How to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside: the stages of work and materials

In the country houses there is often a mansard floor. This is a kind of attic space. But if it is properly arranged, then it will make a beautiful living room. However, we should not forget that this room needs not only an interesting finish, but also in quality insulation. In summer, thanks to the large roof area, the room quickly heats up. In the winter - instant cooling. Therefore, if you decide to equip a great room, initially read about how to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside.

Key Features

Warming up the attic, you need to think about quality thermal insulation. In this case, the premise under the roof has many features that should be considered during the repair.

Professionals recommend before insulating the roof of the attic from the inside, to provide the following points:

1. Configuration of the roof. Most often the roof has an inclined surface. It is rare to find a strictly horizontal roof. Accordingly, the heat-insulating layer will have to be laid on an inclined plane. Hard sheets of special difficulties will not cause. But with soft rolls have to work hard.
2. Thermal insulation. The roof is usually made of wood or other light materials, which are characterized by water repellent characteristics. But such a roof often does not have sufficient thermal insulation. It is often possible to observe gaps in the wooden crate. And this even more ensures heat loss.
3. Warming of the pediments. The attic consists not only of the roof. So do not forget about the gables. Thermal insulation of the mansandra will not provide the necessary thermal insulation if you do not insulate these walls.
4. Water vapor permeability. Steam condensate, rising from the rooms, accumulates just under the roof. Therefore, choosing a heater for the roof, be sure to choose a material that has excellent vapor permeability.
5. Security. As the attic will become a living room, then choose an eco-friendly material. It must be non-flammable and completely fireproof. In addition, this material should not be harmful to health.

Choosing a heater

Initially, you should determine which material you will use. Because of its technical characteristics depends on the thickness of the thermal insulation and the number of layers required. Therefore, insulation from the inside begins with the study of suitable materials.

The modern market provides a wide range of insulation. Consider the most popular of them.

Warming of foam plastic

The material is convenient enough for laying on inclined surfaces. In addition, if you decide to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside with your own hands using foam, the cost of such repairs will be quite democratic. After all, the price of the material is relatively low.

Advantages of this insulation are:

• Low thermal conductivity;
• Light weight;
• Ease of installation.

The foam penthouse, despite the advantages described above, also has a number of minuses, which it gives this material. Therefore, before choosing such a heater, read them.

The main disadvantages of foam are:

• Insufficient vapor permeability;
• When ignited, releases toxic substances;
• Attractive for rodents.

Mineral wool

For warming very often this material is used. Mineral wool consists of synthetic and basalt fibers, connected with stone crumbs.

The material has the following advantages:

• A small price;
• High thermal insulation;
• Ecological compatibility;
• Light weight;
• Fire safety (minvata does not burn);
• High vapor permeability.

Thinking about what to choose a heater for the attic, many owners prefer mineral wool. After all, this material is not only characterized by excellent characteristics. It is very easy to mount.

Professionals say that you can not even use fasteners. It is enough to cut out slabs, the dimensions of which are 2-3 cm longer than the distance between the rafters. Such pieces will perfectly fit between the crossbeams and will not fall out.

Extruded polystyrene foam

This is another material that can be used to insulate the attic. It is produced in the form of certain plates that have a porous texture.

Advantages of the material are:

• High strength;
• Water resistance;
• Excellent thermal conductivity.

However, along with the advantages described above, EPS has serious drawbacks:

• High flammability;
• Airtightness;
• The ability to release toxins during combustion or oxidation (provoked by heat);
• High cost.

Given such moments, it is extremely rare to insulate the attic from the inside with expanded polystyrene. Most often this material is used for gables. It is often used for facade work. After all, polystyrene foam does not absorb moisture and does not miss it.

Application of polyurethane foam

It is a liquid insulation for the attic. It can be applied without any problems to any surface. This material will be an indispensable solution for complex roof configurations.

However, to work with such material, you need a protective suit and a special installation. That is why insulation with polyurethane foam is most often assigned to hired professionals. Of course, the cost of work increases at times.

But it is the polyurethane foam that creates a monolithic continuous layer that does not allow the passage of cold. In addition, such a surface does not need additional vapor-insulating layers.

Use of environmental materials

Today, many owners choose heaters that are highly safe for both human health and the environment. They practically do not contain chemical fibers and do not emit toxic substances during combustion.

Such materials are:

• Ecowool;
• Eco-friendly;
• Fabric cotton insulation.

The main advantages of such heaters are the following properties:

• High-quality thermal insulation;
• Ability to pass air;
• High sound insulation;
• Hypoallergenicity;
• Perfect air filtration.

Roof pie

So, if you decide to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside with your own hands, then you need to familiarize yourself in detail with the intricacies of installation. To make the room suitable for life, it will be necessary to form under the roof a certain roofing cake, consisting of several layers.

Consider it in detail, starting with the inner surface:

1. Drywall. This material is almost always used to decorate the walls of the room.
2. A layer of vapor barrier. It ensures the condensate outlet outside. It is recommended to perform the vapor barrier with a special membrane. It is laid overlap (approximately 10 cm), and glued on top with scotch tape. The vapor barrier layer must be continuous, not containing cracks or gaps.
3. Rims. This is the next layer of roofing pie. It performs several functions at once. The lining supports a heater. In addition, it is the basis to which the vapor barrier membrane is attached . And it is this layer that provides an extremely important clearance for ventilation under the roof.
4. Insulation. It is located above the crate. Depending on the material selected, as well as the planned final result, the heater can be stacked in one or several layers.
5. Waterproofing layer. It is designed to protect the insulation from getting wet. The layer is important enough. When planning how to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside, do not forget about the need for waterproofing. So you protect the heater from premature spoilage.
6. Rims. This layer is necessary to create a ventilation space between the waterproofing film and the roof. Such a gap allows the moisture accumulated on the water-repellent membranes to become weathered. However, it is important to consider the possibility of condensate evaporation. For this, special holes are made on the sections of the skate base. Their value depends entirely on the selected material for the roof. For example, roofs covered with tiles, corrugated board, need holes, about 25 mm. And for roofs with flat materials the size of such holes increases to 50 mm.
7. Windproof vapor barrier. It is mounted over the second crate. It allows to provide heat and comfort in the room even in the strongest wind. This insulation fits over the rafter's legs and is carefully fixed with racks.
8. Roofing. This is the finish layer of the roofing cake.

Thermal insulation technology

Having dealt with the varieties of materials, carefully studying what the roofing cake consists of, you can go directly to work. So, let's look at how to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside by yourself.

The most popular material is still mineral wool. It is often used for such purposes. That is why we will analyze how to properly insulate the roof of the attic from the inside with mineral wool.

The technology of works consists of the following stages:

1. Preparation. Initially, try to protect yourself from various kinds of problems. Check if the room is well ventilated? Be protected by means of protection. They are: a respirator, construction gloves, goggles.
2. Check the rafters. This is the next stage of your work. Now you need to check how exactly the rafters are. This task is carried out using an aluminum long profile. It should be attached to the rafter feet. The bars that are installed correctly will completely contact the profile.
3. Measuring the distance between rafters. Take measurements in at least 2 different places.
4. Preparation of mineral wool slabs. Now you can start working with a heater. For this, using the measurements taken earlier, the plates of the corresponding dimensions are cut from the mineral wool. However, remember that the size of such fragments should be approximately 2-3 cm higher than the measurements you took. This will ensure a good placement of slabs between the rafters and eliminate the need to fix the heater additional fasteners.
5. Installation of mineral wool. To lay the heater, it is slightly compressed and placed in an interstitial niche. Mineral cotton wool should take its original form. If wrinkles or bubbles form, be sure to level the material. So continues the insulation from the inside of the entire surface. The place of the combination of the wall with the outer rafters is sealed with a sealant.
6. Laying the vapor barrier. When laying a special film, fix it with a stapler (in steps of 15-20 cm). Separate fragments overlap, and the sections of joints glue a special tape.
7. Clearance of window openings. They are equipped with special structures made of wooden blocks, withstanding a distance of 40-60 cm. Vertical slats are attached using self-tapping screws. Under them form the base, which then becomes the place of joining the drywall with the film. The frame is filled with a heater. On skates it is covered with a film.
8. Warming of the attic walls. It's time to think about the pediments. They are insulated in the same way as the roof. Carefully work the ends of the roof. Now create a metal frame on which the drywall will be attached. Between such details again lay a heater. From above it is closed with a metal profile.
9. Installation of vapor barrier film. It is attached to the frame by means of electrical tape and glue. Installation of gypsum cardboard is done with self-tapping screws.

Warming of the attic with expanded polystyrene

If you decide to use this material, which is, in fact, a modern advanced heir of foam, the technology will be slightly different. If your roof is mounted correctly, a layer of waterproofing is already provided.

Warming of the attic with expanded polystyrene consists of the following stages:

1. Processing of wooden elements. Begin at this stage. All wooden structures must be carefully treated with an antiseptic. It is recommended that these surfaces be also opened with a flame retardant compound. Be sure to allow time to soak up the media and dry completely. Moldy or rotten elements must be replaced.
2. Fastening sheets. In the openings between the rafters stack extruded polystyrene foam. For fastening the material, you can use staples, corners, thin slats (they are nailed across the rafters). To ensure ventilation, leave a gap between the sheets and the waterproofing in 2-5 cm. Styrofoam is stacked extremely neatly, leaving no distances between the sheets and rafters. If the gaps are still formed, then they are closed with mounting foam or pieces of the material itself. Sometimes styrofoam is laid in several layers. When the insulation is completely laid out, you should get a smooth surface, which does not contain any slots, or protrusions.
3. Installation of vapor barrier. For the next layer, a special film is used, which can look like a perforated or foil-sealed membrane. Strengthen it with a stapler, overlapping. Joints are sealed with a special tape.
4. Fine finishing. This is the final stage. Depending on your desires, you can decorate the room with a lining, plasterboard, plastic or other materials. This finish is mounted close to the vapor barrier layer. If desired, you can make a thin crate, consisting of racks, and fix the selected materials for finishing it on it.

Wall warming

If in your room the roof does not reach the floor, then the room necessarily has side surfaces. If you do not take care of the walls, then, no matter how qualitatively you insulate the roof, the attic will continue to remain cold. Of course, work on the vertical surface is much easier than under the roof.

It is quite simple to warm the walls of the attic yourself. The technology of works is almost the same as for the roof. Therefore, if you were able to insulate the roof on your own, this task will not cause you any difficulties. So, which algorithm should be followed?

Stages of insulation of the attic walls:

1. Initially, fix the special rails on the surfaces.
2. Now lay the insulation layer.
3. It must necessarily be followed by a vapor barrier.
4. Do not forget the waterproofing. For walls it is not less important than for a roof. Therefore, pre-build a suitable material that provides waterproofing.
5. As a heater for wall finishing, you can apply sheets of fiberboard. It's easy to work with such material. It is perfectly fastened with screws or nails.

Conclusion

Now, knowing how to insulate the roof of the attic from the inside, you will easily cope with this task. And even if you do not plan to use an attic space for a living room, you still need to take care of the roof. After all, quality-made insulation significantly reduces the cost of heating the house. In addition, it provides a home microclimate in the cottage. And, importantly, it significantly extends the life of the structures.