condensation.

Warming the attic from the inside with your own hands - the main nuances, video

If you decide to carry out installation work on your own, it's time to learn how to properly insulate the roof from the inside, depending on the chosen thermal insulation material.

Do-it-yourself insulation of the attic from the inside with mineral wool: video of the process

If it is decided to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside with mineral wool with your own hands, the work should be performed in the following sequence:

Waterproofing attachment.
Open the mineral wool. To do this, strips are cut, the width of which is 3–4 mm greater than the distance between the rafters.
Laying mineral wool between the rafters end-to-end, but without overlap, it is fastened with the help of nylon threads or knitting wire wound on nails hammered into the rafters.
Vapor barrier fastening.
Finishing.

The following video about warming the attic from the inside with mineral wool with your own hands will allow you to understand the process in more detail:

Insulation of the attic with foam

Having made a choice in favor of foam, you can significantly reduce the cost of performing thermal insulation work. The main thing is to understand the technology of attic insulation with foam plastic. Installation work can be performed in the following sequence:

A photo	Description of works
	Treat the wooden elements of the crate with a special compound to improve their performance and increase their service life. The composition must be suitable for indoor work.
	We measure the dimensions of the rafters and the distance between them to determine the parameters of the foam.
	Cut the foam sheets to size.
	We lay foam sheets between the beams and fix them with screws.
	We foam the formed joints and cavities between the beams and foam sheets. Cut off excess foam after curing. If necessary, we lay the second layer.

Attic insulation with polyurethane foam

Before starting thermal insulation work, the strength characteristics of the truss system should be checked. Given that polyurethane foam weighs more than foam or mineral wool, load-bearing structures must be designed for such a load.

Insulation of the attic with polyurethane foam from the inside is performed as follows:

A photo	Description of works
	Special equipment is being prepared, with the help of which the composition will be applied to the surface of the walls and ceiling of the attic.
	The composition is applied to the previously prepared base. A continuous coating of the same thickness is formed.
	The quality of the formed layer is controlled.

Overview of the main mistakes made when insulating the attic from the inside

It is not enough just to learn how to properly insulate the attic from the inside with your own hands. You should definitely get acquainted with the typical mistakes that many inexperienced builders make. This is especially true when performing work using heaters that easily absorb moisture. Experts recommend:

do not use a hygroscopic heat insulator to protect roofs with a slope of less than 13 degrees. In this case, there is a high risk of precipitation collecting on the roof surface with subsequent leaks, which can cause damage to the heat-insulating layer;
be sure to provide an air gap between the roof and the insulation layer for drying and ventilation of the heat-insulating layer;
stack all the layers of the "pie". The lack of vapor or waterproofing will negatively affect the final result;
entrust the installation to specialists. Given that such structures are mounted at an angle, many perform the installation poorly.

Having figured out how to insulate the attic roof and walls, you can safely proceed to do the work yourself. If you have already completed the insulation of the attic on your own, share in the comments what you ended up with. The results of your work are interesting to us and our readers.