Proper insulation of the roof of the house is an indispensable condition for ensuring a comfortable and warm atmosphere in the room. In the following article, we will tell you how to organize roof insulation with foam.
Selection of materials
The process of creating insulation, first of all, begins with preparatory work. This includes clear planning of the insulation process, calculation of the required amount of materials, their selection and purchase.
To reliably insulate the roof with polystyrene foam, in addition to the main component, you will also need:
- reliable waterproofing material that will serve as the basis for the foam layer;
- geotextiles that can cover the insulation;
- as well as some gravel.
After purchasing additional materials, you can proceed directly to the selection and purchase of the roof insulation. First you need to decide on the type of insulation you need.
Today on the market there is a great variety of a wide variety of foam boards of different density, thickness and area, so everyone can choose the right option for themselves, based on personal tastes and needs.
When all the necessary materials are purchased and collected, you need to deliver them to the place of work, such as roof insulation from the inside. It would seem that this process is quite obvious and does not require clarification, however ..
Attention! It should be remembered that the foam is a very sensitive material, so it should be transported with great care, avoiding strong mechanical shocks, as well as exposure to moisture and direct sunlight.
Preparation
At this stage, a number of activities are carried out that precede the process of warming.
These include:
- cleaning the roof from the previous old backfill;
- carrying out the necessary measurements for installation;
- as well as bringing materials to the required dimensions.
Cleaning the roof from traces of previous coatings and insulation should be carried out as carefully as possible, because the quality of laying the new heat and waterproofing material depends on it, which means the efficiency of the work carried out and the durability of the results obtained.
Therefore, before insulating the roof with foam, you need to thoroughly prepare it for the necessary manipulations.
After the surface is completely free of various foreign particles that may interfere with the installation of insulating materials, a series of final measurements must be made to organize a denser coating.
This stage is quite important, because the slightest error in the calculations can lead to undesirable consequences in the form of cracks and drafts, which will nullify all the work.
Based on the measurements obtained, it is necessary to adjust the dimensions of the available insulation materials to the dimensions of the roof. Sometimes it happens that you don’t have to cut anything, for this you just need to select the right number of solid plates.
But most often this stage involves delicate work on turning pieces of the required width. Recall that this should be approached with all caution, strictly guided by the available figures.
and only then can you start this process.
Waterproofing
Regardless of whether it is possible to insulate the roof with foam, the laying of the insulation layer should always be preceded by an additional waterproofing coating.
It serves to protect the foam boards from various fumes that can adversely affect the overall properties of the material.
On the market of modern waterproofing materials there are a large number of a wide variety of coating options that can be used as the basis for a thermal insulation layer made of foam. The most important condition here is that the selected material must reliably protect the insulation from any moisture.
Having decided on the type of waterproofing used, we tightly lay the selected material on the prepared roof surface.
Recall! Particular attention should be paid to the joints, because these are the most unprotected places of the coating.
Styrofoam
On top of the laid out and tested layer of waterproofing material, you can lay the insulation itself. This is one of the most important stages of the whole work, requiring consideration of many nuances.
Depending on their compliance, it can be concluded whether it is possible to insulate the roof with foam.
In particular, one of the important factors is laying the coating at the required angle, which should be at least 25 degrees.
This is done so that the water that enters in case of rain does not accumulate on the roof surface, but flows evenly and without residue into the gutter intended for this.
In addition, special attention should be paid to the density of the slabs.
Styrofoam - the material is not quite perfectly even, so the joints of the surfaces of the parts to be laid must be monitored especially carefully. Even the smallest discrepancy between the joined parts can cause significant heat loss.
Geotextile
After laying the main insulating layer, it is imperative to provide it with protection from external influences. One of the most effective materials for this is modern geotextiles.
Such a coating will reliably cover sensitive foam from various external threats, which include:
- moisture;
- ultraviolet;
- minor mechanical damage, and many other negative factors.
Geotextile material is, in fact, an ultra-dense fabric made of a special material that allows you to provide a reliable level of protection from the external environment.
It is this property that makes it possible to use a coating made of geotextile to provide an additional level of insulation for materials that are particularly sensitive to external influences.
Such a specific coverage has its own characteristics. Since the geotextile material has a high density and does not allow moisture to pass through, there is a risk of a certain amount of condensation forming on the inside of the fabric.
Such a phenomenon may not have the best effect on the foam, so the necessary preliminary measures should be taken to avoid it.
The most effective way to avoid condensation is to apply geotextile material not close to the foam layer, but on a special crate, which allows for the necessary ventilation of the space between the coatings.
Gravel
The final stage of roof insulation work is to cover the surface with an even layer of gravel or similar material.
In the absence of gravel or unwillingness to use it, you can take any material similar in properties, namely:
- concrete;
- paving slabs;
- rubble, etc.
The main thing here is to create a reliable outer shell that can withstand any possible threats.
The gravel layer should be thick enough to provide the necessary protection to the underlying materials, but at the same time thin enough not to create excessive pressure that could adversely affect the overall structure.
The optimal layer thickness can be considered 5 centimeters of even coverage with gravel or other similar material.
Result
The result of all the work carried out will be a reliable coating, which will not be afraid of rain, snow, or wind.Under such a roof, you can safely spend more than one harsh Russian winter without fear of blizzards and frosts.
The given technology is basic, if desired, it can be diversified and supplemented with various technologies and materials.
Such, say, how to insulate the roof with expanded clay. This material also has good thermal insulation properties and can serve as an addition to the main heaters, as well as an independent means of keeping warm.
Finally, it should be added that the roofs of not only residential buildings are subject to insulation. There are many other buildings that also need to keep warm in any weather. For example, the insulation of the roof of the bath with expanded clay has become widespread.
More about foam
When it comes to keeping warm, Styrofoam stands out from other materials due to its excellent qualities, including:
- high thermal insulation performance;
- profitability;
- practicality of use.
Therefore, using it as the main insulation for the roof of your house is undoubtedly a justified decision.
However, do not forget about other properties of this material - increased sensitivity to moisture and sunlight. Given these features, roof insulation with polystyrene inevitably requires reliable protection of the foam from harmful effects.
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