Do -it -yourself waterproofing waterproofing

The living attic is called an attic. It should be warm and suitable for year -round living, so the roof is insulated. As thermal insulation materials of residential premises, fibrous insulations safe for humans are used. They have a number of advantages, but when getting wet, they reduce their characteristics. This can happen due to roofing or condensation formation. In addition, over time, moisture leads to the destruction of materials, including the interior decoration of the attic and to the appearance of mold. The article will talk about which waterproofing to choose for the attic.

Content:

The task of waterproofing the attic is to protect the undercarriage and room from moisture due to rain or melting snow. Often moisture penetrates due to damage to the roof or due to a loose fit of the skate and blowing snow under it.

Water, falling on the insulation, negatively affects its qualities, and with prolonged exposure leads to destruction. Traditionally, a fiberglass treated with bitumen was used for this. But today, modern materials with the best qualities have appeared. In addition, it is much more convenient to work with them. First of all, we are talking about membrane films, which not only perform the function of waterproofing, but also prevent the formation of condensate, have the function of wind protection and vapor protection.

Vapor barrier and wind protection of the roof of the attic

Due to the movement of air and the pressure of the steam, condensate is formed. This is especially true in winter, when in a warm room vapor is much larger than outside. As a result, there is a diffusion in which steam penetrates into a subcutaneous space.
When ventilation is present in the house, this leads to an active movement of air and an increase in pressure. Air with steam strives to go out through the cracks or joints of materials.
The finishing materials, with which the walls and the ceiling are most often lined, vapor permeable and do not prevent moisture to penetrate to the roof structures. Therefore, it is desirable to protect thermal insulation with plastic films, membranes or foil films from the inside.

The film for the waterproofing of the attic from the inside is produced by wide rolls, which allows you to make the number of joints minimal. The vapor barrier will work only in the case of the absolute integrity of the canvas, so all the joints are made with overlap, and the pestle of connection to the pipes is additionally glued.
The recommended overlapes are 10 cm and should be on the frame element in order to fix them most firmly by the construction stapler or rail. The minimum film thickness is 0.15 mm.
If communications are planned through the film, they must be tightly glued with reinforced tape.
When the thermal insulation of the pitched roof of the attic is performed, it is important to protect the insulation from cooling from blowing cold air or wind. Special plate insulation, which has the highest compression strength, is perfectly coping with this function. In their vapor permeable properties, they do not differ from the rest of the plates, but in the best way resist the wind. Such a heater better holds heat and is an excellent soundproofing material. Which is especially important if the roof is made of metal.

Tip: wind protection, vapor barrier and waterproofing of the attic are necessary when warming it. Any roof roof material is not a continuous coating, so there is always a risk of moisture from atmospheric precipitation.

Materials for the waterproofing of attic

For waterproofing, films are used directly under the roofing material. These include:

polypropylene films;
non -woven membrane materials;
polyethylene films that do a great manage with hydro- and vapor barrier of the attic.

Often these materials are interchangeable. So, vapor barrier films are used as a sub -waterproofing waterproofing, and waterproofing for a steam -barrier from the inside of the room.

Tip: there is, so -called simple waterproofing, but for the attic it is better to use waterproofing material with anti -condensate effect. It has an absorbent villi layer, which performs the function of holding water drops, thereby preventing it from entering the insulation.

Polyethylene film for the waterproofing of the attic

Modern polyethylene films designed to waterproof the attic roof have reinforcement with a cloth or a special mesh. Such material acquires high strength and copes with the retention of moisture outside and steam from the inside of the room.

There are two types:
1. perforated. Its surface is covered with micro -fame. Which are able to hold moisture, but not steam. Therefore, its function of waterproofing;
2. unperformed. It has a monolithic canvas, perfectly cope with vapor barrier.
Regardless of the species used, in the gramer cake, a venture of 5 cm is necessarily provided.
In addition to traditional films, there is a rolled polyethylene with an aluminum layer on sale. It can be made of foil or sprayed aluminum. Such a reflective layer allows you to additionally maintain heat in the room.
Foil of plastic films of European manufacturers such as Polycraft, Jutafol N Al, Delta-Reflex are the best quality.
Their moisture -proof properties are very high, so they are suitable for use in roofs of any structure.

Polypropylene film for the waterproofing of the attic

Reinforced polypropylene films are favorably different from polyethylene analogues of much higher strength. They are not afraid of ultraviolet rays and reliably protect the attic from atmospheric precipitation.

One side of such a film has an anti -condensate coating. By this, it protects thermal insulation material from condensate formation. Such a coating of viscose fibers with cellulose is made. It is characterized by high absorption of moisture and the ability to hold it. According to experiments, the anti -condensate layer absorbs a large amount of water and, holding it, does not form drops, which is guaranteed to protect the insulation and roof structure from getting wet.
When the conditions due to which condensation formed disappears, the air flow of the ventilationzor will quickly dry the material.
When using such films, it is important not to confuse the sides, the glossy layer is made out, and the absorbent rough to the insulation.

Anticandenate films for the waterproofing of the attic

This is a type of waterproofing materials, one side of which is rough. She absorbs moisture formed during condensate, and holds it. When accumulating, water is not formed in a drop. And it is reliably held by the material while the air circulation in the ventilation gap between the film and the insulation will not lead it out.

In addition, anti -condensate films have excellent moisture resistant characteristics and protect the ceiling from water leaks, which could get through the cracks in the roof.

Vapor barrier films for the waterproofing of the attic

It protects against small particles of water and steam. It works only in the case of the monolithic of the canvas, with the slightest rupture or gap at the junction, moisture will penetrate the insulation.
Not only joints of the canvas are sealed, but all places of adjoining the vapor barrier film to the walls and communications.
When using vapor barrier on the attic, a ventilation gap of 2-3 cm should remain between it and the finishing material, which prevents the formation of condensate on the inside of the material.
It also has 2 sides of how to properly arrange the manufacturer indicates the packaging.

Diffusion membrane for the waterproofing of the attic

This is a modern breathing material that is completely vapor permeable, but at the same time protects the roof from atmospheric precipitation, condensate and wind. From here, the second name is vapor -permeable windbreaker membrane.
It is made in a non -woven way from synthetic fibers. Its main advantage is saving a subcutaneous space, because the height of the ceilings of the attic floor is usually small. This is possible due to its characteristics and the ability to fix it directly to the insulation, without the arrangement of a ventilationzor. You can make an additional layer of thermal insulation in a different way and dispose of the resulting space.

They are most often used not only in the construction of new houses with an attic floor, but also in the arrangement of a cold attic into a dwelling. In this case, it will not be necessary to reconstruct the rafter system.
The initial cost of diffusion membranes differs slightly from the price of other vapor barrier materials. But during operation, it will show maximum energy efficiency and allow saving on heating.

What waterproofing for the attic to choose

What material waterproofing the roof on the attic depends on several indicators.

First of all, this is the angle of inclination of the roof. If the angle is acute, then it is enough to mount a subcutaneous windproof or vapor barrier membrane. In the roof pie, whose slopes are more gentle, a waterproofing anti -condensate film will already be required.
When there are 2 ventilations in the design of the attic roof, simple waterproofing materials are used. And with a single ventilation circuit, preference is given to diffusion membranes.

Since we are talking about waterproofing of a residential heated attic, it is better to provide two layers of moisture -proof films. For example, with a conventional vapor barrier film and a windproof membrane. Or only with one vapor barrier anti -condensate membrane, but with two ventilation contours.

Tip: The best solution will be the design of insulation and waterproofing of the attic roof with 3 films. If you start from the living room, then the pie is as follows: drywall, vapor barrier, insulation, windproof film, venturezor, polyethylene film, venturezor and roofing material.

The film should be stored in a dark closed room. If it has already been mounted on a roof or walls, then you must immediately close the facing material. The membrane is quickly destroyed under the influence of ultraviolet and wind. In the room, non -woven vapor barrier should not be near lamps or heaters. It also leads to the destruction of its structure.

How to make a waterproofing attic with your own hands

Since it is impossible to insulate the attic without waterproofing, this process should be considered in the aggregate.

Roofing material does not have heat protection qualities. Therefore, if it comes to residential attic, then only environmentally friendly materials should be used. Most often it is a mineral wool or glass wool. Both of these materials are distinguished by high heat and soundproofing properties. What is especially important if the roof is made of their metal. But all these qualities come down to zero when the insulation is wet. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly think through all the components of the design.
If the house is new, then it is easier to carry out the work from the bottom up, starting from the lower layers and ending with the roof. If the house is already built, and the roof is insulated during operation, then you do not have to choose and work is in the opposite direction. Consider the option of work in a house under construction.

According to the rafters of the roof below with tight tension, a vapor barrier film is nailed with a construction stapler. So that the brackets do not tear the material, on top of the fasteners to each rafters it is pressed by a rail that is planted on screws (in the case of a wooden structure).
In the resulting cells, the walls of which are rafters, and the bottom of the vapor barrier, thermal insulation material is laid in a checkerboard pattern with overlaps. With a thickness of 5 cm, 3 layers are made.
On top it is closed by windproof waterproofing. On top is also fixed by rails. Their thickness will provide the necessary ventilation gap. The width of the ventilated clearance directly depends on the material for the roof. So, if the corrugated board is selected, a metal tile or ondulin with a profile, then it is enough to leave 2.5 cm for air flows. For flat material, the ventilation circuit between the waterproofing material and the crate under the roof is provided for at least 5 cm. Ventilation will be made from the cornices of the roof to its ridge.
Practice shows that it turns out that the best effect in protecting the insulation under the roof is obtained by using modern materials of trusted manufacturers, such as isospan or secret. The use of ordinary plastic film gives the worst result due to the formation of condensate, and the old way of waterproofing by roofing material, according to professionals, is unacceptable.

Tip: all seams and joints of the films are glued with tape, the only way there will be a guarantee that moisture will not penetrate inside.

DIY waterproofing

Do you need waterproofing on an unheated attic?

If the house is built with the fact that in the future it is possible to re -render the attic to the attic, then waterproofing will significantly accelerate this process. But, and if there is no such desire, is it necessary to mount protection from moisture and wind under the roof without thermal insulation material?

Even if there is absolute confidence as a roofing material, in its proper installation, which guarantees protection of the roof structures from the penetration of moisture from oblique rain or blowering snow, it is still necessary to pull on the rafters of the waterproofing film. Since moisture penetrates not only from the outside, but also from the inside in the form of condensate. Drops of water are formed on the roofing and lead to its corrosion.
For an unheated attic, any type of waterproofing materials can be used: polyethylene film, diffusion membrane or anti -condensate film. Preference is given to anti -condensate materials, as they are cheaper than diffusion. And unlike polyethylene films, they can hold condensate for a long time until it disappears naturally.
Especially often, condensate is formed in cold attic, when communications such as fireplaces, chimneys, etc. pass through them. Even if they are reliably closed by thermal insulation material, anyway, part of the heat will go out, which will lead to the difference in temperature and condensate formation.

If it is still planned to redo the attic to the warm attic in the future, then waterproofing should initially need to be carried out using diffusion materials.

Site search

Do -it -yourself waterproofing