The operating conditions of the bath are different from those faced by most buildings. Therefore, the issue of high-quality steam and heat insulation should be given special attention. Consider how to warm the ceiling, floor, walls and what technology to give preference in a bath to create a suitable microclimate and minimize heat loss, saving your own efforts and resources.
What is necessary to insulate the ceiling in the bath: structural features
Bath – a room that is subjected to periodic heating with the aim of making wellness treatments. Inside the room is formed a special microclimate characterized by high temperature and humidity. Of course, this can not affect the building materials that have to be exposed to such effects.
In addition, you have to reckon with the costs associated with the use of a particular amount of fuel. If the building is prone to rapid cooling, to maintain the appropriate temperature will require a large amount of fuel. And given the fact that, according to the laws of physics, warm air is lighter than cold air, it is the roof of the bath that requires warming, through which considerable heat loss occurs.
But on the way to the construction of a barrier to retain warm air inside the room, there is another aspect to which special attention should be paid to all sauna owners. High humidity becomes a source of a large amount of condensate, which, if the roof is not properly heated, can accumulate. Often this causes the destruction of the wooden elements of the structure.
Interesting fact! High humidity is a favorable environment for the growth and development of various microorganisms: fungi, mold and bacteria. Unreasonable steam and heat insulation can cause their appearance and reproduction.
The roof of the bath can be represented by one of two types: having attic space and without it. In the first case, the air layer itself creates a rather effective barrier, which positively affects the building’s ability to retain heat. But this does not mean that the presence of an attic completely eliminates the need for insulation work.
If in the bath there is no loft or attic, then high-quality thermal insulation is almost a prerequisite for further use of the building for its intended purpose.
Regardless of what type of room you had to deal with, the first and extremely important step is the provision of a vapor barrier. Available materials such as aluminum foil, high-density cardboard, which is pre-impregnated with linseed oil or wax paper are excellent for this.
Helpful advice! If you are working on the insulation of the ceiling in the bath, where there is an attic room, it is recommended to coat the ceiling boards on the roof side with a layer of clay of about 2-3 cm.
In the process of kindling the bath, the temperature and humidity in the room reaches extremely high elevations. Therefore, the building materials that are used in the process of arranging this room are subject to special requirements, namely, they must be resistant to similar effects and at the same time do not emit hazardous substances when heated.
In addition, it is not recommended that the weight of the insulation is too large. It is preferable to make a choice in favor of lightweight material, simple and convenient in both transportation and installation. And of course, we must not forget about such a characteristic as fire resistance, which is important for such a room as a bath.
Mineral wool is by far the most popular option among all. It is often used to insulate not only baths and garages, but also for residential buildings. By itself, it is a fibrous material that has excellent thermal insulation characteristics and can be presented in one of three types:
- glass wool;
- stone wool;
- slag wool.
But if the first option is familiar to almost everyone, then the other two are not all seen. Stone wool is a material derived mainly from basalt, although it is sometimes made from other rock melts. Slag wool is very similar to slag stones, for the production of which blast-furnace slags are used.
Besides the fact that the mineral wool has a low thermal conductivity, which allows it to be used for thermal insulation of ceilings and walls, it has another significant advantage. Unlike other materials, it can not serve as a breeding ground for microorganisms: fungi, mold, small insects or rodents, which is very useful for summer cottages.
As for the other characteristics, mineral wool is not prone to fire and does not react to temperature fluctuations: it does not deform and does not shrink. Low weight and convenient packaging (usually in the form of rolls or rectangular plates) make it easy and convenient to work with the material, even alone.
Of course, this material has drawbacks, which one way or another will have to be considered:
- mineral wool is able to absorb moisture;
- it contains phenols, which can potentially pose a risk to human health.
Both of these drawbacks can be neutralized during the installation process, providing the insulation with high-quality vapor and waterproofing, completely eliminating the risk of contact of the mineral wool with air under the ceiling. This is especially true for warm and humid air, which is concentrated indoors.
Helpful advice! Despite the fact that, while observing all the installation rules, the mineral wool does not pose a real threat to health, it is necessary to use caution and use protective equipment during its installation, as its small fibers can cause irritation of the skin and eyes.
Expanded clay is small in size stones, which consist of clay and have a porous structure. If you take into account all the factors, the claydite can be called the most suitable material for insulation of the ceiling in the bath. Of course, if the building provides for attic space and there is the possibility of its use.
The advantages of this choice with confidence include the following aspects:
- haydite is completely safe: it does not sustain combustion, is environmentally friendly, and even in the event of a fire it will not release hazardous substances into the atmosphere;
- over time, as well as under the influence of external factors, expanded clay does not deteriorate and does not decompose;
- material cost is rather low;
- bacteria and fungi do not consider claydite as an attractive living environment.
In addition, expanded clay is superior to mineral wool and in the ability to absorb moisture. And although the need to equip steam and waterproofing layers remains, the risk of moisture accumulation inside the insulation layer is much less. It should be noted that the operational period of claydite is one of the longest when compared with other materials.
In a certain period, foam plastic was the leader among the heat-insulating materials, which were used to insulate not only baths, but also houses. But with the advent of alternative options, its essential shortcomings became noticeable. For example, in the event of a fire, the foam will burn well, while still emitting toxic smoke that can harm human health.
In addition, the foam is not very resistant to external factors, collapsing under the influence of high temperatures, which is inevitable in the case of its use in the bath.
For these reasons, we can conclude that the foam is not the most suitable material for this purpose and it is better to give preference to another material that is more stable and suitable in characteristics.
Another material that is popular among heaters and is often used including baths and garages – ecowool. This fibrous material is made from cellulose, adding to it special impurities designed to provide protection from insects, bacteria and rodents. In addition, they make ecowool resistant to ignition.
Helpful advice! Insulation by spraying polyurethane foam must necessarily be made by professionals and in compliance with all technological requirements and standards. Also, the presence of high-quality specialized equipment is required.
There are many different ways to warm the floor, ceiling and walls of the bath, using various materials and technologies. You can learn more about one of these methods by reading the detailed video instructions on how to insulate a brick wall from the inside. In addition, this technology can be used not only for the bath. According to this manual, you can also make the garage warming from the inside with your own hands.
