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We choose thermal insulation material for insulating a frame house. Various ways to insulate a frame house with your own hands The most effective insulation for the walls of a frame house

Even before construction begins, it is very important to choose high-quality insulation For frame house. After all, low-quality material eliminates all the advantages economical design and will not maintain the temperature in the building. It is difficult to choose the best among the variety of market offers. Explore all available options and compare their advantages and disadvantages.

How to choose insulation

Even a professional builder will not be able to immediately tell which insulation is best for a frame house. The material must match the climatic zone and type of house, match the thickness and cladding of the walls. Some prefer to sheathe the house with foam plastic, others prefer to sheathe the house with mineral wool or other materials. You shouldn’t skimp on insulation, because without it a wooden house will be cold.

Foam insulation

Polystyrene foam is a very popular insulation material. Insulating a frame house with foam plastic has many advantages:

• fairly low cost of material;
• environmental Safety;
• minimum weight;
• simple installation;
• ability to withstand moisture without a protective coating;
• there is no need to make additional insulation.

But polystyrene foam also has its disadvantages, which force many to abandon it, despite the cheapness of this material. It is susceptible to fire, has minimal sound insulation and is very fragile.

When choosing polystyrene foam you should take into account density. If you need to sheathe a frame building with an area of ​​6 square meters. meters, you need to purchase 3 cubic meters. m of foam plastic 100 mm thick.

Insulation with mineral wool

Another popular insulation for frame houses is mineral wool. Demand for it is growing because it is very comfortable material, presented in the form of pressed slabs rectangular shape. The slabs are not only easy to install, but also easy to cut. To get a piece of the desired shape and size, just use a knife or saw.

For production mineral wool They use blast furnace slag or basalt, which is thermally treated and pressed. Thanks to its fibrous structure, the insulation retains air, thereby creating a barrier to cold air and preventing it from entering the room.

The following advantages of the material are highlighted:

• fire resistance;
• high sound insulation;
• durability of operation;
• excellent thermal insulation;
• ability to withstand almost any deformation.

Some people do not buy mineral wool because it is not environmentally friendly and is somewhat toxic. The material contains small harmful particles that can penetrate the respiratory tract and cause illness. Therefore, you need to work with insulation carefully. And to ensure that mineral wool does not have a negative impact on the health of the residents of the house in the future, it is recommended to cover it from the inside with a vapor barrier film.

If moisture comes into contact with this insulation, it will begin to deteriorate. This will lead to loss of thermal insulation properties and even the onset of rotting. To avoid this, it is necessary to make not only thermal insulation of the walls in a frame house, but also install a special one outside waterproofing layer . It will make it impossible for moisture to enter the thermal insulation layer from the outside.

Walls are insulated using mineral wool as follows:

1. From the inside, in front of the insulation, a layer of vapor barrier is installed to ensure air circulation with the wood and make it impossible for condensation to accumulate.
2. The mineral wool itself is placed between the frame posts. When cutting insulation boards, it is better to make a small reserve.
3. To ensure high quality insulation, thermal insulation material install as tightly as possible.

A frame wooden house is also insulated from the outside in the same way. But instead of a vapor barrier layer, a special waterproofing membrane is stretched over the mineral wool.

When using mineral wool, you need to be puzzled by the question of how dense the insulation for the walls of a frame house should be. Usually it is enough to use 25-30 kg. per sq. m. It is important that the material holds its shape and does not shrink under its own weight, so that there are no gaps in the thermal insulation in the wall. If possible, it is better to play it safe and use material with a density of up to 50 kg. per sq. m.

So, if you correctly install a thermal insulation layer with mineral wool, this insulation will be one of the best and most profitable options for a frame house.

Use of glass wool

This is another one fibrous material, leading the rating of the main insulation materials for frame houses. Glass wool is obtained by melting waste glass, soda, sand, dolomite and borax. sold in slabs or rolls.

The material is quite nasty upon contact, since glass fragments fall off and are suspended in the air. Therefore, when working with glass wool, you need to use goggles, a respirator and gloves to protect your eyes and skin.

Despite this disadvantage, glass wool has a number of undeniable advantages:

• fire resistance;
• excellent heat resistance;
• minimal hygroscopicity;
• ability long time do not decompose chemically.

This type of insulation has frame houses excellent thermal insulation characteristics. And toxic substances are not released into the air even during a severe fire. Besides, glass wool - very cheap option , so many people choose it.

When insulating a room with glass wool, it is worth covering the outside with windproof film. This will allow maximum heat retention inside the building, and will also eliminate the spraying of glass dust into the air.

Ecowool thermal insulation

– more modern high quality and environmentally friendly insulation, which is used in the construction of frame houses. It is made from cellulose.

Material Features:

1. To install insulation in a frame house, you must use a special device. He adds water to the insulation, and then fixes it in the walls. This is a wet installation method.
2. It is also possible to install ecowool using a dry method. To do this, the material is poured inside the frame, and then compacted to the required density.
3. When choosing ecowool, you do not need to do hydro- and vapor barrier, since this material is not destroyed by water.

Despite these advantages, ecowool is not an ideal insulation material for frame houses. Firstly, it is very expensive, and secondly, installation must be carried out by specialists. They are needed not only for installation work, but also for calculating the thickness of the insulation, taking into account thermal insulation requirements. Professionals will come to the site, take measurements and calculate how much ecowool needs to be purchased.

Filling with polyurethane foam

(it is also called penoizol) is made from two components, the mixing of which allows you to obtain reliable insulation with excellent characteristics. As a result, foam is formed, which can be poured into all the cracks in the frame house. Thanks to this, all the structure of the insulation becomes monolithic, united. Installing polyurethane foam is somewhat similar to working with polyurethane foam.

Polyurethane foam, or penoizol, has high thermal insulation properties, which many insulation materials do not have. But to fill it, you need to have certain skills and abilities. Therefore, you will have to call professionals for installation, since you cannot do it yourself.

Penoizol is quite expensive. This means that for those who are looking for an effective, but a budget option insulation, you will need to choose other materials.

Clay is a natural insulation material

Clay mortar will be the best insulation for a frame house for the owner who chooses exclusively natural materials. Clay is not used in its pure form, but together with straw. Advantage clay walls is that they do not need vapor barriers. Clay maintains a comfortable microclimate in the house, absorbing excess moisture from the air and releasing it if the air becomes dry.

The most important thing is to choose clay with the required fat content. If there is little fat content, the desired grip will not be obtained.

To determine the fat content, roll a clay ball and press it between boards. If the ball has cracks that have destroyed it by 50%, you need to add sand to the solution. The ideal composition of clay plaster breaks down by 30% under pressure. If the ball has completely crumbled, it means that it is completely unsuitable for further use.

There is no ideal recipe for how to make a clay solution for. In the process of its production, clay, water, lime, sawdust, cement and sand are used in different proportions, depending on the situation.
How to apply clay plaster on thatched walls is described in the video.

Fibrolite - a new reliable material

Fiberboard insulation is made from wood chips, which are dried and pressed until it looks like a slab. At the same time, Portland cement or magnesium salt is added to the shavings for binding. To ensure that the material does not lose its thermal insulation characteristics, it is necessary to additionally waterproof it. Fiberboard is ideal for interior floors and walls.

The popularity of fiberboard is growing every year, since this material has excellent characteristics:

• does not burn in fire, since the binders impregnate the entire material and make it fireproof;
• resistant to moisture;
• withstands any kind of deformation well, since wood chips act as a damper, and binders ensure the stability of the warm slab;
• although the composition contains a lot of wood chips, it does not rot and has no other biological activity, since the impregnation prevents microorganisms from spreading inside the material and spoiling it;
• completely safe and environmentally friendly;
• It has high sound insulation properties;
• thermal insulation boards that can withstand frost without deteriorating performance characteristics, which is why they are used even in regions with harsh climates;
• The durability of fiberboard is maximum – over 50 years.

Sawdust is an equally effective material

What to do if you want to save as much as possible on construction, but there is no way to get cheap insulation? You can use regular sawdust. Of course, you need to prepare an appropriate solution from them. For this you need lime, cement, and an antiseptic.

Sawdust insulation is prepared as follows:

1. Mix sawdust, cement and lime in a ratio of 10:1:0.5.
2. The homogeneous mixture is mixed with water, and an antiseptic, for example, boric acid, is added.
3. To ensure that the entire mixture is moistened as much as possible and evenly, it is necessary to use a watering can for pouring.

The resulting solution is placed in the area between the bars or beams. Sawdust is most often used to insulate floors, but they can also be used for walls. At the same time, the mixture pour in small portions, compacting them firmly.

Despite its availability, sawdust as insulation has many disadvantages:

• certain fire hazard;
• low efficiency;
• quite labor-intensive work;
• possible subsidence of the insulation over time.

It is possible to increase the efficiency of insulation if you additionally use expanded clay.

Which material to choose

So, there are a lot of materials, so to say which one best insulation for thermal insulation of a frame house, difficult. All options considered have different characteristics, cost and appearance. Some have a limited scope of application, others have a high cost, the need to attract professionals, and low environmental friendliness.

You need to weigh which characteristics are priority and make final choice. For example, according to the author of this article, basalt stone wool is the best insulation for the walls of a frame house. Perhaps the tips from the video, the authors of which tested products from different manufacturers, will help you.

In the previous article, I described step-by-step instructions for assembling a frame house with your own hands. Now, we will look at instructions on how to properly insulate it and isolate it from wind and moisture, so that during operation it for a long time remained reliable protection from frost in the cold season, and also saved from the sweltering heat in summer.

What insulation to use for a frame house

I will not describe here which insulation is better for a frame house; this is a separate topic, and it is discussed in detail in another article.

But it is worth noting that about 80% of the total number of frame houses are insulated with mineral wool or insulation based on it. Taking this into account, this step-by-step instruction will mainly be based on this kind of insulation.

• In addition to mineral wool, there are several other types of insulation that are, to one degree or another, suitable for use as thermal insulation for frame houses, such as ecowool, expanded polystyrene, expanded clay and others. We will talk about the differences in the technology of their use at the end of the article.
• Insulation of a frame house with glass wool occurs in exactly the same way as with insulation based on mineral wool, so we will not consider this type of insulation separately.
• Mineral wool, compared to other types of insulation, is the most versatile material. It is used to insulate not only frame houses, but also any others. It is used as insulation almost everywhere in the construction of private houses.

It is important to know that when working with mineral wool, especially indoors, it is necessary to use products personal protection, such as gloves, goggles and a respirator. Contact with skin can result in severe itching, redness, and allergic reactions.

In principle, the insulation of all parts of a frame house is not much different from each other, but there are still some nuances, so it is necessary to consider each part separately.

Do-it-yourself insulation of the floor of a frame house

The technology of floor insulation largely depends on the type of foundation, but since most frame houses are currently built on a pile-screw foundation, this is what we will start from when insulating the floor.

1. Insulation of the floor of a frame house, regardless of the type of insulation, begins with waterproofing. In addition to the waterproofing membrane, we also need to build a structure under the floor joists that will hold both waterproofing material, and the insulation itself, as shown in the diagram.
2. If the house is located high relative to the ground, and you can crawl under it, then first, under the floor joists, tension waterproofing membrane and fastened with a furniture stapler. The overlap of the waterproofing strips should be as tight as possible so that there is no leakage from under the floor. Find out from the manufacturer which side the material is stuffed in and which side is out.
3. Also, from below, on top of the waterproofing, a board is made. The size of the board and the installation pitch are not particularly important, but no more than 40-50 cm, as long as this is enough to prevent sheets or strips of mineral wool from falling through. Sometimes the board is packed tightly, without gaps, this strengthens the floor structure. This is what you should end up with:
   
4. If it is impossible to crawl under the house, then a board is first placed under the joists, and then a waterproofing membrane is attached to the joists from inside the frame house, as shown in the photo.
   
5. When the base for the insulation is ready, mineral wool is laid between the floor joists of the frame house. It is necessary to lay it tightly, the presence of voids is not allowed. Mineral wool is cut sharp knife, you can use a construction one, but always a little more than the required length, about 1 cm.
   
6. For ease of installation, the distance between the logs is selected in advance, depending on the insulation, in our case, the width of the mineral wool slab is 60cm. This means that the distance between the joists should ideally be 58-59cm.
   
7. The thickness of the insulation layer completely depends on the region where the frame house is being built, but on average it is 15 cm. It is also necessary to take into account the height of the floor joists of the frame house. As a rule, the thickness of all layers of mineral wool does not exceed, and sometimes even slightly less than the width of the board or timber from which they are made.
   
8. An important point in laying mineral wool is that each layer must overlap the joints of the previous one, as shown in the photo. The overlap should be at least 15-20cm.
   
9. On top of the mineral wool, inside the frame house on the logs, it is necessary to fix vapor barrier membrane. It will protect the insulation from moisture from the inside, and also serve as additional wind protection. In order for it to be airtight, the joints must be taped with double-sided tape, for example.
   
10. Plywood, OSB board is laid over the vapor barrier membrane, or a board is sewn together, which will be the basis for further finishing.
    

It is worth noting that mineral wool itself is not a wind barrier, so the waterproofing and vapor barrier membrane must be stretched so that there is an overlap on the walls, excluding moisture and wind from getting between the wall and the floor of the frame house.

Insulating the walls of a frame house with mineral wool

In a frame house, as in any other, there are two types of walls - external, one side of which is located on the street, and internal, which are located entirely inside the house. So, it is necessary to insulate both of them.

The walls of a frame house can be insulated both from the inside and outside; this does not change the materials used and their quantity. We will look at insulation from the inside; everything is done from the outside in exactly the same way, only in a slightly different sequence.

Insulation of the external walls of the house

It is worth immediately noting that when covering a frame house outside and inside with your own hands, various materials, they may be different from those that I describe in this manual. The order of actions may also differ, but in general, it turns out almost the same, as in the diagram. This is an approximate diagram, for example, instead of OSB boards, on one side you can pierce the sheathing with slats or a 25mm thick board. The board, as a rule, breaks through a certain distance - about 40 cm between the axes, but it is worth remembering that in this case, the rigidity of the walls will suffer a little.

The process of insulating walls with mineral wool with your own hands is almost identical to thermal insulation of the floor, and is carried out as follows:

1. The outside of the frame is sheathed with OSB boards, with gaps between them specified by the manufacturer, usually 2-3mm. After installation, the gaps can be foamed. This is what it looks like from inside the house:
   
2. Then, also from the outside, a waterproofing membrane is stretched, which will protect the mineral wool, the frame of the house, as well as OSB sheets from external moisture, on top of which external Finishing work, such as installing siding, for example. Some manufacturers make waterproofing materials with self-adhesive strips to make the joint tighter. If there are no such stripes, it is advisable to glue the joints with double-sided tape.
   
3. From the inside of the frame house, between the frame posts, which, if you did everything correctly, are located at a distance of 58-59 cm from each other, sheets of mineral wool are tightly inserted.
   
4. It is better to use mineral wool with a density of at least 35-50 kg/m3. Less dense insulation will settle or roll to the bottom, which will lead to the appearance of voids and cold bridges. As a rule, manufacturers write on the packaging what material can be used for.
   
5. Just like with the floor, layers of mineral wool should be laid so as to overlap the previous joint of the sheets by at least 15-20cm. The total thickness of insulation depends on the climate zone, but the average value is also 15 cm.
6. After all the insulation has been laid in the walls, it is necessary to fill with foam all the small voids formed at the joints of the boards and beams.
   
7. A prerequisite for insulation with mineral wool is that from inside the house, over the insulation, it is necessary to stretch a vapor barrier membrane, which will protect the insulation from moisture coming from inside the house. On top of which the same OSB sheets are most often placed as on the outside, but you can also use a board, slats and similar materials, depending on further finishing. An important point in installing a vapor barrier membrane is that internal corners it could not be tightened, and the vapor barrier completely followed the angle of the frame. Otherwise, in the future, it will be difficult to nail the trim at the corners.
   

It is worth noting that this entire procedure can be done in reverse, first stretch the vapor barrier membrane from the inside, then the internal cladding material, and the process of insulating the walls with mineral wool can be done from the outside.

Insulation of internal walls of a frame house

Distinctive features of insulating the internal walls of a frame house are:

If it is not possible, or there are no strict requirements for the soundproofing of internal partitions, it will be sufficient to use the same insulation as for external walls. The thickness of the heat-insulating layer can be much less.

Do-it-yourself insulation of the ceiling of a frame house

Insulating the ceiling of a frame house is practically no different from other types of houses with wooden floors, and is one of the most critical aspects of thermal insulation of the entire house as a whole.

Now let's take a step-by-step look at how to properly insulate the ceiling of a frame house with mineral wool:

Because warm air has the ability to rise upward; if the ceiling or roof is not insulated correctly, the maximum amount of heat will escape from the house.

Insulating the roof of a frame house with your own hands

Very often, instead of the ceiling, and sometimes together with the ceiling, the roof of a frame house is also insulated with mineral wool. This is usually done in cases where attic space residential and heated.

The insulation technology is practically no different from the thermal insulation of the ceiling, with the exception that a waterproofing material must be stretched over the insulation to protect the insulation from the external aggressive environment.

This is how the thermal insulation layer of mineral wool on the roof of a frame house looks like in the diagram:

Here are a few features that will help make the DIY insulation process easier:

It is worth noting that the roof can also be insulated from the inside if it is fully assembled. But this is much more inconvenient, because you will have to come up with some kind of temporary fastenings, before stretching the vapor barrier material, so that the insulation does not fall out.

Features of using other types of insulation

All preparatory work in terms of thermal insulation of a frame house, regardless of the type of insulation, they are no different. The differences, and even then minor ones, are in the installation of the insulation itself, which will be discussed further.

Now let's look at the main differences between insulation with other materials, which can also be used as thermal insulation for frame houses.

Insulation with expanded polystyrene (foam) and EPS

If you dig around on the Internet, you will find a lot of controversy about foam insulation not only for wooden houses, but also for others. Indeed, polystyrene foam for frame houses is not the most the best option, although it will be the warmest, with the same thickness of insulation, and why is a separate topic for discussion.

The process of insulation with polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam is practically no different, so they can be combined. Here are some features of expanded polystyrene and insulation based on it:

1. Polystyrene foam does not always fit between the joists as tightly as mineral wool, so all cracks and voids must be removed using polyurethane foam or similar materials.
2. Expanded polystyrene is a flammable material; this must be remembered and even potential sources of combustion should not come into contact with it.
3. When using polystyrene foam, it is necessary to take care of improved ventilation, because this material practically does not allow air to pass through.
4. Despite the fact that polystyrene foam practically does not allow or absorb moisture, it cannot be left as the only waterproofing for the house. Waterproofing and vapor barrier layers must still be present, because they protect not only the insulation, but also the wood itself from which the frame of the house is assembled.
5. Expanded polystyrene is very fond of rodents who make their moves in it, so you need to take care that they do not get to it.

These are the basic rules and differences in the use of polystyrene foam boards and insulation based on them. Otherwise, everything is done exactly the same as in the case of insulation with mineral wool.

Features of insulating a frame house with ecowool

Ecowool - relatively new material for insulating not only frame houses. It can be used as insulation in almost all areas of private construction, including frame construction.

1. Despite the fact that ecowool insulation can be done without special equipment, I still would not recommend doing so. Firstly, because with the help of special equipment ecowool is applied more evenly and blows out all the voids. Secondly, manually prepared ecowool has less good characteristics, both in terms of shrinkage and thermal insulation.
2. Ecowool absorbs moisture very well, so waterproofing and vapor barrier materials, as well as their installation, must be approached with special responsibility.
3. It is necessary to apply ecowool with a reserve, because it will shrink over time, up to 10-15%.
4. When applying it, you must use personal protective equipment.

It is worth noting that when insulating a frame house with ecowool, it is necessary to hire responsible and highly qualified specialists who will take into account all its features during installation.

Insulation of a frame house with expanded clay

This insulation technology is currently used extremely rarely, because there is now a huge selection of materials with much best characteristics, but still I’ll tell you a little about it.

1. Expanded clay in dry form, as insulation, can be used either for insulation of the floor or ceiling, it can also be used for insulation interfloor ceilings. Using it in walls is problematic, and, in my opinion, not justified.
2. Very often, expanded clay insulation is combined, for example, with sawdust, ash, etc.
3. The difference between expanded clay insulation is that the floor and ceiling, underneath the joists, must be pierced either with a board at the joint or with some kind of plywood materials.
4. It is better to use expanded clay of a fine fraction, thereby there will be fewer voids.

In addition to those described by me, there are many more materials and methods for insulating frame houses with your own hands. But they are all so similar that describing each of them does not make much sense.

Frame houses are prefabricated structures and are the main type of residential buildings in the USA, Canada, Finland, Germany and Sweden. With the advent of the new millennium, technology frame construction is finding more and more supporters among our compatriots. However, the climate of the above countries is still milder, therefore, in most of Russia, the construction of a frame house requires the use additional insulation. This short article will tell you about some of its types.

There are a number of requirements for insulation, as indeed for any other material that is used. The most important among them are:

• Lightness, since most residential frame buildings are built on light types of foundations (pile, columnar, etc.) However, if it is used, then this requirement can be neglected;
• Resistant to flame and high temperatures, this is one of the main requirements in a wooden house;
• Resistant to humid environments, especially if interior decoration natural “breathable” materials are used;
• The ability to ensure tightness, i.e. minimal number of seams, or better yet, their complete absence;
• Elasticity, since frame houses tend to “move” throughout their entire service life, this occurs due to alternating drying out and moisture gain by the wood;
• Long service life without loss of thermal insulation qualities. True, this requirement is not so critical, since the wall of a frame house is quite easy to open and replace old insulation, but it’s still better to do without it;
• Environmentally friendly and safe for human and domestic animal health. This requirement probably does not need additional comments.

Main types of insulation

Progress in all spheres of human life does not stand still, including in the construction industry, so every year new types of insulation for walls, floors and ceilings, foundations, etc. appear on the building materials market. If just a couple of decades ago only mineral wool was available to the average person, sawdust(shavings), and expanded clay with slag, then today it is much richer. In addition to the above, these include:

• Ecowool;
• Sprayed polyurethane foam.

Mineral or basalt wool is one of the most popular insulation materials For . This material is resistant to combustion and high temperatures, environmentally friendly, and has good sound insulation. The last property is very important in frame buildings. To understand the thermal insulation characteristics of mineral wool, it will be enough to say that a layer of this material 50 mm thick is equal in properties to the thickness of brickwork of 580 mm.

Regarding the insulation technology itself, the construction of the frame is carried out initially with the expectation that slabs of mineral (basalt) wool will be used. Between the racks of the wooden frame a distance of 60 cm is left, which is equal to standard width thermal insulation material.

Basalt slabs should be laid tightly so that there is not too much free space between them and the outer and inner walls, but they should not be pressed too hard, as over time this can lead to damage to the material and the formation of “cold bridges.”

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) in boards is a foamed thermoplastic, which consists of fused granules. This may seem surprising, but the insulation boards themselves consist of 98% air, which fills both the granules themselves and the space between them, and only 2% polystyrene. Of all types of insulation for frame structures polystyrene foam boards are the lightest.

With prolonged exposure, polystyrene foam is affected by vegetable, animal and paraffin oils, fats, diesel fuel and petroleum jelly. PPP is unstable to various kinds

organic solvents, but does not dissolve or swell in water, practically does not absorb moisture, is durable and resistant to rotting. This material is not digestible by animals and microorganisms, therefore it is not used by them as food and does not provide a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Ecowool, which consists of 80% cellulose and 20% various components

(binders and fire retardants), in our country it relatively recently began to be used as insulation for frame houses, although, for example, in the States this material found wide use back in the 70s of the last century. For comparison, it must be said that a layer of ecowool 130 mm thick is equivalent in its thermal insulation characteristics to a 600 mm thick aerated concrete wall.

Essentially, ecowool is paper production waste that has been treated with brown acid or ammonium sulfates (prevents burning) and boric acid (prevents rotting). It is resistant to combustion, harmless to the health of people and animals, does not rot and rodents are not very fond of it. However, when choosing this material, you need to take into account this feature: ammonium sulfates and phosphates, when interacting with boric acid, lose their flame retardant properties over time. In addition, these connections can become a source unpleasant odor

Another bulk insulation material is waste from wood processing enterprises - sawdust. Perhaps this is the cheapest way to insulate a house. Some furniture production shops give away sawdust free of charge if a person independently removes the waste from the territory.

However, it should be remembered that for insulation you can only use sawdust of a fairly coarse fraction, and that remaining after cutting the primary wood.

Thus, sawdust from chipboard, fiberboard, MDF panels and other materials, in the production of which various binding components are used, are not suitable not only for reasons environmental safety, but also because they are too small and are, in fact, fine dust.

In addition to being cheap, sawdust also has a number of other advantages:

• Absolute harmlessness to others;
• Excellent thermal insulation characteristics;
• Excellent sound-absorbing properties.

However, there is also whole line shortcomings. So, for example, low cost can be offset by the need to use manual labor when forming a thermal insulation layer.

Sawdust tends to caking over time, which after some time will force work to open the walls and replace them. If you do not add lime when filling, the sawdust will begin to rot quite quickly. Mice and rats also have a rather strange love for this material, so the outer parts of the walls should be well protected from their penetration. The figure below shows possible scheme

insulating the walls of a frame house using sawdust.

Expanded clay has been used as insulation for almost a century. A huge advantage of expanded clay is its almost one hundred percent resistance to fire, as well as its environmental friendliness, because it is made from light-alloy clay or shale rock by swelling and firing. The method of producing expanded clay determines the porosity of its structure, which, in turn, makes it light and soundproof. Also, expanded clay granules are not subject to rotting and small rodents are not very fond of them. Over time, it does not lose its properties.

True, this material also has a full set of disadvantages.

Secondly, expanded clay is hygroscopic, and the absorbed moisture is not released, but dries out gradually, that is, when used in rooms or climates with high humidity, the walls will constantly absorb water.

According to the shape and size of the fractions, expanded clay is divided into three varieties:

1. Crushed stone. The granules of this fraction are large, acute-angled, the size ranges from 20 to 40 mm.
2. Gravel. The granules are oval in shape, the size is about 10–20 mm.
3. Sand. The smallest fraction, the size of the granules does not exceed 10 mm in diameter.

To insulate frame houses, you need to use a mixture of all three fractions, where 60–70% should be gravel, 20% sand and 10% crushed stone.

Instead of expanded clay, slag is sometimes used, but this material is quite harmful to health and does not provide proper thermal insulation. Polyurethane foam (PPU) itself is part of the group gas-filled plastics

, which are based on polyurethane. Just like expanded polystyrene, this insulation consists of 90% air. Sprayed polyurethane foam is used to insulate frame houses. The use of this material allows not only to get rid of the need to install vapor barriers and wind and moisture protection from membrane materials, but also to significantly reduce the financial and time costs of constructing the load-bearing frame of the structure. But the thickness of the polyurethane foam layer should be at least 120–200 mm (200–300 mm when using extruded polystyrene). Only a house with such a layer of polyurethane foam insulation can be considered truly energy-saving. A layer of polyurethane foam 70–80 mm thick complies with SNiP for fencing wall structures

, a layer of 100–120 mm corresponds to SNiP for enclosing roofing structures. Spraying polyurethane foam perfectly solves the problem of “cold bridges”, and also copes with quite challenging task fastening such building structures , like doors and windows, which can only be installed using this material. Polyurethane foam excludes possible problems with distortions and shrinkage, which is very important in a frame house. Another quite significant advantage of this type of insulation: it performs protective function

for frame elements.

All wooden posts, beams, joists are completely protected from rotting (however, they must be completely dry before installation), since polyurethane foam has extremely low vapor permeability and is practically impenetrable to oxygen.

The thickness of the thermal insulation layer depends on several factors. The first and main thing is the type of insulation. The second is the climate of the area where frame housing is being built. For example, if in the Krasnodar region 100 mm is enough (2 layers of standard slabs) basalt wool, then in the Arkhangelsk region you will need 200 mm, and 150 mm (3 layers) should be located between the frame posts, and 50 mm (1 layer) must be fixed outside in order to cover all frame beams and prevent the formation of “cold bridges”.

Of course, when calculating the required amount of thermal insulation material, you can be guided by life observations, asking neighbors, friends and acquaintances of self-taught builders who have already dealt with frame houses, but it is better to take a scientific approach and apply simple formula: δut = R x λut, where λut is the thermal conductivity of the insulation, and R is the thermal resistance of the walls. You can consider applying the formula to specific example: during the construction of a frame house, where the internal walls are made of plywood 6 mm thick and the external walls are made of OSB boards 9 mm thick, it is necessary to calculate the thickness of the basalt wool layer.

The thermal resistance of the walls of any residential building located in the Moscow region should average R=3.20 m2*0C/W. This value varies depending on the region. Information about the thermal conductivity of a particular material can be found in the product certificate; its presence in it is mandatory; the absence of it should alert the buyer, as this may be evidence of poor quality and even harmful to health material.

The thickness of the thermal insulation layer for frame structure is determined by the same formula: δout = R x λout. Basalt wool has a thermal conductivity value of 0.045 W/m*0C, so in this case the thickness of the insulation layer should be δth = R x λth = 3.20 x 0.045 = 0.14 m. That is, 2 layers of slabs are needed, as already mentioned higher when comparing the construction of a frame house in the Arkhangelsk region and the Krasnodar region.

Video

Watch a video about choosing the best insulation for a frame house.

The main criterion for the quality of a house is its heat capacity, the ability to retain heat at winter temperatures Oh. What is the best way to insulate a frame house - expanded polystyrene, polyurethane foam, mineral wool, or perhaps expanded clay?

Types of insulation

The modern construction market offers so many insulating materials that it can be difficult for an inexperienced buyer to make right choice. Each manufacturer says that its material is the best and offers to use it in various buildings. Let's see what features various insulation materials. And which one is the best?

Foam insulation

Polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene is the cheapest insulation option. This explains its popularity in various construction. When applied to a frame, foam is not always convenient. Its plates are not compressed and are not installed tightly between frame racks. After installation, it is necessary to fill the cracks with foam. However, these disadvantages are compensated by the affordability of the heat-insulating material.

Foam between the posts.

The thermal conductivity of polystyrene foam is 0.041 – 0.051 W/(m*K), depending on the density. This means 10 cm foam insulation replace 20 cm of wood and 70 cm of brickwork. So high performance provides the structure of the material. The foam contains 98% air and only 2% polystyrene.

On a note

In terms of thermal conductivity, foam plastics have surpassed even mineral wool. This means that for the same winter temperatures you will need a smaller thickness of foam than mineral wool.

The structure of the foam consists of individual cells, the walls of which are made of polystyrene (the same 2% of the material), and internal cavity– filled with air. Based on the nature of the relative arrangement of cells, foam plastics can have an open cellular structure (when adjacent cells are connected to each other) and a closed structure (when the cavity of each cell is limited and is not connected to anything).

Insulation with foam plastic.

Foams with an open-cell structure have some air conductivity and are able to absorb moisture and get wet. This type of foam is called ordinary foam; it absorbs 4% moisture. It can be used to insulate walls and cannot be used to insulate foundations and those building elements that often get wet.

On a note

Foams with a closed-cell structure are considered waterproof. An example of such a material is penoplex, the so-called extruded type of polystyrene (made by extrusion, extrusion). It is used to insulate foundations, floors, and lower sections of vertical walls.

Which insulation for a frame house is better - simple or extruded, moisture-resistant? Both types of expanded polystyrene can be installed in the walls of a frame house. At the same time, for ordinary polystyrene foam you will need. And for extruded penoplex - Full time job exhaust and supply ventilation.

The walls are insulated with penoplex.

In addition to the main advantage - affordable price and light weight (polystyrene slabs are easy to lift and mount on walls), polystyrene foam insulation has a number of disadvantages that prevent their widespread use in frame construction:

• They contain unhealthy and downright harmful chemicals, so foam insulation is recommended to be done with outside load-bearing walls. For internal and frame insulation, it is necessary to properly insulate polystyrene foam boards from the space inside the room. And when outdoors - protect from heat sun rays. Styrene heated to +30°C begins to actively evaporate the reagents contained in it.
• Even with an open cellular structure, the material does not conduct air well enough, does not “breathe” and does not provide. Therefore, in buildings insulated with foam plastic, ventilation must function frequently.
• Polystyrene foam melts quite easily. Already at +50°C it begins to lose its structure. This limits its use in the construction of premises with high internal temperatures (in the walls of steam rooms, saunas, baths).

Insulation with polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is one of the expensive insulation materials, which is a type of foam rubber. It differs in application method and hardness. Polyurethane foam is sprayed onto insulated surfaces from a special spray bottle. The application process is so toxic that the worker wears special means protection - clothing, gloves, glasses, respirator. What is the know-how of this method?

Application of polyurethane foam to walls.

Traditional polystyrene foam (foam) is a rigid board. When they are installed between the frame posts or when they are placed on the brickwork, small gaps are formed. They are bridges of cold. In order to prevent heat leakage through the slotted “bridges”, they are blown in with special polyurethane foam, without any expansion effect.

Polyurethane foam is applied to the insulated surface in liquid form. It is sprayed, forming a smooth surface of the inner wall for subsequent finishing. So, he:

1. Qualitatively insulates all joints and crevices.
2. Levels out uneven inner surface walls.

We insulate the attic with polyurethane foam.

In addition, polyurethanes have the following advantages over polystyrenes:

• They have lower thermal conductivity 0.023 - 0.043 W/(m*K) and better thermal insulation, which is 1.5 times better than the insulating properties of polystyrene foam.
• Higher operating temperatures, up to +110°C.
• Fewer harmful fumes, which makes it possible to apply an insulator with inside walls, its use in frame construction.

On a note

The only important disadvantage of polyurethane foam is its high price, which is due to the need for special expensive equipment and the work of a professional.

Insulation with mineral wool

Cotton insulation is one of the old proven materials that are used for various thermal insulation. Mineral construction wool can be made from fibers of various raw materials (glass, stone, slag), thereby producing glass wool, basalt wool, and slag wool. Thin thread-like fibers are arranged in a chaotic manner in the insulation structure. They are glued together with synthetic glue, leaving gaps with air between the fibers. In this way, the structure of the wool is formed into slabs or rolls that can be compressed and reduced in size.

Insulation basalt wool Izover

The compressibility of the material is in demand when installing insulation between frame posts. Therefore, construction wool is most suitable for frame installation and is often used in frame construction.

The most popular in modern insulation is the basalt version of construction wool. She is often called general designation- “mineral wool”. It is made from basalt by melting the stone at high temperatures (from 1300°C) and dispersing the melt in a centrifuge. As a result of processing, thin stone threads are formed, which are pressed into slabs, rolls, and mats.

We lay mineral wool in the frame of the house.

The thermal conductivity of basalt wool is 0.048 – 0.056 W/(m*K). This means that to replace 70 cm of brick you will need 12-15 cm of mineral wool. In addition to high thermal insulation properties, stone wool has a number of other advantages:

• Vapor permeability and ability to conduct air, “breathe”, provide natural ventilation through the wall.
• More than 80% – natural composition and a small amount of synthetic fumes.
• High operating temperatures (up to +300°C).

On a note

Stone wool is the “weakest” among other building wools in terms of withstanding high temperatures. It retains its properties up to +300°C. While glass wool can withstand up to +500°C, and slag wool can withstand up to +600°C.

Stone wool insulation is considered good thermal insulation for the walls of a house. However, it is necessary to take into account the following fact. To insulate vertical walls, it is necessary to use cotton wool with a density of at least 50 kgm 3. Wool less dense will quickly settle, which will negate the insulation. A density above 50 guarantees long-term operation of cotton insulation for several decades.

Insulation of internal walls with stone wool.

In order to prevent subsidence of the insulation and a decrease in the heat capacity of the walls, it is better to use cotton wool in the form of mats for a frame house. It has a certain degree of compressibility, does not form cracks or joints, does not settle and does not lose its thermal insulation properties. Basalt wool slabs are considered the best insulation for a frame house, with optimal ratio price/quality.

Ecowool insulation

Ecowool is made from paper and cardboard fibers, which are obtained from pulp production waste or waste paper. This insulation is also called natural, although 20% of its composition consists of synthetic glue and anti-flammable substances - fire retardants.

Application of ecowool on external walls.

Ecowool is one of the most inexpensive construction wools. It is used to insulate those surfaces that are not in contact with interior spaces. In addition, ecowool is a bulk insulation material. It is produced not in the form of slabs, but in the form of a bulk substance. Therefore, it is convenient to insulate floors under rough screed, and it is expensive to insulate vertical walls (it is necessary to construct wall formwork).

Restriction to internal and frame insulation residential buildings is the content of harmful substances - borates - in the material. Each kilogram of ecowool contains 200 g of borax and boric acid, which are odorless, but can cause severe poisoning if vapors are inhaled.

Expanded clay for frame

This is another option bulk insulation. Represents clay rounded particles small size, fired at temperatures above 1000 degrees.

Expanded clay is made in different fractions.

Expanded clay is often used for floor insulation.

Advantages of expanded clay

• 100% natural material, without synthetic glue, fire retardants, toxic components.
• Relatively low price.
• The highest durability among other insulation materials.

Disadvantages of expanded clay

• Average thermal insulation characteristics, 0.12-0.15 W/(m*K), make it necessary to use a sufficiently large thickness of insulation (at least 50 cm for floor insulation).
• Expanded clay absorbs moisture, so it is not used for floor insulation inside damp and damp rooms.

Insulation for walls

To determine which insulation, it is necessary to compare their performance characteristics and installation features.

Sectional diagram of insulation.

Choosing insulation for the walls of a frame house

• Thermal conductivity of the insulating material - the lower this indicator, the better thermal insulation walls. The smaller the thickness of the insulation. When deciding what thickness of insulation is needed in a frame house, you need to start from its thermal conductivity. For example, 10 cm of foam plastic has the same thermal insulation properties, 12 cm stone wool and 70 cm of brick.
• The density of insulation for a frame house - the lower this characteristic, the more ventilated the material. The higher the density, the more rigid the shapes of the insulating boards. For wall wool insulation, the density also determines the durability of the wall insulation.
• The price of insulation for a frame house.
• Availability of DIY installation.

Comparing indicators heat-insulating materials, the customer or construction owner selects one or another insulation material. When funds are limited, foam plastic is often chosen, although this is not the best insulation. If the quality criterion is put at the forefront of the choice, then the most optimal material filler for the frame wall - mineral basalt wool.

To achieve comfortable stay in a house during the winter period, it is necessary to think about insulation at the construction stage. This will prevent cold air from entering the room and ensure compliance with temperature and humidity conditions. You can do the insulation of a frame house yourself. Step-by-step instructions for each type of structure are given below.

Why is it necessary to insulate a house?

Using thermal protection of structures in contact with cold air, the following problems can be solved:

• condensation from inside the premises;
• the appearance of dampness, mold and mildew;
• increased heating costs;
• non-compliance temperature regime living space and a decrease in the comfort of living in it.

In addition, competent technology for insulating a frame house can extend the service life of the main structures of the building.

Materials for thermal protection

House insulation can be carried out using the following materials:

• mineral wool;
• extruded polystyrene foam;

Types of mineral wool

There are two classifications of this insulation. The first is based on the raw materials used for manufacturing:

• basalt;
• glass;
• slag

The most popular is the insulation of the walls of a frame house and other structures with basalt mineral wool.

The second classification is based on the form of insulation:

• rigid slabs;
• roll material.

It is worth noting that glass wool is only available in rolls.

For floors, rigid slabs that can withstand enough high loads. Insulation of the walls of a frame house can be done using both slabs and rolls. For mansard roof best used slab material. This will allow you to easily install mineral wool insulation between the rafters.

Insulated frame house structures

Before insulating a frame house, you need to decide which structures require this additional measure.

You can protect the following building elements from the cold with your own hands:

1. first floor floor;
2. attic floor (if the attic is cold);
3. attic roof;
4. exterior walls.

Do-it-yourself insulation work can be done both outside and inside. It is best to install thermal insulation between the racks, as this will ensure proper operation of the material. Insulation wooden house applying mineral wool from the inside of the wall will greatly simplify the work and allow events to be carried out in any weather conditions.

Double-layer insulation – guarantee of 100% thermal protection

An insulation scheme from the outside is possible if the insulation from the inside is not sufficient and additional insulation is required. Peculiarities:

• external thermal insulation material should not create a barrier to steam. Otherwise, the resulting condensate from water vapor will accumulate between two layers of insulation, which is fraught with the formation of mold and mildew;
• thickening the house wall

Based on all of the above, it follows that thermal protection of a wooden house from the outside with mineral wool should be carried out only in exceptional cases when the scheme from the inside is not applicable.

Wall insulation

Double-layer insulation (double frame)

To guarantee a comfortable stay during the winter period, it is important to take care of the thermal protection of the walls. To reliably insulate walls with basalt or other wool from the outside with your own hands, you need two-layer insulation. Adhere to the following layer order:

1. interior decoration;
2. vapor barrier;
3. insulation with mineral wool (2 layers with offset racks);
4. windproof membrane;
5. OSB-3 for sheathing;
6. external decoration of the facade.

It is important to remember that the scheme for using this type of insulation requires the presence of a ventilated layer with a thickness of at least 4 cm. This is necessary due to the high hygroscopicity of the material. In order for the insulation to maintain its performance characteristics, it is necessary to remove excess moisture from its surface. This is ensured by the circulation of cold air outside the surface of the mineral wool.

Most often, the technology for insulating the walls of a frame house is the following scheme: the material is not laid on any side, but between the frame posts. This allows you to reduce the overall thickness of the wall and significantly reduce the construction time of the building. Mineral wool is fixed between the frame posts, after which sheathing is done on both sides.

Vapor barrier and wind protection when doing DIY work are arranged similarly to the previous cases: steam protection is on the inside, and wind protection is on the outside.

When thermally protecting walls from the inside under curtain façade The order of layers is as follows:

1. interior decoration;
2. vapor barrier;
3. mineral wool;
4. superdiffusion membrane;
5. wall design;
6. façade finishing.

Insulation of floors

A wooden frame house is characterized by ceiling beams. When arranging thermal insulation with your own hands, insulation boards are laid between load-bearing structures ceilings You can also use roll materials, but to spread them, preliminary installation of the bottom sheathing or continuous flooring will be required.

When insulating with mineral wool in the form of rigid slabs, the step wooden beams It is better to take the ceilings so that there is a clear gap of 580 mm between them. This will ensure maximum convenience

work with slabs 600 mm wide and completely filling the space with heat-insulating material.

Insulation When doing things with your own hands, you need to remember that the vapor barrier is located from the inside of the room, and the waterproofing is on the cold air side. In the case of interfloor ceilings, protection from steam should be provided from the ceiling.

attic floor

It is also important to remember that when working with any type of mineral wool, it is better to prevent particles of the material from getting on your skin and into your lungs. For this, it is best to use gloves and a mask. Workers must also have special clothing that completely covers their arms and legs.

Insulation of pitched roofs The DIY installation technology is similar to ceilings.

The pitch of the rafters, as in the previous case, is selected to maintain a clear distance of 580 mm.

1. The work is performed in the following order:
2. installation of the rafter system;
3. laying a waterproofing layer on top of the rafters;
4. thermal insulation;
5. installation of vapor barrier;
6. top and bottom sheathing;
7. laying roofing material;

interior ceiling decoration.

Preparatory work

1. Before properly insulating a frame house, it is necessary to prepare the surfaces. To do this, follow simple steps:
2. treating all wooden house structures with antiseptic compounds to prevent damage by various microorganisms;
3. cleaning the surface from dirt and dust;

These simple do-it-yourself manipulations will ensure that the insulation is securely attached to the structures and has the longest possible service life.