Advantages and disadvantages of warming ceilings with stone wool, options for placing an insulator on the floor, rules for choosing a material, technology for performing work. Insulating a ceiling with stone wool is an inexpensive way to prevent heat leakage through the ceiling by installing it from inside or outside the room. The quality of work depends on competently performed operations, therefore, in this article, we will consider the rules for placing and attaching the insulator to the surface in various situations. Using our recommendations, you can avoid unnecessary financial costs and common mistakes when insulating.
Features of thermal insulation of ceilings with stone wool
Stone wool is a fibrous insulator made from basalt. To improve the characteristics, various substances are introduced into its composition, including hydrophobic ones. The material is rather loose, saturated with an inert substance that does not allow heat to pass through.
They insulate the ceiling due to the large air leakage through the ceiling, which can reach 20%. This product is used in the following cases: if there is an attic in the house that is poorly protected from the cold; if the attic of the mansion is not insulated; if the apartment is on the top floor and it is damp; if noisy neighbors live on top.
The ceiling is insulated in two ways: from the inside and from the outside (from the attic side). The second method is more convenient and economical. It is allowed to mount the insulator from below if the room has sufficient height to accommodate it. For insulation from the side of the room, cotton wool is used, decorated as slabs, from the side of the attic - in the form of rolls. The thickness of the sheets ranges from 10-100 mm, if necessary, they can be laid in two rows.
The material absorbs moisture well, therefore the insulating "cake" includes waterproof materials - polyethylene or polypropylene film.
Fibers can have a harmful effect on humans, therefore, while working, follow the safety rules:
- To avoid skin irritation, wear thick, long-sleeved clothing and gloves. Wear goggles and a respirator to protect your eyes and respiratory system. Change after work.
- Keep this product out of the reach of children.
- There should be no food in the room.
- Make sure that the threads of insulation do not scatter throughout the house. Remove the remaining material in time.
It is often said that vata is very dangerous, but this statement is not true. Modern technologies completely isolate the coating from the living space, and it will not bring any trouble to anyone.
Advantages and disadvantages of thermal insulation of the ceiling with stone wool
The fibrous material has unique characteristics, due to which it is considered the best among the products for similar purposes.
Its main advantages include the following:
- Very low thermal conductivity, which creates a comfortable indoor environment.
- High vapor permeability allows the overlap to breathe.
- Basalt wool for the ceiling is lightweight, easy to cut, which significantly reduces the installation time. The work can be done independently.
- It does not burn and does not emit toxic fumes when heated. Some modifications do not melt even at a temperature of 1000 degrees. Often used in fire hazardous areas.
- Low cost compared to other samples.
- Low moisture absorption.
- Stone wool ceilings are completely environmentally friendly.
- The use of the product increases the sound insulation of floors in multi-storey buildings. Such properties are provided by randomly located threads.
- The cost of the substance is lower than other heaters.
- The insulator has a shelf life of over 100 years.
Users should be aware of the problems that sometimes arise when using a room insulated with cotton wool:
- Unscrupulous sellers can sell a low-grade product with a high percentage of toxic elements.
- After insulation, the distance between the floor and the ceiling decreases.
- The fibers require moisture protection. In case of poor-quality installation, after a year, the product loses 40% of its insulating properties.
Technology for installing stone wool on the ceiling
Thermal insulation is a complex work and requires adherence to the sequence of operations. Deviation from technology will lead to the appearance of bridges of cold and dampness, the formation of black mold.
Preparatory work
Before insulating the ceiling with stone wool, inspect it for defects and eliminate any deficiencies. The insulator is not afraid of irregularities less than 3 mm, more serious defects will have to be removed.
On the surface, work is carried out as follows:
- Remove decorative coatings and plaster from the floor.
- Vacuum up dust and dirt.
- Scrape the areas damaged by mold and fungus, dry with warm air and treat with an antiseptic.
- Remove greasy stains with solvents. The latter instruction can be omitted if a waterproofing film is used.
- Fill cracks in concrete slabs with cement mortar.
- Fill the cracks in wooden structures with caulk. If the gaps are large, use tow and foam.
- Treat the entire wooden surface with special agents that protect against fire, decay and damage by insects. Apply layers one by one, after the previous one has dried.
- Check the absence of fasteners and other elements that can damage the waterproofing.
Choice of stone wool
The components of the insulating "pie" must be of high quality. In order not to doubt the purchased product, control the following points:
- Storage conditions for stone wool for the ceiling. The ideal option is to store the product in a dry room.
- If bales are outside, make sure they are sealed in their original sealed packaging.
- Do not buy a wet product, after drying, the insulating properties will not return.
- Buy products from one manufacturer. Cotton wool from different companies differs in characteristics.
- Do not use a used insulator.
- To avoid fakes, look for samples from trusted companies.
For thermal insulation, purchase products with the following technical characteristics:
- Density … Not less than 80 g / m3… The higher the value, the more mechanical stress the coating can withstand. The value is relevant for insulation from the attic side.
- Coefficient of thermal conductivity … Within 0, 036. It characterizes the ability of cotton wool to retain heat. The lower the value, the more noticeable the effect.
- The size … For ease of installation from the inside, the insulation should be 500x1000 or 600x1200 mm. For outdoor use, the size does not play a special role.
- Thickness of slabs … Not less than 40 mm. The resistance of the material to high temperatures depends on it.
Installation of basalt wool from inside the room
The technology of insulation of the ceiling with stone wool depends on the method of fastening the material. From the side of the room, the insulator is attached in several ways:
- Laying in the frame … It is used if it is planned to make a suspended ceiling under it. The frame is assembled from wooden blocks 40x40 mm or metal profiles, which are used for fixing drywall. The choice of material for the lathing depends mainly on the financial solvency of the owner of the house, but metal products last longer. If you plan to use lumber, treat it with antiseptic agents, despite the fact that the structure is indoors. It doesn't hurt to play it safe once again.
- Installation on adhesive … Stone wool can be fixed with special adhesives for fibrous materials or with universal solutions such as tile adhesives. This option is used if there is no waterproofing film, as well as in the case of using a stretch ceiling. The substance must be waterproof, with good adhesion properties. The composition requires the presence of microfiber. When choosing a substance, consider the material from which the floor is built. Adhesives for concrete and wood are used differently.
- Fixing with disc dowels … Used for additional fixing of plates. When using fasteners, take into account the following recommendations: the length of the screw should allow at least 6 cm to enter the ceiling; take a metal rod; use a dowel with a thermal head, which will exclude the appearance of cold bridges.
The procedure for using the crate is as follows:
- Attach the frame to the ceiling by placing the battens parallel to the window. The distance between them should be 1-2 cm less than the width of the insulation. The insulator is soft, after laying it will take up all the space and close the crate. Connect the frame elements to each other with corners, and the structure itself with dowels.
- Check that the bottom surfaces of the rails are in the same horizontal plane. If the ceiling is uneven, use perforated plasterboard hangers to level the battens.
- Before attaching the stone wool to the ceiling, cover the bars with a waterproofing film, preferably with one wide sheet. If necessary, make a small overlap on adjacent pieces and glue the joints with metallized tape. Place the canvas under the slats, with the rough side up.
- Secure the sheets to the boards with a construction stapler. Do not trim overhanging edges. The film can be skipped if the room is dry.
- Place the slabs in the cells, if necessary, trim them with a knife. For reliability, fix the samples with disc dowels, 5 pcs. for 1 plate. Please note that stone wool should not be left compressed as it will it loses its properties.
- Cover the bottom of the insulation with a vapor barrier film that allows air to pass through and retains steam. If the membrane is double-sided, the metallized layer should be on the side of the room so that the heat is reflected back into the room. Carefully seal the membrane joints with tape.
- Install the suspended ceiling, assembling it according to the general recommendations for each type of ceiling. It is advisable to sheathe the structure from below with plasterboard sheets, together with cotton wool, they will create a serious barrier to warm air leaks.
- When using foil-clad samples, the waterproofing film from the side of the room does not need to be laid. Fasten the material with the foil down.
If the boards will stick, proceed as follows:
- Make sure the surface is ready to apply the compound.
- Prepare a solution. If the glue is sold dry, take the powder and water in the proportions indicated in the instructions and mix. Use a low speed drill to improve quality. The mixture is ready for use if it looks like a homogeneous consistency, without clots and seals. Turn off the drill for 5 minutes and then stir the solution again. The tool must be used quickly, otherwise it will lose its qualities. You can use adhesives if the room temperature is within + 5 + 30 degrees.
- Apply the adhesive to the panel with a flat trowel and rub into the fibers. After covering the entire surface, reapply the mortar and spread evenly with a notched trowel. Layer thickness - within 1 cm.
- Lift the unit up and press firmly against the ceiling.
- Glue the rest of the boards in the same way. When installing, check that there are no gaps between the sheets. The adjustment of the position of the plates can be done within 10 minutes.
- Leave free space near the bulbs: lamps without air movement quickly burn out.
Tips for working with dowels:
- Do not drive the hardware too deep, drowning the hat more than 1 cm is not allowed.
- It is allowed to hammer in the dowels with a compressed air gun. The use of a special tool speeds up installation and reduces waste.
- For reliability, the boards can be fixed with dowels 24 hours after the material has been glued.
Laying stone wool on the ceiling from the outside
Laying stone wool outside is easy, no stairs required and no need to stand with your hands up. This method is used in the case when a major overhaul has already been carried out in the room.
For work, buy roll material: it costs less, fits faster, after installation, fewer joints are obtained.
The sequence of work is as follows:
- Before insulating the ceiling with basalt wool, clean the attic of debris. If there is a subfloor, remove it.
- Fasten the bars between the power beams, creating cells measuring 40x40 cm. They are necessary to form a supporting surface so that the wool does not fall through. Connect the elements of the crate together with corners. The frame can not be made if the ceiling is not hinged, but rigid, for example, it is an ordinary floor slab.
- Cover the slats with vapor barrier foil overlapping walls and adjacent pieces and secure with tape. It is recommended to put polystyrene on the membrane, it will increase the vapor barrier effect at times.
- Place the insulator between the floor joists and cut near the wall. Plates do not need to be fixed to the surface. After 15 minutes, the material will return to its original shape and size. Make sure that there are no uncovered areas on the surface.
- Cover the insulation with a vapor barrier overlapping the walls and adjacent pieces. Glue the joints with tape. Do not neglect vapor barrier when insulating interfloor floors. If water gets on the floor of the top floor, it can seep down and ruin the insulator.
- Secure the membrane to the battens with construction tape.
- Install the subfloor removed at the initial stage of the work. It is possible not to cover the stone wool with flooring, it is enough to mount the simplest structure to move it supported on the floor beams.
Combined thermal insulation implies insulation of the ceiling from the outside and from the inside. It is usually used in specialized rooms in which it is necessary to maintain a high temperature for a long time. Buildings with enhanced thermal insulation include saunas, steam rooms, and baths. How to insulate the ceiling with stone wool - watch the video:
Stone wool is made from natural, environmentally friendly material. If you did the insulation correctly, you will enjoy the warmth and comfort of your home for many years.
