Insulation of the roof, in addition to its direct purpose, also performs the functions of sound insulation, protecting us from extraneous sounds from the street. A warm roof has a common device in different buildings, whether it is a stone or wooden house or other structure. In this article you will find recommendations on the topics: how to properly insulate the roof, which insulation is better to use for this, and other useful tips.
The choice of insulation
Under the general titleroof insulation"means a wide range of materials for the thermal insulation of the roof of the house. These materials, in combination with waterproofing and vapor barrier films, make up the construction of a warm roof.
The most popular at the present time are such heat insulators:
- Roll materials such as Isover and products under the Ursa brand.
- Styrofoam plates of different sizes and thicknesses.
- Glass wool and plates made from it.
- Basalt slabs.
- Expanded clay.
Note! Modern standards require that the insulation consist of a non-combustible material, have a density of 20 to 125 kg / m3 and have selective water permeability, according to SNiP. II-3-79* "Construction Heat Engineering" (issue of 1998).
You need to choose a heater that combines the following qualities:
- The long service life of this roof insulation.
- High thermal insulation characteristics.
- Good sound insulation performance.
- Resistant to atmospheric moisture.
- Ecological purity.
- biological stability.
- Fire safety.
For pitched and flat roofs, different thermal insulation materials are used.
Since there is less space for thermal insulation in pitched roofs than in their flat counterparts, it is preferable to use for insulation such a structure as warm standard roof thin materials with a high degree of thermal insulation.
Flat roofs are more convenient in this regard. In them, the element that carries the insulation of the roof of the house is also the floor slab of the room.
Hence the ability to place materials thicker and more convenient during their installation.On flat roofs, basalt fiber slabs or glass fiber mats are most often used.
Characteristics of thermal insulation for roofs
To answer the question, “Which insulation to choose for the roof?”, You need to briefly familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the above materials.
- Extruded polystyrene foam (polystyrene) is characterized by almost zero hygroscopicity. It has high thermal insulation characteristics. The advantage of the material is the ease and ease of installation, the disadvantages are the high price and flammability. Requires flame retardant treatment.
- Materials based on mineral fibers can be sold in rolls and in the form of boards. This roofing insulation has many advantages: incombustibility, low weight, ease of transportation and installation. Different sizes of rolls and slabs of material make it easy to choose the right set for home insulation.
- Thermal insulation materials based on fiberglass have the same advantages as the materials described above, but at a much lower cost.
- Expanded clay. A material that has long become popular in the construction of private houses. Possesses the increased fire safety and long service life. Environmentally friendly material, thanks to the natural components that are used in its production. Roof insulation with expanded clay is the cheapest option for a warm roof. For these purposes, expanded clay gravel or crushed stone is usually used.
Examples of independent roof insulation with different materials

The installation of an insulated roof using expanded clay is carried out in the already traditional sequence.
The order of work is as follows:
- The interior lining is being done. To do this, use drywall or plywood. The sheets are fastened with self-tapping screws, while their caps are sunk into the surface of the skin.
- A vapor barrier is being installed. For this, special films are used. All joints of the film with each other and surrounding structures are carefully glued with special adhesive tape. This is necessary so that the vapor barrier properties of the film do not decrease due to leaky joints.
- A heat-insulating layer of expanded clay is poured in a uniform layer.
- The waterproofing is laid, and then the roofing material itself.
Important! It is necessary to provide for the possibility of ventilation of the heater. For this, ventilation ducts are arranged. Otherwise, excess moisture may accumulate in the material and, as a result, its heat-insulating properties may deteriorate.
Roof insulation works using mineral wool.
Roof insulation with mineral wool can be carried out inside the attic space and on the street side of the roof. More often carry out warming from the inside.
Flat roofs begin to be insulated from the outside, and if the measures taken are not enough, then a heat-insulating layer is added from the inside of the room.
Do-it-yourself roof insulation in a private house is carried out with the obligatory laying of a waterproofing and vapor barrier layer.
The fixing of the insulating material is carried out using wooden planks, which are stuffed across the truss elements. As an option, you can apply the fixation of the insulation with the help of a nylon cord stretched over the nails driven into the rafters.
After laying a layer of heat-insulating material, a second layer of vapor barrier must be laid, and then the structure is hemmed with sheet material.
Roof insulation in the attic

The organization of internal roof insulation in attic rooms can be called one of the most important moments in the process of creating a warm and energy-efficient home. As you know, warm air rises, which means that if the roof is poorly insulated, then the heat loss of the house will be large.
To the greatest extent, this applies to attic rooms, where there is no attic space and the room is in direct contact with the roof. Consider how the attic roof is insulated.
The attic roof insulation device is fundamentally no different from the insulation of the roof of any wooden or stone house. The only thing you need to pay closer attention to is the operating conditions of the attic room, the choice of material for the roof and the roof structure.
Most often, the thermal insulation of pitched roofs is carried out by placing a heater between the rafters.
The thickness of the insulation layer should not be less than 10 centimeters. It will be better if the insulation layer is greater than this value, then the life of the roof will be longer.
In addition, wooden roof structures become unusable faster when a thin layer of insulating material is laid in them.
And of course, we must not forget about the vapor barrier device in the roof, this will have a beneficial effect both on the characteristics of the attic thermal insulation and on the service life of the entire roof.
Interior decoration should be done with environmentally friendly materials.Plywood, lining or drywall are well suited for this purpose.
The finishing of these materials, as a rule, does not present any special difficulties and can be completed in a short time.
The best insulation for the attic roof is rolled thermal insulation materials or mineral wool in slabs.
The use of expanded polystyrene for these purposes is not forbidden, but it is difficult, since this material does not have flexibility and requires mandatory sealing of the joints between the sheets.
I hope you have learned from the article useful information on how to choose a roof insulation. Or maybe you need tips on installing a warm roof. If so, then a warm roof is provided for your home.
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