How to insulate the ceiling in a house with a cold roof

Internal insulation

A residential attic, a house for several owners, the presence of utilities in the attic and other situations that make external insulation impossible require thermal insulation from the inside of the room. Bulk materials are not used for obvious reasons.

Video description

Insulation of the ceiling from the inside, see the video:

The process of insulating the ceiling from the inside with foam

Thermal insulation of the ceiling from the inside with polystyrene boards

What to choose - external or internal insulation

The choice between these types of work is based on a combination of factors:

• in the absence of finishing, they are equal in terms of the degree of thermal insulation;
• if the repair of the room is completed, then you will have to remove the ceiling covering, which will increase the cost and time of work;
• laying from the inside reduces the shrinkage of the material, but increases the thickness of the ceiling, reducing the total volume of the room;
• with internal insulation, the ceiling overlap is not protected from low temperatures;
• external insulation allows the use of a wider range of heat insulators.

Before you insulate the ceiling in a private house, you need to carefully calculate all the pros and cons, only after that you can make an unambiguous decision, which is better to use in your case.

Conclusion

When choosing a particular material for ceiling insulation, it is always best to seek professional help. Every business has its pitfalls and stumbling upon them, relying on your own strength, is a waste of time and money. It is better to make repairs once, and get a guaranteed high-quality result - this will save you from unnecessary expenses and provide the house with heat for many years to come.

Thermal insulation methods

There are two ways to eliminate heat loss:

• roof insulation;
• floor insulation.

It is not always advisable to insulate the roof - this procedure is performed for large attics that can serve as housing or for household purposes. If the volume of the attic space is too small and its operation is not possible, then the floor is insulated. This can be done in two ways:

• internal:
• outdoor.

The most effective is external insulation, which preserves the heat-saving qualities of the ceiling and creates the correct mode for removing water vapor from the room.

With a cold roof or with an attic - what's the difference

If there is an attic floor, there is a problem with the penetrating temperature threshold from the steam room, from where a large amount of steam, warm and hot air rises and, accordingly, if it is not properly disposed of, it will accumulate in the attic space. Therefore, in order to insulate the ceiling in a bath with a cold roof, you should carefully calculate the thickness of the ceiling insulation, taking into account the loads and take care of the best vapor and waterproofing.

There is an opinion that it is not necessary to insulate the ceiling in a bath with an attic, but an increase in thermal insulation characteristics in it is more necessary than with an uninsulated attic space, where heat penetrating outside does not encounter serious obstacles in its path.

Methods for external insulation of the attic floor in a house with a cold roof

To reduce heat loss in the room and save space, insulation can be installed from the outside of the ceiling. This gives the advantage of using a larger number of different materials with high thermal insulation properties and low weight (does not create a large load on the supporting structures of the house).

Installation of plates and mats

The device of such options is carried out in one or two layers according to the following technology:

1. Laying vapor barrier material. When installing a false ceiling, the membrane or film is nailed to the ceiling from the inside. If roll insulation is used, then the vapor barrier is laid from the side of the attic.
2. Installation of a heat insulator. Products in the form of slabs or rolls are stacked tightly between the beams without the formation of gaps. When using mineral or basalt wool, this will not be a problem, and the gaps between the plates will have to be sealed with mounting foam. It is better to choose products with a width slightly larger than the step between the beams, then the installation will be flawless.
3. Waterproofing pad. To protect the insulation from moisture, a waterproofing membrane is arranged, followed by sizing of all butt sections.
4. Assembly of the counter-lattice. It is necessary to create a ventilation gap between the insulation and the boardwalk. The frame is stuffed on top of the beams to a height of up to 4 cm.

Application of sprayed materials

In this case, polyurethane foam or ecowool is used. They are applied to the surface using special installations that ensure the uniformity of the layer, dense filling of the space and high-quality thermal insulation.

Ecowool can be laid by hand in a uniform layer 10 cm thick, after which it is compacted and poured with new wool until a dense material of a given height is obtained. Such events are carried out quite rarely, since the efficiency of special vehicles can reduce the time and labor costs for the work. So that the fibers do not penetrate into the room, the ceiling is protected by a vapor barrier film, and the insulation itself is waterproofed.

Bulk material stacking

This type includes vermiculite, sawdust, expanded clay and wood leaves, although the latter option is used extremely rarely due to fragility and increased hydrophilicity. Work on the installation of insulation to cover the attic is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. Laying vapor barrier (film or membrane overlap).
2. Mound of heat insulator. If expanded clay is used, then waterproofing is not required, as it repels moisture.
3. Wind protection device. Required to block the outlet to warm air and protect from cold.
4. Installation of flooring from boards 20-30 mm thick for easy movement and storage of things.

Sawdust must undergo antiseptic and flame retardant treatment before use. When mixed with lime in a ratio of 5:1, the material can be protected from rodent attack. It is also recommended to make a solution of sawdust and cement in a ratio of 10: 1 and fill the ceiling with an even layer.

All technologies for laying heat-insulating material are practical and popular in modern construction. However, there are many other products of natural and artificial origin that have thermal protection properties. The main selection criterion is the material for the construction of the building, since it is recommended to use the appropriate types of insulation for concrete and wooden houses.

Styrofoam and polystyrene

These heat insulators are also classified as inexpensive. Styrofoam is a little cheaper, and polystyrene is more convenient to work with, as it does not crumble. With both heat insulators, it is possible to insulate the ceiling under a cold attic from the side of the living rooms, as well as from the outside.

If the work is done from the inside, sheets of foam or polystyrene are simply glued to the ceiling. Upon completion of the work, the ceiling is given a presentable appearance with the help of a suspended ceiling composition or in another way.It is worth remembering that some types of these heaters can emit harmful substances, as well as that both of them are very flammable.

Features of the device of cold roofs

The design of the roof depends on the nature of the use of the house and the under-roof space. It is on these factors that the choice of shape, roofing material, the scheme of the truss frame and the presence or absence of a thermal insulation layer depend. In private housing construction, 2 types of roofs are used:

• Warm roof. This type of roofing construction provides for complete insulation of slopes. A warm roof is installed if the room located under the slopes is used as a residential one. It is considered an excellent option for equipping a residential attic. It makes sense to build roofs of this type for houses that are used and heated all year round, since they exclude heat loss through the slopes. The cost of materials and installation work for the construction of a warm roof is much higher than the cost of building a cold one.

• Cold roof. Cold type roofs do not have the usual structure obtained by layering waterproofing, thermal insulation and roofing material. It is being built for houses in which the attic space is not used as a living space in winter and is not heated. A cold roof is a truss system on which a layer of waterproofing and roofing material has been laid. It weighs less, is cheaper and easier to install than warm, so it is a practical solution for country housing.

Air circulation in houses with a cold type roof

To keep warm, as well as reduce fuel consumption to maintain the optimum temperature, with the help of bulk or fibrous thermal insulation materials, the ceiling located under the cold roof is insulated. Since heated air always rises, this operation is an effective measure to reduce heat loss.

Vapor barrier and waterproofing

The need for arranging vapor and waterproofing depends on the type of heat insulator. The installation of protective layers is needed for mineral wool, ecowool, expanded clay, sawdust. There is a specific rule for the order in which the layers are placed. The vapor barrier is laid first, then the insulation. From above it is closed with waterproofing with a ventilation indent of 2-5 cm.

A high level of humidity in the bath suggests a high-quality vapor barrier flooring. It performs two functions at once - it will protect against the ingress of steam from the room onto hydrophobic heaters. The barrier will not allow moisture to be absorbed into the thermal insulation, increase its weight, and worsen thermal conductivity. Also, vapor protection will prevent moisture from penetrating into the attic space, causing condensation to form on the wooden roof structures.

The vapor barrier can be installed from the side of the attic or indoors. For internal protection, the vapor barrier material is attached between the rough ceiling sheathing and the exterior trim. External vapor barrier spreads over the attic floor and beams.

The main task during installation is to create the most sealed vapor barrier layer.

Use the following vapor barrier materials:

• clay 2-3 cm thick;
• glassine;
• proliferated cardboard;
• wax impregnated paper;
• only;

• vapor barrier membrane;
• foil with a kraft paper base;
• foil on a glass cloth basis;
• foil based on lavsan.

Waterproofing is needed so that moisture from the cold attic does not get into the insulation. Water can form as a result of the formation of condensate due to insufficient ventilation of the attic space. Roof leakage may also occur. The top layer of waterproofing will protect the insulation from getting wet.

Modern durable material - extruded polystyrene foam

It is a lightweight synthetic product with a porous structure that has low moisture absorption and thermal conductivity. In addition, it is not amenable to mechanical stress and is chemically inert.

Extruded polystyrene foam is easier to install and has sufficiently high thermal and hydroprotection properties.

It is easy to lay polystyrene foam, you do not need to have special skills in construction. Long service life makes it popular among consumers. The low weight allows the use of this material in old buildings, since no additional load is created on the structures. It is used as a heater for a flat roof. It is also able to create additional sound insulation.

The advantages of extruded polystyrene foam are:

• resistance to freezing and thawing (up to 1000 cycles);
• can be used in the temperature range from -50 to +75 degrees;
• ability to withstand heavy loads.

Visualize the process of warming with different materials

The disadvantages of the material are vapor impermeability and flammability. Do not use it for warming soft flat roofs. The cost of work is about 70 rubles. per square meter. It fits in the following sequence:

1. A waterproofing layer is created.
2. A layer of plates is mounted, it is imperative to ensure a snug fit.
3. The joints are filled with mounting foam and sealed with reinforced tape.

An example of roof insulation in the video:

Conclusion

When choosing insulation for a roof, the fundamental factors are the climate of the region where it is planned to use the product, the material for the manufacture of the roof and its type (flat or pitched), structural features of the building, the price of the goods and the ability to do without technical means and special skills. Given all these points, you can choose the right thermal insulation, which will last a long period of time and save on heating.

Ceiling insulation: types and characteristics

Modern industry provides a fairly wide selection of materials for ceiling insulation in houses that have rather cold roofs:

• Styrofoam
• expanded clay
• sawdust
• ecowool
• mineral wool
• penoizol
• films for insulation

To make the right choice from such a wide range, you need to know what characteristics are most important when using these materials, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

The ceiling (1) is traditionally attached to the beams (2), which form the basis of the ceiling. The beams have a lattice structure, alternating at a certain interval. Between them lay the material for insulation of the ceiling (3), which also performs soundproofing of the house. Sheets of material (4) are the floor of the attic. It is especially important to create it from reliable materials if it is planned to create an attic in the attic, in which you can live all seasons.

In order for the floor to lie firmly and not deform from mechanical loads of permanent (furniture) and temporary (walking) action, it is reinforced with special damper pads, and logs are mounted between the beams at certain intervals, which are located across.

The number 5 indicates the interior material (often drywall), which is mounted on wooden slats of standard sizes (7). This is followed by a layer of vapor barrier (6), followed by a protective layer of insulation (8), such as mineral or stone wool.

This is followed by a rafter board (9), the thickness of which largely depends on the dimensions of the structure - the thicker the insulation, the thicker the sling. Finally, there is a counter batten, which creates an important air layer that provides additional protection from the cold. The system ends with an insulating membrane (11) and the actual roof (12).

Types of ceiling structures

A bath can be built without an attic or with it. The presence of an attic depends on the type of roof. A flat roof does not imply attic space. If the roof is pitched, then you can arrange a cold attic or attic on the second floor. For a mansard type of roof, powerful floor beams are needed. For a bath, proper insulation is carried out outside the ceiling.

According to the device method, ceiling structures are:

The hemmed ceiling is sheathed with edged or tongue-and-groove boards along the bottom of the attic floor beams. In this case, the load is distributed to the load-bearing beams. Whether the installation of an additional crate is necessary depends on the weight of the wooden boards with which the ceiling is hemmed. Properly fitted boards can be left as a fine finish. The filing is carried out inside the bath room.

The positive side of filing the ceiling from the inside:

• high strength;
• suitable for different area of ​​​​the room;
• it is possible to arrange an attic;
• the attic space remains functional.

A panel ceiling is a set of panels or panels. Each panel is equipped with a heat-insulating layer. The frame of the crate is attached to the floor beams. Then the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room is sheathed with shields. A moisture-resistant sealant is placed in the joints. In the steam room, the sealing of the seams must be carried out very carefully.

Floor ceilings can be arranged if the width of the bath building does not exceed 2.6 meters, since the ceiling is laid on the walls. Installation is simple - thick boards are laid on top of the load-bearing walls. With flat ceilings, the attic space cannot be used to store heavy and large items, since the structure cannot withstand a lot of weight. Flooring is considered the cheapest type of ceiling structure.

Do I need to insulate the ceiling with a cold roof

In order to understand whether it is worth it to insulate the ceiling in a house with a cold roof, you need to get to know the structure of the roof as a whole.

The roof protects living quarters from all types of precipitation.

The roof (or roof) is the upper part of the building that covers the entire structure.

Its main purpose is to protect the building from rain and snow, as well as the removal of melt water.

As can be seen from the definition, the function of the roof does not include the task of maintaining heat in the house. Therefore, it is often designed based on the tasks of drainage, without any insulation.

If insulation is not laid in the roofing pie, a classic cold roof construction is obtained.

Roof shapes are very diverse.Differ in a variety and materials of which the roofing cloth is made. But be that as it may, roofers are only responsible for the waterproofing of the roof, but in no case for thermal insulation. Moreover, in order to avoid damage to materials, the occurrence of stagnant and putrefactive processes in the rafters and logs, it is customary to build an attic in such a way that it is well ventilated. In this case, moisture harmful to wood and metal does not accumulate under the coating.

It is important that there is no difference in air temperature between the outdoor space and the indoor one. Then moisture does not condense on the bearing elements, and the roof will last as long as possible.

But at the same time, the problem of heat preservation inside the building arises, which is especially relevant in the northern regions. It is solved in two ways, each of which has its own characteristics.

Heated roof device. Such roofs have appeared quite recently, with the advent of insulating materials produced on a synthetic basis. The insulation layer is placed on the inside of the roof, completely isolating the attic space from the external environment. Today, builders have learned how to insulate the entire roof plane with high quality and at the same time prevent the occurrence of a dew point inside the insulation. The lion's share of merit in this belongs to the chemical industry, which produces polymer (rolled and sprayed) insulation. The big disadvantage of such technologies is the high cost of installation and materials. But as a result, an additional room appears in the building, suitable for housing or other domestic needs - clubs, gyms and even saunas are located in the attics.

The device of a cold roof with insulation of the attic floor. This method is more traditional, used for more than one generation.

In this case, there is no need to insulate the roof slopes, all attention is paid directly to the ceiling between the residential and attic spaces. The space under the roof remains an auxiliary place for storing things, drying fruits, mushrooms, etc.

e. Sometimes the attic is equipped for life in the warm season, turning it into a summer attic. Compared to a warm roof, this method of thermal insulation is much cheaper. In addition, the big advantage of a cold roof is its simplicity, reliability and accessibility during repairs.

The choice of the type of roof in the house depends on various circumstances. Below we consider the second, more common option.

How best to insulate the ceiling

First of all, it is necessary to figure out exactly how to insulate the ceiling: from the outside or from the inside.

From the side of the attic, it is much more comfortable to insulate the ceiling. This work is, frankly, dusty. And if people live in a house or apartment during work, then all household utensils and the owners themselves will experience discomfort, albeit temporary. The external method of insulation has a number of advantages.

1. You can use synthetic materials that inside the dwelling will harm human health. For example, polyurethane spraying, one of the most effective thermal insulation coatings, should not be applied to the ceiling from the inside of the house in the same way as foam, mineral or basalt wool. All these materials retain heat well, but emit harmful gases and caustic dust into the atmosphere.
2. If the ceiling is made of reinforced concrete slabs, then it accumulates excess heat.When the air inside the housing cools, the stove gives off heat back. But for this it is necessary that the thermal insulation is on the outside.
3. If the ceiling is wooden (logs or timber), then attic insulation is doubly beneficial. The load-bearing parts of the ceiling, which themselves are an excellent thermal insulator, together with an additional layer on top, give a very good cumulative result.
4. The degree of fire danger during insulation from the attic is much lower. Even if non-combustible insulation is used inside the housing, there is always a threat of collapse of suspended, glued or stretch ceilings.

The method of forming thermal insulation with sawdust

To make the sawdust more fire resistant, it is necessary to treat it with slag, especially in the chimney sections. Nothing needs to be laid on top. If necessary, you can put boards. Another way to insulate is to carry out protective procedures to prevent moisture from entering. You can walk on the surface of the clay. Mix sawdust with cement as follows:

• sawdust (10 parts);
• cement (2 parts);
• water (1.5 parts).

In order for the sawdust and cement to firmly converge, they need to get wet properly. This mixture should be spread over the entire floor of the attic surface with a thickness of at least 20 cm.

5 Thermal barrier device on the attic floor - available methods

For the installation of a thermal barrier on the side of the attic, all of the materials mentioned above are applicable. If you need to hire specialized teams for insulation with ecowool or polyurethane foam, it will not be difficult for any home craftsman to form heat-insulating layers with expanded clay, mineral wool or polymer sheet insulation.

If the overlap is made with a reinforced concrete slab, it is more advisable to use expanded clay, filling it with a layer of up to 15 cm, or lay penoplex, filling the seams between the sheets of polymer insulation with mounting foam. For wooden floors, it is better to use mineral wool, since it is similar to wood in terms of its ability to pass water vapor. Fibrous insulation is laid between the load-bearing wooden beams, after which a vapor barrier is made of the appropriate film. Then counter-rails are sewn along the beams, which will be the basis for laying the attic floor boards.

If there is free access to lumber waste, you can reduce the cost of the event as much as possible by filling the spaces between the beams with a mixture of small chips and sawdust. This method of thermal insulation will be the most environmentally friendly and natural for floors made of wood materials.

We insulate the ceiling with expanded clay: video instruction

And finally, another option for insulating the ceiling of a house with a cold roof is expanded clay. This is the most dense, and therefore the heaviest material.

It can only be used if there is confidence that the ceiling structure can withstand the load, which is easy to calculate based on the mass of material per square meter of area.

A detailed video tutorial can be seen here.

Almost everyone can insulate the ceiling and roof in their house, since such work does not require special skills. In addition, a variety of material options are suitable for almost any situation.

To choose the right insulation means to correctly correlate its properties with your needs.

And for this it is important to understand the main sources of heat loss.

The roof occupies the largest share in all heat losses, since, as you know, warm air is lighter than heavy air - it rises and cools down rather quickly if the ceiling is not sufficiently protected from cold temperatures.