Do-it-yourself roof insulation from the inside. Professional technology for insulating the roof of a house: detailed diagram and instructions for do-it-yourself thermal insulation of a roof Thermal insulating roof coverings

Do-it-yourself roof insulation from the inside.  Professional technology for insulating the roof of a house: detailed diagram and instructions for do-it-yourself thermal insulation of a roof Thermal insulating roof coverings
Do-it-yourself roof insulation from the inside. Professional technology for insulating the roof of a house: detailed diagram and instructions for do-it-yourself thermal insulation of a roof Thermal insulating roof coverings

In the vast majority of cases, installation of insulation is carried out simultaneously with installation work on the roof or facade or with interior decoration. Even if the same brand of thermal insulation is used, the installation technology and materials used may differ:

  1. Types of roll waterproofing - hydro or vapor barrier, installation location, type of room, presence of sheathing, etc.
  2. Lathing - material of manufacture, required width of the air duct.
  3. Base material - how vapor permeable it is.
  4. Material exterior finishing- likelihood of condensation, breathability.

Here are the main points that affect installation technology.

Therefore, before starting work, you must carefully study the instructions offered by manufacturers of finishing materials.

Technology for installing insulation under a ventilated facade

Video instruction


Wall insulation is carried out in several stages:


When the work is completed, the insulation will be securely hidden behind external panels. They protect it from water, wind and accidental impacts. And they turn even a standard building into a beautiful and warm home to suit the taste of its owner.

Laying insulation on the roof

Video instruction


Insulating an attic is more difficult than insulating walls. Firstly, the requirements for compliance with the technology of work are stricter. Secondly, the insulation is installed at a height and on an inclined surface.


An insulated roof is reliable protection buildings and preventing heat loss, saving energy costs for insulation. Therefore, the arrangement of the roof is a priority task when constructing a residential building. At the same time, different materials can be used for thermal insulation, differing in characteristics, installation method and efficiency. Knowledge of these features will allow you to choose the ideal coating for arranging a specific roof of a building.

Types of roof insulation

There are several options for insulating the roof of a private house. Choice the desired type carried out depending on what function the attic space performs, and this could be a living space, a storage room or simply an insulated attic. In any case, thermal insulation eliminates the penetration of cold through the roof area and ensures comfort in the house.

The roofing pie of an insulated residential building consists of several layers

Organization of insulation is necessary in case of arrangement attic room in the attic. If it is used for economic purposes or is not functional, then you can do without insulation, but it is worthwhile to equip the ceiling of the room or the floor of the attic.

Arrangement of the roof in order to prevent heat loss in the house can be internal or external. The first option is optimal for roofs of any type and involves installation of heat insulating material from inside the room under the roof. The features of this type are expressed as follows:

  • structure roofing pie is created from a rafter system, installation of waterproofing and sheathing, and external roof covering. Then a heat insulator and a vapor barrier membrane are installed from the inside, and then follows finishing premises;
  • a gap of about 3–5 cm is left between the vapor barrier and the insulation, which is necessary to remove moisture. This will help protect the construction materials from rotting;
  • All popular heat insulators can be installed from the inside of the room, calculating the layer thickness and taking into account the work technology.

With internal roof insulation, it is possible different ways thermal insulation

In the second case, the material is laid outside, which is often convenient for pitched roofs with a rafter system. Such external insulation requires careful calculation of the weight of the heat insulator, since there is a load on the load-bearing elements of the roof. The option is optimal for flat roofs, and during installation they use rigid slabs, on top of which pebbles or concrete slabs are laid.

If external arrangement is required pitched roof, then such work is carried out outside the building. The roof covering, load-bearing sheathing and waterproofing film are first removed. After this, a base is installed from boards 20 mm thick on the inside of the rafters, on which the insulation will be laid on the outside.

Video: external roof insulation using Polinor

Thermal insulation materials and their characteristics

To arrange the roof, you can use different materials, which are presented in a wide range and differ in characteristics, appearance, cost and installation method. It is these factors that are taken into account when choosing a particular component, and it is also important that the characteristics of the insulation must correspond climatic features region, type of roof and method of arrangement. Another ideal material should have high sound insulation, long service life and resistance to moisture and fire, and low weight.

The roof can be equipped with different materials, but the insulation must have high characteristics

Among the wide variety of materials, the following structures are in demand and practical:

  • mineral wool- famous, accessible and practical option heat insulator, characterized by a service life of up to 25–30 years, minimal water absorption, low weight, good sound insulation and low thermal conductivity. The fibrous structure and high rigidity make cotton wool optimal for insulation. Manufacturers such as Rockwool, IZOVOL, Knauf, Paroc present many material options in rolls and slabs, for example, with reflective film, which provides a high heat-retaining effect;

    The Paroc brand produces practical and quality options mineral wool

  • structures based on polystyrene are in demand and diverse. These are expanded polystyrene, penoizol, extruded polystyrene foam. They are very light, presented in the form of slabs, have good sound insulation and low thermal conductivity. Insulation of this type is characterized by high flammability and destruction under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The companies "Penoplex", "Extrol" and "Novoplex" produce different variants polystyrene-based structures at an affordable price;

    Penoplex is practical and easy to install on different surfaces

  • Heat insulators made of cellulose fibers are loose and light fibrous structures. They do not rot and are not exposed to moisture, have antiseptic properties and provide good protection from the noise outside. Fire retardants make the material resistant to fire. Manufacturers Izotek, Ekovata-Center and others produce modern cellulose materials at an affordable price.

    Cellulose materials are laid on horizontal surfaces, providing protection against heat loss

All of the listed structures are in demand not only for arranging the roof, but also the basement, floor, utility rooms, and walls. In each case, installation is carried out using a certain technology, but all heat insulators are easy to install and provide protection against heat loss.

Video: thermal insulation of the roof from the outside with mineral wool

How to prepare a roof for insulation

Before installing the insulation directly, you should prepare the roof. This is necessary both when arranging a room for the attic, and for simple thermal insulation of the attic floor.

Basic rules of preparation:

  • All wooden elements The pitched roof or concrete surface is cleaned of traces of mold and rot. You can remove such dirt from wood sandpaper, and from concrete - with a spatula;
  • After cleaning, dry the surface and apply antiseptic, intended for a specific material, for example, wood;
  • After cleaning, wooden and metal parts of the roof are coated with anti-corrosion or bitumen paint. Regular oil will also work, because these structural elements need protection from moisture and fungus;
  • during preparation, check the reliability of fastening of all structural elements of rafters, partitions and other parts of the pitched roof. In the case of a concrete roof, all cracks, chips and leaks are eliminated.

The surface to be insulated must be clean, dry and undamaged

To treat surfaces, brushes, spatula, and roller are used. Dust is best removed with a vacuum cleaner, and concrete surfaces can be dried construction hairdryer. This will remove all dirt and prevent rotting of the structure.

Choosing a roof insulation method

Existing roofing materials are installed different methods and therefore you need to pre-select it. The methods differ not only in technology, but also in the area on which the work will be carried out.

To eliminate heat loss through the roof, the following arrangement options are suitable:

  • fixing the material between the rafters. This method involves placing insulation between the rafters. Slabs or rolls are optimal for this purpose, but it is worth considering that the rafters should be approximately 4–5 cm larger than the thickness of the heat insulation layer. This can be achieved by adding supports, that is, attaching additional boards. A vapor barrier film is installed on top of the rafters, and then finishing of the room begins;

    Insulation between rafters is convenient and does not require special skills

  • laying the material along the rafters is carried out when required thickness insulation is greater than the width of the rafters. This method is also applicable if the roof covering is already laid. To carry out the work, a sheathing made of metal profile or wooden boards, and then fix the heat insulator;

    Sprayed polyurethane foam refers to insulation along rafters

  • For a cold pitched roof, insulation of the attic floor is optimal. In this case, logs are installed, in the space between which heat insulation slabs are laid, and granular components, for example, expanded clay or cellulose material, are poured. The attic floor is laid on top of this structure.

    Floor insulation is suitable when there is no need for thermal insulation of roof slopes

All methods differ in the cost of work by professional craftsmen. The most affordable way to insulate the attic floor is because in this case you only need to equip the horizontal surface and not work with slopes, corners and other difficult areas.

Stages of installation of thermal insulation

The arrangement of the roof from the inside is in demand. For this purpose, mineral wool in slabs or rolls is convenient, but you can use penoplex, polystyrene foam, since their installation technology is similar to laying mineral wool.

You first need to calculate the amount of material. To do this, calculate the area of ​​the roof slopes from the inside, then determine the area that can be covered by one roll of mineral wool or a package of slabs. The average thickness of the thermal insulation layer should be at least 15–20 cm, which is optimal for roofing made of corrugated sheets, metal tiles, and soft roofing.

The minimum thickness of the thermal insulation layer is 15 cm

The roof arrangement is carried out using tools such as a tape measure, nails and a hammer, strong thread, a sharp knife, and wooden blocks (if rafter extensions are required). Mineral wool slabs or rolls should first be cut into pieces of a width equal to the distance between the rafters.

Basic actions when arranging the roof:

  1. The prepared pieces of material are placed tightly in the space between the rafters. No glue or other materials are used for this. fasteners. If the material has a reflective coating, then it should be located indoors. The material should not be compressed too much, since its low thermal conductivity is ensured by its fibrous and airy structure.

    For easier fastening, you can install profile elements and lay them between them.

  2. After laying the slabs in one row, nails/screws are attached to the outer rafters or profiles, and a strong thread made of synthetic fibers is pulled over them in a zigzag manner. Thus, the slabs will be securely fixed between the rafters.

    You can use wire to secure the mineral wool.

  3. When laying each next row, make sure that the joints of the slabs of the previous rows are not located next to each other. There should be no gaps between the wool slabs and the rafters. After all areas have been arranged, a vapor barrier film is attached to the rafters, but without stretching it too much, and then the room is finished.

    To finish the attic, you can use lining, but it must be treated with an antiseptic

Vapor barrier is an essential component of the roofing pie, because such a film protects the insulation from moist air from the premises. Without this, thermal insulation will not be durable and effective even when using the best material.

Video: features of installation of the material “Izover”

To arrange the roof and prevent heat loss, you can use different materials, but you always need to take into account their characteristics. Insulation technology also requires attention, because correct manipulations will ensure a good result.

What should a house be like? First of all, warm. Agree, there can be no question of comfort when there are drafts in the room, and the air temperature during cold periods reduces all thoughts to a cup of hot coffee or tea. Rapidly rising prices for energy resources are forcing consumers to limit their consumption in order to save costs and look for other ways to insulate residential premises. One of these was the thermal insulation of the roof, which allows saving up to 25-30% of energy costs. Considering the fact that a third of the heat loss occurs on the roof, it is recommended to finish it with special roofing materials first.

Roof thermal insulation means installation special material with special ones technical characteristics, increasing thermal resistance coating, which allows you to significantly reduce heating costs by reducing heat loss. It can be performed on any type of roof, does not require large financial costs, is characterized by ease of organization, endurance, durability, practicality and special functionality. Thermal insulation of the roof is the only chance to significantly reduce expenses, make the microclimate in the house healthy, and human life as comfortable as possible.

The modern market is ready to offer consumers a wide variety of technical parameters roof insulation. The following have gained massive popularity in recent years:

  • mineral wool– one of the most affordable thermal insulation materials, characterized by excellent sound insulation properties, impeccable vapor permeability and low thermal conductivity. It does not absorb moisture, does not burn, has a service life of up to 25 years and is sufficiently dense for insulation. residential buildings;

Mineral wool retains heat well and guarantees the absence of extraneous noise

  • cellulose insulation– materials made on the basis of cellulose. They appeared on the market relatively recently, but have already been able to conquer it due to their qualities, such as environmental friendliness, breathability, excellent insulating properties, low thermal conductivity, and antiseptic properties. Cellulose insulation is not susceptible to rotting, mold and fungi, and is not eaten by rodents. Thanks to the additives, they perfectly resist fire, are installed quite simply, forming a solid surface without voids and seams;

Cellulose insulation does not contain volatile substances harmful to health and does not cause allergies


Extruded polystyrene foam retains its properties at temperature changes from -50 to +75 degrees

Rules for choosing insulation

The effectiveness of the thermal insulation of the roof of a house and its technical components largely depend on the material used for this purpose. How to choose it correctly? Quite simple, it is important to focus when purchasing on following criteria:

  • compliance of insulation with regulations and construction standards;
  • scope of application of the material - exclusively for roofing work;
  • simplicity and speed of installation (it should not cause difficulties and require high costs labor resources);
  • price-quality ratio;
  • service life of the selected thermal insulation coating;
  • the presence of water-repellent properties (the insulation should not absorb moisture, otherwise its thermal conductivity will increase several times);
  • vapor barrier characteristics(it is advisable to use thermal insulating material, one side of which is covered with foil).

It is important to choose the right thermal insulation coating

It is important to remember: the roofing covering for thermal insulation of the roof must meet not only the above criteria, but also environmental standards. Discharge harmful substances under influence sun rays or any other natural phenomena hazardous to human health are unacceptable.

Preparatory work before installing thermal insulation

Before starting work on roof insulation, it is imperative to properly prepare the insulated surface. You should start by checking the rafters for rot, mildew and mold. If the listed defects are still found, but in small quantities, the rafters should be cleaned with sandpaper, treated with special antiseptics and painted with oil, enamel or bitumen paint, thus isolating them from the influences of the external natural environment. If the damage to the elements is significant, it is better to replace them.

Second stage preparatory work Before installing roof insulation, check the electrical wiring for serviceability. Its damaged parts should be repaired, worn wires should be replaced, switches should be ringed, and all connectors, joints, fastenings, and connection points should be carefully checked. If the wiring is completely unsuitable, it is better to redo it.

Important: checking the electrical wiring before installing thermal insulation materials on the roof must be performed with the support of professionals. This way, you can protect yourself from possible troubles and hassles in the future associated with a fire.

Thermal insulation “pie”

Methods for installing thermal insulation materials

In construction practice, there are two ways to install insulated roofing:

Internal roof insulation

This is the most common option for thermal insulation, suitable for both flat and pitched roofs, and is produced using the following technology: first, the internal lining of the room is laid, then a vapor barrier, and on top of it - heat-insulating material, wind and waterproofing.

The final thermal insulation layer is the selected roofing material.

It is important to know: the insulation must have a certain width and be adapted to existing climatic conditions. The main thing is that it does not greatly burden the roof structure. When installing it, it is prudent to leave the gaps necessary to remove moisture from the structure.

When installing roof insulation, you should strictly adhere to the installation rules

External roof insulation

It is produced on the basis of flat roofs using rigid slabs, which, in turn, are pressed with pebbles or concrete slabs. When organizing thermal insulation in this way, it is very important to calculate the strength of the roof in order to protect yourself from roof collapse.

Which method is more suitable for each specific case, depends on the complexity of the roof structure and the materials used for its insulation.

Installation features

Installation of thermal insulation roofing is, at first glance, very easy, but you should not do it yourself, especially in cases where the specialist does not have a certain technical base knowledge and necessary tools. It’s better not to experiment and immediately contact a specialist. They will do the job at the proper level and save you from unnecessary financial costs.

It is possible to achieve the calculated and planned efficiency of roof thermal insulation only if the formation of cold bridges is prevented. To do this, the roofing material should be laid on top wooden flooring or rafters, without interruption by any other structural element. There should be no depressions or planes in the thermal insulation layer for air passage.

Properly installed roof insulation should prevent the formation of cold bridges

Only high-quality installation of thermal insulation can save energy resources and create the most comfortable microclimate in the house. Therefore, you should not save on it, otherwise fatal mistakes, such as using insulating material of the wrong width or creating a small insulation thickness, cannot be avoided. Turning to professional builders, you don’t have to worry about the quality of work and the effectiveness of the thermal insulation layer.

An integrated approach to insulation

It should also be remembered that the maximum possible effect from roof insulation can be achieved only with an integrated approach to the thermal insulation of the house.

Thermal insulation of the roof is an important step when installing the roof of any building in Moscow. These works require special attention. To perform high-quality thermal insulation, the roof structure must be stable and durable and comply with standards fire safety. Well-executed thermal insulation helps create a comfortable environment and also reduces the cost of heating the building. To arrange it, it is recommended to use quality materials, install roof insulation in accordance with technology. The specialists of the Roof Technology company will make any building in Moscow warmer.

Prices for all types of roofing installation work are presented on the “Price List” page.

Insulation technology

When choosing thermal insulation materials, you need to take into account factors such as temperature regime and the level of humidity of the building, its geographical location, the impact on it of mechanical loads and precipitation, diffuse and capillary humidification of the insulation.

As the range of humidity and temperature increases, the requirements for thermal insulation of the entire roof also increase. The materials used to install roof insulation in Moscow differ from each other in thermal conductivity, density and composition.

Installation of insulation involves the following steps:

  • installation of under-roof insulation;
  • installation of roof insulation directly;
  • arrangement of vapor barrier.

Violation technological process at any stage of work entails serious consequences. With poorly laid heat-insulating material will enter the house cold air what will entail additional expense energy for heating.

When installing roof insulation by the Roof Technology company in Moscow, ISOROC and ROCKWOOL materials are used, which have such positive properties, How:

  • The ability to maintain thermal protection properties and volume during repeated moistening and drying.
  • They counteract the accumulation of moisture if the ventilation space is properly arranged.

Installation of insulation for different types of roofing

The type of insulation material depends on the type of roof. Roofing flat design insulated using foam boards or mineral wool. The material is laid on the prepared surface, after which it is covered with pebbles or poured with concrete. It is acceptable to use expanded clay as insulation. The material is scattered onto the floor slab, after which it is compacted and covered with rolled roofing felt or concrete screed.

Important! Polystyrene foam can be used if there are fireproof cushions that protect the insulation.

Thermal insulation of a pitched roof in Moscow

Roof insulation is installed from the inside for both flat and pitched roofs. Warming is carried out at roofing works during the construction of the building. To perform thermal insulation, in the attic of a house the material is laid between the ceiling joists on top of the floors. In attics, insulation is installed directly along the roof slope. When using the attic space for non-living purposes, the roof insulation is installed from the inside, hiding it under the boardwalk.

To protect the thermal insulation material and building construction from exposure to condensation and moisture, waterproofing is installed. The protective material is installed overlapping between the rafters, attaching it to the boards using a construction stapler. After this, all joints and seams are carefully sealed.

Installation of roof insulation: mounting methods

Thermal insulation of the roof is secured in the following ways:

  • glue;
  • put into the crate;
  • into the flooring;
  • anchors and nails with wooden blocks.

According to the rules, a pitched roof is made along the rafters with a pitch corresponding to the size of the insulation. Thermal insulation material should fit as tightly as possible to the walls and rafters. During installation, the formation of cracks and gaps that lead to heat loss is unacceptable. If necessary, several layers of material are used, shifting the joints for greater reliability. If gaps cannot be avoided, they are carefully sealed with sealant.

Insulation price

When performing light thermal insulation, it is enough to glue the material. Cost of installation of roof insulation in in this case decreases. The insulation is fastened using liquid nails or facade adhesive with frost-resistant properties.

Roof insulation is often installed using mixed methods. So, polystyrene foam is initially placed in the sheathing, after which it is additionally secured with dowels.

Depending on the complexity of the roof, the cost of installation work is sq. m of roof insulation in Moscow can vary from 70 to 100 rubles. For laying vapor and waterproofing you will have to pay from 42 to 59 rubles. for each type of work.

When building a private house, you should pay attention not only to the thermal protection of walls and floors, but also to the insulation of roof structures. The temperature and humidity conditions of the room, and even the service life of the structures, depend on the correctness of roof insulation measures. You can do the installation of thermal insulation material yourself.

The need for insulation

From school course physicists all know that heated air rises. If there is no thermal insulation, nothing prevents him from leaving the building. Because of this phenomenon, a large amount of heat loss occurs through the roof or attic floors. Lack of necessary protection from cold and loss of warm air can lead to the following problems:

  • lowering the room temperature;
  • increased heating costs in winter;
  • condensation on inner surface roofs;
  • the appearance of mold or mildew on roof elements;
  • destruction or damage to supporting structures, and bringing the house into disrepair.

The insulation of roof structures, as well as the insulation of walls and ceilings during the construction of multi-apartment residential buildings, is necessarily checked by state or private expertise at the design stage. Thermal insulation of a private cottage depends entirely on the future owner, no one checks its availability and wise choice, but this does not make it lose its importance.

Insulation methods

Do-it-yourself roof insulation largely depends on the roof structure. There are two types of roofs: flat and pitched. Most often, flat roofs are used for the construction multi-storey buildings, but it can be used in the construction of a private cottage. Flat roofs can be constructed in two ways:

In inversion, the order of layers has been changed. This technology is used when arranging an existing roof. The following can be used as insulation material in both cases:

  • Styrofoam;
  • extruded polystyrene foam;
  • mineral wool (in slabs);
  • expanded clay

The latter is quite cheap, but has lower thermal protection characteristics. In most cases, roof insulation is applied from the outside. This allows you to simplify the installation process and make protection from the cold that is competent from a thermal engineering point of view.

Layout of insulation between rafters

It is necessary to remember the strength of the material; additional measures will also be required to protect the insulation from mechanical damage.

When building a private house, the option with a pitched roof is most often used. It allows you to equip an attic or attic and has a more attractive appearance. Roof insulation wooden house or any other can be done in several ways:

  • laying material between the rafters (the most common);
  • laying insulation on top of the rafters;
  • fastening from the bottom of the rafters.

Material selection

Insulation of the roof of a wooden house or building made of other materials is carried out using the following materials:

Rarely used materials include:

  • expanded clay;
  • sawdust.

Scheme of roof insulation with mineral wool

Bulk materials are used to protect against the cold outside. They have an attractive price, but are quite difficult to install, so they are not widely used. It is better to use more modern technologies.

In general, materials for thermal protection measures must meet the requirements:

  • safety, absence of harmful effects on humans;
  • environmental friendliness;
  • low weight to prevent excessive loads on the rafter system;
  • resistance to creasing and sagging, sufficient strength and rigidity;
  • sound insulation characteristics (especially important when using metal roofing);
  • fire resistance (especially important for wooden construction);
  • good vapor permeability if possible, which will ensure additional ventilation premises;
  • good thermal protection characteristics.

One of the most important characteristics of a material is its thermal conductivity. This value must be indicated by the manufacturer. The lower the value, the smaller the thickness of the insulation will be needed. If you are not short on funds, it is better to choose materials such as mineral wool or expanded polystyrene. The values ​​of their thermal conductivity depend on the manufacturer and are in the range of 0.03-0.04 W/(m2*ᵒC).

Thickness calculation

It is important not only to choose the right material for insulation, but also to correctly calculate its thickness. Insufficient will lead to condensation, and excessive indicates an irrational expenditure of funds. You can select the value “by eye” based on general recommendations For example, regardless of the type of roof (pitched or flat), insulation with mineral wool or expanded polystyrene will require a layer thickness of 150-200 mm.

It is best to perform a full thermal calculation that takes into account modern requirements comfort and allows you to find the ideal balance of cost and quality. For a specialist, performing such a calculation will not be difficult. A person who is far from construction can use examples of calculations or the Teremok program, which is freely available and quite simple and understandable.

Competent calculations at the design stage are aimed at saving the budget and ensuring the reliability of thermal protection.

Their implementation will not take much time, but will allow you to avoid cost overruns during construction and additional costs for repairs during operation.

The process of insulating a flat roof

Depending on the type of roof, the insulation technology will be different. For flat roofs, the following layer order is usually followed:

  • load-bearing structure (most often reinforced concrete covering);
  • vapor barrier layer;
  • thermal insulation material;
  • cement-sand screed (reinforced for weak materials);
  • waterproofing carpet, which serves as a finishing coating.

If absolutely necessary, you can carry out work from inside the room, but this method has several disadvantages:

  • reducing the height of the room;
  • transfer of dew point inside the structure;
  • inconvenience of work.

Thermal protection of pitched roofs

Before properly insulating the roof of a house, you need to understand the procedure for carrying out the work. In the vast majority of cases, pitched roofs are insulated between the rafters. Insulating a roof from the inside with your own hands is a completely feasible task. It is important to follow the correct order of laying materials from bottom to top:

  • interior decoration;
  • bottom sheathing;
  • vapor barrier;
  • rafters with insulation between them;
  • waterproofing;
  • wind protection;
  • sheathing;
  • roofing material.

When the thickness of the insulation is greater than the height of the rafters, counter-battens are installed. It is better to use modern diffusion membranes as wind protection and waterproofing.

Proper insulation, regardless of the type of roof, requires a careful approach. To avoid problems during operation, it is necessary to select the correct thickness of the insulation, choose a reliable manufacturer and follow the installation technology. Fulfillment of these conditions will allow the roof to last a long time and help maintain normal temperature and humidity conditions in the building.

We insulate the roof correctly: how to avoid mistakes


Insulating the roof will create warmth in the house. We will describe in detail how and what is the best way to insulate the roof of a private house in this article.

Proper insulation of the roof of a house: technology and video

Insulating the roof of a house - important stage construction or overhaul roofs. The choice of technology for installing a heat-insulating layer depends on the configuration of the roof, the type of insulation and the requirements for the room located directly under the roof.

How to insulate a roof to significantly reduce heat loss at home? First of all, you need to choose the right materials for insulation and strictly adhere to the installation technology. A high-quality insulated roof increases the thermal efficiency of the house by 15%, allowing you to turn the attic into a room suitable for year-round use.

The highest demands are placed on insulating the roof of a residential attic of houses located in areas with cold winters. The roofing pie of summer attics or exploited attics may include more thin layer thermal insulation. The roof, under which an unused attic is located, is usually not insulated - the thermal insulation is mounted on the attic floor or the ceiling of the living premises. Not insulated non-residential attic It is well ventilated, which prevents rotting of the wooden elements of the roof frame.

When installing pitched and flat roofs, different methods of roof insulation are used.

Thermal insulation of flat roofs

How to make an insulated roof during installation flat roof? It should be noted that a flat roof can be insulated both from the outside and from the inside.

The composition of the flat roof pie includes:

  • vapor barrier;
  • heat insulator;
  • waterproofing layer made of rolled material;
  • bulk layer (drainage + cement-sand mixture).

External insulation is most conveniently performed using mineral basalt wool. You can also use polystyrene foam and other rigid insulation materials. It should be taken into account that polymer insulation cannot be used when installing roofing coverings with high fire safety requirements.

Insulation of a pitched roof

The roofing pie of a pitched roof is made with insulation along the rafters. It is important to understand how to properly insulate the roof of a house in order to avoid mistakes that will ultimately lead to damage to wooden structures.

Most popular insulation in private housing construction is mineral wool. It is easy to install non-flammable material, which can be purchased at a low price. But the structure of the wool itself promotes the accumulation of moisture, which causes a significant decrease in the thermal insulation properties of the material, and also, over time, provokes rotting of the elements of the rafter system. Thus, when creating insulation, it is important to provide proper ventilation and steam and waterproofing of the roofing pie.

Installation of a pitched roof heat insulator is carried out from the attic side during the construction or repair of the roof. If there are renovation work, before laying the insulation, it is necessary to check the condition of the rafters - rotting elements must be replaced with new ones. It's also worth processing everything wooden structures fire-retardant composition.

The pitched roof pie includes:

  • finishing roofing covering;
  • hydrobarrier (layer of waterproofing material);
  • heat insulator;
  • vapor barrier;
  • interior decoration (optional).

Proper roof insulation requires high-quality air exchange, for which it is necessary to create air gaps between:

  • under-roof waterproofing and roofing;
  • insulation and water barrier;
  • vapor barrier and internal lining (if provided).

Air circulation (free inflow and removal) is ensured by special vents, one of which should be located in the roof overhang, and the second under the ridge.

Materials for thermal insulation of pitched roofs

Roof insulation technology involves the use various materials. The most popular heat insulators include mineral wool and glass wool (in slabs or rolls), slab polymer materials - polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam. The principles of their installation are similar, but it is worth noting that installing slab material is much simpler and more convenient.

Roofing felt or roofing material is usually used as waterproofing. waterproofing membrane, impervious to water, but capable of removing moisture from the insulation. The vapor barrier layer can be made of:

  • roofing felt;
  • polyethylene film;
  • glassine;
  • foil materials laid with foil towards the attic.

To create a roofing pie with high functional characteristics, to create a vapor barrier, it is recommended to use a special vapor barrier membrane: it removes condensation outside from the insulation and does not allow steam and moisture to pass into the roofing pie.

Stages of work on insulating a pitched roof

The roof insulation scheme is quite simple. First of all, you need to measure the distance between the rafters. The slabs of cotton wool insulation should be cut according to the results obtained, adding 1 centimeter. This will allow you to fasten the heat insulator between the rafters. This stage of work is greatly simplified if the roofing system is initially designed and installed based on the use of slab insulation boards of a certain width.

If there is no waterproofing between the rafters and the already installed roofing, you should first secure a water barrier. The membrane should envelop the rafters; it is most convenient to fasten it with a construction stapler to the rafters themselves and to roofing sheathing in the openings between them. The waterproofing must be installed under the eaves at the bottom of the roof to ensure moisture drainage. It should be taken into account that with this method of fastening the hydrobarrier, the insulation must be installed without the necessary air gap. For this reason, it is recommended to use a superdiffusion membrane as a waterproofing material.

If there is a waterproofing layer under the roofing, nails are placed on the rafters in increments of about 10 cm. The nails should be located at a distance of 3-5 cm from the waterproofing layer. It is necessary to stretch a polyethylene thread or cord between the nails, tamping them to the end. This will help create air gap between the hydrobarrier and the insulation. If the heat insulator is planned to be fixed with a cord rather than a lathing for internal lining, it is also necessary to hammer nails along the outer edge of the rafters.

If, when deciding how to insulate the roof of a house, cotton wool was chosen slab insulation, then the prepared elements must be slightly compressed and inserted between the rafters. When using stiffer foam boards and similar materials, it is important to accurately size them so that the boards fit snugly into the opening. It is recommended to carry out insulation in two layers. If you have to mount not solid sheets into the opening, but narrower fragments, joining them along the length or width, you need to make sure that the joints of the second layer do not coincide with the joints of the first. The heat insulator should not protrude beyond the plane of the rafter legs. If the rafters are not wide enough to install two layers of insulation, additional timber is nailed to them.

The heat insulator is fixed between the rafters using a stretched cord secured to pre-filled nails. Or, as a fastening, a lathing made of slats is used, intended for mounting the interior lining of the room. The slats are nailed to the rafters in increments of 30-40 cm. In this case, the vapor barrier is stapled to the rafters before installing the sheathing: the thickness of the slats allows you to create the necessary air gap between the vapor barrier and the sheathing.

When installing a vapor barrier, special attention is paid to the tightness of the layer. The panel is laid with an overlap of at least 10 cm, the joints should be taped with adhesive tape in two layers. It is necessary to install the vapor barrier around the chimney and at the junction with the walls as efficiently as possible. On final stage Sheathing is installed using wood-containing or plasterboard boards.

How to insulate the roof of a house correctly: video, insulation diagram, methods


Find out how to properly insulate the roof of your house. Look at the video on how to insulate the roof of a house using various schemes, methods and types of insulation

How to properly insulate the roof along the rafters?

There are frequent cases when owners of private houses want to transform an ordinary attic space in the attic with insulation for the roof. Such changes are directly related to the modification and insulation of the existing roof.

Waterproofing is laid in the openings between the rafters

In addition, roof insulation oriented towards any system will be associated with providing ventilation and installing high-quality vapor and waterproofing.

1 What is the best way to insulate the roof along the rafters?

Today, the most common method of insulating pitched roofs is rafter roof is one in which thermal insulation is provided by foam plastic.

In this case, you need to lay the insulation to the rafters on a pitched roof following a certain system.

The insulation between the rafters, which ensures the stability of the roof structure, can be fixed in one of the two most common ways, and you can use mineral wool.

Despite this, many rightly believe that it is better to insulate the rafter structure of a pitched roof with foam plastic to insulate the attic of a private house.

It should be remembered that when insulating rafters on a pitched roof with foam plastic, its fastening will be oriented at a certain distance.

Installation of insulation must be carried out from the bottom up

There are now a lot of materials for insulating rafters and roofs in general. Most people use foam plastic to insulate roofs, and especially the rafter part.

Providing thermal insulation of roofs and its rafters with foam plastic has a number of undoubted advantages, however, you should find out what other materials and their types can be used to form reliable thermal insulation of the roof, because in addition to foam insulation there are several more equally proven and reliable options.

It is worth noting that many are inclined to believe that thermal insulation of roofs with foam plastic is a cheap and reliable option, while mineral wool is significantly inferior to the presented method.

To understand what methods of improving the roof and insulating the roof using polyurethane foam will be the most effective, you need to know how this work is carried out and what materials for roofs are most in demand.

Indeed, along with the method based on foam insulation, innovative roof thermal insulation technologies such as spraying polyurethane foam are offered.

In order to figure out which materials and their types to use to ensure the heat resistance of the roof, you should consider each of them individually.

2 Features of the materials used

Mineral wool, according to many, is the immediate leader among those materials that can be used for roof insulation.

She has whole line advantages compared to previously announced polystyrene foam. Properties such as non-flammability and high level The fire safety of roofs when used speaks for itself.

The presented material has a high degree of elasticity and can be laid on the roof between the rafters with orientation at any distance.

Subsequently, the mineral wool retains its original shape, and the distance between the slab positions does not change.

Proper roof insulation

Since during installation there are no gaps between the beams and the presented building material, its use is most relevant. The main advantages of this material for roof modernization include:

  • Low cost;
  • Public accessibility is like insulating an attic from the inside;
  • Ease of installation;
  • Good thermal insulation qualities.

The main disadvantage of mineral wool is its increased degree of hygroscopicity. The material actively absorbs moisture into its structure, which leads to it getting wet.

The distance between the fibers of the substance changes and the product rapidly loses its thermal insulation properties by 60-80%.

Therefore, before insulating with cotton wool, you need to take proper care of its waterproofing.

Expanded polystyrene is now gaining quite high popularity, and, according to many experts, it is absolutely undeserved.

We nail nails along the rafters at a distance of 7-8 cm from the waterproofing film

The fact is that strengthening roofs using it is quite fraught with serious consequences in the event of a sudden fire of the material.

When ignited, the product begins to spray fiery drops in all directions. During installation, over time, the structure of the material is subject to crumbling, and the distance between it and the roof increases, which leads to a deterioration in the heat-insulating properties.

In most cases, the foam is hidden under a layer of plaster or screed. Extruded polystyrene foam is essentially the same modified polystyrene foam.

It is used in places where the fastening requires a high degree of rigidity. This material can also burn, but does not support the combustion process.

It is perfectly capable of maintaining its original shape, and its structure is not subject to crumbling during installation. The undoubted advantages of extruded polystyrene foam are expressed in:

Roof rafter system

  • Moisture resistance;
  • Durability;
  • Light weight;
  • Strength;
  • Hardness;
  • High thermal insulation performance.

Polyurethane foam began to be used for roof insulation relatively recently. This material is presented in the form of gas-filled plastic.

Filling is carried out using a special unit, and the undoubted advantage is the complete absence of cracks and gaps.

The presented building material is non-flammable, has a relatively low weight and holds its shape well.

Spraying can be carried out at a distance equal to the gap between the rafters, which helps remove cold bridges.

A significant drawback is its pronounced vapor permeability. Because of this, you need to take good care of creating supply and exhaust ventilation.

Laying insulation between rafters

Ecowool, also called cellulose wool, also began to be used for insulation relatively recently.

It is not without its advantages: it does not burn, is environmentally friendly, is lightweight and can be blown into all the cracks. In addition, the presented material is not able to absorb moisture.

2.1 Nuances of installing insulation

This technology will be considered using the example of laying mineral wool in a layer equal to 250 mm. All types of work related to the presented method of roof insulation are most rationally performed in the early stages of building a house.

Otherwise, the attic mount will need to be removed along with the outdated one roofing material.

After the rafter structure has been completely assembled, but the installation of roofing material has not yet begun, it is necessary to ensure a high level of waterproofing of the roof.

For this purpose, a waterproofing superdiffusion membrane is laid on top of the installed rafters, as when insulating the roof of a building with mineral wool.

It is important not to confuse its sides. This is due to the fact that one of the sides is not capable of passing water, and the other is not reverse side does not allow steam to pass through.

Insulation and waterproofing of roofs of complex shapes

The membrane must be laid so that the outer surface is on the side that is characterized by its high degree of moisture resistance.

Installation begins from the eaves overhang located below and moves to the top of the roof.

The overlap should be oriented at a distance of 10-15 cm, and the joints should be glued using special construction tape.

It is forbidden to lay the waterproofing film under tension. This is due to the fact that when winter comes, it can shrink, which will lead to damage in the places where it is secured.

Based on this, the material is spread with a slight overhang, which is 2 cm per 1 m. The film is attached to the rafters using special staples and a construction stapler.

If such a tool is not available, then you can use galvanized nails equipped with a wide head.

The next stage is the formation ventilation gap. Excess vapor contained in the insulation material will subsequently escape through it.

On top of the waterproofing layer, the sheathing is filled with wooden slats, the thickness of which may depend on the parameter of the width of the ventilation gap itself.

Roof insulation along rafters

The slats are secured using galvanized self-tapping screws. After this, roofing material is installed on top of the sheathing.

2.2 How to lay insulation between the rafters?

At the beginning of the installation process, you should unpack the mineral wool and let it sit for some time so that the material takes the shape required for work. Next, the canvas or slabs are cut into the sections required for installation.

In this case, the parameter for the width of the mineral wool sheet must exactly correspond to the distance between the beams, to which an additional 20-30 millimeters should be added in order to create tension.

Mineral wool can be cut using a regular construction knife. However, it is worth remembering that all work must be performed with gloves, a respirator and thick clothing in order to avoid contact of microparticles with unprotected areas of the skin.

After this, the fabric of the product is pushed into the space between the rafters. In the process, the edges of the material that is located near the rafters are slightly bent.

To do this, lightly press middle section canvas, causing the edges to straighten out. At this stage, the roof insulation process can be completed.

Insulation of a metal roof

As a result, rafters made of wood and the insulation between them will be reliably protected from the harmful effects of moisture that can penetrate through damaged areas of the roof.

On the inside, the insulation will be reliably protected from the effects of steam emanating from the room, and the entire presented structure will be repairable.

If there is a need to inspect the condition of the rafters, then first you will have to dismantle the sheets of plasterboard, then remove the sheathing and vapor barrier film, and then re-install.

If you need to insulate the roof in an old house, and there is no desire to remove the already laid roofing material, then you can attach a waterproofing membrane to the inside of the attic.

In this case, you will need to wrap the surface of the rafters with a membrane and wrap it inside the space between them.

You will need to lay a layer on top insulation material. Roof insulation soft type carried out with a focus on the same technology that was described above.

Roof insulation from the inside

The difference is that the sheathing, which forms the gap between the waterproofing membrane and the roofing material itself, is supplemented with a layer of moisture-resistant plywood. A soft roof is attached on top of a layer of such plywood.

2.3 Roof insulation under rafters

The scheme, thanks to which insulation is produced under the rafters, is used in residential buildings quite rare.

As a rule, it is implemented during the construction of structures industrial type, which are equipped with reinforced load-bearing elements made using metal.

The presented diagram can be used in case of reconstruction of a construction site.

In this case, during the work it should be taken into account that the area internal space premises will be significantly reduced.

This option can also be used in cases where increased requirements are placed on ventilation.

This applies to rooms with a high degree of humidity. When insulating roof slopes using this scheme, the importance of the thermal insulation material is lost.

Insulation of the attic roof slopes between the rafters

This is due to the fact that due to the high degree of openness, the vapor barrier layer may be damaged.

Premises with this type of insulated roof must be frequently ventilated, or special roof fans with high power must be installed in them.

Roof insulation along rafters: installation, how to secure


Roof insulation along rafters - description of technology. What is the best way to insulate the roof along the rafters?

How to insulate a roof, choosing materials for a pitched and flat roof

In order for the roof to perform its functions efficiently and serve for a long time, it must be insulated. There are a lot of materials and methods for installing a heat-insulating layer, and the choice of suitable technology is always done individually. This article will discuss how to properly install insulation on the roof of a private house.

The need for roof insulation

Of course, the final decision about whether the roof needs to be insulated is made by the owner of the house - but before that, you need to weigh all the pros and cons. The latter include additional costs for arranging the roof and the effort required to install the heat-insulating layer.

However, financial expenses and the efforts made will pay off in the future. The main advantage of roof insulation is that after installation, the level of heat loss of the entire building is reduced by an average of 15%. If the under-roof space is not intended to be used as a residential space, then the roof itself does not need to be insulated - the thermal insulation of the roof of the house in this case will be mounted on the attic floor or the ceiling of the living premises. To prevent the structure from rotting, high-quality roof ventilation is required.

Roof insulation will be most relevant when arranging a residential attic, especially if the building is located in a region with a harsh climate. In such cases, if the attic will be used all year round, you will have to pay special attention to the issues of its insulation and heating. Less stringent requirements are imposed on the insulation of summer attics.

How to properly insulate a flat roof

When insulating a flat roof, you need to take into account that thermal insulation can be on both the inside and the outside. It is advisable to start with external insulation, and after the first winter decide whether it makes sense to insulate the roof along the rafters from the inside.

A flat roof roofing pie consists of:

  • Vapor barrier layer;
  • Insulating layer;
  • Waterproofing layer;
  • Bulk layer.

For external thermal insulation, basalt mineral wool is most often used, which is optimally suited for these purposes. However, you can choose from any type of rigid insulation - for example, expanded polystyrene would be a good option. It is also worth remembering that roofing that is prone to fire cannot be insulated with polymer heat insulators.

Insulation of a pitched roof

Thermal insulation of a pitched roof is installed on the rafter system. Before laying insulation on the roof, it is necessary to design it in advance in order to avoid installation errors.

A pitched roof consists of the following elements:

  • Roofing;
  • Waterproofing layer;
  • Thermal insulation;
  • Vapor barrier material;
  • Interior finishing (optional).

Mineral wool, which has high performance characteristics and has a relatively low cost. The main disadvantage of mineral insulation is its ability to absorb moisture, which is why its thermal insulation properties are lost over time. In addition, the presence of moisture under the roof leads to the gradual destruction of wooden parts.

To compensate for the described disadvantage, the structure must be supplemented with ventilation, hydro- and vapor barrier. The insulation itself on the roof of the house is laid on the underside of the roof during its arrangement or repair. If we are talking about repairs, then damaged wooden elements should be replaced, and new ones should be treated with protective compounds before installation.

In addition, for effective insulation and reliability, the roof must be well ventilated, so it is necessary to equip ventilation ducts between:

  • A layer of waterproofing and finishing coat;
  • Thermal insulation and waterproofing layer;
  • Vapor barrier material and internal lining.

Materials for insulating pitched roofs

Different materials can be used to insulate the roof, the most popular of which are:

The characteristics and features of the materials differ, but they all adequately protect the roof from temperature effects. It is only worth noting that it is best to select materials produced in the form of slabs - they are much more convenient to install.

To construct a waterproofing layer, ordinary roofing material or a special waterproofing membrane is most often used, which does not allow water to pass through, but ensures the removal of moisture from the heat insulator. When installing waterproofing, you need to ensure that the tightness of the material has not been compromised.

However, if we are talking about a high-quality vapor barrier layer, then the best option will vapor barrier membrane, which works on the principle of one-way moisture transmission - condensation is removed from the insulation and does not enter the internal cavities of the roofing cake.

Algorithm for roof insulation - how to lay thermal insulation

Installation of a roof with insulation comes down to the following sequence of actions:

  1. First, the installation pitch of the rafter legs is measured. The heat-insulating material slabs are cut in accordance with the obtained dimensions, but 1 cm is added to them - this will allow the insulation to stay in place on its own. Can be simplified this stage works during arrangement new roof, calculating it so that the distance between the rafters corresponds to the width of the insulation boards.
  2. A waterproofing layer must be installed in the space between the rafters and the finishing coating. The membrane must be attached to the rafters so that it envelops them. Can be used for fixation construction stapler, with which the waterproofing is attached to rafter legs and lathing. Waterproofing material must be applied to the eaves so that the collected moisture escapes beyond the roof. The described method of fastening does not allow for proper ventilation, so only a special waterproofing membrane should be used as a material.
  3. If waterproofing is already installed under the upper part of the roof, then nails are driven into the rafters every 10 cm so that the distance between them and the membrane is at least 3-5 cm. The driven nails allow you to stretch a cord along the line of which the air gap will pass in the space between waterproofing and thermal insulation material. If the insulation itself is attached using a cord, then the nails will also need to be hammered along the outside of the rafters.
  4. When using insulation materials produced in the form of slabs, installation is reduced to inserting them into the space between the rafters (naturally, they will have to be compressed a little so that they fit into the gap). Before properly insulating the roof, more rigid materials must be carefully adjusted to fit the gaps in rafter system. For maximum efficiency, it is worth installing two-layer insulation.
  5. When installing narrow fragments that require joining along one of the planes, you need to make sure that the joints of the first and second layers of thermal insulation do not coincide with each other. The thermal insulation layer should not extend beyond the rafters, and if this happens, then additional timber will have to be placed on the rafters.
  6. To attach the insulation, a cord stretched between nails or a lath made of slats can be used. These slats need to be nailed to the rafters at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other. In this case, the vapor barrier layer must be attached before the sheathing is installed - due to the thickness of the slats, an air gap is provided.
  7. When installing a vapor barrier, you need to make sure that the material is installed hermetically. To do this, the joints must be covered with two layers of adhesive tape. Special attention you need to pay attention to the points where the material connects to the wall and chimney. When all structural elements are installed, you can proceed to the final stage - installation of the sheathing.


Roof insulation is a very important part of the structure, which allows you to increase thermal efficiency roofs. Knowing how to properly install insulation on a roof and high-quality performance of all work will allow you to create a reliable and high-quality structure that will perform its functions throughout the entire period of operation.

Roof insulation: how to properly insulate the roof along the rafters, how to lay insulation, installation of thermal insulation, how to install


Roof insulation: how to properly insulate the roof along the rafters, how to lay insulation, installation of thermal insulation, how to install