How to insulate an attic for winter living. How to insulate an attic from the inside if the roof is already covered: we study the features of the process How to insulate an attic roof from the inside

Usually a house is built quickly, often everything is put under the roof during the summer season. After interior decoration, you can move in, improve the local area and expand the functionality of the house. In this article we will tell you how to insulate an attic from the inside if the roof is already covered. The information will help you decide on the choice of material - this often depends on the initial conditions, and will explain the subtleties of its correct use.

Insulation of an already covered roof has its own characteristics that you need to know about Source pinterest.com

After this, you will speak the same language with the builders. Which is a good incentive for them to offer and demonstrate their best and do the work even better.

General points

Let's start with the fact that the attic is a bit of a special room. Its overall structure requires a careful, meticulous approach. And the insulation of the attic roof is even more so:

Mostly you will have to insulate vertical or inclined surfaces. Therefore, it is better to immediately exclude all soft “pliable” materials, namely mineral wool rolls.

It is advisable to navigate for materials with low dead weight. Since the rafter system is already experiencing significant loads from wind and snow. In addition, the load on load-bearing walls will not increase much.

Insulation is often required gables. They are not always made by analogy with a main wall. May be made of facing material. Or the frame is simply built for insulation.

It happens that the attic area significantly larger than the size of the house itself, while part of it rests on columns. In this case, you will also have to insulate the ceiling in contact with the street.

If the attic floor protrudes beyond the house, additional insulation of the floor is required Source metasold.com

It should be understood that the thickness of the insulation must correspond to the weather conditions of a particular climatic zone, and at the same time have a small margin. To gain the required thickness, the insulation is installed in several layers, and the relatively small dimensions require joining.

Important: splicing any insulation requires a careful approach. The joints of different layers should not be concentrated in one place. To prevent freezing, they should be spaced as far apart as possible. It is important to constantly remember this so as not to spoil the material, especially when insulating a sloping roof.

Video description

We will dwell in more detail on insulating a house with polystyrene foam. Find out how safe polystyrene foam is in our video:

It happens that the width of the rafters does not allow for the required thickness of insulation. To continue you need an additional frame. It is better to arrange it across, this will make the entire rafter system structurally even stronger. And insulation is more effective - additional insulation will cover the joints of the main insulation and rafters.

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer turnkey house insulation services. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.

Preparation

All wooden surfaces must be treated with antiseptic and fireproof impregnations.

All wooden components must be treated with protective materials Source remontik.org

It is necessary to immediately identify “unreliable places” on structural elements. For example, the connection of the outer rafter to a pediment made of facing bricks. Or an overlapping connection between a rafter and a screed, made without insulation. It is necessary to eliminate the shortcomings - if possible, foam them or line them with a sealant. Otherwise, they will not be able to withstand through blowing and freezing.

It is necessary to minimize the use of metal fasteners. This is especially true for metal linings secured with bolts. Of course, the bolted connections will remain, but the plates should be made from thick, durable plywood and replaced. The remaining metal parts are painted with primer-enamel and covered with a layer of polyurethane foam. Metal directly in the insulation is a source of condensation and dampness.

Insulation of the rafter system

It’s great when the insulation of the attic from the inside was planned in advance, or “just in case” the constructive points for this were observed by the builders:

A roofing membrane is mounted on the rafters.

A counter-lattice is provided.

The pitch of the rafters is maintained corresponding to the common length or width of the insulation.

It is convenient to carry out insulation if it was planned at the construction stage Source bamban.ru

It is worth noting that these are ideal initial data, allowing you not to look for a “way out of the situation”, and to insulate the maximum volume of the attic with high quality without extra costs. Such conditions make it possible to use vapor-permeable insulation. And these are comfortable living conditions.

Insulation of an unprepared roof

When the decision to insulate is forced, the roof is usually not prepared. There is nothing terrible about this, it is even possible to choose the following options:

Insulate with materials that do not require waterproofing.

Build a special frame for living space.

In case of insulation of a roof that is not prepared for this, special compounds can help Source paspraypros.com

Foamed polyurethane foam can play a special role here. Although equipment is required for its application, insulation occurs in a continuous layer and does not depend on the design features of the roof.

Foamed polyurethane foam is one of them Source da.decorexpro.com

This also includes ecowool. Although its installation requires a roofing membrane, it is quite possible to make a continuous layer of insulation.

Video description

In our video we will look at how polystyrene foam is produced, is polystyrene foam harmful and where is it used?

Effective insulation

Stone wool

Due to their elasticity, the mats adhere well between the rafters and allow installation without additional fastening. And the relatively dense structure of stone wool prevents its shrinkage over time. Therefore, it has proven itself well on vertical surfaces.

Stone wool mats come in different thicknesses, and you can choose the one you need based on climatic conditions and other materials used Source pallazzo.su

To further reduce the risks, every 3 meters of height it is necessary to arrange supports for the insulation - add a horizontal frame element.

A commonly available popular material is penoplex. It is very effective as insulation. Its use is justified in areas of the country where it is not advisable to use mineral wool - a large thickness is needed, which significantly steals space, and the cost is prohibitive.

Under normal conditions, it saves significant space when every unit of volume is important:

It can be mounted between rafters of small width, and the insulation will be effective.

It does not require additional waterproofing, since it does not allow water to pass through. That is, the absence of a roofing membrane is not critical.

However, it is still desirable to have a ventilation gap with the roof to quickly remove condensate vapors. This way the rafters will last much longer, because they are not protected.

Extruded polystyrene foam does not require mandatory waterproofing Source pt.decorexpro.com

When insulating with penoplex, it would be useful to take measures for increased fire safety. For example, use open installation of electrical wiring, laying it down constructively, as a design solution. The thing is that penoplex itself does not support combustion, but at high temperatures it melts very quickly.

Proper completion of work

The insulation has been installed, but the process must also be completed correctly. It must be protected from damp vapors from the room. For this, a vapor barrier film is installed. Moreover, the overall result greatly depends on the thoroughness of execution. Although each package is supplied with instructions, let us briefly repeat:

The subsequent canvas overlaps the previous one by at least 15 cm.

The joints are taped with special tape.

However, attic vapor barrier has a dual purpose. Oddly enough, it also protects the residents themselves. The fact is that vapor-permeable insulation is not strong enough and can be slightly weathered. From the outside this is not so important, plus it is protected by the roofing membrane. And inside it is necessary to exclude even the minimal possibility of the insulation components being released into the air - to reliably cover it.

The final stage is covering the insulation with canvases, on which the finishing is subsequently applied. Source obustroeno.com

Of course, this does not apply to Penoplex. But it is also recommended to protect against it; an effective material is penofol.

As for insulation of any type. In addition to the vapor barrier device, a technique that at first glance is unnecessary, but effective, is often used. Before finishing, intermediate, seemingly unnecessary material is installed. It can be OSB, GVL or GKL - it depends on the design. Moreover, the technology is fully observed - all joints are carefully sealed. This is an additional barrier against the unwanted effects of materials.

Video description

About insulating the attic from the inside in the video:

Results

It turns out that insulating a roof from the inside if the roof is already covered is quite possible to do efficiently. Moreover, not only having planned everything in advance, but also on a long-ready roof that was completely unsuitable for this. Now, knowing the intricacies of the process, it is much easier to choose a good performer for such an important task.

Equipping the roof with insulation is one of the most important stages in the construction of a roof that is designed for long-term operation.

External insulation

This process is not complicated and is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. Primarily the rafters from the bottom side hemmed with plywood or edged boards.
2. After that laying a layer of thermal insulation. The surface of the layer and the joints are glued using foil tape. It is very important to lay the vapor barrier on the correct side, because this material is capable of functioning in one direction.
3. Next, the insulation material is laid. In this case, you should avoid free space; you need to ensure that the insulation lies tightly.
4. The next step is layout of the hydraulic barrier on top of the rafter structure. Gluing is also carried out using specialized tape.
5. penultimate make ventilation gaps. This process is carried out using a rail, which is placed on top of the hydraulic barrier. The height of the slats is selected depending on the parameters of the roof covering. If the roof is of a wavy type, then the standard of the slats is 20-30 mm, if the roof is of a flat type, then 50 mm.
6. Last install the sheathing and lay the roof.

Considering that the material is not protected from precipitation, work should be carried out only in clear weather.

External insulation

Insulating the attic roof from the inside

At first glance, you can decide that this method of insulation is more reliable and practical due to the fact that precipitation does not fall on the material, because protected by roofing.

However, this method has disadvantages:

• It is very inconvenient to install most of the material from the bottom to the top, and it is impossible to fix rolled materials in some places;
• The rafter system contains elements to strengthen the structure, the junctions of which are not protected by heat-insulating material.

Stages of installing a heat-insulating layer internally:

1. Installation starts from the bottom of the roof and a film with waterproofing properties is laid out overlapping, secured with adhesive tape. In places located near walls, the coating should have a larger margin, which is adjusted after completion of the entire process.
2. Equip the structure with counter rails, which are attached to the rafter system with nails. This is necessary to ensure a ventilation gap and a tight fit of the layers to each other.
3. After that laying insulation.
4. The last step is vapor barrier membrane equipment, which is fixed with overlapping construction staples.

CAREFULLY!

It is not recommended to seal cracks and gaps with construction foam. To avoid unnecessary distance between sheets, it is best to lay them with a margin of 5 m.

Internal insulation

Conclusion

Which installation method to choose for arranging a heat-insulating structure for an attic roof largely depends on the individual parameters of the structure. You should initially study fully all the nuances and conditions.

Useful video

In this article you will learn how to properly insulate an attic roof:

In contact with

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

What is the best way to insulate an attic roof?

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

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

A properly insulated attic space can significantly increase the living space of the house.

In order to maximize the useful volume of the attic floor, during its construction you must adhere to the following rules:

• to reduce the load on the rafter system, choose lightweight roofing materials; in this case, using natural tiles is not recommended;
• to reduce the layer of roofing cake, modern and effective thermal insulation materials are chosen;
• special attention is paid to organizing the ventilation of the roof space, otherwise moisture will accumulate in the room and the thermal insulation properties will deteriorate.

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

For the attic roof it is necessary to choose lightweight materials

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

• have low thermal conductivity, experts recommend using materials with a coefficient below 0.05 W/m*K;
• due to possible roof leaks, the insulation must be moisture resistant and lose a minimum of its properties after getting wet;
• have a light weight so as not to overload the rafter system, it depends on the density of the material, which should be in the range of 14–50 kg/m3, denser insulation materials are not recommended;
• must not burn or support combustion;
• since the thermal insulation material is laid on the roof, this requires that it holds its shape well and does not slip over time, forming gaps;
• withstand significant temperature changes, not be afraid of frost;
• have a long service life.

Insulation materials

The following materials are most often used to insulate an attic roof:

1. Mineral wool. This is an excellent solution, it does not burn and does not support the combustion process, is easy to install, has low weight, and high thermal insulation characteristics. In addition, mineral wool has an affordable price, therefore it is popular and in demand. Depending on the region where the insulated building is located, the thickness of its layer can be from 150 to 300 mm. The main disadvantage is that this material absorbs moisture well, so it is necessary to make high-quality waterproofing.

   Mineral wool can be in rolls and mats; roof insulation with rolled materials is more difficult

2. Polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam. This material has low weight, good thermal insulation characteristics, low moisture permeability, but its main disadvantage is a high degree of fire hazard. When laying the foam, it crumbles, so there are gaps that need to be additionally sealed. After some time, the foam plastic, unprotected from external factors, begins to gradually deteriorate, so experts do not recommend insulating the attic with this material.

   To insulate the attic, you must use polystyrene foam with a thickness of at least 50 mm; if necessary, it can be laid in several layers

3. Extruded polystyrene foam. This is a good insulation material for carrying out the above work, as it is durable, not afraid of moisture, does not burn and holds its shape well. A sufficient layer of material is 5–10 cm. Extruded polystyrene foam has low vapor permeability, therefore, to create comfortable conditions in the attic, it is necessary to properly supply and exhaust ventilation, which means additional time and expense. In addition, its price is higher than that of conventional foam.

   When insulating a roof with extruded polystyrene, good ventilation is required

4. Polyurethane foam. Special equipment is used for installation, which allows the material to be applied without cracks or gaps. It has good thermal insulation characteristics, is light weight, does not burn, and is waterproof, but its disadvantage is low vapor permeability. Without the organization of forced ventilation, it will be uncomfortable to be in such a room due to high humidity.

   It will not be possible to carry out the work of polyurethane foam insulation on your own, as professional equipment is required

5. Ecowool. This is the most suitable material for attic insulation. It is also applied without gaps, penetrates into all cracks and fills them well, is not afraid of moisture, does not burn, is lightweight and has good vapor permeability, and is environmentally friendly. In addition to the fact that the cost of the specified material is high, it will not be possible to insulate the attic with ecowool on your own, so you will have to invite specialists to carry out the specified work.

   Special equipment is used to apply ecowool

6. Foil materials. They not only insulate the room, but also reflect heat. In order for such materials to effectively fulfill their purpose, the mirror layer must be directed into the attic. A gap of about 5 cm is left between the insulation and the vapor barrier.

   Foil insulation is used for hydro, heat and sound insulation

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

What is the best way to insulate an attic roof from the inside?

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

Basalt wool is laid in several layers

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

If you are thermally insulating the attic roof from the inside yourself, then it is best to use polystyrene foam, basalt or mineral wool, as they are easy to install. They are often combined: first, mineral wool is laid, and then polystyrene foam boards are laid.

How to properly insulate an attic roof

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

Sequence of work:

1. Preparatory stage. All wooden surfaces are well treated with antiseptics, metal parts are coated with anti-corrosion impregnation.

   Treating wooden roof elements with an antiseptic can significantly increase their service life

2. Fastening waterproofing. A waterproofing film is fixed to the rafters, and a sheathing is mounted on top. The waterproofing material is laid overlapped between the sheathing and the rafters, all seams are sealed with mounting film, for example, “Ondutis BL” or “Ondutis ML”. First, the tape is attached to the canvas located below, this is done 5–6 cm from the edge, then the protective layer is removed from the tape and the top fabric is fixed. The material is laid from the lower slope of the roof. First, the film is secured with a stapler, and then wooden counter slats are installed to create a ventilation gap. You can fasten the slats to the rafters with nails or powerful staples, but it is better to do this with self-tapping screws. Then they move on to installing the insulation.

   Laying of insulating layers is carried out in a certain sequence

3. Installation of insulation. The insulation is laid between the rafters, work starts from the bottom and gradually moves up. In order for the insulation to fit tightly, its size should be slightly larger than the distance between the beams. To fix the insulation, use special anchors or frost-resistant glue. This applies to roll and slab insulation, such as mineral wool, polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam. Ecowool and polyurethane foam are applied using a special installation, so there are no unfilled voids left.
4. Attaching the vapor barrier. After laying the last layer of insulation, a vapor barrier is installed. It is attached to a wooden sheathing laid on a heat-insulating layer. Do not pull the vapor barrier membrane too tightly; it should sag by 2–3 cm, this will ensure the presence of a ventilation gap between the thermal insulation and the exterior finish.
5. The final stage is the installation of finishing materials. To do this, a sheathing is made on top of the laid vapor barrier; you can use wooden slats or a metal profile, and sheets of plasterboard, plywood, chipboard or lining are fixed onto it using special screws.

   Installation of drywall is carried out on a metal or wooden sheathing, which is attached to the rafters on top of the vapor barrier

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

Useful tips for choosing and installing various types of insulation:

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

Features of installing insulation for an attic roof

When designing a building with an attic floor, it is necessary to correctly calculate the distance between the rafters to ensure maximum structural strength. When installing insulation between the rafters, it is necessary to lay the material end-to-end so that there are no gaps, otherwise cold bridges will form.

Only the correct installation of all elements will allow you to effectively insulate the attic.

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

If we talk about insulating an attic roof from the inside, then not all materials are convenient to install; it is almost impossible to install roll insulation properly. To strengthen the rafter system, various connections are often used, which complicate the installation of the insulating layer.

Video: insulating the attic roof from the inside

Insulation of the attic gable from the outside

When insulating a gable from the outside, most specialists and home craftsmen use extruded polystyrene foam or regular foam. To carry out the above work, you will need scaffolding, since doing everything with a ladder will be difficult, time-consuming and tedious.

The technology for insulating the gable from the outside consists of the following steps:

1. First, the walls are prepared. To do this, they are cleaned of dirt and then primed. The primer will allow the glue to better demonstrate its characteristics. It is recommended to prime in two layers, the second is applied after the first has dried.
2. If you plan to use a finishing material such as siding, then you need to make a sheathing to secure it. It can be made of wooden beams or galvanized profiles. The height of the sheathing should correspond to the thickness of the insulation used.

   To make it easier to install polystyrene foam, the sheathing pitch should be equal to the width of the sheet, then the material will lie tightly and waste will be minimal

3. A sheet of foam plastic is smeared with glue in the corners and in the center and pressed for 30–35 seconds to the surface of the pediment.
4. If the foam plastic is to be plastered, it is better to additionally secure it with plastic dowels.

   If the foam plastic is to be plastered, it must be secured with dowels, and if siding is being installed, then fixing it only with glue is sufficient

5. After laying the insulation, a waterproofing film is attached. If the sheathing is wooden, then this is done using a stapler, and it is fixed to the profile using a counter lath, onto which the siding is then attached. To create a gap between waterproofing and decorative finishing, the thickness of the lathing should be 20–30 mm.
6. At the last stage, the siding is installed or the foam is plastered and then painted.

   Both metal and vinyl siding can be used to finish the gable.

Video: insulating the attic gable

It is not difficult to insulate an attic with your own hands; it is enough to have basic knowledge and skillful hands. If we talk about insulating the pediment, then when using a curtain wall, it is better to use a heat-insulating material such as mineral wool. If the facade is wet, it is better to insulate it with polystyrene foam. Only if you follow the developed technologies and correctly carry out the stages of work on insulating the attic, you will get the expected result. If everything is done correctly, then you can use the attic as a living space all year round.

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The desire to live better, to have spacious houses, separate rooms for each family member and guests is a completely natural desire of our fellow citizens. Improving living conditions can be achieved in two ways: building large and expensive houses using traditional technology or using modern solutions and converting attic spaces into residential areas. These are the so-called attic rooms; this method allows you to achieve your goals with minimal financial losses.

Thanks to the successful combination of housing quality, living comfort and the estimated cost of construction work, attic spaces are very popular among domestic developers. Currently, there are many technologies and special materials for insulating such premises. In order to make the right and informed choice, it is recommended to briefly familiarize yourself with their physical and operational characteristics.

The industry produces a wide range of materials used for insulating buildings. Regardless of the production technology, they all must meet several universal requirements.

These are general requirements, and popular insulation materials meet optimal performance to varying degrees.

What materials can be used to insulate an attic roof?

We will give a brief description of all possible options, and based on objective characteristics it will be easier for developers to make the right choice.

Table. Types of insulation for the attic

Name of insulation	Physical and operational characteristics
	The most advertised material for roof insulation. It has good heat saving characteristics, is technologically advanced, easy to cut and install. Mineral wool does not emit any harmful chemical compounds into the air, does not burn, and is allowed for use without restrictions. These are positive qualities of the material, but there are also negative ones. Mineral wool is very hygroscopic and can absorb large amounts of moisture. As a result, thermal conductivity increases sharply; next to wet wool, all wooden structures of the rafter system quickly rot. To protect against moisture penetration, it is necessary to use special membranes, and this additionally increases the estimated cost of construction. In addition, the price of mineral wool is the highest among all existing insulation materials.
	A very popular material. In many important performance indicators, it surpasses the characteristics of mineral wool: it has low thermal conductivity (better than mineral wool), it cuts well, is easily installed in the niches of rafter legs, and has minimal weight. It does not absorb moisture, there is no need to install moisture and vapor protection, which has a positive effect on the cost of attic premises. In addition, it is one of the cheapest roofing materials. As for flammability, modern types have special additives; now the material does not support open combustion. This means that a short circuit cannot ignite the foam. The amount of evaporation of chemical compounds does not exceed established standards, and the insulation itself is additionally covered with finishing materials, which further reduces the likelihood of negative consequences. Another advantage is that foam plastic can be used to insulate roofs not only from the inside, but also from the outside, by laying it under the roofing.
	Like polystyrene foam, it is recommended to use it if it is necessary to insulate the roof from the outside. In terms of physical parameters, it is no different from polystyrene foam, except for increased mechanical strength values. But for roof insulation, strength is not critical. Disadvantages - high cost.
	During the insulation of structures, it is blown out using special equipment. During hardening, polyurethane foam increases in volume and hardens. The most unsuccessful material from all points of view. To achieve a thickness of 10–15 cm, it is necessary to repeat the treatment three times; this is expensive, time-consuming and economically ineffective. Strongly not recommended for experienced builders.
	A fairly new and rarely used insulation material, made from pulp waste or waste paper. There is only one advantage - the absence of harmful compounds. All actual performance characteristics are significantly worse than those of the insulation materials described in the table above.

Prices for thermal insulation materials

Thermal insulation materials

Before making a decision on choosing insulation, it is recommended to carefully compare the objective characteristics of the materials, while not paying much attention to the marketing moves of manufacturers, but to trust independent information.

And one more very important point: if the thickness of the insulation does not correspond to the climate zone, then you should not expect much effect from such insulation. There is no need to save, it is better to make the thickness with a margin of about five centimeters.

The attic is not just a place to store unnecessary things. If you arrange it correctly, you will get a separate living room. Therefore, repairing the attic and especially insulating it is of interest to many home owners.

Insulation of the space under the roof is the main condition for comfortable living, and this is where the arrangement of this territory should begin. Before you begin repair work, you need to figure out what is the best material to choose to insulate the attic, and what to pay close attention to.

Insulating the attic from the inside if the roof is already covered: preparing the room

Insulating the attic from the inside

Not every attic can be called an attic. This type of attic space is distinguished by a sloped roof. In such a room, the height to the ceiling should be at least 2.5 meters.

Important! When carrying out installation work, special attention should be paid to the insulation of windows.

Making an attic and equipping it as a full-fledged living space is a very tempting idea, the implementation of which is actively pursued by building owners.

Before you buy a material, you should know what properties the insulation should have:

• low thermal conductivity coefficient;
• minimum level of water absorption;
• safety;
• non-flammability;
• no shrinkage.

All these points are important to consider when choosing insulation for your attic. But the most significant are insulation from heat loss and waterproofing.

The attic is located under the roof and is therefore a rather cold room. A large temperature difference between the outside of the building and the attic space itself often leads to the accumulation of condensation. Moisture negatively affects construction and finishing materials, leading to their deterioration and destruction.

What is the best way to insulate an attic floor in a private house?

There are a lot of building materials, including those for indoor use of any premises. To know which insulation is best to insulate an attic, you should take into account the design features of a particular building, as well as the climatic conditions in the region where you live.

Styrofoam

Foam insulation

This is one of the most popular insulating materials, which has won the love of builders and repairmen due to its low price.

The cost of polystyrene foam is its main advantage, but it is far from the only one:

1. This material is highly moisture resistant and does not absorb water. If you additionally coat it with a special impregnation, then the drops will simply flow down it.
2. Lightness is another advantage of polystyrene foam. It is easy to transport and convenient to work with. They do not create any additional load on the roof or supporting structures.
3. Another “plus” of the material is its excellent thermal insulation properties, so it is suitable as insulation for the attic.
4. The material can be easily cut using improvised means in any direction. It will not be difficult to fasten its sheets. A person without construction skills can handle laying polystyrene foam. This is not capricious material at all.

But before you choose this material, you should know what density of the canvas is needed to complete the task. After all, the comfort of the room depends on this.

Minvata

Insulation with mineral wool

Another type of popular and worthy means for thermal insulation is mineral wool. It is a bit like medical cotton wool due to the presence of fibers in the structure of the fabric. Mineral wool is sold in rolls, so transporting it and working with the material will not be particularly difficult.

This is an excellent attic insulation material. It does not allow heat to pass through and practically does not absorb moisture. This combination of characteristics makes it popular in construction. Even if the mineral wool gets wet, it will dry very quickly without deteriorating at all.

This material belongs to the class of environmentally friendly, it is safe. It doesn’t matter what the roof is covered with and how hot it gets in the summer, there will be no problems with mineral wool. Moreover, mice do not gnaw it, and bugs do not grow in it. This is where mineral wool compares favorably with polystyrene foam. The fibrous material also blocks sound.

Quite convenient. The material has elasticity, although it seems fibrous and soft. It will stick well between the rafters if the sheets are fixed correctly.

Ecowool

Ecowool insulation

Ecowool is not layers, but a crushed substance. It tightly blows out all the cracks, small holes, as well as the space between the ceiling and the rafters. It is unlikely that you will be able to do this yourself, because blowing it out requires special equipment. Insulating a roof with ecowool is an expensive proposition. But this type of insulation has its advantages: the insulation effect is high and there is not a single draft in the room.

The basis of ecowool is natural components: paper, which is similar in characteristics to wood, takes up 80% of its composition. Despite this, the material saves heat well and is in no way inferior in efficiency to synthetic insulation.

Ecowool also contains borax. This is an antiseptic that fights various fungi and microorganisms, and of natural origin. Therefore, when insulating with such a product, you should not worry about the possible appearance of fungus or mold; with borax in the composition of ecowool, this will not happen.

Ecowool insulation requires a fairly thin layer, but this is enough to provide high thermal insulation and block noise. The material will last for a good ten years without deteriorating its characteristics. Taking all this into account, the high price of ecowool is fully justified by its properties and durability.

Polyurethane foam

Insulation with polyurethane foam

The most progressive and reliable substance for insulating a cold attic and other rooms is polyurethane foam. It surpasses in its properties all of the above listed insulation materials. It is advantageous in that during installation it does not provide any gaps, joints, or cracks through which cold air flows penetrate into the living space. This is one of the most durable materials; if installed correctly, it will serve your home for at least 30 years.

This material does not shrink, even with a wooden roof near the house, which is characterized by deformation over time. Polyurethane foam has a solid structure, which ensures its complete moisture resistance. Therefore, when insulating with this material, there is no need to additionally install a layer for insulation from steam and moisture.

With all these advantages, polyurethane foam has one significant disadvantage, due to which it is not always used for insulating residential premises from the inside. To apply this substance, a special, rather expensive technique is required. It doesn’t make sense to buy it yourself for construction work; it’s easier and cheaper to rent.

The application of a thermal insulation layer of polyurethane foam should be entrusted to a person who has experience working with this material. After all, this is not very simple and requires some skill. You won't be able to insulate an attic on your own.

Expanded polystyrene

Extruded polystyrene foam for insulation

No less popular is the use of polystyrene foam. This is a unique material that has a number of positive aspects. You can insulate any attic with extruded polystyrene foam yourself. The material is quite light and fits perfectly on any surface.

If installed correctly, the product will reliably protect the room from the cold and will last for decades. To insulate the attic of a private house with polystyrene foam at the highest level, you just need to follow the basic rules of installation and preparation.

How to carry out insulation work?

Effective attic insulation

Each insulation has its own nuances, features and installation rules. It should be installed following the manufacturer's recommendations. But there are also general rules for the insulation process that do not depend on the substance chosen for insulation. Several mandatory stages are always present in them.

The first layer is to install waterproofing material. It provides protection against destruction due to moisture penetration. The special film must be laid overlapping, with a good overlap of one layer over the other by at least 10-15 cm. A construction stapler will help securely secure the material. At the joints of the film, it can be further strengthened with tape.

If the project provides for it and there is a need for it, then the sheathing is filled. Ordinary wooden slats are suitable; their width can be from 8 to 10 cm. The slats are fixed to the rafters in strictly parallel rows. The distance between the slats is about half a meter. Each component of the sheathing must be checked using a building level, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid the appearance of defects and defects in the roof during its further operation.

Next comes the turn of the heat-insulating substance itself. It is mounted on the sheathing or rafters; the method of fastening depends on the type and characteristics of the material. If it is presented in the form of rolls (for example, mineral wool), then it is simply cut into strips of the required size so as to be distributed between the rafters.

Important! The thickness of the insulation used for the attic floor must match the width of the joist.

The ratio of the thickness of the material and the space must be taken into account, first of all, when insulating the attic space with mineral wool and then installing drywall. In this option, the entire space must be filled with insulating material.

This multi-layer pie-like structure is completed by a layer of protective film material against steam. Plastic film is perfect for its role; you can also use glassine or roofing felt. When laying a vapor barrier, just like when installing a film for waterproofing, the film is overlapped. But it is secured not with a stapler, but with wooden slats of small thickness. The distance between them is 40-50 cm. The joints are insulated by gluing with tape.

Now all that remains is to complete the finishing coat. It is attached directly to the bars or to the sheathing. At this stage, you should consider the weight of the decorative elements. If fairly heavy materials are selected, then in order to securely fasten them you will have to install an additional frame, for example, from a metal profile.

As additional thermal insulation for the attic floor, an excellent option is isospan FS, FD, FX for the attic floor. All types not only have vapor barrier functions, but also combine the effect of reflecting thermal infrared radiation.

The main mistakes made in the process of insulating the attic

Attic insulation scheme

In order for insulation work carried out on your own to be truly enjoyable, you must follow the basic rules for carrying it out. The key point is laying a waterproofing layer, because without it, all materials that can get wet and dry lead to the penetration of cold into the room.

To avoid negative consequences or at least minimize them, you should listen to the advice of experts:

1. Before starting work on insulating the attic, you need to check the angle of the roof. If it is less than 13 degrees, then precipitation - snow and rainwater - will begin to accumulate on such a roof. Stagnation of moisture will provoke the appearance of rust spots, cracks, crevices, and moisture seepage. These phenomena will damage the insulation.
2. Insulating the attic walls and the roof itself with special insulating compounds is an important part of the work, but you should not limit yourself to this. It is equally important to insulate windows, preferably according to the Swedish scheme. The ideal option is to entrust this to specialists, then there will be no leaks. And you certainly shouldn’t insulate windows yourself if they are not located strictly vertically, but at an angle.
3. We should not forget that any material for thermal insulation requires ventilation. It is also important to ensure that it can dry out if it gets wet. To allow air to circulate, you will need to leave a gap of a couple of centimeters between the insulation layer and the roof.
4. It is necessary to observe the sequence and number of layers for insulation from steam and water; none of them should be skipped.
5. If the height of the rafters is not enough due to an impressive layer of thermal insulation material, it is necessary to increase it by installing special slats. It is quite possible to do this yourself.

Such simple but important tips can help with insulation work, ensuring their high quality, the absence of errors and miscalculations that will have to be corrected and redone. If you are not confident in your own abilities or have sufficient experience in repair work, it is best to invite a professional to arrange the attic. His services will not be cheap, but the results will be excellent.