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Insulation wooden houses

Caulk:

The main problem of wooden houses made of rounded logs is improper insulation of the inter-crown joints of logs and seams. In this case, they are blown out, and the house becomes very cold.

Caulking is a method of insulating a log house, which has already become traditional, for example, when building a turnkey bathhouse from a log. This method was known not only to our great-grandfathers, but much earlier, when most houses were made of wood. Then people also sought to preserve heat in their homes, and therefore needed insulation wooden house.

Caulking a wooden house is the sealing of joints and gaps between logs. When performing work, tow, jute insulation, flax batting and moss are used, they are hammered between logs and into cracks using special devices. This type of work is usually carried out 1-2 years after complete shrinkage of the logs, not earlier. Placed across the grooves fibrous material, which, using special spatulas, tightly clog all the cracks. During the compaction of the crowns, fiber is periodically added to fill the space between the logs as densely as possible. Doing this kind of work requires special attention, because ultimately the height of the log house will increase by about 15 cm. And during natural shrinkage, caulking can shrink by 3-5% if the work is done poorly.

The work of caulking round logs is hard handmade, which takes a lot of time and requires patience. During the work process, it is necessary to take into account that caulking, not carried out simultaneously, can lead to distortion of the entire structure. Therefore, the work must be performed sequentially along the entire perimeter of the log house. The first to caulk is the lower groove along the entire perimeter of the building, then the next row, after work they move on to the third and so on. After work is completed on exterior decoration log house, you should systematically switch to the internal one. Such work should be carried out by proven specialists who already have experience in performing such work and have a set of specialized tools.

Previously, caulk was used to eliminate cracks in chopped wooden house was inevitable work. However, now she has found a great one Alternative option– rounded logs and inter-crown insulation. This modern material is made of jute and can save time, make the work less labor-intensive and less costly from a financial point of view. When performing work, the interventional insulation is immediately placed in the grooves, and after complete installation, compaction work begins. As a result, the jute fibers stick together and prevent moisture and wind from penetrating into the building. The use of inter-crown insulation allows, in most cases, to do without caulking if a rounded log of the correct geometry was used during the construction process. For example, produced at our enterprise, located in the Kirov region.

Innovative technologies aimed at protecting and insulating a wooden house

“Finding new ways to protect your wooden house would not be so important if we did not do it so beautifully”

Warm seam for a wooden house- This new way insulation of wooden houses using special sealants. As a result of insulation, your home will receive comprehensive protection from dampness, cold, drafts, rot and mold.

The advantages of this modern technology:

• during the cold period, the temperature inside the house increases by an average of 10°C;
• inter-crown connections are sealed and do not allow cold air to pass through;
• appearance your home will be transformed by smooth and neat seams;
• Heating costs will be reduced by up to 30%.

We use modern impregnations and sealants from the Weatherall Company, Inc. (USA), which are designed specifically to create a so-called “warm seam” between the logs of a log house, at the same time the crowns acquire a unique appearance for many decades.

It is undeniable that wood is one of the the best materials for the construction of a house, however, wood is a natural material, so over time it tends to undergo a number of structural changes. These features must be taken into account when mandatory. Usage traditional ways for insulating crown joints and protecting a wooden house - a temporary measure; in addition, it is ineffective, short-term and quite expensive. In addition, the entire caulking process will have to be repeated every 2-3 years, which makes this method even more expensive. Wood is a material that in itself is an excellent heat insulator, and the sealant between the logs creates additional conditions For normal heat exchange in the house, from the point of view of heating engineering, this material turns a wood wall into a monogamous structure.

When is it recommended to insulate and seal the seams of a wooden house:

1. New construction. It's always easier and more convenient to do everything necessary work for insulation and sealing of seams of a new house made of rounded logs inexpensively even at the construction stage.
2. When the time has come for periodic caulking of the log house, during which the house inevitably rises. Such work is unacceptable in an already finished house; raising the house will lead to an increase in gaps in windows and doorways. You need to understand that caulking is a temporary measure that does not give the required effect and requires regular repetition every 2-4 years.
3. Drafts and cold air blowing through cracks in the walls of a wooden house. This may occur due to insufficiently tight fit of the logs or due to their deformation; it may also be a consequence of poor caulking or its absence. Drafts also appear after the house settles.
4. Cold. Due to the cracks, cracks and gaps in the logs that may be present if the house is poorly assembled, it becomes impossible to maintain a suitable temperature regime V winter period, also in this case, the owners spend enormous amounts of money on heating, while essentially heating not the house, but the street.
5. High humidity. If violated natural circulation steam in a building, the air humidity can rise to uncomfortable and even hazardous levels. Dampness can cause various diseases, and mold or mildew may appear in the house, which will subsequently destroy the wood and floors.
6. Ugly appearance. Tow can hang down and sometimes fall out of the seams due to the use of cheap fibrous materials.

The use of sealants provides a number of undeniable advantages before using traditional methods used for insulation and insulation of a wooden house:

1. The application of sealant to the seams is carried out once and for all; no periodic repair work is required.
2. The acrylic membrane is sealed against moisture, but has excellent vapor permeability, which is similar to the characteristics of wood and does not interfere with the movement of water vapor in the solid wall from the room to the outside. This sealant does not disturb the unique microclimate inherent only to wooden houses, but at the same time creates an insurmountable barrier to moisture and dampness.
3. The sealant is heat resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures from -60 to +80°C.
4. Excellent elasticity characteristics, which will allow the warm seam to withstand heavy loads that appear when the log house is deformed.
5. The sealant consists of 100% acrylic latex, which is environmentally friendly material, absolutely harmless to people and the environment.
6. Absence of any smell.
7. The installation process is accelerated due to the quick drying of the warm seam.
8. After applying the sealant there is no need to carry out any repair work. additional insulation wooden house made of rounded logs. In winter, the air temperature in the room increases on average by 10-15°C after applying the sealant, which allows you to save about 30-40% of the funds used for heating.
9. There are no “cold bridges” in a sealed wall. A special microclimate is created in the seam, which is closed with a sealing cord and sealant.
10. Improving the appearance of a wooden house is another benefit of sealants.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the process of applying sealant has a number of subtleties and features, ignorance or neglect of which will most likely negatively affect the quality of the final result. Installation of a warm seam must be trusted to professionals who have the required skills and experience, which will guarantee the desired result and quality work, and also protect yourself from unplanned costs for redoing poorly performed work by unqualified specialists.

The KrovMarket company has a certificate for carrying out a full range of work on sealing and insulating the seams of a wooden house.

On construction forums you can often come across the question: is “Warm Seam” sealant used inside a rounded house? Manufacturers position such houses as the warmest and most reliable, since the logs in the crowns fit tightly to each other due to precisely worked joints.

But wood is a living material, and even perfectly precise connections of profiled timber can significantly change the geometry after shrinkage. In addition, sealant for insulating seams can also be used to seal deep cracks, which are also not uncommon in houses made of rounded logs. What kind of insulation is this and what are the advantages of sealing the seams and corners of the log house?

Advantages of polymer compounds

The “Warm Seam” sealant for wooden houses has become a good alternative to traditional insulation materials: moss, tow, jute fiber, etc. Even the treatment large log house can be done much faster, and the result will be more durable.

Seam sealant is an elastic liquid mass based on polymers that can be easily placed into the cracks between the crowns using a special tool. After contact with air, it hardens and fills all the space allotted to it. In addition, due to its low thermal conductivity, it retains heat well and protects the house from the cold.

Finishing rounded logs with joint sealant has several advantages:

• It does not contain any toxic components and does not harm the environmental friendliness of the home. Moreover, unlike conventional insulation, it is not touched by birds and rodents, it is not damaged by insects, rot and mold.
• The sealant does not change color over time, so it is used not only for insulation, but also for decorative finishing log house He gives wooden building neat appearance and does not lose its qualities over time.
• Insulating seams with sealant is the least labor-intensive process: special tool allows you to carry out work much faster than using conventional natural insulation materials.
• Due to their elasticity, sealants do not collapse even with sudden temperature changes and changes in humidity. A wooden house “breathes”, that is, when humidity fluctuates, the logs dry out and swell again. Special compounds are able to withstand all these changes, and the strength of the insulation will not be compromised.

Manufacturers offer modern acrylic sealants in a wide range color scheme: They can be white, beige, brown of all shades. This allows them to be widely used for home decoration: they do not disturb its pleasant natural appearance.

Areas of use

Finishing seams in rounded logs is not the only option for using acrylic sealant. It allows you to spend a lot of time in an old house repair work and get good result. Here are some common ways to use it:

1. Sealing of door and window frames in old buildings. It makes it possible to close cracks in wooden frames and protects windows from blowing. This work will significantly improve energy efficiency and rid the room of drafts.
2. To eliminate cracks in logs. If the width of the crack exceeds 5 mm, you must first place a cord in it, then fill it with the compound, it must dry completely.
3. For repair wooden floors and stairs, as well as eliminating gaps in any other elements and structures of the building. It is easy to use and very convenient solution.

Caulking seams using special compounds

The sealant is available in two versions: in tubes or in tapes. The first option is more convenient for working with cracks, and it is easier to fill long seams with tapes. It’s easy to work with: remove it from the finished tape protective film, after which it is firmly pressed along the entire length of the seam and rolled with a roller. After this, the protection is removed from the second side, and the composition quickly hardens in air.

In order for the insulation to last a long time and not have to redo anything, you need to take into account several rules:

Caulk modern means allows you to reliably protect your home from cold and draft. The sealant looks beautiful, it can be either completely invisible or contrasting, in which case it attracts attention as decorative element. White sealants for painting and tinted compounds are available for sale, which are selected in accordance with the type of wood. All of them must comply with environmental standards, so the atmosphere of the house will not be disturbed.

All modern sealants are made on polymer acrylic base, they are produced in the USA, Europe and Russia. The question of whether to trust to domestic producers, is controversial: many craftsmen confirm that modern Russian products are no longer inferior to imported samples and are much cheaper.

Wooden houses can be insulated different ways. Such as caulking, covered with thermal panels or a relatively new method - acrylic sealant, with the help of which they create the so-called “ warm seam" This technology will protect a wooden house from drafts and cold in winter. The sealant contains rubber, which gives elasticity and prevents any small hidden cracks from cracking further.

Advantages of acrylic sealant

Warm seam - modern technology insulation of the house, which reduces the possibility of freezing of the walls of the house. This technology has a number of advantages, including:

• You only need to insulate the walls once; you don’t have to go back and forth;
• High resistance to temperature changes;
• Thanks to special staff prevents wood from rotting;
• Minimum finishing time;
• The material is safe as it does not emit toxic substances;
• No smell;
• Wide choice of colors;
• Saving home heating costs.

An environmentally friendly sealant allows the wood to “breathe” and will preserve it for a long time. natural properties logs and protect the house from the cold.

Stages of sealing a house

To carry out sealing work, the walls need to be prepared, the house needs to be sanded and painted. After which you can begin insulation. The application of sealant begins with cleaning the surface of the log house. Next stage- fixation of a heat-insulating cord, which is made of polyethylene.

It is recommended to take the cord wider than the seam by about a third. It insulates the seam and reduces the consumption of sealant. Secure the cord with staples construction stapler or small nails using an air gun.

After laying the cord, apply it with a gun, and then smooth it out with a spatula and clean it with a rag. It is recommended to apply the sealant in a layer 4-6 mm thick, while the adhesion area of ​​the sealant to the wood should be at least 4 mm on each side.

Hardening of the sealant takes up to two days at a temperature of 23 degrees above zero. When curing for 4-20 hours, the applied material must be protected from rain and moisture penetration. After complete curing, the warm seam forms a rubber membrane that can be smoothed and coated with glaze compounds or acrylic-based paints).

Use this type insulation is possible only after complete shrinkage of the log house. Internal sealing is carried out after heating season, that is, after the first season of operation of the house. In addition, using sealant, you can fill the cracks in the log and at the ends that appeared during the shrinkage of the log house. The MariSrub company uses time-tested sealants from the German company Remmers, which do not fall off or crack during the operation of the house.

Ecologically pure wood has long been considered an excellent material for building a house. Huts or log cabins built from wood are good because you can breathe easily in them. In summer, such buildings do not heat up much like brick or stone houses, and it’s comfortable to be in them even in the heat, and in frosty winters, wooden walls retain heat well, not letting the cold into the room. For these reasons, many people prefer to build their dachas and country houses made of wood.

However, along with the above advantages, wood also has many disadvantages. Yes, under the influence natural factors it is subject to deformation and damage. Moisture causes wood logs to swell, and in dry weather they dry out. All this leads to the fact that cracks begin to appear between the crowns of the log house, through which winds and cold can penetrate into the house, and rain and dampness are the causes of rotting of the wood and its gradual destruction. But these processes can be prevented if the log house is insulated in a timely manner and the joints of the logs are sealed. The salvation of the home is the high-quality sealing of the seams between the crowns. What materials are best to use for sealing walls and how to properly seal seams in a wooden house?

Is it worth caulking a wooden house?

The most famous interventional insulation Moss, hemp and tow are considered. The advantages of these natural materials are resistance to temperature fluctuations, bactericidal and mold fungi, low thermal conductivity, good moisture absorption. But fewer and fewer people who build log houses use these materials to seal seams in a wooden house. Why has the demand for moss, tow and hemp decreased so much?

The process of caulking cracks and spaces between the crowns is quite labor-intensive and lengthy, because you need to carefully and evenly plug them natural materials using a chisel. The walls cannot be caulked immediately after the construction of the log house, since its shrinkage will take at least a year, and during this time moisture can already begin its destructive work. The disadvantage of caulking tow and moss is the fact that this process will need to be repeated more than once. The thing is that birds love to “steal” materials from people to build nests. By pulling moss and tow out of cracks and joints, they disrupt the integrity of the seal and cause wooden log house a sloppy, disheveled look. Winds also worsen the appearance of walls. As for material such as hemp, it is susceptible to attacks by moths, which, through their activity, harm the seal.

Knowing these disadvantages of natural insulation materials, manufacturers building materials They produce more advanced sealants to improve the quality of insulation of all cracks and seams of a wooden house. What are they good for? modern insulation materials walls?

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How to insulate walls with tape tow and linen rope?

One of the improved sealants is natural tow in rolls. It is made from flax, which is first well combed on carding machines, then the fibers are polarized and turned into a 15 cm wide ribbon. Next, the fibers are cleaned of various impurities. The result is excellent noise and thermal insulation material with good waterproof properties.

Unlike ordinary tow, tape tow is easier and more densely placed between joints; although it is soft, it is not so brittle.

Thanks to the naturalness of the material, the walls of the log house breathe well and do not rot. Tape tow seams are more durable and are not easily pulled out of cracks by birds. Stacked roll material, as usual, along the crowns and along their edges using a chisel or a special caulk spatula, carefully tucking the edges of the tape inside each seam and crack. The result is a reliable seal between the logs, and the appearance of the log house is quite attractive.

A house insulated with linen rope looks even more beautiful. This sealing of seams is called rope sealing. Three-strand flax rope is used as insulation, which is secured to the seam using staples or nails. Needed for work following materials and tools:

• tape measure or ruler;
• scissors;
• linen rope;
• hammer;
• short nails;
• metal staples;
• brush;
• wood impregnation.

The purchased linen rope is placed along the line of the inter-beam seam and every 15 cm, after pulling it well, a bracket or nail with a small head is driven into the beam. At the corners of a wooden house, the distance between fasteners may be smaller. To make the rope sealing of seams look aesthetically pleasing, when driving in nails or staples, perform the following action: first, open the strand of rope a little, then hammer in the fasteners, tuck the rope itself to the wall of the log house and tighten it. The strand is closed, and the staple or nail head is hidden underneath from prying eyes.

When sealing the seams with natural linen rope is completed, care should be taken to ensure its safety for a long time. To do this you need to take protective impregnation for wood and carefully treat all rope edges with it. You can perform this procedure by impregnating the log walls themselves at the same time. Despite the fact that the process of sealing all the seams of a wooden house is quite long, it is simple and can be done without the help of other people. Rope insulation of seams in a wooden house is highly reliable, perfectly protects the log house from moisture and gives the structure an unusual but attractive appearance.

And everything would be fine, yeah “in a barrel of honey, there is a fly in the ointment” . It is environmentally friendly, beautiful, and even warm. But, here are the seams... Indeed, the seams - weakness in a wooden house. We have already spoken separately. But, in Lately Do-it-yourself warm seam technology for wooden houses is increasingly being used. What is her role? Here's what experts from one company say:

« Proper insulation of a log house begins with caulking. Sealant is not a replacement, but only a good addition. The insulation must be laid flush, Valiterm must be laid, and then sealed. The goal when insulating is to fill the entire inter-crown space. But it is important to do everything right. The sealant should not come into contact with the insulation. Otherwise, over time it will crack.”

.

So, we had several questions and the first of them: what is Warm Seam technology?

Conventional methods of thermal insulation of seams in a wooden house have 3 significant drawbacks:

• Allow moisture and insects to enter the room;
• Requires regular replacement;
• Being pulled apart by birds.

How to improve the insulation system of the inter-crown space? This is why the “Warm Seam” system has been developed.

Its essence is that a special sealant is applied over the insulation and a special cord at the junction of the logs. It smoothes out beautifully and after painting (even colorless) becomes invisible. However, it protects seams well from blowing and moisture.

Required materials and choice of sealant

How much and what will be needed to carry out such work with your own hands? Taking into account the above quote, we will take into account that the initial insulation of the seams has already been done. And that means we need the following materials:

• Acrylic sealant for wood;
• Thermal insulation cord.

From the tools:

• Gun (manual, but preferably pneumatic);
• 2 spatulas (small - for the size of the seam and large for ease of removing excess from the first one);
• Brush (to remove excess);
• Possible: sponge and spray bottle (water sprayer)

“If you work on large volumes (from 200 meters), use air gun. Your hand will get tired much less.”

Arkady Krasnov, “Siberian wooden houses.”

Now all that remains is to choose the sealant. First of all, the sealant can be sold in buckets, usually 15-25 kg, and tubes of 600 ml.

As you probably guessed, buying in larger quantities is always cheaper.

As with Coca-Cola - the larger the bottle, the lower the price per liter.

Although, using buckets is not so convenient during the work process, and, naturally, takes longer.

The sealant also differs in color; you need to choose one that is suitable for painting.

• Eurotex;
• Neomid;
• Remmers.

There are many more options, but most people choose one of the three above. As usual, American or German ones are higher in quality and price than domestic ones.

Price

As already said, the tube is more expensive. One tube of 600 ml is enough for an average of 4-6 linear meters. It depends, of course, on the thickness and unevenness of the seam, as well as the experience of the finisher. The cost of a tube of German Remmers, for example, is 430 rubles. In this case, in the best case scenario, the cost of 1 meter of seam will be 72 rubles. A 25 kg Eurotex bucket costs approximately 7,300 rubles. When using such a sealant, the cost of one meter will be 28 rubles.

By the way, a warm seam for a wooden house can be ordered from a contractor. However, the price of such a service will cost 150-170 rubles per linear meter. In a day, a novice specialist can do 50-200 meters. (Much depends on the size/evenness of the seams and personal abilities).

If you decide to apply it yourself or check the craftsmen for lice, the technology for applying the sealant is described below.

Application technology

The technology essentially consists of 6 main stages:

• Laying insulating cord. Its task is to fill the inter-crown space. It makes no sense to use a more expensive sealant for this, and filling the space with it is quite problematic. It is reasonable to use sealant as a top, fixing layer.

• Applying sealant using a gun. For this purpose, the tube is inserted into the cavity of the gun (or the sealant is drawn directly from the bucket). After this, the nose is cut off at 45 degrees, to the size of the seam. Next, the sealant is applied as polyurethane foam. Some installers use tape, gluing it as a frame for the borders of the seam. This allows you to avoid staining the timber and collect excess after application. After application, the tape comes off almost immediately. However, after gaining experience, you are unlikely to need such a procedure. Professionals apply the “Warm Seam” without tape to a length of 1.5 to 2 m in one pass and very evenly.

• If excess sealant gets on the crowns, immediately remove them with a damp rag.

• Wet a small brush and use it to smooth out the seam layer.

• If there is a lot of excess, you can use a small spatula to remove it.

• Now all that remains is to go over the seam with a slightly damp cloth for final alignment.

Some people use a sponge and spray for these purposes. In this case, the seam becomes glossy.

Corners and cuts

The difficulty, especially with the first experience, is the corners and cuts. In fact, sealing such areas is carried out in the same way as straight seams.

• Measure and cut pieces of cord of the required length in advance;
• Place the cord (you can use a spatula or brush to tuck it in);
• Apply sealant;
• Carry out the alignment procedure described above.

It can be noted that in general, the application process is not particularly difficult. Although, making a warm seam for wooden houses is a very tedious job. So be patient and/or the reliable “Russian way”.

Below in a series of photographs you can see the entire process step by step.

And a video with step-by-step instructions:

Technology FAQ

Will the sealant be beneficial if it is applied to already caulked seams?

Certainly. The answer has already been given at the beginning of the article. Correct application warm seam and includes caulking, laying of Valiterm and cord. However, it is important that the insulation does not come into contact with the sealant.

Should smudges be removed immediately after leveling or after drying?

To avoid leaving traces, it is better to remove it immediately, but carefully so as not to touch the sealant.
Which seal to choose, inside or outside?

The short answer is that both types are needed. External, will protect the house from moisture, insects and blowing. External sealing also serves as waterproofing. However, the seams also need to be protected on the inside. For example, from moisture formed in the room itself.

Can it be applied in winter?

This depends on the type of sealant. For example, Accent-136 can be used at temperatures from -10 degrees. There are also more “heat-loving” analogues.

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