When choosing what kind of insulation to protect the building from the cold, they often stop at expanded polystyrene. This material has a low cost and does not require installation experience. But, using foam for insulation, several requirements are required. They are due to the performance characteristics of the material.

Application area

When insulating a house from the inside, it is necessary to increase the thermal insulation of the following structures:

• in the basement floor structure on the ground, if the underground floor is heated;
• in the pie of the ground floor when building a cold basement or underground;
• exterior walls;
• overlapping over the last floor when arranging a cold attic;
• covering when arranging a warm attic;
• mansard roof.

Of all these parts, polystyrene foam for home insulation is best used in wall construction. In floors, polystyrene should only be used in conjunction with logs, which will take on the main load from the floor, furniture, etc. The fact is that the density of expanded polystyrene does not allow it to withstand high compressive loads.

Ceilings with foam without logs can be used for technical purposes - attic floors, etc. Therefore, if you want to insulate the floor with high quality under the screed, the best insulation option is extruded polystyrene foam. Insulation on top should cover a layer of cement-sand screed 50 mm thick with additional reinforcement. For reinforcement, a mesh of reinforcement with a diameter of 3-4 mm is used.

Another area of ​​application of polystyrene is the manufacture of permanent formwork for concreting. Such insulation is used in the construction of strip foundations. Allows to reduce the number of stages of work on pouring a monolith at home and at the same time to perform thermal insulation of the structure. Without fail, a reliable waterproofing must be provided on top of the expanded polystyrene.

Types of foam for home insulation

To understand what kind of polystyrene foam is needed for specific types of work, it is worth carefully studying the types of material. The classification of heat insulators for walls and floors of a house is carried out according to the following criteria:

• raw materials for manufacturing;
• density;
• sizes.

Depending on the raw materials used, such types of foam are distinguished as polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene. The first one has high elasticity and is foam rubber, which is actively used in the furniture industry. In construction, polyurethane foam is made from such foam.

Polyethylene foam is produced in the form of sheets and is used for packaging fragile items. The usual building foam is PVC. Expanded polystyrene of this type is suitable as insulation for a house from the inside and outside.

The density of the foam is important. The area of ​​use of the material depends on it (can it be used in the construction of walls, floors, foundations, etc.). Before buying a foam insulation for your home, it is better to familiarize yourself with what it is, depending on the sign in question:

1. PSB 50 is a high density material. In construction, it is rarely found due to the desire of customers to reduce financial costs. Such material is suitable as insulation from the outside and from the inside. Such material is allowed to be laid as part of the floor of premises with a constant presence of people, the arrangement of furniture and equipment.
2. PSB 35 is suitable for insulating the walls of the house from the outside and from the inside. Insulation of this type can also be laid in the attic floor cake, provided there is a strong concrete screed. The density of polystyrene foam 35 is the most common.
3. PSB 25. The density of the material allows it to be used as wall insulation from the side of the room. When laying, it is necessary to provide a gap between the heat insulator and the finishing material. It is strongly not recommended to use for floor and outdoor insulation.
4. PSB 15 is the minimum density used in construction. This type is best suited for thermal insulation of temporary structures (for example, change houses), containers and wagons.

The dimensions of the foam sheets are typical. If necessary, it is easy to cut the required shape from the material. Dimensions are prescribed depending on the area of ​​the surface to be insulated, its length and height.

The following sizes are sold on the construction market:

• 2000x1000 mm.
• 1000x1000 mm;
• 1000x500 mm.

The most common sizes are 1000x1000 mm. Such sheets will not cause problems during transportation, at the same time, they have a fairly large area and allow you to increase the speed of work. The standard size of 1200x600 mm is also very popular - it perfectly suits the pitch of the racks or lathing with external insulation.

Thickness calculation

Before buying a material, it is required not only to select its strength and dimensions, but also to calculate the required thickness of insulation for walls or other structures. When designing a building, specialists perform a special heat engineering calculation manually or using programs, the field of which assigns the dimensions of the heat insulator.

The thickness for a private building can be selected without making a calculation. But at the same time, it is required to take into account the climatic features of the area and the operating conditions of the facility. In the vast majority of cases, the following sizes can be recommended:

• wall insulation thickness - 100 mm;
• thickness for the attic floor - 150 mm;
• thickness for the floor of the 1st floor and the roof - 200 mm.

But in any case, it is better to assign the dimensions accurately. You can calculate the required amount of insulation using fairly simple programs. For example, the calculation can be done in the Teremok program. It is freely available on the Internet. There are two versions: online and a PC app.

Insulation thickness depending on the wall design

To perform a calculation in the program, you will need to know the composition of the enclosing structure and the thermal conductivity of the materials used. Some types are in the program database, but it is better to check the thermal conductivity with the manufacturer of a particular product. Calculating a heat insulator using this application is quite simple.

Insulation technology

After it has been decided what material is required to complete the work, it is important to familiarize yourself with the nuances of the work technology. When fastening, it is necessary to take into account such features of thermal insulation as:

• low strength;
• destruction when exposed to moisture and cold (high-quality waterproofing and vapor barrier will be required);
• instability to fire;
• low vapor permeability, creating a greenhouse effect in the house (a forced ventilation device is required).

The material can be mounted from the cold air side or from the inside. Foam insulation outside will be more competent. can be performed only if there are justifications (there is no way to disassemble the decoration of the house, insulation of one apartment in an apartment building).

Mounting to the wall is carried out with glue, and after the solution dries, the material is additionally fixed with dowels-fungi. It is better to wait about 3 days before proceeding with fixing with dowels. If the heat engineering calculation was performed correctly, and the technology was not violated during installation, the foam will be durable and reliable.

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According to environmentalists, up to 40% of heat and electricity generated in the northern hemisphere is spent on heating residential, industrial and other facilities. For this reason, high-quality insulation of buildings brings tangible benefits in terms of saving finances and comfort of living. One of the most popular heat insulators is polystyrene (expanded polystyrene, PPS).

Which foam is better for insulating a house from the outside - we will analyze this issue in detail.

In Europe, PPPs have been widely used for more than half a century. During this time, no material was found that would surpass foam plastic in terms of environmental friendliness, efficiency and thermal insulation characteristics. Europeans use PPP everywhere: as a heat insulation material for buildings and utility lines, packaging material for food products and any other goods.

In Russia and the CIS countries, there is a certain prejudice towards this material. It is based on information about the environmental friendliness and fire hazard of foam. The plausibility of this information can be checked using the documents, which contain the results of tests and examinations carried out in relation to the teaching staff.

The eco- and fire safety of this material is confirmed by many official researchers, including:

• Research Institute named after Erisman (expert opinion No. 03 / PM8);
• State Institution "Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Hygiene" (Republic of Belarus);
• SP 12-101-98 (Construction Norms and Regulations for construction heat engineering);
• Research Center for Fire Safety VNIIPO of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation;
• according to the BREEM environmental safety scale, PPP is classified as A + class.

The products of each foam manufacturer must pass the certification stage. The presence of a corresponding conclusion confirms the suitability of this material for use in everyday life, construction and for other purposes.

Need to know: the most important information about the percentage of harmful substances and their list is on the back of the hygiene certificate, which is rarely paid attention to.

After reviewing the documentation, we can conclude that the opinion about the danger of foam is greatly exaggerated and is based not on facts, but on myths and rumors. If there are doubts about the rationality of using this material, it is worth considering that it will not be inside, but outside the premises, since the technology of insulating the facade, and not living rooms, is being considered. Therefore, PPS can be safely chosen as the main heat insulator for the outer walls of the house.

Pros and cons of Styrofoam

The name "polystyrene" is used in everyday life as an abbreviated name for expanded polystyrene. This material is designated by the abbreviations PPP or ESP. The first name is in Russian, the second - in English.

In the information of manufacturers and sellers of this material, there is not a word about its shortcomings. Only the merits are listed. And this is understandable, since the goal of the manufacturer and the distributor is to sell the product, but the foam has been known to the consumer for more than half a century, and during this period a lot of information has accumulated about the practical application of PPP. This information is not so widely known, but it is extremely important for the correct choice of material for facade insulation. There are application specificities and limitations to be aware of.

The list of advantages of polystyrene includes such characteristics as:

• environmental friendliness;
• high-quality sound insulation;
• vapor permeability;
• counteraction to the development of pathogenic microorganisms, due to which fungus and mold do not form in the PTS.

The fire safety of foam is low, which is the main drawback of the material.

Styrofoam and rodents

Among the advantages of this heat insulator include the statement that the PPS ignore rodents and do not eat its granules. That's a moot point. You can find the facts "for" and "against".

The practice of using this material suggests that rodents do not eat PPS, but they chew it with pleasure. Therefore, the only rational way out is to close the heat insulator as efficiently as possible, that is, to block rodents from accessing it. It is a smart choice for a practical host.

Styrofoam and ultraviolet

Foam manufacturers do not provide information that it is extremely unstable to ultraviolet radiation, especially direct sunlight is harmful. The consumer is not informed that this type of radiation has a negative effect on the chemical stability of the PPP and that it begins to "age" intensively.

The fact is that the foam has a polymer structure, therefore, like any other polymer, it will gradually decompose. Ultraviolet light speeds up this process significantly.

But this disadvantage of expanded polystyrene can be considered relative, since it is not difficult to exclude the negative effects of UV: it is enough not to expose the PSP to direct exposure to the sun. That is, when installing the heat-insulating layer of the facade, the foam must be covered with a finishing material as soon as possible.

About the soundproofing ability of PPS

The statements of the PPP implementers that this material is a high-quality sound insulator are doubtful. The owners of frame houses, who have chosen polystyrene as insulation, claim that it has extremely low noise absorption.

If you think about it, then this fact is quite understandable: PPS consists of more than 90% of air, which is an excellent heat accumulator and an equally excellent conductor of sound. Therefore, you should not hope that the foam will help reduce the sound transmission of the walls of the house.

About vapor permeability of foam

In practice, the low vapor permeability of expanded polystyrene means that there will be an obstacle in the form of EPS sheets on the path of vapor movement from inside the house to the outside. The temperature outside is often colder than indoors. Therefore, the steam will inevitably condense, as a result of which drops of water will form at the junction of the insulation with the elements of the wall structure. This increases the risk of the adjacent materials getting wet.

There is only one way out: the correct calculation of the dew point and the required thickness of the insulation, the removal of the dew point beyond its limits. A smart solution is a ventilated facade.

It should also be taken into account that the vapor transmission capacity of any heat insulators cannot be considered in isolation from the details of a particular design. It is necessary to take into account what the walls are built of, whether hydro and vapor barrier is made, how high the foundation is and other nuances.

Classes and brands of foam

Styrofoam classes

There are only two classes of foam: pressed and non-pressed. From the names it is clear that these materials have a different production method. The first is made using pressing equipment, the second - by sintering at high temperatures. But in this production line, pressing equipment is also used. However, the classification is what it is.

To which class the foam belongs can be determined visually. Unpressurized is a complex of sufficiently firmly glued round and oval granules. The structure of such a material is porous, the strength depends on the density.

The press has the appearance of a rather smooth sheet fabric, the density of which is different and depends on the brand of the product. This material has excellent technical and operational characteristics.

Polyfoam made without a press is denoted by the abbreviation PSB. Press - PS. The product name may contain other letters, each of which indicates a specific feature of this product.

• A - the canvas has a regular geometric parallelepiped shape and a smooth edge;
• B - the edge of the product has an L-shaped cut;
• Р - the cutting of the canvases is made with a hot string;
• F - facade or made using special forms;
• C - self-extinguishing;
• H - the product is suitable for outdoor use.

The numbers in the name of the PPP indicate its density.

Non-pressed foam grades

PSB-15

The most inexpensive product with a high degree of fragility. It is used as a heat-insulating and packaging material, it crumbles easily, has a low hygroscopicity. It is traditionally used for insulating balconies and loggias, country houses, containers and utility blocks.

PSB-25

This brand of polystyrene is often supplemented with the letter "F", so the material is recommended for insulating facades. Due to its higher density than PSB-15, it is used for the manufacture of decorative elements for landscape and interior design.

PSB-35

A versatile material with a wide range of applications. It is used for insulation of engineering communications, heating and gas mains, production equipment, thermal insulation of roofs and attics. It is used in the production of multilayer panels (including reinforced concrete) as a heat-insulating pad.

PSB-50

This material has the highest density of any non-pressed foam. It is in demand as a heat and sound insulator for objects of any purpose. It is able to provide high-quality protection from the cold, therefore it is used in the construction of underground utilities, garages and parking lots, in road construction.

Characteristics of non-pressed foam grades.

Index	PSB-15	PSB-25	PSB-35	PSB-50
Compressive strength at 10% deformation (MPa)	0,04	0,08	0,14	0,18
Density (kg / m3)	15,0	15,1-25,0	25,1-35,0	35,1-50,0
Thermal conductivity (W / mK)	0,1	0,43	0,38	0,38
Water absorption during the day in% of the total volume	4	3	2	2

Press foam grades

Strong and rigid press (tile) foam is a closed cell plastic. It is a radio-transparent material. It is widely used in all branches of industry and agriculture. The press method is used to make PVC foams, which include PVC resin.

Grades PS-1, PS-2, PS-3, PS-4.

They have a closed-cell structure, the degree of hygroscopicity is close to 0. They are maximally resistant to atmospheric influences. Self-extinguishing, oil and gas resistant.

They are used in radio electronics as a material that is unstable to electrical breakdown, as well as for the manufacture of containers and floats for corrosive liquids.

For insulating the facades of buildings, non-pressed foams of different densities are in demand. In order to buy truly high-quality material, you need to know how you can independently check the information of the manufacturer and the seller.

The following companies are among the largest Russian foam producers:

• "Styroplast" (Chekhov);
• Omegaplast (Moscow);
• "Gamma Center" (Kolomna);
• "Kavminprom" (Mineralnye Vody);
• "Stavpoliester" (Stavropol);
• Rosplast (Moscow).

Prices for various brands of foam

Rules for choosing foam for facade insulation

For facade insulation, PSB-S-25 foam is best suited. There are several reasons for this:

• this material has sufficient density and strength for installation on any supporting base;
• has a degree of thermal conductivity low enough to prevent heat leakage from the interior;
• is lightweight;
• easy to transport;
• differs in low cost;
• self-extinguishing;
• durable.

The most important indicator of the quality of PPP is density. It depends on the production method and the characteristics of the foam granules. During sintering, the expanded polystyrene granules swell, and when pressed, they stick to each other. The stronger the pressing, the tighter the granules adhere to each other. The degree of thermal conductivity and steam transmission capacity of the product at the outlet directly depends on this.

What's wrong with low density foam?

At a low density of PPS, its structure is relatively loose, since the distance between the granules is significant. These gaps are the reason for the good vapor permeability of the material. But the expanded polystyrene granules themselves, due to their higher density than the air between them, pass steam much worse.

This leads to the accumulation of moisture inside the insulation, which is removed more slowly than necessary. As a result, the plaster applied to the foam will draw moisture onto itself and gradually collapse. The same can be said about other materials adjacent to the insulation, or located next to it. Therefore, it is so important to make sure that the foam purchased in the store is sufficiently high.

What is sold under the PSB-25 brand

The high demand for foam plastic has led to the appearance on the market of a large number of large and small producers and distributors of EPS. They all understand that this material is chosen as insulation primarily due to its low price. This fact, coupled with high competition, forces manufacturers to win back their market segment by lowering prices, which cannot but affect the quality of their products.

For this reason, the situation on the market is such that under the PSB-25 brand they sell products whose quality does not stand up to criticism. This also applies to foams of other popular brands.

Video - Polyfoam PSB-S 25 TU and foam PSB-S 35 TU

It is important to know: for many years, foam production has not been standardized by GOST to the extent that it is necessary. Each PPP manufacturer develops its own technical specifications (TU) that regulate the technological process. This gives the owner of the enterprise freedom of action, and he has every right not to comply with previously accepted norms.

The need to reduce the price of the finished product forces the manufacturer to reduce the cost of the material. GOST according to PSB-25 allows the production of a product under this brand with a density of 15 to 25 kg / m 3.

This has led to the fact that in stores of building materials under the PSB-25 brand they offer polystyrene, the density of which is significantly lower than 25 kg / m 3. But, as mentioned above, this is not a consumer deception. This is authorized by the standards body.

How to find out the density of the foam

The density of the PPP is calculated as follows: 1 m 3 of this material is weighed. The value obtained is an indication of the density. That is, 1 m 3 PSB-25 should weigh 25 kg. In practice, this is extremely rare.

The most common situation is that foam with a density of 16.1-16.5 kg / m 3 is sold under this brand. You can check the density of the sample directly at the point of sale where it is purchased.

As a rule, all building materials stores or market pavilions are equipped with equipment for weighing goods. It is necessary to take a sheet of polystyrene of the required thickness and calculate its volume. To do this, multiply the length of the canvas by its width and height (thickness). Then you need to find out the weight of this sheet and divide the resulting value by the volume indicator.

Calculation example for a sheet 2 m long, 1 m wide, 2.5 cm thick:

• we calculate the volume of the sheet: 2 mx 1 mx 0.025 m = 0.05 m 3;
• we weigh the sheet;
• divide the weight by the volume.

Calculations can be done on a calculator, which is available in any mobile phone. This approach will help you buy that insulation that will serve you flawlessly for many years.

Video - How to determine the density of the foam

Extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam (EPS, XPS) is another material that is ideal for facade insulation. EPS is a type of foam that has a significantly higher density than PSB-50. Consequently, the strength and performance characteristics of this material are also excellent.

Currently, three leading brands dominate the Russian market for EPS sales:

All of these manufacturers offer products of almost the same quality. But there are nuances. For example, Technoplex uses graphite as an improving additive. Therefore, EPSP boards from this manufacturer are distinguished by a pale gray color.

Extruded polystyrene foam "Penoplex" is notable for its bright carrot shade. The products of the Ursa company have a beige tint.

All EPSP manufacturers work within the same quality standard, but the dimensions of the sheets are different. The table will help to verify this.

Extruded polystyrene foam is in all respects the best choice for facade insulation. But this material has a significantly higher price than foam. Therefore, it is not so in demand by private developers. EPPS is mainly used by construction companies that build residential buildings and production facilities.

URSA XPS is the optimal building solution for a wide variety of tasks.

Extruded polystyrene foam prices

Extruded polystyrene foam

Facade insulation technology with foam

Styrofoam can be fixed on the wall of the house in two ways: glue and glueless. The use of the first installation option is justified if the bearing surface is flat and does not have significant flaws. This situation is often encountered in new buildings. Therefore, if possible, use the technology of gluing PPP. It is much simpler and more convenient than the glueless installation method.

Stages of facade insulation with foam plastic using the adhesive method

Step 1. Dedusting and strengthening of the base.

It is carried out by applying a deep penetration primer using a brush or roller.

Step 2. Marking and fixing the basement profile.

The basement profile is fixed at the bottom of the walls along the entire perimeter of the building. It will act as a support for the foam plates.

Step 3. Adhesive preparation.

Dry adhesive mixtures are used. Experts recommend buying reinforcing compounds from the same manufacturer at the same time. They (compositions) are applied to the mesh reinforced on top of the EPS, which is necessary if it is planned to plaster the facade or another type of finish, for the installation of which a cement-sand mortar is required.

The following adhesive mixtures can be used: Cerisit CT83, Kreisel 210, Master Termol, SOUDATHERM, Bitumast.

Glue-foam for expanded polystyrene and foam "Soudal" Soudatherm

Step 4. Application of the mortar to the EPS boards.

The solution is applied in two ways: along the perimeter of the canvas and in its middle, at 5 points (in the corners and in the middle). The thickness of the layer depends on the type of glue. On average, it is 0.5-1 cm.

Step 5

The PPP sheet is installed on the basement profile and pressed against the wall. They hold in this position for a few seconds (they are guided by the instructions of the manufacturer of the adhesive mixture). Excess glue is removed with a spatula.

The sheets are fixed with a dowel-fungus.

Step 6. Applying an adhesive and gluing a reinforcing mesh.

Plastered surface

Step 8. Finishing primer application.

Glueless technology of facade insulation with foam provides for fastening the PPS plates to dowel-nails with a wide head (umbrella).

The technique of work is as follows:

• holes in the wall are drilled through the slab laid on the basement profile. Fasteners are carried out at 5 points: in the middle and corners of the sheet;
• dowel-nails are driven in.

Otherwise, all stages of work on the installation of foam are similar. If a ventilated facade is being installed, reinforcement of the slabs is not required. In this case, a frame of wooden bars or a metal profile is built on top of the insulation.

Ceresit glue prices

Ceresit glue

Video - Fire safety of expanded polystyrene

Video - Insulation of the facade with expanded polystyrene plates, video instructions for installing Ceresit plates

Naturally, all people are trying to make housing more convenient and comfortable. Warmth in the house is one of the important criteria for comfort.

It is not always a matter of just having a reliable heating system; many, especially in regions with cold winters, have to be additionally insulated. On the modern market there are a lot of materials that solve this problem.

But foam plastic remains one of the most popular. The density of the wall insulation foam varies and affects its thermal insulation properties.

Polyfoam is a synthetic material with a rigid structure, white in color.

It is made by foaming the feedstock (polystyrene granules).

Then it goes through a steam treatment. This operation is repeated several times.

The mass is dried in special containers. The sizes of the granules are 5-15 mm.

The result is a building material with good heat and sound insulation properties.

Polyfoam is used to insulate buildings outside and inside.

Pros of foam as insulation:

• harmless to humans, does not emit dust, unpleasant odor, toxic substances, does not irritate the skin
• durable
• honeycomb structure provides good wind and sound insulation properties
• has low thermal conductivity
• hardly absorbs moisture
• unsuitable environment for the development of microorganisms
• simple and convenient for cutting, processing, use
• does not change size due to temperature changes
• fireproof, since modern production technologies provide for the addition of a fire retardant. This substance does not support combustion - in order for the foam to flare up, you need twice the temperature than for wood to ignite
• is lightweight
• is inexpensive
• easily glues to other building materials

Disadvantages of Styrofoam:

• does not allow air to pass through
• does not withstand high mechanical loads
• nitro paints or paints and varnishes can destroy the foam
• can be gnawed by mice, so a layer of plaster is needed
• when using foam, it is difficult to ensure the tightness of the boards due to their rigid structure

How to choose a quality insulation in a large assortment on the market

• Ask the seller for a product certificate. The quality of the purchase must be confirmed not only visually, but also documented. Reliable manufacturers who value their reputation are always ready to provide the necessary quality certificates.
• Assess the storage conditions of the material where it is sold. For example, under the influence of the sun's rays, the foam can acquire a third-party odor, turn yellow, and its properties deteriorate.
• Examine the packaging. A quality product is labeled, if there are no corresponding inscriptions on the packaging material, then it is better to buy polystyrene in another place.
• Examine the granules of the material. They should be uniform, about the same size, and evenly spaced across the sheet. If voids or pellet peeling are noticeable, then this is a sign of a poor-quality product.
• Rate the sheets. Visually, they should be free of bumps and deformations, to the touch - soft, elastic. The stiffness of the sheets indicates that the production technology has not been followed.
• Don't chase cheapness. Styrofoam, bought at a low price and pleasing at first with this fact, may then turn out to be useless. The cheap material absorbs water, freezing and thawing between the granules, it destroys the foam.

There are more advantages to using foam than disadvantages, it is inexpensive, easy to install and operate, and is not toxic. To enjoy the quality of the new for longer than one season, you should carefully consider the purchase of the material.

Thermal insulation of housing with foam plastic inside and outside

Upholstering a house inside with insulating material is a tempting prospect, especially for owners of city apartments. You do not need permits from several authorities, there is no need to hire specialists in industrial mountaineering, you can do it on your own.

But for self-repair, you need to determine the density of the foam for insulating the walls from the inside, its volume and price. In addition, such an event has some undesirable nuances.

The density of the foam determines the ratio of weight to volume. This value affects weight, thermal conductivity, water resistance, strength, resistance to various substances. The higher the density, the less air - namely, it provides thermal insulation properties, and not the raw materials from which the foam is made.

Foam grades in terms of density:

• 10 kg / cubic meter (the least dense, used in the insulation of non-residential premises - for example, construction trailers, as well as in the thermal insulation of water pipes);
• 15 kg / cubic meter meter (rather fragile, does not withstand mechanical stress, suitable for thermal insulation of internal walls of residential premises, thermal insulation of balconies, other structures that are not exposed to large mechanical stress, thermal insulation of water supply pipes);
• 20 kg / cubic meter meter (used in the production of decorative materials, thermal insulation of facades of structures);
• 25 kg / cubic meter meter (a very wide scope of use: insulation of facades of residential premises, walls, ceilings, floors, foundations, attics, attics, loggias; heat and sewer and water supply communications, protection of the ground from freezing, insulation of car parks, strengthening the slopes of sports grounds, lawns, swimming pools );
• 35 kg / cubic meter meter (the same application as foam with a density of 25 kg / cubic meter, as well as to keep cold in refrigerators, underground, in the construction of highways and railways, runways for aircraft, for strengthening the soil and embankments during the construction of bridges) ;
• 50 kg / cubic meter meter (the densest and most expensive of all brands - used for insulation of floors in industrial premises).

How to insulate housing inside

If the work is carried out inside - this is undoubtedly more convenient, but it is considered an extreme measure if it is impossible to "dress" the house from the outside.

One of the main problems is dew point displacement. What it is?

There is always water vapor in the air, subject to a certain pressure.

The higher the air temperature, the higher this value.

According to physical laws, steam passes into the region of the lowest pressure, and, when cooled, falls out as water condensate.

The temperature at which this phenomenon occurs is called the "dew point".

When a room is insulated from the inside, condensation accumulates between the insulation and the outer wall. It is slowly and surely destroyed, as the freezing water changes the heat exchange process.

The humidity in the house rises. Therefore, when insulating a room with polystyrene from the inside, special attention should be paid to the organization of ventilation.

Stages of work:

• thoroughly clean the walls with sandpaper and level, destroy the fungus
• apply an antifungal and moisture-proof composition with a roller to the prepared ones. It will dry out within 24 hours
• prepare adhesive solution
• cut the desired sheet size by trying it on the wall, and then cutting it off with a knife
• start laying from below, glueing the wall with glue under each sheet. Glue the foam panels, tightly fitting them to the wall and staggered the joints in rows to each other
• after the end of the work, close the room for one or two days - the glue will completely dry out during this time
• strengthen the sheets additionally: drill two holes in the center and four corner holes on each; drive in dowels, and in them - plastic nails
• seal the joints between the sheets of insulation with polyurethane foam
• for finishing work, a putty and a primer on which they are glued, or a frame for cladding with panels can serve. To ensure better grip, the foam is sanded with sandpaper.

The optimal density of insulation for interior work is from 15 to 25 kg / cu. meter.

How to insulate housing outside

Insulating housing outside is the best option for a country house. However, this is not always acceptable in urban environments.

This can be done independently only on the first and second floors. Above, you will have to hire specialists with special skills and equipment.

In addition, before insulating a city apartment in this way, you need to obtain permission from the relevant authorities. It may be necessary to present the technology of conducting.

If all these problems are solvable, then you can get an excellent insulation option, in which the area of ​​the rooms will not be reduced. The dew point will be neither inside the wall nor inside the room.

Styrofoam sheets can be attached only to the wall or also to the area of ​​the foundation and basement (if we are talking about a private house). It is necessary to carefully examine and remove the dirt, patch up the damage, cure the fungus.

Provide waterproofing - bitumen mastic or deep penetration primer will do.

Align the surface.

Styrofoam is attached to the wall with adhesive and dowels.

The joints of the slabs are sealed with polyurethane foam, putty, construction tape.

For wall insulation outside, a density of 25 kg / cubic meter is suitable. meter.

The design is reliable, the heat-saving performance is high.

In addition, it is necessary to ensure the rigidity of the facade necessary for plastering.

Insulation of the balcony and loggia

A warm balcony or loggia can give the house a few additional living square meters, which can be converted into a room or study. And the thermal insulation of this section of the room will additionally keep the heat in the apartment. Styrofoam is also suitable for insulation.

The density of the foam for insulating the walls of the balcony is from 15 to 25 kg / sq. see This if it is supposed to. The density may be lower if it is planned to cover the foam with plasterboard or a wagon board.

Balcony insulation stages:

• Wall surface preparation. Everything is thoroughly cleaned from its former finish. To avoid the appearance of fungus, the walls are treated with an antiseptic in two layers.
• Leak test. It is necessary to determine if there are any cracks with drafts, if there are - remove with foam or sealant.
• Installing the lathing and inserting the foam into it. The material is cut and set tightly into the crate. If any gaps remain, they must be sealed with foam.
• Waterproofing. For this, you can use penofol. It reflects heat and prevents condensation.

It is advisable to start warming a house in the spring, after 3-4 days of the end of the heating season. It is necessary that the housing is already in thermodynamic equilibrium (there are no large temperature differences inside and outside).

If you upholster a wall that has not yet been warmed up with foam, it will subsequently change its size and the adhesive joints of the insulation will turn out to be fragile. In addition, in the spring there is a seasonal decline in prices for heaters, and foam boards can be bought cheaper.

If the moment is missed in the spring, then it is better to postpone it until autumn, and produce them shortly before turning on the heating. You need to start glueing the foam on the north side so that the glue in the shade sets well. This will give the starting slabs a solid foundation for the entire structure.

Thermal insulation of the house with polystyrene from the outside is preferable than from the inside. However, this is not always an acceptable option - especially for city apartment owners.

Therefore, the upholstery of walls with foam in the room itself does not lose popularity. In this case, the necessary conditions must be met - good ventilation and a properly selected density and thickness of the insulation.

Foam insulation of a frame house

Environmentally friendly material, low cost in comparison with the price of other houses, lightness and simplicity of construction make the frame more and more popular. Heat losses of pre-fabricated structures are high, therefore, special attention must be paid to thermal insulation.

To make living in cold winter as comfortable as in summer, they insulate the roof, floor, ceiling, walls. You can use organic materials (peat or shavings) for this, or choose synthetic insulation - they are more hopeful and easier to use.

Traditional insulation for a frame house is polystyrene, the optimal density of foam for insulating the walls of a frame house is 35. The thickness is selected taking into account the size of the wall and the climate of the region.

Warming begins with careful processing of the frame - all roughness, protrusions, irregularities, nails are removed. The slots can be sealed with polyurethane foam. Dry the damp wood with a construction hairdryer.

Achieve dry and as flat as possible. Treat the entire working area with an outdoor primer and let it dry.

Polyfoam almost does not absorb moisture, but this is not a reason to neglect the waterproofing layer. Water can penetrate into the frame, freeze and damage the insulation. Waterproofing is designed to protect the house from moisture and wind.

Used polyethylene film, glassine, membrane coatings. It is laid on the outside of the wall. A layer should remain between it and the insulation - this will provide ventilation of the insulation.

After that, the foam sheets are placed in the openings between the frame posts and fixed. In this case, it is necessary to make gaps between, since in a frame house, the insulation is subject to compression and expansion due to fluctuations in temperature. The gaps between the plates will allow them not to warp and not damage the frame.

In a frame house, it is necessary to insulate the floor. Below is a waterproofing layer, a substrate of bars, foam sheets and a vapor barrier film.

So the floorboards will be protected from dampness, and the heat will not leave the living space. Insulation of the roof space should also not be ignored - warm air tends to rise up and go through all kinds of gaps and crevices.

Polyfoam is used for insulating country, city apartments, frame structures. Ease of use, reliability in operation, low price make this material one of the most demanded heaters.

You can learn more about home insulation from the video:

Today on the construction market you can find a wide variety of thermal insulation materials that are more or less suitable for. Both traditional and new technological materials do their job well. Warming the basement with expanded polystyrene or expanded polystyrene is a modern trend, which is due to the many positive characteristics of the materials used.

In addition, these insulation materials are very affordable in all respects. Of course, you can use the usual foam, but builders recommend paying attention to modern insulation.

Expanded polystyrene plates have good thermal insulation properties and are easy to install.

Warming the basement of a house with extruded polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene is a laborious and difficult process. In addition, the importance of this work lies in the fact that the durability of the house will depend on the correctness of the insulation. If, for example, insulating the basement with expanded polystyrene turned out to be of high quality and in accordance with all the rules, then the cost of heating the house in winter will be noticeably reduced, because the ingress of cold air flows into the room will be limited.

The construction market now offers expanded polystyrene boards with a thickness of 30 to 120 mm. The required thickness of the thermal insulation layer should be determined taking into account the following parameters:

• The thickness of the walls erected and the material from which they are made.
• Climatic conditions of the area in which the construction is being carried out. For example, in central Russia, it is recommended to choose plates with a thickness of 50 mm or more. In the corners, by the way, the material will freeze faster, so thicker slabs can be taken for these zones.
• If the house is still under construction, it is recommended to erect a sinking plinth, which will hide the layers of thermal insulation and waterproofing.

In addition, if you use polystyrene, expanded polystyrene or even ordinary foam for insulation, it will be easier for you to carry out decorative work in the future. The materials after installation are easy to process. In addition, you can put bricks, tiles and other decor on top.

Preparation for insulating the basement

Insulation of the basement with penoplex or expanded polystyrene can be carried out only in the autumn or summer period, because at a positively high temperature there will be the highest quality adhesion between the insulation and the adhesive composition.

Installation of insulation is carried out on a previously prepared surface.

It is necessary to prepare in advance the surface of the base, which is supposed to be insulated. All defects that are on the surface (pits, cracks, cracks, smudges, etc.) must be completely eliminated and plastered over with plaster. After this work, the plaster should be given a little time to dry, then it is cleaned and the surface is covered with an additional layer of primer.

Tools and materials

First of all, you need to choose a heater: polystyrene, polystyrene, expanded polystyrene. It must be taken into account that the density of the material must be high.

The base can be insulated with extruded polystyrene foam or foam of any width, but it is best to take a thicker one.

You will also need plastic dowels, with the help of which the insulation is attached, and a reinforced mesh, which is necessary at the putty stage. In this case, the insulation of the basement will be of the highest quality.

What else is needed:

• Putty, paint, primer.
• Slope corner.
• Hammer, construction knife, meter bar, notched trowel, brush and roller.

To make a really high-quality insulation, you should not save on building materials.

The order of work

With the proper approach, insulating the basement is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. As soon as the surface is properly cleaned from dirt, you can start the primer. It is recommended to select a deep penetration primer that will provide the desired surface characteristics.

The scheme of the correct insulation of the base.

By the way, the insulation of the basement with foam is carried out in the same sequence, so you can take this article as a basis when using this heat insulator.

1. Upon completion of all the preparatory work, you can start installing the insulation. Regardless of what you choose: polystyrene, polystyrene or expanded polystyrene, it is best to start the basement insulation from the corner. This approach will make it possible to make high-quality markings, as well as cut the thermal insulation material in advance.
2. Using a notched trowel, carefully coat the entire surface with glue, after which we apply polystyrene or expanded polystyrene to the wall, hold it a little until the glue is set, and release it.
3. All joints that form when working with expanded polystyrene or expanded polystyrene must be carefully glued, for which a traditional mounting tape is used. Once you glue a few sheets, you need to secure them with plastic dowels. Polystyrene, in principle, is easy to process, so making several holes can be done without difficulty. With the help of dowels, we fix the polystyrene carefully and securely. Thanks to this, it will not fall off and sag during the entire period of operation.
4. As soon as the process of gluing and fastening the heat insulator to the surface of the base is over, it is necessary to attach the slope corner to the same glue. Then the reinforced mesh is mounted using cement mortar. It is best to cut the mesh according to the size of the insulation material. Next, we wait until the solution dries out, after which we begin to carry out finishing work.

The adhesion of the heat-insulating material will be of the highest quality if all stages of the work are carried out at a positive temperature. When frost appears, cracks will not appear in this case. In principle, any warming of a room must, as already mentioned, be carried out in the summer or autumn, when there is no precipitation and sudden temperature changes.

Features of installation of plates and subsequent finishing

If, after purchasing expanded polystyrene boards, you find that their thickness is not enough to ensure normal thermal insulation, then the insulation can be fixed in two layers so that the required thickness is achieved. Many experts say that with good adhesion, the double layer of expanded polystyrene boards will actually be one whole. To prevent the formation of cold bridges, it is necessary to ensure that the installation of two layers of plates overlaps at the seams. However, with vertical displacements of the soil, the layers of insulation delaminate, due to which serious heat loss occurs.

Dowel mounting options.

The question of whether to mount the insulation in two layers is very controversial, therefore, if there is such an opportunity, it is worth returning the unused material back to the store, and purchasing plates of the required thickness to replace it. As a rule, stores now accept goods back without any problems for some time.

The basement is insulated on the outside of the house. Expanded polystyrene boards are glued to the surface of the plinth using any suitable adhesive that does not contain potentially destructive solvents.

The bottom row of polystyrene foam boards must be laid with an emphasis on the base. It's great if you have a small ledge of the foundation that was made during the construction phase. Despite this, very often polystyrene is laid on the gravel backfill, where the foundation was erected. Styrofoam can also be mounted on a gravel backfill, although many experts caution against doing this. In the absence of a ledge, it is convenient to insulate with penoplex.

As a decorative finish, tiles, bricks, natural stone, facade paint, plaster are laid on top of the insulation. It is recommended not to use decorative tiles or silicate bricks, which lose many of their characteristics at subzero temperatures, and chips begin to form at the edges of the material.

The advantages of modern insulation

The cost of modern thermal insulation materials is not as high as 10-20 years ago, so almost everyone can afford to buy polystyrene or use another no less high-quality material to insulate the basement.

Using foam for insulation.

It should be noted that polystyrene and polystyrene, as well as, in fact, penoplex and expanded polystyrene, have rather similar characteristics:

• The minimum coefficient of thermal conductivity.
• Excellent soundproofing characteristics.
• High moisture resistance.

Due to these basic qualities, you can use modern polystyrene, foam or other material to make high-quality insulation.

Expanded polystyrene from many reputable manufacturers is an excellent alternative to the separate use of insulation, soundproofing and waterproofing materials.

The cost of expanded polystyrene is slightly higher than many traditional heaters, but as a result, the total cost of installing high-quality thermal insulation will be much lower. If you are afraid of high prices for expanded polystyrene, then you can use foam for insulation, which is a little more affordable.