In order to have a comfortable temperature indoors in winter, it is necessary to exclude heat losses. Ceiling expanded clay with expanded clay will reduce fuel consumption in the heating system. This process is especially important if the attic in the house is not heated.
Brief characteristics of expanded clay
Clay rocks are used to make the material. Granules are obtained by firing the feedstock in special furnaces. Since the expanded clay surface is melted, it becomes smooth. The porous structure is formed due to the influence of gases released under the influence of high temperature.
The size of the fragments of the material is different: from 5 mm to 4 cm. Only natural raw materials are used for the manufacture of the material, therefore it is completely safe for health.
Advantages and disadvantages
Expanded clay as a heater of a ceiling is more often used in private constructions. In apartment buildings, lighter materials are preferred. Expanded clay has such advantages:
- resistance to fire (the material does not even melt), temperature differences, frost;
- relatively small weight of thermal insulation;
- the product is not damaged by rodents or insects, it does not appear fungus and mold, it does not rot;
- ease of use of the material;
- duration of operation;
- possibility of use in concrete mortar;
- relatively low cost.
When insulating the ceiling in an expanded clay bath, it must be borne in mind that the material absorbs moisture, so vapor and waterproofing is mandatory. If the ceiling is false, installation is complicated. Another minus: expanded clay is a lightweight material, but a thick layer creates a significant load on building structures.
Ways of ceiling insulation
Before warming the ceiling with expanded clay, you need to choose the method of laying the material. It all depends on the type of base, as well as the degree of heat loss through the attic or roof.
Interior
You can insulate the ceiling in this way if the attic will be equipped with a living room or attic. In this case, a frame fixed by dowels is arranged on the ceiling of the previous floor. Between the ceiling and the insulation layer, a waterproofing membrane must be mounted. The loose type of insulation, especially the fine fraction, is difficult to use. In addition, this method reduces the space of the room.
External
This type of technology is used most often, since the installation process is facilitated. Expanded clay is laid from the attic.
Outer
In this case, the construction of a suspension frame is not required. The use of expanded clay here is welcome. This method is used if the attic space will not be used as a living space or storage space.
Preparatory stage
Before you insulate the ceiling in the bath with expanded clay, you need to prepare the base. The process includes the following steps:
- Inspection of the roof for damage.
- Measurement of the attic floor. This step is needed to calculate the amount of materials.
- Calculation of the thickness of the insulation layer.
Further preparation depends on the type of substrate. Brick or concrete ceiling is quite simple to clean from debris and dust.If the house is built from a log house, the preparation involves the removal of the old facing layer, treatment of the base with antiseptic agents, flame retardants. The cleaned surface is additionally treated with a primer.
The process of warming the ceiling
A cold ceiling necessarily requires warming, since without this procedure the indoor climate will deteriorate and fuel consumption will increase in winter. The process itself involves several stages:
- Vapor barrier of the base. Instead of polyethylene, it is better to use a specialized membrane. Careful attention to the choice of material is necessary if the room is not ventilated.
- Installation of a wooden frame. The selection of bars depends on the degree of humidity in the attic. Logs are laid across the room, and thin elements along.
- Expanded clay filling. For convenience, it is better to use the material of one fraction. The insulation must be evenly distributed over the surface of the base. If the sizes of the elements are different, small material is laid first.
- Seal insulation. To claydite was not damaged, you need to sprinkle it with sand.
If necessary, a concrete screed is poured over the material. If it is not planned, the insulation is covered with a layer of plastic film. Between expanded clay and the finishing base should remain a gap of 2 cm.
To find out how much insulation is required, you can multiply the area of the ceiling by the required expanded clay layer. Since the material is prone to shrinkage, you need to add another 20% to the result. To minimize shrinkage processes, it is tedious to use several fractions of a heater.
When using expanded clay as a ceiling insulation, the layer thickness is calculated until the material is laid. If it is less than 10 cm, the insulation will not perform its functions to the full. When warming a private building or a village house that will not be constantly heated, a layer of 20 cm thick is enough. If the winters in the region are cold, the required layer is 30 cm or more.
Insulation of the ceiling in a private house
You can carry out the process of insulation with your own hands, if you follow the installation technology.
In the bath
Expanded clay warming of a ceiling for wooden floors has some features. Seasonal heating of the building is taken into account. An equally important parameter is often an increased level of humidity in the room. Since expanded clay absorbs moisture, it must be protected with a foil film. The metallized layer is placed inside the room.
The vapor barrier is not laid along, but across the beams. At the same time, the film must not be stretched. It should go on the walls to the entire height of the insulation layer. Insulation joints are glued with construction tape. On the basis of it is fixed with brackets. Expanded clay is allowed to fill with cement milk. Clay is laid on the vapor barrier before filling it.
Expert Advice
Do not use expanded clay to insulate the ceiling if the structure does not have an attic, since the material is hygroscopic. A good insulation layer is obtained if several fractions of expanded clay are used simultaneously. On suspended structures, this material is prohibited.
Expanded clay - a good insulation, which can be used in various fields, including private housing construction. Compliance with the installation technology will provide reliable thermal and sound insulation.
