The concept of a warm roof has been known for about ten years. This term refers to the heating of the roofing material of the roof by systems using cable.
Roof insulation
True, many ordinary people who do not often encounter construction processes may not understand the term “warm roof” and mistakenly mistake a completely different concept for this indicator.
This heating method was invented in the sixties in the USA. The Western system came to us only at the beginning of 2000. Thanks to the anti-icing system, better known as a warm roof, you can protect house facades, gutters and gutters from the harmful effects of ice.
Consequences of icing
Cable laying
This heating method was invented in the sixties in the USA. The Western system came to us only at the beginning of 2000.
Thanks to the anti-icing system, better known as a warm roof or warm roof, it is possible to protect house facades, gutters and gutters from the harmful effects of ice, which when melted can cause big trouble.
Consequences of icing
Due to the formation of ice, quite a lot of unpleasant moments happen. One of the most dangerous moments is the formation of icicles.
Icicles can reach incredible sizes, as a result of which they cannot support their weight and break off. Such an icicle can cause significant harm to a person or equipment that will be in the area of falling ice.
The second rather unpleasant moment can be considered the icing of gutters. In such cases, the organization of water flow through designated channels is disrupted.
Because of this, water can enter the attic and through it into the living rooms. This results in damage to the cladding material of the living space and harmful moisture in the attic, which can lead to damage to the roof frame.
In addition, it should be noted that the thermal insulation coating of the floors is also damaged.
Using an anti-icing system, you can achieve:
- Absence of snow masses and icicles on the roof and auxiliary systems;
- Proper operation of the drainage system;
- No leaks or ruptures of drainage pipes;
- Eliminate excess moisture in the attic.
Icing on the roof
As practice shows, snow on the roof does not pose any danger, except for additional weight on the roof frame. The danger from snow appears when it begins to melt, resulting in the formation of ice.
Do-it-yourself insulation
And because of the ice, icicles and ice plugs appear in drainage systems. In addition, ice has a negative impact on the quality of the roof covering. And this is not the only unpleasant moment for the roof.
The main reason for the formation of ice is the difference in air temperature between day and night. At the same time, snow melts due to heat transfer from the living space to the attic, and from there to the roof.
For this reason, a warm roof prevents all these problems. Although a lot depends on the material with which the roof is covered.
In cases where the outside air temperature does not rise above fifteen degrees Celsius, there is no need to use an anti-icing system.
At this temperature, the air contains a small percentage of humidity, which completely eliminates the possibility of precipitation. And, if there is no precipitation, then there is nothing for ice to form from.
Heating cable installation
Cabling
The heating cable is installed along the entire defrosted water line. This path begins from the gutters and ends at the end of the drainpipes.
If the house is equipped with a storm drain, it must also be heated.
In addition to installation nuances, the technological conditions for distributing power among the individual components of the drainage system should be taken into account. This distribution can be made taking into account the shape and design of the roof.
Operating principle of the heating system
The cable is laid not only in the roof, but also through the drainage system
The basic principle of operation of a heating cable is to heat the cable itself, which is attached to the drainage system and the edge of the roof.
Thermal energy is transferred to the surface with which the cable comes into contact, as a result of which there is no possibility of the formation of ice and ice plugs.
Considering the frequent cases of icicle breaks, warm roofs are considered much safer for passers-by and equipment that may be in the area where ice falls.
In addition, the presence of such a system protects the roof from deformation and destruction. The appearance of a residential building is also considered important, as it looks much more presentable without the presence of snow masses and icicles hanging from the roofs.
Types of heated roofs
Heated roofs can be divided into several types. The first on this list is the so-called cold roof. This design has fairly reliable roof insulation, and the air temperature in the attic is much higher than in the open space.
Ice forms on such structures during a thaw. In this case, there is no point in heating the roof itself, and it is enough to lay the cable only in the drainage system. The power of the heating cable does not exceed 60 W/m.
Warm roofs do not have the required thermal insulation, which leads to heating of the lower layer of snow, which turns into water.
It is this water that enters the drainage system that forms blockages and traffic jams. For this option, heating the roof edge is required. This will prevent snow from accumulating on the roof.
On pitched roofs, the heating cable is installed both on the drainage system and along the edges of the roof. There is an option to install the system in some areas of the roof and valleys. By the way, this is directly related to the question of how to make a warm roof. Because it is the correct installation of the cable that will lead to the quality of water drainage.
On flat roofs, the heating system must be placed in all pipes that are in open space. Such roofs need to be heated in two places.
The heating area in the upper part of the roof should be at least four meters, and the area in the lower part - about two meters. If there are overflows in areas of a multi-level roof, it is also necessary to install cables and also heat them. By the way, in places where there are overflows in the roof, attention is more serious. Still, this is a junction.
Components of the heating system
The heating system consists of a heating part and electrical devices, the installation of which is provided by specialists. The heating part includes a heating cable and fasteners.
Through these materials, snow is converted into water, which flows freely to the ground.
Electrical devices consist of junction boxes, fastening elements, temperature sensors and power cables. And only the cable is attached to the roofs using fasteners, the rest of the devices are installed in the attic.
Heated roof areas
And, of course, standard roof insulation materials are used to insulate the roof.
The roof is divided into heated and unheated zones. Heated roof areas include:
- Trays and gutters for drainage;
- Drainpipe;
- Funnels and areas around them;
- The junction of the pipe and the gutter;
- Roofing joints;
- Parapet windows with water jets;
- Cornice;
- Drip system;
- The roof surface is flat type;
- Trays for collecting water.
The heating system can be controlled in two ways. The simplest, but most expensive is automatic heating control. By the way, its device is more complex. Using external sensors for measuring air and roof temperatures, the “warm roof” system is automatically activated at the right time.
A less expensive option is manual control of the roof heating system. The scheme of warm roofs for attic-type houses in this case will only benefit, since you, if desired, will both turn on and off the heating of the additional space.
The disadvantage of the second option is that it is not always possible to be at home to turn on the heating system at the right time. In this case, even with a heating cable, the drainage system may freeze.
Warm roof roof pie
Despite all these difficulties, warm roof technology is quite simple in design. Its use does not require specialized knowledge or skills, and the installation of the heating cable can be done on your own.
Currently, a large number of Russians are tired of living in cities, build country houses and settle there. Many people build these houses themselves, but not everyone knows how important a warm roof is in a house. It serves as the main part of the thermal insulation of the house and provides great energy savings.
Roofing pie with insulation
Having a warm roof for a house is more important than the foundation. A house may stand on a poor or even unfilled foundation, but it is impossible to live in a house without a roof.
Roofs are divided into two types. Cold and warm roofs. If the house has a non-living attic space, then it does not need to be insulated. If you are going to live in the attic or arrange some kind of functional room, then you cannot avoid installing a warm roof.
Warm roof waterproofing
A warm roof extends the life of the house, minimizes the occurrence of emergency situations, and reduces the cost of maintaining the house.
Roof insulation
Manufacturers produce various roofing insulation materials for installing warm roofs.
Most popular:
Roof insulation
- Foamed polystyrene foam. Lightweight material belonging to the class of foam plastics. Many experts consider it more effective than mineral wool. Service life 50 years.
- Polyurethane foam. It has good thermal insulation and waterproofing, low vapor permeability. Service life is more than 50 years. Used for roof and roof insulation.
- Stone wool. Mineral wool is used to make slabs. Used for installing warm roofs. The main advantages are: it does not burn, has a good level of thermal insulation, and is little susceptible to rodents and microorganisms. Service life more than 60 years.
- Glass wool is one of the varieties of mineral wool. Serves as an excellent material for thermal insulation and roof insulation. Has a long service life.
Let's consider several options for installing a warm roof:
- insulation is located between the rafters;
- insulation is located under the rafters;
- insulation is located above the rafters;
- All these methods can be combined with each other.
- Among the combined options for installing a warm roof, the following are popular:
- insulation is located above and between the rafters;
- insulation is located under and between the rafters;
- the insulation is located above and between, under the rafters.
To install a warm roof, we will need various roofing and power tools:
- Cutting tools - circular saw, electric jigsaw, metal hacksaw, roofing scissors.
- Drill.
- Screwdriver.
- Hammer, rubber mallet.
- Roulette.
- Marker.
- Sealant and polyurethane foam.
- Stapler.
- Cord.
Individual features of each roof insulation option
The insulation is placed between the rafters.
Roof insulation
The simplest and most popular option for a warm roof is the placement of insulation between the rafters. This method is used with complete thermal insulation of the rafters. From the beginning we waterproof the roof with under-roofing film. It serves as protection against atmospheric moisture, for insulation and rafters. We fasten it with a stapler. We choose staples with a length of 10 mm. We install insulation along the entire height of the rafters. When installing thermal insulation, make sure that the insulation fits tightly to the rafters. Cut the roof insulation boards 15 mm larger than the distance between the rafters. The insulation board has good elasticity and will fit tightly between the rafters.
This warm roof device is attractive due to its simplicity and low cost. Roof thermal insulation work can be done in any weather after you have installed the roofing film.
A significant drawback of this roof insulation option is the possibility of the formation of cold bridges.
The insulation is placed on top of the rafters
When using this option for roof insulation, the interior trim is installed. A vapor barrier is laid on it, all its joints are taped. The insulation laid on top forms a thermal contour. A waterproofing film with high vapor permeability is laid on top of the thermal insulation.
Roof with insulation
This type of roof insulation reduces the formation of cold bridges to a minimum.
Disadvantage This option for roof insulation is difficult to carry out work with roofs of non-standard configuration.
The insulation is located under the rafters. This insulation option is almost never used in suburban construction.
Combined roof insulation option
The installation of an insulated roof using a combined method, when the insulation is located under and between the rafters, is the most popular and is often used in practice. This looks like an option when the insulation is mounted between the rafters with their complete insulation, with an additional inner layer of insulation, which is mounted between the cross beams. The rafters overlap completely. The cross beam has dimensions equal to the dimensions of the insulation.
Place a vapor barrier film between the layers of insulation. One nuance should be taken into account here - the thermal resistance of the roof insulation from the inside should not exceed 20% of the thermal resistance of the insulation laid between the rafters. If this balance is upset, condensation will be deposited on the vapor barrier film.
Alternatively, a vapor barrier film can be installed from the inside of the roof, but then there is the possibility of it being damaged during other work.
Simple flat roof insulation
Installing a warm roof according to this scheme is optimal if you do not have large financial resources. This warm roof device is characterized by ease and accessibility of installation and allows you to achieve effective thermal insulation of the roof using inexpensive materials.
The option of installing insulation above and between the rafters is the most expensive and labor-intensive. It is possible that you will not be able to do without assistants and professionals. Most often it is used when constructing a new roof and replacing old roofing.
For a long time in Rus', there were no problems with roof insulation at all: straw was knitted or reeds were dried, and that’s all - the roof of the house was reliably protected from both rain and cold. But modern coatings do not have any heat-insulating properties at all, and with all the development of progress, up to 30% of all heat leaks through such a roof.
Therefore, if you do not want to warm the atmosphere, study in detail the insulation of the roof from the inside - in this article we will cover all the points!
Conventionally, roof insulation in the construction world is divided into attic, when the roof slopes are insulated, and attic, when the ceiling is thermally insulated.
How is this? We can say that attics also have their own attic - this is a ventilation gap between the internal insulation and the laid roofing. The fact is that heat, according to all the laws of physics, always rises and seeks its release into the atmosphere. It passes through both the insulation and the vapor barrier, and together with water vapor. And here, in the eaves plumb, outside air is drawn in, which passes to the ridge and along the way picks up both vapors and excess heat. Through aerators or the same ridge, all this is safely removed and does not cause any problems.
Those. in an ordinary, unused roof, the attic occupies the entire space from the ridge to the attic floor, and in the attic, the attic is just a small space under the slopes between the insulation and the roofing. And in insulating both, the type of roof has its own approach, which we will now study.
Cold roof insulation technology
If your roof is cold, then the heat-insulating layer should not be on the slopes, but on the floor of the attic. This is where it stops the heat flow coming from below and prevents the cold from the roof from descending into the living space below. As a result, the temperature in the attic is kept within +1-2 degrees, the roofing material is not heated. In fact, such an attic serves as the necessary air gap between the living rooms of the house and the thin roof covering.
All roll, slab and bulk insulation materials are suitable for attic floors. Because the ceiling does not have a slope, it does not have any special requirements for the heat-insulating material used: nothing will crumble or be exposed.
Please ensure that, after insulating the roof, there remains properly organized ventilation: there should be dormer windows located opposite each other, ventilation ridges and aerators, and in the eaves there should be round-the-clock access to suck in outside air. As a result, the temperature in a non-residential attic should be as close as possible to the street temperature, and the living space below is already separated from it by proper thermal insulation of the floor.
Now let's take a closer look at insulating a cold roof.
Insulation with mineral wool
When insulating the attic floor with mineral wool, first of all pay attention to the distance between the slats or joists - it should be slightly less than the roll or mat of insulation.
Typically, thermal insulation of the internal space of the roof is complicated by the uneven surface of the attic floor, differences in its height, a large number of slats and bars, not to mention ventilation pipes and electrical wiring:
Ecowool insulation
If you want the house to breathe and steam to escape easily, then insulate the attic floor with modern eco-wool:
Insulation with blown-in cotton wool
Recently, blowing - roof insulation with blown-in cotton wool has become increasingly popular. The Japanese “insulation” Esbro-Vul II is used here, which does not emit dust and therefore does not create problems. And the blowing method itself is actually quite simple:
- Step 1. Place a vertical ruler on the floor and mark the required height of mineral wool spraying.
- Step 2. Apply insulation in an even layer to the desired level.
- Step 3. We lay the insulation so tightly that it weighs 25 kg per cubic meter.
Note that this type of insulation is the most popular in Japan, and has already found many supporters in Russia.
Glass wool insulation
And finally, glass wool - if you will not use the attic at all. The fact is that even glass wool closed under the sheathing sometimes causes irritation to the ENT organs. This is why you have to wear a respirator and goggles when working with it:
Insulation with sawdust
When insulating a roof with sawdust, follow these instructions:
- Step 1. First of all, you need to protect the wooden structure. To do this, we first apply an antiseptic composition, then fire-bioprotective mixtures, and on top - water-repellent agents.
- Step 2. The next step is to place a backing (cardboard is possible) and close the seams and cracks, if any, with foam (large) or sealant (small). When finished, we trim off the foam that has come out and level it with the beams.
- Step 3. Now add sawdust in two layers: first the larger fraction, as well as shavings, and then the fine ones, so that dust does not form in the room.
- Step 4. To prevent rodents from growing on the attic floor, add dry lime and small broken glass to the sawdust.
Warm roof insulation technology
The mansard roof is a special design. There is also a cold attic here, only it is very small, because... the insulated attic ceiling is pulled almost flush against it using additional sheathing. In fact, there is only space for ventilation, and nothing more. And ventilation serves to ensure that the heat from the attic does not touch the roofing, on which the snow in winter should remain as a heat insulator and not melt.
Here is a striking example of the most standard situation of improper insulation of an attic: they install the cheapest rafters of 15 cm, put fluffy mineral wool in two layers of 5 cm and cover it all with a roofing covering. Ventilation - only 5 cm, without inflow and outlet, because... There was no specialist nearby to advise. As a result, in the summer there is unbearable heat, from which even air conditioners cannot help, and in the winter there is a generous amount of ice on the roof. And all because in this circuit it is the street air that heats up the most. In other words, that very small attic that we were talking about must be there, and far from 5 cm.
And in such a roof you need to think through the vapor barrier especially carefully:
And one more thing. The material used to make rafters is always designed for a certain weight. Thus, a roof under soft tiles can also be built from plasterboard profiles, but it cannot be insulated with heavy basalt wool. Also, the attic roof needs good forced ventilation so that the insulation does not rot or deteriorate. Therefore, carefully read all the points of the master classes we prepared:
Insulation with mineral wool
Follow these simple instructions:
- Step 1. Install hydro and wind protection. If possible, use modern membranes - they are stronger and more durable. In any case, fasten the material with an overlap, and seal all joints with construction tape.
- Step 2. Now measure the distance between adjacent rafters.
- Step 3. Using a regular or stationery knife, easily cut the insulation into the required pieces and insert it between the rafters.
- Step 4. We install additional lathing between the membrane and the inner lining.
Please note that you need to attach the vapor barrier membrane with the smooth side to the insulation, and the fleecy side - inside the room.
If the distance between the beams is no more than 60 centimeters, it will be more convenient for you to use square insulation mats:
- Step 1. It is advisable to add rough sheathing inside, under the rafters, so that the insulation has something to rest on. Make the distance between the bars about 20-30 cm. Ordinary uncut wood with medium-sized nails is also quite suitable for this purpose, it is only important that the bars are of the same thickness.
- Step 2. After installing the rough sheathing inside the structure, remove all dust and dirt using a construction vacuum cleaner.
- Step 3. Next, we treat all wood with a special agent against fungus, rot and mold. Just use for this purpose not a spray gun, which is less effective, but a regular paint brush. With its help, you can achieve deep penetration of the product into the wood, and this is important.
- Step 4. Allow the product to completely absorb and dry for two to three days.
As a result, all your sheets should lie tightly - a little tighter than you need at first glance. This is the only way to avoid the presence of cracks and subsequent freezing of the roof.
And one more point: ordinary mineral wool slabs are not particularly suitable for insulating roof slopes, because... They don’t stick well between the rafters, but they can be used to insulate gables.
Glass wool insulation
To insulate roof slopes, purchase the best glass wool from well-known manufacturers. Such glass wool practically does not contain dangerous glass dust, which is what annoys workers the most. Also, even after installation it does not emit harmful substances, which is even confirmed by the Finnish Institute of Health. After all, it’s one thing to throw this “thorn” onto the ceiling of an unused attic, and another thing to cover it with clapboard in a billiard room or private office on the attic floor.
Combined insulation
If desired and appropriate, you can insulate the roof from the inside with two different types of insulation at the same time. But one important point must be taken into account - vapor permeability. The fact is that when selecting different insulation materials for an effective combination, we usually only summarize their heat-insulating properties. But their vapor permeability is completely different!
And, if, for example, you put mineral wool down first when insulating, and foam plastic on top, then the water vapor that gets into the wool will begin to tend to the colder part of the roof and bury itself in the absolutely non-breathable foam plastic. As a result, all the insulation will simply suffocate and “delight” with mold. But on the contrary, it is possible: first we put foam plastic on the bottom of the rafters, and then mineral wool on it. If some steam passes through the vapor barrier and the cracks between the foam boards, it will easily overcome the mineral wool and enter the ventilation duct. Therefore, there is such a rule: the top layer of insulation should always have high vapor permeability and thermal conductivity.
And finally, if the warm roof will be used as a sauna or an additional bathroom, the insulation and roofing pie in it must be thought out especially carefully.
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The structure of a modern roof is a complex multi-layer structure, and the materials used are manufactured using the latest technologies based on advanced developments. The roofing “pie” contains insulating and heat-saving layers. The interior of buildings is primarily protected from the adverse effects of weather conditions by waterproofing and insulation.
A competently designed and professionally constructed multi-layer warm roof helps the residents of the house to survive cold weather and precipitation without problems.
The truss structure shown in the photo, which is the roof frame, must be strong and reliable, otherwise the roof will soon not be able to perform its functions, which will lead to leaks and expensive repairs.
When creating a roof covering, you should also not forget about providing additional ventilation. Freely circulating fresh air prevents condensation from accumulating between the dense layers of the roofing pie. Rafter structures and other roof elements made of natural wood provide the necessary level of ventilation and at the same time slightly add weight to the roofing system. Another argument in favor of using these materials is their environmental safety.
When a warm roof is being built, one cannot do without reinforcing layers, which are hard and reliable materials, such as concrete tiles, gravel, etc. They protect less durable roofing products from mechanical damage. True, the materials used for arranging the roof, which have considerable weight, make its structure heavier, so such nuances should certainly be taken into account. The topmost layer of the “pie” is the covering, which is created using roofing material. The choice of its texture, color, and aesthetic characteristics depends on the individual preferences of property owners and the design solution; it can be corrugated sheets, metal tiles, slate or more modern products.
Roof insulation materials
How well a warm roof is made with your own hands largely depends on the insulation materials used. When choosing waterproofing and insulation, the design parameters included in the project are taken into account. For example, in the region where construction is proposed, climatic conditions require the house to be well protected from moisture and precipitation, or there are strong gusts of wind.
When carrying out calculations, all expected loads on the building, and accordingly on the roof, are certainly taken into account. Therefore, the presence of layers of the roofing “pie” for each house can vary significantly.
Waterproofing layer . It is necessary to create protection against moisture. Frequent and heavy rains, melting snow and fogs can cause great damage to the building and the people in it. The use of waterproofing materials is a reliable barrier to water trying to penetrate inside the roof structure.
Vapor barrier layer . The use of this type of insulation provides high-quality protection against all kinds of fumes and prevents the appearance of condensation on various surfaces.
Thermal insulation layer . Allows you to retain heat inside the building and prevents cold air masses from entering the attic from the street. The range of thermal insulation materials today is huge, so you can choose the necessary products for insulation, taking into account the individual requirements for a particular home.
Soundproofing layer . Materials to suppress loud sounds coming from outside are not used as often as other types of insulation, but they provide a comfortable environment for people to stay indoors.
Types of thermal insulation
A large list of insulation products allows you to choose the best option and create a truly warm roof in accordance with the design solution. You can give preference to inexpensive materials or purchase modern products manufactured on the basis of the latest scientific developments. True, the latter option will cost much more for homeowners, but it will provide them with reliable protection of buildings and a long service life.
Expanded clay . This method of roof insulation has been used for a long time. This is a lightweight building material in the form of oval or round granules, which is made from natural baked clay. Thus, the flowability of expanded clay goes well with the thermal insulation properties of the original raw material when creating a warm roof with your own hands.
Foam plastic . Roof insulation using it is considered one of the most popular thermal insulation options, used for both pitched and flat roofs. It extends the life of the roofing structure.
Polyurethane foam . It belongs to the group of gas-filled plastics and is considered a more technologically advanced heat insulator. The work of insulating with polyurethane foam is easier than using expanded clay. This rather soft material is produced in the form of large slabs, and this is related to the features of its installation. During installation, additional reinforcement of polyurethane foam in the roof structure is required.
Penoplex . The use of this modern material refers to new solutions in thermal insulation. Compact foam boards retain heat excellently, although they are flexible. The layer of thermal insulation created by them is thinner than that of similar materials. Thanks to the characteristics described above, penoplex is becoming increasingly popular.
Thermal insulation of a house roof is an essential aspect of roof construction or major repairs. The selection of installation technology for the thermal insulation layer depends on the combination of the roof, the type of insulation and the recommendations that apply to the room located under the roof.
The need for roof insulation
How to make the roof warmer to significantly reduce heat loss at home? First of all, you need to choose the right insulation materials and definitely adhere to the installation technology. A well-insulated roof increases the thermal efficiency of a house by 15%, making it possible to create an attic into a room suitable for year-round residence.
Especially great demands are placed on the heat insulator of the attic roof of residential buildings located in areas with cool winters. The roofing layer of summer attics or used attics includes a thinner insulating layer. The roof, under which an unused attic is located, in most cases is not insulated - thermal insulation is installed on the attic floor or ceiling of residential premises. A warm, non-residential attic is well ventilated, which prevents rotting of the wood elements of the roof frame.
When installing pitched and flat roofs, various roof insulation options are used.
Thermal insulation of a flat roof
How to install insulated roofing when installing a flat roof? It should be noted that a flat roof can be insulated both from the outside and inside.
The composition of the flat roof pie includes:
- vapor barrier;
- heat insulator;
- a layer of waterproofing material in a roll;
- bulk layer (drainage + cement-sand mixture).
Insulation from the outside is best done using basalt mineral wool. You can also use polystyrene foam and other rigid insulation materials. It is necessary to take into account that polymer insulation cannot be used when installing roof coverings with high fire safety requirements.
Thermal insulation of pitched roofs
The pitched roof pie is created with insulation along the rafters. It is important to understand how to properly insulate the roof of a house, so as not to allow mistakes that ultimately lead to damage to wooden structures.
The most famous insulation material in private housing construction is mineral wool. This is an easy-to-install, non-flammable material that you can purchase at a low cost. But the design of the fleece itself helps the accumulation of moisture, which causes a significant decrease in the quality of the thermal insulation of the material, and after some time it incites rotting of the components of the rafter system. Likewise, when creating insulation, it is important to provide for proper ventilation and waterproofing and vapor barrier of the roofing pie.
Installation of a pitched roof heat insulator is created from the attic side during construction work or roof repairs. If repair work is underway, before laying the insulation you need to check the condition of the rafters - rotting parts need to be replaced with new ones. It is also worth finishing all wooden structures with a fire-retardant composition.
The pitched roof pie includes:
- final roof covering;
- hydrobarrier (layer of material for waterproofing work);
- heat insulator;
- vapor barrier;
- finishing inside (optional).
Proper roof insulation requires good air exchange, for which you need to create layers of air between:
- under-roof waterproofing and roof covering;
- insulation and water barrier;
- vapor barrier and internal lining (if provided).
Air circulation (removal and free inflow) is provided thanks to specialized vents, one of which must be located in the roof overhang, and the second - under the ridge.
Materials for insulating pitched roofs
Roof insulation technology involves the use of different materials. Particularly common thermal insulators include mineral wool and fiberglass-based wool (in panels or rolls), polymer board materials - polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam. The rules for their installation are similar, but it must be emphasized that installing slab material is much easier and more comfortable.
Instead of waterproofing, in most cases, roofing material or a waterproofing membrane is used, which is dense for water, but capable of draining water from the insulation. The vapor barrier layer can be made from:
- roofing felt;
- polyethylene films;
- glassine;
- foil materials placed with foil towards the attic room.
To make a roofing pie with high performance parameters, it is recommended to use a specialized vapor barrier membrane to make a vapor barrier: it removes condensation outside from the insulation and does not allow steam and water to pass inside the roofing pie.
Stages of insulation work on a pitched roof
The roof insulation scheme is quite simple. The first step is to measure the distance between the rafters. The panels of cotton insulation should be cut according to the results obtained, adding 1 centimeter. This will make it possible to fasten the heat insulator between the rafters. This stage of work becomes significantly easier if the roofing system is designed and installed from the very beginning to accommodate the use of slab insulation boards of a specific width.
If there is no waterproofing between the rafters and the already installed roof covering, you should first attach a water barrier. The membrane must envelop the rafters; it is best to fasten it with a repair stapler to the rafters themselves and to the roof sheathing in the openings between them. The waterproofing must be installed under the overhang from the bottom of the roof to ensure moisture removal. It is necessary to take into account that with this option for fastening the hydraulic barrier, the insulation material must be installed without the necessary air layer. Due to this, it is recommended to use a superdiffusion membrane as waterproofing.
If there is a waterproofing layer under the roof covering, nails are tied onto the rafters in increments of about 10 cm. The nails should be placed at a distance of 3-5 cm from the waterproofing layer. You need to stretch a polyethylene thread or cord between the nails, tamping them to the end. This will create an air gap between the hydrobarrier and the insulation. If the heat insulator is supposed to be fixed with a cord, and not with lathing for cladding inside, you also need to hammer nails along the outer edge of the rafters.
If, when deciding how to make the roof of a house warmer, you chose cotton slab material for insulation, then the prepared parts should be lightly squeezed and inserted between the rafters. When using more rigid panels made of foam plastic and similar materials, it is important to definitely adjust them to size so that the panels fit tightly into the opening. Thermal insulation is recommended to be performed in 2 layers. If it is necessary to install not entire sheets into the opening, but narrower parts, joining them along the length or width, you need to make sure that the connections of the second layer do not overlap with the connections of the first. The thermal insulator should not support the surface of the rafter legs. If the rafters have a small width for installing two layers of insulation, an additional block is nailed to them.
The heat insulator is attached between the rafters using a stretched cord attached to nails hammered in advance. Or, in the form of fasteners, a frame frame made of slats is used, which is intended for installing cladding indoors. The slats are nailed to the rafters in increments of 30-40 cm. In this option, the vapor barrier is stapled to the rafters before installing the sheathing: the thickness of the slats makes it possible to create the required air gap between the sheathing and the vapor barrier.
When installing a vapor barrier, great attention is paid to the impermeability of the layer. The fabric is laid with an overlap of at least 10 cm; the joints should be glued with adhesive tape in 2 layers. It is necessary to do a very high-quality installation of vapor barrier around the chimney and in the connecting places with the walls. The last step involves installing the sheathing using wood-based or plasterboard slabs.
You can learn in detail about how to make the roof of a house warmer from the video.