2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 22:24
- Comparison of fiberglass and mineral wool for insulation
- Calculator of the required amount of insulation
- How to insulate the attic correctly and the better to insulate the attic roof
- Types of thermal insulation
- What to cook for work
- Rough crate
- Protection of wooden surfaces
- Installation of insulation
If you are planning to build an attic, then already during the installation of the roof truss structure of the house and the installation of its covering, you need to take measures for its good insulation. Thermal insulation should not only protect the attic room from atmospheric precipitation, but also prevent the cooling process of this room. Studies indicate that about 30% of the heat is lost through the non-insulated roof of the house, so the insulation work must be carried out correctly.
If the attic room is not insulated at all, or if this work is done hastily and poorly, then cold air will get through the roof ventilation ducts. Cold air, in contact with warm surfaces of the structure, will cause moisture condensation. Subsequently, condensation will accumulate between the rafters in the area of the ceiling and on the very surface of the ceiling. The presence of moisture on wooden surfaces will certainly pull the appearance of mold and rot of wooden structures. The thermal insulation properties of the roof will also deteriorate significantly, which will lead to an increase in the cost of heating the house.
Based on the above facts, the only correct solution in this situation will be high-quality insulation of the attic room, designed for its long-term operation. Let's figure out how and what is the best way to insulate the roof of the attic at home.
Comparison of fiberglass and mineral wool for insulation
Today, the most popular ways to increase the thermal insulation performance of the attic are to insulate it with mineral-based insulation or fiberglass wool. The second option costs a little less. The advantages of insulating the attic with fiberglass wool include the convenience of its installation, the absence of organic matter in the composition of its fibers, its non-toxicity for the human body, a high degree of fire safety, and high thermal conductivity when installed correctly.
The disadvantages include the inconvenience of laying fiberglass wool. This is due to the presence of small dust particles from glass in the wool. Significant contact with the mucous membrane of the eye can cause serious damage to it, and contact with the skin will provoke itching, microscopic damage and an allergic reaction. For this reason, all work related to glass wool must be performed using protective equipment for bare body parts. These include rubber seals, a closed type of clothing, a special type of glasses with rubber elements along the edges. Be sure to use a gauze mask or respirator, as microscopic glass dust particles float in the air. When finished, destroy the clothes. Washing does not save you from contamination with glass dust.
The use of mineral wool is less dangerous. In addition, it has several advantages. These include the natural composition of its synthetic fibers, consisting of finely crushed stone chips, as well as a low specific gravity. Also, mineral wool has excellent vapor permeability and low hygroscopicity. Its processing is much easier than processing fiberglass wool.
But its use provides for its isolation from the external environment. Due to its excellent sound-absorbing properties, mineral wool is widely used in the construction of internal partitions in the house. For the price, mineral wool is slightly more expensive than fiberglass wool. But experts unequivocally recommend using mineral wool for warming rooms and soundproofing them, because after a while, the funds spent on its acquisition will pay off due to the high thermal insulation qualities of the attic. The use of fiberglass wool does not guarantee the preservation of the above properties.
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Calculator of the required amount of insulation
| What we insulate | Density kg / m3 | Insulation area, m2: | Insulation thickness, cm: | Weight kg: | Number of bags (15kg): |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal structures (floor, ceiling) | 35 | ||||
| Inclined structures (attic) | 50 | ||||
| Vertical structures (walls) | 65 | ||||
| Wet glue application | 70 | ||||
| TOTAL: |
Calculators from wpcalc.com
How to insulate the attic correctly and the better to insulate the attic roof
Let's take a look at the technology of insulating the attic room using materials from Paroc, a well-known manufacturer of thermal insulation materials. Paroc products are not cheap. But we are not rich enough to buy cheap things either. After all, thermal insulation made from high-quality materials will last much longer than one made from cheap analogs from an unknown manufacturer.
Types of thermal insulation
It is also worth considering that for ease of installation, Paroc produces two types of thermal insulation materials.
- The first of them is produced in the form of a roll of thermal insulation material, which is convenient to use on horizontal surfaces.
- The second type of insulation is produced in the form of square slabs. It is very convenient to mount them on vertical surfaces and wall bevels. In addition, these thermal insulation boards can be easily cut with an ordinary knife, give them any contours and fit closely to all roof structures - one to one without the formation of cavities and cracks.
What to cook for work
When insulating a room, you must have construction scissors. Alternatively, you can use regular large fabric scissors. In addition, you will need:
- long knife;
- rubber hammer with a rubber tip;
- metal ruler for the substrate when cutting insulation;
- the above personal protective equipment.
If the pitch of the rafter beams does not exceed 55-60 cm, then it is most rational to use a square cut of insulation. This method will also provide a good degree of contact between the insulation and the wood.
Rough crate
Before installing the thermal insulation, it is necessary to nail a rough sheathing of boards under the rafters inside the room using medium-sized nails. You can use unedged boards, choosing a distance of about 20-30 cm between them. It is desirable that their thickness is the same everywhere.
If the structure of the rafters sags a little after installation, then this drawback can be eliminated using a planer. In this case, each of the bars must be aligned along one line and checked using a building level. Subsequently, this will prevent problems with height differences when installing gypsum boards or other material used as decorative coating.
After finishing the installation of the roughing lathing, remove dust and dirt inside the structure using a construction vacuum cleaner or a regular broom.
Protection of wooden surfaces
To prevent the occurrence of mold, mildew and rot, you need to treat wooden structures with a special protective agent. In these cases, the Senezh tree protection agent has proven itself very well. Its price is consistent with the quality. You can, of course, use Pinotext, but its price is much higher than the cost of Senezh. And taking into account the fact that a lot of the drug is needed, the savings in money turn out to be significant.
It is undesirable to carry out the processing of a wooden surface with a garden spray. Do not listen to the advice of various homebrew builders about the supposed benefits of this type of treatment. Processing with a paint brush or roller is many times higher in quality than processing with a spray bottle with a significantly lower consumption of the drug. Processing is carried out in several layers, after waiting for the previous layer to be absorbed and the wooden surface to dry. The product is finally absorbed after two days. During this time, the wooden surface also dries completely.
Installation of insulation
When installing insulation in places where surfaces are beveled, it is convenient to use a cut sheet of insulation. This will ensure the best joining of the canvases, and hence the quality of work. When insulating the horizontal surfaces of the attic, the best option would be to install a solid sheet of insulation, rolled along the length and folded between the rafters. In the event of a shortage of one canvas in width, using a steel ruler, you need to cut the strip from a new piece of insulation with a knife and insert it tightly into the gap formed.
For a tighter fit, cut the piece 3 cm larger than the width of the gap. As a result, all sheets of thermal insulation must be tightly laid on the surface. This will avoid the presence of gaps between the sheets of thermal insulation and the appearance of freezing spots on the roof.
After completing the specified work, proceed to the installation of the attic floor covering. To do this, at your request, you can use lining, boards or USB plates. It all depends on your taste and the further purpose of the attic room.
Our version is an example of a step-by-step installation of insulation using unedged boards. Each of them is nailed with nails about 5-7 cm long. This method will help in the future to avoid twisting the boards and changing the shape of the surface. If desired, this floor covering can be treated with a scraper and covered with several coats of floor varnish.
From the inside, the crate should be covered with a vapor barrier film, reinforced with staples using a stapler. Tape the seams between the vapor barrier sheets with a special tape for vapor barrier film. You can also use double-sided stationery tape for this purpose. After the glue has dried, it should be smoothed with any flat object. These actions will help to properly insulate the attic at home.
Be sure to nail the final planks to the rafter beams with nails. In some cases, when erecting walls and ceilings in the attic, gypsum boards are used attached to a steel profile. It, in turn, is screwed to the final strips with screws, thereby preserving the integrity of the film.
With the correct use of these tips and recommendations, as well as observing the sequence of work, you can easily insulate the attic room with high quality and quickly, because you already know how and what is the best way to insulate the attic roof. Good luck.
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