According to statistics, over 30% of heat loss in a house occurs on the roof. Inadequate insulation causes icicles to form in winter and moisture to accumulate in gutters and roof structures. In addition, the resulting moisture provokes the appearance of fungus and mold, which lead to damage to the roof structures, thus reducing the service life of the roof. Therefore, the question of how and with what to insulate the roof is relevant for many.
How is the roof insulated?
There are quite a lot of materials used in this process. When choosing insulation, you should pay attention to its thermal conductivity, durability, resistance to moisture, fire and frost, ability to maintain a stable shape, weight, environmental friendliness and soundproofing properties.
From the point of view of the method of working with the material, it is classified as roll, slab, bulk and sprayed. The following types are most often used in the work:
- Mineral wool is popular due to its high thermal insulation, low price, environmental friendliness and safety. Flat and pitched roofs are insulated using mineral wool.
- Glass wool - used for laying on flat surfaces from the outside.
- Polyurethane foam - this insulation is advantageous in that it allows you to create excellent thermal insulation.
- Penoizol is a sprayable polymer material. It represents the ideal combination of price and quality.
- Foam concrete is a low-density foam material that does not create a load on the base of the building; benefits from heat retention.
- Expanded clay - its peculiarity is its ability to drain sediment. The material is poured onto the roofing surface, compacted and covered with screed.
In addition, the list of insulation materials also includes foam glass, ecowool and sawdust. Each of the listed types implies its own technology. Manufacturers often provide a detailed description of how to insulate a roof with their help.
Tips and tricks for roof insulation
As a rule, such work involves both external and internal insulation. In the latter case, this is usually done for houses with a pitched roof. The algorithm of actions will be as follows:
- installation of a lattice base made of slats with laying of a waterproofing layer;
- installation of insulation using the prescribed method;
- fixing the vapor barrier film;
- processing of joints;
- fastening slats to create a ventilation gap.
External methods of roof insulation are used depending on its purpose. For the roof used, a cement screed is formed on top of the insulation and reinforced with metal mesh. Next, bitumen mastic is glued and a layer of geotextile is attached for protection.
For unused roofs, the surfaces are first cleaned of dirt, unevenness is eliminated, then a vapor barrier is laid and insulation is installed. When laying insulation, special attention is paid to joints near window blocks, corners, pipes, and bends.
