On the cusp of summer or winter, residents of the last floors often face problems with thermal leakage of buildings due to the very high temperatures in the summer or the low temperatures in the winter.
Mostly we all know that the solution is to insulate the ceilings, but many of us do not know that there are many types of thermal insulation that must be known to compare between them and choose the appropriate choice for the condition of the surface to be insulated.
Insulation has two types: thermal insulation of roofs, which we will talk about here, and the other is roof insulation. You can read the article for more information about rooftop waterproofing and its types.
Thermal insulation of roofs has many benefits, including:
Maintaining the original temperatures of the building and not being affected by external temperatures, whether cold or hot.
Reducing harmful ultraviolet rays.
Protects against concrete cracks and cracks.
In addition, thermal insulation greatly saves electricity consumption because it significantly and clearly reduces the use of air conditioners and fans.
The methods and types of thermal insulation for multiple surfaces, we mention the most famous in some detail as follows:
First: The use of cellulose in thermal insulation
It is considered one of the most important and best materials for thermal insulation of ceilings because it insulates to a very large degree, in addition to its ability to resist fire, being healthy and safe for the environment, and its price is considered appropriate.
Second: The method of insulation with foam or (polyurethane)
It is one of the best types of thermal insulation, its density is light, and it performs its role in insulating heat without harm to the environment and is also fire-resistant and is sprayed on surfaces. This method is characterized by the ability to isolate the smallest places that are difficult to reach in other types of thermal insulation.
There are two types of polyurethane for insulation (sprayed polyurethane) and (solid polyurethane sheets) and the material is manufactured by chemical reactions.
Third: polystyrene plates
It is made from several organic chemicals. It is environmentally friendly and comes in the form of blocks, then cut and installed, and it has a beautiful smooth surface that is not available in any other type of thermal insulation. It is characterized by isolating water and sound at the same time.
Polystyrene is classified as one of the world's first class insulators for heat, water and sound and is installed in most European and developed countries.
Fourth: glass wool or (fiberglass)
It comes in the form of flexible, rigid or cylindrical panels and is more used to insulate pipes and tanks in hot and cold countries.
It is a very thin compressed glass fiber known as (fiberglass), which is an environmentally friendly material that is not affected by temperatures.
Fiberglass is used in developed countries in construction, where it is mixed with concrete materials, reducing weight and load on buildings, and insulating heat as well.
When installing fiberglass, safety and security rules must be followed and special clothing must be worn to protect against the dangers of scattering of shrapnel, as it is made of glass, and if it is not handled carefully, it can harm the lungs or the eyes.
Fifthly: rock wool:
It is made of basalt, a natural mineral material, and comes in the form of flexible panels, and looks like glass wool or fiberglass in the outer shape. It is used as an acoustic and thermal insulator.
However, one of its major drawbacks is its ability to absorb water, which gradually reduces its ability to insulate.
It is not recommended to use rock wool in places with very variable climates or very high temperatures due to its inability to insulate in those conditions.
Other ideas
And one of the innovative economic ideas is to control the rise in temperatures as much as possible
What a resident of the last floor advises us on social media is to paint the surface white. The white color has the ability to greatly reflect the sun's rays, thus reducing the summer heat caused by the building's absorption of sunlight.
The author of this proposal says that it is certainly not this idea that prevents heat leakage, but it reduces significantly; Which contributed to saving the electricity bill and reducing the consumption of air conditioners and fans.
** In the end, whatever method you will use in thermal insulation of ceilings, you must plan and research well in the types and the most suitable for use in your building, taking into account also that they are environmentally friendly.
