How to insulate the roof of the house with your hands. Do-it-yourself roof insulation from the inside. How materials are used

Pitched roof features
Step-by-step instruction
Flat roof and the nuances of working with it

Each owner is concerned about the issue of economical consumption of resources for heating a private house. You can partially solve the problem by performing the roof insulation procedure. Thus, it is possible to reduce heat loss by up to 15%. The complexity and result of the work largely depends on how to insulate the roof and what its design is.

A gravel inverted roof consists of the following layers: under a washed gravel roof or rainwater fleece filter, and then an inverted roof insulation with insulating boards. Follow seals and carrier concrete ceiling. Why not turn the old flat roof into a pitched roof? Then a reliable insulating layer sits in the resulting cavity.

Insulating the top floor ceiling saves money and avoids significant energy losses, especially in older buildings. In uninhabited attics, at least the floor should be covered with insulating boards. The best solution for later dwellings: intermediate truss insulation made of mineral wool. Reasonable self-sufficient people save on their own initiative and need items such as wedge felt or rock wool wedges, polyethylene vapor barrier film, joint sealing tape, wood planks and alcohol levels, measuring tools, cordless screwdrivers and hammer, stickers, jigsaw and sharp knife.

If the attic space is not used, then ceiling insulation is a sufficient measure to insulate the room.

If the attic is not planned to be used, you can limit yourself to insulating the ceiling of the house. The roof itself is insulated if the room under it will be used.

Pitched roof features

Questions: How does curb insulation work?

A few days later, a roof area of 50 square meters economically isolated on their own. In the case of intermediate rafter insulation, you are determined depending on the height of the rafter, determined by the given thickness and quality of the insulation. If not properly implemented, thermal bridges affect the performance of the insulation; Heat loss in the partition area seems inevitable.

The structures must be fixed upwards with chipboard stable: cold attic can be used for storage. The intermediate shell and sufficient room height make changes to the roof structure accessible. Wool, fiberglass, cellulose, wood fiber or hemp insulation materials are inserted between the beams between the eaves and the ridge. If layers with sufficient insulation values between the rafters are not practical, it is possible to forego the insulation of the trims with lightweight insulation panels laid along the entire slope of the roof.

Before insulating the roof, it is important to find out exactly how this task is performed in accordance with the type of roof. The pitched roof is insulated from the inside. In an old house, be sure to check the crate for the presence of rotten or damp boards. Damaged boards must be replaced with fresh ones, after which everything should be processed wooden elements frame antiseptic and fire protection.

Another economical method of isolation is injection insulating material paper or cotton flakes by a specialist. Preliminary work such as water-repellent, vapor-tight internal formwork is mandatory to prevent moisture from penetrating the roof insulation and thus cold bridges and subsequent mold infestation.

Durable rafter insulation protection

The insulation of the rafters is in the hands of experienced roofers: the entire roof is hooded with insulating elements, which not only provides heat, but also noise, moisture and fire protection. Modern elements insulations, located directly on the formwork or rafters, combine all these functions. The central rafter insulation layer consists of rigid polyisopen foam, an insulating material known from the cooling element sector, which reduces thermal conductivity to a minimum.

To make an insulated roof follows from several layers. The presence of the following materials is mandatory: waterproofing, insulation layer and vapor barrier. On request or need, interior decoration is carried out. Between the roof and the insulation, an air “cushion” should be organized, and there should also be a space between the waterproofing and the insulation. This is necessary for the free removal of the resulting moisture. In case it is planned decorative trim from lining or chipboard, it is necessary to provide an air gap in front of these layers.

In the case of traditional rafter insulation using mineral wool, wood fiber or hard foam, the insulation layer lies between the timber roof truss and the roof. This insulation method is suitable for renovation of old roofs, expansion and installation of large skylights. The entire roof is covered, the roof insulation is introduced and then re-covered.

If you are renovating more than ten percent of the surface, you must insulate the entire roof. Roof windows as well as chimney and ventilation connections must be adapted to the new, stronger roof. Expensive fun, but durable clay tiles and concrete tiles can usually be used at least partially a second time. Unfortunately, this principle does not apply to extremely durable slate slabs. While pure roof insulation is hardly more expensive than rafter intermediate insulation, this procedure becomes more expensive due to additional services for carpentry and roofing.

Ensuring air circulation when insulating a pitched roof.

Before insulating the roof, two holes should be arranged between all layers to ensure free air circulation.

How to insulate the roof? To carry out work that is quite realistic to do on your own, you need the following materials:

But builders can be happy: various subsidy programs for roof insulation provide public funds in Germany. Finally, with this continuous insulating layer, you will get a structure that is less susceptible to thermal bridges and seals securely against infiltrating water.

Working load for roof insulation

A savvy home improvement can certainly insulate the roof. The only question is whether it is advisable to work without a specialist. A protective membrane must be installed to adequately insulate the roof. This prevents moisture from penetrating into the insulation. If this track is not available, the entire roof must be repainted. If you do without a track, you need to install less effective ventilated insulation. In this case, cold air circulates between the tiles and the insulation.

Directly insulating material. Use of mineral wool or glass wool is allowed. The second is available in slabs or in the form of a roll, however, in order to make an insulated roof, it is optimal to use slabs that do not deform. In addition, you can use foam.
Roofing material can be taken as a waterproofing material. A film that protects the layers from water, but allows evaporation of the moisture formed inside, is also suitable for this task.
For vapor barrier, you can choose one of the materials: roofing material, polyethylene film, foil, glassine. The recommended option is a special membrane that protects the insulation layer from water and steam, but allows the removal of the resulting condensate.

After choosing the material for each of the layers and preparing the roof, work can begin.

Usually chests made of glass or mineral wool are sandwiched between rafters. For proper energy reconstruction, thicker insulating layers must be installed. Sometimes additional insulation from the rafters is required, i.e. an insulating layer that is applied over the layer between the rafters. This also insulates the rafters themselves. When insulating the roof, the felt must be finely adjusted.

Even small gaps between the rafters and the felt, or between the felts, result in significant heat loss. This layer must be carefully covered with foil. Only an airtight seal to the inside provides sufficient insulation. Films must be fixed at precise intervals. All transitions must be carefully sealed with adhesive tape.

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Step-by-step instruction

Between the boards of the frame, blocks of heat-insulating material cut to the width are laid.

It is necessary to measure the distance between the rafters, as well as the thickness of the boards. Next - cut the plates of insulating material. At the same time, their width should be 1 cm more than the step between the rafters.
If there is no insulation layer between the roof and the frame, it must be laid so that it envelops the frame beams. The material is fixed with a stapler. Having laid it around the entire perimeter, you should bring the lower edges under the bevel to organize the flow of water. Further, the thermal insulation is laid tightly to the previous layer, without forming voids.
If there is already insulation under the roof, space should be provided between it and the insulation layer. For this purpose, nails are driven in between the rafters (after 3-5 cm from the waterproofing). Then a thread is fixed on them, after which the nails are driven in until they stop.
Fixation of the insulating material can be carried out with a cord. In this case, nails must be hammered along the edges of the frame.
The next step is the installation of insulation. Mineral wool is placed between the boards of the frame, while you need to lightly press it, in the future it will take the desired shape. The foam is located in the cells between the elements of the frame. If necessary, two layers can be made. When laying slabs, do not match the joints of adjacent layers. It happens that the thickness of the frame boards is not designed for a double layer of insulation. Additional bars can save the situation.
Further, as after the previous layer, a thread or cord is pulled over the nails driven into the edges of the rafters. In addition to this method, fastening in the form of a crate of slats is used. They are nailed to the rafters with a distance of 30-40 cm.
The next task is to fix the vapor barrier. The canvas is overlapped by 10 cm. The joints of the layers must be sealed with adhesive tape or adhesive tape, and the insulation itself must be fixed with a stapler. It is important to qualitatively fix the vapor barrier at the intersection of the roof and the pipe. The service life of the insulation layer depends on how well this area is insulated.
Finally, you need to do interior decoration roofs in case it is planned to organize an attic. Suitable chipboard, drywall or lining. It is important to maintain an air gap between the insulation and finishing material. This can be done using not a stapler, but pressed strips for fastening.

In our regions, to keep the heat in the house, you need to take care of the insulation of the roof. Properly selected material will help protect living quarters from frost and moisture. Therefore, it is important to understand how to insulate the roof of the house so that the roofing pie for a long time performed its functions. In the article, we will consider the most popular options and do-it-yourself attic insulation in a private house.

In theory, this sounds like a pretty easy home improvement job. But no question, the missing substrate can only be restored by a specialist. For professionals, it is not recommended to close the roof and replenish it. The roofer will know immediately if the rafters need to be updated or the shingles need to be replaced. It also has the necessary safety equipment to prevent falls from the roof.

Surface preparation and insulator selection

Insulation from the inside, so the actual insulation in the attic, can work in new building and pilot houses. This is difficult with older roofs where conventional rafters have not been partially used. Even crooked and crooked rafters often show improvement in a home with unsolvable problems. Special balancing profiles are generally not available in the general building materials trade.

Choosing the right heater

In the past, straw and sawdust were used to insulate houses. Nowadays, there is a wide variety of more efficient and reliable materials. To figure out how to insulate the roof of a private house, you need to get acquainted with the main properties of each option. The following roofing heaters are more popular:

Even those who know how to use tools should consult a specialist. It makes sense to discuss together with this the nature and scope of the measures. Anyone versed in the use of tools can take on the actual dam. The final print is so important that you'd better play it safe. At the very least, a specialist should check the tightness. Special tests, such as the blower door test, show that the insulation is tight. Without proper testing, it is never certain that it would be properly insulated.

Mineral wool. Fibrous material sold for roof insulation in the form of slabs or rolls. There is a wide variety of brands with slightly different characteristics. In general, this option is more common than the others. It is distinguished by lightness, ease of installation, low cost, vapor permeability, biostability, incombustibility. It is recommended to choose basalt wool, as it is more resistant to fire and is not afraid of moisture. The insulation technology provides for the organization of high-quality ventilation. It helps to remove fumes from the heater. If this is not done, then the wood will begin to dampen, and the thermal insulation will lose its effectiveness.
Glass wool. It is possible to insulate the roof with fiberglass, in terms of its characteristics it is not much different from the previous version. The main feature is the replacement of mineral fibers with glass. Because of this, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment when working. It is recommended to purchase glass wool sold in plates covered with a layer of foil. The insulation is distinguished by excellent thermal insulation characteristics, sound insulation, incombustibility, and the absence of harmful fumes.

Insulation saves money - more than any change in heating technology

Poor insulation is especially noticeable due to two main temperature differences: while it is impossible to create cozy warmth in the rooms in winter despite the fact that the heating is on, it gets so hot in summer that you can hardly sustain it in an apartment. If you there are such problems, the time will come for subsequent isolation. Such modernization measures are usually also funded by the state. In addition, better energy also increases the value of the property - as proven by the energy passage. And in general: first change or repair the cover at home before trying it with another heating technology.

foamed glass. Consists of two components: foamed glass and carbon fibers. These components are highly resistant to biological and chemical influences. They are not afraid of moisture and open fire, do not emit odors or any harmful fumes. It is allowed to use for roof insulation of any shape and design solutions. Before proceeding with the insulation of the roof, you will have to purchase polymer acetate glue.
Polyurethane foam. Lightweight, inexpensive material, characterized by biological resistance, excellent insulation of sounds and heat, absolute immunity to moisture. Thanks to the latter property, the insulation retains its properties in direct contact with water. Despite this, it is still necessary to make a waterproofing layer, as it will protect the wooden rafters from getting wet. Polyurethane foam is laid both in the form of plates and by spraying onto the roofing material. Therefore, some work on the installation of insulation will require the use of special equipment.
Foam concrete. Made from cement, sand and blowing agent. Despite the severity of the materials, the finished insulation has a low density. It does not overload the roof structure, although foam concrete is still heavier than mineral wool. The main advantage of this insulation is that it is fireproof. At the same time, the insulation is non-toxic and endures high levels of humidity.
Penoizol. This insulation is similar in its characteristics to conventional foam. The main difference is the difference in installation - it must be sprayed using foaming equipment. Thanks to this method, you can not worry about the appearance of cold bridges. The insulation well fills all the pores and cracks of the roofing pie. Nevertheless, for the normal functioning of the insulating layer, it will be necessary to stretch the vapor barrier film.
Ecowool. The insulation is made from ordinary waste paper. This improves thermal insulation characteristics and environmental safety. No need to worry about getting poisoned by dangerous fumes. At the same time, there is a significant drawback - biological instability and the threat of ignition. To eliminate the weaknesses of the insulation, it is processed by special means. In order to insulate the roof with ecowool, special boxes are made; for this, sheets of plywood are stuffed onto the rafters. A heater is blown into the formed cavities.

roof slope insulation technology

Roof insulation with rafter insulation and insulation between rafters

Because insulating and sealing the sink at home does the lion's share of the savings. If you have good roof insulation, you can especially test the winter in snowfall: if the snow stays and forms a hood, their roof is well insulated. On the other hand, if the snow melts, too much heat comes out from within.

Installation of ventilation gap and waterproofing

You can choose between two types of roof insulation: on and between the rafters. The roof insulation between the rafters can only be as thick as the rafters themselves, so they come from the inside. In the case of rafter insulation, which is the best option in terms of building physics and economics, a continuous insulating layer is applied to the entire surface of the roof, as a result of which the rafters no longer form thermal bridges. With the new roof covering, you not only benefit from optimal insulation, but also from modernization.

Having figured out what is better to insulate the roof, you can proceed to direct installation. This stage of construction is especially important, so you will have to spend a large number of funds. Since the negative consequences are noticeable only when cold weather sets in, and installation work is carried out in the summer, it is important to follow the technology exactly. Do-it-yourself roof insulation in a private house occurs in several stages:

The most common heaters

If the roof space is not developed, but it is possible to walk, the upper ceiling must be insulated. As a result, heat can escape from the underlying floors. One uses insulating mats or bulk insulation. If the attic has already been removed or the existing roof needs to be replaced in any case, it is recommended to repair the outside. Therefore, it is necessary to apply additional insulation above the rafter position.

Isolate the façade insulation with an outer wall

With an insulation thickness of 50 mm, old façades no longer meet today's energy needs. B. Knauf's "warm wall duet" is an effective measure. good insulation outer wall has nothing to do with its thickness. Depending on the insulating material, a different thickness is required. Facade insulation consists of panels, which, in turn, consist of various components: polystyrene, polyurethane, glass or stone wool. The boards are glued with mortar directly to the façade, fixed with dowels and finally plastered.

A waterproofing layer is laid under the roofing material, a cat-lattice is stuffed on it, which performs the function of ventilation.
It is advisable to make another small gap under the insulating film for ventilation.
Insulation is mounted on the inside.
The vapor barrier layer is fixed.

Although metal tiles and corrugated board do not allow moisture to pass through, they get very hot during the day and cool down quickly at night. Because of this, condensation forms on the surface, and it is from it that the waterproofing protects. But since any waterproofing leaks moisture over time, it is important to get rid of water vapor in time through ventilation.

Quality assurance and facade quality

The minimum thickness should be 12 cm, and even better. In such cases, insulation must be applied with extreme care to avoid leakage of thermal bridges. Companies specializing in thermal insulation in a composite system have voluntarily joined forces to meet requirements beyond the usual level of performance.

Quality assurance takes place in the planning and execution of thermal insulation work through continuous self-control and regular external monitoring. Do you get cold feet quickly because the floor is always so cold? Then it could be because your basement is not getting warm and that cold is coming in through the uninsulated basement ceiling. Even mold and structural damage cannot be ruled out.

Indoors, over time, water vapor is also formed, which rises to the roofing cake. A vapor barrier serves as an obstacle in their path, but over time, moisture enters the insulation. If the characteristics of the insulation can be affected by water, then it is important that it has excellent vapor permeability. Therefore, it is important to think several times about the best way to insulate the roof of a private house. In such a situation, evaporation rises to the lower ventilation, which is located under the waterproofing.

Wet mineral wool loses 60% of its insulating properties, so it is important to accurately fulfill all the requirements of the installation technology.

After the roof of a private house has been insulated, you can do finishing inner surface. For this purpose, sheets of chipboard or drywall are often used. After that, you can stick wallpaper or paint the ceiling.

Attic floor insulation

It is necessary to isolate the attic floor only if there is no attic. But the question arises, what is the best way to insulate the attic of a private house? The answer will depend on the choice of one of two isolation technologies:

fix the thermal insulation from the living quarters;
lay insulation on top of the ceiling.

The latter option is considered simpler, but for its implementation it is important to take into account the bearing capacity of the ceiling. This is especially true for the use of expanded clay or a mixture of cement and sawdust. Professionals recommend using more expensive materials, such as mineral or basalt wool. These options are easy to install and do not require special reinforcement of the floor.

The process of laying insulation with your own hands involves the following steps:

Before insulating the attic, a vapor barrier film is laid between the beams. It is important to make overlaps between the rolls and securely fix the material.
Install insulation mats. Choose the material so that it fits exactly into the space between wooden beams. If necessary, plates or rolls can be cut.
Waterproofing is laid on top of the resulting cake. It is allowed to use ordinary ruberoid.

There are some tips on how to properly insulate the attic. Before laying the insulation with your own hands, it is important to check the overlap for defects. If cracks are found, fill them mounting foam. Cold bridges can be avoided by laying thermal insulation in two layers, overlapping the joints of the previous row. Places of overlap of steam and waterproofing are glued with special construction tape.

In some cases, a cement-sand screed 30 mm thick is made over the thermal insulation in the attic. It performs the role of fire protection, which increases the safety of living in the house.

Roof insulation in a private house is an important stage calculated at the design stage. If the house has already been built a long time ago, it is important to calculate all the options and only after that make the final choice. Some thermal insulation options will require the use of professional equipment. Therefore, you will have to contact specialized companies, but in the end you can save on heating.