Do-it-yourself ceiling insulation in a private house. General requirements for ceiling insulation

Mineral wool - ceiling insulation

Types of heaters

Mineral wool

  • Mineral wool is a textile fiber obtained either from a melt of glass (glass wool), or from a melt of blast-furnace slags (slag wool), or from melts of volcanic rocks (stone wool). The thickness of the insulation for the ceiling in the form of mineral wool can be from 20 to 200 mm.
  • Mineral wool is supplied in rolls and in bales and, accordingly, can look like a block or a carpet. The latter type of release may have a foil side, which significantly increases the effect of thermal insulation.

  • Foil polyethylene foam is a polyethylene foam glued to a layer of aluminum foil. The thickness of the insulation can be from 1 to 20mm, the width of the roll is 1m.
  • Despite the small thickness of the insulation, it is quite effective, thanks to the foil, which acts as a heat reflector. Sometimes thin foil polyethylene foam is used in combination with other insulation, stacking on top of each other, for example, mineral wool is covered with it, which, firstly, increases the power of the thermal barrier and, secondly, does not allow carcinogenic substances emanating from mineral wool to be sprayed.

Styrofoam

  • Styrofoam as a heater is a foamed cellular plastic mass enclosed in a square of regular shape, with sides 100 × 100 cm. The thickness of the product is different and ranges from 20 to 100mm. The density of such blocks can also be different: 15kg / m 2 or 25kg / m 2 (this is the density of the foam, as a rule, used in construction for insulation of rooms).
  • Foam sheets are used as an intermediate insulation for wall and hanging frames, and are installed as a rough base before. Depending on the purpose, the density of the material also changes.

polyplex

  • Extruded (extrusive) polystyrene foam or polyplex is obtained by extrusion of polymers, that is, it is pressed through the desired shape and sheets of 120 × 60 cm are obtained. The thickness of the material starts from 10mm and ends at 200mm, and includes all intermediate dimensions that are multiples of zero. Usually in construction, products with a density of 35 kg / cm 2 or 45 kg / cm 2 are used.
  • Penoplex happens different color, along the perimeter of the sheet, a chamfer was made for a more dense laying. Thanks to high density, such insulation on the ceiling is most often used as draft base for putty.

  • Expanded clay is made from fusible clay, it is porous, has an oval shape and is very light. Such a heater, as a rule, is used for backfilling in the attic of a house, the ceiling of which needs to be insulated. It is also used as a thermal cushion under the screed, which is sometimes poured in the attic.

Advice. When working with any type of mineral wool, use protective equipment such as goggles, gloves and protective clothing. For those suffering from respiratory diseases, it is advisable to use a respirator or gauze bandage.

Ways to insulate the ceiling

Above

  • The heaters that are placed from the side of the attic can be anything, since such material does not need to be fixed with anything, but it is only important to tightly cover the entire plane, leaving no cracks or gaps.
  • In this case, the question is: "Which insulation is better for the ceiling?" makes sense and has an answer. This is the insulation that will cost less and will have a sufficient level of thermal insulation. As a rule, expanded clay or mineral wool is used for the attic.

Bottom

  • To install a thermal insulator from below, you need either a suspended frame or special fasteners, since it will be necessary to attach the insulation to the ceiling by weight. The easiest way is to fill the sinus between the main and suspended ceilings with any insulation.

  • As a rule, in such cases, whether it is mineral wool, polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam, the insulation is threaded through U-shaped suspensions for the suspended ceiling frame, and then frame (wooden or metal) profiles are installed. But such a method of insulation is possible only if there is enough space for a heater in the ceiling sinus, or, in other words, if it is possible to lower the suspended ceiling frame to a distance sufficient for the installation of insulation.

  • Foil polyethylene foam can be used at almost any depth of the ceiling sinus, since you can fix the insulation on the ceiling with double-sided tape, and then, right through it, fix the suspensions and the frame itself.

  • You can also lay insulation for the ceiling between frame wooden or metal profiles. In case of laying rigid materials such as polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam, there are gaps that need to be blown out mounting foam.

  • But, in case you are not going to mount, two types of insulation will suit you - this is foam and 25th density foam.

  • To attach such panels, you will need glue for foam or for ceramic tiles(both types are suitable) and dowel fungi. The polymer sheet is smeared with glue and applied to the pre-primed ceiling, and after partial drying of the glue, it is additionally fixed with fungi. The foam plastic is fixed at five points (at the corners and in the center), and the foam plastic, by virtue of greater density material - at two points (at the edges).

Advice. If you decide to putty the surface on foam plastic or foam plastic, then it is better to fix the insulation only after you level the main ceiling itself. Thus, it will be easier for you to mount the foam and the insulation will not have to hold the large weight of the putty, which levels the finished surface with the insulation.

Conclusion

All heaters are exactly the same, as they perform the same function. The difference between them is only in the methods of installation and the possibility of application in certain cases. So in most cases, the choice of thermal insulator depends on personal preference.

If you want to live in winter in a cozy, warm, comfortable home, as well as save on heating it, you must definitely purchase and install a good-quality insulation for the ceiling. Because warm air is lighter than cool air, it tends to rise towards the ceiling. And if the ceiling is not insulated, then this warm air will simply disappear from the housing, and a cold atmosphere will reign in it, which will certainly bring discomfort and discomfort to the residents. That is why the issue of ceiling insulation is very acute.

A shot from the process of laying insulation

Today construction market offers a wide variety of materials for ceiling insulation from various manufacturers. This is a roll insulation for the ceiling from the well-known company Knauf, thermal insulation materials for parks, rockwool, etc. The choice is really great and you can even get confused, but there are certain criteria that the purchased insulation must meet:

  • It must be completely safe for human health and not emit harmful substances;
  • It should not support combustion, so that in the event of a fire, the fire does not spread throughout the house;
  • It should nullify heat leakage, but at the same time not block natural circulation couple indoors.

The question of which insulation to choose in order to provide thermal insulation of the ceiling of the house worries many. Let's take a closer look at the materials that construction stores offer customers today. traditional solutions are:

  • Expanded clay. It's lightweight bulk material, which is made from clay and other components. Its advantages include incombustibility, good thermal insulation qualities and low susceptibility to moisture. Mice and other pests do not infest this material.

Thermal insulation with expanded clay - a worthy solution

  • Mineral wool. It is a very popular solution, in particular, buyers often prefer roll insulation for the ceiling from the Ursa company, which has proven the quality of its products. The popularity of mineral wool insulation is explained by compliance with the entire list of requirements that apply to thermal insulation materials. Mineral wool does not violate vapor permeability, does not burn, has attractive thermal conductivity and sound insulation characteristics. In addition to this, to positive aspects Mineral wool is treated for its durability, wear resistance and excellent water repellency.
  • Fiberglass . Fiberglass-based insulation can also boast of a fairly high demand. Fiberglass will suit you if you are looking for which insulation is better to buy for the ceiling of a bathhouse, house or apartment. As for its advantages, it is excellent sound insulation and lightness. However, fiberglass shows less resistance to temperature and moisture (it will be necessary to additionally take care of a special water-repellent coating).

Fiberglass also has its advantages

Modern thermal insulation materials for the ceiling

The heaters discussed above have proven themselves well, but today new generation materials have begun to hit the market, which also have an impressive list of advantages - polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, as well as penofol. They are all produced in a similar way - by foaming polymers due to temperature or chemical exposure. By the way, these and other heaters can be with foil - this provides even greater protection for the ceiling (the foil prevents burning, protects against moisture, and provides even higher thermal insulation qualities).

The main rival to traditional heaters was heat insulators made of extruded polystyrene foam. Its advantages are lightness, low cost and low thermal conductivity. There are also disadvantages - poor vapor permeability characteristics (in addition, the issue of ventilation will need to be resolved) and poor compatibility with ceilings with a complex configuration. But if we talk about flat, simple and exploitable structures, then this material will serve good choice, because it is famous for its high mechanical strength.

There are others noteworthy heaters.

For example, ecowool which is made from cellulose. It is considered a material that is absolutely harmless to human health, characterized by low thermal conductivity. Or penoizol representing polymer material, the main advantage of which is durability. It cannot be said about polystyrene- this material is not susceptible to moisture, lightweight and fireproof. In addition, it is convenient to use, as well as the basalite roll insulation intended for the ceiling.

The service life of penoizol is practically unlimited

How to choose the best heater?

A good ceiling insulation must meet the following requirements: low water absorption (so that water does not accumulate in the thermal insulation coating) and acceptable vapor permeability (the material must “breathe”, otherwise you will be faced with the need for ventilation). Also important point is the thermal conductivity of the product. Preference should be given to an insulator with the lowest thermal conductivity, since the lower it is, the less heat will leave your home.

Often, homeowners make a gross mistake - when buying thermal insulation products, they base their choice on compliance with only one criterion (for example, they choose a material for thermal conductivity without checking its environmental friendliness, moisture-repellent properties, vapor permeability, etc.). This approach can cause many problems in the future, so you should not do such things.

I would also like to say about the important qualities of the insulation in terms of its further use. These include:

  • Installation conditions;
  • Elasticity, flexibility (the ability of a heat insulator to deform and restore its original shape);
  • Compressive strength (how receptive the material is to external loads).
  • Thermal conductivity.

Wanting to purchase and install insulation for the ceiling in wooden house or any other buildings, also consider the type of roof - video correct installation, you, by the way, can find on the Internet. Roofs are divided into flat and pitched, as well as operated and non-operated. Different types of roofs are suitable for different types of insulation. When buying, do not forget about this significant moment.

Ceiling insulation process - how is it done?

This is how the material is installed from the side of the mountain

If you need to insulate the ceiling in a private house, then most often this is done through the attic, since this is the simplest solution in this case. The attic floor is insulated and it's in the bag. This is much easier than going the other way - to carry out thermal insulation of the ceiling from the inside. Typically, for this purpose, expanded clay.

Such thermal insulation is carried out in several stages:

  • Produce a vapor barrier using foil (sometimes use glassine);
  • Crumpled clay is evenly laid on the foil;
  • Expanded clay is poured out with the next layer (the height of the layer should be approximately 15 cm);
  • As the last layer for this "sandwich" put a cement-sand screed.

If in the future you plan to use the attic for your own purposes, and you have to walk on thermal insulation, then the insulation must be sewn up with boards.

If necessary, insulate the ceiling in the apartment, installation thermal insulation material carried out in a completely different way - due to the lack of a mountain, all work is carried out from the inside of the room. First assembled and installed Basic structure to fix the insulation - a profile. After that, waterproofing is done with glassine and heat-insulating material is laid.

Insulation of the ceiling from the inside of the room

Residents should take care not only about how to choose high-quality insulation for thermal insulation of the ceiling, but also about how to properly perform the insulation procedure. After all, much depends on this, and errors during installation can lead to not very pleasant consequences. If you are not confident in your abilities, and have never done construction work before, then it is better to entrust the process of insulation to professionals.

Video:

Ceiling insulation with sawdust

Ceiling insulation in a private house

Insulation of the ceiling and walls is an important component of home improvement. Every owner of a private house faces this question. Most of heat escapes through the ceiling, so its insulation is very important. Modern market building materials represents today big choice various heaters. But, first of all, it is necessary to decide how to carry out thermal insulation.

There are two methods, indoor or outdoor. Both bring good result. It is worth choosing the one that is more convenient in a particular situation. If we talk about the differences, then they differ in technology and materials.

The choice of heat insulator

To insulate the ceiling in a private house, it is important which material to choose. Vapor permeable heat insulator produce insulation from the inside. Vapor-proof insulation is perfect for outdoor work.

When purchasing material for insulation, you need to pay attention to the following qualities:

  • Environmental friendliness and safety;
  • Flexibility, the ability of the insulation to restore shape;
  • Susceptibility to external influences or compressive strength;
  • The density or weight of the heat insulator allows you to calculate the load on the attic floor;
  • Fire resistance. In total, flammability classes 4 are the least combustible materials of class G1.

Another nuance when choosing a heater. It is worth considering what the ceilings in the house are made of. For wood with decking planks fit almost any heater. But for concrete slabs mainly use heavy bulk materials or slab with good density. Suitable and dense heat insulators in rolls, mats. All this is important to know before proceeding with the insulation of the ceiling.

How to insulate the ceiling in a private house

What insulation is best for the ceiling? It depends on many factors. Their choice today is wide. It is worth dwelling on their qualities in more detail.

Expanded clay is a light bulk material. It is made from special clay. As a result of processing, porous granules are obtained. Suitable for outdoor insulation. He non-flammable, retains heat well and does not absorb moisture. Also rodents do not start in it. Therefore, when the question arises of how to insulate the ceiling in a private house, many people prefer expanded clay.

Fiberglass insulation is light in weight. They have all the properties necessary for thermal insulation. But they need a special coating that repels moisture. They are less resistant to its effects than others.

Mineral wool is not combustible, but moisture resistance is average. This is a fibrous insulation. Available in rolls or slabs. It has good thermal insulation qualities. In addition, it has excellent wear resistance. Suitable for ceiling insulation in a private house from the inside. Its advantages also include:

However, mineral wool can cake and lose its properties. Glass wool is also referred to as fibrous insulation. It is quite strong and elastic, but subject to shrinkage.

Such modern heat insulators as polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, penofol are not inferior traditional materials. They are made from foamed polymer. They are can be produced with foil. This additional protection from water. The foil also increases the thermal insulation qualities of the material. When insulating the ceiling, the material can be a good choice.

Extruded polystyrene foam insulation is also lightweight and has low thermal conductivity. They have good mechanical strength and are affordable. They can have heat the attic, which is planned to be exploited. Among the shortcomings, low vapor permeability can be distinguished. Therefore, using them, you will have to take care of ventilation. They are not suitable for ceilings with a complex configuration.

Penoizol is another polymeric material. He is durable. It has an almost unlimited service life.

Polyfoam is fireproof, weighs little and does not give a large load on the floors. Good thermal insulator. It does not absorb moisture, but does not let air through either. Additional ventilation will be required. Produced in the form of plates. It keeps its shape well. It can be combined with mineral wool.

Such a combination for insulating the ceiling has its pros and cons. The properties of both heaters do not give warm air go outside. However, the disadvantages include low level fire safety polystyrene and the fact that rodents can start in it.

There are natural cork heaters. These materials are made from compressed cork crumbs and resin. They pass air well, but are combustible.

Ecowool is considered harmless to health and has low thermal conductivity. It is made from cellulose. To reduce flammability she is being processed boric acid or flame retardants. When using it, a waterproofing layer is not needed, because ecowool absorbs moisture. Suitable for all types of floors.

How to insulate ceilings in a private house from the outside

In a private house, the ceiling is insulated from the outside, that is, from the side of the attic, by laying a heat insulator on the ceiling or in its voids. This eliminates the need to dismantle the ceiling and repair again. Maybe, best option for a new or newly renovated home.

How to insulate ceilings from the outside, insulation of the ceiling with sheets of foam or polystyrene. Styrofoam is better to choose a thick one about 40 mm.

First, the attic must be cleared of debris. Then measurements are made. Insulation sheets are laid on the floor of the attic. Between themselves they are fastened with mounting foam. If you intend to use the room as an attic, for example, then you need concrete screed. A reinforcing metal mesh is placed on the insulation, and a screed solution is already poured onto it.

Warming with mineral wool

Mineral wool is also used for external insulation. After all necessary measurements floor joists are installed. Then layer vapor barrier material . You can also use parchment. The insulation is laid loosely, but without gaps between the lags. The next step is flooring.

Expanded clay is also suitable for external insulation. If the floors are made of concrete, then the insulation process is as follows:

  • A layer of waterproofing is laid on the plates. Expanded clay is poured on top. The layer should be about 10 cm;
  • They put on it reinforcing mesh. Plywood is laid on top as protection;
  • Next, a screed is poured onto the reinforcing mesh;
  • When the screed is completely dry, you can mount the finish coating.

It is important to take expanded clay of various fractions. This will prevent shrinkage of the insulation.

Expanded clay insulation in a wooden house is done along the inter-beam space. A layer of waterproofing is placed between load-bearing beams. As a rule, it is made of polyethylene. It needs to be fixed. In between expanded clay is poured between the beams. It is slightly tamped down. A fiberboard is placed on top of it. Now it's time for the finish coat.

To work with foam, a vapor barrier is also needed. Styrofoam boards fit tightly. It is important here that the elements of the heat insulator are hermetically connected at the joints. To do this, use mounting foam.

Combined variant insulation with foam plastic and expanded clay gives a good result. Styrofoam is placed down, and expanded clay is covered on top of its plates. I combine polystyrene and mineral wool. In this case, it is placed on foam boards.

A very old and proven method is attic insulation with sawdust. But they are flammable. Therefore, they are often mixed with cement.

Penoplex modern insulation. Durable and quite suitable for warming concrete floors in a private house. First, the floor surface is leveled and a layer of vapor barrier is laid. Penoplex is attached to the surface with dowels. The joints are sealed with mounting foam.

Warming from the inside

Internal insulation of the ceiling in a private house is usually produced with mineral heat insulators. For example, basalt wool. From the inside, the insulation is hidden behind plasterboard suspended ceilings.

  1. First, a metal frame is attached to the ceiling;
  2. Insulation is glued between the profiles;
  3. Drywall sheets are sewn onto the frame. Then they already do the finishing of the ceiling.

If mineral wool is chosen as a heater, then it is better to take glue for tiles. Mineral wool cannot be compressed; it loses its properties from this. When warmed with mineral wool in false ceiling vapor barrier is not needed. This can lead to fungal growth.

Insulate the ceiling from the inside of the house and foam. Here it is important to take into account the density of the material. For internal insulation suitable density 15 kg/sq. m or 25 kg/sq. m. Styrofoam sheets are attached to the ceiling with glue. You can put plaster on them.

We insulate the walls from the inside

It is also important to insulate the walls in a private house. In principle, heat insulators use almost the same as for the ceiling.

  • Foam polyethylene foil;
  • Polyplex;
  • Mineral wool;
  • Styrofoam;
  • Polyurethane foam.

Polyurethane foam is considered the most environmentally friendly heat insulator. Therefore, quite often they insulate the walls from the inside. But for warming with your own hands, it will not work. This requires special equipment.

Basalt wool and fiberglass are also used.

wall insulation technology

In addition to insulation, you will also need materials such as timber. If you intend to use mineral wool. Necessary and rails for fastening material. Can be used as a vapor barrier polyethylene film or a membrane. We also need material for finishing the walls.

Walls must be dry before work. Antiseptic treatment will not hurt to avoid fungus.

Warming with mineral wool implies the presence of a frame. Its elements are installed vertically. Insulation plates set tightly without leaving gaps. You can fix them with special dowels to the surface. A waterproofing is pulled over the insulation. At the joints, it can be glued with tape. Next comes already fine finish walls.

Expanded polystyrene requires alignment working surface. After priming, it is treated with an antiseptic. When the walls are dry, you can put insulation. It is installed in a frameless way, attached to the glue. In the same way, they insulate with foam. After the heat insulator is glued, small seams are sealed with mounting foam. Wider gaps are insulated with strips of material. Then the finish coat is applied.

Warming is very important not only for saving energy resources. This procedure will make the house comfortable and cozy.

Ceiling insulation makes the room more comfortable and warm, and also saves your cash by retaining heat within the walls of your home. When insulating ceilings, you need to be guided by some principles that we will list in this article. After all, the difference will be relatively small whether it be or whether it is a ceiling in any other room.

Until we started reading the article, I immediately wanted to warn you that the most valuable material on insulation and ceilings is in the comments to this article, when you read the article, go down and see the comments where there are answers to all questions. But first read the article.

The ceiling in the house is the main point for retaining heat in our house. In this regard, to insulate, for example wooden ceiling we will be responsible. And what technologies for insulating the ceiling are available, we will talk today and even watch a mini-video story on this topic.

In this article we will tell you how to properly insulate the ceiling and the better to insulate the ceiling. For example, consider mineral wool, a popular material for insulation.

The better to insulate the ceiling

  • - the insulation itself (mineral wool);
  • - polystyrene (also read: polystyrene as an insulating material, facade design
  • - glassine (for waterproofing);
  • - edged board(thickness 30 mm, width 150 mm);
  • - nails;
  • - rails (10 mm by 20 mm);
  • - polyurethane foam (read recommendations: choice of polyurethane foam).

Tools used to insulate the ceiling:

  • - electric jigsaw (read: review of electric jigsaws) and a wood saw;
  • - hammer;
  • - knife.

How much insulation is needed for the ceiling

For everyone who is going to insulate the ceiling in the house, we advise you to first calculate required amount material to be purchased. Its effectiveness as a whole depends on the thickness of the thermal insulation.

The initial data are:

  • design temperature on the internal and outer surface ceiling,
  • its design and the heat transfer coefficient of each element.

The result of the calculation will be the thickness of the thermal insulation layer.

When calculating, it must be taken into account that since 2009 the EnUV standard requires that the heat transfer coefficient of the thermal insulation layer U is at least 0.24 W / m2xK, which is achieved by a layer of thermal insulation from 13 to 40 cm, depending on the thermal conductivity group of the material and the type of building (in Europe to different types buildings are subject to different requirements, for example, they are less stringent for old houses than for new standard or passive ones).

Ceiling insulation technologies

Now we will tell you about the technology of ceiling insulation. There are several varieties of them, so we will try to cover everything. The technology you choose will depend on the temperature of your region, the structure of the roof and the truss system

Warming can be carried out in three ways, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The first way is to insulate the ceiling with foam - it belongs to the category of thermal insulation on top interfloor overlap. This method has many advantages: you can relatively freely change the thickness of the heat-insulating layer, there is a choice different types thermal insulation, both bulk and in the form of mats, or rolls.

The second way is to install a layer of thermal insulation from inside the room. This method requires more careful work, introduces requirements for the quality of the materials used, and, above all, reduces the height of the room. But it is the only option if attic space is used as a warehouse, or air ducts, electrical or other communications are placed on it.

For the third method of insulation, you need to contact specialists. Via special equipment, they blow into the void ceiling special powdered insulation (perlite), which in turn requires a sufficiently large volume preparatory work to prevent it from entering the living quarters.

Also, the insulation must comply with fire safety requirements. It must delay the spread of fire for at least 25 minutes for a private house, and at least 90 minutes for an apartment building.


Due to the fact that the attic space is very well ventilated, before laying thermal insulation, it is necessary to carefully seal the ceiling.

If it is a reinforced concrete monolith, sealing is not needed, and if the ceiling is on wooden beams, then it is worth additionally laying a layer of vapor barrier. Sufficient sealing is also achieved by plastering the ceiling, or by installing properly treated drywall.

  • It is necessary to additionally seal all joints and places where the vapor barrier layer adheres to walls, beams, etc., and then check them for tightness.
  • Particular attention should be paid to the so-called "cold bridges".

In the ceiling - this is the area where the ceiling adjoins the external bearing walls. Such places should be additionally insulated. This is achieved by warming outer wall a layer of thermal insulation, at least 50 cm wide.

Now let's move on to the practical part. Since the second and third methods of insulation should still be entrusted to a qualified master, we will dwell in more detail on the first, namely, the installation of an insulation layer from the side of the attic.

To insulate the ceiling with foam, we will need glassine, which we have prepared. We take it and spread it on the floor. Then you need to cut the strips. These strips should turn out so that we can lay them between the ceiling beams with flooring up to 5 centimeters on each beam from all sides. After that, we attach this glassine with slats (10 mm by 20 mm in size) to the ends of these beams of our ceiling.

Before laying the foam, it is necessary to cut it in width. This width is the width of the space between the ceiling beams. Cut the foam exactly so that it fits tightly into the opening between the beams, the denser the better. Fill the remaining gaps between the foam sheets with mounting foam, after which we lay another layer of glassine over the foam.

We have reached such a stage that we have in front of us a foam plastic hidden under glassine, we just have to lay the tiles of the mineral wool itself. The mineral wool to be laid must necessarily reach all edges. ceiling beams. If mineral wool is laid in several layers, namely two layers, then we fix the first layer of wool so that upper layer of the laid wool, closed the joints of the already laid first layer of mineral wool.

Well, if finances allow and if you often go up to the attic and you have to walk on the ceiling beams, then you need to lay boards over the entire surface. The boards are laid across the ceiling beams, with a distance of 4 centimeters from one another.

You can also watch a simplified video on ceiling insulation. If you have any comments, write in the comments without registration, we will fix everything, as well as discuss it.

To begin with, let's define heat-insulating material, it can be mineral wool, polystyrene, bulk insulation(foam balls, or expanded clay), as well as powdered insulation (perlite).

An excellent property of mineral wool is its fire safety (it does not burn and does not support fire, it does not create smoke in case of fire), it is practically not subject to damage by insects and rodents (this, of course, does not mean that they cannot live there and make nests, but such a probability is negligible small).

For some reason, many people confuse mineral wool with glass wool. Similar externally, they differ significantly from each other both in terms of thermal performance and safety.

  • The fact is that glass wool is considered potentially dangerous and is not recommended for use in residential areas.
  • Mineral wool is available in mats and rolls, there is no significant difference between them, choose the option that is more suitable for your case.

The process of installing mineral wool

  1. Mineral wool is laid in two or three layers, trying to shift the areas of mat contact by several tens of centimeters.
  2. In the case of installation of insulation in the intervals between wooden beams, it is highly desirable to lay the last layer on top of the beams, since the tree in this case can also act as a "cold bridge".
  3. In addition to mineral wool, foam boards can also be used. This material is much less expensive, but has significantly more disadvantages. It is more fragile, easily damaged by rodents, although it does not support combustion, it can create smoke.
  4. Styrofoam is laid on a sealed layer of vapor barrier in one or several layers, guided by thermal engineering calculations.
  5. Also, loose foam plastic (in granules), which is sold in bales or barrels, can be poured into the space between the beams. It is much cheaper, and its thermal insulation properties are no worse than those of polystyrene in plates.
  6. Expanded clay can be used as a bulk heat insulator. This material is not damaged by rodents, does not burn and has a long service life, but its thermal insulation properties are significantly lower than those of mineral wool and polystyrene, which requires a much greater thickness of the insulation layer.
  7. Before backfilling expanded clay, you should make sure that bearing capacity overlap, in other words, it must withstand the weight of the thermal insulation layer.
  8. After installing the thermal insulation, you can lay the floor, and if the attic is not in use, you can simply lay paths from the boards to be able to monitor its condition.

By resorting to all the tips, you can keep the heat in the house, for which you pay at high rates. Windows, roof, walls, floor - none of the elements should be overlooked. Spending a little time and money today, you will feel the effect on yourself for many years to come.

The most elementary way to check if heat is escaping through your roof is to take a look at outer part roofs, if the snow in the center of the roof, or partially along the perimeter of the roof, has melted and does not lie evenly, if large icicles hang from the roof, then this means that the heat that should be in your house goes through the roof and heats the street at your expense.

Any owner strives to create comfortable accommodation in my house. To do this, periodically monitors possible heat loss, due to which room temperature may decrease and energy use may increase. Window and doorways are the main conductors of cold air.

As a rule, they are the first to be replaced by homeowners with quality products. Many rushed to insulate the walls, the foundation. And about the ceiling, for some reason, they do not always remember. And in vain! According to the laws of physics, heat loss due to poor-quality ceilings can be over 20 percent. The barrier created at the top will prevent heat from escaping, and heating appliances no need to heat the environment.

Ways to insulate the ceiling in a private house include both indoor work and in the attic. These works to strengthen the energy protection of the house are equivalent, so each owner can choose a convenient option for themselves.

The difference between the methods lies in the installation technology and the materials used:

  • Insulation of the ceiling from the inside is accompanied by subsequent surface finishing with drywall or other suspended structures. It should be noted that the height of the room after installation will decrease from 10 to 25 cm. The material used must have vapor-permeable properties. These can be: mineral or basalt wool, penofol.
  • External insulation of the ceiling is carried out in the attic. A more economical and profitable option, as it does not require further finishing works if the use of an attic room is not provided. It is recommended to use a vapor barrier material to prevent moisture from reaching the ceiling. Most often used: foam, penoizol, mineral wool, expanded clay.


The choice of insulation

The modern construction market offers a huge amount of materials for ceiling insulation. Even expanded clay, sawdust, hay, clay and slag are used, which have a number of advantages among significant shortcomings. The choice must meet the requirements of the technology.

The main requirements that a heater must meet:

  • do not emit toxic substances;
  • be resistant to moisture;
  • have a low flammability.

Popular materials for home energy saving work


Mineral wool in the form of sheets or rolls is widely used in construction work. The characteristic of the heater meets technical requirements thermal insulation. The use in residential premises is dictated by the absence of toxic substances in the composition and excellent thermal insulation properties. Mineral wool has components of limestone, basalt, diabase and dolomite.

Rocks endow the material with valuable qualities:

  • low degree of thermal conductivity;
  • resistance to temperature changes;
  • lack of flammability;
  • ecological characteristic.

And yet the material has disadvantages:

  • ability to absorb moisture;
  • during installation, be sure to use a waterproofing film;
  • additionally process the seams of the joints with mounting foam for better sealing;
  • for fixing the insulation, a crate is made of wooden beam or profiles;
  • relatively short service life (10-15 years).

Penofol consists of interlayers of polyethylene foam and aluminum foil. Combines the properties of several insulating materials with a fairly wide range of applications. Represents the basis in the innovative decoration of balconies and loggias.

It has low thermal conductivity, which will save energy. Protective qualities prevent the penetration of cold air, drafts and radon into the room. In summer, penofol will help keep the house cool, create a comfortable microclimate.

The light weight of the material makes installation convenient, and the structure of the structure is not weighed down. To work with penofol, a minimum amount of improvised means is required: construction knife, adhesive tape and liquid nails.

Along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages:

  • flexible surface means finishing the ceiling suspended structure with frame;
  • it is problematic to fix the material on some surfaces;
  • to increase thermal protection, it is recommended to use mineral wool.


Expanded polystyrene is known to many more as polystyrene. Easy-to-use material creates a strong protection of heat in the room, without harming the health of the household. At correct execution installation fully justifies the costs and retains its qualities for a long time.

The advantages are:

  • moisture resistance;
  • good thermal conductivity;
  • light weight, excluding structural reinforcement;
  • simple installation.

The disadvantages include:

  • easy flammability;
  • susceptibility to impact ultraviolet rays and solvents;
  • low resistance to mechanical damage.


Penoizol is a liquid foamed foam. To insulate the ceiling from the outside, it is necessary to use special equipment for applying a binder to the surface.

Material advantages:

  • affordable price;
  • thermal insulation qualities;
  • resistance to ignition;
  • easily fills hard-to-reach places;
  • safe operation.

Disadvantages:

  • lack of special equipment excludes self-assembly;
  • low resistance to mechanical stress;
  • the first 2-3 weeks after installation evaporates a small amount of toxic substance;
  • ability to absorb moisture.

Do-it-yourself warming

If stick technological process and do right choice material, installation is quite capable of doing it yourself.

Insulation of the ceiling inside the room using mineral wool

To complete the work, you will need material:

  • mineral wool;
  • metal profiles or wooden bars 150x30 mm;
  • hardware;
  • vapor barrier film;
  • staples;
  • mounting foam;
  • dowels with a wide hat;
  • drywall.

Set of tools:

  • perforator;
  • roulette;
  • hammer;
  • screwdriver;
  • scissors;
  • construction knife.

Installation steps

  • On the ceiling, make a crate of their wooden bars or metal profile with a step of 50 cm.
  • Cut the insulation to the size of the crate cell with an increase of 2 cm on the sides.
  • Lay mineral wool in the cells without tamping it.
  • Treat the joints of the insulation with mounting foam for sealing. The foam will also serve as resistance to the shrinkage of the insulation.
  • cover the surface vapor barrier film. The joints of the material should overlap by 10 cm. Using staples, fix the film to the crate.
  • Using drywall sheets finish the ceiling.

Ceiling insulation in the attic using foam

Materials required for installation:

  • foam sheets 40 mm thick;
  • mounting foam;
  • OSB sheets 15-18 mm;
  • hardware.

Instruments:

  • drill;
  • hacksaw;
  • hammer;
  • metalwork knife;
  • screwdriver.


Installation steps

  • Clear the attic of debris. If there are damaged spots or holes, repair them with a cement or gypsum mixture.
  • Put the foam on the surface, tightly docking with each other.
  • Process the connecting seams with mounting foam.
  • Cover the top with OSB sheets (15-18 mm) or boards.

If you plan to use the attic as an attic, the insulated surface must be filled cement screed, at least 5 cm thick. Reinforcing mesh must be used.


  • Insulation in the attic using foam sheets must be supplemented with a finish in the form of a screed or wooden planks. Unprotected foam is subject to mechanical damage that will affect its functionality.
  • Thermal insulation from the outside is easier and more economical.
  • Mineral wool must not be compressed. Losing structure, it loses valuable properties.
  • Built-in lamps in the insulated ceiling should be mounted with a fence from the material with plasterboard inserts at a distance of 2-3 cm.
  • To increase thermal protection, you can lay the attic in a complex way: with foam and mineral wool. Layers of insulation should resemble brickwork.
  • Use a marked film for vapor barrier. The use of ordinary polyethylene is not allowed.
  • When using penofol for insulation in the attic, lay the foil down.

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