Roof insulation - advantages and disadvantages of materials

Isolating the house from the cold is one of the primary tasks in its construction or capital repair. No matter how perfect the heating system is, without a heater for the roof, the cold in the room will spread at the first drop in temperature outside the window.

What kind of insulation to use for the roof?

The correct design of the roof protects against cold in winter, and in the summer - from the heat. The choice of material and compliance with the installation procedure depends on the ability of the housing to sufficient thermoregulation. Quality insulation on the roof of the house must be selected, based on the following characteristics:

  1. Fire safety (in case of fire, the roof must not smolder, therefore when it is produced, cellulose, wood and pressed sawdust are not used);
  2. Ecological compatibility (hot in the hot season, the construction should not release deadly fumes of chemical compounds);
  3. Wear resistance (the roof must withstand snow and ice, the effect of high and low temperatures without loss of form);
  4. Sound insulation (high-tech types of insulation for the roof muffle the sound of rain and hail, allowing to arrange a bedroom or rest room on the top floor);
  5. Water vapor permeability (evaporation of moisture should not accumulate in the attic and cause the appearance of mold and fungi);
  6. Optimal weight (overly light insulation for the roof differs fragility, and heavy - it itself contributes to collapse);
  7. Thickness (this parameter depends on the region and climatic conditions).

Heater for pitched roof

The list of criteria for choosing a heater for the roof would not be complete without such an important factor as the shape of the roof of the building. The most primitive classification is the division into a pitched and flat covering. The pitched form can be a single-pitched , gable , tent and four-slope (it is also called a hip). Any of its subspecies has a huge advantage: with a sloping roof the moisture rolls down, without lingering on it.

A heater for the roof of a wooden house, designed according to the type of a pit, is widely distributed in cottages and country cottages. The predominant option is a "warm" roof: the desired material is mounted on the ramps, along the roof surface and between the load-bearing rafters. The "cold" way is economical, but it deprives tenants of the opportunity to sleep in the attic room: it is absolutely necessary for him to insulate the lower part of the roof.

Heater for roof skylight

The indicator of whether the precious heat passes through the attic cover is the weather. In a cold winter at minus temperatures, snow does not stay on it, but melts. This phenomenon is caused by the fact that the air heated by the heating devices freely penetrates through the attic and heats the roof. Insulation of the roof with a heater for the attic is easy to do with your own hands thanks to a simple device for this type of roof:

  1. The attic requires a two-layer material - it consists of an insulating layer and a ventilated coating;
  2. The walls of such rooms represent a single space with a roof, so each corner will have to be beaten additionally;
  3. Across the perimeter of the attic is required to distribute several air pockets to prevent excess moisture.

Heater for flat roof

A flat roof is any covering, whose angle with respect to the floor of the house does not exceed 15 degrees. Such a roof has a solid base made of metal, which gives it the ability to remove multi-layer roof insulators from the inside and outside. The maximum permissible load limit for a heat insulator for this type is 200 kilograms per square meter. At the roof, devoid of alloy supports, this limit may differ in a smaller direction.

The best insulation for the roof of the house

Modern manufacturers produce many types of seals of different thickness, texture and price category. The rating of insulation for the roof is headed by materials, the thickness of which is not less than 80-100 mm. By a common scheme, they are mounted from the back side of the roof by spraying or mounting plates. Among the isolators that meet this requirement, we can name:

The best insulation for the roof will be useless, if at least one of the common mistakes is made during its selection and application. Insulator is not considered a decorative detail of the interior, so most of the owners are trying to save on it. In fact, any professional will recommend paying attention to the manufacturer's reputation and positive recommendations.

Foam insulation for the roof

Polyurethane foam is obtained by filling a special kind of plastic with gas. The texture of this material is a micro-chamber filled with freon and possessing reliable thermal insulation characteristics. It is obtained from a mixture of oil and vegetable products. The best insulation for the roof of foam should be resistant to moisture and mold and have a warranty service life of at least 20 years. There are three types of foam insulator:

At polyurethane foam insulation the main advantage is a low price tag. It is sold in liquid form, therefore penetrates during application in all cracks, grooves and voids. Among the advantages of polyurethane foam are:

  1. Smooth surface of the internal finish of the attic (after processing there are no unevennesses and seams);
  2. It does not require fastening (the shape of the spray and the rapid congealing do not need additional support);
  3. You can do without preparatory manipulation (spraying is suitable for any form of coating);
  4. Ability to withstand extreme temperatures (hardened foam does not lose its stability at temperatures up to 2200 degrees).

Basalt heat insulation for roof

The leader in fire safety among insulators is called "stone wool" - basalt. It is elastic and elastic, easily restores shape and is cut with a conventional kitchen knife. Deciding what kind of insulation is needed for the roof of a country house, it is worth considering the fact that basalt is the only raw material that mice and rats can not gnaw through. Vata weighs little and does not get wet under heavy rain. The strength of this technology is explained by the composition of basalt: the fibers are obtained from molten non-carcinogenic rocks.

The voids between the pores of the material are ventilated, which guarantees the removal of steam at a high humidity level. Non-combustible wool is not considered a vapor barrier and has a high melting point: it can be combined with other insulators to prevent the spread of fire in a fire. The roof insulation made of basalt carries out any loads, therefore it can be used with both flat and sloping models.

Mineral insulation for the roof

There are two types of insulation on a mineral basis: cotton wool, made from a melt of rocks or blast furnace slags. This insulation on the roof of the house is able to survive the impact of aggressive cleaning and coloring substances. Slabs of slag before installation are impregnated with a waterproofing liquid to prevent liquid from entering during precipitation. A successful purchase can be considered mats made of cotton wool with the addition of fiberglass.

Roof insulation - expanded polystyrene

Styrofoam is optimal for partial external sealing of problem zones - corners, skates and joints. Roof insulation from the inside is dangerous if they have the same increased flammability and moisture resistance. Extruded polymer during installation sometimes releases toxic substances: when working with it, the owner of the housing must ensure a stable airing of the attic space. If the foam polystyrene after a few years of use begins to depart at the joints, it is fastened with reinforced tape and mounting foam.

For interior work, this insulation is suitable provided that it becomes a gasket in the roofing cake. This is a common technique for protecting roofs in cold regions from loss of internal heat. A cake of several layers is strengthened on a flexible tile made of corrugated board, alternating materials in such an algorithm:

  1. crate rafter system;
  2. base for future flooring;
  3. hydroprotection;
  4. basalt insulation;
  5. expanded polystyrene;
  6. roll insulator steam.

Insulation for roof - minvate

A classic mineral wool of rock fibers is obtained by melt and spraying. It has superiority over slabs of blast furnace slag - it's its flexibility. The roll insulation for the roof is impregnated with antiseptic, which ensures the biostability of the material. After fixing cotton wool in the attic, you should wait a few days and evaluate the result achieved when the shrinkage of slabs is completed. For the insulation of various surfaces, you can use such types of insulators as: