It’s no secret that high-quality insulation of the house allows you to save money, first of all, by reducing the cost of heating rooms in winter and air conditioning in summer. So literally every part of it needs insulation – from the basement to the very roof.
Currently, the most popular are two types of insulation: mineral wool and expanded polystyrene. Consider each of these types of thermal insulation materials in more detail. Mineral wool. This type of insulation is the most popular and versatile heat-insulating material. Mineral wool, due to its wide range and its unique properties, can be used for thermal insulation of all elements of the house: basement, floor, walls, ceilings, ceilings, roofs.
Currently, many manufacturers offer mineral wool for various purposes, both for room insulation and for thermal insulation of pipes and fireplaces, as well as for soundproofing suspended ceilings and walls in frame houses. All mineral wool on the market is made from two main types of raw materials: glass (glass) or basalt (stone). Glass wool is produced from molten glass mass, consisting of quartz sand, cullet, feldspar, etc.
Glass wool.
It is obtained using the blowing method, in which it is possible to obtain the finest fibers of light yellow, light brown or white. Stone wool is obtained from molten stone, basalt rocks. The mineral wool obtained in this way has a yellowish-brown to greenish color. The thermal insulation characteristics of mineral wool are not affected by their feedstock, they have almost the same thermal conductivity.
Mineral wool owes its excellent thermal insulation properties to its unique structure. Its thin fibers, woven together and pressed, are somewhat reminiscent of sheep’s wool: inside the mineral wool, the air does not immediately, but gradually passes through the material, air circulation becomes more difficult, therefore, heat lingers longer inside the material. Glass wool products are more resilient and lighter than stone wool. Stone wool is much more resistant to fire. Glass wool has great soundproofing properties, it perfectly protects against external noise. However, it is not moisture resistant, so when only 2% wet, it loses 50% of its thermal insulation properties. When insulating with glass wool, in places where moisture can penetrate, it is necessary to provide additional measures for steam and waterproofing of the insulation.
The name “mineral wool” combines both types of materials – glass and stone wool. On the basis of mineral wool, a whole range of thermal insulation materials is produced – mats, slabs, granules, cylinders for thermal insulation of pipes, etc. For various heat-insulating works, a product specially made for this purpose.
When buying mineral wool products, special attention should be paid to the integrity of its packaging, as well as to the size (rolls or plates) and material density (from 20 to 200 kg / m3). Mineral wool has the following advantages: – it allows you to significantly increase the internal useful area of \u200b\u200bthe building by reducing the thickness of the walls (for example, mineral wool 60 mm thick can replace a wooden wall 150 mm thick, or brick 600 mm thick), due to its thermal insulation characteristics, due to its elasticity, it is possible to install it in structures of any plane and shape, as well as in hard-to-reach places, – it has high soundproofing characteristics (absorption and damping of various noises), – incombustibility, – high resistance to alkali and organic substances, – low thermal conductivity , – high antiseptic characteristics (unfavorable environment for the reproduction of various microorganisms, fungi or mold), – environmental friendliness.
Styrofoam.
We immediately draw your attention to the fact that polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam differ significantly in their technical characteristics. Extruded polystyrene foam is produced by extrusion, and the resulting material has a closed internal structure, the complete absence of micropores, and as a result, absolute water resistance and hygiene. Expanded polystyrene is a combustible material, and depending on the degree of flammability, it can be from G1 to G4. Materials of group G1 stop burning immediately after the elimination of the source of ignition (they do not support combustion), and group G4 not only supports combustion, but emits acrid black smoke and burning drops. Despite the fact that the materials of the G1 combustibility group are 20-30% more expensive than the materials of the G3 and G4 groups, it is recommended to choose them for thermal insulation work.
Expanded polystyrene is produced in plates of various thicknesses and different sizes. When purchasing, be sure to check the integrity of the sheets. Extruded polystyrene foam has a number of advantages: – low, almost zero, level of water absorption, – high thermal insulation resistance of the material throughout the entire service life, – low level of thermal conductivity, – high resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, – low vapor permeability.
Foundation and basement of the house.
These parts of the house necessarily require insulation, since significant heat losses occur through them. The insulation of the foundation wall must be carried out from the freezing depth indicated by the designer based on climate maps. Since the outer insulation will be in direct contact with moisture and backfilling soil, extruded polystyrene foam is perfect for these purposes, which practically does not absorb moisture and has good strength characteristics (up to 20t/m2).
Floor on the ground.
If the floor is built directly on the ground, then it, like the foundation with a plinth, requires thermal insulation. When choosing a heater, it is necessary to take into account the device of the floor. If the floor is made on logs, then the insulation will not bear the load. In this case, soft mineral wool insulation with a density of 50 kg / m3 is best suited. If the floor is arranged directly on the slab, then the insulation will transfer the load. In this case, it is necessary to use extruded polystyrene foam or hard mineral wool with a density of at least 160 kg/m3.
Intermediate floors.
If there is a temperature difference between floors (living rooms above cold garages, floors above arches, etc.), they must be insulated by analogy with floor insulation on the ground.
Walls.
As a heater for walls, it is necessary to use special facade materials. The insulation is attached to the load-bearing wall with dowels or inserted into the prepared frame. In this case, it is best to use glass wool in slabs with a density of 30 to 60 kg/m3. If the insulation is covered from above with a layer of plaster using the “light wet method”, then the insulation is attached to the load-bearing wall (monolithic, block or brick), a special mesh is applied to it, and a primer and decorative plaster layer is applied on top.
For these purposes, you can also use special grades of mineral wool designed for this purpose with a density of 80 kg / m3, as well as extruded polystyrene foam with a combustibility group of not higher than G1 and a density of not less than 30 kg / m3 or foam plastic with similar characteristics. The insulation is attached to the wall with dowels or glued with glue specially designed for this purpose.
Roof.
Everyone knows that warm air always rises, therefore, a large amount of heat can escape through the roof. The pitched roof is insulated using soft cotton wool insulation, both slab and roll, with a density of up to 50 kg/m3. Thermal insulation material is laid between the rafters. This design requires protection of the insulation with a vapor barrier film and a waterproofing membrane (top).
The junctions and joints of the waterproofing are carefully glued with sealing tapes. To insulate a flat operational roof, moisture-resistant heat-insulating materials are used that can carry an operational load of at least 250 kg / m2. For these purposes, extruded polystyrene foam with a combustibility not higher than group G1 is most often used. For warming a flat non-operational roof, slabs of increased rigidity made of mineral wool coated with bituminous mass, which serves as a lining layer for roofing material, are perfect. Mineral wool slabs have a density of 120 to 180 kg/m3 and absorb little moisture.
Special wedge-shaped plates can be used to provide the required roof slope. Attic. If you plan to use the attic throughout the year, then it must be properly insulated. Insulation of the attic roof is carried out similarly to the insulation of a pitched roof, and the insulation of floors is similar to the insulation of floors on the ground. Also, do not forget about the need for thermal insulation of the end walls and the gable, since a large amount of heat can escape through them.
The key to the durability and effectiveness of attic thermal insulation is the creation of a continuous thermal insulation circuit around the entire perimeter, the provision of reliable vapor and waterproofing of the insulation layer, as well as its sufficient ventilation.
When choosing and buying thermal insulation materials, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
• coefficient of thermal conductivity – the lower it is, the better the thermal insulation characteristics of the material,
• coefficient of water absorption – the lower this indicator, the less the insulation absorbs moisture, and, therefore, better retains its initial characteristics,
• density – the weight of the insulation depends on this indicator, the load on various elements of the building structure,
• combustibility class – indicates how much the insulation can support combustion (according to SNiP 21-01-97 from G1 to G4, the lower the better).
When characterizing thermal insulation materials, the term “hydrophobicity” is often used, referring to the water-repellent properties of the material. This term for cotton wool means that the fibers do not absorb moisture, but the air between them can absorb moisture. Therefore, in this case, it is best to pay attention to the specified water absorption coefficient.
When buying thermal insulation materials, be sure to ask the seller for confirmation of the declared characteristics, such as density and thermal conductivity, as well as the conclusion of a sanitary and hygienic examination and a fire safety certificate. We hope that our recommendations will help you properly and efficiently insulate your home, avoid unnecessary waste of natural gas and electricity for heating and air conditioning.