Insulating a house does not end with covering the walls, ceiling and floor with insulating material. As a rule, most private buildings have an attic. It must also be insulated depending on the desired temperature inside a given room. There are two methods of cladding the attic floor - warm and cold. In the first case, the entire circuit is insulated so that the air under the roof warms up from exhaust ventilation. The second method involves only covering the floor. It is the insulation of a cold attic that will be discussed further.

More often cold attic found in multi-storey buildings. The quality of its insulation affects the overall heat loss of the room, as well as the durability of the roofing and rafter systems. To improve heat conservation, you will need to place insulation between vapor and waterproofing materials. The first prevents the mineral wool from getting wet, which occurs due to the rise of wet masses to the top of the room. The second prevents moisture from entering from the roof of the house through cracks, holes, and gaps in the roofing material.

Work on insulating the attic is carried out more often from the floor than from the ceiling of the lower floor. The sequence of actions varies and depends on the selected insulation.

Many consumers choose mineral wool - a soft, reliable, inexpensive heat insulator with high compressibility, which allows you to cover even flat surface.

It is sold in rolls or soft slabs, and is cut with a stationery or with a simple knife of sufficient size.

The positive properties of mineral wool are:

• high fire resistance;
• resistance to moisture;
• the material is not afraid of rodents;
• Ease of use;
• affordability.

Despite the relative simplicity of the material, when working with mineral wool you need to use protective gloves, glasses, thick clothing with long sleeves (covering your hands completely), and for those prone to allergic diseases, a respirator.

Required tools and equipment

To fully insulate the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool you will need:

• vapor barrier (special membrane or polyethylene film);
• waterproofing ( classic example- roofing material);
• several rolls/slabs of mineral wool (the quantity is determined by the area to be insulated, the climatic conditions of the region, as well as the desired number of layers of insulation);
• scotch;
• tape measure, preferably from 5 m;
• stationery knife;
• construction stapler;
• boards and sheets of plywood (to form areas within which the material will be placed);
• spatula (for leveling/compacting the insulation).

If everything you need is ready, it’s time to get to work.

Instructions for covering the attic floor

Proper insulation cold room involves the sequential implementation of the following steps:

1. Laying vapor barrier material on the floor. They can be a vapor-proof membrane, polyethylene film or glassine. The first example is the most expensive, the last is the most affordable. The material is laid with an overlap, the joints are glued with tape or fixed with thin wooden slats using a stapler.
2. Logs (horizontal sections) are formed from plywood or small blocks. The distance between parallel boards should be a couple of centimeters less than the expected width of the insulation.
3. The mineral wool is placed tightly into the logs and compacted with a spatula so that there are no gaps. If it is necessary to lay two pieces of insulation, their joint is taped.
4. It is advisable to lay a waterproofing material on top of the wool layer to prevent the floor from getting wet. Most likely, there is already a layer of roofing felt under the roof, but for greater peace of mind it is recommended to perform this step when insulating a cold attic floor.
5. After laying three layers of attic protection from freezing and moisture, smooth boards are laid on top of the joists to form the floor.

Fulfillment of the above plan is the key to quality work done. A flat floor laid on top of the insulation is base surface for final finishing.

Features of working with the material

Compared to polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene or similar insulation, mineral wool is an order of magnitude superior to them in terms of safety precautions. In addition to the previously mentioned rules regarding clothing, the following regulations must be observed:

• cut pieces of mineral wool only on a horizontal, flat surface;
• lay it in a layer the width of which is at least 25 cm;
• insulate pipes, ventilation shafts, beams and other areas protruding in the attic near the floor with mineral wool.

Obviously, insulating a cold attic with the material considered is an elementary process, which is complicated only by the properties of wool. Compliance with the installation technology will give warmth to your home for many decades, and the insulation used will perform its functions efficiently.

Insulating the attic will help achieve comfortable temperature inside the house, significantly reduce heating costs, and also increase usable area building. After this procedure, the room can be used as a living area. In addition, laying insulation will help solve another problem - the formation of condensation on the ceiling due to temperature changes. We will talk about all the features of attic insulation in this article.

The technology for laying each insulating material has its own characteristics, but there are General requirements To this process. Work is performed in a certain sequence. Initially, a vapor barrier is provided for the cold attic, then insulation is installed, and at the final stage - a material that protects the thermal insulation from the wind.

Insulation materials are divided into three groups:

• tiled – mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, reeds;
• rolled - flax, mineral wool, glass wool;
• bulk - expanded clay, slag, ecowool, sawdust, straw.

Insulation of a cold ceiling: preparatory work

1. Before proceeding with the installation of insulation, it is necessary to waterproof and thermally insulate the roof.
2. If you have previous insulation, you need to check its condition. If certain areas materials are susceptible to rotting or mold, then they should be removed and treated with antifungal agents.
3. It is necessary to ensure that there are no cracks in the ceilings, gables and rafter system. If these defects are detected, they are eliminated by filling or replacing damaged elements.
4. You can get rid of cracks using tow soaked in lime mortar. Sealant or construction foam is also used for this purpose.
5. Wooden elements are processed by special means protecting them from fire.

You need to make sure proper functioning ventilation system. If it malfunctions, condensation will accumulate on the ceiling surface. If the roof is covered with a material that does not allow air to pass through, ventilation must be provided. Their size should be 0.001 of the area of ​​the floor slab. If as roofing material If tiles or slate are used, it is not necessary to make vents, since such a coating has gaps. But this applies to those houses that do not have a waterproofing layer under the roof.

Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool

Mineral wool has low thermal conductivity and resistance to high temperature And chemical substances. In addition, this material has soundproofing properties, so its use will solve two problems at once. Features of laying mineral wool are as follows:

1. First of all, a vapor barrier layer is laid on the ceiling. This can be a special membrane, foil or plastic film. The vapor barrier is laid overlapping, and the joint areas are treated with an adhesive.
2. Next, rolls of insulation are laid on top of the laid layer. Mineral wool is placed between the elements rafter system.
3. On the eaves side, the material is placed horizontally, placing it on the edge. This will help create a barrier that will prevent wind from entering.
4. If attic space is blown, additional insulation with vapor-permeable properties is placed on top of the mineral wool rolls. For this purpose, you can choose isospan.
5. Vapor barrier is not installed on the sides of the mineral wool. If it is present, moisture will enter the insulation layer, and this will inevitably lead to the appearance of mold and the material will lose its performance qualities.

Insulating a cold attic with foam plastic

The use of this insulation will allow you to obtain a monolithic thermal insulation coating without joints. Polystyrene foam can be used to insulate houses with floors made of brick, metal or wood. The low thermal conductivity of the material allows you to obtain thin layer thermal insulation, which makes it possible to save useful space. This is especially true when using the attic as a living area. Polystyrene foam does not allow moisture to pass through and thus protects the house from condensation.

Features of the foam insulation process look like this:

1. This insulation is laid on a flat surface. Therefore, before starting work, all floor defects must be eliminated.
2. A vapor barrier is initially laid on the prepared base.
3. Next, the insulation boards are laid in a checkerboard pattern.
4. The joints are filled polyurethane foam.
5. After it hardens, the material is filled with a layer cement-sand mortar 5 cm thick. This screed can be used as an attic floor.

Insulating a cold attic with sawdust

This method is less popular due to the fact that the material is inferior in performance to mineral wool or polystyrene foam. However, if you decide to insulate the attic with sawdust, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. First you need to eliminate the existing cracks. This can be done using clay or modern putty.
2. A small amount of sand is poured on top. If cracks appear in the clay, its fine fractions will fill the cracks.
3. Next, the base should be sprinkled with a mixture of slaked lime and carbide. This composition will help prevent the appearance of mice.
4. After completing the preparation, you can move on to sawdust. They are poured in a layer of up to 20 cm. Sawdust is a combustible material, so they need to be sprinkled with slag waste on top.
5. Particular attention should be paid to areas near hot objects, such as chimneys. As an alternative to slag, you can use fire retardants, which are used to process sawdust.

This completes the insulation work. There is no need to lay any material on top of the sawdust. For ease of movement, you can put boards.

How to insulate a cold attic with straw

An alternative to using sawdust is insulation with straw:

1. Initially, the base of the attic is covered with a layer of clay no more than 5 mm.
2. Next, the straw is laid. The thickness depends on climatic conditions and can vary from 20 to 50 cm.
3. When using this insulation, the fight against mice is also a pressing problem. To do this, use slaked lime with the addition of carbide or another substance that can prevent the appearance of rodents.
4. To prevent fire thermal insulation material Clay is applied on top of the straw in a 2 cm layer.

Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with ecowool

Ecowool is recycled waste paper. To minimize the flammability of the material, mineral binders are added to its composition. Ecowool fibers have the ability to absorb moisture, so when using it there is no need to install a vapor barrier. But experts still recommend laying a film base.

This insulation is installed using a blow molding installation. The advantage of this method is that there is no need to prepare a working base. As a result of using the installation, the insulation layer is homogeneous without cracks. In order for ecowool to cope with its task and provide the necessary thermal insulation effect, its thickness should be 25 cm.
But during the work, one should take into account the ability of the insulation to decrease in size after some time. For this reason, during the blowing process, a layer is formed whose thickness exceeds the recommended norm by 15%. After 1-3 weeks, a protective crust will appear due to the bonding of the upper ecowool fibers. This process can be accelerated by slightly moistening the insulation after installation.

Insulation of a cold attic in a private house with fiberglass and expanded clay

Glass wool is distinguished by a significant amount of positive performance characteristics. It is resistant to fire, moisture and rotting processes. Glass wool is an unfavorable habitat for rodents and various microorganisms, so pests do not grow in it. But at the same time, this material has high level toxicity.

A prerequisite for using this insulation is the use of a respirator, gloves and thick clothing, which must be burned after installation. Glass wool is laid in a layer of 15 to 25 cm. It has the property of caking, so after a certain period of time the fiberglass will have to be replaced.
Another option for insulation is the use of expanded clay. It is mainly used for concrete floors. First, a layer of expanded clay 20 cm thick is poured onto the surface, which is poured 5 cm from above cement mixture. This method will help not only to insulate the room, but also to get a full-fledged floor.

How to insulate a cold attic with reeds

The main advantage of reeds is environmental safety. It's comparative new material, which in terms of thermal insulation qualities is not inferior to other insulation materials. Available in slab form. In the event of a fire, reeds can contain the spread of fire. To reduce its flammability, the material is treated with fire retardant compounds.

Reeds are suitable for wooden and concrete floors. Installation of a vapor barrier in this case is not prerequisite. To make it convenient to move on the insulated floor, you can lay fiberboards on top.

The use of drains made of seaweed and linen insulation

The ladders are made from zostera - seaweed. This is a natural material with high thermal insulation qualities, which is not subject to rotting, as well as exposure to microorganisms and mice. These properties are given to traps by iodine and sea ​​salt. When in contact with fire, they do not light up, but only smolder a little. At the same time, no toxic elements are released. Algae are not susceptible to moisture. Therefore, during their installation there is no need to lay a vapor barrier. The drains are mounted directly on the surface of the ceiling in a layer of up to 20 cm.
Linen insulation is produced in the form of rolls. They are made on the basis of natural raw materials, which makes the material absolutely environmentally friendly. Used in most cases for insulating attics wooden houses.

The installation technology for such insulation is quite simple. Preparatory work limited to eliminating cracks in the ceiling; they are covered with clay. There is no need for a vapor barrier. Then the linen rolls are laid. When installing, you need to make sure that there are no gaps.

Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic

This method is used if access to the attic base is difficult. It has a certain disadvantage: the height of the ceilings in the room will decrease slightly. Insulation involves the same actions as for thermal insulation of the floor, only in reverse order. First, a vapor barrier film is laid, then insulation, which is covered with a vapor barrier material on top. This is the difference between this method. When thermally insulating the ceiling, a vapor-permeable layer is laid on the insulation.
The ceiling of a cold attic is insulated in the following order:

1. A membrane is attached to its surface using sealing glue.
2. Then the sheathing is installed wooden slats in increments of 50 cm.
3. The insulation is placed in the space between the frame elements.
4. The vapor-tight membrane is fixed using glue.
5. This completes the work.

Conclusion

Insulating the attic area will help retain heat inside the room and reduce heating costs. Today construction market offers a significant selection of materials of natural and artificial origin, each of which has its own advantages. The process of their installation is quite simple and does not require special training. Some types of materials, in addition to thermal insulation, can achieve a soundproofing effect.

How to insulate an attic with your own hands:

Properly performed insulation of the attic floor of a house ensures that heat is retained inside the premises, rather than being wasted on heating a cold attic. Warm air, rising, will freely pass through the ceiling, which means that all expenses for heating the room will ultimately be spent on heating the street.

This means that it is necessary to insulate the attic floor using suitable thermal insulation agents at the stage of building construction or before finishing the interior.

The technological process of thermal insulation will be determined design features buildings: wooden beam or solid reinforced concrete structure.

However, in any case, thermal insulation products for insulating the attic must:

• have minimal thermal conductivity;
• have moisture-repellent properties;
• be fireproof;
• resist rotting or mold formation;
• have little weight.

Based on this, today, as insulation for attic floors, wooden beams usually used:

• Mineral wool. Inexpensive, lightweight, durable material that is easy to work with. Typically, mineral wool is laid in the space between the beams in two layers on the assumption that the thickness of the material will be at least 20 cm. In this case, the joints are tightly adjusted, but not jammed. If you plan to further develop a living space or attic, then insulating the ceiling of a cold attic necessarily includes the installation of sheathing.

• Expanded clay. It is a loose mass of baked clay. Suitable for all types of floors, however, it is more often used for insulating concrete slabs. However, the use of this material can only be limited load bearing capacity building designs. The optimal layer of expanded clay when constructing a thermal insulation layer is at least 16 cm; this must be taken into account when calculating the material.

• Styrofoam. The cheapest option used for insulating the attic floor reinforced concrete slab or wooden beams. Its advantages include: ease of installation, light weight, excellent thermal insulation and low cost, however, polystyrene foam is not resistant to the formation of fungal mold and is susceptible to high temperatures.

• Sawdust. Inexpensive natural insulation, often used in the attics of private houses. It has excellent heat and sound insulation qualities. However, such material attracts rodents and insects, is easily flammable, is susceptible to mold, absorbs moisture, and cakes.

Preparation of materials and tools

Before insulating the attic floor in a private house, it is necessary to prepare lumber, hydro- and vapor barrier, standard carpentry and power tools. Thus, to carry out the technical part of the work, you will need:

From hand tools:

• a pair of hammers (heavy and light);
• rip and cross saw;
• plane;
• set of chisels;
• roulette;
• building level.

From power tools:

• drill;
• screwdriver with replaceable attachments;
• Instead of a crosscut saw, sometimes it is much more convenient to use an electric cutting machine.

For fixation roll insulation It is convenient to use a special construction stapler with staples.

A film made of foamed polyethylene or a vapor-permeable waterproof membrane is suitable for creation. To seal the joints tightly, you will need foil tape.

From lumber you will need bars with a cross-section of 62x62 mm, as well as boards with a thickness of at least 25 mm. To finish the floor, each owner uses Decoration Materials at your own request.

Important! Before carrying out thermal insulation work, all wooden components of the structure must be treated with special antiseptics and, if possible, antipyretics. This will avoid the occurrence of putrefactive or moldy processes in the wood, and will also provide fire-fighting properties.

Filing the rough ceiling

When constructing wooden houses, the entire load from the roof falls on the wooden load-bearing beams from timber or logs, with a cross section of at least 120x120 mm. Most often they are mounted on load-bearing walls structures of the house, parallel to its narrow side and they are load-bearing elements upper floor ceiling and attic floor.

The insulation of the attic floor using wooden beams is called hemming, since both rough and finished ceiling hemmed from below to the load-bearing elements.

Before you start insulating the attic, you need to make a rough ceiling. The main materials used here are usually edged boards and plywood. In this case, the boards are fastened tightly using galvanized self-tapping screws.

Vapor barrier

For any type of floor, vapor barrier is an integral step. A thin and durable film is attached to the ceiling itself, since this helps prevent vapor condensation in the heat insulator when heat enters from the heated room.

can be installed under any finishing materials. They have additional functions in the form of protection from wind, water, dust. Therefore, the space under the roof will be reliably protected not only from the harmful effects of condensation, but also from atmospheric exposure with maximum effect.

To install a vapor barrier, it is enough to evenly distribute the film over the surface of the attic floor and secure it with metal staples, while the joints should be taped with foil tape.

Installation of thermal insulation

After installing the rough ceiling and vapor barrier layer, ceiling beams will be located on the attic side, so the thermal insulation will be between them. Based on which insulation is chosen, the installation process itself may differ slightly.

So, for example, to insulate the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool, sheet or roll material laid on the vapor barrier layer without any creasing or compression. Another layer of film is laid on top of the insulation.

This whole pie is held together with furniture stapler to beams and walls, throughout the entire area of ​​the room. The joints of the vapor barrier membrane must be sealed with metallized tape.

When installing polystyrene foam, a waterproofing film is unnecessary, since the polymer insulation itself does not allow air and moisture to pass through. Typically, foam plastic is mounted on the surface of the rough ceiling in two layers.

When using expanded clay as insulation, a two-layer vapor barrier is used. However, in this case it is necessary to fill in a mixed-fraction granular mass of baked clay. This will avoid the formation of voids in the thermal insulation layer and improve heat and sound insulation.

The technological process of insulation with sawdust is similar to the use of expanded clay. However, here very often wood chips are mixed with other binding components: clay, cement or gypsum. In any case, the sawdust must first be dried, treated with antiseptics and, if possible, antipyretics.

Note! Any mineral insulating material is capable of transmitting heat and moisture. To improve the heat-saving properties and extend the service life of the insulation, it is necessary to use special vapor-proof films.

Waterproofing

When the interfloor pie is ready, it is necessary to waterproof the cold attic space. It will help prevent the appearance of leaks and condensation. Most often, the role of waterproofing is performed by foiled polyethylene foam.

It is attached using a stapler with the metalized side facing out, leaving ends 15-20 cm long wrapped on the walls. The joints, as in other cases, are sealed with foil tape.

A sheathing is installed over the entire surface of the resulting structure, which will subsequently serve as the basis for the final coating of the ceiling. Moreover, this is necessary to create an air-thermal floor cushion.

Installing a floor in the attic

In most cases, attics in private houses are used as utility rooms for storing unnecessary trash. But it is also often made from living room or attic. In any case, this room must have a reliable, safe floor.

The type of thermal insulation material used in a particular case will help you choose the right material for creating a subfloor in the attic. So, for example, if the attic floor is insulated with mineral wool over wooden beams or polystyrene foam is used as insulation, then flooring must be tough. As rough material Thick plywood is most often used, edged board or OSB sheets.

Expanded clay insulation is covered with thick plywood. Cement screed is sometimes used as a rough floor covering when arranging a living space in the attic, if the load-bearing characteristics of the building allow.

Sawdust-cement or sawdust-clay insulation after drying becomes rigid and resembles reinforced concrete rough coating, so finishing can be done directly on it.

Conclusion

There are several variations on the theme of how to insulate an attic floor. Which one to apply to a particular room depends on technical features structure and preferences of the owners. The main thing here is the correct observance of all technological stages laying thermal insulation.

To maintain normal temperature and humidity conditions in a private home, it is necessary to ensure reliable protection from the penetration of cold air. Not only thermal protection of the walls and basement floors is required, but also insulation of the attic floor effective materials on wooden beams.

Types of attic floors

The following types of horizontal structures can be used in a private house:

• prefabricated reinforced concrete;
• monolithic reinforced concrete;
• on metal beams;
• on wooden beams.

For construction wooden house most rational solution There will be an option to cover it with wooden beams. Wood has higher thermal insulation characteristics than concrete, but the thermal insulation is still insufficient.

Insulation technology

How to insulate the attic floor so that there are no problems in the future? In general, the technology for do-it-yourself thermal insulation is almost the same. But the methods of its installation depend on the specific situation.

Insulation of the attic floor is carried out in the presence of a cold attic. Thermal protection of the structure is carried out from above, since in this case the thermal insulation is most competent. But in some cases, another scheme is used - protection from the outside warm air.

The answers to the question why insulation from the ceiling side of the upper floor is undesirable can be the following disadvantages of thermal protection from below:

• the insulation only protects the ceiling, and the ceiling remains cold;
• doing work from below with your own hands is quite labor-intensive;
• the point of condensation moves inside the floor pie, which can lead to rotting of the structure along the wooden beams.

It is also important to observe correct order all related materials.

When insulating, you need to remember one rule: the vapor barrier is always located on the warm air side, and the waterproofing on the cold air side.

Incorrect placement can lead to the following problems:

• insulation getting wet;
• condensation on the ceiling surface;
• rotting of the ceiling of a cold attic along wooden beams.

Whether vapor barrier and waterproofing is needed depends on the chosen insulation.

Choice of insulation

The methods of insulating the ceiling of the upper floor of the ceiling along beams in a private house are very diverse. When doing the work yourself, the insulation is placed between the joists and provides reliable thermal insulation and noise protection. There are many options for insulating a structure, the most common of which are:

• insulation with mineral wool;
• laying expanded polystyrene (foam plastic or penoplex) on wooden beams;
• filling with expanded clay;
• insulation with sawdust;
• filling the ceiling space with foam.

Each of these options has its own characteristics and advantages.

Insulation with mineral wool between joists

Mineral wool insulation

The material is available in two versions: plates and rolls. Insulating the attic floor with mineral wool has the following advantages:

Styrofoam

Foam plastic has become one of the most common materials for thermal insulation. He earned a place in the top three thanks to very attractive price. The use of this insulation in individual house provides the following benefits:

• high degree of protection;
• resistance to rotting and mold and mildew;
• low degree of water absorption;
• ease of installation and no need for complex instruments and protective equipment;
• the light weight of the material prevents excessive load on the structure and allows for insulation from below.

Extruded polystyrene foam

More often this material is called a shorter word - penoplex. Being the closest relative of foam plastic, penoplex is devoid of most of its disadvantages. In the process of improving performance characteristics, the cost has increased. The material is produced fireproof, it has sufficient strength for use as a base for flooring and is light in weight for use in ceiling construction.

Do-it-yourself installation is quite simple. This issue is discussed in detail in the article. The text discusses options for using both penoplex and polystyrene foam for different types floor structures.

For people who decide to build their own wooden house, the naturalness of the materials is usually important. Here penoplex, like foam plastic, loses to other types of insulation due to its artificial origin.

Expanded clay or sawdust

Insulation wooden floor

If you decide to use it completely in the house natural materials, these two types of insulation will become indispensable assistants. They do not have high heat-protective characteristics, like previous types, but provide reliable protection from the cold with a sufficient layer thickness. Sawdust can be obtained almost free of charge; expanded clay is also an inexpensive material.

Insulation of the attic floor can be carried out by non-professionals and does not require special skills. The application is limited by the physical characteristics of these materials: they cannot be used for thermal protection from below.

Foam for thermal protection

Polyurethane foam insulation is a fairly new material in construction. At self-construction buildings, this method can provide high speed work and reliable protection from the cold. About building insulation, including attic floors, foam can be read in the article.

This provides big choice materials for insulation and significantly save on construction.

The insulation of a wooden floor is carried out between the joists, and therefore does not require high strength heat-insulating material: the main load from people, furniture and equipment will be borne by boards or timber.

A large percentage of heat losses occur precisely through the ceiling of the upper floor, which is why it is so important to choose the right insulation and follow the installation technology.

When insulating a house, you must definitely pay attention to the laws of physics. According to them, the air heated in the rooms will rise to the ceiling. If the attic is not insulated enough, the heat will escape outside, and this whole process can be called heat loss.

In order not to heat the street and retain more heat in the house, it is necessary to insulate the ceiling. If you still don’t know whether it’s worth doing this work, then you should take into account that 25 to 40% goes through the roof. This data is especially relevant for houses with cold roofs.

Thermal insulation of the ceiling will perform three functions at once, which are necessary to create a comfortable microclimate. The material will soundproof, which will keep the house quiet during wind and rain. IN winter period insulation will eliminate heat loss and through which heated air can freely escape outside. Thermal insulation is also needed in the summer heat, because with its help you can create a barrier against heated air. Even in the hottest weather, the inside of the house will remain cool.

Material selection

If you are planning to insulate the ceiling of a cold attic, then you need to understand the variety of materials. The insulation option you choose should be able to withstand wide range temperatures ranging from -30 to +30 °C. It shouldn't freeze low temperatures and highlight harmful substances when heated. It is important to purchase fire-resistant thermal insulation. This is true for electrical wiring.

It is better if the insulation is moisture resistant so that it does not lose its properties when wet. It should not cake quickly in order to fulfill its purpose for as long as possible. Insulation of the ceiling of a cold attic can be carried out using rolls, slabs or this is true for a floor made of wooden beams. Whereas if you have to work with concrete slabs, then you should purchase bulk or slab materials.

Today the following are produced as mats and slabs:

• Styrofoam;
• seaweed;
• mineral wool;
• extruded polystyrene foam;
• straw.

As for roll insulation, they are offered for sale in the following varieties:

• stone wool;
• mineral wool;
• glass wool;
• algae ladders.

Choosing bulk materials to insulate the ceiling of a cold attic, you may prefer:

• expanded clay;
• reed;
• straw;
• buckwheat tyrsa;
• ecowool;
• sawdust;
• slag;
• foam granules.

Features of insulation with mineral wool

Using basalt wool

Basalt insulation is made from gabbro-basalt rocks and acts as optimal option for thermal insulation of the ceiling from the attic. The fibers of this material are more flexible and therefore not so brittle. They are well compressed into mats that have sufficient strength.

When deciding to insulate the ceiling of a cold attic with basalt wool, you have at your disposal a material that copes well with the impact external factors, so can be laid from the side unheated room. Insulation is sold in slabs or rolls, which can have different densities. Sometimes there is a foil layer on one side, which can enhance the insulating effect, because the heat will be reflected into the room.

About the dangers of mineral wool

Everyone has mineral wool There is one common drawback, which is expressed in the binder consisting of phenol-formaldehyde resins. During operation, they are constantly released into the air, which can be hazardous to human health. Therefore, this thermal insulation cannot be considered completely environmentally safe. Stacked basalt wool on the same principle as mineral.

Use of extruded polystyrene foam

Expanded polystyrene, which is also called polystyrene foam, is not very dense material. It can be used when the floor is made of beams and joists. Extruded polystyrene foam is stronger and denser than regular foam. Before laying it, the surface is leveled.

There is no need to lay a vapor barrier on the warm side of the floor, because concrete plates have almost no vapor permeability. Insulation concrete floor a cold attic involves laying a vapor barrier film. The next layer is insulation boards, which are arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The joints are filled with polyurethane foam. As soon as it dries and hardens, the canvases are poured concrete mortar thickness within 6 cm. After the screed has dried, it can be used as a floor. Flooring can be laid on the surface.

Using penoplex

If you insulate the attic, this will not only increase the service life of the rafter system, but also roofing, and will also increase the level of thermal protection of residential premises under the attic. Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic with penoplex has replaced other technologies that were used quite widely in construction. In this case we are talking about the use of glass wool, expanded clay and sea grass.

Modern choice - “Penoplex panel”

In conditions rural areas The floor of the unheated attic is still insulated with clay and wood shavings. Today we offer for sale the Penoplex panel, which is specially designed for cold attics. If you neglect the work on thermal insulation of the room above the living space, this may cause the insulation to get wet, which occurs due to condensation. Sometimes, under appropriate conditions, the roof structure begins to collapse altogether, which is especially important when there is constant dampness.

Should I use metal fasteners?

When the attic floor is not insulated, icicles and frost constantly form. Large heat losses were mentioned above; they are caused by a weak level of thermal protection. When developing a scheme for insulating the ceiling of a cold attic using penoplex, you must take into account the features of how the ceiling units will be connected to the thermal insulation. The manufacturer does not recommend the use of metal fasteners, because they contribute to the formation of cold bridges, which reduces the level of thermal protection.

To create a heat-insulating cake, a leveling screed is laid on the floors. Next, a vapor barrier in the form of polyethylene is laid. The next layer will be penoplex. We should not forget about the presence of a separating layer in the form of polyethylene. On last stage a cement-sand screed is poured.

Insulating the ceiling of a cold attic may involve working with sheet material in the form of plywood or OSB. In this case, a vapor barrier, wooden beams and penoplex insulation are laid on the surface. You can cover it with sheet material in the form of gypsum fiber board or fiber board.

Finally

Insulating a cold attic allows you to create a boundary between cold and heat. Due to the formation of condensation in the attic floor area, appropriate conditions arise that can contribute to significant heat loss. Proper insulation of the floor allows you to create a barrier with a low degree of thermal conductivity.