10 best roof insulation

This type of insulation is identical in composition and characteristics to natural cork, has high external characteristics (an excellent material for attic sheathing), but is much cheaper. It is made in the form of plates with a thickness of 10 to 30 cm.This environmentally friendly material is widely used in construction, has high soundproofing properties, durability, is not subject to temperature fluctuations, and is convenient for processing and installation. In addition, it is resistant to moisture, fungus and mold.

It is mainly used for thermal insulation of pitched and flat roofs, walls, floors, attics, facades and floors. Experts note its high fire safety, resistance to mechanical stress and affordable price. It can also be used to improve sound insulation in homes. On pitched roofs, it allows not only to create a reliable cut-off of cold, but also serves as a finishing material.

Innovative insulation, consisting of waste from the woodworking industry with the addition of cement and other additives. Available in the form of panels or slabs of different sizes and dimensions. It has good insulating properties - it does not let in cold air and noise, it is easy to process, it can be used to insulate private houses and non-residential buildings. Safe for humans, natural and low cost.

The main scope of application is sheathing, the creation of a subfloor, insulation of the roof of facades, attics. It is widely used in monolithic construction with fixed formwork. It has a high degree of adhesion, best of all connects the reinforced concrete core and the shell. It is considered one of the most environmentally friendly materials - natural wood does not contain toxic components, it is safe and harmless to humans and the environment.

This thermal insulation material has already become popular in our country. The insulation combines unique characteristics - it does not absorb moisture, therefore, does not swell, does not shrink, is resistant to decay and chemicals, and does not burn. Its high strength makes it possible to obtain a rigid base when laying thermal insulation on logs, followed by covering the decorative layer.

Expanded polystyrene can be used when building a house for a flat roof or pitched roof, it is used for floors, facades, foundations, attics. It is also used in industrial construction to isolate engineering structures. This material is the best for insulation at low temperatures, is able to withstand record temperatures down to -70 ° C, is stable, environmentally friendly and durable. Sound insulation is worse compared to foam or mineral wool, and the seams when laid in one layer can be blown due to rigidity.

Styrofoam is considered a universal insulation, which is used at different stages of building a house. It should be noted that there are many brands that differ in density and graininess. So white polystyrene PSB-15 is not suitable for laying on floors due to low strength. The exception is laying between the lags. But filling the space in the roofing pie is very convenient. Styrofoam attracts attention primarily due to its low price and low weight. The material is easily cut with a regular knife, and there are no problems with installation either.

Many users consciously purchase the cheapest heat insulator, understanding all its shortcomings.The material crumbles, breaks, decomposes. It cannot be precisely adjusted to each other, so you have to foam the resulting cracks. To ensure the fire safety of a dwelling, it is necessary to arrange a fireproof fence.

Foam glass was invented a long time ago, but thanks to modern technology, unique properties have been achieved. The innovation of the material lies in the honeycomb structure of the foamed silicate glass. The scope of the insulation is quite wide. When constructing a roof, slabs are usually used. Experts note a number of positive properties of insulation. This is safety for humans, because foam glass is made from environmentally friendly raw materials. The service life reaches 100 years, the material is not affected by microorganisms, is not destroyed by birds, rodents or insects. He is not afraid of climatic influences, the insulation does not deform under high loads. And you can cut the plates with an ordinary hacksaw.

As for the disadvantages, the main one will be the high price. Thermal insulation does not conduct steam, the material itself is quite heavy, and damaged areas cannot be restored.

Ecowool is of great interest among consumers today. First of all, the insulation attracts attention with environmental friendliness. The main components of the heat insulator are paper and cardboard products. For the manufacture of ecowool, defective paper, cardboard waste, newspaper type waste paper are used.Antifungal and fireproof additives are also introduced into the composition, their volume reaches 20%. In addition to environmental friendliness, cellulose-based insulation has a high sound insulation rate. In the process of application, it is possible to fill all hard-to-reach places, forming a continuous thermal insulation.

Ecowool has its own characteristics, which are important to consider when installing a roof. Over time, the material decreases in volume, due to which there is an increase in thermal conductivity. Experts recommend laying 20-25% more insulation. So that ecowool does not absorb moisture, it is necessary to take care of effective ventilation.

One of the most effective roof insulation is polyurethane foam. A feature of this material is the need for its spraying. The product is supplied as two liquids which are mixed before application. Working with PPU requires special equipment and protective clothing. After hardening, a continuous seam is formed, and the degree of thermal insulation can be adjusted by the thickness of the layer. Since PPU does not let steam through, it is first necessary to make a crate.

Polyurethane foam is a synthetic material, so rodents and insects do not damage it. The disadvantages of insulation experts include the high cost of coating. In addition, the service life of polyurethane foam is less than that of other roofing materials. Not the best and soundproof properties, so when installing the roof, you will have to install an additional layer of sound absorber.

To insulate the attic floor, loose expanded clay heat insulator is often used. It is a pebble of a certain size with many pores inside. Expanded clay fills the space between the lags, forming a continuous sound and heat insulating layer. The high popularity of expanded clay is due to its affordable price and durability. This material is not afraid of moisture, it is not affected by mold or fungus, it does not make mouse nests. And the frost resistance of expanded clay allows it to be used in extreme climates. Since the insulation is made of clay, experts call environmental friendliness one of the advantages.

The disadvantages include the fragility of the granules, even when falling asleep, care must be taken. If expanded clay is damaged, its thermal conductivity deteriorates. And the scope of this insulation is limited to the ceilings of the house.

Mineral wool has good heat and sound insulation properties. Ease of installation is combined with an affordable price, which makes the material one of the most popular when performing roofing work. The undoubted advantages of mineral wool include fire safety and biostability. The material has been used in construction for a long time, but if earlier it was a fiberglass base, now environmentally friendly materials (basalt) are used. When installing a pitched roof, the slabs are inserted between the rafters, and the material can also be laid between the joists. For a flat roof, a more rigid mineral wool is used, the density of which reaches 140-160 kg / cu. m.

The heat insulator also has some disadvantages that are important to consider when installing a roof.When wet, the thermal conductivity doubles, so any leakage must be avoided. Over time, the insulation may crumble.

The economic feasibility of the application often justifies the choice of such a heater as foil polystyrene foam. With it, you can not only keep the heat in the attic, but also put a reliable barrier to moisture. The basis of the insulation is extruded polystyrene, which resembles foam rubber in structure. The foil layer reflects up to 97% of thermal radiation, which makes the heat insulator one of the most effective. In addition, the material provides 100% waterproofing when properly installed. It is not difficult to choose the most suitable panel, their thickness ranges from 10 to 100 mm. It is convenient to lay the insulation, it is lightweight, easy to cut, easy to install.

A thin layer does not always provide the necessary thermal insulation, it is often necessary to mount another layer of insulation. Over time, the foil begins to oxidize, which leads to haze and deterioration of the reflective properties.