Attic roof insulation: types of insulation and ventilation system

attic roof insulation"Attic" is a French word and is a part of the building located directly under the roof and is used for residential purposes. In the construction of the attic floor, the most important operation is the insulation of the attic roof. The attic floor is located in the attic space, the facade of which can be partially or completely created by the surface of a broken or sloping roof.

The line of intersection of the plane of the facade and the roof should be located from the floor level at a height of no higher than 1.5 meters. The service life of a roof structure depends on high-quality thermal insulation.

Roof insulation

Insulation and insulation of the mansard roof is necessary so that this room is warm. Heat from all over the house rises into the attic, and so that it does not leave the house, it is necessary to perform high-quality thermal insulation.

You can significantly reduce your heating costs for your entire home by mansard roof insulation.

The air inside the room contains a lot of moisture, and since it is warm, according to the laws of physics, it sharply goes up. The outer part of the roof is a waterproofing layer that prevents water evaporation.


And the internal coating of the roof forms condensate, and as a result, mold and wet spots appear on the walls.

The heat insulator must be covered with a vapor barrier material so that the insulation does not lose its properties.

It should be laid in such a way that between the waterproofing layer of the roof itself and the insulation there must be an air gap for ventilation.

The width of the layer depends directly on the coating material. When the roof is made of flat materials, such as soft tiles, the gap should be up to 50 mm.

And if the roof covering consists of corrugated material: tiles, profiled sheets, metal tiles, then the layer should be no more than 25 mm.

How is the attic insulated?

Many people are wondering how to insulate the roof of the attic, what work needs to be done for the highest quality insulation of the room?

mansard roof insulation
We insulate the roof

This must be approached with all responsibility, because a large amount of warm air leaves the building through the roof. And with the help of high-quality thermal insulation of the roof of the building, it will turn out to be a good idea to save on heating.

Read also:  How to build a mansard roof: construction stages, installation of a mauerlat and roof trusses, finishing work

To do this, use a special technology of roof insulation.

Insulation of the attic roof is carried out according to the old technology in stages:

  • Stage 1 - interior upholstery is carried out;
  • Stage 2 - vapor barrier;
  • Stage 3 - lay the insulation;
  • Stage 4 - hydro and wind insulation;
  • Stage 5 - roofing.

Before starting work on mansard roof insulation you should study well the modern technologies that are used for various heaters.

When choosing a roofing insulation and finding an answer to the question of how to insulate a mansard roof, developers should rely on some criteria. It is necessary to pay attention not only to the technological characteristics of insulating materials, but also to their environmental friendliness.

In addition, attention is paid to durability, as well as to the behavior when wetting this insulation. In order for the insulation to be installed between the beams, it must be compressed.

Therefore, the change in the structure after compression should be taken into account. And also an equally important characteristic is whether the thickness of the thermal insulation will be restored after compression. To choose a roof insulation, it is necessary to take into account sound insulation and combustibility.

Types of heaters

Your attention! The use of modern heat-insulating materials is very beneficial, as repair and construction work is accelerated and, in the future, significant savings on heat carriers. Proper insulation will bring tangible savings, since the attic is more susceptible to heat loss and its surface is in contact with the external environment.

The attic can be insulated with polystyrene foam, mineral wool slabs, foam plastic.A good insulation for a mansard roof is polyurethane foam.

attic roof insulation
Insulation with polyurethane foam (PPU)

The material is a highly effective insulation that has no analogues and is practically indispensable for attic insulation. In order for the attic to be warm, the walls should be insulated, as well as the roof.

Immediately before the insulation of the room, the use of hydro and vapor barrier is eliminated, since this material does not need additional insulation.

Foam glass is used to insulate the attic. This insulation has a significant drawback - for high-quality thermal insulation, it is necessary to use a 1 cm layer of insulation, which sometimes does not suit every situation.

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And the rest of the qualities of this heater are simply excellent. Plates of this material are glued to hot bitumen, since all seams are filled with bitumen.

If the thickness of the insulation is calculated correctly, then this guarantees the absence of condensation processes and indicates that this is a highly efficient material. This insulator is most suitable for flat and pitched roofs.

Tip! You can reduce energy costs with the help of a material such as foam crumb, which is a small waste from the production of foam glass and is quite effective. The attic room is insulated very easily - a layer of foam crumbs is poured along the perimeter of the attic, as well as in the gaps between the sheathing elements.

roofs of houses with an attic
The roof is a very complex structure.

Styrofoam is the most common and affordable material, which is mainly used for attic insulation.This material is different in thickness and size and has some advantages over other types of insulation.

These include the following benefits:

  • excellent water-repellent properties;
  • convenience and ease of installation;
  • high thermal insulation characteristics;
  • low price.

Your attention! Insulation can be performed not only on external walls, but also on internal ones, and at the same time the microclimate will be no worse. Facade multilayer systems were specially designed for this area, which are used for high-quality insulation.

So, if you are wondering how to properly insulate a mansard roof, then only high-quality materials should be used for this.

Proper insulation and roof construction contributes to:

  • prevents the penetration of warm air and air vapor into the thickness of the insulating material;
  • ventilates water vapor that has penetrated into the thickness of the roof;
  • prevents the formation of mold and bacteria, the heating of snow, the accumulation of moisture, the exit of warm air to the roof, the formation of icicles.

A properly constructed roof should include the following layers:

  1. thermal insulation
  2. truss system
  3. vapor barrier layer
  4. waterproofing
  5. roofing material.

Before insulating a mansard roof, it is necessary to determine the type of insulation. The best option is to insulate the outer walls, which preserves the beneficial properties of wood and a healthy microclimate in the room.

The most economical option is to insulate the walls from the inside. The area that undergoes this process is much smaller. Before insulating the attic from the inside, a high-quality ventilation system should be provided.

Read also:  Roofs of houses with an attic: projects to choose from, tips for arranging and 5 real layouts

Ventilation system

To date, there are specific requirements that must be met in houses with attics. The most important tasks for this room are the correct insulation of the roof and the installation of a suitable ventilation system.

how to insulate an attic roof
Attic fan SolarStar

An important role in the arrangement of the attic is played by ventilation, which must be very good so that condensation does not accumulate in cold weather, and it is cool in the heat.

That is why increased attention is paid to insulation and more serious requirements are made than to the insulation of the floor, walls, attic blocks.

Exhaust air must be discharged into the attic, and fresh air must be supplied, that is, the ventilation of the attic roof must work well.

Where there is a window, air enters through a vent that can be inserted into the top of the window frame and exits through exhaust vents that are located at the top of the walls, and can also escape through natural ventilation through vertical ducts.

These channels are very often too short and do not generate the necessary draft, in such cases ventilation is inefficient.

In order to increase the removal of air, they simply arrange a fan in the ventilation duct - they get a forced ventilation system. Roofs of houses with an attic today have become very popular among developers of individual houses.

As materials for wall cladding, mainly wooden panels, lining, plywood are used.

To keep the attic warm in the cold, layers of insulation are laid between the rafters. After fixing the cladding on the walls, it is necessary to proceed with the finishing work.

Walls can be painted or wallpapered.A vertical window can be placed in the end wall of the attic - while the roof will remain intact. To create natural light in the room, the window can be placed in the center of the room.

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