External thermal insulation gives a much better effect than insulating a house from the inside. In addition to its main functions, insulation protects walls from precipitation, mechanical damage, and weathering, thereby extending the service life of the entire building. Installing insulation does not require special knowledge or skills, and most homeowners can easily cope with this task on their own. But in order to do everything as efficiently as possible, you need to know what materials are available for insulating walls outside, and how to attach them correctly.
Despite the fact that the operating conditions outside and inside the house are strikingly different, the same materials can be used in both cases. However, when choosing insulation, preference should be given to those options that best meet the following requirements:
For wooden houses, the vapor permeability of the insulation is also important, because wooden walls must “breathe”. As a rule, finishing coatings for facades are designed for long-term use, and removing them every few years to replace thermal insulation that has become unusable is too troublesome and not always advisable. At the same time, if the insulation under the finishing becomes compressed, cracks, begins to rot, or is chewed off by mice, it will no longer be able to retain heat, which means it will not be possible to do without repairs. That is why it is so important that the selected material fully meets the specified criteria.
For now construction market offers the following materials for home insulation:
They all differ in technical characteristics, installation technology, and have different service life. Moreover, each of them is suitable for outdoor use and has its own advantages. Let's look at these materials in more detail.
Mineral wool is made from fine fibers obtained by melting and pulverizing glass, blast furnace slag or rocks. Depending on the location of the fibers, the structure of the insulation can be corrugated, vertically layered or horizontally layered, and have different densities and thicknesses. Each type of mineral wool has its own characteristics:
Mineral wool is produced in slabs and mats with various coating options - kraft paper, aluminum foil, fiberglass. In terms of cost, basalt insulation is the most expensive, and the higher its density, the more expensive it is.
Advantages of mineral wool:
Flaws:
Popular brands of mineral wool.
| Name | Brief characteristics |
|---|---|
| Basalt insulation with increased rigidity is available in the form of slabs with a thickness of 25 to 180 mm. Suitable for all types of facades, can serve as a basis for applying plaster. It is resistant to deformation and shrinkage, waterproof, low thermal conductivity, and absolutely non-flammable. Fastening is done using dowels and glue |
| A type of glass wool with various additives that improve the characteristics of the insulation. Available in slabs and rolls, there are options with foil coating. Widely used for insulating facades of all types, frame structures, internal partitions, roofing systems |
| Fiberglass insulation that does not contain formaldehyde additives. Available in slabs and rolls, it is characterized by biological and chemical resistance, elasticity, and good vapor permeability. Material thickness – from 5 to 10 cm |
| Glass wool insulation with a high content of water repellents. Available in the form of rolls, mats, rigid and semi-rigid slabs, 50-100 mm thick. Suitable for all types of surfaces, ventilated facades, frame structures |
Insulation materials based on polystyrene foam are excellent heat insulators due to their closed cellular structure. Almost 98% of the material is air or inert gas, enclosed in sealed cells, so the insulation weighs very little. Both polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam practically do not absorb moisture, which means they are excellent for insulating foundations, plinths, and basements. When thermally insulating facades, these materials serve as the basis for applying plaster.
Advantages:
Flaws:
In the domestic market, domestically produced EPPS is in great demand - “Penoplex” and “Teplex”, as well as polystyrene foam insulation brands Ursa, GREENPLEX, PRIMAPLEX.
Styrofoam
Cellulose insulation, also called ecowool, is made from paper production waste and waste paper. Ecowool consists of 80% cellulose fibers, the remaining 20% are antiseptics and fire retardants. The material is tightly packed into all irregularities and voids and forms a dense, seamless coating with high vapor permeability. Installation of insulation is carried out in two ways - dry and wet-adhesive, and both options can be done either manually or using a special installation.
The dry method allows you to complete thermal insulation in a short time and immediately begin finishing. But at the same time, the coating density will not be high enough, which will lead to shrinkage and the appearance of cold bridges. In addition, when dry blowing, a large amount of fine dust is formed and you have to work in a respirator.
The wet-adhesive method ensures better adhesion of the insulation to the base; the layer is much denser and more resistant to shrinkage, which guarantees the durability of the thermal insulation. True, it takes time for the material to dry - from 2 to 3 days, and even longer in cold or damp weather. And until the layer is completely dry, you cannot begin finishing.
Advantages:
Polyurethane foam, or PPU, belongs to a new generation of insulation and has improved characteristics compared to traditional materials. It is a liquid polymer mixture, which, after application to the surface, hardens and forms a durable coating with a cellular structure. Mixing the components is carried out immediately before starting work, and ready solution applied by spraying using a special installation.
Advantages:
Thermal insulation of the facade can be performed in different ways, depending on the type of insulation. But for all options, a prerequisite is high-quality preparation of the base, because not a single insulation can stop the processes of destruction of wall materials. Let's consider methods of insulation with mineral wool and polystyrene foam boards, as the most popular in frequent construction.
External walls are cleaned of dirt, peeling plaster or paint. Repair cracks and problem areas, and be sure to treat areas affected by fungus. There is no need to eliminate minor irregularities - the mineral wool insulation is mounted using a frame, so all defects will be hidden inside. Finally, the walls are coated with a waterproof primer with antiseptic properties so that mold does not develop under the layer of thermal insulation.
Step 1. The beams for the frame are cut to the required length, treated on all sides with antiseptic impregnation and dried in air.
Advice. The cross-section of the beams should be selected taking into account the thickness of the heat-insulating layer. That is, if slabs with a thickness of 50 mm are laid in one row, the thickness of the frame should be 5-6 cm, with a two-layer laying - no less than 11 cm. In the first case, a beam with a section of 50x50 mm is suitable for the racks, in the second - a board 40x110 mm installed on the edge.
Step 2. Markings are made on the walls for the frame guides strictly according to the level, holes are drilled for fasteners and the beams are installed. The distance between the posts should be 10-15 mm less than the width of the insulation board. During the installation process, the location of the elements is controlled at the building level; if necessary, wooden supports are used under the beams so that all the racks are in the same plane.
Step 3. The insulation is inserted into the cells of the frame. To do this, the plates are slightly squeezed along the edges, pressed between the racks and released. The material expands on its own and tightly fills the space. The insulation must be inserted so that there are no gaps between the plates.
Step 4. After filling all the cells on top, the insulation must be covered with a windproof, moisture-proof membrane. The membrane is laid with the marked side out, the canvases are positioned horizontally, starting from the bottom. A construction stapler is used to fix the membrane. The top sheet is overlapped by 8-10 cm, and it is recommended to glue the joints with tape.
Step 5. Wooden counter battens 30-40 mm thick are stuffed on top of the membrane to provide an air gap. If this is not done, condensation will accumulate on the insulation, the moisture will saturate the wooden frame and the structure will quickly become unusable.
After that all that remains is to mount finishing coat, for example, siding or corrugated board. The finish must completely cover thermal insulation layer so that precipitation does not fall on the slabs. Only under such conditions will the material last long and effectively.
The last step is decorative finishing of the facade
This method of insulation is noticeably different from the previous one. First, the base must be leveled so that the material fits snugly to the surface. Secondly, installation is carried out without sheathing; the slabs are attached with glue and mushroom dowels.
Step 1. The prepared walls are covered with a primer with quartz sand, for example, Betokontakt. If the base is porous, the primer is applied in 2 layers.
Step 2. The lower limit of thermal insulation is determined and a horizontal line is drawn along the perimeter of the house. Drill holes for dowels according to the markings in increments of 20-30 cm and secure the starting strip.
Starting bar fixed
Step 3. To fix the insulation you will need special glue. You can use mounting adhesive in cylinders, for example, TYTAN STYRO 753, or a dry adhesive mixture (Ceresit CT 83). The mixture is diluted in clean water according to the manufacturer’s instructions, mixed until smooth with a mixer at low speed.
Take the first sheet, apply glue on the back side in a continuous strip around the perimeter and in the center. Next, apply the insulation to the wall, resting the bottom edge on starting profile, check the location with a level, press firmly to the base.
Step 4. Secure the entire row, tightly joining the sheets together. The next row begins with half a sheet to offset the vertical seams. Excess glue that appears at the joints is carefully removed with a spatula.
Step 5. When the glue has hardened, each sheet must be secured with disc dowels. To do this, carefully drill holes in the wall through the insulation, insert dowels and carefully hammer them in with a hammer. One sheet requires 5 fasteners - in each corner and in the center.
Step 6. Next, mix the adhesive solution, apply a continuous layer to the insulation, lay a fiberglass reinforcing mesh on top and embed it in the solution. Openings and corners are additionally reinforced with corner profiles.
When the solution has dried, the surface is sanded, dusted and plastered with a thin layer. Now all that remains is to paint the facade or apply decorative plaster.
Ceresit glue
Insulation of houses is becoming more and more important with increasing prices for utilities. You can save a lot of money by doing everything yourself and first studying how to insulate private houses with your own hands. Considering that, for example, Moscow has rather cold and long winters, reducing heating costs can significantly affect the family budget.
Residents of high-rise buildings located next to the private sector see problems with insulation very well. So, at the beginning of winter, roofs where the snow quickly melts clearly indicate high heat loss in the attic. This can also be detected using a thermal imager.
Considering that warm air rises upward and cold air rises from below, special attention should be paid to the ceiling and floor. Especially if the house has no basement and stands on the ground. When insulating a house externally, you should never forget about the base, so as not to create cold bridges between warm and cold surfaces.
Also, a lot of heat escapes through the windows. And if all the cracks around the openings are reliably foamed, you should carefully look at the batteries. Their length should be equal to the width of the window, and the window sill cannot overlap the radiator. After all, it is due to convection that a thermal curtain is created that does not let in the cold from the street.
The thickness of the insulation should be selected based on the material of the walls, the thickness of these walls and the minimum temperature in the coldest period. According to SNiP, only 5 cm of polystyrene foam or 13 cm of vermiculite is enough to insulate a house.
But this is with additional insulation of window openings and reduced ventilation of the walls.
If you need to ensure minimal heat loss, it is better to use a calculator and calculate the individual thickness of the insulation. For example, for a wall made of one brick, you will need 10 cm of mineral wool.
This will allow you to get only 37.20 kW of ash loss during the heating season, instead of 166 kW without insulation.
The same 10 cm of mineral wool will be enough to insulate a house made of timber with a wall thickness of 150 mm, but the heat loss will be even lower - only 34 kW. But 35-centimeter walls made of aerated concrete can be insulated with just 5 cm of mineral wool to ensure 44 kW of ash loss.
Insulate a private house You need to do it wisely, because redoing it will cost you more. You need to remember the basic rule - only external walls are insulated. Insulation installed from the inside will not only reduce the area of the rooms, but will also shift the dew point into the house.
Condensed moisture, which has nowhere to evaporate, will cause mold to form, harming not only the building, but also the health of those living in it.
The second rule for building a wall pie is to increase the vapor permeability of materials from the inside to the outside. In other words, the frame must be protected as much as possible from moisture from the inside, and steam entering the wall and ceiling material must evaporate freely.
If vapor permeability is impaired and water microparticles are retained at some stage, this again leads to the development of fungi. Particular attention should be paid to the vapor barrier of the ceiling - warm and humid air rises upward and, falling on a more hygroscopic inner layer insulation, can no longer quickly evaporate through the ceilings.
Of course, for self-insulation At home, materials that do not require additional equipment are most suitable. Therefore, polyurethane foam and ecowool applied by spraying can not even be considered - the cost of the equipment will not pay off when used for one home.
So, the easiest to use:
But to work with these materials, you will need a drill or hammer drill to make holes in the walls, a screwdriver to screw the frame, a saw or grinder to cut off the bars. So you shouldn’t think that insulating on your own is a very simple matter, even if your hand is a little full at home construction.
Mineral wool is universal - it can be used to insulate both wooden and brick buildings. Thanks to its high vapor permeability, it will provide an optimal microclimate in the house without creating a greenhouse effect. But it is precisely for the ability to “breathe” that houses made of timber are so valued.
Basalt slabs are preferable in this regard. The insulation technology is extremely simple:
Mineral insulation also has disadvantages. In addition to the aforementioned love of mice, it is hygroscopic, so it requires good waterproofing. With improper ventilation, mineral wool begins to mold, and over time it erodes and cakes.
You need to remember safety precautions when working with glass wool - fibers that get on the skin cause severe itching. Basalt wool crumbles a lot. If it gets into the lungs, the dust is not removed, so the face must be protected with a respirator and goggles.
The main disadvantage of polystyrene foam is its low vapor permeability, so it is not suitable for insulating wooden buildings. In order not to create the effect of a plastic bottle when there is always high humidity, it is advisable to pay special attention to ventilation.
The advantages of expanded polystyrene are obvious:
PPS slabs are laid on a flat, prepared surface. There is no need to make a screed, but you will have to remove all protruding elements. The foam is attached with a special glue, and to improve adhesion, the walls are pre-treated with a primer.
Expanded polystyrene is fixed with “umbrellas” with slight indentation, and the caps are rubbed with cement mortar to ensure tightness. The seams are sealed with polyurethane foam, the excess is cut off and also sealed.
The video shows in detail the entire foam insulation technology:
Natural bulk materials They are environmentally friendly and, in some cases, low in price. So, living in a forested area, there will be no problems with sawdust, but delivery of expanded clay can be expensive. Vermiculite, in terms of its qualities, is much better than expanded clay, since it is the only insulation material that can absorb heat. So it is best used as insulation inside a wall frame.
For an industrial scale this is unprofitable, but private construction allows the use of bulk insulation even in this way.
If you need to insulate the attic floor, the easiest way is to pour 15 cm of sawdust. They don’t even need to be covered with waterproofing films.
They also have disadvantages:
Any bulk insulation works best on horizontal surfaces, but for pitched roofs absolutely not suitable.
To build your warm house, it is enough to have the minimum required construction skills. And everything will definitely work out!
Are you planning to reduce your heating costs by proper thermal insulation, but don’t yet know what is the best way to insulate a house from the outside and how to choose a material that is affordable and has excellent characteristics? Below we will look at the most popular options for insulation for the external walls of a house, suitable for thermal insulation of buildings made of wood, brick and even foam blocks. But first, a little about the advantages of thermal insulation.
Scientific research into the analysis of heat losses during the operation of a house has shown that they are about 40%, and in some cases even more. This argument alone can be considered sufficient to think about insulating the house. Of course, thermal insulation costs materials and work to carry it out, but already in the first heating season they will pay for themselves.
External insulation is better than internal insulation for several reasons:
It should be understood that In winter, the house is susceptible to frost, so condensation inevitably forms in the insulation inside it. The material becomes damp, causing mold and mildew to form. Moreover, wet insulation materials cope worse with the functions assigned to them. During the summer, insulation materials dry out, but not completely, which results in premature wear of the façade walls.
As a result of external insulation, the house is protected from frost, so moisture that gets into the thermal insulation layer is quickly removed outside, which allows you to keep the walls dry and extend their service life.
External insulation reduces the level of external noise, helping to create the most comfortable living environment in the house.
As for the disadvantages, only one can be identified with external insulation - the cost of materials and installation work. Of course, you can save on paying for workers’ services and carry out thermal insulation yourself, but only if the installation rules are followed, which will guarantee the durability and functionality of the thermal insulation system.
The market for materials for thermal insulation of exterior walls of a house is represented by:
More often than others, due to convenience and practicality, it is used mineral wool. The material is different high thermal insulation, fireproof. In addition, mineral wool retains its original properties during temperature changes and is not susceptible to moisture and damage caused by insect attacks. To make mineral wool, waste from blast furnaces and mineral fibers are used. You can choose for yourself convenient option material - in rolls or slabs.
Glass wool- a type of mineral wool, practically indistinguishable from it in properties. Just like the previous material, it is made from waste, only this time it is generated during the glass production process.
When using glass wool, it is important to properly protect your hands and eyes with a mask and gloves.
Distinctive feature expanded polystyrene is a porous structure. It is she who is responsible for the excellent thermal insulation qualities of the material. Expanded polystyrene boards consist of mini cells with air, which prevent the material from rotting and do not absorb moisture. You can insulate the outside of your house with expanded polystyrene with your own hands - the process is simple, quick, and does not require skill or experience.
An interesting option for insulating the outside walls of a house is fiberglass, which is made from broken glass, as well as sand, limestone and other components.
The material is produced in slabs and rolls. Installing it is simple and quick. Other advantages include environmental friendliness and moisture resistance.
Not so long ago, ecowool began to be used for body insulation. made from cellulose fibers. Features of the material are high thermal protection and moisture resistance. Ecowool is resistant to fungi and mold, does not attract insects and mice.
Most often, owners decide to insulate the outside of the house with expanded polystyrene, believing that this material will better cope with the role of external insulation. The decision in most cases is dictated by the low cost of the material, which is several times cheaper than mineral wool and its analogues. In addition, as mentioned above, you can insulate the facade of a house with expanded polystyrene with your own hands, saving on paying for the services of craftsmen.
In order to achieve optimal thermal insulation of the building facade, you can use sheets with a thickness of 5 to 10 cm.
The finished house insulated with foam plastic is additionally lined using modern Decoration Materials, ranging from cement plaster to panels with imitation stone, brick or wood.
The only type of material for which polystyrene foam is not suitable for insulating the outside is wood.
Firstly, for natural wood such insulation is not sufficiently vapor permeable, and secondly, it is too flammable. The use of expanded polystyrene is also considered not the most suitable option in the case of a ventilated façade due to the need for precise adjustment during the installation process. The average service life of polystyrene foam as insulation is 25 years.
Ecowool
Mineral wool in addition to excellent thermal insulation, it is responsible for improved sound insulation, which is why it would be advisable to use it for insulating houses within the city. But Basalt wool is considered the most suitable for insulating the external walls of city houses. It will not be damaged by mice, it copes well with mechanical loads and will last at least 50 years.
Glass wool for insulation today is not the most suitable option, despite excellent thermal protection performance and an affordable price. The main reason for the low popularity of insulation is the complex installation and fragility of the material. In addition, the components that are hazardous to health repel people.
The best option for thermal insulation is ecowool, a material that is fashionable today.. It is best used for insulating private houses and cottages; the insulation is also suitable for thermal insulation of industrial buildings, warehouses, and factories. The material does an excellent job of insulating a house, does not burn, and is resistant to moisture.
For those who are not used to following the standard path were developed alternative options insulation for the outside of the house. These include:
Liquid foam
Liquid foam is prepared before insulating the house on site using special equipment. Once applied to the outside of the house, it forms a practical and reliable thermal insulation. If it is not possible to apply penoizol to the base in an even layer, then you can try to arrange staggered voids on the wall, and then fill them liquid material. Such insulation is expensive, but believe me, after a few seasons the savings on heating will justify the costs.
Using warm plaster as a material for thermal insulation is a profitable and convenient option, given that you will not only be able to insulate the building, but also work on creating its exclusive appearance. To insulate materials, you will not need to bring the walls to perfect condition using putty mixtures.
Thermal insulation can be of two types: bonded and suspended. Bonded thermal insulation is extremely popular, which is cheaper and more economical compared to hanging insulation, and also allows you to significantly reduce heat costs during the operation of the house. The materials used for bonded thermal insulation are light and easy to install, therefore they are suitable for insulating any type of base.
Before insulation, the house is cleaned and leveled as much as possible using special mixtures. Insulation materials are coated with glue and then pressed firmly into the wall. For greater effect, the slabs are secured with façade dowels. To ensure that the structure lasts as long as possible, a reinforcing mesh is used, which is also attached to the insulation using glue. Finishing layer can be plaster mixture or paint. Siding is also suitable as an option - durable, lightweight and imitation of various natural materials.
In conclusion, we note that thermal insulation of external walls is an excellent way to prevent heat loss, creating a comfortable and cozy environment in the room, protecting the house from external influences and extending its service life.
The best way to insulate a house from the outside: useful tips
“Nature has no bad weather” is sung in one comedy, but you know that in winter, when the thermometer is -20 ° C, you are not laughing. In severe frost, all hope is for central heating. It struggles with the cold, but sometimes the frost wins. Residents of old houses suffer especially, because previously they did not pay enough attention to insulating the walls of the house.
Scheme of wall insulation under siding.
Today there are many construction companies that will help you insulate houses and apartments. They offer internal and external insulation various materials.
The first question that arises is to insulate the wall from the inside or outside?
You can choose any option, but it is more expedient and better to insulate the wall of the house from the outside.
This method has a couple of advantages: firstly, you will save the interior space of the room, which is always in short supply anyway. Secondly, you won’t have to change the interior of the room, the texture of the walls or the wallpaper.
Any additional insulation is better than nothing, but choose the insulation material rationally. You need to take into account all the factors, the features of your home, the price and volume of material. The market offers several options for how to insulate the walls of a house from the outside:
External wall insulation with foam plastic
Insulation of walls with glass wool.
Polystyrene foam is popular in wall insulation, as it is inexpensive and copes well with its insulating function. There are also opponents of polystyrene foam who claim that it is harmful and vapor-proof. Due to poor vapor permeability, the windows in the apartment fog up; this can be solved with the help of a hood. Make sure that the hoods in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen function well.
Before you start working with polystyrene foam, seal all cracks in the wall of the house, and then prime it. Make sure that the wall is level after attaching the foam to it. It's better to do the job correctly once than to go back to it again and redo it.
External wall insulation with basalt wool
Basalt wool is an excellent and high-quality heat insulator. It is made from natural materials, so it is safe for health. If you have children and you are afraid for their health, then choose basalt wool. This wool is used to strengthen the walls of apartments, private houses, air ducts, boilers, stoves and boilers. This material is not only a heat insulator, it also prevents extraneous noise from entering the room.
Basalt wool is pressed into basalt slabs, which are subsequently used to insulate the external walls of the house. This material is not afraid of either water or fire, retains heat well, and is also durable. To insulate walls outside the house, choose high-density basalt slabs. The weight of the insulation is large, so the fastenings must be reliable; it is better to entrust this matter to professionals so that the result exceeds expectations.
External wall insulation with polystyrene foam
Scheme of wall insulation with foam plastic.
Expanded polystyrene is more expensive than polystyrene foam, but retains heat better. The stingy pays twice, so think carefully before choosing cheaper material. The downside of expanded polystyrene is poor vapor permeability, so mold forms on the walls of the house and gives off an unpleasant odor. Sometimes mice can live in polystyrene foam. The main advantage of this insulation is its lightness; it is convenient to use due to its low weight.
Before you start working with polystyrene foam, you need to make the walls smooth on the outside and repair all cracks and defects. Your task is not a perfectly flat wall, but one as close to ideal as possible, so that the insulating material fits snugly against the outer wall. Start laying the material from the bottom up, the rows should be horizontal and fit tightly to each other and to the walls of the house.
External wall insulation with mineral wool
Mineral wool perfectly insulates walls, allows air to pass through well, is non-flammable, has water-resistant properties, and is environmentally friendly. This material is more expensive than the insulation materials described above. In addition to this drawback, remember that mineral wool is heavy. The weight of this material makes the work of builders much more difficult. It is pressed into mats, which are then used to insulate the walls outside. It is better to use two-layer mineral wool: one layer is soft and the other is hard. It should be installed with the soft side facing the wall and the hard side facing out. The thickness of the insulation must be at least 10 cm, otherwise the room in winter will not be as warm as we would like.
Mineral wool will rid your walls of fungi and mold. In winter it will insulate your home, and in summer it will perfectly keep you cool.
External wall insulation with polyurethane foam (PPU)
Polyurethane foam is popular in the construction world because it has high functionality. They insulate the walls of the house, the foundation of the building and the roof. PPU is a good heat insulator and sound insulator. If you decide to use this material, then prepare for the fact that it will be with you for 25-30 years. PPU is durable, easy to repair, convenient to install and transport. It is not afraid of mice and insects, it is perfect for insulating wooden walls and any other surfaces.
External wall insulation with fiberglass
For external wall insulation, fiberglass is sold in rolls or mats. First, decide what width you need, and based on this, buy the appropriate sizes of fiberglass. Fiberglass - excellent material, which is processed at special conditions glass in thread. The thickness of fiberglass is approximately 5 cm. In order to insulate a house from the outside, it is better to use two layers of fiberglass. One layer will be vertical and the other horizontal. The fiberglass must be laid so that the joints of the first layer overlap the second layer.
Cellulose insulation (CI)
One of the main positive qualities of cellulose insulation is environmental friendliness. The second thing to note is that relatively low price and accessibility. The control unit is suitable for any surface: concrete, wood, metal, brick, etc. Cellulose insulation cover not only the external walls of houses, but also attics and attics.
TsU differs in the method of application from other insulation materials. This material is laid or sprayed onto necessary wall. The advantage of this application is that there are no seams left in the insulation and heat leakage is impossible.
Knowing how you can insulate a house, what types of insulation materials there are, you can easily choose the appropriate option. Analyze all factors and choose the most rational decision. Seek advice from a professional and have him install it. Any material will help keep your room warmer in winter. In winter, you will save on heating your apartment. It’s better to insulate the walls well once and pay money for it, and then enjoy it for many years.
The best way to insulate a house from the outside: description of materials
Surely the residents apartment buildings They envy a little those who live outside the city in a private building. Own living space, garden, fresh air- everyone's dream. Alas, not everything is so simple, because the harsh Russian winters force you to carefully insulate your home to avoid freezing. This requires significant investments and constant monitoring of the condition of the thermal insulation material, from which residents of urban houses are exempt.
Insulating your home is preferable to using a dozen heating devices - you can save money and also make your home more comfortable. It is known that there are two ways to insulate a private building - from the outside and from the inside. Experienced experts recommend using both, but it’s worth taking care of external insulation first. Read more about which material is best suited for which houses.
The consumer does not face a long search for good products - the market is saturated with products from different manufacturers, so in any hardware store you can choose decent insulation. However, before purchasing, it is necessary to analyze the material in question according to its physical and chemical properties. These include:
It is difficult to choose a material that has all the desired qualities. For this reason, it is possible and necessary to perform insulation both outside and inside.
The question of insulating a private house from the outside arises in two cases - at the design stage of a building or when purchasing a ready-made one, but which does not have decent thermal insulation. The second situation occurs more often. What are the advantages of insulating your home from the outside? These include:
The need and benefits of external thermal insulation are obvious; Now the consumer should familiarize himself with insulation methods. There are three of them:
In the first case, the insulation is placed inside the walls (for example, between layers of brick). It turns out that he is “locked” between two levels. The method is effective, but it is impossible to implement it for an already built house.
In the second case, the insulation layer is fixed with glue on the outside of the walls, then additionally attached to dowels. Several types of coatings are applied on top - reinforcing, intermediate, decorative (finishing). Good way, only requires the intervention of specialists; It is impossible to carry out wet insulation of walls with your own hands without experience.
The ventilated facade resembles “well” masonry, only the outer layer is the facing material - drywall, tiles, siding, etc. Additionally, you will have to build frame system for fastening heat insulation sheets.
The last method is the most popular, widespread and profitable. It will cost much less than “wet” insulation; Moreover, even a beginner can do the job with his own hands. Now the consumer faces the most difficult choice.
Existing materials can be divided into two large groups - organic (natural origin) and inorganic (obtained using special materials and equipment).
The first place on the list rightfully belongs to the most popular material - mineral wool. It comes in three types - stone (basalt), glass and slag. Differing from each other only in appearance, varieties of mineral wool have the following qualities:
It is not without a number of disadvantages, including:
In general, mineral wool is good, but it is highly undesirable to use it for exterior cladding of a house.
The second well-known external insulation is polystyrene foam. Its advantages:
Extruded polystyrene foam is not inferior in thermal conductivity to mineral wool and polystyrene foam. In addition, he:
There is another type of raw material used for external thermal insulation the walls of the house are “warm” plasters. They are a mixture of balls (formed by glass, cement and hydrophobic additives). They “breathe”, insulate the room from moisture, do not burn, are not afraid of sunlight, and are easy to repair. Not very common on the market, however, experienced consumers have already appreciated this insulation.
Those who want to feel maximum closeness to nature are recommended to use raw materials made from natural ingredients. These include:
Each material has pros and cons. Based on the information presented above, you can make a symbolic rating of the highest quality materials for the walls of a house (the first is the most preferable, etc.). It is also worth considering the type of facade design.
For ventilated systems, mineral wool or cellulose wool is better suited. When laying wells, preference should be given to materials that do not allow moisture to pass through. This is extruded polystyrene foam. Plaster finishing of walls goes well with insulation, whose density is more than 30 kg/m3. For example, with mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, and any organic material.
For light walls wooden house A breathable material is better - mineral wool, hemp, ecowool, cork insulation. The first is preferable, but costs a little more.
A country house must be high-quality sheathed with reliable material. The consumer can choose any of those discussed earlier, guided by his wishes or financial capabilities. A competent approach to purchasing insulation is the key to the long service life of a cozy home.
We insulate the house from the outside - the pros and cons of materials
To provide your home with heat in winter period it is necessary to insulate the entire structure. Materials should be selected in such a way that they do not carry additional load on the house. In this article we will look at the best way to insulate a house from the outside, what technologies and recommendations should be followed.
When designing a house, you should consider insulating the entire building from the outside. The main advantages of insulation:
To understand which material is best suited for external thermal insulation, it is necessary to analyze all the advantages and disadvantages of each. The main nuances when choosing products are their heat conductivity, moisture resistance and vapor conductivity. Modern materials for insulating a house outside allow you to perform all the work efficiently and get the desired result. Types of insulation:
Important! For high-quality foam insulation, take care of a good forced ventilation system.
Experts use several effective methods for high-quality thermal insulation of a house:
Such methods can maintain and create comfort in winter, as well as significantly save money on energy resources. The reasons for insulation can be different, for example, cracks or a poor heating system. To insulate walls, all work must be done outside, because laying insulation inside the house will block the access of heat to the wall. Lack of wall heat will lead to condensation, moisture, dampness and mold formation. Each of the described methods of home insulation has its own technological features and is produced in different time of the year.
When you already know exactly what material will be used to insulate the building, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. The preparation stages consist of the following actions:
All stages should be completed without haste, because... the result will depend on this.
Today, the most popular materials are mineral wool and polystyrene foam. This is due to the fact that their installation method is almost the same, and they also have similar technical characteristics.
Application of foam plastic
When using polystyrene foam, the wall must be thoroughly dried. A dry wall is an important point in external insulation. If the structure is dry, take a sheet of the product and fix it to the plane with glue. In order for the slabs to be laid out evenly, the bottom of the wall must be secured finishing bar. Once the glue is applied to the surface of the slab, it is pressed against the wall. Dowels can be used to firmly fix the slabs. The evenness of the installation is checked using a building level and plumb lines. If the first layer is laid out evenly, you can begin laying the next one. In window and doorways install a frame to which the insulation is fixed. Joints and seams are sealed with reinforced tape, after which the entire surface is reinforced with plaster mesh. Finally, the entire surface is primed and plastered.
Application of mineral wool
Mineral wool great option for houses made of brick, wood or foam block. For high-quality insulation, a slatted frame is used. For this purpose, the expansion method is used, i.e. the distance between the slats should be less than the width of the slab. Thus, the insulation will fit tightly between the frame posts. For a wooden house with an uneven surface, two-layer slabs are used. A loose layer of insulating material adheres perfectly to an uneven wooden surface.
Expert advice! To obtain a greater insulation effect with mineral wool, you need to use polyethylene.
For cladding, as a rule, siding, decorative brickwork and other building materials are used.
In order to choose the right materials for insulating the outside of your home, carefully study all the information about each type of product, consult with experts or read forums. In any case, for high-quality cladding country house, be guided by your wishes, financial capabilities and the opinion of professionals. Remember, good insulation is the key to long-term operation, warmth and comfort in your home.
The better way to insulate a house from the outside: materials for thermal insulation of walls
The Russian climate situation, perhaps, is not so different from the situation in other northern countries. But people living in private housing have no time for abstract encyclopedic research. They need high-quality insulation for their homes so as not to suffer from the cold and not lose too much money when buying fuel for stoves or paying for electric heating.
First of all, you need to figure out whether it is really necessary, this is the façade insulation itself. It always has at least one positive side, which is that the entire thickness of the wall is insulated. Eliminating the heating of its individual parts initially solves the problem with the formation of condensation inside, with “crying” surfaces in the house. Engineers claim (and reviews confirm their assessment) that insulating buildings from the outside allows you to leave the interior space untouched. It will not be spent on very thick and not always beautiful-looking structures.
Before you rejoice and look for SNiP suitable for a particular home, you should pay attention to the potential disadvantages. Obviously, it will not be possible to carry out such work in any weather: rain and wind, and sometimes cold, do not allow it to be done efficiently. The total cost of such finishing turns out to be very high; for many people such expenses are unaffordable. The harshness of external conditions limits the choice of insulating materials or forces the creation of protective structures. And besides, if the house is divided into two halves, there is no point in insulating only one of them from the outside; heat loss will only decrease slightly.
So, insulating the outside walls of a private house has many more advantages than disadvantages. But it is important to understand the features of individual materials and structures.
Houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks are insulated from the outside most often using:
The first option is preferable due to zero fire hazard and low cost. But the problem is that the affordable price is largely negated by the need to organize a protective screen. Polystyrene foam is lightweight, also belongs to the budget group of materials, and it can be installed quickly.
At the same time, we must not forget about the danger of damage to the insulating layer by rodents and fire risks. Penoplex is environmentally friendly; mice and rats will not be happy with it. Disadvantages - considerable high cost and lack of microventilation.
Quite often people are faced with the problem of insulating the external facades of old panel houses. The main condition for high-quality thermal protection is its design in which the permeability to vapor increases from the living space to the street. There is no need to remove the outer cladding of the home; a number of technologies have been developed that make it possible to install thermal insulation on top of it.
When choosing suitable option You should give preference to solutions that do not overload the foundation and absorb the least amount of water. It is the significant heaviness and the presence of the dew point inside the hygroscopic thermal protection that cause the most problems for the owners of panel buildings.
Insulating dacha houses for winter living is very important.
It is imperative to provide thermal protection:
It makes no sense to single out any one of these elements, even something as important as walls. If at least one area is not insulated, all other work can be considered wasted, as well as the money spent on it. The walls must be equipped with waterproofing and vapor barrier; when choosing mineral or environmental wool for insulation, it is necessary to leave a ventilated gap of 50-100 mm. The insulation of a panel house from the outside has its own specifics. The slightest irregularities should be removed, and ideally, leveling should be done using a primer.
If paint is cracking or other finishes are falling off, all these layers are removed., even if the technology does not require such manipulation. In most cases for external thermal protection concrete walls foam is used, and the most reliable way to attach it is to connect glue and dowels. The work is carried out from the bottom up; a special bar is installed at the lowest point, designed to prevent the material from slipping. Please note: it is possible to replace dowels with plastic nails. Regardless of fastening methods, it is necessary to carefully monitor any gaps that appear.
The insulation of the junction of the wall and the roof deserves a separate discussion. This work is done traditionally using stone wool, but for lovers of modern technologies it is better to focus on Macroflex foam. In many cases, a steel bonding apron is formed. Is he needed in specific house, on a certain wall - only trained specialists can find out. The insulation of junctions is too complicated to be done properly by the owners of the house themselves or by randomly found freelance craftsmen.
External insulation of the walls of private houses can be made with a variety of materials. It will not work to use sawdust for this purpose, because such protection is always bulk. Strictly speaking, the layer of sawdust is placed inside the wall and should be quite thick. Mostly, owners of frame and bulk buildings resort to such a solution. But it should be considered as a last resort: even wood waste supplemented with lime is too susceptible to caking and getting wet.
For the construction of private houses, many prefer to use foam concrete or aerated concrete; these two materials are stronger than wood. However, they need to be insulated according to a special scheme. Preferred solutions are polyurethane foam and mineral wool. The second material is the cheapest and is not subject to ignition; it is easy to work with. Extraneous sounds are dampened in the cotton layer, and they will bother residents less.
Some developers use sawdust concrete; it is excellent for saving heat in frame houses. To make this material with your own hands, you can use large sawdust and calibration shavings obtained on woodworking machines. An essential component of the mixture is liquid glass. Passing reinforcement structures through the walls will help to avoid the mixture separating into individual components. It is recommended to immediately drill holes for them.
Perlite is used not so much outside, but as part of multi-layer walls.Required condition reliable service of this material is the vapor barrier inside and high-quality waterproofing outside. To reduce the risk of water saturation and loss of thermal qualities, perlite is usually mixed in equal proportions with cement and expanded clay. If you need insulation that has truly outstanding characteristics, it is difficult to find something more practical than basalt wool. Since it is impossible to work on the facade in its pure form, you will have to buy special slabs.
Like other cotton coverings, this solution increases not only thermal insulation, but also sound insulation. This circumstance is very important for private houses located near the highway, railways, airports and industrial buildings. Please note that not every adhesive is suitable for attaching such boards to a wood base. Installation can be carried out using wet or dry methods. In the second case, it is necessary to purchase dowels with extended caps.
To decorate the facade of a private house, it is permissible to use only basalt slabs with a specific gravity of at least 90 kg per 1 cubic meter. m. Reeds are sometimes used as additional heat protection; anyone can prepare the necessary raw materials and prepare them for work. The stems will have to be laid as tightly as possible so that there are as few loopholes for cold air between them as possible. The problem of fire hazard is solved by impregnation with a fire retardant or bischofite; these substances increase the fire resistance of the reed mass to level G1 (spontaneous extinguishing when heating stops).
If there is no particular desire to use natural materials, you can safely use polyurethane foam panels. The advantage of this solution is the combination of thermal and acoustic protection living space. Polyurethane foam does not allow water to pass through, and therefore there is no need for a layer of additional waterproofing, resulting in cost savings. Polyurethane foam easily adheres to the base material and therefore working with it is quite simple. It should also be taken into account weak sides– high cost of the coating, its instability under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
In some cases, the pie, completed on the outside with siding, also becomes an insulating structure. Metal itself, no matter how beautiful it looks, transmits a lot of heat. And even vinyl structures are not much better in this regard. Extruded polystyrene foam is often used for underlayment under steel or vinyl, but when choosing it, consider its high flammability. Also, EPS and polystyrene foam sometimes cannot effectively dampen extraneous sounds.
Light insulation under the siding is provided rolled materials , including polyethylene foam with an outer foil coating. Foam concrete and aerated concrete insulation allows you to avoid interest from gnawing animals and guarantee complete thermal protection. When using expanded polystyrene, first you need to cut the sheets according to the exact dimensions. Provided that the sheathing is planned specifically for specific sheets, the number of cut parts will be minimal. If mineral wool is installed, it is recommended to leave it unrolled for 60-90 minutes before cutting or filling the frame, then the result will be better and more stable.
Mineral wool is good because it does not interfere with ventilation in the room through the walls.
It is also capable of covering uneven terrain on:
In this regard, subsequent finishing is simplified, and the rough surface becomes as smooth as possible. When working on the outside of walls, in contrast to internal thermal insulation, the problem of formaldehyde release completely disappears. Important: if the relative air humidity exceeds 85%, placing mineral wool in any form is unacceptable.
Fastening is usually done using anchors, and a brick wall is placed on top of them. When insulating a house that is already in use, you should not leave it inside the walls. metal constructions, they can rust very quickly.
As a result, the total thickness of the wall and the load it exerts on the foundation are noticeably reduced. To improve the thermal properties of a house, the most common dry mixture is suitable, to which perlite sand, pumice chips and other fine fillers are added.
The use of foam structures is excellent for providing thermal protection to buildings. This insulation functions calmly at temperatures from -50 to +75 degrees. Among the different material options, it is worth paying attention to those that are impregnated with fire-resistant additives and filled with fireproof carbon dioxide. Bacteria and fungal organisms do not like foam plastic very much and practically do not settle in it. Cracked areas of walls and holes will first have to be covered to get a decent result.
The range of insulation materials, of course, does not end with the listed materials. Quite a lot of people use polyurethane foam, which is no worse than ready-made panels PPU. Excellent adhesion helps the liquid to immediately penetrate the surface and last reliably for many years. For domestic purposes, low-pressure cylinders are usually used: the quality of the reagent is no worse than in professional equipment, the only difference is that its release is slower. It should be noted that this technology cannot completely eliminate the appearance of air bubbles in the foam layer, and a wall made of low-quality material is sometimes damaged by pressure.
Arbolite is used not only for the construction of houses, but also to improve the thermal qualities of already erected structures. This building material is made almost entirely from natural wood, which allows for improved thermal protection of stone and brick buildings. But it is important to understand that it itself is easily blown and wet, and almost instantly becomes penetrated by bridges of cold.
If thickness arbolite wall is 0.3 m or more, and the masonry is done correctly; there will be no special need for additional protection from the cold in the regions of central Russia. Insulation of wood concrete is required in the regions of the Far North (over the entire surface). The points where the heat loss to the outside is most intense should be insulated in any area.
Among natural materials, clay is often used for external thermal protection of walls (it is used both on its own and in mixtures with straw or sawdust). The undoubted advantages of this solution are the low price and the absence of the risk of fire. Many people are also attracted by the simplicity of the workflow.
Important: inattention to the proportions of the components of mixtures can lead to their rapid loss of their valuable properties and to the delamination of prepared thermal insulation. In order for the clay mass to stick to the surface of the wall, you will have to install structures made of boards and durable cardboard.
Good results can be achieved with felt insulation. It is especially recommended for thermal protection of wooden houses. Laying can be carried out in several layers at once, which improves the quality of insulation; the affordable price allows you not to worry about excessive costs in this case.
Please note: before ordering the material, you should check with professionals whether felt insulation is suitable for a certain climate zone.
Like cotton wool insulation, it dampens sounds coming from outside, but you also need to keep in mind possible problems:
An alternative to natural materials is wall insulation with isolon. This insulation effectively reflects radiant infrared energy and, based on a number of special tests, has been recognized as a comfortable, safe product. It is very widely used in both private and apartment buildings. Izolon is sold in large format rolls, so it is especially important to properly calculate the need for it. In general, approaches to calculating the need for insulation materials deserve special attention.
Calculation required thickness Penofol mats must be produced in accordance with the standards set out in SNiP 2.04.14. This document, approved in 1988, is very difficult to understand and is best left to professionals to work with. Non-experts can estimate the required parameters using both online calculators and installable software. The first option is the simplest, but not always correct; It is difficult to take into account all the necessary nuances. The width of penofol sheets is always standard - 200 mm.
You should not strive to buy the thickest possible material; sometimes it will be more profitable to vary the desired number of foil layers. The double aluminum block has the highest thermal and acoustic qualities. Optimal results (judging by operating experience) are obtained by penofol with a thickness of 5 mm. And if the goal is to achieve the highest thermal protection and sound insulation without skimping on costs, you should choose a centimeter design. A layer of foam foil of 4-5 mm is enough to provide the same protection as when using 80-85 mm of mineral wool, while the foil material does not absorb water.
Forming wood sheathing units is simpler and easier than processing walls made of other materials. In this case, the design of the layout of the material must take into account the basic properties of wood: its high permeability to steam and the likelihood of fungal infection. The frame can be formed from wooden beam or aluminum profile. Special attachment points for heat-insulating material and sheathing for the front finish should be provided. Roll insulation is attached to timber walls using slats.
A two-layer thermal insulation coating must be mounted on a double sheathing(simple or supplemented with brackets). You can get a wooden frame using an electric jigsaw (if you choose the right blade), but aluminum structures It is recommended to cut with metal scissors. You should not try to speed up the process by using an angle grinder; it damages the anti-corrosion layer and reduces the shelf life of the thermal insulation. Screws, bolts and self-tapping screws are best screwed into wooden walls using a screwdriver with a set of attachments. Battery version of the device fits better everything, because then there will be no wire interfering forever.
It is advisable to adjust wooden parts and drive in disc-shaped dowels with a hammer or rubber mallet. If you need to install membrane films, the best solution is the use of a stapler with a set of staples. When preparing the sheathing, each part of it is checked according to the building level: even minor deviations, invisible to the eye, often lead to improper operation of the insulation. Of course, even before installation begins, wooden walls must be impregnated with several layers of antiseptic composition. Using a spray gun will help speed up this impregnation.
It is useful to consider the step-by-step instructions for insulating the external walls of gas silicate houses with your own hands. A prerequisite for the normal operation of most of these buildings is the installation of insulating material and protection from external moisture. If the blocks are decorated with brick, all protective materials are laid out in the space between it and the gas silicate. Masonry 40-50 cm thick in central Russia, as a rule, does not require additional thermal insulation. But if structures 30 cm or thinner are used, this work becomes mandatory.
It is recommended not to use cement mortars; they form insufficiently dense joints, allowing abundant heat to pass into the outside world and frost into the building. It is much more correct to mount the blocks themselves using special glue, which guarantees the tightest possible fit. At the same time, it reduces the likelihood of cold bridges forming.
Choosing which technology to insulate gas silicate house, you should pay attention to:
When insulating gas silicate, most professionals give preference to slab structures based on stone wool or EPS. In third place in popularity are façade insulation systems based on plaster. Polystyrene foam and traditional mineral wool rolls are outsiders: there are no special advantages over the leaders, but there are additional difficulties. Among the latest developments, it is worth paying attention to thermal panels, which are distinguished not only by excellent thermal protection, but also by a decent aesthetic appearance.
If any type of mineral wool is chosen for work, you will need:
Installation of cotton slabs is carried out only with the adhesives indicated on the packaging. It is permissible to decorate the walls above the insulation not with paint, but with siding. It is recommended to choose the densest types of cotton wool to avoid premature caking and slipping. When installing guides, they are mounted 10-15 mm closer to each other than the width of a single slab. This will allow you to fill the frame as tightly as possible and eliminate the slightest cracks.
Expanded polystyrene is even better suited for insulating houses from the outside than mineral wool. But its increased thermal insulation is depreciated by low mechanical strength. If significant loads are obviously applied to the wall, it is better to abandon such a solution. Filling the seams between the plates is permissible only with polyurethane foam. External cladding with siding or application of facade plaster will prevent the harmful effects of weather elements and ultraviolet radiation.
External thermal insulation of a basement in a private house should be made only with materials that are as resistant to moisture as possible. After all, even the most reliable protective layers can be damaged, and this problem, for obvious reasons, cannot be eliminated quickly and easily.
The basic requirements are:
Professionals insulate houses made of reinforced concrete slabs as carefully as possible. This material not only transmits a lot of heat on its own, but is also designed in such a way that thermal efficiency is significantly reduced. The developers are trying to make reinforced concrete products lightweight and compact by construction standards, so it is recommended to take into account the information from the accompanying documentation.
A common mistake is to use the cheapest grades of foam; they are too short-lived and do not provide high-quality insulation even for their service life. Please note: before insulating basements, it is recommended to first ensure their full, high-quality ventilation.
Insulation with foil is a fairly new and practical solution that combines three valuable properties:
Modern versions of foil materials make it possible to simultaneously insulate a wall, partitions in a house, pipelines, and even auxiliary buildings. Mineral wool, covered with foil on one side, is recommended for use primarily in non-residential premises. Regardless of the type of material, it is attached in such a way that the reflector “looks” into the building.
It is necessary to leave a gap of 20 mm from the external finishing to the insulating layer in order to enhance the thermal insulation with an air gap. On the first floors, it is necessary to insulate not only the walls, but also the floor.
Industrial waste has become quite widespread in the thermal protection of private houses; many people use metallurgical slag for this purpose. Nickel and copper smelting wastes are in greater demand than others, since they are chemically stable, and their tensile strength starts from 120 MPa. Using slags with a specific gravity of less than 1000 kg per 1 cubic meter. m, you need to create a heat-protective layer of 0.3 m. Most often, blast furnace waste is used to insulate floors, not walls.
Sometimes you can hear statements about cardboard insulation. Theoretically, this is possible, but in practice there are a lot of problems and difficulties with this. The only option that meets the necessary requirements is corrugated cardboard, having air gaps that retain heat.
The paper itself, even if very thick, only protects from the wind. Corrugated material should be laid in several layers with mandatory gluing of the joints. The fewer connections between individual layers, the better.
The best types of cardboard:
It is much better to use craft paper: it is also thin, but much stronger than a cardboard sheet. Such a coating effectively protects the main insulation from the wind (in most cases, mineral wool is located below). In terms of thermal protection parameters, kraft paper is identical to natural wood, and it also allows steam to pass through well.
The advantages of insulation with ecological wool are evidenced by the fact that products for it are produced on an industrial scale and even at different technologies. The dry method of applying cellulose involves pouring granules into designated niches. It is important to consider that ecowool is produced in the form of a small fraction and can generate dust. A number of reagents contained in this insulation can provoke local allergic reactions. Therefore, all work is carried out using rubber or fabric gloves and respirators (gas masks), and a layer of environmental wool is surrounded by a barrier made of kraft paper (it cannot be replaced with cardboard!).
To learn how to insulate the outside walls of a house with your own hands, see the following video.
Insulation of facades is relevant both for owners of new housing and old private houses. The outside walls must reliably protect the building from the cold. To do this, you will need a high-quality and effective heat insulator. Heating costs and living comfort will depend on how good the outer insulating layer was chosen.
Insulation of walls from the outside can be carried out different materials. There is a wide range on the market. But what is the best way to insulate the facade of a house? The answer to the question depends on several factors. And you shouldn’t always believe the manufacturer’s advertising.
Insulating the facade of a house with modern materials will be useless without following the technology. This is also worth taking into account when preparing for work. Before you insulate your house from the outside, you need to understand the nuances of the process.
It is important not only to choose the right heat insulator, but also to follow the insulation technology
Wall insulation can be divided into two large groups:
The second group has more representatives. This includes chemical industry products: expanded polystyrene (foam plastic, penoplex), natural ecowool. When choosing how to insulate the exterior of a house, you first need to pay attention to the physical properties.
This thermal insulation belongs to the class of foamed polymers. Polystyrene foam has high efficiency, easy to install, insulates noise quite well. Another advantage is the affordable price. But such material has significantly more disadvantages. To choose the best way to insulate the walls of a house from the outside, it is important to consider that polystyrene has the following qualities:
Polystyrene foam is affordable, provides excellent thermal insulation, but is flammable and short-lived There is a possibility that the material will release toxic styrene as it ages.. The concentration is small, and when insulated from the outside, the substance practically does not penetrate into the room, but this property casts doubt on the manufacturer’s claims about environmental friendliness.
To insulate a house from the outside with your own hands, you can use extruded polystyrene foam or, more simply, penoplex. This material is a close relative of polystyrene foam. It has all its advantages and some disadvantages. But compared to the previous option, it is devoid of such important disadvantages as:
Flammability and low vapor permeability remain. Although some manufacturers increase the fire resistance class by introducing special additives, it is not possible to obtain a completely non-combustible material.
Penoplex is a strong, durable material, but has a low fire resistance class It is not recommended to insulate the facade of a wooden house with your own hands using penoplex or polystyrene foam. The owners value such buildings for the naturalness of the materials and the ability of the walls to “breathe”. External insulation polystyrene will completely block air movement. In this case, additional forced ventilation may even be required, since natural ventilation will not be enough. Polystyrenes can easily turn a building into a greenhouse; this is worth remembering when deciding how to insulate a house from the outside.
This material deserves the title of environmentally friendly insulation, since it is made entirely from cellulose fibers. External wall insulation with such material is not subject to rotting and is unattractive to rodents. This can be achieved by adding minerals to the composition: boric acid and Boers.
The insulation of the house from the outside with ecowool has a loose structure. The material has high sound insulation properties and allows air to pass through well. This option is perfect if you need to insulate a wooden or frame building. The beneficial properties of wood are not lost.
Ecowool does not impair the ability of wood to pass air When using the material on timber or log walls Apply using the wet method. Wet ecowool is sprayed onto the surface and then allowed to dry. The material adheres quite well to the wall and forms a warm shell. The final stage of work is plastering the facade or finishing it with various materials.
Insulation of facades of buildings built according to frame technology, performed using the dry method. Ecowool is simply poured into the cavity between the outer and inner cladding.
What is the best way to insulate a house from the outside inexpensively and effectively? Here, mineral wool confidently takes first place. The material has good thermal insulation properties and is relatively inexpensive. In addition, it is necessary to note the clear installation technology and ease of processing. Mineral wool is safe for humans.
Thermal insulation of a house with mineral wool is an inexpensive and safe way to insulate your home To choose a material, you need to consider three types of mineral wool:
There are a few things you need to know when using mineral wool: important points. To properly insulate the surface, you need to use a vapor barrier (attached from the side warm air) and waterproofing (from the cold side). These layers will protect the material that can absorb water. When wet, cotton wool provides virtually no thermal insulation. To remove condensation from outer surface material between the insulation and exterior decoration provide a ventilation gap 3-5 cm wide. This layer must be in communication with the outside air.
How to insulate a house from the outside? Two methods are used for this. Both can be used for almost any insulation material. The type of heat insulator has almost no effect on the technology. But you need to take into account certain recommendations from the manufacturer. For example, as is the case with mineral wool, when a ventilation gap is required.
There are two technologies:
This method has a relatively low cost and puts less load on the foundations of the building. But it is important to note that a decorative coating cannot guarantee reliable protection against mechanical stress.
In this case, the insulation of external walls is covered with a layer of plaster. Its thickness is usually 40 mm. To ensure strength, a reinforcing mesh (fiberglass or metal mesh) is used.
The wet method of thermal insulation involves covering the walls decorative plaster Insulation and finishing of the facade of the house are carried out in the following order:
How to insulate the facade of a wooden house with mineral wool? Only the wet method is suitable here. For other materials, you can choose one of two options.
It is better to choose fiberglass mesh as a reinforcing layer. Finishing and insulating the facade of a house using this technology has one important drawback: over time, the plaster may begin to fall off. This is especially true if external insulation of facades was carried out using metal mesh. It is recommended to choose a more expensive but modern fiberglass one.
Insulation and finishing of facades in this case requires the presence of facing material. The most commonly used materials are siding, lining, composite panels, etc. Insulating houses from the outside with your own hands will require constructing a frame for fastening the cladding. The step-by-step instructions are as follows:
The dry method of thermal insulation of walls involves the use of cladding and the installation of a ventilation gap You can insulate walls using the dry method in almost any weather.. This makes this option stand out from the previous one. Deciding how best to insulate a home depends on the type of finish chosen.
This point will be an important stage of work. Before you insulate the walls, you will need to determine the thickness of the insulation. It is important to know that the value for a wooden facade and a brick one will be different. This is due to the fact that wood retains heat better. The indicator also depends on the climatic region of construction and the purpose of the building.
| City | Recommended insulation thickness for external insulation, mm |
|---|---|
| Saint Petersburg | 100 |
| Moscow | 100 |
| Ekaterinburg | 100 |
| Novosibirsk | 150 |
| Rostov | 50 |
| Samara | 100 |
| Kazan | 100 |
| Permian | 100 |
| Volgograd | 100 |
| Krasnodar | 50 |
The calculation can be done in three ways:
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