Insulation Of The Attic (80 Photos): How To Properly Insulate The Attic Floor From The Inside And How To Insulate The Attic For Winter Living

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

The attic in the house is a space with great potential. It has a spacious area to serve as a place for storing things or seasonal vacations, and a non-trivial shape that can become the basis for the embodiment of design ideas. It is a big omission not to use its opportunities.

You can organize the space of the attic floor in different ways . But the most rational of them is the arrangement for living quarters. Self-insulation of the attic from the inside will help with this. The choice of material and the order of work will also not be difficult after a detailed consideration of the features of the materials and the process of insulation.

Why insulate?

A good, warm attic has a number of advantages over a non-insulated floor:

• Can be used as living quarters all year round.
• An uninteresting form is suitable for interior decoration in an unusual style.
• The upper floor, due to its isolation and uniqueness, can serve as a bedroom, study or children's room. Especially in the attic, of course, children like it.
• Skylights are designed differently than ordinary windows and let in a lot of light. This is useful if a children's room is located there, and is also suitable for other purposes, because natural lighting is always better than artificial light.
• When transferring the function of any room in the house to the attic floor, a lot of useful space is freed up.

At the same time, the insulation of the attic, despite the name, also works in the opposite direction. Summer stuffiness and heat concentrated under the roof of the house are not the best companions of comfort. To prevent the air in the attic floor from heating up because the sun heats the roof all day long, thermal insulation is needed.

Many people forget about this, choosing to insulate the attic from the inside, and instead of a room for all-season use, they get an option for wintering. It is impossible to be there in summer because of the high temperatures and stuffy air.

Why insulate the attic is clear: increase the usable area of the house by converting the attic into a living space. Exactly what type of room this will be depends on the individual needs of the family. There may be a greenhouse, a dining room (which is very convenient, since it will be as easy as shelling pears to arrange a hood, and the smells of food will definitely not penetrate into other rooms), a children's room, a bedroom, an office, a room for pets, a dressing room, a guest room.

Roof design options

The convenience of the attic for living largely depends on its size and the shape of the roof, which forms the walls and ceiling of the room. The form also affects the complexity of the insulation procedure. The type of roof is laid during construction in accordance with the design of the building.

In total, there are about a dozen types of roofs, to one degree or another suitable for arranging an attic:

Shed . The slope can be on the left or right side. This determines the layout of the future house, designed in accordance with building codes. This type of roof is not the best, but also not the most inconvenient option for a living space. At least one half of the attic is suitable for a person to fit in it at full height and can move freely. The second can be reserved for organizing storage systems or a bed.

• Gable or gable . It is widespread in both symmetrical and asymmetrical versions. In an attic of this type, all free space is concentrated in the place where the roof has the highest point. There is less of it under the slopes, and if the slope is gentle, then most of the area will not be used.
• Hip . The roof has four slopes: two in the shape of a trapezoid, two in the shape of beveled triangles.

• Tent . A type of hip roof, which is erected over the base of a square-shaped house. All 4 slopes in this case have the same appearance of beveled triangles.
• Semi-hip . This is a kind of gable roof, in which, for practical purposes, the side slopes on the pediment are cut off. It is more convenient for arranging the attic floor than the previous two options.
• Slightly less common is the half-hip hipped roof. Its gable parts are formed by windows, and under them there are slopes.

• Mansard roof . It is recognized as optimal, since it is the closest to the cherished U-shaped living space. Such a roof does not impose any restrictions on the arrangement of functional areas inside the attic floor. You can easily place a child's room in it, which can later be converted into his own office or bedroom.
• Broken or multi-gable . These are options for complex design ideas. It is impossible to say unequivocally how suitable they are for arranging a warm attic, since their shape can be very diverse. But those species that are most similar to the U-shape are definitely suitable for this purpose.

Load calculation according to SNiP

When it comes to insulating the attic, it is necessary to consider several types of SNiP: general rules for the arrangement of residential premises and the rules for choosing materials for thermal insulation of a residential building.

Calculation of the load on the supporting structures of the building . The own weight and thickness of materials, decorative finishes, interior arrangement of the attic significantly increase the load on the supporting structures in any type of house. The maximum permissible load for each option is different, but the planned changes should not exceed it.

Correct assessment of the structures being built . For the reconstruction of a house, which in many cases will include the conversion of an attic into a residential attic, legal grounds are needed. Each case is different.

In one, if the documents are drawn up correctly and the construction of the house occurs immediately with the attic, it can be redone in any way without unnecessary red tape.

In another, the attic may be considered an illegal expansion of the area. This entails a fine and the dismantling of the building at its own expense.

In a private house, the construction of an attic depends only on the height of the floors and compliance with the load norms on the supporting structures; in an apartment building, it is important to take into account its status. If this is an architectural monument, the construction of the attic will not work.

• Compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards . They regulate the minimum height of the attic room, the degree of its illumination and insolation - protection from ultraviolet rays.
• The number of floors in the house . Building codes allow a maximum of three floors, while basement and basement rooms that protrude more than a meter above the ground are also considered. If, after insulating the attic, it becomes a full-fledged living space and the fourth floor in the house, then such a construction will be considered illegal. In theory, it should be demolished.

The degree of fire resistance . It is measured in minutes and in most positions is:

1. for the lower floors 60 minutes,
2. for the attic - 30, since the fire spreads upwards and the risk of ignition of the lower floors from the attic is less.

When arranging an attic, especially a wooden one, for living quarters, you need to comply with all the requirements: treat the wood with special impregnations that prevent the spread of flame, choose fire-resistant materials, and lay high-quality communications.

It is also important to calculate which layer is needed when using different materials. As a rule, the recommended thickness and density of foam, mineral wool, polyurethane foam or foam glass is indicated by the manufacturer or GOST for a specific material.

Review of materials: pros and cons

The construction market offers the materials themselves in abundance. In this case, only insulation is not enough, since the technology implies the layer-by-layer use of materials for various purposes:

• Roof and wall material . These are the elements that form the basis of the attic space. The walls of the house can be wooden, brick, block. For the roof, they choose profiled sheets, ondulin, slate, metal or ceramic tiles.
• Bars for counter-lattice . The timber is used wooden, mounted on the rafters. A counter grill is necessary to create air circulation so that condensation does not form under the roof sheet material.

• Windproof and waterproofing . Used polypropylene and polyethylene films, various non-woven roll materials. In priority films with anti-condensation coating. They are laid with an overlap of 20-25 cm between the beams and the roofing material, glued together.
• Thermal insulation . Various types of insulation, which are laid at a distance of 25 cm from the waterproofing film under slate or tiles, and at 45-50 cm under sheet materials.
• Vapor barrier . It is necessary on the outside of the insulation to protect it from vapors and moisture contained in the indoor air. Various film and foil materials are used to prevent the formation of condensation and the greenhouse effect.

Internal lathing . Decorative finishing of the ceiling and walls. In some cases, when the height of the roof allows, you can "hem" the ceiling. The air space between it and the roof will make the thermal insulation more effective.

If there are no questions with most of the points, then the choice of insulation is the most crucial moment. Its choice is wide, which is both a plus and a minus, since it is necessary to evaluate a large number of options.

Insulate the attic:

• sawdust;
• mineral wool;
• ecowool;
• basalt type of cotton wool;
• polyurethane foam plates (PPU);
• extruded foam;
• penoplex;
• foam glass;
• construction foam;
• foil-clad and heat-reflecting material.

The use of sawdust for thermal insulation is a proven and effective method. It is cheap, the mixtures are prepared with their own hands, but with the availability of alternative materials, the method is already outdated. A lot of time is spent, working with sawdust is clean, but unpleasant, and the flooring will not differ in durability. Environmental cleanliness in this case is probably not at hand, because wood fibers are an excellent breeding ground for organisms.

Ordinary styrofoam is also a thing of the past. It has a number of advantages: low weight, low price, ease of installation alone, rather long service life, good insulating properties. But the disadvantages are still significant: fragility and fragility, retains moisture inside, a suitable environment for the reproduction of living organisms, a thick layer of material is needed.

Mineral wool is a more topical insulation. Its advantages:

• high coefficient of thermal insulation;
• resistant to moisture, chemicals and alkalis;
• provides good ventilation in the room;
• helps to increase noise insulation;
• high coefficient of fire resistance;
• long service life;
• strength;
• safety for residential use.

Flaws:

• With poor organization of the waterproofing and vapor barrier layers, precipitation on the material, mineral wool loses several percent of its thermal conductivity.
• Capable of accumulating dust over time.
• High-quality mineral wool is quite expensive, but it is environmentally friendly. There are often fakes on the market in which the formaldehyde content exceeds the norm. They are harmful to health and are prohibited for use in residential premises.

Ecowool in essence represents cellulose fibers in three quarters of the composition, and the remaining share accounts for substances that allow the use of cellulose as a building material - borax and boric acid. They increase the fire resistance of cotton wool, prevent the appearance of microorganisms, fungi, rot.

The advantages include the good ability of the insulation to retain heat in the room, not hinder ventilation, high-quality insulating properties, natural and safe raw materials in the basis of ecowool.

The material also has a minus, and significant. Ecowool is not produced in the form of plates or sheets, it is a loose fiber that must be applied wet using special equipment. And to work with the equipment, you will need qualified installers.

In addition to ecowool, foreign manufacturers also offer other types of insulation based on plant fibers: ecolen and cotton fabric insulation.

Another type of cotton wool is basalt. It is related to the mineral. Since its components are present in the composition, but the basis of the material is basalt rock. Basalt imparts unique qualities to the material.

Its advantages:

• organic components without formaldehyde and harmful resins;
• thermal insulation qualities, noise insulation;
• does not ignite, does not support combustion;
• biostable;
• plates are convenient and easy to use;
• serves for tens of years.

Flaws:

• high cost of insulation per square meter with basalt slabs;
• absorbs moisture well.

The third type of cotton wool, glass wool, has similar characteristics. It is more convenient to use because the material is rolled.

Extruded foam or extruded polystyrene foam combines the qualities and advantages of mineral boards and conventional foam, thanks to a special production technology.

Its performance is mostly positive:

• lightweight, but durable - this allows you to use it for insulation in large quantities, to work with it just alone;
• closed pores of the material are moisture resistant;
• easy to cut into fragments, it is unbreakable and does not crumble;
• does not cause interest, as a habitat, neither in fungi, nor in rodents;
• low cost.

The disadvantages include: vapor permeability, low fire resistance.

The group of new generation gas-filled plastics also includes polyurethane foam (PPU). Its advantages make the material one of the best for insulating the attic floor: it is lightweight, moisture-resistant and fire-resistant, does not accumulate dust, does not attract living organisms, and is very durable.

There are two types: sheet and spray . Sheet material is very convenient in that it does not crumble in the process of cutting fragments and closely fits the part to the part. The sprayed type of protection creates a monolithic layer under the roof, due to which it is not afraid of precipitation and cold. And also it has good adhesion to various surfaces, is resistant to the appearance of microorganisms and allows you to carry out installation work as soon as possible.

The sprayed material creates better thermal insulation and helps to muffle extraneous sounds, but it has two serious drawbacks. Firstly, for application, you will need an expensive service from professionals with special equipment. Secondly, it is so dense that it "does not breathe." Humid and stuffy air will accumulate in the room if additional ventilation was not possible.

It is advisable to use both types of PPU at the same time . Large areas are covered with sheet material, and hard-to-reach places and crevices are sprayed. This will completely solve the problem of even the coldest attic.

Foam glass is an uncommon and unfairly relegated material. The reason for this is simple - the price is very high. Foam glass, as the name implies, is obtained by foaming fiberglass. The result is a porous (cellular) material that is absolutely not susceptible to fire, safe, durable and meets all the requirements for insulation. If financial possibilities allow, then foam glass as thermal insulation should be considered first of all.

A separate group from the derivatives of plastic and glass are foil materials for insulating premises from the inside. By themselves, they have a small thickness, therefore they are often combined with various variations of foamed cellular materials that are inside between two layers of foil.

The advantages of reflective materials are obvious:

• Light weight and small thickness. An attic is rarely large, especially considering that its dimensions are concealed by the shape of the roof, and a 20 mm foil sheet is much more practical than 200 mm of foam.
• The material is easy to cut, does not crumble, does not slip on the surface.
• There are variants of self-adhesive sheets, in which one side is covered with a reflective layer and the other with an adhesive adhesive. They greatly simplify installation work.
• Foil is an excellent heat reflector. Thanks to her abilities, in the cold season, heat does not leave the room, but in hot weather it remains outside.
• Reflective coatings are hydrophobic; they simply repel water.
• It is at the same time insulation from precipitation, dust, wind, cold.
• Despite the minimum thickness, it copes with the noise insulation function.
• Elastic and flexible.
• Biostable.
• Does not emit toxins and formaldehyde when heated.
• Long lasting.

How to choose?

The choice of a suitable insulation is a crucial stage in the arrangement of a living space on the attic floor.

There are several important factors to consider:

• Accounting for climatic conditions. If severe frosts are raging in the region in the cold season, you need to choose a cellular or porous insulation. Its structure allows warm air to fill empty spaces and keep the room warm. It works like PVC profiles and double-glazed windows. The more layers of cells, the better the material, so the layer thickness should be more than 1-2 cm.
• For regions with high humidity, the hydrophobicity of the material is in the first place. All types of cotton wool are undesirable here, but derivatives of polyethylene and plastic will be just right. You can safely use polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam.
• With a large amount of precipitation in winter, giving a load on the roof, lightweight materials are preferable. For example, Styrofoam and Foil.

• Accounting for indicators of moisture and fire resistance. Even if the climate is not teeming with rain, protecting the insulation from moisture is very important. Wet material ceases to perform its functions, since its thermal conductivity changes, and gains weight.
• As for fire safety, it is rather the observance of all SNiP norms. Choosing a fire-resistant material is not difficult. Most manufacturers add substances called fire retardants to organic raw materials for the manufacture of insulation. They prevent the spread of fire.

• The ability of the material to keep its shape. Measured as modulus of elasticity and resistance to deformation. It depends on this whether it will create a monolithic reliable protection or will begin to sag and drafts and blown places will appear in the room. The undisputed leaders in this regard are not sheet materials, but sprayed materials.
• Material coefficients for several characteristics: thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, sound insulation index.
• Composition of the substance. For the arrangement of a living room in the attic, it is recommended to use environmentally friendly materials, without resins, formaldehydes and toxic substances. Various impregnations are permissible if their presence meets the requirements of GOST.

The type of materials used in the finishing of the roof also matters.

For metal tiles

It is correct to carry out insulation of the attic ceiling under such material with the help of a layer that is not afraid of moisture. Features of the structure and installation of metal tiles are such that water can get under it. It is optimal here to use foamed materials based on plastic or glass, but if the choice fell on mineral wool, it is important to take care of a good waterproofing layer.

It is also necessary to choose a material with an anti-condensation coating. After the condensation reaches a certain temperature, it also turns into water that is dangerous for the insulating layer. The problem can be solved with polypropylene films, geotextile coatings and superdiffuse membranes.

The disadvantages of metal tiles include the fact that their unusual shape allows sediments to accumulate between the layers of the coating, which is almost impossible to make completely sealed. To minimize the damage from this, high-quality ventilation under the roof will help. Natural in this case may not be enough, it is necessary to equip a compulsory one.

Such problems also apply to ceramic embossing and slate sheets. They all have the same shape, which does not allow the sheets to fit tightly.

For corrugated board

It is less problematic with respect to leaks and condensation, since the sheets are tighter, and the joints are treated with sealant and paint. But the material has its own characteristics. Firstly, it is very cold and the insulation must be of high quality and impressive in thickness. Secondly, during the rain, it is very noisy under the roofing made of corrugated board; you need a material with high sound absorption rates.

From the list of suitable materials, it is necessary to exclude thin foil sheets, fiberglass, cellulose insulation of the ecol type. Their thickness and sound insulation indicators are insufficient to ensure comfortable living in the attic under the roof decking.

For the attic above the bath

Along with the type of materials for the roof, the location of the attic must be taken into account: either it is located above all living quarters, or above a part of the house.

One of the problematic options is the attic above the bathhouse. With such an arrangement, it is difficult to equip a living space in it. It is more suitable for a relaxation room, a small living room or a play area, which is necessary after bath procedures.

The main difficulty in choosing materials lies in the microclimate of the room above the bath, which is different from the microclimate above the living rooms. Temperature and humidity conditions in it are unstable, and the possibility of condensation is very high. Of course, under such conditions, neither sawdust, nor cotton wool, nor ecological cellulose-based insulation are suitable. It requires hydrophobic materials like expanded polystyrene and polyurethane foam, foil coatings, good vapor barrier, forced ventilation.

Winter residence houses

There is no universal solution for insulating the attic for winter residence. It all depends on the climatic conditions and materials used in the construction of the house.

Long and harsh winters - solid, porous, temperature-resistant insulation. Warm climate - any material suitable for the type of roof.

In a private wooden house, due to the properties of wood, to retain heat of a fairly thin insulation. Materials based on cellulose, glass or plastic are also suitable. You can use foil with a minimum thickness.

In brick houses with roofs made of corrugated board, tile or slate, additional insulation in the form of air spaces is required. These can be dense porous materials and several layers between them. Insulation of a frame house does not require special efforts, since all the features of specific climatic conditions are already provided for in its design. Any moisture-resistant and fire-resistant materials are suitable here.

How to insulate with your own hands?

The technology for creating thermal insulation in the attic is also available to non-professionals. The key to success is not in the experience of installation work, but in the correct selection of material, the consistent implementation of actions to create a continuous insulated contour and accuracy.

The procedure is as follows:

• Calculation of the permissible load and optimal material thickness.
• Selection of materials and necessary tools (including safety equipment).
• Preparation of the premises: cleaning, dust removal, processing of wooden structures with protective impregnations.
• Installation of the lathing. This is an important and mandatory step that amateurs unknowingly skip. The device for thermal insulation of the attic without lathing and counter-lathing is considered a gross mistake. It is nailed from the inside over the entire roof area.
• Laying a waterproofing film or a diffuse membrane. The mount should not be tight, it is better to let the material sag a little. The sheets are overlapped with each other (15-25 cm) and fastened with tape or foil. A gap of 20 to 50 cm is required between the membrane and the crate.
• Insulation installation. The methods are different, depending on the type of material and the location of the rafters. Roll material can be attached with a slight overlap and fixed with tape or stapler. Insulation sheet for finishing the roof and walls is laid tightly, taking into account a slight shrinkage in the future. The abutment is made as close as possible, the seams are processed with tape. You can use screws and nails for very dense materials.

It is important to dock well in the corners of the pediment and in such difficult areas as the ridge, valley, overhangs. For this, small pieces of material are used, separated in an improvised way.

Particular attention is paid to the contour of the windows. The room will remain cold if warm air comes out through the cracks near the window.

The sequence is as follows: insulation of the roof, ceilings, pediment, partitions, walls. The floor can be insulated both before and after.

Floor insulation is more variable, since it is less influenced by precipitation, winds and frosts.

It can be dry backfill, sawdust, and mineral wool:

• Installation of vapor barrier. It is laid with an overlap, like a membrane, and is fixed in different ways. Typically, there is a line on the material that marks the width of the joint between two sheets.
• Lathing if necessary.
• Decorative finishing.

Frequent mistakes

The correct thermal pyrog for roof insulation is installed in compliance with many nuances.

Non-professionals often make the same mistakes that affect the quality of the thermal insulation of the attic:

• no ventilation gap from the ceiling to the membrane. As a result, the insulation freezes and ceases to work;
• strong sagging of the membrane - this reduces the gap required for ventilation and leads to the formation of condensation;
• attempts to save on insulating materials, laying them without the necessary joints, as a result of which gaps are formed and heat goes out, warming the roof, and not the room;

• tamping the material to such an extent that it warps and crumples, losing its properties;
• unsewn cornices - this leads to the fact that precipitation gets free access to the insulation and saturates it with moisture;
• lack of ventilation;
• lack of tape or tape at the joints of the sheet material.

Useful Tips

Installation professionals recommend following a few simple rules when insulating an attic so that work and finances are not wasted:

1. Use hard and dense materials or dusting. They are better fixed and do not deform in the process.
2. Increasing the distance between the attic ceiling and the top of the ridge will create an "air cushion" and improve the quality of the warm circuit.
3. It is better to leave the ventilation gap not only between the crate and the membrane, but also between the membrane and the insulation.
4. Treatment of wooden structures with special impregnations will extend the life of the roof and insulation.
5. Optimal thermal insulation means small ventilation holes for every 10-15 square meters.