The floor is the coolest surface of the room. Up to 20-30% of the heat can escape from a room through a poorly insulated floor! This mainly happens on the first floors with an unheated basement. At the same time, heating bills increase, but the rooms are still cold. In this case, it’s time to start thinking about how to insulate the floors in the apartment. This will help reduce heat loss and create a more comfortable indoor climate.
Insulation of floors is relevant not only for a private home. It is often necessary to insulate the floor in an apartment on the ground floor, in this case it is simply necessary. It is possible to carry out thermal insulation work with your own hands, the main thing is to choose the right material and become familiar with the installation technology.
Materials for floor insulation must comply certain requirements: lightness, strength, durability, high thermal insulation characteristics.
For materials with the necessary properties, relate: mineral wool, expanded polystyrene, polystyrene foam, expanded clay, wood shavings.
Mineral wool. Effective for sound and heat insulation. Fireproof (has high fire resistance), not susceptible to mold and mildew. Flaw– this is hygroscopicity, the ingress of moisture reduces its properties.
Expanded polystyrene, foam plastic. Lightweight, durable, retain heat well, and do not allow external noise into the room. They are not afraid of water, do not deform, and are easy to install.
Expanded clay, wood shavings. Bulk materials, inexpensive, environmentally friendly. They have quite significant disadvantages. The shavings are afraid of moisture and are susceptible to rotting; insects and mice infest them. Expanded clay is not afraid of water and is durable, but it can place a strong load on structures if the insulation layer is too large.
Penoplex. Modern material, is rapidly gaining popularity. Simple technology installation, it is possible to perform insulation yourself. Available in slab form.
Methods for insulating the floor of an apartment on the first floor
When choosing a method for thermal insulation, you should take into account the design features of the building and the peculiarities of the insulation installation method. Insulation of floors in a ground floor apartment can be done in several ways:
- Installation of thermal insulation from the outside, from the basement side. For insulating the floor of an apartment located on the ground floor, this method is very effective.
- Floor insulation using joists. This will require complete dismantling of the old coating.
- Using a screed over the insulation.
All that remains is to choose more convenient way. After all the work is completed, heat leaks will stop, a comfortable microclimate will be created in the apartment, and heating bills will decrease.
Insulation of the floor of a first floor apartment from the basement side with polystyrene foam
IN ordinary houses Concrete floor slabs are used, which on the ground floor border the basement. An unheated and damp room takes in an overwhelming amount of heat. To achieve maximum results, it is necessary to carry out work to insulate the floor of the apartment from the basement. How to do it?
- You don't need expensive insulation materials. The floors in a ground floor apartment from the basement can be insulated with foam plastic 50 mm thick.
- Before you start installing the insulation, you must polyurethane foam blow out all the cracks between the slabs and along the perimeter from the basement.
- Further concrete surface process the slabs liquid primer deep penetration. It is applied with a brush.
- All that remains is to insulate the subfloor with sheets of foam plastic. They are glued to the ceiling using adhesive composition Ceresit or construction adhesive, they will provide reliable fastening insulation to the surface.
- When the glue has completely hardened, the gaps between the plates must be sealed using sealant or polyurethane foam.
This method can be used to insulate wooden floors. Only in this case, it is recommended to additionally fix the foam sheets with the help of double-umbrellas. This way you will retain heat in the house and additionally protect wooden floors from exposure to dampness from the basement.
Often residents on the first floors apartment buildings facing the problem of icy floor surfaces in winter. Therefore, the relevant question is how to carry out thermal insulation correctly, what methods exist and what is best to use in a given situation. Practical recommendations How to choose the optimal insulation for the floor of the first floor, as well as instructions for doing the work yourself are designed to help solve this problem.
Materials to choose from
IN apartment buildings There are two types of covering: wooden and concrete. Depending on this, the appropriate type of insulation is selected.
Basics for warm covering for the floor there are liquid, bulk, and also in the form of blocks and rolls. They can be used together with each other or separately.
Liquid
The insulation can be cement mixture filled with expanded clay, polystyrene foam or other materials.
Currently, polymer penoizol is widely used.
However, in order to work with it, special equipment is needed.
Bulk
Insulation materials in this group include expanded clay, foam chips, and sawdust. They are suitable for insulating floors in apartments with an unheated basement.
Expanded clay is strong and durable, has low thermal conductivity. But, having chosen it as insulation, you need to take care high-quality waterproofing, since its granules absorb moisture well.
Block
They come in the form of slabs and mats of mineral wool, polystyrene foam, and basalt fiber.
Polystyrene foam has low thermal conductivity, costs little and is environmentally friendly. But it is fragile, and when heated strongly, it melts, releasing harmful fumes.
More modern version polystyrene foam - expanded polystyrene. It has better density and does not burn. Sheets of such insulation are convenient because they can be used to install a heated floor, install a plank floor, fill a screed, and so on.
The most environmentally friendly material among blocks is vermiculite, which is obtained by processing mineral products.
However, it is by no means cheap and in order to save money, you can use its analogue, granulated vermiculite.
Rolled
Insulation materials are made in the form of rolls from polystyrene, cork, mineral wool and foil bases. When the thickness of the insulation roll type not enough, they are placed in two layers or used together with blocks.
Mineral wool, being a cheap insulation material, guarantees low heat transfer. But, you need to take into account that over time it can become denser, causing its properties to decrease. In addition, during installation, mineral wool crumbles and forms dust that is harmful to health, so it requires the use of a respirator and special clothing when working with it.
Concrete floor
Concrete is durable and therefore very often used as a floor. However, this material is very cold. Therefore, in those houses where it is used, careful thermal insulation is required on the first floors. Otherwise, any heating will not be able to warm up properly.
Apartment owners must do the insulation of the concrete floor of the first floor with waterproofing, since dampness often forms in the basement, as a result of which, without appropriate work, mold will appear on the walls.
Instructions for carrying out work
The process begins by preparing the base. To do this, you need to remove the entire coating and check the slabs for cracks, chips and cracks. If there are defects, they are eliminated with a special solution based on concrete or cement. After the surface hardens, it is treated with a special impregnation that strengthens the layer.
Next, waterproofing should be done. Polyethylene film is quite suitable here. It should extend onto the walls by about fifteen to twenty centimeters. A special deep penetration primer will also cope with the task.
To install the insulation, a frame is made. To do this, beams are laid, and under them - pieces of roofing felt. Logs are placed on the bars, and the entire structure is attached to concrete.
After this you can install bulk insulation alone or in combination with a liquid version. On top of it in the cavity of the structure they lay mineral wool. You can also use foam or other material.
Then a vapor insulating film is laid, which is secured with staples to the joists.
The process ends with the installation of the subfloor. Depending on the type of finishing coating, it can be made of boards or thick plywood.
Modern high-rise buildings no longer have wooden floors. But they can often be found in old-type houses.
Wood is a warm and environmentally friendly material, but over time it tends to dry out, causing gaps to form in the floor. And they cause drafts. Therefore, it would be correct to further process such coatings.
Insulation technology
To insulate the ground floor, you need to perform the following steps:
- dismantle the old coating, check and, if necessary, replace it, and if it is in normal condition, it can be put back in place;
- treat the surface with antifungal antiseptics and allow to dry;
- install insulation and cover it with a vapor barrier film;
- A board is laid on top of the surface.
Work from the basement
It is possible to insulate an apartment on the ground floor from the basement side. For this purpose, on the ceiling in technical room fastened thermal insulation material. It can be polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam, which are simply glued on. Mineral wool is also suitable for this purpose. But attaching it will be more difficult. To do this you need:
- fix the bars a couple of centimeters thick than the insulation layer;
- lay mineral wool between the elements of the installed structure;
- Using a stapler, install a vapor barrier membrane on the surface
- cover the structure with plywood or fiberboards.
This type of insulation is becoming increasingly popular. Thanks to it, the floor surface on the first floor will always be warm, the humidity in the apartment will decrease, and its microclimate will improve. The system is:
- electric, mounted in a screed or on top of a rough covering;
- infrared, from a special film installed under the final coating;
- water, when the liquid is constantly heated and pumped into the heating system.
It is best to lay such structures in a leveling screed. A water floor can also be used for wooden covering. But this will be more difficult to implement, since polymer pipes must be placed in the grooves made for them and covered with foil. The finishing is installed on top of the system.
This coating is used not only as decorative, but also as insulation for the floor, especially on the ground floor. Special mixtures guarantee thermal insulation and waterproofing, as well as fire safety.
They are made from environmentally friendly pure materials, which you can install yourself.
Installation instructions
Before starting installation, it is important to properly prepare the base.
- whatever the rough surface - concrete, wood, ceramic tile or cement strainer, it is necessary to check it carefully;
- seal cracks, cracks, loose elements, dismantle and replace;
- clean the entire coating;
- sand wood and concrete;
- Prime the floor generously so that all pores are completely closed;
- a day after this you can start laying.
The prepared mixture is simply poured out of the bucket and leveled with a spatula. The entire room is covered at once to create a flat surface. At the end, to avoid the appearance of bubbles, you need to go over the entire coating with a roller with needles. Polyurethane varnish is applied to the dried floor.
In order for the floor insulation work in the apartment to be successful, you need to take into account some points:
- the basement walls are examined to identify cracks, holes and chips that must be repaired;
- Ventilation holes in the basement can be covered for the winter, but not completely;
- installation of a vapor barrier is required.
Updated: 02/25/2019
It will not only make your home more comfortable, but also significantly save on heating costs. Everything is explained quite simply: if heat saving is low, then the resources to maintain optimal temperature regime more will be needed. Moreover, contact with a cold floor can cause many diseases, which is especially true if small children live in the house, so thermal insulation of a concrete floor should be taken seriously.
The problem of cold floors on the ground floor is typical for both private houses and urban high-rise buildings. To properly resolve the problem, you need to find out the reasons for this situation:
- for private houses the reason often lies in poor quality/absent thermal insulation of the base;
- in high-rise buildings, a cold floor is a consequence of an unheated basement.
In the first case, everything is quite simple - you need to get rid of the cracks in the floor. For this purpose, the base is checked, and all detected cracks are sealed with polyurethane foam. Next, the floor is insulated with one of possible ways.
Note! The ventilation holes that are located in the basement of the house must under no circumstances be closed, otherwise high humidity will lead to rotting wooden elements floor (such as, for example, lathing).
The ventilation hole cannot be removed or sealed tightly
And if everything is clear with private houses, then with city apartments everything is much more complicated. There are a number of possible insulation methods; let’s take a look at each of them.
Insulation with mineral wool. This material has excellent sound and thermal insulation properties. e properties, it is immune to aggressive chemicals and high temperature.
Thermal insulation with foam plastic. Among its advantages, it is worth noting low cost, good insulating properties and durability. Lightweight material, can be laid not only on concrete, but also on tiles, wood, etc.
| Brand of foam boards | PSB-S15 | PSB-S25 | PSB-S25F | PSB-S35 | PSB-S50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material density, kg/m3 | 10-11 | 15-16 | 16-17 | 25-27 | 35-37 |
| Compressive strength at 10% linear deformation, MPa, not less | 0,05 | 0,1 | 0,12 | 0,16 | 0,16 |
| Bending strength, MPa, not less | 0,07 | 0,18 | 0,2 | 0,25 | 0,3 |
| Thermal conductivity in dry condition at a temperature of 25 (+-5 degrees), W / (m * K), no more | 0,037 | 0,035 | 0,037 | 0,033 | 0,041 |
| Humidity of slabs, %, no more | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Self-combustion time, sec, no more | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Water absorption in 24 hours, %, no more | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Service life, years (minimum-maximum) | 20-50 | 20-50 | 20-50 | 20-50 | 20-50 |
Thermal insulation with plasterboard or fiberboard.
Using a "warm floor" system.
Insulation with expanded clay. Not the most reliable, but affordable option. It is characteristic that expanded clay can not only be used to fill the base, but also added to the concrete screed.
Insulation with expanded clay
| Material | URSA | ISOVER | IZOVOL | IZOBEL | ECO WOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity, W/m*°С | 0,04 | 0,041 | 0,034 | 0,035 | 0,035 |
| Operational density, kg/m3 | 11 | 11 | 35 | 28 | 35 |
| Recommended layer thickness, mm | 200 | 200 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Cost of insulation, rub/1m3 | 1347,22 | 1470 | 1800 | 1270 | 1050 |
| Cost of insulation, rub/1m2 | 269,44 | 293,8 | 270 | 187,5 | 157,5 |
Material selection criteria
When choosing insulation, you should pay attention to the main parameters.
SNiP 21-01-97. FIRE SAFETY OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
Let's consider in what situations it is advisable to use each of the options, and also read the installation instructions.
| Name of materials | Advantages | Flaws | Application area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wood (sawdust) | cheap, environmentally friendly | rots, ignites | Old wooden houses |
| 2. Expanded clay | does not burn | Ineffective, use lifting mechanisms, labor-intensive installation, heavy weight | Floors, attics, layered masonry |
| 3. Foam plastics (penoizol, extruded polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene foam) | rigid, easy to install | for all foams: limited heat resistance and flammability; smoldering begins at 80 C; not environmentally friendly - release of cumulative toxins, poor vapor permeability - does not “breathe”, formation of condensation, mold. Foamed polystyrene foam has water absorption up to 900% and a short service life. | Walls, roofs, floors |
| 4.1 ISOROC mineral wool (IzoLANt, IzoVent, IzoRuf V) | shrinks, clumps, fibers break and turn into dust, settles when moistened | layered masonry, ventilated facade, roof | |
| 4.2 Mineral wool ROCKWOOL (LightButts, KiwittyButts, RoofButts V) | non-flammable base, low thermal conductivity | shrinks up to 20%, after moisturizing up to 25% | Non-loaded structures, middle layer in layered. masonry, roofing |
| 4.3. Minplate (P125, P75, PPZh-200) | non-flammable base, rigidity, ease of installation | binders and water-repellent components burn out already at 250 C; poor vapor permeability - does not “breathe”; formation of condensation, mold; humidification by 1% leads to a deterioration in thermal conductivity by 8%; large shrinkage, which leads to the formation of “cold bridges” in the seams of the insulation | layered masonry, roof, facade for plaster |
Insulation with mineral wool
This method is optimal for city apartments, in which finishing coat made of wood. The algorithm of actions should be as follows.
Stage 1. First, the old floor covering is removed so that it remains bare concrete base. If the coating is still good, then it is removed carefully, after numbering the boards (this is necessary to maintain order when re-laying). Next, all trash is removed working surface cleaned of dust and dirt.
Stage 2. In most apartments and houses, the floors are uneven, so it is recommended to level them, which will not only provide comfort, but also greatly simplify further work. Often a screed is used for leveling, although there are other, cheaper methods.
Note! As already noted, a cold floor can be a consequence of the presence of cracks and cracks in the base. Therefore, if any are found, they are carefully sealed.
Stage 3. After leveling, it is laid vapor barrier material, which can serve as ordinary polyethylene film. The vapor barrier is laid with an overlap of 15-20 cm and extends onto the walls to the height of the future insulating layer along with the logs.
Stage 4. Next, logs are installed on the floor. It is advisable to do this in increments of at least 90 cm, since the smaller it is, the more even the load distribution will be. More specific step sizes are determined by the width of the mineral wool slabs and the area of the room.
Note! The logs should be installed at the same pitch and securely fixed in the appropriate places.
Stage 5. After installing the logs, mineral wool is laid. To do this, it is cut according to the dimensions of the grooves and installed between the guides.
Note! The material should fit as tightly as possible to the guides, the presence of any gaps is excluded. This is quite simple to do: the insulation should be cut into strips, the width of which will exceed the pitch between the joists.
If the ceiling height is sufficient, mineral wool can be laid in two layers. But the second layer must be laid so that the joints of the first are in the center of the slabs of the second layer. Note that builders who are not conscientious often neglect this, since such installation requires a lot of time. But this is the only way to prevent the leakage of thermal energy.
Waterproofing is installed on top of the insulation.
Stage 6. The insulation procedure is completed by laying the finished floor. First to earlier established lags fastened durable material, necessary to distribute the entire load during operation. Drywall, chipboard or plywood can be used as such material. Next, the flooring is laid (in our case, marked boards) and the room is cleaned.
Foam insulation
Thermal insulation of a concrete floor with this material can be done in one of two ways:
- installation of foam plastic under wooden floor;
- installation from the basement.
At the beginning basement is examined for communications that may prevent the installation of thermal insulation sheets. If there are no such communications, then you can begin installing the slabs from the basement side.
Stage 1. First, the required insulation area is determined. To do this, use a long tape measure to measure the distance between the load-bearing walls.
Stage 3. Then you can begin directly gluing the foam sheets, for which you will need:
- comb 10 mm;
- special dowels;
- glue-cement.
Note! Work can begin from any angle; if necessary, the sheets are cut. As a result, the gaps between them should remain, although minimal.
Stage 4. The foam plastic is puttied and covered with waterproofing mastic that prevents moisture absorption.
As for installation under a wooden floor, the procedure is practically no different from that described above (using mineral wool), and the only difference is the minor gaps mentioned above. At the end installation work The gaps between the insulation and the joists are filled with polyurethane foam to form a continuous monolithic layer.
Using plasterboard or fiberboard
Another option for insulating a concrete floor is to install plasterboard sheets. Below is the sequence of actions.
Stage 1. First, the old floor covering is removed, the bare base is thoroughly cleaned of dirt and dust.
Stage 2. If the surface is uneven, then the protrusions are smoothed and the recesses are filled with putty.
Stage 3. After this, a vapor barrier layer is laid with mandatory access to the walls to the height of the planned insulating layer.
Stage 4. The first layer of thermal insulation material is laid, the thickness of the sheets is in this case should be 1.2 cm.
Stage 5. Drywall is treated with adhesive mastic, after which the second layer of material is laid. It is important that the joints of the sheets in layers No. 1 and No. 2 do not coincide.
Stage 6. As soon as the adhesive mastic has dried, the surface is primed and puttied. Then the floor covering is laid.
Note! In order to compensate for the moisture/temperature expansion of the material, an edge strip is placed between the ends and the surface of the walls.
Video - The principle of laying drywall on the floor
If fiberboard sheets are used for insulation, the procedure will be even simpler.
Stage 1. Dismantling is carried out flooring and baseboards.
Stage 2. Sheets of insulation (grade PT-100 or M-20) are nailed to the pre-installed joists.
Stage 3. The fiberboard is covered with a floor covering - roofing felt or carpet. For fixation, it is advisable to use Bustilat glue.
Stage 4. Operation can begin after the glue has dried (usually this takes a maximum of 24 hours).
Covering the floor with fiberboard sheets (self-tapping option for fastening the sheets)
"Warm floor"
If there is not enough space in the room to lay thermal insulation material, then you can resort to alternative option– arrangement electric heating. “Warm floor” involves laying a heating cable, for which you should follow the steps below.
Stage 1. First, the old floor covering is completely dismantled.
Stage 2. Penofol is laid on the concrete.
Stage 3. Installation is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations 
Stage 5. Once the concrete has hardened, the floor covering is laid on it.
Note! “Warm floor” provides the most favorable microclimate for the human body in the home, since both over-drying and overheating of the air are completely eliminated. The room will warm up evenly, therefore, convection currents will not form.
Use of expanded clay
Let’s say right away that this method is the least effective of all those given above, but you can also resort to it. One of the few disadvantages is that the screed will take quite a long time to dry - about 1 month. Obviously, filling with expanded clay can only be done where the height of the ceilings makes it possible to raise the floor by 15-20 cm.
This is also relevant in multi-storey buildings panel type, in which the floors can hardly be considered warm, especially in winter.
Stage 1. The old coating is dismantled and cleaned concrete slab from dirt and debris.
Stage 3. Thermal insulation material is dry backfilled on top of the waterproofing. In order to ensure uniformity of falling asleep and compliance single level beacons are displayed ( wooden slats). The first beacon is installed 3 cm from the wall, the rest - parallel (the step depends on the length of the rule with which the level will be set).
Expanded clay is backfilled from the far wall towards the front door.
Stage 4. The surface of the insulation is treated with “cement laitance”, which will ensure more effective adhesion of the granules to each other. Preparing this “milk” is not difficult: pure water mixed with cement in a ratio of 4:1.
Note! Experienced builders It is recommended to insulate the floor with different fractions of expanded clay. So, for a city apartment you need to mix granules with a diameter of 5 mm or 10 mm with expanded clay sand.
A day after the insulation is leveled and secured with mortar, the surface is covered with a concrete screed.
Using Spray Polyurethane Foam
We’ll talk about this insulation technology separately, because it requires the participation of professionals - you can’t do it on your own, especially without the appropriate equipment. The material is laid in the form of foam having a cellular structure; the foam expands after application and forms a seamless monolithic mass. For application, a special machine is used - in it the liquid polymer is mixed with carbon dioxide at high pressure.
Stage 1. The concrete base is prepared - the old coating is dismantled, debris is removed (it can worsen the adhesion of the foam). It is characteristic that the floor does not need any leveling in this case.
Stage 3. To improve adhesion, the concrete base is moistened. Foam is applied between the joists, but it should be taken into account that in the future it will increase in volume.
Stage 4. The foam hardens for about 24 hours, after which it is laid batten or any other floor covering.
Note! Do not leave polyurethane uncoated for more than two to three days, as it may deteriorate when exposed to sunlight.
Video - Insulation of the concrete floor of the first floor
As you can see, there are many ways to insulate a concrete floor, and when using each, both the characteristics of the base and the microclimate in the home are taken into account. But regardless of the chosen option, we hope that the instructions given here will help you get a truly warm and comfortable home. Good luck with your work!
Apartments located on the ground floor suffer more than other apartments in the building from moisture and cold. This is due to the direct contact of the floor covering with the floor slab, which separates the apartment from the unheated basement. As a result, the floor is always colder than the air in the apartment, and if in the summer this is not so noticeable, then in the winter such a cold floor will cool the entire room, also causing the appearance of dampness.
Therefore for normal temperature floor covering, it is necessary to insulate the floors. This can be done by carrying out repairs yourself or with the help of hired workers. The essence of floor insulation is to lay a layer or several layers of insulation on the floor between the basement and the apartment. In addition, a vapor barrier is needed, since due to the temperature difference, condensation is inevitable, and moisture has a negative effect on insulating materials. Next we will look at various options insulation, insulation, we’ll tell you about materials, prices, and explain how to do all the work yourself.
Types of insulation
Expanded polystyrene
Expanded polystyrene, better known as polystyrene foam or its modified counterpart penoplex, has excellent thermal insulation properties, light weight and easy to use. There is also extruded polystyrene foam. Its difference from the usual one is that it is waterproof. If ordinary polystyrene foam can absorb a certain amount of liquid and become deformed due to temperature changes, then its more technologically advanced form is almost completely waterproof. The only disadvantage of polystyrene foam is its flammability.
Expanded clay
This bulk material has an attractive price and is universal. Can be used for dry floor screed or mixed with cement mortar. You can also use it to create a floating screed with your own hands.
Polystyrene concrete
Unlike expanded clay, polystyrene concrete requires a much smaller layer to create acceptable insulating properties. You can lay almost anything on it, including tiles. In addition, it has excellent sound insulation properties. You will learn more about this material from the video.
Mineral wool
Mineral wool and glass wool are among the most popular insulation materials, which is manufactured in the form of tiles or rolls. The advantages include thermal insulation properties, reasonable price and vapor absorption. The disadvantages are that the composition is hazardous to health. When installing it yourself, you should use respirators and avoid contact with exposed parts of the body. Therefore, mineral wool and glass wool need careful insulation to prevent dust from penetrating into the premises.
Cork
Cork material is perhaps the most expensive on our list. It is environmentally friendly, durable and moisture resistant. It can be used even when finishing, because in addition to its insulating properties, it looks beautiful as a topcoat. Disadvantages include instability to cuts and other mechanical damage.
Ecowool
It is made on the basis of cellulose, which means it is environmentally friendly and not hazardous to health. It has high heat and sound insulation properties, but does not tolerate moisture. Therefore, it is used in areas where there is no risk of contact with moisture. For more information about the advantages and disadvantages of ecowool, watch the video
Penoizol
This is liquid polystyrene foam, all the advantages of which we talked about above. Favorable difference liquid form such material has the ability to penetrate into the most inconvenient places.
Warm floor
The option of installing underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular. The only thing that puts me off is its cost. There are several variations:
- Water;
- Electric;
- Infrared.
Water heated floor, heats with the help of communications with hot water under the subfloor. Electric underfloor heating is also installed and heats by converting electricity into heat. Infrared is the most modern, simplest option and can be installed with your own hands without the involvement of specialists. Thin underfloor heating elements are laid under the finishing flooring. Only this type of floor can be realized with your own hands, without special skills.
Insulation from the basement
If the apartment is on the ground floor, then most likely there is a basement underneath. The obvious solution to insulating the floor would be to make repairs from the basement side, if there is no need to carry out repairs inside the apartment. In this case, the big advantage will be that the floor in the apartment will not rise, and also, if the repairs have already been done, you will not have to open the floor and redo it again. When insulating from the basement side, there is no need for careful finishing, which makes it possible to do the work with your own hands, even for an inexperienced builder.
The best materials for such repairs are ordinary polystyrene foam or mineral wool, but installing it yourself is more labor-intensive and the price is higher.
- At the first stage, you need to find floor plans and make markings along the perimeter of your apartment. It is better to do it with a margin, so that the insulation area extends several centimeters beyond the boundaries of the walls.
- Then conduct a survey of the basement walls. Most likely, they will have cracks and chips, and maybe even holes. They should be sealed with cement mortars or simple foam.
- The first layer of vapor barrier is glued to construction adhesive or tape. The material used is polyethylene. The joints must be sealed tightly with tape.
- Then a frame is constructed from wood or aluminum profiles for attaching insulation.
- Next is installation insulation material. If you use polystyrene foam, it is mounted in the frame and secured with special dowels with a wide plastic cap as shown in the photo below.
If your choice fell on mineral wool, then logs made of timber are installed on the ceiling, in increments of 5 cm less than the width of the insulation, so that the wool fits more tightly. The last step repairs will involve installing plywood sheets on top of the insulation on the joists for greater reliability.
Insulation in the apartment
Before carrying out repairs to insulate floors with your own hands, you need to calculate how high the floors can be raised. The higher, the thicker layers of insulation can be used.
- If work will take place indoors after renovation, then the first step is to dismantle the base.
- After removing all floor coverings, a thorough inspection is carried out load-bearing slab for cracks, chips, and holes. If any are found, they are sealed with cement mortar, or ready-made solution for repair. After hardening, it is recommended to treat the surface with sealing, a special strengthening impregnation.
- The next step is waterproofing. This layer consists of polyethylene or a special primer with water-repellent properties.
- A layer of roofing material is laid on top of the vapor barrier, timber is laid on it, and logs are placed on the timber. The entire structure is attached to a concrete base. Detailed description DIY lag devices on video
From the author: Hello, dear reader! The heat in the room directly depends on high-quality coating floor. Therefore, when starting to make repairs, first of all, think about how to insulate the floor in an apartment with your own hands. We can focus our renovation on installing additional heat sources and new windows, but this may not be enough.
If the flooring is defective, all the heat will go into the interpanel joints, corner cracks and the basement or floor below. If you love your neighbors, then this is justified, but if you are the owner of an apartment on the first floor, then this is quite unreasonable, you will agree.
Important: high-quality flooring will retain up to 30% of the heat in your apartment!
Insulation from the basement
One of the options for solving the problem of insulation in a home on the 1st floor - thermal insulation of floor slabs in the basement.
Important: Before carrying out work in the basement, coordinate all work with the Housing Office.
There are several ways to insulate the floor covering on the basement side:
- insulation or . On a concrete base, using liquid nails, sheets are attached, the gaps between which are filled with polyurethane foam. For better waterproofing glue the mounting plastic film on the insulation, slightly overlapping each other (up to 15 cm);
- spraying polyurethane foam. Despite high cost, this option is durable, has high thermal insulation properties, does not absorb moisture, and is heat-resistant.
Important: insulation concrete floor from the basement will not solve the problem of retaining heat in your apartment, but will only help strengthen the thermal insulation with outside premises, to avoid dampness and mold.
Insulation methods
Let's look at a few budget ways using materials with high thermal insulation properties:
- Wood-shaving insulation.
- Mineral materials.
- Polymer: polystyrene foam, penoplex, expanded polystyrene.
Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, but initially you must decide on the functionality and size of the insulated room and your financial capabilities.
Insulation of a wooden base
Most traditional way insulation - This is the laying of thermal insulation material in the space between the joists. Before insulating a wooden floor, decide on the further course of work and outline the installation diagram for logs and beacons.
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Important: After preparing the flooring and installing the joists, lay a layer of vapor barrier, extending it 5 cm onto the wall.
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Now you can lay the selected insulation between the joists and cover it with another layer of vapor barrier. You can start installation wooden planks, thick plywood, OSB/GVL sheets and finishing coating.
Bulk materials
Wood-based materials are considered to be of the highest quality and easiest to use. These include the following types of insulation:
- regular sawdust/ special mixtures: sand+cement+sawdust+lime;
- plywood - involves two layers of laying with different thicknesses(1 layer - up to 8 mm, 2 layer - up to 12 mm) and mandatory gaps between the sheets to prevent shrinkage and creaking of the floor;
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- Chipboard is the most easy way insulation of concrete floors, optimal thickness sheet - 20 mm;
- ecowool is a high-quality, environmentally friendly, but expensive insulation material. There are several methods of application between joists: laying with special equipment and manually filling with dry mixture. Note that when laying by machine, material savings can be up to 40%.
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Mineral insulation
How else can you insulate the floor? Consider use case mineral materials, such insulation materials include:
- mineral wool;
- cement-based building mixtures.
Mineral wool is considered the most popular material for insulating housing on the 1st floor and attic spaces. It has excellent soundproofing and fireproof characteristics, is not subject to deformation from temperature changes, mold infections, and is vapor-tight.
Expanded clay is a clay-based thermal insulation material with an affordable price range and a high degree of environmental friendliness of its components, but it still has disadvantages. Unlike mineral wool, it has high moisture permeability and fragility.
Important: To improve the performance of expanded clay, it is practiced to use it with cement mortar. Such a screed not only increases the thermal insulation performance, but also increases the strength and water resistance of the coating.
Polymer materials
The use of polymer materials in insulation is gaining popularity. Quality, availability and big choice in the construction market allow you to immediately begin installation. Note that the process of installing polymer materials is extremely simple and even beginners can do it!
Among polymer materials it is worth noting:
- penoizol - liquid polymer material with foam structure;
- polystyrene foam and its improved form - polystyrene foam (excellent for concrete floors);
- polyurethane foam - liquid insulation, applied by spraying up to 10 cm thick;
- Penoplex is a modernized version of polystyrene foam.
Today, penoplex is becoming more and more popular. Let's figure out how to properly insulate a floor with penoplex.
