It is impossible to achieve complete thermal insulation of a house if you pay attention only to its walls. It will be necessary to insulate both the floor and the attic. This question is especially acute regarding the attic. We all remember the law of physics, which states that heated air has a lower specific gravity than cold. Therefore, he always rises.
The same thing happens in the house. Warm air rises up to the attic, while cold air concentrates closer to the floor. Therefore, if the attic is not properly insulated, 30% of the warm air will leave the room unhindered.
Next, we will talk about what features have attic insulation in a wooden house, what materials should be used for this, and how to properly heat the attic.
Content
Features of attic insulation
Proper thermal insulation of a house always requires compliance with a number of requirements:
- warm air is always saturated with household steam. And this means that heated air always has water impurities. A tree under the influence of high humidity tends to rot and mold. Therefore, it is worth thinking about creating a waterproofing layer;
- insulation material also requires waterproofing, as the tree is able to "breathe" and let air through it. Wood has a lower bearing capacity than brick or metal. Therefore, the insulation material should not create an additional load on the overlap. In order to avoid fire, the insulation must necessarily comply with fire safety requirements.
Any measures relating to the insulation of the house are allowed to be carried out only after its complete shrinkage. That is, before you start warming the attic, you must wait for the passage of one and a half years. Most of the shrinkage during this time will already have time to happen, all subsequent changes will not be so significant and will not entail any deformation of the insulating material.
What materials are used to warm the attic
As a rule, only the ceiling is subject to thermal insulation. But, in the event that the attic is planned to be used as a living room, it is also necessary to insulate the roof of the house.
The following thermal insulation materials are used to warm the attic:
- mineral wool and glass wool;
- polyurethane foam;
- polystyrene foam.
Mineral wool and glass wool
Mineral wool, as well as glass wool, are materials that can be classified as environmentally friendly. Also, such heaters have fire resistance, lightness. Another advantage is the ease of installation.
Among the shortcomings can be noted only excessive water absorption. This leads to the fact that mineral wool and glass wool require additional waterproofing and a vapor barrier.
Polyurethane foam
This is a plastic that is filled with gas. Such material is sold in the form of pressure cylinders. It is applied through a spray.
Among its advantages can be identified the absence of seams and, as a consequence, the absence of cold bridges. Polyurethane foam has a high adhesion to wood, and does not require additional fixing systems.
This insulation has a low weight, so it does not put an additional load on the ceiling. Also, polyurethane foam has high rates in the field of thermal insulation and sound insulation, resistance to decay and the action of aggressive environments. Its only drawback is the high price compared to similar products.
Expanded polystyrene
Expanded polystyrene is a polystyrene subject to additional processing. The material has high strength. Under the condition of proper operation, the insulation has excellent vapor impermeability. However, polystyrene foam has a significant drawback - the material contributes to the spread of fire in the building.
Attic insulation technique
In the event that the attic does not carry the function of a living room, the warming process will look like this:
- first, the surface to be insulated must be cleaned of debris and mold;
- then you need to treat the floor with an antiseptic and fill the cracks, if any;
- then you need to cover the attic with a waterproofing layer; which must let steam through to avoid rotting overlap.
- then - spread the logs, to which the floor covering will be attached;
- then it is necessary to lay out the thermal insulation in an even layer with the movement of gaps and crevices;
- then you need to lay a waterproofing, but without the absorption of steam;
- further, if the attic is planned to be made a living room, all layers will need to be covered with expanded clay with further viscous;
- the final action is the finish.
We recommend that you contact the BrusCenter construction company. A company with experienced specialists specializes in construction of wooden houses and turnkey baths and shrinking.
Thermal insulation of the attic is one of the most important measures in warming a house. Therefore, it is worth paying due attention to him in the choice of materials and quality of execution.