Which insulation is better for the attic

Attic superstructure requires a special approach when it warming and careful selection of material. If the capital walls themselves are in some way a heater, then any roof does not have that sufficient thickness to become a reliable barrier to cold.

Therefore, you need to know exactly which insulation is better for the attic to choose, and how to make it suitable for living in it at any time of the year.

Insulation materials for attic

Due to the design features of the attic room, the heat loss in and is always increased, compared to the rooms located behindcapital walls. In addition, the top of the attic does not have a thermal "cushion", the role of which is performed by the attic of each house. So, we can conclude that the walls and the roof of the attic are most susceptible to freezing in the winter, so you need to choose the right insulation and calculate its thickness.

The most popular insulants that are fixed directly under the roof are: polystyrene foam( usual foam or extruded), polyurethane foam, eco-wool , made of cellulose, and all varieties of mineral wool.

These insulating materials are well fixed between the crate or are adhered to the inner surface of the roofing material, and make a warm room suitable for use from the cold attic .

In houses that are located in cold regions, this material must be laid in two or even three layers. Sometimes in conjunction with one of the heaters use the infrared film , which is fixed on the walls of the attic and include this additional heating as needed.

Criteria for choosing a heater

When choosing a material, you need to take into account a number of characteristics that predetermine both the efficiency and safety of the thermal insulator :

• The insulation must have a minimum combustibility and low thermal conductivity.
• The density of the material should not be too high, otherwise its thermal conductivity increases and the construction of the attic becomes heavier, which is highly undesirable, as the load on the load-bearing walls of the building increases.
• The installation of the heater must be simple, and the service life is comparable to with the long-term of the entire roof structure.
• The ecological purity of the material is one of the main criteria when choosing it - it should not emit unpleasant odors and not decompose into any substances hazardous to human health.

Some properties of physical common insulation materials for the convenience of comparison are summarized in the following table:

Properties of thermal insulation material	Thickness in mm.
50	60	80	100	120	150	200	250
Density kg / m3	Mineral wool	100 - 120
Styrofoam( expanded polystyrene)	25 - 35
Polyurethane foam( sprayed)	54 - 55
Ecowool( pulp)	40 - 45
Thermal resistance m² × ° C / W	Mineralwool	1.19	1.43	1.90	2.38	2.86	3.57	4.76	5.95
styrofoam( polystyrene)	1.35	1.62	2.16	2.70	3.24	4.05	5.41	6.76
Polyurethane( sprayed)	1.85	2.22	2.96	3.70	4.44	5.56	7.41	9.26
Ecowool( cellulose)	1.75	2.08	2.74	3.50	4.20	5.26	7.20	9.01
Coefficient of thermal conductivity W / m × ° C	Mineral wool	0.042
Styrofoam( polystyrene)	0.037
Polyurethane( sprayed)	0.028
Ecowool( cellulose)	0.038
Weight kg / m2	Mineral wool	15.2	15.8	17.6	20.9	23.2	26.7	32.4	38.2
styrofoam( polystyrene)	9.8	10.0	10.5	11.0	11.5	12.3	13.5	14.8
Penopoliuretan( sprayed)	11.2	11.7	12.8	13.9	15.0	16.6	19.3	22.0
Ecowool( cellulose)	12.1	12.5	13.7	14.4	16.4	17.9	20.5	24.5

Features thermal insulation materials for attic

to moreTo understand, in properties of each of heaters, it is necessary to consider more attentively.

Styrofoam( expanded polystyrene)

• Styrofoam has enough rigid structure, consisting of separate foamed fragments, tightly connected with each other. But if you look at the volume content, then this material contains only 2.5% polystyrene and 97.5% - air. Therefore, , when applied to the cold, the does not allow the to penetrate into the premises, just the air layer created by this heater.

• Expanded polystyrene is produced in slabs of different sizes, thicknesses and densities. Plates can have a size of 1000 × 2000, 1000 × 1000, 1000 × 500 mm, and a thickness of 20 to 1000 mm.
• The material has not only high thermal insulation qualities, but also good sound absorption of , and it will be sufficient to cover the wall with slabs having a thickness of 30-50 mm to provide the effect of high sound insulation.
• When insulating the attic, taking into account the small thickness of the walls, the foam will require the largest thickness, only in this case it is possible to create the necessary heat - and soundproofing. In this case it is necessary to take into account the compliance with the installation technology
• Styrofoam has a low hygroscopicity index, that is, it practically does not absorb moisture.

• Correctly installed expanded polystyrene does not deform for a long time, maintaining sufficiently large loads.
• Styrofoam shows good resistance to aggressive environments and will last a long time if it is closed with finishing materials.
• However, this insulation is destroyed by exposure to it of ultraviolet rays, various solvents and other aggressive chemical compounds.
• There are no harmful microorganisms inside this insulation, as the material is not a favorable environment for their development. However, with significant contamination of its surface, it can form fungal colonies.
• Lightweight by weight of foam st pr ost in mounting. It will not cause problems in cleaning after the installation is completed. The material is cut without problems with a sharp knife, and sometimes the cutting tool is heated for greater evenness of the cut.
• Polyfoam is safe under normal conditions, but over time and with frequent heating, it begins to release harmful substances to humans.

• Styrofoam is flamed when exposed to an open flame and melts and emits a large amount of smoke that contains very toxic substances, which can be dangerous not only to health, but also to human life.

The attic is exactly such a place, the which primarily falls under the rays of the sun, which sufficiently heat the roof. And this can lead to a rapid loss of foam by its foam insulating qualities. Therefore, it is better to use it for warming stone walls, reliably closing it from external influences, and for a mansard find a more acceptable option.

Mineral wool

Mineral wool - is a familiar to all material that has been used for many decades and has proven itself as reliable and convenient insulation. It is produced from different raw materials, so its characteristics also vary. Mineral cotton wool is divided according to the material of production into slag, stone, basalt and glass. Each of them has its own parameters: the thickness and length of the fibers, resistance to loads, heat resistance, thermal conductivity, and hygroscopicity.

To learn more about the properties of all types of material, you need to consider each of them, since the table shows only the average.

Rock wool

• This type of mineral wool has fibers up to 16 mm long and 3 to 12 μm thick. Characteristics of this type of insulation - is the best for insulation of residential premises in , therefore it is most often used for attic installation.
• The thermal conductivity of rock wool ranges from 0.076 to 0.12 W / m × ° C .
• Heating temperature limit 550 - 600 degrees.
• Stone wool is the most comfortable for work, compared to slag - or glass wool - its fibers are not prickly and do not injure the skin and mucous membranes.

A variety of stone wool can be a loose basalt insulation. It does not have fasteners, so it is not produced in slabs or rolls. Alluvial cotton wool is filled with mats, or the is poured onto its on horizontal planes and compacted to the desired thickness. Due to the fact that the material does not contain any melting substances, such cotton wool can withstand temperatures up to + 900 - 950 degrees. The main parameters are the thickness and of the fiber length, the insulating ability is the same as that of ordinary stone wool. Basalt insulation can be called the safest in the work of all the mineral materials for insulation.

All kinds of similar mineral insulation have property well soundproof room. Especially this quality is inherent in basalt material. In addition, a similar material - is the only one that does not contain phenol-formaldehyde resins, so it is absolutely safe for human health.

Glass wool

• Glass wool fibers have a length of from 13 to of 45 mm and thickness of from 4 to of 16 μm. They have good elasticity and strength.
• Glass wool has a sufficiently low thermal conductivity, which is equal to 0,029 - 0,050 W / m × ° C .
• This heater can withstand high temperatures of not more than +450, and low - before - 55 - 60 degrees.

Glass wool is the most affordable, but for to work with this material, it is necessary for to take safety measures, because its microscopic fibers can get on mucous membranes of respiratory organs or eyes andcause serious damage. Therefore , choosing glassware for insulation, it is necessary to purchase a respirator, goggles, gloves and a suit that will not leave skin areas open.

Slagite

• The length and thickness of the fibers are slag-like identical to the fibers of the stone insulation, but the maximum temperature for the of the is not more than 300 degrees. At temperatures above this limit, the fiber binding material begins to melt, which results in losses to the heat functions - and sound insulation of the rooms.
• The material is hygroscopic, therefore it is suitable only for internal insulation works and requires very reliable waterproofing.
• The disadvantage of this insulation is its blast furnace slag, which when moistened with the material react with metal elements and can lead to their gradual decomposition. Therefore, if slag is chosen for insulation, then it is recommended to abandon the metal profile for the crate attic.
• With good waterproofing, the thermal conductivity of the slags varies between 0.046 - 0.048 W / m × ° With , and in principle the material can be called quite suitable for insulating work in the attic superstructure.
• Do not forget that to work with slag you need to have protective devices, since its fibers are capable of damaging the skin and mucous membranes, as well as the constituent glass wool.

Mineral wool is considered a non-combustible material, but this is not entirely true. The material can sometimes ignite at critical temperatures, albeit with a tendency to self-attenuation. This factor largely depends on the quality of produced by material - in particular, on the amount of possible organic impurities and binders.

Nevertheless, mineral wool is considered as the most optimal option for attic insulation due to its pronounced positive qualities and relative cheapness.

Ecowool

• Ecowool is made of cellulose and does not have its composition of gluing components, therefore it is 100% environmentally friendly.

• Cellulose is produced from wood, therefore ecowool has natural insulating properties inherent in natural wood. As you know, such materials at times better retain heat than synthetic types of heaters. Therefore, in a room with walls on which the produced the installation of this heater, it is better to keep the heat in strong cold and cool in the summer heat.
• The insulation of cellulose is 80%, of flame retardant , by 12% and antiseptic non-volatile , such as boric acid - by 8%.
• Since the material has a loose capillary-porous structure, and , due to its constituents, rodents, insects, and as well as do not survive due to their constituents in ecowool .
• The presence of fire retardants in allows it to have a moderate combustibility, that is, it burns very hard on an open directed flame and, , however, has the property of self-extinguishing.

• Warming the with an eco-woven wall, it is possible to avoid the use of a vapor barrier membrane, since there is no risk of condensation, due to the fact that the insulation is a "breathing" material. Even with insignificant moisture, it does not increase in size and does not lose its heat-insulating properties, and besides this - it dries quickly.
• Advantage of eco-wool can also be called its affordable price, but the only difficulty in working with such a heater is its installation, which requires special equipment .

If it is possible to use the attic as for , this will be the most ideal - reliable and a completely safe option.

Polyurethane foam

This insulation is also often used to insulate the attic room. Its mounting is carried out by spraying, and this is one of its main advantages, since creates an seamless sealing surface. It is able to protect the superstructure of the attic from the penetration of wind and cold. From the operational point of view sprayed polyurethane foam can be called the most effective heat material - and soundproofing:

• Polyurethane covers all cold bridges that can create wooden elements of crate .
• Material light , therefore does not weight the construction of load-bearing walls, and means on the surface of walls and floor can be applied to the thick layer of its .
• The endurance of polyurethane foam to temperatures varies between -155 and +210 degrees.
• A very important point in the installation is that the surface to be sprayed on does not require preparatory work.
• The service life of the heater, with proper installation and closure of its decorative material, will be fifty or more years.
• Spraying can be performed on a variety of designs, numbers and very bizarre shapes, which is useful if, for example, in a mansard, make a shaped roof in the form of an tent or arch. This is helped by good adhesion of the polyurethane foam with any surface.
• The insulation gives the good sound insulation to the room.
• Completely no risk of condensation, with proper ventilation.

However, there is a polyurethane foam and the disadvantages of the . one of the them

The first - is the impossibility of mounting a heater without the of a particular , quite complex and expensive equipment.

The second - polyurethane foam can not be called completely incombustible material. When it ignites, smoke is formed, which in has its composition of very dangerous toxic substances, which includes such a poisonous gas as hydrogen cyanide. In principle, in terms of the degree of danger in this regard, it is comparable to expanded polystyrene.

Therefore, with preparation PPD sometimes add fire retardants to it. They will reduce the risk of fire, but if material does flame, these additives will only increase the amount of toxic components released to humans.

Briefly - about the performance of insulation

The need for air exchange for the attic insulation

When insulating the attic room, it is necessary to take into account the device of reliable ventilation. If the material made in mats is laid, an air layer between the heater and the finishing material is provided. The size of this gap will depend on the roofing. For example, if the roof is covered with one of the metal coatings, the ventilation layer can be from 20 ÷ 25 mm. If you choose to cover natural tiles or a soft roof, the gap is increased by one and a half to two times. When using sprayed heaters, the air vents are arranged by the in the cornice.

In the absence of good ventilation there is a high probability of condensate sedimentation on the insulation. Condensation occurs when the temperature difference is very sharp in the and outdoors, so it is very important to correctly calculate the thickness of the thermal insulation layer that will prevent cold air from coming in contact with the heated air of the in the room.

Mounting of insulation material in mats( boards) or rolls

If manufactured by is used for insulation in mats or rolls, for example, foam or mineral wool, the insulation and windproof elements of the insulation system must be applied.

The windproof film is necessary to protect against drafts that contribute to heat loss in the room. Such a membrane is attached to the outside of the rafter system, and familiar to all ruberoid or usual polyethylene thick film is often used as this layer. Separate material webs are laid overlapping in 200 - 250 mm, and glued with waterproof tape. film is fastened to the rafters with the help of brackets, and then crate is installed on top of the bridle for fixing the roofing material or the base under it.

The gaps between the rafters will serve as niches for laying the first layer of insulation.

Further, goes horizontal crate - its bars are fixed at such a distance from each other that will be equal to the width of the insulation mats.

In the this case requires exactly two layers of material, as the rafters can become bridges that conduct cold.

. On horizontal crate , after laying between its guides of second layer of insulation, film of vapor barrier is fixed, which completely closes heater and becomes still one obstacle to the cold, but it will, at the same time , heater "breathe".It also fits the overlapping the and is glued together with adhesive tape.

. The tops of the vapor barrier are fixed with rails, 20 to 25 mm thick. They are fixed horizontally or vertically, depending on how the lining will be located, if the decorative finish is produced by such material.

Video: warming of the attic room with mineral wool

Warming with an eco-wool

Installation of auxiliary materials when using the attic for the insulation of the ecowool requires a separate detailed study, since in this case, there are some nuances. These issues are discussed in more detail in a separate article of our portal, devoted to attic insulation technology .

It should be noted immediately that the windproof film in this case is fixed in the same way as in case of thermal insulation in mats.

Further between the rafters is laid ecowool . Its can be installed in a wet or dry manner.

• Wet application of the material is carried out with the help of special equipment, which sprays material mixed with water and special glue.

Ecowool is sprayed under pressure, therefore the material fills all gaps and slots, thus creating good heat - and soundproofing.

After spraying, excess material is removed using a special roller, and at the same time leveled.

Another option for mounting can be to fill the damp with the earthen with enclosed walls or floor cavities.

On the walls, the vapor-proof film is fixed and stretched from the inside, an opening is made through which the space is filled with the heat-insulating material - eco-wool.

• Dry insulation method is excellent for laying eco-wool on floor of attic .This method can be performed manually or using the same equipment.

If the insulation is done manually, the insulation is simply removed from the package and loosened. Then distribute it between the joists and tamp. The thickness of the layer should be level the height of the beams overlap.

However, it is better after all to produce a heater under pressure, using special equipment.

Top eco-wool is tightened with vapor-insulating film, and on is packed with beams 20 to 25 mm thick on the beams - this crate will create the necessary ventilation gap. After that, the floor covering is laid.

Video: "dry" application method eco-wool

spraying

foam The polyurethane foam is increasingly used for insulating buildings both internally and externally. Especially it is popular for frame structures and mansards.

The only obstacle in self-carrying work can be complex equipment for the spraying of polyurethane foam, without which it will be impossible to do without. There is a variation of on the for rent in a specialized firm, but it will also be not cheap , not to mention its purchase. In addition, you need to learn how to properly configure it and have hotkeys would have the initial skills to work with it.

It may be easier and cheaper to invite a wizard who will do this job quickly and accurately. For small volumes of , the process can be started by and completed in one day.

Spraying can be carried out on any surface - smooth and rough, plywood, metal or even dense film vapor barrier, reinforced with rope weave.

Sprayed polyurethane foam forms a seamless surface, penetrating into all small and bulk gaps, and sealing them.

PPU can be sprayed directly onto the inner surface of the roof and sewn on top of the decorative material - this insulation layer will be sufficient if the building is located in a climatic zone with mild or moderate winters.

Video: insulation of the attic with sprayed with polyurethane foam

So, each material has its advantages and disadvantages. Undoubtedly, the cost of insulation, the complexity or availability of its installation plays a big role, but still the issues of efficiency of thermal insulation and safety must come to the fore, so we need to focus on the material that will create the most comfortable atmosphere in the attic room, and , will bring minimum damage to the health of tenants at home.