mineral wool for roof insulation which one to choose

Mineral wool for roofing - which one to choose

Mineral wool is traditionally considered the best insulation for pitched roofs, creating a thermal insulation layer above the attic. Experts recommend this material for roof insulation. Let's figure out why this happens, because polystyrene foam is cheaper. Also, mineral wool varies greatly in its properties - which one is better suited for the roof truss system?

What is the difference between mineral wool - expert opinions

If you listen to the opinions of experts, it is not difficult to notice that mineral wool is best combined with wooden structures. It allows steam to pass through itself well, and the wood in contact with it does not become damp.

But this property requires the arrangement of steam regulation of the insulation layer - a vapor barrier on the room side, and ventilation on the street side, free movement of outside air through the vent. gap.

Mineral wool is resistant to fire and does not ignite, so it may not be separated from living rooms by fireproof shells. But at the same time, it is not environmentally friendly, so the vapor barrier and interior decoration also perform a protective function.

Various quality and characteristics

Mineral wool can vary greatly in physical characteristics, from heavy, durable (non-compressible) slabs to rolled soft material.

In this case, the specific gravity can be from 30 kg/m3 to 200 kg/m3. Fibers can be made from various minerals. Manufacturers often use cheap waste from large-scale industries in the form of slag. But basalt or quartz sand can be used...

The fibers themselves can be long, large, form pliable mats, rolled materials, then the material is usually given the name glass wool.
If the fiber is thin, brittle, dusty, and the slabs themselves are hard and fragile, then the insulation is more often called “rock wool”.

But what to choose for the roof?

Thermal conductivity and layer thickness

If you read the advertisement, you can learn from it about the excellent properties of mineral wool; sometimes an extremely low thermal conductivity coefficient is indicated, for example, 0.027 W/m*K, almost like air. In reality, due to moisture, the working value is much higher. For heavy dense samples, at least 0.05 W/m*K should be taken for calculations. For soft ones for the initial period of operation - 0.045 W/m*K, but later after shrinkage this coefficient increases.

In accordance with this, it is not difficult to calculate the thickness of the layer, guided by regulatory data on the resistance of structures to heat transfer. For a roof located somewhere in central Russia, where this value is about 4.5 m2 x °C/W, a mineral wool thickness of at least 20 cm will be required.

Mineral wool options

Meeting application technologies, and therefore consumer needs, manufacturers create mineral wool samples with special properties and new characteristics.

Foil plates. Many people do not recommend using foil in the roof or shielding a house with metal. The existing natural electromagnetic background should not be disturbed. There is no need to interfere with the operation of radio devices.
Plates with vapor barrier film. In principle, it is not bad to have an additional vapor barrier on each slab, but this will not negate the use of a solid membrane over the entire area of the insulating layer.
Layers of different densities. The top layer of increased density (more than 80 kg/m3) is not ventilated under normal conditions in the ventilated façade system, while the main layer is lighter and heat-insulating. This option is the most preferable in many cases.
Coating with superdiffusion film An option in which mineral wool is immediately supplied with vapor-permeable protection against blowing has its place, but is usually expensive...

Service life is the most important characteristic

Less dense slabs from unknown manufacturers quickly shrink, the layer shrinks, and the thermal insulation properties decrease down to 50-80% of the calculated ones. Over what period will this happen...

Well-known manufacturers indicate the expected service life of their mineral wool - up to 50 years. These figures refer to dense (elastic) samples that retain their shape and restore it when compressed. But the stated period has not been proven in practice and is not officially confirmed by government research.

Leaky and cheap samples, as a rule, are not standardized at all. Their lifespan will largely depend on the position in the structure and on the initial loads that determine the compressive forces.

Which mineral wool should not be used for roofing

The roof insulation technology involves placing mineral wool between the rafters. It is extremely important that there are no gaps or voids left - the insulation boards should be inserted sideways, with some pressure from the sides.

Also the most important indicator is the total mass, i.e. the specific gravity cannot be too large, the additional material should not create a significant load on the roof structures. But exact figures can only be determined in each specific case.

Accordingly, rigid and heavy samples are not suitable for roofing. As a rule, over 100 kg/m3 are not applicable in these cases.

What can be applied

But too soft, caking mineral wool samples are also not the best choice. Heat loss through the roof is usually the greatest. Therefore, the standards require that insulation of the greatest thickness be installed in this place, compared to other structures. Failure of insulation over such a large and important area will have a very significant impact on the overall energy losses of the house.

Therefore, experts recommend using special samples of mineral roofing designed for pitched roofs of private houses, and only from well-known manufacturers. The recommended density starts from 60 kg/m3.

Which manufacturers have been on the market for a long time?

Mineral fibers are created in large high-tech industries. The products are then supplied to companies that directly manufacture slabs from them for insulation of private houses. There, the fibers are glued together with a binder and formaldehyde (usually), compacted to the required values, etc.

Well-known brands under which mineral wool for roofs is sold:

Knauf. The most famous brand in Russia and Europe selling mineral wool insulation. The technology for manufacturing fiberglass material has been given its own name, ECOSE Technology. The manufacturer claims that the products meet European quality standards.
Ursa. Well-known samples have earned trust as elastic mats that restore their shape. They claim fiberglass of the highest quality; in some insulation options, the fibers are bonded together without the use of formaldehyde...
Izover. Also a well-known brand in Russia, Ukraine, and the CIS, which has been distributing its products for quite a long time and very successfully, it has earned respect. It is also announced that mineral fibers will be created using a special technology, this time the secret meaning is contained in the abbreviation - TEL.

Criteria for choosing mineral wool

When choosing the appropriate type of mineral wool insulation, it is recommended to rely on the following criteria:

thermal conductivity coefficient and material thickness;
sheet density, characterizing the load on insulated structures;
hygroscopicity indicators;
type of material supply: rolls or plates;
soundproofing properties;
type of fiber and the presence of harmful chemical components in the composition;
tensile strength and flexibility for insulating surfaces of complex shapes.

Experienced specialists give the following recommendations and advice on choosing high-quality mineral wool:

despite the high cost of products from branded manufacturers, it is recommended to use them, since they have guaranteed characteristics and, most importantly, have a declared durability; the choice of rolls or slabs depends on the type and complexity of the insulation work, but should always be reduced to obtaining a minimum number of connecting seams; It is better to discard material with fibers located horizontally or vertically along its length in favor of those with random ones, since it has greater strength; the cost of wool is determined not only by the type of fibers, but also by their density, so it is important to first study the technical characteristics, and not look at the price; you need to find the best option to obtain a sufficient level of thermal insulation without overloading the supporting structure; for insulation of residential buildings, mineral wool with a minimum content of formaldehyde resins should be selected; insulation, even with a minimum level of hygroscopicity, must be waterproofed in order to maximize its service life, so you need to make appropriate changes to the cost estimate in advance; Before purchasing, it is important to make sure that the material meets the declared characteristics: sheet size, thickness, flexibility, shape retention.

In addition, for ease of installation, it is important to select mineral wool according to its rigidity, which will allow it to be tightly joined to the sheathing, eliminating the appearance of air grooves, gaps and other defects. This parameter can be influenced not only by the thickness of the layer, but also by the presence of a foil layer or reinforcing fibers

Qualitatively, based on hardness, the following types of mineral wool can be distinguished:

soft, used for insulating pipe communications (chimneys, pipes) or roofing pie;
semi-rigid, used for external thermal insulation of facades and as a middle layer in sandwich panels;
rigid, designed for insulating flat metal or wooden surfaces of walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, etc.

When selecting a material with a suitable thermal conductivity coefficient, you should be guided by the following criteria:

data on average temperatures in winter and summer in a particular region;
the thickness of the walls of the building and the thermal conductivity of the materials from which they were built.

Usually, when purchasing materials, they are purchased with a small margin of parameters

However, it is important not to forget about the economic benefits of obtaining real thermal insulation properties compared to the required ones and not to overpay

About the use of insulation

The general category of insulation, obtained by dividing the raw material into fibers, is usually called mineral wool.

The widespread use of inorganic insulators is associated with high heat and sound insulation properties:

construction of engineering communications;
to protect industrial equipment;
in the field of construction.

Insulation of the roof of a building

The main advantages of mineral wool:

There are completely no organic elements in the structure of the product, which allows the service life to be unlimited;
does not burn - class NG, NPB 244-97;
the material belongs to breathable insulation - the fibrous structure allows excess moisture vapor to pass through, air circulation is maintained;
does not decompose or mold;
does not attract insects and rodents;
tolerates temperature fluctuations and exposure to aggressive environments.

Mineral wool is used in interior decoration in accordance with building codes (SNiP) and codes of practice. The vapor permeability of the material is especially important for insulation and sound insulation of wooden and stone structures. High performance properties of the best types of mineral wool and reasonable price are the main factors for consumer choice.

Main types

The source material and manufacturing technology determine the future characteristics of the product and the type of mineral wool. Main groups by type of raw material:

stone (basalt);
slag (slag wool);
fiberglass (glass wool).

Basalt mineral wool

The raw material for the manufacture of insulation is volcanic rock (basalt) or dolomite. The hardness and fine-grained nature of the material make it possible to produce super-thin (1-3 microns) fibers up to 5 cm long in the mineral wool structure. Due to the small number of ingredients, simple manufacturing technologies are used. The thermal conductivity of stone wool is the lowest among the main types of insulation.

Basalt fiber insulation

The advantages of this type are manifested in the following characteristics:

compressive rigidity of the material - installation of vertical insulation sheets does not require supporting supports;
chemical resistance;
durability (service life up to 50 years);
low hygroscopicity – optimal air humidity is maintained;
high strength, elasticity;
good sound absorption – high degree of sound insulation;
fire resistance – up to 1000°C;
environmental friendliness

Basalt wool can withstand loads when reinforcing and plastering the surface. Insulation sheets are placed inside the wall, as part of fire protection structures.

High performance qualities ensure the versatility of using basalt insulation.

Foiling stone wool enhances the thermal insulation properties of the product. When arranging the sheets, it is important to point the shiny surface towards the room.

Foil insulation

In operation, basalt mineral wool is more convenient in comparison with other types of insulation due to the fact that during production the fibers do not take on pointed shapes.

The disadvantages of the material include:

dust formation during work - a mask or respirator is required;
relatively high cost.

In practice, high demand in private construction for stone mineral wool remains due to the fact that:

the quality of the slabs fully complies with the requirements for internal and external wall insulation;
The labor intensity of the process is lower than when working with other types of mineral wool.

Slag wool

The raw material for the production of mineral wool is waste from the metallurgical industry - blast furnace slag. The cotton wool fibers obtained through processing are up to 16 mm in length, with a diameter of 4-12 microns - the smallest size due to the chemical composition and processing technology of raw materials.

Slag

The special properties of the material limit its use in private construction; insulation is more often used for thermal insulation of non-residential premises.

The advantages of slag wool include:

Possibility of installation on round, shaped surfaces;
high-quality sound insulation;
fire resistance;
durable operation - up to 50 years;
high chemical and biological stability;
low cost.

low sintering and application temperatures;
hygroscopicity – cannot be used for insulation of facades or water pipelines;
exposure to temperature fluctuations - the quality of thermal insulation decreases;
barbs during installation;
the presence of phenol-formaldehyde resins, which are harmful to health;
low vibration resistance - loads lead to subsidence of the material, increasing thermal conductivity;
slag acidity – incompatibility with metals at high humidity.

The safe use of slag wool is recommended for insulating attics, basements, and non-residential buildings, since the material is inferior in quality and inconvenience to work to other types of insulation. Its use is wider at industrial facilities.

The products are characterized by the lowest rigidity (compression). The level of good thermal insulation is comparable to other types of mineral wool.

Glass wool

The production of fiberglass material is based on the use of up to 80% cullet and silicon rock as raw materials. The addition of sand, soda, limestone and other ingredients does not exceed 20%. The mixtures are melted and blown with centrifuges to obtain thin fibers approximately 5 cm long. The performance properties of the product are of a good level, but working with fiberglass material requires the use of protective equipment.

Installation of glass wool

The widespread use of glass wool, despite the large selection of alternative insulation materials, is based on certain advantages of the material:

chemical resistance;
insulation of uneven surface shapes;
good sound absorption;
vibration resistance;
low thermal conductivity;
fire safety;
low price.

Significant disadvantages of the material are:

high water absorption - vapor protection is needed;
causticity;
low heat resistance;
the need for reliable insulation;
service life up to 10 years, significantly shorter compared to other insulation materials.

Working with glass wool requires special care: enhanced protection of the organs of vision, respiratory tract, and skin.

The high fragility of the fibers carries the risk of particles getting into the lungs and mucous membranes, which causes severe irritation, swelling, and allergic reactions.

Working with glass wool

What types of mineral wool are produced today

According to GOST 52953-2008, three materials can be considered heat insulators belonging to the mineral wool class: glass fiber, fiber made from slag (slag wool), and stone wool. All these materials have different fiber lengths and thicknesses and differ from each other in parameters. In particular, they have different load resistance, thermal conductivity, moisture resistance and ability to withstand heat.

Glass wool, widely used for insulation in Soviet times, is still quite cheap today. But, unlike slag and stone wool, it is very prickly

Working with it requires the use of precautions. Now let’s talk in detail about each type of mineral wool and list their characteristics

Glass wool

This material consists of fibers with a thickness of 5 to 15 microns and a length of 15 to 50 millimeters. They make glass wool elastic and very durable. You just have to work with it very carefully - after all, fragile glass threads, when broken, can dig into the skin, get into the eyes and injure them. If you accidentally inhale glass dust, you can damage your lungs. Therefore, when working with this insulation, you must wear a disposable protective suit, goggles and a respirator. Don't forget to protect your hands - wear gloves.

We list the characteristics of fiberglass mineral wool:

Thermal conductivity coefficient is from 0.03 to 0.052 watts per meter per Kelvin.
Permissible heating temperature is up to 500 degrees Celsius. The optimal temperature would be no higher than 450 degrees Celsius.
The permissible cooling temperature is minus 60 degrees Celsius.

This is what regular glass wool looks like.

Slag

This material, made from blast furnace slag, has fibers with a thickness of 4 to 12 microns and a length of 16 millimeters. Since slags have the property of residual acidity, in a damp room they can have an aggressive effect on metal surfaces. In addition, slag wool absorbs moisture too well, so it is unsuitable for thermal insulation of building facades. For the previous two reasons, it is not suitable for insulating water pipes, both metal and plastic. In addition, this material is fragile, so it will prick if you take it with bare hands.

Characteristics of slag:

Thermal conductivity coefficient (dry matter) is from 0.46 to 0.48 watts per meter per Kelvin.
The maximum permissible heating temperature is up to 300 degrees Celsius. When this value is exceeded, the fibers sinter, and the material ceases to be a heat insulator.
Hygroscopicity – high.

Stone wool

This type of mineral wool has fibers approximately the same size as slag wool. But they have a significant advantage - they do not prick. Therefore, working with stone wool is much safer than working with glass or slag materials. Its thermal conductivity coefficient ranges from 0.077 to 0.12 watts per meter per Kelvin, and it can be heated up to 600 degrees Celsius. By the way, if they mean mineral wool insulation, then, as a rule, we are talking about stone wool.

Cutting stone wool into slabs.

Of all its varieties, basalt wool has the best parameters. It is made, like an ordinary stone one, from gabbro or diabase. But stone wool also contains blast furnace slag, mixture and mineral components - clay, limestone and dolomite.

These impurities contribute to an increase in the fluidity of the mass; they can account for up to 35 percent of the volume of the entire substance. And the binder component based on formaldehyde resin contains less - from 2.5 to 10 percent. Reducing the volume of this substance makes the material less moisture resistant, but the threat of phenol evaporation is also reduced. As a result, the risk to human health is reduced.

Basalt wool is different in that it does not contain any additional components - neither mineral nor binders. Therefore, it can easily withstand heating up to 1000 degrees Celsius. And it can be cooled to minus 190 degrees Celsius, which will not harm this thermal insulation material at all. Basalt fiber is easily formed into rolls or sheets, and it is also convenient for stuffing mats.

It is also sold in loose form. Both ordinary stone and basalt wool do not burn - if they are heated above the permissible temperature, the fibers of the material will only melt, sintering with each other.

Stone wool slabs.

The best manufacturers

The comfort and safety of people in the room depends on the use of proper insulation. Leaders in the production of mineral wool strive to achieve a product combination of construction advantages, environmental friendliness of the product while maintaining an acceptable price for the product.

According to consumer reviews, the ranking of the best brands is as follows.

Danish company with factories in Russia. They produce stone wool with enhanced properties:

fire safety - fibers can withstand temperatures up to 1000°C (standard 600°C);
sound absorption – products are chosen for acoustic comfort;
environmental friendliness;
durability - maintains quality indicators during operation;
thermal insulation.

In the production of basalt wool, the company identifies priority quality areas, which are:

saving energy, including heat;
environmental friendliness;
soundproofing;
fire safety.

The manufacturer does not allow counterfeits and realizes the advantages of stone wool in full.

The downside is the high price.

Facade insulation

The manufacturer produces two types of insulation: stone wool and fiberglass wool. This suits builders who need different materials according to the conditions of the objects being built. The best side of the product is the reduction in the “prickliness” of products while maintaining high characteristics of the main indicators.

The price-quality ratio of this company is one of the best on the mineral wool market.

Izover insulation

The products are represented by basalt mineral wool and fiberglass-based insulation.

An important factor was the specialized purpose of the products, reflected in the names:

Acoustic partition;
HEATWALL;
WARM roofing, etc.

The environmentally friendly material is intended for construction work on the construction of residential buildings. The high price is the only drawback.

The low price of basalt products used for insulation of walls, facades, and roofs is attractive. Quality indicators meet standards. The disadvantage is a slight shedding of the material during work. A particularly popular area is finishing attics and pitched roofs with Izovol mineral wool. Mineral wool is fire resistant, environmentally friendly, and has good thermal insulation properties.

Consumer choice

In private construction, approximately 80% of the purchased insulation is basalt and stone mineral wool, which have universal quality characteristics. Slag and fiberglass wool are used more often in enterprises for thermal insulation of specific objects.

Reliable thermal insulation

In practice, which mineral wool is best for insulation needs to be decided taking into account a specific building, room, structure. When making design decisions, specialists calculate in advance what density of mineral wool is best to choose and how to use the material correctly.

Errors most often occur not because of the quality of the insulation, but because of its improper use. It is recommended to carefully study information from the manufacturer about the characteristics and properties of mineral wool, and features of use.

Which mineral wool is better?

Mineral wool is an effective insulation material, without which no construction can be completed today. This material is safe for humans and the environment. It does not burn, does not emit harmful substances and has excellent noise and heat insulation properties.

Types of mineral wool for insulation

Mineral wool, depending on its composition, is divided into:

glass wool;
basalt or stone wool.

Glass wool is essentially foamed glass, as it is made from quartz sand and waste from glass production. Its main advantages are elasticity and vibration resistance. They are due to the large length and thickness of the fibers. This is what allows you to compress and bend mineral wool rolls and mats almost any way you like - then they will straighten out anyway.

Basalt wool is made, as the name suggests, from basalt and similar rocks. Basalt mineral wool retains heat well and is an absolutely natural material. It consists of short, crimped fibers, which make it an excellent sound insulator. Facade basalt mineral wool is quite dense, so it can be used under load. It practically does not shrink. Its dimensions remain unchanged at any temperature and at any time of the year.

Mineral wool is available in the form of rolls, mats and slabs. Mineral wool slabs of 1000*600*100 mm and other sizes are usually covered with aluminum foil, fiberglass or non-woven material during the production process. Each of these options has a specific purpose and is used for a clearly defined situation.

For example, mineral wool slabs of 0.24 m3 per package, covered with fiberglass, are used when installing ventilated curtain facades in order to ultimately obtain maximum wind protection. Mineral wool for insulation in a roll, covered with foil, is excellent for insulating horizontal surfaces.

Parameters of mineral wool for insulating walls, ceilings, roofs

Each type of insulation has its own scope of application, where it performs its functions as efficiently as possible. Thermal insulation of a building of excellent quality can only be achieved if each structural element is insulated with appropriate insulation. For interior work, fiberglass thermal insulation is preferable, and for exterior use, basalt insulation.

Mineral wool slabs and mats 50 mm thick are best suited for thermal insulation of pitched roofs, while high-density stone wool slabs and slabs are best suited for flat roofs. For facades of the so-called “wet” type, water-repellent basalt mineral wool is used, and for suspended ventilated facades, compressible mineral wool mats are used.

Our review will consider the products of the following manufacturers:

Izovol is a domestic company that develops and produces thermal insulation materials that are unique in their composition and manufacturing technologies. The products of this manufacturer are used in the construction of new buildings and reconstruction of old structures, both civil and industrial;
ROCKWOOL is a world leader in the production of sound and heat insulation materials made from stone wool, intended for buildings and structures of all types. The products of this company are not dangerous to the ecology of our planet and contribute to solving the problem of global climate change;
TechnoNIKOL is one of the largest international manufacturers of effective and reliable building materials. This company offers consumers the latest technologies that combine global experience with the developments of its own research centers;
Ursa is a German company that has been present in the building materials market for more than a hundred years. Today it is part of the Uralita Grout concern and produces high-quality heat-insulating materials;
ISOVER is a French manufacturer of heat and sound insulation materials based on glass and stone fibers. The products of this brand are manufactured in more than forty factories around the world;
Knauf is a German manufacturer whose mineral wool is famous for its high quality and absolute safety for human health. This is due to the fact that the materials of this brand do not contain phenol-formaldehyde resins, which contain harmful substances;
Izomin is a Russian manufacturer that specializes in the production of thermal insulation materials made on the basis of basalt fiber. All insulation products from this manufacturer contain water-repellent additives and belong to the category of non-combustible materials. They are distinguished by high quality and attractive prices.

Principles for choosing roof insulation

On our website we have already devoted quite a few articles to the principles of choosing various thermal insulation materials. In this material we will look in detail at which insulation to choose for the roof and we will look at the choice of insulation specifically in this section. Here are a few things to consider about your roof.

Roof enclosing structures have increased requirements for thermal resistance. For example, in 2010 in Finland, the coefficient of such resistance for walls was 5.88 m2*C/W, and for the roof it was 11.11! Almost double the difference.
The material on the roof is more exposed to moisture than others. And, as you know, water is the enemy of thermal insulation.
Roof insulation is installed, in fact, according to the principle of ventilated facades. This means that it is not protected from fire, for example, by concrete or plaster elements. In this regard, the insulation itself must have increased fire resistance.
And it doesn’t matter whether we are talking about a flat or pitched roof, the insulation area is quite high, so the cost of the material should be reasonable and fit organically into the estimate for building or renovating a house.

These are the basic general requirements for thermal insulation for a roof. However, you need to take into account the type of roof. [flat_ab id=”33"]

Types of roofing and insulation for them

When choosing a material for insulating the roof of a house, the difference between the three types of roofing structures is important:

Flat roof;
Pitched roof (cold attic);
Mansard roof (floor).

Each of the three types of roofs requires its own approach in choosing insulating materials.

A flat roof is most often used, which means that the thermal insulation of the roof must be rigid. For these purposes, extruded polystyrene foam is most often used, for example, penoplex or rigid mineral wool insulation. Typically, each manufacturer has special solutions for this type of roofing. Slabs with cuts allow you to create the desired slope and special gutters for discharging water. It is enough to lay such a layer of insulation correctly and the roof can be considered insulated.

You can insulate a pitched roof with a cold attic along the floor. However, in some cases, insulation is also inserted between the rafters. For these purposes, soft and elastic mineral wool slabs are most often used, which are inserted into the spacer. The attic floor is insulated with various materials, both sheet, bulk and sprayed.

An attic roof is essentially the walls of a room, but they are made not of concrete or brick, but of rafters and, for example, tiles. This design is more expensive than a separate, ordinary floor. Roof insulation for an attic roof must be environmentally friendly, because, in essence, we are talking about insulating the room from the inside. There are also increased fire safety requirements. In a separate article, we examined in detail the issue of using polystyrene foam in insulated attic roofs. Most often, such roofs are insulated with mineral wool.

Is the most popular one suitable? - Styrofoam

It is worth mentioning that by foam plastic we mean both ordinary, white polystyrene foam (PSB-15) and extruded polystyrene foam, the density of which can reach 35-45 kg per cubic meter.

So, PSB-15 is not used for flat roofs. Although it is much cheaper, it can still be damaged when installing insulation by simply stepping on the sheet. In addition, the foam is made without a quarter. But, for example, penoplex has special grooves at the edges that are fastened together and create one indestructible layer of insulation on the plane.

The ceiling of a cold roof is often insulated with foam plastic in the frame when it is laid between the joists. For the same purposes, more moisture-resistant polystyrene foam is used, which, by the way, has much greater compressive strength.

The issue of using this material for a residential floor under the roof was discussed separately, and this is generally a whole topic.

Thermal insulation materials start with polystyrene foam. But, alas, it does not qualify for the title of best insulation for roofs. That's why they mentioned it at the very beginning. Further - more interesting. [f[flat_ab id=»34"]p>

Basalt wool ECOVER Light 45 (45kg/cub.m.)

Ease of installation is the best of all compared samples. The slabs are uniform in density, which makes them easy to install. Sheets measuring 1000 x 600 mm are easily assembled into a frame with openings of 590 mm.

Price – 595 rubles per package (0.3 cubic meters). The packaging is enough for 6 sq.m. area. The price for 1 square meter of insulation is approximately 100 rubles.

Availability for consumers is more than sufficient. Rockwool is sold in all more or less decent stores almost throughout Russia.

The quality of the packaging is the best of all the samples reviewed. When loading manually, it was possible to throw bales over the high side of the truck, grabbing the packaging film.

Durability is quite acceptable. During the year of operation, the sheets on the vertical surface did not sag during visual inspection.

Ease of installation is quite acceptable. There is an uneven density of the sheets. During installation, the sheet may break in your hands.

Price – 680 rubles per package (0.36 cubic meters). One package yields 7.2 square meters of insulation, which gives the cost of 1 square meter of insulation to approximately 95 rubles.

Availability for consumers is low. The distribution network is such that you can only buy this insulation in large cities. But it is quite well represented in the construction markets.

Quality of packaging - during transportation and unloading, the edges of the sheets broke off right in the packaging. The film itself is of very mediocre quality - it breaks when trying to manually load bales with insulation.

Durability is quite acceptable. Over the course of a year of operation, the insulation sank on a vertical surface by about 1.5-2 centimeters (in length) and by about 0.5 cm (in width). The sheets in the frame were arranged in a “checkerboard” order – vertically and horizontally.

Roofing classics - mineral wool

By mineral wool, people most often mean:

The latter is highly not recommended. The maximum where you can use insulation from waste from the metallurgical industry is not residential buildings of enterprises.

Stone wool is used for residential premises. Although it contains resins such as formaldehyde, their percentage is still insignificant, and moreover, it has undergone a polymerization process. This means that the resin has settled and is now in a solid state with a closed molecular structure.

For flat roofs, as already mentioned at the beginning, rigid mineral wool slabs with a density of 140-160 kg/m³ are used.

To insulate a pitched roof, soft slabs are inserted between the rafters, trimming them. The same slabs are inserted between the joists and covered with a protective coating on top in case of overlap. Mineral wool is most often used for roof insulation. This is due to its “breathable” structure. The fact is that any wooden structure must be well ventilated. And if polymer insulation is adjacent to it, this procedure becomes much more complicated. That's why they use cotton wool. In addition, cotton wool is a non-flammable material. Being in its essence a semblance of volcanic lava, cotton wool does not burn, it only melts, and even then at a huge temperature - above 1500 degrees.

However, the insulator is not without its disadvantages. It is associated with poor resistance to moisture. For example, if a cotton slab has a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.036 W/m3 K, then when wet, this indicator can actually change by 2 times! And, as you know, the roof is a place where leaks can happen. In practice, this means that you will have to replace a section of thermal insulation that has become wet.

Over time, the mineral wool also crumbles, forming dust that can enter the room. Some people don’t like this material precisely for this feature.

The trick is “slabs in rolls”

Manufacturers are increasingly trying to simplify the installation of insulation. Nowadays, you can increasingly find a mineral wool form factor, which is called “slabs in a roll.” This material has sufficient density to fit well in the frame. In this case, it is enough to fix the roll in the upper part, between the rafters and roll it out at the bottom. For example, about Izover Profi, it is even stated that it does not need to be trimmed (it is clear that we are talking about a not very significant change in the width between the rafters), but simply press it in and the wool will take the desired shape. It is more convenient to use such rolls than to insulate using slabs. Installing slabs takes longer.

When deciding how to insulate the roof of a house, most owners or developers choose mineral wool [fla[flat_ab id=”35"]

Bulk insulation for roofing

This type of insulating materials for the roof of a house attracts many people for three reasons:

Low price;
Environmental safety;
Lack of interest in rodents.

It is immediately worth noting that the roof can be insulated using bulk thermal insulation materials only on the floor. They are poured into the frame. Therefore, the material is suitable for covering an attic. Most often used:

Sawdust itself is a fairly inexpensive material. Its advantage is its absolute naturalness. But there are two problems with using it:

Both solve in the same way. Adding lime to sawdust. Gypsum is also used to impart viscosity to the mass. It is added in an amount of no more than 5% by weight of sawdust. The resulting mass becomes viscous and is perfectly applied and keeps its shape.

Expanded clay is small crushed pebbles of different fractions (sizes). It is filled between the joists. Expanded clay is not afraid of either steam or rodents. In a sense, it is an ideal insulating material for roofing.

In addition, it is not quite expensive. We will talk in more detail about the use of this type of thermal insulation for roofing in a separate article. Here the mention was necessary to understand the general picture of possible insulation options.

Spraying and blowing

There are two main representatives in this family of roofing materials:

Polyurethane foam is one of the most effective thermal insulation materials. It is sprayed or blown in the form of white foam. To blow in polyurethane foam you need a special suit and a compressor. This material does not allow steam to pass through and you need to use a lathing to blow it in.

PPU is a synthetic material, ecowool is environmentally friendly. Both of these materials are rodent resistant and require special equipment to blow them out. A specially trained technician can apply polyurethane foam correctly.

Ecowool has been used in Western countries for about 50 years. This roof insulation came to the territory of the CIS relatively recently. Ecowool is a cellulose fiber and is made from waste paper. There are special machines for crushing raw materials and “cooking” such cotton wool. Using special pneumatic transport, the cotton wool is delivered to the blowing point, where, for example, it is placed between the lags.

Another obvious advantage of ecowool for roof insulation is that it is easy to blow into the narrow space between the rafters. Laying even rolls of mineral wool in this area is very problematic.

Which is better: rockwell, isover or ursa?

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One of the most important quality criteria for mineral wool is its environmental safety. The following points are considered to be the determining factors for the safety of the material:. Only brands with a proven reputation deserve consumer trust. Among them, it is worth paying attention to the brands:.

Facebook VKontakte Google. Alexander Popov athunder wrote, - 09 - 11 Alexander Popov athunder - 09 - 11 Previous Share Next. We debunk marketing myths. In addition, this chemical is present in the standing material in the form of a polymer. The composition of such a resin is chemically stable, and it is in a frozen state, which does not pose a danger to human health. To thermally insulate a pitched roof, softer slabs are used, which are mounted between the rafters.