How to insulate a garage roof from the inside. Tips from the experts - how to insulate a garage roof. Features of insulation of a concrete garage

How to insulate a garage roof from the inside. Tips from the experts - how to insulate a garage roof. Features of insulation of a concrete garage

Finishing a concrete garage

Read also - how to insulate the ceiling in a garage.

Temperatures in the garage that are too low are bad, but temperatures that are too high are no better. When insulating a room, it is important not to overdo it. Sometimes, in pursuit of saving heat, garage owners insulate all the cracks, forgetting that any room must have ventilation. Otherwise, moisture will accumulate, form condensation, and a musty smell will appear. A ventilation hole should be provided in a concrete garage. The most acceptable temperature for keeping a car is considered to be +5 degrees. You can insulate a garage both from the inside and outside.

Internal insulation has a number of disadvantages:

  1. Insulation materials, even the highest quality ones, emit small amounts of toxic substances.
  2. There is always a risk that the garage walls will freeze in winter.
  3. When finishing interiors, a layer of insulation reduces the space.

External insulation of a concrete building is preferable; it will reliably protect the room from freezing, but it also has a number of “disadvantages”. First of all, there are significant costs for building materials.

Important! Exterior arrangement is a rather labor-intensive process. In addition to insulation, finishing will have to be done to make the building look attractive.

But still, each method of insulation has its advantages. Once this finishing is done, you can ensure optimal conditions in the garage for many years. You can also install double insulation, the main thing is to choose high-quality materials and carry out construction work correctly.

How to choose the right material?

Foam insulation

Before you insulate a concrete garage, you need to take care of the materials for this purpose. Each of the insulation materials has its own characteristics. Therefore, when purchasing products, you should focus on their properties and performance characteristics.

To insulate a concrete garage, you can choose one of the most popular materials:

  1. Styrofoam. A universal and loved material by many. There will be no difficulties with its installation when insulating the garage. The foam is very light and can be cut into segments without effort. This is an affordable insulating material that is not affected by moisture and is not susceptible to rotting. Its variety - polystyrene foam - has a long service life - up to 40 years, and does not allow steam or moisture to pass through. The disadvantage of polystyrene foam is its poor stability when exposed to sunlight; without coating it will quickly turn yellow and begin to crumble. This material does not allow air to pass through, does not “breathe”, some varieties are quite flammable. They should not be purchased for insulating a garage.
  2. Mineral wool. If this material will be used for external thermal insulation, then it is necessary to choose a hard type of wool with a density of 200-240 kg per cubic meter. If you plan to interior decorate the garage, then you should buy a soft type of mineral wool with a density of 120-180 kg per cubic meter. High rates of thermal insulation and at the same time sound insulation are the distinctive features of the basalt variety of mineral wool. Before insulating a cinder block garage with this material, it is important to take care of the vapor barrier, otherwise the substance will begin to absorb moisture and lose its properties.
  3. Glass wool. Insulation with this material will be cheaper than with mineral wool. But glass wool has rather hard and spiky fibers, so you need to work with it carefully and wear protective gloves to avoid getting hurt. Glass wool is even more afraid of water. If the material gets wet, it is unlikely to dry it. Wet, crumpled glass wool is not able to retain heat, and it also has a strong unpleasant odor.
  4. Reflective materials. One of the most modern and optimal options for interior work. Unlike other insulating coatings, shielding sheets have a minimum thickness: only 2-5 mm, so such insulation will not affect the volume of the garage in any way. Reflective thermal insulation is produced in the form of rolls, it is soft and easy to install. It is a layer of foil with foamed polyurethane foam. In addition, when using such thermal insulation, the lining of the room is automatically obtained.
  5. Thermal insulating plaster. This is a finishing material that contains filler to enhance its properties. Most often it is granulated polystyrene foam, vermiculite, sawdust. The disadvantage of such insulation is that to significantly protect the garage it is necessary to make a rather impressive layer of plaster; its consumption will be large. It is best to combine “warm” plaster with other methods of insulating a garage or use it for finishing work. It can also be used to insulate a room from the inside.
  6. Thermal insulation paints. This method of insulation has its advantages. The painting layer is very thin: each 1 mm corresponds to 50 mm of mineral wool. Plus it's a beautiful finish. The paint is easy to apply and covers any material well. Paint and varnish insulating coatings are made on the basis of acrylic polymers, dyes and synthetic rubber. Such materials, as a rule, are non-flammable and resistant to fungus.

How to make insulation with your own hands?

Arrangement of the garage

Read also - how to insulate a door in a private house.

To maximize the insulation of your garage, you need to take care of insulating not only the walls, but also the floor, roof and gate. You need to start from the walls.

External thermal insulation of garage walls

Exterior decoration of the garage

Article on the topic - ways to insulate a concrete floor.

The simplest and most common option for insulating a concrete garage from the outside is the use of polystyrene foam. This is an inexpensive material, you can do the finishing yourself, and no special skills are required for the work.

Main stages:

  1. Preparing the walls. They must be cleaned of dirt and dust, and chips and cracks must be plastered.
  2. Installation of foam plastic. It is better to choose sheets with a thickness of 5 cm and a strength of 25 units. The fixing solution can be applied in separate “dots”, but this economical option without experience is a little difficult to implement. In this case, the foam sheets must be pressed very tightly against the wall. Therefore, it is safer to apply the composition over the entire surface using a spatula with teeth. Insulate walls from bottom to top. For greater reliability, the sheets are additionally fixed with dowels, but after the binder solution has dried.
  3. Final wall finishing. Polystyrene foam is a good and inexpensive insulation material, but it needs additional protection from external factors. It is better to use plaster for these purposes, strengthening it with a fiberglass mesh. The foam is covered with a layer of glue up to 5 mm thick. The mesh cut into strips is pressed into the glue, always overlapping. After this, you can apply facade plaster. The final coating can be painting in several layers. You can also use sheets of plasterboard (special moisture-resistant) for finishing work, but to attach them you will have to build a frame.

Internal thermal insulation of garage walls

Interior wall decoration

For such work, you first need to mount a frame made of a metal profile on which the heat-insulating layer will be attached. If mineral wool acts as insulation, then first fix a layer of waterproofing film so that the wool does not absorb moisture. It is attached with an overlap, but without tension, so that there are no tears. After laying the filler, a vapor barrier layer is applied. Then finishing work is carried out using drywall and plaster.

Advice! A good option for insulation from the inside is the application of polyurethane foam. True, this requires special equipment. The foam is applied to the walls and it simply hardens.

Roof insulation

Polystyrene foam for ceiling

To insulate the garage roof, you will first need to build a frame from a metal profile. They fasten it to the concrete slab with metal corners and self-tapping screws. Sheets of foam plastic are first fixed to the frame with tape, and then securely pressed with sheets of finishing inner lining. There is no point in installing a special layer of insulation against steam and moisture, since foam plastic does not allow them to pass through. If, to insulate the roof, the choice fell on mineral wool, then the first layer of waterproofing comes from the ceiling, then mineral wool or other fibrous filler, and then the vapor barrier layer.

Gate insulation

Warm gates

If you do not take care of the thermal insulation of this part of the garage, then heat loss cannot be avoided. After all, gates occupy a significant area of ​​the building. The simplest insulation option is to arrange “curtains” made of plastic. A transparent film 8-10 mm thick is suitable for these purposes. It is easy to cut into strips 20-30 cm wide and stapled to a wooden cornice. Gate leaves are often insulated from the inside, as this is technically simpler. The same polystyrene foam will do. First you need to lath the gate, and then install the foam.

Floor insulation

Insulation of concrete floor

The good thing about a concrete floor is that it is very strong and durable and does not allow moisture to pass through. But it also has disadvantages: it is prone to dust formation, since it wears out during active use. Insulation of the concrete floor in the garage is also necessary. The only exception: if there is a cellar under the garage. If the room has a floor with a soil base, the easiest way to insulate it is with expanded clay.

To do this you will need to perform the following steps:

  • remove part of the soil to the expected depth of insulation;
  • the earth is thoroughly compacted;
  • spread a layer of insulating material, for example, roofing felt;
  • fill the “pillow” of expanded clay to about 30 cm;
  • concrete floor;
  • Apply a layer of protective coating, such as paint, to prevent dust.

A more expensive and more complex option is a heated floor system. But insulating a concrete floor in a garage in this way is considered inappropriate by many.

How to insulate a brick garage roof

Fiberglass provides low thermal conductivity due to its fibrous structure. The material is made from glass, which is melted and drawn into thin threads. Fiberglass does not burn, does not decompose or rot. However, the material should not be subjected to mechanical stress. During installation, you should work in personal protective equipment so that fiber particles do not get on the mucous membranes and skin.

Photo. Installation of TECHNORUF insulation TechnoNIKOL

Mineral wool (basalt) insulation resembles fiberglass in structure, but differs in the source material (basalt rocks). Mineral insulation is a more plastic and elastic material. If installed correctly, the insulation will last for decades. But during installation, the mineral wool should be protected with a vapor barrier from moisture and finishing from mechanical damage.

TECHNORUF mineral wool is intended for creating a thermal insulation layer in roofs made of reinforced concrete during the construction of structures.

Expanded polystyrene is very popular due to its ease of installation and low cost. All polymer insulation materials are manufactured using the same technology - the porous structure of polystyrene foam allows them to retain heat for a long time. Technoplex does not absorb moisture and withstands significant mechanical loads, but polystyrene foam is afraid of direct sunlight and is flammable.

When insulating the roof internally, we advise you to pay attention to mineral insulation. This insulation does not support combustion, but requires additional protection with a vapor barrier film. The best option for roof insulation is thermal insulation of the garage roof with mineral wool at the construction stage, as in the case of independently insulating an attic with mineral wool from the inside.

How to insulate a pitched garage roof

Technoruf is a modern material that is used as a top layer for thermal insulation of pitched roofs. The material is not flammable, it can be used without loss of characteristics at temperatures from -60 to +400°C. The use of waterproofing when laying Tekhnoruf mineral wool is mandatory. All brands of Tekhnoruf mineral wool are characterized by high density and low thermal conductivity.

How to insulate a garage roof from the outside

It is quite difficult to insulate a garage roof from the street so that it lasts for a long time. Therefore, manufacturers offer different solutions to this problem every year. A layer of polystyrene foam or mineral wool insulation for external thermal insulation is located between the roofing and the reinforced concrete slab, but the material should be protected from mechanical damage and moisture.

Photo. Insulating the garage roof with expanded clay from the outside

When insulating a garage roof, you should strictly follow the sequence of laying materials. To begin with, a hydrobarrier, a heat-insulating layer and a vapor barrier are laid. If the ceiling is a reinforced concrete slab, then the thermal insulation materials are attached directly to the roof. Mineral wool is characterized by fire safety and high heat-saving ability and sound absorption.

Expanded polystyrene can be fixed to a flat roof from the outside or inside using dowels. The seams between slabs of foam plastic or extruded polystyrene foam should be foamed. It is advisable to lay expanded polystyrene slabs in two layers in a checkerboard pattern so that the second layer overlaps the seams of the previous layer. Thus, you will reduce the risk of cold bridges in the thermal insulation layer.

How to insulate a garage roof from the inside

When laying thermal insulation internally, you should first treat the wooden floors with an antiseptic and the reinforced concrete slab with mastic. Installation of polystyrene foam on a concrete roof slab is carried out using mounting foam with additional fastening using disc dowels. For single-pitch and gable roofs made of wood, slab insulation is laid between the rafters, and all seams are foamed.

Photo. Insulating a garage roof with foam plastic from the inside

To lay mineral wool, a frame should be built on the ceiling. Many manufacturers produce slabs of increased rigidity that are easily inserted between the rafters. If rolls or slabs of low-density mineral wool are used, then insulation should be laid on the roof lining. After laying the mineral wool, it should be protected with a vapor barrier membrane from moisture penetration.

In the video at the end of the material, you can take a closer look at the entire technology of the work. Let us remind you that when insulating a garage, ventilation of the room should be provided. The fact is that in a warm and humid room the car will begin to rust faster. Don’t forget to also properly insulate the garage door, since most of the heat escapes through this structure in the winter.

Video. Insulating a garage roof from the inside

Types of thermal insulation materials

Fiberglass insulation is sold in rolls or in sheet form. The insulating properties are the same as those of ordinary glass. It does not burn, will not rot from moisture, and will not collapse under the influence of an aggressive environment. The structure of the smallest fibers ensures low thermal conductivity of the material.

Fiberglass is a fragile material, so it should not be subjected to mechanical stress, otherwise the fibers will be damaged. When using this material, you must ensure that the smallest particles do not come into contact with the skin, especially the eyes or respiratory system: this can cause serious harm to health. If this happens, consult your doctor immediately. When purchasing material, make sure that the packaging is not damaged: the insulation may spill or become wet, and wet fiber will not insulate properly in a cold room.

In some cases, insulating a garage roof is not much different from insulating a regular house roof.

Mineral fiber has a similar structure, but is made from a different material - basalt rocks. Basalt melts and forms thin fibers. This material is more ductile and flexible than fiberglass. Therefore, it is less susceptible to mechanical damage. Mineral wool has low thermal conductivity and is used as a soundproofing material. When installed correctly and protected from moisture, mineral wool insulation will last a long time.

Another method is polymer insulation. It is performed using material obtained by extrusion of polymers. The porous structure of the polymer has heat-insulating properties. The material is produced in slabs of various sizes and thicknesses. Insulating the roof from the inside with polymer is very popular. Advantages include reasonable cost, low thermal conductivity, and ease of installation. Polymer insulation is very light. The design does not suffer from excess load.

Polymer materials do not absorb moisture, unlike fibrous materials. However, we should not forget about the disadvantages.

Insulation layers must be properly protected from sunlight. If a fire occurs in the garage, this insulation will burn very quickly.

Now new types of insulation are emerging, some of which have added substances to prevent the spread of flame.

Natural insulation materials are not often used in garages. These include felt, wool, cotton and paper insulation. Material of this class is treated with a special impregnation that prevents them from burning. Insulation made from natural materials is quite durable and can last a long time.

External and internal roof insulation

To keep the heat in the room, you will need to install 3 layers of thermal insulation structure:

  • waterproofing;
  • insulating material;
  • vapor barrier.

When planning to insulate your garage roof from the inside, you need to pay attention to the following factors. The garage must have working ventilation - then exhaust gases will be removed from the room in a timely manner, otherwise serious poisoning can occur. In addition, without fresh air it is difficult to get rid of excess moisture. And then, over time, the car body will begin to rust.

External insulation of the garage roof can be performed during its construction. To do this, you need to install one layer of vapor barrier. It is important that moisture does not penetrate into the insulation: evaporation must go outside. If steam collects and condenses on the ceiling and insulation material, its service life may be significantly reduced. Next, you need to secure a layer of thermal insulation materials; you can take a piece of foam plastic for this.

The process of installing foam boards on the ceiling is very simple.

This material is secured with special plastic dowels. The edges of the plates should be additionally glued for reliability. The remaining cracks should be sealed with foam. Instead of expanded polystyrene boards, mineral wool is also suitable. But to install this insulation you will have to build a wooden frame. The last element of the thermal insulation pie is waterproofing. The joints and edges of the film must be sealed with tape, after which roofing materials can be laid.

If there are beams on the inside of the garage ceiling, a different insulation scheme should be chosen. In the first stage, the beams are covered with sheet material, and then insulation made of fibrous insulating material is attached to the bottom.

To fix the mineral wool insulation, you will need to create a structure from wooden beams, insert layers of fiber insulation between them. We cover the entire structure with foil or film to prevent moisture from getting on the insulation.
Using liquid penoizol, the work is much simpler: it is simply sprayed over the surface. Thus, it penetrates into cracks and hard-to-reach places. The material hardens quickly, forming an even layer that prevents the penetration of cold air.

After finishing work on insulating the garage roof from the inside and outside, pay attention to the walls and gates. These elements are also easy to insulate yourself - if you wish.

How to properly insulate a garage roof from the inside

In each individual case, the insulation of a garage roof can differ significantly: in the features of the location of the layers of insulation, the material with which you are going to insulate your garage, and the features of the roof structure to which the insulation will need to be “adjusted.”

The only thing that should remain unchanged and on which the quality of insulation largely depends is the presence of waterproofing and vapor barrier layers in the roof structure.

If there are none, then all further work on insulating the garage will turn into a Sisyphean task.

Make sure that the roof is equipped with effective vapor and waterproofing and only then begin the insulation process.

If there is no insulation, then you will have to first deal with the insulation issue, and then the insulation issue. And all this - overnight.

To get started, prepare a set of tools needed for work:

  • insulation directly;
  • waterproofing material;
  • film to provide vapor barrier;
  • self-adhesive tape;
  • special buttons;
  • carpentry tools.

How to build a slab foundation for a garage. you will find out by reading this article.

And this article talks about building a garage from corrugated sheets.

Foam insulation

In order for garage roof insulation using polystyrene foam to be as effective as possible, you need to know the nuances of installing this material:

  • The slabs are fastened only with glue;
  • installing sheathing is unnecessary and undesirable, since holes for bolts can disrupt the tightness of the roof and become an additional cause of heat leakage;
  • foam sheets can be used for both decorative and functional purposes. After insulation, from the remains you can build something like a false ceiling, which can be used:
    • as an attic for storing spare parts;
    • as an additional thermal insulation layer;
    • as a decorative element.

Glass wool insulation

Glass wool is a good option for insulating material. Thick, but soft and pliable, the insulation can be placed without problems in the most inconvenient places for other insulation materials: cotton wool will fit everywhere.

But when working with such a flexible material, you need to take into account some features:

  • if the sheathing is solid, then it is better to attach the insulation from the bottom of the structure - this will be both more convenient and effective;
  • if the sheathing is discharged, the wool should be placed between the rafters, and the waterproofing should be installed on top of the insulation;
  • pay attention to the features of the roof structure and place insulation depending on how the roof requires it;
  • The waterproofing film should not be placed in such a way that it is in close contact with the insulation, unless you have chosen a coating with a superdiffusion membrane as the insulating material.

To secure glass wool (or mineral wool) well, you will have to work hard and build wooden beams on the ceiling in order to place layers of insulation between them.

Insulation with penoizol

This method is simpler and more accessible than others. When using penoizol in the process of insulating a garage roof, there is no need to worry too much and spend a lot of time: the material is simply applied to the surface by spraying, and it itself penetrates into all the cracks and cracks, quickly hardens, forming a neat, even layer.

Penoizol does not require any protection from moisture and is designed for long-term operation.

Insulation from outside

As a rule, external insulation of a garage roof is carried out during the construction process, since it is not very convenient to pick apart an already finished building in order to correct omissions.

The first thing you need to pay attention to when insulating the garage roof from the outside. – the presence of a vapor barrier on the side of the room in order to subsequently avoid secondary condensation of vapors and unpleasant leaks along the walls.

The outer roofing “layer” is the same as the inner one:

  • waterproofing;
  • insulation;
  • vapor barrier;
  • lower decorative trim (or not very decorative).

Now let's look at how to make external insulation in stages:

  1. Lay the first layer of vapor barrier; it will serve as the main protection against moisture getting on the insulation and guarantee the operation of the insulation for as long as possible.
  2. Attach a layer of insulating material. Make sure there are as few gaps as possible. If the sheets do not fit tightly together, fill the cracks with foam (this advice applies if you are insulating the roof with polystyrene foam).
  3. The last layer is a hydrobarrier. It will be more reliable and effective if the film in the area of ​​the joints is also sealed with adhesive tape.
  4. Roofing materials can be laid on the finished hydrobarrier.

Garage roof waterproofing. Read about it here.

And here is an article about choosing a roof for a garage.

This section of our website http://ru-house.net/postrojki/garazh/ contains all the most important and necessary things for building a garage.

A few words about insulation

Every owner of a garage and everything in this garage cares, first of all, about the safety of the car, about their health and about the comfort in the room, which for most car enthusiasts becomes a second home.

Therefore, a lot depends on the choice of insulation for the garage. and you need to choose it so that you don’t have to redo the insulation ten times.

Fiberglass (cotton wool) - retains heat perfectly, does not rot (it is not afraid of any fungus), is fire resistant, does not change its characteristics for a long time. But he is afraid of mechanical impact: if fiberglass mats were subjected to impacts during careless transportation, then such material will no longer provide high-quality thermal insulation. When struck, the glass fibers are damaged and the material loses its properties.

In addition, glass fibers have a negative effect on mucous membranes; it is not recommended to work with such material without gloves, glasses and a respirator.

Polystyrene foam is a lightweight, porous material that can retain heat well and is not susceptible to microorganisms and fungi. This material does not accumulate moisture at all, so you can do without a vapor barrier without taking too much risk.

Polystyrene foam is produced in sheets of various thicknesses and areas; due to its light weight, this material will allow you to save on rafter beams.

Liquid penoizol is the newest and most convenient of all insulation materials. Absolutely harmless to humans, its service life is at least 50 years.

The only drawback of penoizol is its too high price.

And here is a video about insulating roofs and walls with Ecotermix material.

Garage roof

A garage is more than just a place to park a car. This is also a room where many tools and materials are stored and repair work is carried out. Both for the car and for its owner, the living conditions in the garage should be comfortable. To do this, it is necessary to insulate the entire room, including the roof. You can do this on your own. Next, we’ll look at how to insulate a garage roof yourself.

Features of garage and roof insulation

Roof arrangement

A garage can be insulated in different ways: from the outside, from the inside, or a combination of both methods. It is important to leave a hole for ventilation so that harmful substances do not accumulate in the garage. Ventilation channels not only cannot be sealed, on the contrary, they must be made if they were not there before.

You should not strive to keep the garage at +20 degrees in winter; this is not necessary. The normal thermometer reading for wintering a car indoors is considered to be a temperature of five degrees Celsius. Both the walls of the building and its roof, gates and even the floor of the garage require insulation.

In order for construction work to produce results and the structure to last a long time, it is necessary to have three layers:

  • waterproofing;
  • thermal insulation;
  • vapor barriers.

Their sequence depends on whether the external or internal option was purchased to insulate the garage roof. You should approach the choice of material for thermal insulation of a room with all responsibility.

For a garage, it must meet the following criteria:

  1. Non-flammability. The garage is a fire hazard area with valuable contents. Many thermal insulation materials do not support combustion due to special impregnations.
  2. Moisture resistant. The higher it is, the better. If the material does not have such properties, then a film for waterproofing will be needed.
  3. High thermal insulation properties, otherwise you will have to use several layers or combine different materials.
  4. Inert to rodents, insects, fungus, mold.
  5. Ease of installation, the need for additional equipment, special skills, and so on.

Advice! When choosing insulation, of course, the cost of the material is important. But you shouldn't save much. Cheap insulation options can release toxic substances into the air. This is very important for interior decoration.

We choose the best material

Roof insulation

The selection of such products is huge. Before you insulate the garage roof, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the materials, since each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The most popular for construction work in the garage are:

  1. Fiberglass. This material is obtained from glass production waste. It consists of long, thin fibers collected in slabs or rolls. The main advantages of fiberglass are that it is a non-flammable material; mold and mildew do not grow on it. The material is resistant to environmental influences with the exception of water. The fibrous structure helps the material reliably retain heat. The main disadvantage lies in the fibers themselves - they are thin, fragile and can easily be injured when working without protective equipment.
  2. Mineral wool. It is considered one of the best insulation materials. Also fibrous material, but not from glass, but from basalt rocks. Cotton wool is easy to install, but it is important to take care of the protective layer from moisture. This is the biggest drawback of this material: mineral wool quickly deteriorates from water. In this case, a small gap should be left between the heat-insulating material and the film. Mineral wool is very flexible, also absorbs sound well, and is quite affordable.
  3. Polymer insulation. Their production technology is almost the same, but PSB-S foam plastic (styrofoam) stands out. Due to its foamed (porous) structure, it retains heat, does not allow moisture to pass through, and is also not afraid of mold, mildew, insects and mice. Foam and polyurethane are popular. They are easy to install, the material itself is light and easy to cut. Polystyrene foam is one of the most budget-friendly insulation materials. Among the “minuses” we can note the fear of direct sunlight and noticeable yellowing due to the sun. But this can be prevented by providing an additional protective layer.
  4. Liquid insulation. Another polymer insulation is liquid polyurethane foam (penoizol). This is a foam that hardens when it hardens. Its application requires special equipment, but this coating can be applied to any surface, there are no seams. There is also no need for waterproofing, because... the material does not allow moisture to pass through. This is a very durable insulation: its service life is about forty years.

In addition to the material for insulating the garage, you will also need a polymer film to insulate against steam and material to protect against moisture.

How to insulate a garage roof yourself?

Garage roof insulation

The choice of interior or exterior finishing depends on the shape of the roof. It is better to insulate a regular flat garage roof from the outside.

For external insulation, the following steps must be completed:

  1. Cleaning the roof from dirt and defects, as well as insulating joints and sealing cracks using polyurethane foam. The roof must not only be warm, but also not leak.
  2. Laying a vapor barrier film on the roof. It should be overlapped, carefully gluing the joints with tape. This layer is necessary to protect the thermal insulation material, especially if the insulation is fiberglass or mineral wool. The vapor barrier layer significantly extends the service life of insulating components.
  3. Installation of thermal insulation material. For external insulation, the easiest way is to use polystyrene foam; you can use mineral wool. It is better to place the foam in two layers, securing it with tape. The layers are laid staggered, with a shift, so that the joints of the two layers of foam do not coincide.
  4. Arrangement of waterproofing. This can be a special under-roofing film, as well as roofing material. Another common option is liquid bitumen mixture.
  5. External finishing works. They are necessary not so much for beauty as for final protection.

It is better to insulate a pitched or attic garage roof from the inside.

Internal insulation of the garage roof is carried out in several stages:

  1. Installation of waterproofing. This is the layer closest to the roof. The film is overlapped and the joints are sealed with construction tape. The presence of a film is mandatory when insulating a garage roof with mineral wool or fiberglass, since these insulation materials do not tolerate moisture and their properties deteriorate when wet. Special hydrotextiles or ordinary roofing felt can act as waterproofing.
  2. Laying insulation.
  3. Installation of a layer of film for vapor barrier. The joints should also be taped with tape. This can be a membrane material or polyethylene film.
  4. Finishing decorative layer.

The most difficult stage of arranging a pitched roof may be the placement of thermal insulation material. If the garage floor is made of beams and boards, then the foam can be attached directly to them with nails or dowels. It is important to seal all the cracks with polyurethane foam or seal the joints with tape.

Important! When using polystyrene foam, the presence of vapor barrier and moisture insulation films is not necessary.

If the garage roof is a concrete slab, then it will be correct to mount the frame first. Using metal corners and self-tapping screws, a “mesh” is formed from the profile. And then the sheets of material are secured with self-tapping screws, the joints are treated with foam or fixed with tape, and finally secured with plasterboard.

Mineral wool also requires a frame if there are no beams in the roof. The thickness of the insulation is at least 15 cm. In the case of using liquid polystyrene foam, the roof is first covered with boards or plasterboard, and the material is applied on top of them.

How to carry out finishing work and how to finish the insulation?

Corrugated roof

When insulating the roof externally using foam plastic, the easiest way to complete the installation work is with a screed made of cement and sand. This layer can be strengthened by first spreading a reinforced mesh. It is better to add a special solution to the concrete against cracking from frost, then the roof protection will be durable.

When insulating a garage roof internally, you can choose the following as a finishing material:

  1. Lining. It is inexpensive and easy to install. But this material is flammable.
  2. Profiled sheeting. Made of metal. The galvanized version is not subject to corrosion, is not covered with paint, and is therefore non-flammable. With corrugated sheets, the finish looks stylish and modern.
  3. Drywall. It easily attaches to the profile. After this, you can apply plaster or paint. There are varieties of paints with insulating properties, “warm” plasters with granules inside. Such materials not only perform a decorative function, but also additionally increase the thermal insulation of the room. This is the most successful solution for a garage ceiling.
  4. Tree. If you treat it with a special impregnation, the material will become resistant to moisture and mold, will not absorb odor, and will support combustion.

Important! You can even make a false ceiling in the garage. But this option is only suitable for large rooms.

A warm garage is a guarantee that your car will last a long time. Making insulation with your own hands is not so difficult. In addition to frost, such cladding protects against condensation - the main enemy of metal.

High-quality insulation of the garage roof from the inside allows you to create comfortable conditions in which you can work even in cold weather. This method of insulation is quite simple to implement and makes it possible to concentrate heat inside the garage, preventing the cold from penetrating into the room.

The optimal choice of the type of thermal insulation and its correct installation is the key to the success of the entire event. Let's consider the basic principles of insulation, popular types of materials for insulating a garage roof and the sequence of their installation.

Only with the sharp approach of cold weather do car owners begin to remember the need to insulate the garage. Whatever material the walls and ceiling are built from, without an insulating layer they very quickly begin to let cold and moisture into the room, which has an extremely negative impact on the car’s storage conditions.

What conditions are considered optimal to ensure that your vehicle does not cause trouble? The average temperature during the winter should be about +5°C, and the flow of fresh air should be 150-180 m³/h, depending on the size of the garage. Such parameters require careful planning of insulation measures, because if you overdo it and install too thick a layer of insulation, “greenhouse” conditions may arise in the garage. This threatens the appearance of condensation on the car body after driving indoors from the street, which accelerates the development of rust and shortens the period of operation of the car.

Properly organized ventilation also helps create the necessary microclimate for the car. Under no circumstances should heat loss be reduced by closing the ventilation - this will lead to stagnation of air saturated with moisture and vapors of flammable substances. It must be remembered that the main enemy of a car is not the cold itself, but its combination with moisture. By removing humid air from the room, preventing rain and snow from seeping through the roof, you will create ideal storage conditions for your vehicle.

The choice of whether to insulate a garage roof from the outside or the inside depends on the specific situation. Internal insulation is most conveniently done for sloping or flat roofs.

Types of thermal insulation

To create reliable protection from the cold, different types of materials are used. Many insulators have gained widespread popularity among car owners concerned about the conditions inside their garage.

  1. Glass wool. Great for most garage roof insulation applications. The main advantages are fire safety, resistance to moisture and aggressive substances. The disadvantages include significant fragility and some difficulties in working: you need to work with glass wool very carefully, following safety rules and always using protective clothing.
  2. Mineral wool. This material is similar in structure to glass wool with the only difference - such insulation is made from basalt melted and stretched into thin threads. This circumstance greatly affects the final properties of the product: mineral wool becomes more elastic, easier to withstand deformation and cutting into pieces. Basalt insulation is slightly more expensive than glass wool, but is considered a more modern and durable analogue.
  3. Styrofoam. It is often used as a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-install material, but its strong flammability limits its use in garages, as this is contrary to fire safety regulations. It is possible to insulate walls and ceilings with foam plastic only in cases where it has a degree of fire protection. Such polymers are produced with the addition of special substances - antipyretics.
  4. Polyurethane foam. Despite the fact that this type of insulation has appeared on the market relatively recently, it has already gained high popularity. The main advantages of polyurethane foam are that it completely fills all free space, leaving no gaps or air pockets. The insulation is applied using portable sprayers, after which it instantly expands according to the principle of polyurethane foam.

The choice of insulation type largely depends on the climatic conditions of the region, the availability of heating in the garage and the size of the allocated budget. Most often, glass wool and polystyrene foam are used to insulate garage roofs. Due to the high cost, stone (mineral) wool, polystyrene foam and other materials are less often used.

Installation sequence

Before insulating the garage roof from the inside, you should protect the insulating material from moisture penetration - rain or melted snow. The first layer that is laid on the inner surface of the ceiling will be a waterproofing film. Despite its small thickness, it will become a reliable barrier to moisture. The joints between the individual strips of film are taped with construction tape.

It is most convenient to ensure that the thermal insulation is laid in separate cells, which are separated from each other by sheathing strips.

If you plan to use foam plastic or other sheet material, then they must be secured using self-tapping screws or dowels, and the joints must be filled with foam and glue. Mineral wool is placed in the space between the lathing strips, and then covered with suitable sheet material - plasterboard, plywood or boards.

In order to protect the insulation layer from moisture coming from the interior of the garage, an additional layer of waterproofing film should be laid between it and the facing material.

Insulating the roof from the outside or inside does not take much time, but allows you to create comfortable conditions in the garage not only for equipment, but also for people to stay in. The choice of materials for insulating a garage roof is quite wide and depends, first of all, on your capabilities and requirements.

For efficient and safe driving, it is necessary that the car is always in excellent technical condition. Corrosion can seriously harm this condition, and this happens because condensation has formed on the car in the garage due to temperature changes or because the car simply got wet in the rain or snow. Such unpleasant moments will be avoided by a well-insulated garage roof. After all, a decent car deserves proper care!

So, we have already figured out why we need to insulate the garage. Now you need to understand in detail what to insulate it with and what properties are required for insulation. It so happened that the insulation materials needed for a garage roof are not quite similar to those used to cover ordinary houses. This difference occurs due to the fact that many different paints, varnishes and other substances that can be chemically hazardous and cannot be inhaled can be found and used in the garage. If the roof insulation absorbs these vapors and fumes, it can later become a source of serious health problems. That is why the choice of insulation for a garage must be taken seriously. The top sellers are glass wool and polystyrene foam.

Review of popular insulation for garage roofs

Let's take a closer look at what types of insulation we know and why they are good.

Glass wool

Glass wool

It is not for nothing that it is first on the list, because it is the most popular on the market for the purpose of insulating a garage. Its properties allow you not to worry about it deteriorating, becoming infected with fungus, starting to decompose due to the influence of moisture and condensation, and not causing a fire. The thermal conductivity coefficient of glass wool is 0.031, and, for example, that of the same stone wool is 0.035, which is insignificant, but different and conducts more cold into your garage than glass wool will. It is unlikely to harbor insects and is one of the most affordable in terms of price. It is sold in blocks. But you can also buy it in a roll. Unfortunately, this insulation has its drawbacks. For example, it is unsafe if it comes into contact with the skin, eyes, nose and mouth. If such a problem occurs, then you need to immediately go to the doctor, otherwise it promises suppuration on the skin and problems with the eyes.

Expanded polystyrene (or polystyrene foam)

This type of insulation is the most popular for insulating apartments in high-rise buildings. But it's just as good for the garage. One of its best qualities is that it does not absorb moisture at all, has minimal thermal conductivity - a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.043. This coefficient, as you have noticed, is greater than that of stone wool, and we will talk about it below. While we easily list the pros, do not forget that this material also has its cons. For example, it is easily flammable, as well as the fact that its structure can be easily disturbed by various rodents and insects, which often settle there as a whole flock and breed. This, at a minimum, spoils your thermal insulation, and, at a maximum, is the reason for calling disinfectants.

Stone wool

This type of insulation also belongs to mineral wool, but at the same time, its thermal insulation is worse than glass wool. This type of insulation is just as good as glass wool - it suppresses noise well, and it is completely waterproof. Therefore, it is really worth recommending for insulating a garage roof.

Penoizol

Liquid penoizol is the most modern material for roof insulation and more

This is a relatively new and very effective insulation. It is very convenient to work with: it is applied to the surface in liquid form, after which it quickly hardens, filling all joints, crevices and cracks. It is characterized by fire resistance and does not absorb moisture. The service life of penoizol is from 50 to 70 years. The only drawback is the high price and the need to use specialized equipment for spraying the material.

Instructions for insulating a garage roof from the outside and inside

Many experts believe that it is necessary to insulate the roof in the garage both outside and inside. But this approach is necessary for those places where winter temperatures are -20°C or more. Simply because in order to repair your car, you will need to be in the garage, and in such cold weather you cannot even hold a wrench in your hands. For countries where the cold is not so severe, you can get by with single-layer insulation: choose a coating for insulation either from the outside or from the inside. But keep in mind that all these thoughts should come to mind before building the garage. If the garage has already been built, then there is no need to talk about any insulation from the outside, because dismantling the roof is extra work; in this case, it is much easier to carry out insulation from the inside.

Advice. Please note that the insulation used to cover the outside of a garage is different from those used to insulate the inside.


Technique for insulating the roof from the inside

If the roof is already laid, you can still insulate it, but only from the inside. For such insulation you will need patience, because you will have to dismantle the entire inner layer (whitewash, drywall, plywood) to get to the layer with the rafters.

The garage roof is insulated from the inside already during operation, when

Basically, to insulate the roof from the inside, isover, polystyrene foam or penoizol are most often used. These are the best options because they are convenient to attach from below, and penoizol is applied by spraying.

Video: how to inexpensively insulate a garage ceiling with foam plastic

External roof insulation technique

When carrying out external insulation, you need to make sure that nothing will create secondary condensation, and for this you need waterproofing. If there is waterproofing, then you can proceed to the next step. But if there is no such insulation, then you should deal with it first, and only then with insulation. Otherwise, there will be no point in insulation.

The insulation is laid during the roof construction stage. The insulation is installed when the rafters have already been laid and the roof is still uncovered. From the point of view of building regulations, laying insulation on the outside is a more sanctioned and technically correct action.

Diagram of an insulated garage roof

So, how to lay insulation outside:

  1. Installation of a vapor barrier membrane.
    It is attached to the slings with small slacks. It is secured with construction staples. The vapor barrier membrane must be installed so that there is not a single gap between the rows, otherwise its entire effect will be nullified, because it must protect the garage from moisture. You also need to be careful. None of the membranes should be torn or otherwise damaged.
  2. Installation of sheathing.
    It should be installed in increments equal to the width of your insulation. This will allow you to securely fasten it and avoid many problems with fixing the insulation.
  3. Fastening the insulation.
    It is placed on top of the sheathing. You should try to avoid cracks.

    Advice. If there are still cracks during the installation of polystyrene foam, then it is necessary to fill them with polyurethane foam. In all other cases, the joints must be sealed using any method known to you.

  4. Waterproofing film.
    Its purpose is to prevent precipitation from getting on the insulation. Therefore, the entire operation must be carried out as carefully as installing a vapor barrier membrane. In the area of ​​joints, it is best to seal the waterproofing film with construction tape.
  5. Roof.
    After all the above steps, you can install roofing materials. Your roof is now securely protected!

Video: method of insulating a garage roof with Ecotermix material

Let's sum it up

In conclusion, we can say that covering a roof with insulation is not so difficult. The main thing is to understand the feasibility of such work: if the garage is built, then there is no point in dismantling the entire roof for the sake of insulation from the outside, because in this case it can be insulated from the inside. When insulating the roof, you need to understand the types of materials and, if possible, take into account the specifics of your garage, use non-flammable insulation if you are working with a welding machine or burners. We wish you good luck in all your endeavors!

With the onset of winter, car enthusiasts begin to think about how to insulate the roof of the garage, because maintaining and repairing a car in the cold is a real challenge. When starting to insulate, you should take special care of moisture insulation and ventilation so that over time the iron structures of the car do not become damaged by rust.

Material selection

To insulate a garage roof, you can use various insulation materials, each of which has certain advantages.

Fiberglass

Glass fiber is made from waste from glass factories: the cullet is melted and drawn into long threads, then trimmed and cooled. The output is the finest fiber threads. This insulation is sold in rolls and in the form of slabs.

The properties are similar to those of ordinary glass: it does not collapse under the influence of an aggressive environment, it is resistant to fire and moisture. The structure of the smallest fibers provides the material with low thermal conductivity.


However, glass fibers are fragile, they are not subjected to mechanical stress - otherwise they will break. When laying the material, you should make sure that the smallest particles do not get on the skin, especially in the eyes or respiratory organs, and if this happens, you should consult a doctor.

When buying fiberglass, you need to make sure the integrity of the packaging - if it is damaged, the insulation can spill out, moisture penetrates into it, which will reduce its high performance qualities.

Mineral

Mineral fiber resembles fiberglass, but is made from a different material. Basalt rocks are used as raw materials for mineral wool: basalt is melted and formed into thin fibers.


Mineral fiber is more plastic and flexible than fiberglass insulation and is less destroyed as a result of mechanical stress. Mineral wool has low thermal conductivity and is used as a sound insulation material. With proper installation and protection from moisture, the insulating structure made of mineral wool will last a long time.

Polymeric

This material is obtained by extrusion of polymers and is available in the form of slabs of various sizes and thicknesses. Polymer insulation is very popular when insulating a metal garage. Their advantages include reasonable cost, low thermal conductivity, ease of installation, and low weight.


It is important that the use of polymer materials does not require a mandatory vapor barrier, since, unlike fibrous materials, polymers do not accumulate moisture. However, slabs of such insulation should be protected from sunlight and fire - the polymer burns out very quickly.

If we talk about fire resistance, then recently new types of polymer fibers have appeared, to which a substance is added that prevents combustion.

Natural materials


This class of materials is not often used in garages - felt, cotton wool, cotton insulation, treated with special fire-resistant impregnations. Natural insulation materials do not deteriorate and have a long service life. Sheet felt can be used to insulate ventilation in a garage, but it is inconvenient to cover the roof with it.

Nuances of choice

What should you pay attention to when planning to insulate your garage roof? Firstly, the garage must have a working ventilation hole for exhaust gases. In addition, without an influx of fresh air, it is impossible to get rid of excess humidity in the room.


Secondly, in a garage there is a risk of fire, so you should not insulate the room with flammable materials - in the event of a fire, the fire will spread quickly.


Thirdly, it is better to choose insulation materials that do not react to moisture. You can, of course, arrange insulation with film or foil. However, over time, moisture will still gradually begin to penetrate into the fibrous insulation and deteriorate its quality.


Insulation from the outside

External insulation of the garage roof can be carried out during the construction of the building. Necessary steps of the procedure on how to insulate a garage roof from the outside:


  • a vapor barrier layer is laid - it is important that capillary moisture does not get into the insulation, and that steam escapes outside. If steam accumulates and condenses on the ceiling and on the insulation, it will shorten the service life and damage the car with rust;
  • a layer of thermal insulation materials is attached - sheets of expanded polystyrene, mineral wool;
  • installation of waterproofing in the form of a film, the joints of which are sealed with construction tape;
  • roofing materials are laid.

Installation using polymer materials

Installation of polystyrene foam is carried out using plastic dowels, and the edges are additionally glued. The remaining cracks are filled with polyurethane foam. To insulate a metal garage with polystyrene foam, you need slabs 20-100 mm thick. and density 25 kg/cm2. Penoplex comes in the form of sheets with a chamfer for laying on top of each other and is preferably with a density of 35-45 kg/cm2.


To insulate with polystyrene foam and penoplex, the layers are simply glued to the ceiling with glue, and on top they can not be covered with anything or can be puttied and plastered. Polymer materials can be in liquid form - for example, polyurethane foam, which is applied by spraying and does not require a vapor barrier.

Installation with wool or fiber

In the case of mineral wool or fiberglass, a mesh frame is constructed from wood or metal material for the flooring. Installation using fiberglass and mineral wool consists of the following steps:

  • a vapor barrier film is laid on the rafters, secured with staples, and the joints are taped with construction tape;
  • Fiber or cotton wool is laid between the rafters in a layer of 15 cm, and the edges should be in contact with the boards that are nailed between the rafters (the mesh mentioned above).


The entire insulation system is sheathed with chipboards or other decorative coatings. It is worth remembering that working with fiberglass requires more care than with mineral wool.

Natural materials are almost never used for the garage - they “play” best on wooden surfaces. For garages, expanded clay is often used, made from clay in the form of pebbles with a diameter of 10-20 mm. It is laid on the inside of a pitched roof and requires ideal vapor barrier and protection from moisture - you will need film and foil.

Insulation from the inside

When the garage has already been built, the question arises of how to insulate the garage roof from the inside. To prevent heat from penetrating outside, you will have to install 3 layers of insulating structure.

Installation of polystyrene foam

So, if the floor consists of a concrete slab, the insulation is attached to it. Installing polystyrene foam boards is very simple. The material is cut with a knife to the desired size. The slabs can be attached to the slab using glue or screwed with dowels. The edges between the plates should be additionally lubricated with glue, and the remaining voids should be filled with polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam.


Before attaching the insulation, you need to check the surface of the slab, clean it of plaster: the layer on which the insulation is attached must adhere well and not peel off, otherwise the insulating structure will not fit tightly.

Beam system

If beams protrude from the garage ceiling, the insulation work plan will have to be changed. At the first stage, the beams are sewn up with sheet material, and then fiber insulation is attached underneath.


To secure the mineral wool, a structure is constructed from wooden blocks, between which mats with fiber insulation are inserted. Next, the entire insulating structure is covered with film or foil to protect it from moisture.

Working with liquid materials

It is easier to carry out work using liquid foam insulation. Foam insulation is applied to all surfaces by spraying. Penoizol penetrates into cracks and hard-to-reach places, quickly hardens and forms an even layer. In addition, such material does not require protection from moisture and is designed for long-term use.

If polymer insulation was used, it is not necessary to install a vapor barrier; it is enough to cover the garage with a waterproofing film. Having finished work on the garage, you should insulate the walls and gates: they can also be easily sheathed with your own hands. The technology remains the same, except that decorative cladding with wood, siding, clapboard is required - as desired.

Safety

When insulating a garage roof with your own hands, you should follow safety rules. Firstly, when working with fiberglass, it is necessary to work with gloves and a respirator so that glass particles do not get on the skin or into the respiratory tract.


Safety first

Glue and liquid materials - polymers - should be lifted onto the roof only in closed containers. Mineral dust that is formed when working with mineral wool is also harmful: you must wear safety glasses and gloves.