Today we will tell you about bulk insulation, which is available in eight different types. The variety is simply impressive, as they are made from paper, stone, resin, polymers and even clay. Each material has its own strengths and weak sides, although there are also those who have nothing to praise for, even if they wanted to. All bulk insulation can be installed using two methods: manually or using a compressor. Such materials are good because they fill all the cracks and voids. And negative qualities include shrinkage, which is inherent in all insulation materials from this cohort.
Styrofoam crumbs.
Bulk insulation for walls made from foam spheres is used only when it is necessary to fill the cavities of already built structures. The crumbs are simply blown out using a special machine, trying to achieve maximum density. The disadvantage of crumbs is that the insulation can shrink. In addition, the material:
This bulk wall insulation is transported in plastic bags. Can be used to insulate floors, ceilings, and pitched roofs.
Penoizol flakes have a random shape.
In appearance, penoizol looks like foam chips, but if you look more closely, the difference is obvious. Despite the visual similarity, these are absolutely two different materials. Penoizol is more reminiscent of snow flakes, it does not have an ideal ball shape, this material is softer. Penoizol is used as fill-in insulation for walls and horizontal ceilings. In addition, it is also available in sheets, but is mainly used in liquid form. Unlike polystyrene foam, penoizol:
The thermal conductivity characteristics of both materials are almost equal.
Penoizol backfill insulation for walls is made from resin. The quality of the material primarily depends on the quality of the resin used for production.
First, the liquid substance is poured into blocks, about a meter by meter. Then the blocks are cut into sheets, and only then the sheets are crumbled. Installation is carried out using a blowing machine or manually. When working, you need to control the degree of density of the material.
Fractions of foam glass come in different sizes, up to crushed stone.
It is made from broken glass, which is crushed into smallest fractions, melted and mixed with coal. As a result, carbon dioxide begins to escape from the material, which forms air spheres in the structure of the foam glass. This is a very expensive material, it is used for industrial facilities or during the construction of high-rise buildings. It is used extremely rarely in private construction, since not everyone can afford such a cost. They are used as bulk insulation for ceilings, floors and walls, and in the form of slabs or blocks. Bulk comes in different fractions, based on this, it looks like:
Bulk has the following characteristics:
The peculiarity of using bulk floor insulation is that foam glass can be included in the composition cement mortars, with which the screed is poured. The same is true when pouring foundations; instead of ordinary crushed stone, you can use foam glass.
Expanded clay is ugly, but time-tested.
Probably the oldest and most well-known fill-in insulation is expanded clay. Made from clay by firing. Depending on the size of the fractions, it comes in the form of:
It should be noted that expanded clay is much cheaper than its competitors, namely perlite and vermiculite, which we will talk about a little later. The density of the material can vary between 250-800 kg/m. cube The degree of thermal conductivity ranges from 0.10 to 0.18 W/m*C.
Expanded clay practically does not absorb moisture; this process occurs very slowly. But, having filled up with water, he is very reluctant to part with it, which cannot but affect his characteristics.
It is used as bulk insulation for walls, floors, ceilings and roofs. Also read ““. It does not enter into any chemical reactions, mold does not grow in it, and mice do not live in it. Because source material clay is used for manufacturing, expanded clay has all its positive qualities:
Expanded clay can be mixed with sawdust, but the insulation layer should be slightly larger, since wood has a slightly lower resistance to heat transfer.
Ecowool was developed as part of a waste recycling program.
This type of insulation was developed in Europe as part of a recycling program. That is, the main goal is to usefully recycle waste. It is made exclusively from newspapers; no more than 10% cardboard is allowed. To prevent ecowool from burning, microorganisms from growing in it, and mice not gnawing on it, borax and boric acid are added to the detailed newsprint.
It is used as bulk insulation for floors and walls, installation is carried out using dry and wet methods. The density when blown by machine is 65 kg/m in the wall. cube, on floors 45 kg/m. cube, density at manual styling– up to 90 kg/m. cube Thanks to fire retardants, the material does not burn, but smolders successfully.
The service life of ecowool produced in the Omsk and Tomsk regions is 10–12 years. Western manufacturers claim that the material will last 50 years. But they make such forecasts based on climatic conditions your region, where temperature differences are smaller and, accordingly, less moisture settles in the insulation (due to the dew point). For Russia, with its cold and humidity, these forecasts are unlikely to come true.
The thermal conductivity of ecowool is 0.037–0.042 W/m*C. It easily absorbs moisture and releases it just as easily.
When wet, it becomes heavier, which leads to shrinkage, which is inevitable. In fact, ecowool has nothing to do with environmental friendliness. It is simply stuffed with chemicals and we do not recommend using it.
Perlite is always white.
Perlite is a volcanic ore (acidic glass). For insulation, construction perlite is used, the fraction of which varies from 0.16 to 1.25 mm. After ore is mined, it is crushed and heated to 1 thousand degrees. It is important that the heating is carried out sharply, and the water that is in the structure of the rock begins to evaporate. As a result of this process, perlite swells and reaches a porosity of 70–90%.
Material characteristics:
The density of insulation in the wall varies from 60 to 100 kg/m. cube Membranes cannot be used during installation, as they quickly become clogged during operation. For installation on pitched roofs, perlite treated with bitumen is used. After a solvent is added to bituminized perlite, it becomes sticky, and after it hardens, it forms a single insulating layer of any shape.
Vermiculite has become very popular recently.
Loose thermal insulation vermiculite is made from mica - an ore that is mined in quarries. The ore is broken into small fractions, which are subsequently intensively heated to 700 degrees and due to the evaporation of moisture, swelling occurs; naturally, the fractions increase in volume. If you gradually heat the mica fractions, the moisture will slowly evaporate and swelling will not occur.
The service life of the material is unlimited, because there are no adhesive impurities in it, there is simply nothing there to spoil. Material characteristics:
Vermiculite transports and distributes liquids well. This means that even with intensive, deliberate moistening of a separate area, perlite will evenly distribute moisture over all its areas, and then completely remove it outside. This property allows you to minimize the consequences of getting the insulation wet. Vermiculite costs almost the same as ecowool (about 4,500 rubles per cubic meter). It can be mixed with sawdust in a 50/50 ratio.
The thermal conductivity of sawdust is 0.07–0.08 W/m*C. Sawdust is rarely used as an independent insulation material, as it is prone to absorbing moisture and further rotting. Therefore, they are mixed with other materials:
The ability of these materials to remove moisture prevents sawdust from being blocked even when laid in a thick layer. By the way, you can only use small sawdust, which is obtained when processing wood on modern machines with high speeds.
Having examined all types of bulk insulation, we can conclude that heat insulators made from rocks and clay have proven themselves to be the best. In terms of price/practicality/heat transfer resistance best option- penoizol. An outsider in our rating, ecowool is poison in pure form, not otherwise.
Basalt-fiber insulation acts as the basic thermal insulation. When choosing a material, you always need to look at its technical parameters and characteristic features. Stone microfiber actually has a fossilized structure, it retains heat stably and for a long time due to a layer of natural ventilation. The material also helps protect the room from wind and moisture. If additional insulation is required, this is provided by ventilation gaps and waterproof cladding on the outside. Typically, one layer of insulation with high density and medium dimensions is sufficient. But often insulation is carried out with several layers of insulation with overlapping seams in order to increase specifications.
A special film is laid on top of the basalt mats, which additionally protects the 5 cm thick basalt insulation from condensation. When laying insulation externally, remember that the material is sensitive to drafts and strong winds. In this case, the efficiency of the thermal insulation material will not exceed 40 percent of the original indicators. The main properties of high-quality insulation, which does not require additional protection, should be called their combination - acceptable thermal insulation, a stable level of water vapor diffusion, sufficient resistance to fungal attack, and a long service life.
The thickness of the insulation layer of 15 cm is sufficient to provide the room with high level insulation (thermal, hydro, sound insulation) with a film thickness of 20 mm, 30 mm or 100 mm.
When finishing walls and laying basalt insulation, it is worth considering that sections or mats do not adhere well to the wall surface. In this case, a primer will not save the situation. It is better to use a dowel attachment. The practical use of basalt fiber insulation is recommended when laying the material on any surface. During the installation process, the material is usually cut into pieces 20 to 25 cm wide. This way the material can maintain its strength and performance characteristics.
Initially, the material from natural raw materials has the necessary qualities for covering walls inside and outside. In addition, the material is used for thermal insulation of fireplace exhaust or chimneys, bath stoves, while their number does not matter. In such cases, there is no need to worry about high temperatures. It is worth considering that, depending on the brand, basalt mats, when laid on the ground, draw water from the contact surface. The latter must be treated with a hydrophobic compound in constant contact with moisture, so you should not use basalt wool to insulate foundations, even if the material has high thermal conductivity, but floors are quite possible and necessary. Basalt insulation perfectly resists shrinkage, because the structure of the material is rigid, protective against rodents. Basalt slabs are purchased in packages of several pieces.
Expanded clay is ugly, but time-tested.
Probably the oldest and most well-known fill-in insulation is expanded clay. Made from clay by firing. Depending on the size of the fractions, it comes in the form of:
It should be noted that expanded clay is much cheaper than its competitors, namely perlite and vermiculite, which we will talk about a little later. The density of the material can vary between 250-800 kg/m. cube The degree of thermal conductivity ranges from 0.10 to 0.18 W/m*C.
Expanded clay practically does not absorb moisture; this process occurs very slowly. But, having filled up with water, he is very reluctant to part with it, which cannot but affect his characteristics.
It is used as bulk insulation for walls, floors, ceilings and roofs. Also read ““. It does not enter into any chemical reactions, mold does not grow in it, and mice do not live in it. Since the starting material for manufacturing is clay, expanded clay has all its positive qualities:
Expanded clay can be mixed with sawdust, but the insulation layer should be slightly larger, since wood has a slightly lower resistance to heat transfer.
Hundreds of years ago, when building wooden houses from timber or logs, the very first fill-in insulation was used - sawdust. Like modern analogues, they were quite good in terms of thermal conductivity, but they shrink or lose their properties when wet. Today's materials are more advanced in many ways. The most popular of them are discussed in detail below.
Insulation based on clay. It is used as an independent heat insulator for residential or industrial buildings, or in combination with concrete (expanded clay concrete is obtained). Today it is obtained by burning clay shale.
Production technology varies depending on the required size of the final granules.
By studying the labeling of the fill-in insulation, you can understand what size granules of the material are and for what areas of the house it is suitable. For example, expanded clay sand is used as a heat insulator for floors or acts as a component of concrete cladding. Granules with a diameter of 5-10 mm are suitable for pitched and flat roofs, floor, attic; larger than 15 mm - for insulation basement or foundation.
Expanded clay inevitably settles as it is used, so during initial installation it must be compacted strongly to minimize shrinkage. It is recommended to insulate walls with this material only in regions where the temperature in winter does not drop below −20 degrees.
The insulation is made from silicate volcanic rocks using the same technology as expanded clay. When heated to 1000-1200 degrees, moisture evaporates from the surface of the stones, leaving air inside them. The result is white or gray granules with a diameter of 1 to 10 mm. The density of perlite ranges from 75 to 150 kg/m3, and because of its color it is also called “glass insulation.”
Minimum size granules (1-2 mm) form perlite sand, used in the following areas:
Granules filled with air weigh less than expanded clay, so they are suitable for thermal insulation of walls. In addition, the material will resemble mineral wool, since in addition to preserving heat, it will prevent the penetration of extraneous noise into the room.
Expanded material made of hydrated mica, increased in volume by 15-20 times through heat treatment. It has increased fire-resistant properties, due to which it is used when installing chimneys. Ideal for floors and walls.
A thin layer of vermiculite 5 cm thick will retain up to 70% of the heat of the room. This is enough to insulate the roof. For walls, floors and foundations, it is recommended to make twice as much material.
The density of vermiculite is lower than that of expanded clay or perlite - the highest volumetric mass is 100 kg/m3. This fill-in insulation is supplied in bags of a certain volume, and is used in almost all rooms of a residential building.
The advantages of vermiculite include:
Relatively new material, which appeared on the market only 10 years ago. Made from recycled paper, fire retardants (substances that prevent fire), and antiseptics. Safe for humans, resistant to rotting, and does not spread fire. It is most often used for thermal insulation of walls, attics or roofs of complex construction.
The loose mixture creates perfectly smooth and continuous surfaces
Bulk types have properties that allow them to bypass similar materials. It is worth noting that mineral wool technical characteristics, which are similar to all products in this line, have a high level of environmental friendliness, that is, the material is absolutely safe for environment and people's health. Plus, it is necessary to highlight all the advantages of this brand:
Having considered the main characteristics of this material, we can draw conclusions about its advantages and disadvantages.
TO positive qualities mineral wool can be classified as:
The main disadvantage of basalt wool appears at the installation stage. When working with it, dust is formed, consisting of small particles of stone fibers. They enter the respiratory system, causing coughing and irritation. Eliminating the damage caused by dust is not difficult. To do this, you should use standard personal protective equipment (masks or respirators). Also to negative factors The considerable cost of the material can be attributed.
The insulation is a low-density porous material, the granules of which are produced by firing foamed raw materials at high temperatures. The ease of manufacture is reflected in the low cost of thermal insulation, and the structure also allows saving on labor costs. 
The disadvantages of fill-in insulation are:
Loose fill insulation is usually used for horizontal surfaces. The work seems simple, but requires careful preparation. For example, when insulating floors in buildings without basements, the soil is first compacted and covered with screed. Next, waterproofing material is laid on the latter, and insulation is poured onto it. It looks like the situation is the same with roof insulation, but no screed is required. Instead, a layer of vapor barrier is laid on top of the backfill material.
When covering walls, a frame consisting of durable sheet elements is constructed in advance. After this, insulation is poured inside the resulting structure.
Since the material in question is light and hardly weighs down the structure, it is usually used when covering a sloping roof. It is also used for insulating the following areas of houses:
The optimal combination of price, quality, as well as the combination of lightness with reliable thermal insulation contributed to the growth in demand for the considered fill-in insulation. If the house needs good protection from the cold, and there is little time to work, expanded clay, perlite, vermiculite and ecowool will be excellent helpers in the implementation of your plans.
This is a natural material of volcanic origin. The material absorbs moisture; studies show that perlite weighing one hundred kilos can absorb up to four hundred kilos of moisture. For this reason, experts recommend perlite for floor insulation in rooms with high humidity. The material is non-flammable. The material is supplied for sale in the form of perlite sand, sold in bulk or in bags.
Remarkable fact: perlite is used not only for floor insulation, but also for filtering vegetable oil, juices and even beer. The service life of the material is extremely long, almost unlimited!
It is made from waste plate and roll products. For this purpose, special equipment and a dispersion (grinding) method are used, by which a loose granular mixture is obtained. The production of bulk insulation in St. Petersburg is carried out by the company Brois, whose specialists have honed the process of manufacturing the material to perfection.
All these advantages of innovative thermal insulation material attract customers and builders to it, and make the work process fast and high-tech.
Any buyer of building materials is interested in basalt insulation having the necessary properties to the maximum extent, so it is selected for a set of reasons. The insulation, of course, must meet modern technical requirements. Mineral wool is suitable as the main material for thermal insulation, but today it is better to buy basalt slabs.
When inspecting products, close attention is paid to the density of the material (D). . Lightweight material – D up to 35 kg/m³ – suitable for light-duty structures
For example, for pitched roof structures or when arranging attic and attic spaces.
Plates – D 35–50 kg/m³ – are suitable for the construction of structures made of light alloys and for sound insulation when decorating the facades of low-rise buildings.
Material – D 50–75 kg/m³ – designed for finishing floor surfaces and ceilings, thick internal partitions. In addition, a layer of thermal insulation is needed for arranging a three-layer wall structure in low-rise buildings (it represents the middle layer).
D 75–100 kg/m³ – as thermal insulation material used for finishing external walls or when organizing ventilated facades. The high fiber density allows the material to be used for installing two-layer thermal insulation of external walls.
Plates – D 125–150 kg/m³ – are necessary for the construction of soundproof partitions. The wall can be thermally insulated under plaster.
Basalt slabs – D 175 kg/m³ – are used as a layer of independent heat-insulating material when constructing partitions, walls, and facades based on reinforced concrete surfaces.
Plates – D 175–200 kg/m³ – are suitable for soundproofing floors under screed.
First, let's figure out what the insulation in question is: basalt wool, according to GOST number 4640-2011, belongs to the category of fibrous heat-insulating materials obtained by melting mineral raw materials. This instruction states that mineral wool can be made from:
Gabbro-basalt is the raw material for the production of basalt insulation.
So, wool made from volcanic stone, or rather gabbro-basalt, is what we call basalt thermal insulation. Therefore, the question that is often asked to me about which is better - basalt insulation or mineral wool, as you understand, makes absolutely no sense.
To produce thermal insulation material, the raw material is heated to a temperature of 1500 degrees Celsius, as a result of which the basalt melts and becomes fluid. Then the liquid mass is sent to a centrifuge, where, under the influence of a strong air flow, individual fibers up to 5 cm long and up to 7 microns thick are formed from it.
After this, the fibrous mass is glued together with phenol-formaldehyde resins, which give the material elasticity and bind them together. The insulation is molded into separate thermal insulation mats or rolls by pressing.
At the final stage of production, the almost finished insulation is subjected to heat treatment (the material is heated to 300 degrees Celsius) in order to neutralize the adhesive composition and reduce the subsequent emission of harmful substances from the thermal insulation.
Now you understand what a basalt heat insulator is and you can independently choose the appropriate material for the job in the store. As an example of its use, I would like to invite you to watch the video in this article, which describes how to insulate a house from the outside using this heat insulator.
If you have already used basalt insulation for thermal insulation own home or, on the contrary, you want to receive Additional information, you can ask questions and share your own experience in the comments to the material.
If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something, add a comment or say thank you!
This material is not only comfortable to use, but also economical and has excellent thermal insulation properties.
Bulk mineral wool is also called blow-in type. This material is not only comfortable to use, but also economical and has excellent thermal insulation properties. It is produced using factory technology, which includes grinding and processing processes in a special mechanism. You can purchase the mineral wool product in bags where it is packaged in crumbly form.
Attention! The bag capacity is 30 or 50 kg. . Mineral wool is packed into containers mechanically or manually
What is this building material? The crumbly mixture is obtained by grinding mineral slabs, resulting in finely crushed loose sand. The material is widely used in creating thermal and sound insulation, insulating attics, floors and other building elements. Today there are two options for thermal insulation:
Mineral wool is packed into containers mechanically or manually. What is this building material? The crumbly mixture is obtained by grinding mineral slabs, resulting in finely crushed loose sand. The material is widely used in creating thermal and sound insulation, insulating attics, floors and other building elements. Today there are two options for thermal insulation:
If you do not take into account the cost (it is different for everyone), then the main advantages of these materials are as follows:
In addition, these materials are environmentally friendly because they contain natural ingredients- clay, cellulose, rocks, etc. They are fire-resistant and not attractive to rodents. The loose structure makes them indispensable for horizontal insulation. But, perhaps, the most important advantage of these insulation materials is their lightness. That is why they are often preferred to denser and heavier rolled or tile materials if the building structure is heavy (for example, a two-story building, or built from heavy materials) - so as not to weigh it down even more and not to overload the foundation.
Fractions of foam glass come in different sizes, up to crushed stone.
It is made from broken glass, which is crushed into smallest fractions, melted and mixed with coal. As a result, carbon dioxide begins to escape from the material, which forms air spheres in the structure of the foam glass. This is a very expensive material; it is used in industrial facilities or in the construction of high-rise buildings. It is used extremely rarely in private construction, since not everyone can afford such a cost. They are used as bulk insulation for ceilings, floors and walls, and in the form of slabs or blocks. Bulk comes in different fractions, based on this, it looks like:
Bulk foam glass insulation has the following characteristics:
The peculiarity of using bulk insulation for floors is that foam glass can be part of the cement mortars with which the screed is poured. The same is true when pouring foundations; instead of ordinary crushed stone, you can use foam glass.
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Most often, mineral wool is used for external insulation of walls, attic floors and roofs. Foam plastic is better suited for thermal insulation of the foundation - an inexpensive and fairly rigid material that does not allow water to pass through.
Failure to comply with technology is costly!
Stone wool for facade wooden house installed after treating the walls with an antiseptic that protects them from rotting. The surface of foam concrete and bricks before insulation is cleaned of old paint and peeling plaster. The work of installing insulation is best done during the warm season on dry walls.
All window sills and door trims must be removed before installation. Since the thickness of the walls will increase after covering with mineral wool, you will have to buy new elements of window and door cladding.
Dry installation of insulation into the frame
There are two ways to insulate with stone wool: dry and “wet”. The first involves the use of a wooden or steel frame (lathing), in the cells of which insulation is placed. In the second method, the slabs are attached to walls without a frame using glue and disc dowels.
"Wet" installation option
It should be noted that installation in a frame is most often used when constructing a ventilated facade. The lathing allows you to create a gap between the insulation and the outer cladding (4-6 cm), through which water vapor is released into the atmosphere.
The disc dowel is used for both dry and “wet” installation
Mineral wool is placed on glue and dowels in cases where a finishing layer (plaster, putty) will be applied to its surface.
The main area where this material can be used is the thermal insulation of attics.
Bulk mineral wool is optimally used for cold and warm surfaces, with a temperature range from -200 to +600 degrees. Today, it is popular to backfill hollow structural elements of buildings, thus improving thermal insulation performance. Demand for this material, due to its universal qualities, such as the non-flammable consistency of mineral wool, and its unattractiveness to rodents.
Attention! When working with mineral wool, it is very important to follow safety precautions, as it can cause an irritant reaction in the human mucosa and skin. . Loose mineral wool, which is formed as a result of by-products of products made from this material, has excellent properties.
The scraps from the slabs and mats are thrown into a special machine, where they are crushed. After processing, a loose mixture is obtained, which the consumer can then purchase at any hardware store. The main area where this material can be used is the thermal insulation of attics.
Loose mineral wool, which is formed as a result of the by-production of products made from this material, has excellent properties. The scraps from the slabs and mats are thrown into a special machine, where they are crushed. After processing, a loose mixture is obtained, which the consumer can then purchase at any hardware store. The main area where this material can be used is the thermal insulation of attics.
Different brands of loose mineral wool are used in approximately the same way. So, the mixture is poured into the injector funnel, where under pressure the mixture passes through the hoses into the nozzle. Under the influence of compressed air flow, its thickness is fixed in accordance with the established indicators in the project. It is thanks to this technology that the material is called inflatable mineral wool.
Attention! Since loose types of wool are used for thermal insulation, transition bridges should be installed in the attic space.
Bulk basalt insulation is a “blown”, “stuffed” material. It is very convenient and economical. The material is supplied in bags and in bulk. This is an excellent addition to existing thermal insulation made from slag, sawdust, expanded clay and other things. The density of the material is about 35-50 kilos per cubic meter. The material is in high demand in Europe, and the volume of purchases of this material there is growing every year. Reviews about bulk basalt insulation are quite positive. The main disadvantage is the impossibility of using the material as the main insulation, but only as a supplement.
Perlite is always white.
Perlite is a volcanic ore (acidic glass). For insulation, construction perlite is used, the fraction of which varies from 0.16 to 1.25 mm. After ore is mined, it is crushed and heated to 1 thousand degrees.
It is important that the heating is carried out sharply, and the water that is in the structure of the rock begins to evaporate. As a result of this process, perlite swells and reaches a porosity of 70–90%
Material characteristics:
The density of insulation in the wall varies from 60 to 100 kg/m. cube Membranes cannot be used during installation, as they quickly become clogged during operation. For installation on pitched roofs, perlite treated with bitumen is used. After a solvent is added to bituminized perlite, it becomes sticky, and after it hardens, it forms a single insulating layer of any shape.
The components of this insulation are ecowool (about 10%), shredded paper (about 80%), antiseptics (about 5%) and pyrine retardants (about 5%). The material is non-flammable and does not rot over time due to the presence of special impregnations. Ecowool has been used in the world for almost a century! Insulation appeared in Russia and the CIS about ten years ago, but the buyer really liked it and is rapidly gaining popularity. It must be admitted that in Europe they know a lot about construction and the materials that are used for this construction.
Boric acid is used as an antiseptic in ecowool, and borax plays the role of a fire retardant. These substances are 100% environmentally friendly. This insulation material is quite practical in every sense. Ecowool fibers perfectly fill small voids, so the material can be used even for the most complex structures.
Bulk mineral insulation has come into common use modern construction. The materials are relatively new, but they are quickly gaining their share of the building materials market. Such thermal insulators undoubtedly have advantages; no one is trying to dispute them. Some people are only stopped by the novelty of the materials. Our people don’t particularly like new products, especially when it comes to construction for many years, in which they invest a lot of money. But all new products become proven materials, and very soon this will happen with bulk insulation.
But there are also options for people who don't like new items. You can remember the good old proven slag. It was an excellent insulator in its time, this bulk material was a hit in its time. There was a downside to the slag - it was dirt and dust from it. Modern bulk insulation materials still have the same excellent thermal insulation qualities, only without dust and dirt.
There used to be sawdust (an analogue of modern bulk materials for insulation). Sawdust retained heat well, but was afraid of fire and water. Modern bulk insulation materials retain heat well. They are not afraid of moisture and do not burn. There are exceptions - some types of insulating bulk materials). But you can always choose an option that suits you. We think that doubts about bulk insulation materials have been dispelled!
With this option, the main role is played by the glue that fixes the mineral wool slabs to the wall. It must have good vapor transmission so that condensation does not accumulate in the insulation. Be sure to take this point into account when purchasing. The market offers special adhesive compositions designed to work with stone wool.
Sequence of work when wet method visible in the figure.
Design for insulating walls with basalt wool and adhesive mortar
The installation of the slabs begins after installing the starting profile, which covers the slabs from below and prevents them from sliding until the adhesive composition sets.
A layer of glue is evenly distributed over the slab with a notched trowel and then pressed against the wall. Having installed a horizontal row, the insulation is additionally fixed with plastic disc-shaped dowels.
Having finished covering the wall, a layer of glue is also applied to the surface of the material and a fiberglass reinforcing mesh is embedded in it. Having leveled the surface with the rule, the solution is allowed to dry. The final operation is plastering.
Thermal insulation material made from basalt fibers, like other types of construction raw materials, in addition to its positive properties, can also cause concern. Many people do not know whether basalt fiber carries any harm. It’s worth looking into this in more detail. In the process of producing basalt fiber, companies demonstrate the insulation’s resistance to fire. The experiment is carried out, for example, under the flame of a propane or acetylene torch. However, you should not completely rely on the fire resistance of the material. If a house is completely engulfed in fire, it will not be possible to save yourself by relying on an insulator. Modern high-quality material is indeed capable of blocking the path to the spread of fire, but this is a matter of time.
Another important point when choosing natural insulation, the fact is that the material is still not without harmful qualities.
It's worth considering them too.
There are also more unpredictable consequences of using additional compounds in the production of stone fiber - this is the radiation background of the rock.
It is clear that we are talking about places of extraction of raw materials, so it is worth asking where exactly the rock was mined, whether it might contain compounds of heavy metals and isotopes. In the process of processing harmful substances are practically not destroyed. When choosing basalt mats, it is always necessary to monitor the quality of the product.
This is understandable; the purpose of all insulation materials is to insulate. Only their different types are intended for different areas of work, have different installation complexity, properties and prices.
And all this is important to take into account and calculate, so as not to end up miscalculating.
So, to the question of bulk insulation. Roughly speaking, bulk materials are everything that is not in slabs or rolls, and for the installation of which no other binding compounds are required.
As the name implies, to insulate them, it is enough to pour them over the desired area in a certain layer. These include varieties such as:
Bulk insulation materials with a loose or fractional structure are poured onto horizontal planes. They cover mainly floors and ceilings.
Vermiculite is one of the options for bulk insulation
In recent years, a whole “cage” of manufacturers of high-quality stone wool has formed on the market. These are foreign brands Isover(Izover), Rockwool(Rockwool), Paroc(Parok). A domestic company competes with them on equal terms TechnoNIKOL. The products of the Russian company have also earned a good reputation Izovol(Izovol).
The range of products they produce covers all areas of insulation, from the basement to the roof.
For a correct comparison, consider the price for 1 m2 of insulation with a thickness of 10 cm for universal use, offered by different companies:
You need to choose the material based on your goals and objectives. The characteristics of thermal insulators should be taken into account, because some are not suitable for hot rooms, while others tolerate moisture and elevated temperatures well. In addition, some bulk insulation materials are very hard and are suitable as a substrate or base for a floor.
In any case, you can give one general advice, it concerns the fact that it is worth purchasing these thermal insulators in trusted places with good reviews so as not to run into fake or low-quality products.
In general, it must be objectively admitted that bulk insulation materials are very attractive in terms of prices. We also must not forget about their durability; classic mineral wool will last no more than ten years or twenty at best. And for bulk insulation materials, the service life is much longer, many times!
You also need to understand that not all bulk thermal insulators are the same. They differ in their properties. Certain tasks require certain materials. If you are in doubt about your choice, then contact a specialist with this question; he will be able to advise you on the right materials.
For example, expanded clay is not suitable as the main insulation in regions with extremely harsh winters (frosts of 40 degrees). This needs to be taken into account. In addition, there are many other nuances, which is why consultation with specialists is extremely important for each individual case.
This material is made from basalt, a rock of volcanic origin. In order to obtain soft fiber from hard stone, it is melted. After this, the hot mass is separated into fibers using various technologies (blowing, rolling, spunbond and centrifugal drawing).
The resulting semi-finished product has one significant drawback: the basalt fibers crumble and it is impossible to form a single mass from them. Therefore, in the next step, an adhesive is introduced into the fiber.
Most often, phenol-formaldehyde resin is used in this capacity. It connects the fibers together, allowing you to form a carpet of the desired thickness. Next, the material is given water-repellent properties by treating it with mineral oil. The last operations are cutting the insulation and packaging it.
It should be noted that in the construction market the term stone wool is not often used. The names more familiar to the mass buyer are mineral wool and basalt wool. To avoid confusion, it should be remembered that we are talking about the same material obtained from basalt rock.
One more note: basalt mineral wool should not be confused with glass wool and slag wool. The first type of insulation is obtained from molten glass. The raw material for the second is blast furnace slag. Today, mineral wool has practically supplanted its closest competitors. Glass wool is noticeably inferior to it in terms of environmental friendliness. The quality of slag wool is low, so the demand for it has fallen.
The variety of materials on the market allows each self-builder to choose the best option for himself. Along with such common insulators as polystyrene derivatives, fill-in insulation materials are also actively used. But if it is used everywhere, then perlite is not so in demand, although it is not inferior to it in terms of heat saving parameters and is characterized by a wide scope of application. But perlite has already been tested in construction by the craftsmen of the FORUMHOUSE portal.
Perlite is a derivative of volcanic rock obtained by heat treatment of hydrous volcanic glass. As a result of firing at high temperatures(1000-1150⁰C) the rock swells, the particles take on a spherical shape, and the initial volume increases more than ten times. It turns out non-toxic, lightweight, universal material, visually reminiscent of white or grayish sand, odorless. It is widely used in many industries, the scope of application is determined by the fraction (grain size), the three most common are:
IN construction industry Perlite is used for the production of dry building mixtures as a filler, building materials (slabs, blocks), and also has independent significance as a backfill sound insulator and insulation. The effectiveness of perlite in the construction industry is explained by its properties:
UKSUS70 Member FORUMHOUSE
I poured perlite M 75 into a 0.5 liter jar and filled it with water, it absorbed a lot and then floated up. I put it in the bathroom and forgot, and my wife put it in the closet. Yesterday I accidentally remembered and looked - the perlite had dried, the water had gone, and it again became fluffy, clean and light. I think it can and should be used as insulation; nothing will be done to it for a hundred years, but the base for it needs to be prepared well.
Perlite has high heat-saving parameters not only due to minimal thermal conductivity, but also due to its relatively low bulk density, and the brand also depends on it. Construction perlite is mainly produced in three grades:
This density is enough for perlite to be “fluid” - when poured, it fills all the voids of the structure, while lighter analogues have certain difficulties with this.
The best option is to use perlite in bulk, since cold bridges may remain in the bags when laying them. As fill-in insulation in construction, it is used in floors and walls - it is poured between joists and into voids formed either by well masonry or a sealed frame. Due to its volatility, the material generates a lot of dust, so it is better to work with a respirator. But the accusations that it provokes asthma almost from the first day, sometimes appearing on our forum, are more of a “horror story” than a real danger.
GOR777 Member FORUMHOUSE
We have been working with perlite for the third year now, first we poured it into the masonry mortar, then into the plaster, and now we are insulating the ceilings and floors. Yes, he is volatile and nasty, but so far, pah-pah, no one has any asthma, and in total four people worked with him directly, and several more were nearby.
To prevent material from leaking through the ceilings, one of our craftsmen used geotextiles.
Tone Member FORUMHOUSE
I pour perlite M 100 into the floor of the first floor, its use simplifies the “pie” of the floor, with only geotextiles underneath. Perlite absorbs moisture and releases it without consequences, I isolate it only from the side warm room vapor barrier. Mice do not live in it, it is free-flowing and fills all cavities. Low thermal conductivity, non-flammable.
However, it is worth considering that the underground is dry and insulated with expanded clay over a polyethylene film, so moisture leakage from below does not threaten.
When insulating the attic floor, a vapor barrier is also used.
KitovAV Member of FORUMHOUSE
My pie from bottom to top is as follows: vapor barrier (foiled polyethylene foam), then a ceiling of load-bearing beams and boards on bars, then geotextile 120 microns, perlite 25 cm. I didn’t sprinkle any mixtures of perlite, I didn’t water it with anything, I think there’s no point in it, and the same geotextile is on top.
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When the question arises about keeping the house warm, the first thing that immediately comes to mind is a common person, this is insulation of walls and floors. But such a one-sided approach is fundamentally wrong, because everyone knows from the school physics course that warm air rises upward and if you do not take the ceiling into account, then all other efforts and investments will be in vain. In this article I will talk about which ceiling insulation is best to use and how to insulate the ceiling in a house in three different ways.
When choosing insulation, there are several main evaluation criteria - the level of vapor permeability, flammability, weight and strength of the material itself, there is also a price, but this is rather a personal matter.
Ceilings may seem different only at first glance to an uninitiated person; in reality, there are only 2 types of ceilings - concrete and wooden:
Now we have reached one of the main parameters, which directly affects how to choose insulation. This is the location of the insulating layer. After all, the ceiling can be insulated both from the inside of the room and from above, that is, from the unheated side.
For an amateur, the simplest, most accessible and inexpensive option is to install an attic floor. After all, you must admit that here a person does not need to “fence” improvised scaffolding and balance on them, hemming the ceiling from below.
In addition, the question of how thick the insulation should be actually disappears with external installation; the more, the better, there is enough space. Moreover, you can use both slab and bulk material.
Installation from inside the room is a completely different matter. We really don't see them that often in our homes. high ceilings, which means that every centimeter will have to be borrowed from the living space. In my experience, owners rarely agree to “lower” the ceiling by more than 150 mm. Accordingly, the insulation must be selected that is light, durable and has the lowest thermal conductivity.
Now let's look at the materials that are most often used in construction, and at the same time analyze which of them are suitable for insulation in certain situations.
Foam plastic is currently breaking all records of popularity in the household sector. The material is really light, accessible, and most importantly inexpensive. In our case, the strength of the foam is more than enough. Insulating the ceiling with foam plastic does not require exorbitant knowledge and high qualifications of the builder.
But there are a couple of unpleasant moments in this big barrel of honey. The vapor permeability of foam plastic is not much higher than that of the same concrete, plus the material burns quite well.
Whether it is possible to sew up a wooden ceiling with foam plastic from the inside or outside is a controversial issue. Theoretically, installing foam plastic from the inside onto wood is possible, because in this case there will be free access of air to the ceiling from above. But why build an environmentally friendly, breathable house and then clog the ceilings with waterproofing?
It is also undesirable to lay polystyrene foam in a continuous layer on top. Then the warm and humid air will have nowhere to go, and it will begin to accumulate in the wood, hence mold, mildew, etc.
Some craftsmen install foam plastic between the load-bearing floor beams, but I am against this approach. The minimum thickness of the beam starts from 150 mm, and if it is tightly clamped on both sides with waterproofing material, then it simply cannot cope with the onslaught of moisture from below and will begin to become damp.
Therefore, we conclude that polystyrene foam is perfect for insulating reinforced concrete floor slabs, both outside and inside. When it comes to wooden floor, the use of polystyrene foam is undesirable.
Here I want to mention such a popular material today as extruded polystyrene foam. In order not to go into the intricacies of technology, I will just say that this is, figuratively speaking, the elder brother of foam plastic.
It does not allow moisture to pass through at all and retains heat by a third better. Therefore, it can only be considered as a more effective alternative to polystyrene foam when insulating the inside of a concrete floor. There is an opportunity to get by with a smaller sheet thickness.
If you are insulating concrete floor foam from the inside, then you can get by with a slab thickness of 50 - 75 mm. In the case where the ceiling is insulated from the outside, minimum thickness will be 100 mm.
In terms of floor insulation, mineral wool is considered a more effective alternative to foam plastic. The range here is much wider. Both soft elastic mats and cotton slabs with a fairly high density are produced.
In the past, there was only one type of such insulation - glass wool. Although the characteristics of glass wool are very mediocre, due to its low cost it is still used. But I don’t recommend it to you, if you don’t pack yourself in tight overalls, after “communicating” with glass wool you will be itching for another 3 days.
In the cheap segment, you can use soft mineral wool mats; they are no longer so dangerous. Although I prefer to work with dense basalt wool slabs, they are versatile and can be installed on any surface.
Installing cotton wool with your own hands is no more difficult than working with polystyrene foam; in terms of weight, it is also not much heavier than its competitor, and most importantly, wool is an absolutely non-flammable material, plus it has a high level of vapor permeability.
But mineral wool has one very significant drawback. Along with high vapor permeability, it is capable of greatly accumulating moisture. Moreover, if dense slabs can still be dried somehow, then soft cotton mats after drying almost completely lose their previous volume, and therefore their thermal insulation characteristics.
It is believed that the thermal conductivity coefficient of cotton wool ranges from 0.3 to 0.4 W/mºK, that is, approximately at the same level as that of polystyrene foam. But these are tabular, laboratory data; due to the ability to absorb moisture in real living conditions, this thermal conductivity coefficient of cotton wool is several times higher.
The thickness of mineral wool when installed on the ceiling, compared to the same polystyrene foam, should be at least a third greater, and if we are talking about insulating a cold attic floor, then the thickness of the slabs is taken to be about 150 mm or more.
Don't think that I'm discouraging you from using cotton wool. Insulating ceilings with mineral wool is very convenient and, most importantly, effective. It can be mounted with equal success on any type of ceiling, both from the inside and the outside.
It’s just that this material, figuratively speaking, demands respect. The instructions must be followed strictly and then a positive result will not be long in coming.
As you probably understand, bulk materials You can only insulate attic floors from above. At the moment, expanded clay is the leader in this direction.
Expanded clay granules are produced in three types of fractions. The most fine fraction called sand and does not exceed 5 mm in diameter. Larger and more common granules have a diameter of up to 20 mm, they are called gravel. The so-called expanded clay crushed stone is granules with a diameter of 20 - 40 mm.
In terms of their characteristics, they are absolutely identical, the only difference is in size.
Expanded clay is relatively inexpensive. Compared to other bulk materials, there is not much dust from it. A big plus is that rodents are often indifferent to expanded clay.
Any bulk insulation, including expanded clay, is afraid of high humidity, since they are all capable of absorbing moisture.
Another inexpensive but quite effective insulation material is sawdust. I think everyone knows that the price for them is a pittance. But there is one nuance here: sawdust cannot be used fresh or in its pure form.
To prevent rodents from growing in such a dump, the sawdust needs to sit in a dry room for about a year. After this, they are mixed with the so-called “fluff” (slaked lime powder) in a ratio of 8:2 (sawdust-lime).
Insulation boards can also be made from the same resting sawdust. This is of course not basalt wool, but the efficiency of such slabs is quite high. The manufacturing technology is extremely simple:
Of the most common newfangled insulation materials today, there are 3 main contenders:
All of the above foam insulation can only be applied using expensive compressor equipment and trained people. To some extent, the only exception is ecowool; you can fill it with your own hands in a dry state in an uninsulated attic. When it comes to spraying from the inside, ecowool also needs a compressor.
As I mentioned above, the ceiling can be insulated from the inside or outside. Accordingly, the technologies will be different.
I don’t see the point in talking about how to spray insulating foam, because you won’t be buying a compressor anyway. This is a professional technique and it costs exorbitant money. Therefore, we will focus on the three main methods that are available for independent arrangement.
But I act differently. No matter how hard you try, the gaps will remain in any case, so it is better to immediately glue the sheets with a gap of 5 - 7 mm. After the glue sets, I fill these gaps with foam. This way I get a really continuous coating;
I would also like to say something about adhesives. There is enough of this product in the markets. But masters for the most part use three options:
If you decide to insulate the ceiling with foam plastic in wooden house, then the material should be laid between the load-bearing beams to their entire depth, and the gaps should be foamed. You will have a ceiling lined underneath, and it is advisable to put a subfloor on top, because you need to somehow move around the attic. In this case, no vapor barrier is needed; polystyrene foam is not afraid of moisture.
Now let's talk about how to insulate a ceiling with mineral wool. The inside of a mineral wool ceiling can be insulated in two ways.
I actually already told you about the first one. The fact is that dense slabs of mineral wool are glued and plastered on the ceiling in the same way as polystyrene foam. There's nothing to add here, except that you can't do without a notched trowel.
The second, no less common method is internal installation under the hanging sheathing. This type of lathing can be installed on both wooden and concrete ceilings.
The frame of such a sheathing can be assembled from wooden blocks or from UD and CD profiles. My advice to you is to study right away. metal profiles, they are not affected by temperature changes, and most importantly, this skill may be useful to you more than once.
This is the simplest option. If you are dealing with concrete slab The floors or supporting beams of the wooden ceiling are already sewn up and you don’t want to touch them, then you will need to lay sheathing in the attic.
Typically used as sheathing wooden beam thickness from 50 mm. The beam tire, which will also be the depth of the sheathing, is calculated according to the principle: thickness of future insulation, plus 30 mm for ventilation gap.
Now the entire attic space is covered with a vapor barrier over the sheathing. Do not forget that the vapor barrier membrane allows steam to pass in only one direction and the steam should move upward. Such membranes always have marks indicating which side is vapor-permeable. The membrane is fixed to the sheathing with a furniture stapler.
Now you can lay or fill the insulation itself. With bulk materials, everything seems to be clear, pour it out, level it and it’s ready. Here it is worth mentioning how to lay slab insulation, for example, the same mineral wool.
In order for cotton mats or slabs to fit tightly between the wooden guides, they must be 20 - 30 mm wider than the gap. And so that there are no cold bridges at the joints of these plates. The material is usually laid in 2 layers.
In the case of wool, slabs 100 mm thick are usually taken and first laid in one layer. Next, the same layer is laid on it, but the joints of the lower and upper layers should not coincide with each other. This way you will get monolithic insulation. The final touch to this design will be the rough flooring on top of the sheathing.
Of course, it’s up to you to decide which insulation is best to use. For my part, I tried to talk about the most simple ways, in my opinion, accessible even to an amateur.
If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!
Bulk insulation materials, including expanded polystyrene, are used in construction as widely as possible: for insulating any horizontal and inclined surfaces, for filling technological voids and construction cracks, etc. The types of materials from which bulk insulation is made are diverse: these are cellulose, stone, resins, and natural materials, for example, clay or peat. Layers of insulation are laid using mechanical devices (compressor) or manually, which depends on the location and purpose of the thermal insulation. Each material has its own advantages, but there is one common drawback - any bulk insulation tends to shrink, that is, over time it cakes and decreases in thickness, which means its thermal conductivity increases.
Polystyrene foam, both pressed and loose, consists of many small grains (granules or balls). If polystyrene foam in granules is not compressed, the material will be free-flowing, which significantly reduces its density and increases the thermal impermeability of expanded polystyrene chips. This also increases the volume by weight. Such heat-insulating material is used only on horizontal surfaces or in a closed inclined space, from where the polystyrene foam insulation cannot spill out. This material is also used to fill the cavities and crevices of structures by blowing them in with a compressor so that the crumbs are packed as tightly as possible.
But even with this technology for laying loose thermal insulation, it will shrink over time. A few more negative aspects that builders will encounter when using polystyrene foam in granules:
The insulation is sold in polyethylene bags. 
Penoizol flakes have an arbitrary geometric shape, and they fill mainly horizontal closed surfaces, as well as vertical cavities between walls and partitions. In addition to flakes, penoizol can be sheet or liquid; all types of insulation are made from resin. The advantages of penoizol are as follows:
In terms of thermal conductivity properties, the backfill insulation for walls, penoizol, is practically equivalent to expanded polystyrene. The production of granular penoizol consists of several stages: the liquid substance is poured into molds in which it hardens, then the molded blocks are cut into sheets, and these sheets are crushed. This bulk material is laid using a blowing machine (compressor or construction vacuum cleaner) or manually. The packing density is controlled mechanically or visually.
Foam glass of various sizes is made from waste ordinary glass by crushing and melting mixed with coal. When combined with coal, the mixture begins to release CO 2 (carbon dioxide), as a result of which air bubbles appear in the material, which remain in it even after the mixture hardens. Foam glass is a fairly expensive material to produce, so its main area of application is industrial and large-scale residential construction. IN individual construction Foam glass as insulation is used so rarely that one can say that there is no such technology - not every family budget can support the purchase and installation of foam glass insulation. This thermal insulation material is used as bulk insulation for ceilings or as bulk insulation for floors and walls. In addition, blocks and slabs are made from foam glass. The grain sizes of this bulk heat insulator range from millimeter granules to centimeter crushed stone grains.
Positive qualities of foam glass:
The technology of adding foam glass to concrete mortar when pouring floor screeds, constructing strip or slab foundations and others concrete structures, in which crushed stone or gravel filler is used - such fillers can be replaced with foam glass, increasing the heat retention parameters of the object.
Expanded clay is the most famous (besides polystyrene foam) bulk insulation material due to its low cost. This heat insulator consists of baked clay granules, to which quartz sand can be added before firing to improve strength properties. The grain size ranges from grains of sand to coarse crushed stone. The density of expanded clay is 250-800 kg/m 3, the thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.10-0.18 W/m Black/C.
Of the disadvantages inherent in this insulation, the most significant is poor moisture transfer when the material is moistened. Expanded clay is laid manually on horizontal surfaces; it is possible to create a hard protective surface for moving along an insulated ceiling or floor. When insulating pitched roofs with expanded clay, it is necessary to provide a closed space where it will be poured. Chemical and biological passivity guarantees complete safety of the insulation layer throughout its entire service life.
Advantages of expanded clay:
Vermiculite insulation is made from quarry mica. During the production process, ore is crushed into grains of different sizes, which, when heated to 700 0 C, begin to evaporate moisture (as in the production of perlite) and swell, making the future insulation porous and light. The service life of vermiculite is unlimited, since no foreign substances, impurities or additives are added to the rock during the production process.
Advantages:
Vermiculite thermal insulation material does not retain moisture, therefore, at any degree of moisture, moisture is distributed throughout the entire volume of thermal insulation evenly and equally, and over time is completely removed from the thermal insulation cake, without deteriorating the properties and parameters of vermiculite during further use. To increase heat retention properties, sawdust is added to vermiculite granules in a 1:1 ratio.
The thermal conductivity of sawdust or fine sawdust is 0.07–0.08 W/m B/C, but sawdust is rarely used as a separate material for insulation due to some negative aspects: wood quickly absorbs moisture, which can result in rotting, the development of mold and fungi diseases. Therefore, sawdust is always added to other materials for thermal insulation. building surfaces: in clay, expanded clay, vermiculite, perlite, etc. The above additives prevent sawdust from developing all these diseases and exhibiting its other negative properties. 
After comparing the characteristics and properties of the main bulk heat insulators used in industrial and individual construction, the only correct conclusion arises: clay insulation and from various rocks are best used.
