Styrofoam house: getting acquainted with three construction technologies. Method of insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam Insulation of a frame house from the outside with polystyrene foam

How to properly insulate a frame house with foam

Styrofoam insulation is one of the simplest and most well-known methods of preparation for both temporary and permanent residence in a country house. Let's try to figure out how to properly insulate a frame house with this inexpensive popular material. and at the same time we will discuss some of the prejudices against its use, which currently exist among many developers and specialists.

The main characteristics of the foam

A frame-panel house is the optimal design for the highest quality insulation. Thermal insulation material, which is laid between the racks of the frame block, provides maximum protection against freezing of the inner surface of the walls and protects them from destruction. When using foam plastic, in addition to low price, such important advantages as convenient processing, resistance to moisture, ease of installation and no shrinkage are provided.

Along with this, you can often find negative opinions about this insulation, which boil down mainly to the following statements:

Mice eat it. In fact, no rodents feed on foam, they make their nests and passages to them in it. In this sense, foam is no worse (and no better) than other materials;
He is hot. For a frame house made of wood, this is not critical. In addition, the production technology of modern foam plastic involves the addition of special fire-resistant additives;
It releases harmful substances. This serious misconception can rather be attributed to mineral wool, while polystyrene foam is absolutely harmless from this point of view;
It is impossible to insulate a frame-panel house with polystyrene foam, because it lets cold through the joints. With inept handling of it, this is true. However, the correct location of the plates inside the walls and their processing at the joints will ensure a minimum of heat loss.

Thus, the effect that can be obtained from the insulation of walls and other cold-permeable parts of the house depends to a large extent on compliance with the rules for handling this material and protecting it from harmful influences throughout its entire service life. We will talk about this in the next section. In the meantime, look at the properties of polystyrene, which in the industry is often called polystyrene foam, and the features of its production:

Wall insulation

Most often, foam in a frame house insulates the surface of the walls between the uprights and the sheathing on both sides. This is done in the following way.

Pre-cleaning and sealing

Insulation of a frame house with foam plastic always begins with the processing of the frame itself. If this is not done, then even the most careful laying of heat-insulating material will not help to avoid thermal losses through the air channels remaining at the joints.

Despite the fact that foam insulation technology assumes a high processing speed of even large areas as one of its main advantages, preliminary steps must be carried out very carefully.

All bumps, nails and other protruding sharp objects must be removed. Existing gaps and cracks must be filled with mounting foam. If during the construction phase the wood was exposed to moisture, we treat damp places with a building dryer.

As a result, the frame should be a dry, even and sealed structure, ready for laying insulation.

Waterproofing

The waterproofing layer is laid on the outside of the walls and protects them from moisture and wind. Many experts argue that polystyrene foam does not absorb moisture at all, so it is possible to insulate a house with it without external insulation. However, dampness and humidity, which penetrates the frame at low temperatures, can freeze and destroy the material of the insulation and walls.

Usually used as waterproofing:

glassine;
polyethylene film;
modern membrane coatings.

The waterproofing material must be laid with an overlap of one row on another (about 10 cm) and glued with a special tape.

Styrofoam laying

Insulation sheets are placed in the opening between the racks of the frame and fixed in it:

If the inner or outer surface of the walls is already ready, the foam is attached to it on an impregnation pre-treated with an adhesive composition. This is done in order to avoid air gaps. For additional fastening of the insulation, you can use plastic dowels.

Fastening polystyrene foam on dowels

If the walls of the frame house will be mounted after insulation, then the foam is attached to the screws through the inside of the racks and additionally fixed with twine attached to the frame.

To insulate a frame-panel house with maximum quality, it is better to use three layers of foam plastic 5 cm thick each, laying them on top of each other and overlapping the joints in the previous one with the next layer. The joints of the plates within one layer must be smeared with professional frost-resistant mounting foam.

One of the most important parameters that must be provided when insulating walls with foam plastic is the size of the gaps between the plates. The fact is that in the insulation of a frame house it undergoes expansion and contraction with changes in temperature outside. The correct location of the plates will not allow them to warp during expansion and affect the outer skin.

For more information about laying insulation during heat treatment of walls, see:

Vapor barrier and wall cladding

A vapor barrier film is laid on the inside of the walls. It protects the insulation layer from excessive moisture due to condensation. Most often, foil materials (penofol) or special membrane films are used for these purposes.

Please note - all seams must be foamed

The outer skin can be mounted directly on the waterproofing. A ventilated facade in case of insulation with foam plastic is not necessary. Interior decoration is carried out in a similar way; if necessary, preliminary plastering of the surface, a reinforcing mesh is used.

Floor insulation

In a frame house, it is imperative to insulate the floor well. The technology for building a “pie” is the same here: waterproofing from the bottom, then a substrate made of bars nailed to the edge of the log, foam plastic and a vapor barrier film. As the latter, you can also use penofol, laid with foil down. In this position, it will protect the floorboard from dampness and will not allow heat to escape from the room.

Insulation of the under-roof space

A frame-panel house most often has a pitched roof, under which there is a cold attic. The easiest way to insulate the ceiling and roof is to place foam sheets between the beams in the same order as for wall insulation. No less important here is the correct foaming of all joints - warm air always rises and tends to escape through various cracks.

The methods of working with polystyrene that we have described irrefutably indicate that insulating a frame house with your own hands is quite affordable and interesting. We hope that the above tips will help you make your home warm and cozy and calmly survive the most severe frosts in it.

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Trying to speed up and reduce the cost of building residential buildings, builders have come up with many technologies. In our country, the construction of frame houses is gaining popularity again. Light "Canadian" houses have been familiar to Russians for a long time, but only modern technologies have made it possible to make them suitable for year-round living. Insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam allows you to make living in it comfortable, regardless of the time of year.

The idea of such a house is simple. The vertical frame, connected by spacers and special strapping from the outside and from the inside, is sheathed with panels. The space between them is filled with good insulation. It is from him that the climate and atmosphere in the house depend to a greater extent. Anyone can insulate a frame house with polystyrene foam.

Types of heaters

All materials that are used for thermal insulation in the house can be divided into organic and synthetic. Adherents of environmentally friendly materials mistakenly believe that organic is healthier, more reliable than synthetics. They forget: sawdust, shavings, other natural insulators can insulate the house, but they are afraid of fire. They also love insects. So that the natural heat insulator does not rot, is not afraid of fungus, pests, fire, it must be treated with several additives. Natural purity after such treatments is no different from the purity of materials obtained synthetically.

Expanded polystyrene (polystyrene), stone, glass or mineral wool keep heat better, are not afraid of harmful effects. Each of these heat insulators is good in its own way, each has disadvantages. If you focus on the price, then the most affordable is polystyrene - a material obtained by foaming plastic. Ease of manufacture, inexpensive raw materials provide foam with the lowest price among all heaters.

Classification of foam by production method

There are two methods for producing foam. In the first, plastic pellets are sintered under high temperatures. Such foam can also be used for insulation from the inside, but this option will not be the best. Styrofoam, consisting of many balls, is more often used as packaging for household appliances.

The second method involves pressing the granules. Insulation with this material is the most common: it is strong, durable, almost does not break, so the insulation of a building with such a heat insulator is more reliable. The material can have different viscosity, density, therefore it is divided into grades. In order to insulate a frame or any other house, it is better to choose PSB-S-15 or PSB-S-15. These grades have an average viscosity, they are quite suitable for warming vertical surfaces because they have an average mechanical strength. If you need to insulate floors or plinths, it is better to choose foam with a higher strength: PSB-S-35 or PSB-S-35. These brands can also insulate the walls of houses, but the materials are more suitable for buildings that are under heavy load or exposed to high humidity: roads, pools, floors in multi-storey buildings.

Polyfoam is divided into several types. It can be polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride. Wall insulation (both outside and inside) can only be done with polystyrene foam.

Why polystyrene is an excellent material for insulating the walls of a house from the inside and out

Insulation of a frame building with polystyrene foam is very beneficial, because the material has a number of excellent characteristics.

Affordable, the foam has very high thermal insulation properties. Buildings insulated with polystyrene foam will keep warm for many years without requiring replacement of the insulator.
Microorganisms can only multiply on the surface of the foam: they cannot penetrate inside.
Light weight does not require a solid foundation.
Expanded polystyrene is so weightless that it allows installation without the help of heavy equipment, even for one person.
Styrofoam does not decompose, does not rot, is not afraid of wind and temperature changes.
Does not require additional wind protection.
A building insulated with this insulator becomes practically soundproof.

For the walls of the house has some disadvantages. However, when used correctly, they do not appear.

The material does not tolerate heat: it begins to release harmful substances. However, no one heats thermal insulation to temperatures that make polystyrene foam dangerous.

Expanded polystyrene is afraid of acetone, some other building aggressive liquids. But the insulation, located inside or on the outer walls, is not covered with either varnishes or paints.

Wall insulation with polystyrene foam: sequence of work

Warming can be done from inside the house or outside. The technologies are the same. Careful observance of them ensures that a warm, cozy atmosphere will forever be established in the room, which neither wind, nor rains, nor temperature changes can spoil.

Proper thermal insulation is carried out in several layers at once, and begins with preparation. Paints, nails, any foreign inclusions are removed from the wall. If the partition is uneven or made of bulk materials, it must be well plastered. The result should be a flat surface without depressions, cracks. Before it should be coated with a primer: this will improve adhesion (adhesive properties).
If the insulation is carried out in a building under construction, then at the second stage it is recommended to install external window sills and insulate the slopes. The ebbs are attached so that the window sill protrudes 3-4 centimeters beyond the wall: this leaves room for thermal insulation. In order for the slope insulation to fit securely with the wall insulation, it should not be cut flush: it is better if it protrudes 1 cm from the outer slope beyond the wall.
Before sticking the insulation, a profile is installed from below that fixes the foam. If the insulation is placed on a flat surface, then the fixing solution can be applied under the comb. With differences of more than a centimeter, it is better to do this with blunders so that more solution gets into the recesses, and less into the bulges. So the plane will be smoother, so the insulator will be fixed on it more reliably.
The solution is also applied to the edges of the foam: on the wall it will disperse, fall under other sheets. The work is done from the bottom up.
Important: when sticking the plates, make sure that they lie in a checkerboard pattern, and the seams of the next row do not coincide with the seams of the previous one.
After gluing the last sheet of thermal insulation, let it stand for three days so that the glue dries.

The walls are dry: what's next?

As soon as the glue is completely dry, the foam is nailed. Holes are drilled at the corners of each sheet (departing from it 6-9 cm) and in its center, into which fungi are then inserted - special hats with sleeves. A nail is inserted into the sleeves. It is better if it is made of plastic: metal ones form cold bridges. It is easier to first insert all the fungi, and only then hammer in nails. This must be done so that the hats do not protrude above the surface.
The next stage is the foaming of the gaps between the foam tiles. They are formed due to uneven walls of the house, poor-quality trimming of foam. If the gaps are more than a centimeter, strips of chopped thermal insulation are put into them, and then they are foamed. Gaps less than a centimeter are simply filled with airtight foam.
After the foam dries, the joints and places where the nails are driven in are covered with an adhesive. Then the putty is rubbed so that a smooth wall is obtained.
Outside wall insulation completed. Now a mesh is attached to the foam wall. Start from the corners. It is better to fix special perforated corners in them, but you can do without them. The solution is applied to the insulation, so the mesh is fixed on the wall so that about 10 cm lie on a clean insulation. The mesh is smoothed, the solution is added so that it almost completely covers the mesh.
The dried wall is rubbed again, then primed. Now you can start finishing the facade.

How to insulate walls with foam from the inside?

The frame structure will be especially warm if it is insulated not only from the outside, but also from the inside. They do it like this.

Important: all walls of the frame house should be insulated, and not just those that border the street.
A deeply penetrating primer is applied to the pre-aligned partition. It will dust the surface, allow it to better adhere to the adhesive solution.
As with external insulation, a basement profile is attached from the inside.
Prepare (using the same technology) a solution for work from the inside. Apply it to the thermal insulation, glue the polystyrene foam to the wall.
After drying, the foam is nailed with special nails.
Handle joints.
A layer of adhesive solution is applied, then the fiberglass mesh is laid and fixed.
Arrange vapor barrier. If the insulation from the inside was carried out with extruded polystyrene foam, then it is not needed. If the walls were insulated with foam of a different brand, then a vapor barrier film should be strengthened on top.
The resulting cake is primed, proceed to the finish.

Some experts consider a more reliable method in which the finish is applied not to thermal insulation, but to an additional drywall wall. Such an additional partition allows you to use not only foam plastic for insulation, but also its variety - liquid polystyrene foam. In addition, additional air gaps between the partitions also make the indoor climate more uniform.

What is especially important to consider when insulating with foam plastic?

Styrofoam is a material with uneven edges. Getting into the joints, cold air can create cold bridges. This means that the wall will freeze through. That is why the joints should be sealed especially carefully.
The main problem of finishing walls with insulation from the inside is the transfer of the dew point. Moisture begins to condense closer to the inner wall, which can either ruin the plaster or destroy the wall itself. To prevent this, it is important to choose a reliable vapor barrier film. Only EPS (extruded polystyrene foam) does not need it. All other foams without vapor barrier are not recommended.

Wall insulation is a common practice. The work can be done independently, without the involvement of specialists.

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How to properly insulate a frame house with foam

The main characteristics of the foam

Along with this, you can often find negative opinions about this insulation, which boil down mainly to the following statements:

Mice eat it. In fact, no rodents feed on foam, they make their nests and passages to them in it. In this sense, foam is no worse (and no better) than other materials;
He is hot. For a frame house made of wood, this is not critical. In addition, the production technology of modern foam plastic involves the addition of special fire-resistant additives;
It releases harmful substances. This serious misconception can rather be attributed to mineral wool, while polystyrene foam is absolutely harmless from this point of view;
It is impossible to insulate a frame-panel house with polystyrene foam, because it lets cold through the joints. With inept handling of it, this is true. However, the correct location of the plates inside the walls and their processing at the joints will ensure a minimum of heat loss.

Wall insulation

Most often, foam in a frame house insulates the surface of the walls between the uprights and the sheathing on both sides. This is done in the following way.

Pre-cleaning and sealing

Despite the fact that foam insulation technology assumes a high processing speed of even large areas as one of its main advantages, preliminary steps must be carried out very carefully.

As a result, the frame should be a dry, even and sealed structure, ready for laying insulation.

Waterproofing

Usually used as waterproofing:

glassine;
polyethylene film;
modern membrane coatings.

The waterproofing material must be laid with an overlap of one row on another (about 10 cm) and glued with a special tape.

Styrofoam laying

Insulation sheets are placed in the opening between the racks of the frame and fixed in it:

If the inner or outer surface of the walls is already ready, the foam is attached to it on an impregnation pre-treated with an adhesive composition. This is done in order to avoid air gaps. For additional fastening of the insulation, you can use plastic dowels.

Fastening polystyrene foam on dowels

For more information about laying insulation during heat treatment of walls, see:

Vapor barrier and wall cladding

Please note - all seams must be foamed

Floor insulation

Insulation of the under-roof space

Do-it-yourself insulation of a frame house with foam plastic - how to insulate it correctly

Do-it-yourself insulation of a frame house with foam plastic - how to insulate it correctly How to properly insulate a frame house with foam plastic Foam insulation is one of the simplest and most well-known methods

Features of insulation of residential frame houses with polystyrene foam

Frame housing construction is quite a promising direction in the construction of private houses. They do not require powerful foundations, they are easy to install. When building a frame house, much less financial investment will be required than when building a brick building. So that the savings do not end at the construction stage, it is necessary to think in advance about ways to preserve heat inside the premises. One option may be to insulate a private frame house with polystyrene foam.

What is styrofoam

Expanded polystyrene is a foamed material of artificial origin. There are two types of polystyrene foam for insulating walls and other building structures with your own hands:

Styrofoam;
extruded polystyrene foam.

Styrofoam can be used as the most affordable option for thermal insulation. It consists of small balls with a cavity filled with air inside. Air is one of the most effective heaters; only inert gases prevent heat loss better. Do-it-yourself insulation with polystyrene foam allows you to achieve excellent results due to the following material characteristics:

availability and low cost;
high thermal insulation characteristics;
resistance to biological effects (mold, fungus);
ease of work with the material and installation with your own hands;
the material does not shrink over time;
safety for a person.

low strength (additional protection of the foam from mechanical stress is necessary);
instability of the material to high humidity at low temperatures, can easily crumble into separate balls;
resistance to fire.

All these shortcomings are compensated by the low price of the material, but it is possible to take them into account and reduce negative manifestations to zero.

Wall insulation

Insulation scheme with a hinged facade: 1 - interior decoration; 2 - vapor barrier; 3 - frame stand; 4 - expanded polystyrene; 5 - siding; 6 - vapor-permeable moisture-proof membrane.

In this case, the insulation of the frame house with polystyrene foam is carried out between the racks of the frame. After that, sheathing is performed on both sides. Work is carried out in the following order:

frame processing: cleaning from dirt and dust, eliminating irregularities, removing unnecessary sharp objects;
laying a waterproofing layer on the outside of the walls;
insulation installation;
laying a vapor barrier layer;
wall cladding.

When using foam plastic, there is no need to equip a ventilated facade, unlike the equally popular mineral wool.

Option using OSB as hydro and wind protection

Waterproofing is laid to protect the wall material from moisture penetration from the outside. When building a house with your own hands as a waterproofing layer, you can use:

polyethylene film;
modern moisture-proof vapor-permeable membranes;
OSB-3.

The waterproofing material is laid with an overlap of 10 cm, the joints are sealed with a special tape. Manufacturers present polystyrene as a material with a small degree of water absorption, but it must be remembered that in winter it can collapse when moisture enters.

To prevent this unpleasant phenomenon, it is necessary to provide waterproofing of the walls.

Additional foam insulation on the outside

It is important to remember that waterproofing is always located on the side of cold air (when the walls are insulated from the outside), and vapor barrier on the side of warm air. As a vapor barrier of the walls, you can use a plastic film.

Floor insulation

There are several options for using foam:

insulation of ceilings above a cold basement or technical underground;
insulation of attic floors in the presence of a cold attic;
increasing the soundproofing characteristics of interfloor floors.

In the case of a frame house, the material is laid between the joists. When using extruded polystyrene foam, it is possible to insulate under a reinforced cement-sand screed.

When insulating floors with your own hands with polystyrene foam, it is important to correctly observe the order of the layers. In the floor structure of the first floor, waterproofing is first laid, followed by foam, and on top - vapor barrier. For interfloor and attic floors, the vapor barrier and waterproofing layers must be interchanged.

Attic floor insulation scheme

As a compromise option for price and quality, you can use expanded polystyrene insulation in the following form: the main layer of polystyrene is laid inside the floor pie, and a layer of extruded polystyrene foam of small thickness is laid outside. This will increase the strength of the insulation layer without large financial costs.

Attic roof insulation

When building a private house, the option of using the under-roof space as an attic is becoming increasingly popular. In this case, it is necessary to ensure comfortable conditions of stay and reliably protect the room from the cold. The main heat losses occur precisely through the roof, so sufficient attention must be paid to its insulation.

In the vast majority of cases, expanded polystyrene is laid between the rafters.. Fastening is carried out with the help of adhesives and special nails to the rafter legs. The lower crate acts as an additional fastening.

The thickness of the insulation in the main territory of the country will be in the range of 150-200 mm. It is important to remember that the height of the rafter legs cannot be taken less than the thickness of the insulation layer. In the case of polystyrene, an air ventilated layer is not necessary. To protect structures and foam from negative internal and external influences, the following materials are used:

As the second and third layers, modern moisture-windproof membranes can be used, which are mounted outside relative to the heat-shielding material.

Mounting technology

The main difficulty when working with foam is to maintain the exact gaps between the plates of the material. Expanded polystyrene is subject to thermal expansion, it is to compensate for it that small gaps must be provided. The joints of the plates are glued with a special adhesive tape, it can also be foil tape.

Fastening to the surface from the outside and from the inside can be done using adhesives or dowels. The latter provides a reliable connection, but violates the integrity of the layer. When using expanded polystyrene, several requirements apply to the adhesive composition, but one of them is the most important: the adhesive must not contain chemically aggressive components. Taboo applies to:

Warming a frame house with polystyrene foam is a simple but effective measure that does not require large financial costs. With its help, without special preparation, it is possible to carry out the insulation of walls and other structures. The long service life of the material allows you to forget about the problem of heat loss for a long time and significantly save on heating a private house.

Insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam

One of the most inexpensive and effective ways to insulate a frame house is insulation with polystyrene foam: polystyrene foam or foam plastic

Insulation of a frame house with foam plastic outside and inside

Many owners use frame houses not only as a summer residence, but also as a place of permanent residence. In order for a house built using this technology to be comfortable for living, it is necessary to insulate it. Insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam has become widespread.

Pros and cons of foam as a heater

Like any thermal insulation material, foam plastic has both positive and negative sides. It is important to know about them.

It is important to comply with fire safety requirements and regulations by laying materials on top of the foam that are the least supportive of combustion.

And here is an article about autonomous gasification of a private house.

And here is a video about the features of insulating a frame house with foam plastic.

Styrofoam insulation of the walls of a frame house from the outside

To ensure thermal insulation, it is necessary to carefully follow the sequence of work.

First stage. Preparatory.

Prepare the surface and all supporting structures;

Second phase. Direct fixing of the insulation.

With the help of cords, install vertical sags that will help to maintain the accuracy of the location of the plates and avoid distortions, as well as beacons;

Third stage. Applying a protective layer.

A layer of putty will protect the structure from external influences and precipitation. It is advisable to cover the surface with putty in two layers;

And this article talks about hydraulic accumulators for water supply.

Insulation of the walls of the frame house with foam inside

The technology that will insulate the walls inside the building is similar to that used outside.

Prepare the walls: clean, remove the remnants of wallpaper or other decorative coating;

Which foam to choose for insulating the walls of a frame house

Increased density brand PBS-S-25 or 35;
Plate thickness: not less than 50 mm. For areas with low temperatures, choose thicknesses up to 150 mm.

What mixtures are used when insulating walls with foam boards

Here are examples of quality, well-established mixtures that are used with foam.

The price does not include decorative coating and installation work.(for 100 sq.m).

mixtures of Greinplast + polystyrene (Premium class). Serves at least 20 years. Price - 18900 rubles;

If you have decided to insulate your house, built using frame technology, using foam, do not hesitate in your choice. This material has various advantages.

And this article is about septic tanks for a private house.

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Insulation of a frame house with foam plastic

Among the materials for warming frame houses from the outside and inside, foam plastic occupies a worthy place. Profitability, durability, moisture resistance, good heat and noise insulation, easy installation provided this insulation with wide popularity.

Insulation of a frame house with foam plastic

Today, the insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam, as a method, is losing its popularity. Styrofoam (like its counterpart - expanded polystyrene), due to its properties, is not very suitable for buildings of this kind. We'll explain why below.

Why is it undesirable to insulate a frame house with polystyrene

Polyfoam is an excellent insulation for brick, aerated concrete and other types of stone buildings. As for wooden buildings, and especially frame houses, there are some nuances here. The chemical structure of expanded polystyrene does not allow it to absorb moisture and pass steam. Although this material is not in itself a favorable environment for the reproduction of fungi and harmful microorganisms, it often contributes to the appearance of moisture on the wood paneling of the house, as a result of which it begins to deteriorate and rot. Of course, this problem can be solved with the help of high-quality processing of wood and joints between sheets of material with a waterproofing coating. But here you just have to either rely on the conscientiousness of the builders, or install the insulation with your own hands.

The second point is also related to the vapor barrier effect. A frame house insulated with this material is somewhat reminiscent of a thermos: it is warm in winter and hot in summer. This effect is achieved due to the fact that the material does not release warm air from the room. In terms of insulation, this is undoubtedly good. On the other hand, in such housing you can simply suffocate if it is not regularly ventilated.

Cost and types

If the above inconveniences associated with laying foam in a frame house are not a good reason for you to abandon this inexpensive and effective insulation, we will continue to study it further.

A standard foam sheet is marked with the letters PS. PSB - means non-press foam. PSB-S - pressureless, self-extinguishing. Typically, the manufacturer labels the foam as follows: "PSB-S-15". The final figure in this abbreviation means the density of the material. 15 kg/m³ - low density. 50 kg / m³ - high. There are also heaters with medium density. The most common and popular option is 25 kg / m³.

Styrofoam, which is used in construction, also has differences in its chemical structure:

- - - conventional (separate granules of the material are filled with gas)
    - polystyrene foam (the total mass of the insulation is filled with gas)

Price in Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Voronezh, etc.)

(in rubles per 1 m³)

Price in Ukraine (Kyiv, Lvov, Kharkiv, etc.)

(in UAH per 1 m³)

Together with polystyrene, they usually buy the building materials necessary for its installation. This is a waterproofing film, construction adhesive and sealant.

floor insulation technology

Insulation of the floor in a frame house begins with the installation of wooden beams, on which the floor itself will be located in the future. After the beams are installed, you can begin to lay the insulation. Its density in this case should not be less than 25 kg/m³.

There are several ways to lay insulation on the floor:

The first method is effective if you use 1-3 sheets in thickness for floor insulation. In this case, they are glued to the foundation (and, if necessary, to each other) using tile adhesive. It is better to cut the material with a circular saw or grinder. The high-speed slicing disc ignites the material, which prevents it from crumbling and cuts evenly. A damper tape is installed around the perimeter of the room. A layer of a rough screed up to 7 cm thick is poured on top. A damper tape is needed so that the screed can expand and contract during drying and at the same time cracks do not appear on its surface.

The second method is to apply wet carving or sand to the foundation of the room. The material is evenly distributed on the surface. For this, a building rule is used. Insulation sheets are installed on top of the sand. The sheets should be cut into small pieces, approximately 20x30 cm. This is necessary so that they lie evenly and tightly on the sand. Beacons are installed on top of the insulation. Next, the finishing screed is applied. The disadvantage of this method is that even with perfect laying of sheets, due to small irregularities, the finishing screed can “play” a little.

The third way is somewhat non-standard. Its essence lies in the fact that a waterproofing film is suspended between the floor beams. Several sheets of insulation are laid on the film. Another layer of film is stretched over the insulation on the beams. After that, the surface is sheathed with boards.

Ceiling and roof

It is advantageous to insulate the ceiling with polystyrene foam for the reason that sheets of these materials can be laid both from the inside of the building and from the outside. If you will be laying the insulation from the inside, you can glue it to the ceiling with tile or other construction adhesive. You can fix the sheets with self-tapping screws. In this case, the insulation sheets are connected to the wooden beams on the ceiling using metal mounting brackets. All this is sheathed with boards.

It is more difficult to insulate the roof of a frame house. Here, the insulation can be laid from below - in the same way that we insulated the ceiling. There is a second option - to lay the insulation on top. In this case, the frame between the roof rafters is covered with a special moisture-proof film, after which insulation sheets are installed in the formed forms. Then the material is again covered with a moisture-proof film, after which it is sheathed with wooden beams, on which tiles are subsequently laid.

Insulation of the walls of a frame house

The walls of a frame house can be insulated in three ways:

The first way is to lay polystyrene sheets on the inside of the building. In this case, the technology is not much different from the technology of insulating the ceiling of a frame house from the inside. A layer of moisture-resistant film is applied to the wall, on top of which insulation is laid between the wooden beams. After that, it is sheathed with a board.

On the outside of the frame house, you can also lay insulation. The whole process takes place in several stages:

- - - - installation of horizontal support strips or ebbs
        
        marking and cutting a corner (it is from the corner part that the warming of the whole house begins)
        
        heating the surface of the material to bend it (if we insulate the corner of the frame)
        
        applying construction adhesive to the surface of the house
        
        gluing a corner element with obligatory level control
        
        marking, cutting and gluing ordinary sheets (in this case, the glue should also be applied to the end of the sheets so that they stick to each other; when performing this procedure, it is necessary to constantly control the level)
        
        sealing seams with building sealant
        
        subsequent wall cladding

The combined method includes the two previous ones. The most preferred method for a frame house is method No. 1 - wall insulation from the inside.

Environmental and fire safety

There is a lot of conflicting information on the Internet regarding the fire and environmental safety of expanded polystyrene and its counterpart. Moreover, the positive information on the network is mostly posted by the producers of this material, which, as you understand, does not inspire confidence.

How are things really?

Styrofoam and expanded polystyrene are combustible materials. Their modern manufacturers are trying to minimize their flammability, however, they remain substances that have an increased fire hazard class. When burned, these materials emit acrid black smoke, which is toxic to the human body.

It should be noted that high-quality self-extinguishing foam cannot burn on its own for more than 4 seconds. For its burning, a constant source of fire is needed, which may well serve as a burning wooden sheathing of a frame house.

Calculating the amount of polystyrene foam for insulating a frame house is quite simple. The vast majority of sheets of this material are produced in the amount of 1 m². To find out the required number of sheets, you just need to calculate the insulated area of \u200b\u200bthe room, multiply by the number of layers of insulation and add 5% to the resulting number. For example, if we insulate an area of 80 m² with one layer of polystyrene foam, we will need 84 sheets of material, etc.

for frame houses of standard sizes

Styrofoam is not the best option for insulation for a frame house. Buildings of this kind are best insulated with sawdust or mineral wool. However, this method of insulation has a place to be, as many people consider it inexpensive and effective.

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Video: Insulation of the attic with foam from the inside

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And how much foam is required to insulate a one-story frame house 7 * 10.5m, with a cold attic, walls 2.7m high. Insulation 100mm, two layers of 50mm. Thank you.

Insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam, Builder's Book

Insulation of a frame house with foam plastic is a controversial method, since this material is not very suitable for insulating buildings of this type.

A frame house is the most affordable way to build your own home. But such buildings do not differ in warmth. They must be additionally equipped with thermal insulation.

As a heater, mineral wool or polystyrene is often chosen. Today we will figure out whether it is possible to insulate a frame house with polystyrene foam, and if so, how to do it?

What is this material and its advantages

Styrofoam is produced by foaming and pressing polystyrene. As a result, a plate is obtained, which consists of many bubbles filled with air. Thanks to this structure, the material has gained popularity as a heater.

It has several positive characteristics:

Little weight. The design does not load the main structure and problems during transportation are extremely rare.
Good level of thermal insulation. 1 cm of material transmits less heat to the outside than 7 cm of red brick.
Affordable price. The cost of polystyrene is the lowest compared to other heaters.
The material does not shrink even after prolonged use.

A close "relative" of the foam is extruded polystyrene foam (EPS), which is produced in an extrusion autoclave. It is also used to insulate buildings.

Workers who have a specialized education are not advised to insulate the walls of a frame house with foam plastic. This is due to several disadvantages of the material:

Flammability. The heater ignites easily. In order for it to catch fire, you need a continuous source of fire, which can be the wooden elements of the frame of the house. Although manufacturers claim that the material is processed with special flame retardants and is absolutely safe in this regard. But the opinions of fire safety experts differ. And according to state standards, foam plastic is still considered a combustible material.
Toxicity. During operation, the insulation does not emit any caustic or harmful substances. But if the material begins to ignite, then black smoke is released, which is very dangerous for human life and health.
Low vapor permeability. In the process of life, all living organisms emit steam. For a comfortable stay in the room, you need the steam to go outside. Otherwise, mold and fungus will develop on the surfaces in the rooms, which is also very dangerous for humans.

Styrofoam resistance to chemical compounds

Chemical compound
Salt solution (brine, sea water)	+
Soap and wetting agent solution	+
Bleaches: hypochlorite, chlorine solutions or hydrogen peroxide	+
Acid solutions	+
Not concentrated hydrochloric acid (35%) or nitric acid (less than 50%)	+
Concentrated sulfuric acid, 100% formic acid	-
Caustic sodium, ammonia	+
Organic solvents: acetone, ether, benzene, xylene, trichlorethylene	-
Medical gasoline, white spirit	-
Paraffin oil, Vaseline	+ -
Diesel fuel	-
Petrol	-
Alcohols: methanol, ethanol	+ -
Silicone compounds	+
stable (regardless of duration of action)	+
conditionally stable (prolonged action leads to shrinkage or destruction of the surface layer)	+ -
unstable (shrinks or dissolves)	-

Since the material does not allow steam to pass through, it will accumulate between the wall and the insulation and this will lead to the fact that the wooden elements will begin to break down prematurely. In addition, the insulation of the frame house with foam plastic creates the effect of a thermos. Heat is kept indoors always both in winter and in summer.

But if such an effect is simply necessary for the cold season, then in the summer it will be unbearable in the house, due to the constantly high air temperature. You will need to install air conditioning or fans.

If the family budget does not allow choosing a safer insulation, you can use a few tips from professionals:

Before insulating the house with foam plastic from the outside, the material must be additionally treated with flame retardants (substances that resist fire).
Forced ventilation will help to release steam into the environment.
Styrofoam thermal insulation must be covered on both sides with a windproof film. From the side of the inner wall, it will perform the function of waterproofing. Condensed steam will be removed by a ventilated gap. And the outer side will protect from moisture from the atmosphere and low temperatures.

Installation rules

If the building is being built on its own, then with the question of how to properly insulate the frame house with polystyrene foam, you should turn to professionals. After all, if you do not adhere to the technology, then over time, the wooden elements of the frame will begin to rot.

Insulation scheme with a hinged facade: 1 - interior decoration; 2 - vapor barrier; 3 - frame stand; 4 - expanded polystyrene; 5 - siding; 6 - vapor-permeable moisture-proof membrane.

In order to extend the service life of the main structural elements, they must be protected from moisture. To do this, they are covered with double-sided sealing adhesive tape. Before applying protection, you need to clean the wooden racks from dirt.
The next step will be the arrangement of the vapor barrier. From the side of the premises, a vapor-tight membrane is laid on a whip of 10-15 cm, the joints must be glued with adhesive tape. This will make the layer airtight.
The wall from the side of the room is sheathed with boards or slabs.
Next you need to go to the side of the facade. There, between the racks of the frame is performed. Plates of material are laid tightly so that there are no gaps and cracks. It is desirable to process joints with sealant or polyurethane foam. It is necessary to ensure that the joints of subsequent rows do not coincide with the previous ones.
When the insulation is completely laid over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe facade, it should be covered with a windproof membrane. A small amount of moisture that gets on the foam, under the influence of low temperatures, can destroy the material. The film will protect both the insulation and the premises from heat loss.
Insulated frame houses with polystyrene foam require additional decorative finishing. It will also perform the function of protection from external negative influences. To do this, you can use siding, facade tiles and even decorative plaster.

Insulation of a frame house with extruded polystyrene foam is carried out using the same technology as with foam plastic. The difference is that if foam is used, then you do not need to buy plates of maximum thickness. This insulation has a coefficient of thermal conductivity even less than that of polystyrene.

A styrofoam house is far from a figurative expression, as many beginners think. There are building technologies that are really based on the use of foam as a wall material. I will talk about these technologies and introduce you to their advantages and disadvantages.

So, at present there are three technologies that can be called the construction of polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene):

Technology 1: frame construction

Technology features

Frame construction is far from a new technology. However, in our country it has become widespread only in the last two decades.

The essence of this technology is the construction of the frame of the house from a wooden beam. In this case, the space of the frame is filled with foam. Outside, such walls are sheathed with OSB boards, and from the inside with drywall, clapboard or other finishing material.

Thus, the foam in this case performs the function of a wall filler, which is responsible for wall insulation and sound insulation.

Advantages and disadvantages

We will not go into the details of the frame construction technology itself, since it has already been repeatedly mentioned on the pages of our portal. Therefore, further I will only talk about the pros and cons of insulating a frame house with polystyrene foam.

Advantages:

Efficiency. Due to the low thermal conductivity of foam in central Russia, a thickness of a layer of insulation of 150-200 mm is sufficient. At the same time, housing will turn out to be warm and energy-saving;
Thrift. Styrofoam is one of the cheapest materials that can only be used in frame construction;

Environmental friendliness. This material is hypoallergenic and does not cause irritation upon contact with the skin, unlike mineral heaters. Therefore, it is comfortable to work with him;
Form stability. Styrofoam does not shrink, which eliminates the appearance of cold bridges in the walls;
Durability. Subject to the insulation technology, the material will last more than 50 years.

Disadvantages:

Zero vapor permeability. For this reason, the walls from the inside need a hermetic vapor barrier. Otherwise, all moisture will accumulate at the joints between the wooden frame parts and polystyrene foam, which will lead to rotting of the frame.
Hydro-vapor barrier, in turn, turns housing into a sealed "thermos". Therefore, such buildings need high-quality ventilation;

Fire hazard. Foam manufacturers very rarely add flame retardants to its composition. As a result, the material burns well, and at the same time emits dangerous toxic substances.

Styrofoam absorbs moisture, so hermetic waterproofing of walls is required not only from the inside, but also from the outside.

For these reasons, polystyrene foam is rarely used to insulate a frame-type house. Most often, mineral wool is used.

I must say that instead of foam, you can also use foam in a frame house. This material is an improved version of foam.

Penoplex is more effective in terms of thermal insulation, as well as more durable and durable. In addition, flame retardants are usually contained in the foam, which makes it a low-combustible material.

The disadvantage of penoplex is its low vapor permeability. In addition, the price of foam plastic is 2-3 times higher than that of foam plastic.

Technology 2: construction of domed houses

Technology features

Unlike frame houses, domed houses are made entirely of foam. Moreover, even the roof, if it can be called a roof at all, is made of foam. The fact is that the walls of such buildings have an arched shape, i.e. smoothly into the roof.

For the construction of domed houses, ready-made parts are used, which have recently been manufactured by various companies. The material for them is a dense foam brand PSB-S-50. As a result, the house is assembled as a constructor.

I must say that the first such house was built in Alaska back in 1984. However, interest in such construction in our country has arisen only in recent years.

To make it clear to you what this construction technology is, then we will briefly consider the procedure for erecting a domed house:

Illustrations	Description of works
	Foundation arrangement. Manufacturers claim that a foam house does not need a foundation at all. However, a quality foundation never hurts.
	Construction assembly. Blocks are assembled as a constructor. They are connected to each other according to the thorn-groove principle. The joints of the blocks must be coated with glue-foam. It is not advisable to use polyurethane foam, as it expands greatly.
	Finishing. This procedure is performed according to the standard scheme for foam plastic: The surface of the house outside and inside is pasted over with a fiberglass mesh; Then an additional thin layer of glue is applied.
	Decorative finish: The surface is treated with soil; Then decorative plaster is applied; At the end of the work, the house is painted with water-dispersion paint.

You can finish the domed house not only with decorative plaster, but also with other materials. For example, you can use decorative stone and flexible tiles.

The size of such a house can be from 6 to 12 meters in diameter.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Cheapness. This method of construction is one of the most budgetary;
Speed. You can build houses from polystyrene foam and finish it in a week, without taking into account the construction of the foundation;
Seismic resistance. As tests have shown, the dome structure is not afraid of any earthquakes;

Easy assembly. Every beginner can build a house with his own hands.
Minimum heating costs. Due to the low thermal conductivity of the material, such houses are very "warm" and energy-saving;
The possibility of expanding the area. Extensions can be added as needed.

Disadvantages:

Suitable for temporary residence only. Styrofoam houses can only be considered as temporary housing;
Low strength. Styrofoam walls, even reinforced ones, are not able to fully protect housing from intruders.

The foam house can be used in agriculture, for example, as a vegetable store, hangar, greenhouse, etc.

Technology 3: construction using foam formwork

Technology features

The essence of this technology lies in the fact that hollow foam blocks are used for the construction of walls. Reinforcement is installed in the space inside the blocks and concrete is poured. The blocks have standard dimensions of 950x250x250 mm.

Thus, at the construction stage, the foam performs the function of formwork, and after the walls are erected, it serves as a heater.

The construction of a house using this technology is carried out as follows:

Illustrations	Description
	Foundation arrangement. For such a house, it is best to build an ordinary strip foundation. It is built according to standard technology.
	Formwork assembly: The walls are assembled from blocks like a Lego constructor, i.e. are connected to each other in a tongue/groove lock. As the walls are erected, reinforcement is installed.
	Pouring concrete: After the construction of the first five rows, concrete is poured into the space of the blocks. During the pouring process, to prevent the formation of air pockets, the foam blocks are tapped; Then the next five rows are mounted, and the filling is performed again. According to this scheme, the walls are erected to the required height. Then the roof is mounted and finishing is carried out.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Strength. Construction using fixed foam formwork allows you to get a full-fledged monolithic housing that can withstand any load;
Durability. A house built in this way can last more than 100 years;

Simplicity and speed of construction. When compared with conventional formwork, the blocks are installed much easier and faster;
thermal insulation qualities. Unlike the usual monolithic structure, the walls of the house built using this technology do not need to be insulated.

Disadvantages. The disadvantage of such construction is its high cost. The blocks alone cost about 1,000 rubles per square meter.

Conclusion

We have considered all the possible options for building a foam house with their advantages and disadvantages, which will surely help you make the right choice. Additionally, watch more videos in this article. If any points have raised questions in you, leave them in the comments, and I will be happy to answer you.

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