Panel buildings are less durable compared to brick buildings, so humidity and temperature fluctuations affect them to a greater extent. To create protection it is necessary to perform insulation panel house, and not only from the inside, but also from the outside. This will prevent heat loss that occurs through the walls, as well as protect the building façade from destruction.
Insulation materials
To insulate the facade of a house, craftsmen use various materials, but for many years the following have remained a priority:
- Styrofoam;
- mineral wool;
- extruded polystyrene foam.
The main unifying characteristic of these materials is low thermal conductivity. Most often, panel wall insulation is performed using polystyrene foam. Therefore, it is worth considering the technology of thermal insulation using the example of its use.
Facade surface preparation
Before proceeding directly with insulation, it is necessary to prepare the walls. Surface unevenness should not exceed 1 cm. Attention should be paid to the condition of the facade finishing and seams. If they are painted, but the paint has peeled off in some places, they need to be cleaned. And in the case of PF paint, knock it down.
To check the quality of the finish, run your palm over the surface. If it remains clean, you can insulate the external walls, excluding priming the panel house. Otherwise, you can’t do without it.
In old buildings, crumbling of the walls is often noticed on the outside - such places must be cleaned and only then can a primer be applied. If the sand continues to fall out, it is recommended to putty the area.
Installation of insulation
Technology of applying glue to foam plastic. Click on photo to enlarge.
There are several methods for installing polystyrene foam, but the most effective is the one that involves gluing and nailing it. This insulation of a panel house is most effective.
The gluing process begins from the bottom of the building where it is installed. starting bar. To work, you need to have 2 spatulas: a large one (20 cm in size) and a smaller one (8-10 cm in size). A smaller tool is used to apply the adhesive mixture to another spatula. On uneven wall The adhesive mixture is applied in “bloops”, and on a flat surface - using a comb. Do not forget about carefully filling the seams. There is no need to apply the mixture to the foam sheet itself.
Before you insulate panel house, you should fill all the depressions from the outside with the adhesive mixture, otherwise there will be voids under the foam sheet, which will allow heat to escape from the apartment. Convex places are coated thin layer. Next, apply the sheet to the surface and press it.
To achieve a good result, you can continue insulation only 3 days after the foam glued to the walls in the panel house is securely fixed. Usually craftsmen first cover the outside of the building with insulation, and after 3 days they begin to nail it down.
Nailing foam to the wall is done using fungi, which consist of a plastic sleeve, a circle and a nail driven into the sleeve. The nail can be metal or plastic, but since metal is a cold bridge, you should give preference to plastic products.
Using a puncher, holes are drilled in the foam, for example, around the perimeter of the sheet and in the center. This will allow the apartments of the building to be reliably thermally insulated. The drill diameter should be 10 mm. The depth of the hole should not match the length of the fungus, but, on the contrary, exceed it by 2 cm. Otherwise, the fastener will not completely fit into the hole, but will stick out outside, since construction debris will remain in it.
Provide reliable insulation apartments are only possible if the foam in the panel house fits tightly to the wall, and there are no large gaps between the plates. Filling of seams with a size of 5 mm or more is carried out with polyurethane foam. But if their width exceeds 2 cm, then insulation is placed in them, and only then filled with foam. When it dries, the excess is cut off. At this stage, you can correct the protruding seams by rubbing them.
Continuing the insulation with foam plastic, it is necessary to move on to puttying the fungal caps and seams in panel houses with an adhesive mixture. All minor defects after the putty has dried are removed using a plastic grater with emery.
Pasting walls with mesh
The next step is gluing the mesh to the surface of the walls. To do this, use a special mesh that can be installed outside the building, since other material is exposed to external factors will lose its properties.
First, the mesh is glued to the corners, and then to the main surface. There are products on sale with ready-made corners - their installation is easy. Otherwise, you should make strips of about 30 cm wide from the mesh, then bend them in half to form an angle. Next, using a spatula, 6-7 cm of adhesive mixture is applied to the surface of the wall on both sides of the corner. After this, the mesh itself is applied and the mixture is smoothed away from the corner.
Gluing the mesh to the main surface of the building can be done in small sections, which will greatly facilitate the insulation of the walls from the outside, in contrast to gluing large areas of the surface of a panel house. The product is cut into pieces 1x1 m, but processing with the mixture in width will reach 90 cm, and the remaining 10 cm must be left clean.
The adhesive mixture is first applied to a section of the wall so that 10 cm around the edges remain untouched. Next, apply a mesh, and apply the mixture in small portions to the center. It is carefully smoothed out by moving the spatula from the center to the sides. Thus, the mesh is completely covered with the mixture. As for the seams, they should be carefully coated and smoothed. But in order for the finishing of the seams to be invisible, it is important to overlap the clean edges of the mesh by about 8-10 cm and only then coat it with the mixture.
After the mixture has completely dried, the surface of the building must be treated, namely: rubbed with a plastic float and sandpaper. It is worth noting that a product with an abrasive mesh is not suitable for grouting, since it is not intended for facade work. It is important to ensure that the mixture is completely dry before you begin the final step. In the sun, the surface dries out very quickly, so it is recommended to insulate the building before the onset of cold weather.
A leveling layer of the mixture is applied to the treated surface, and then the finishing begins. This is the process of insulation panel building finished. Now the apartments will be reliably protected from the cold. Knowing how to insulate a panel house, you can do the work yourself, if you have all the necessary tools and materials.
You should think about how to insulate a wall in a corner apartment from the inside even before the onset of winter frosts. Many people, especially residents of the northern regions, are well aware that they should not rely on the heating system at home. Therefore, it is best to prepare tools and materials in advance and insulate the corner apartment yourself. Moreover, doing this is not as difficult as it seems.
Why insulate corner apartments?
Despite the rapid growth in the number of modern residential complexes, many Russians still live in outdated Khrushchev buildings. These buildings are distinguished by their old heating systems and cannot withstand sudden weather changes. First of all, residents of corner apartments suffer from this. With the first cold snap, their homes become cold, because cool air very quickly penetrates the cracks in the walls of buildings. Another important reason for the need to install insulation lies in the layout of corner apartments. In them, not one, but two walls border the street, which further aggravates the situation of the residents. In such situations, even the presence of batteries and additional heaters cannot save the inhabitants.
Due to severe frosts, the corners of adjacent walls of the room freeze over. As a result, plaster and wallpaper come away from the surface, which causes mold and mildew to appear. IN corner rooms becomes very damp and forms bad smell, interfering with a normal life. Unable to withstand such conditions, sooner or later people ask the question: “How to insulate corner bedroom or living room?" With this necessary procedure, you can not only make your stay more comfortable, but also save on heating. Plus, the residents of the house will be protected from dangerous fungi that cause asthma and other diseases of the respiratory system.
Choosing a material - mineral wool or polystyrene foam?
Today, in order to, there is a mass various materials. They are classified into those that are used for installation outside and those that are intended for installation inside the house. It is worth remembering that some universal material does not exist, because each of the insulation materials has its own advantages and disadvantages. Among the main requirements for materials are:
- high thermal conductivity;
- airtightness;
- ability to absorb moisture;
- appropriate environmental friendliness;
- flammability resistance;
- long service life.
Using sheathing
To have an idea of the properties of the most popular materials, it is worth considering each of them in more detail. Mineral wool has long been considered the most popular insulation material. The main raw material for the production of this insulation is basalt. The material is one of the products with a low degree of flammability. Even if the product starts to burn, it does not emit acrid smoke that can somehow harm a person.
Installing mineral wool does not require any skills. This material is very pliable and plastic; it presses tightly against the wall and does not lag behind it for a long time. However, after certain time The cotton wool absorbs moisture and begins to deform. In addition, research has revealed that the material contains a small proportion of substances that are harmful to the human respiratory tract. Among other disadvantages, it is worth highlighting the large mass of the product, which makes it difficult to install alone.
Another popular material is polystyrene foam or, as it is also called, expanded polystyrene. This is polystyrene well beaten with a powerful mixer, cooled to low temperatures. The prices for this product are very low, and installation does not require skills or much physical effort. The lion's share of the material's composition is ordinary air, so it is absolutely harmless to the health of residents. This insulation is one of the few that can be used both outside and inside a building. The reason is resistance to temperature changes from -170 to +60 °C.
The insulation can be mounted on various surfaces. There is no need to use special fasteners. Another advantage of the material is its long service life. In addition to its advantages, insulation also has its disadvantages. Thus, the material cannot be used for installation in wooden building, since it produces a large amount of condensate inside it. However, the product works great in a brick building or in buildings built from concrete blocks.
Installation of insulation inside a panel building - where to start?
Features of installing the material may vary slightly depending on the type of building. The first option we will consider is panel construction. In the rooms of a corner apartment, first of all, you need to clean the surfaces. Therefore, it is best to install the material immediately before performing cosmetic or overhaul. As soon as the surfaces are cleaned, proceed with the installation of waterproofing in the form of special polymer membranes. In the vast majority of cases, their role is played by polyethylene films with a thickness of no more than 0.3 mm.
Insulation of the apartment from the inside
When stretching waterproofing, it is very important to install the material as accurately as possible, without leaving any section of the wall open. To do this, select a membrane strictly in accordance with the area of the apartment. If whole pieces of material are not available for sale, it can be purchased in the form of wide strips. The next step will be the installation of wooden or metal sheathing. Important nuance– if the structure is made of wood, it will need to be treated with an antiseptic before installation. The distance between the partitions of the sheathing should not be less than the width of one unit of insulation.
So, if you bought polyurethane foam slabs with a width of 2 m, then the distance between the partitions of the structure should also be 2 m. This way you can install insulation without leaving gaps
Installation of insulation
After installing the sheathing, it’s time to install the insulation material. Most products are produced in the form of mats, one side of which is springy. When you squeeze the material, it shrinks and then immediately returns to its original shape. This makes installation of insulation much easier. After installation, the surfaces of the material are covered with vapor barrier protection. It will ensure insulation of walls and insulation from condensation. At this stage you also need to try to act as accurately as possible, without leaving cracks or grooves. For greater reliability, it is worth applying a sealant at the joints of the vapor barrier.
Installing material in a brick building - tips for amateurs
The process of installing insulation inside a brick building has its own characteristics and is slightly different from insulating rooms in a panel building. At the same time, there should not be any special difficulties during the work process. Since polystyrene foam is considered the most popular material for this type of work, we will consider the operating algorithm using the example of this particular insulation.
Insulation with polystyrene foam
First of all, you need to properly prepare the surface brick wall. If there is no plaster on it, then it must be applied. If you are starting to install insulation in an already residential area, then dismantle the wall finishing and putty before installation. If necessary, level the surface of the walls, seal all gaps and cracks and apply a primer that will penetrate into the smallest and deepest pores. It is important that the primer contains substances with antiseptic properties.
On next stage thin the glue. This is done strictly in accordance with the instructions for use of the composition. We apply the mixture to the surface of the walls with a smooth spatula, after which we work the layer with a tool with teeth. Without waiting for the glue to dry, take sheets of polystyrene foam and apply them one by one to the wall, pressing tightly and holding for several seconds. There is no point in using dowels to fix the insulation, since the glue will hold the material perfectly on the wall.
We install slabs without gaps
When installing each slab, make sure that there are no gaps between them! Remember that the denser the material is installed, the warmer it will be in your apartment. Further actions depend only on your plans. If you plan to apply putty over the insulation, you will need to prime the surface before doing this. If plaster will be applied, it is necessary to install a reinforcing mesh.
Foam brands are the most popular insulation
In stores you can find not one, but several brands of polystyrene foam. Depending on the method of production of the material, the inscriptions “PS” and “PSB” can be found on the packaging. The first means that the material was made using the press method, and the second – without pressing. In addition to this marking, there are also numbers on the foam packaging. What do they mean?
So, S-15- This is a very dense material produced using a non-press method. This foam is great for outdoor use in multi-storey buildings, it is often used to insulate attics and roofs. Among its properties, it is worth highlighting environmental friendliness, high moisture resistance and fire resistance. S-25 PSB- This is another insulation made using a non-press method. This type of foam is perfect for installation in corner apartments, as it has all the qualities necessary for this. In addition, this type of polystyrene foam is often used to insulate floors and loggias.
Polystyrene foam brand S-35 PSB
If there are a large number of communications in the walls, or their installation is only planned, then for better insulation it is worth choosing a foam brand S-35 PSB. A big advantage of the material is its resistance to bad weather conditions. It is absolutely not afraid of mechanical damage and has high fire resistance. Expanded polystyrene brand is considered the densest S-50 PSB. It is often used in regions where hail often falls and strong winds blow. Such insulation is not afraid of precipitation, condensation or mechanical damage. True, its cost is quite high.
Mineral foam – how to decide?
This material is also in high demand due to its characteristics and reliability. However, not all of its brands are suitable for certain jobs. Yes, cotton wool with markings P-75 will be an excellent insulation material in corner apartments. She is not afraid of moisture and fire. However, if this material is not laid correctly, it will deform very quickly due to its ability to absorb condensate vapor. Mineral wool P-125 denser and stronger than the first type. It is often installed outside buildings made of brick and concrete in regions with mild climates. However, it is completely unsuitable for use in buildings located in the northernmost regions of Russia. Another disadvantage of this material is its high price.
Cotton wool brands PPZh-200 And PZh-175 characterized by increased density and rigidity. She is not afraid of temperature fluctuations or the influence of frequent precipitation. The only drawback is the large mass of the slabs. To insulate a home, 3–4 people are required. As for the manufacturers of the material, the products of the companies are considered to be of the highest quality Isover, Ursa, Rockwool And Isorok.
The content of the article:
Wall insulation is a series of measures aimed at increasing the comfort of living in a house by reducing its heat losses. High-quality thermal insulation of enclosing structures allows you to provide the premises with an acceptable temperature and optimal humidity level. Modern technologies Insulation of panel walls provides the opportunity to carry out the necessary procedures without temporarily eviction of residents and with minimal financial costs.
Choosing a method for wall insulation
Compared to brick buildings, panel houses have much less resistance to the effects of sudden temperature changes. In winter, concrete walls freeze very much, and with the onset of heat they condense moisture on their inner surface, which contributes to the formation of mold. In such conditions, the decorative finishing of the room can become completely unusable, not to mention the harmful effect of fungal spores on the health of the inhabitants of the home.
Only the right decision for concrete panel walls is their thermal insulation, creating a “thermos” effect in the interior of the house. There are two types of wall insulation: internal and external. The choice of any of them depends on the area of the premises, living conditions, number of floors and financial capabilities of the owners.
Owners of private houses have the opportunity to carry out both external and internal insulation themselves. External thermal insulation apartment buildings You won’t be able to do it yourself, because with outside At home, materials should be laid exclusively by experienced specialists who have permission to carry out high-altitude work and the appropriate equipment for an industrial climber. Such work is not cheap, so many apartment owners prefer to insulate the panel wall from the inside on their own.
Internal thermal insulation of walls has more disadvantages than advantages. With such insulation, the area of the room is reduced by an average of 8-10 cm along the entire length of the walls due to the thickness of the insulation and decorative cladding. During the renovation, full use of the room becomes impossible. Polystyrene foam or mineral wool, which is used as insulation, can subsequently cause an allergic reaction in the body.
But most importantly, the insulation installed on the inside insulates the wall panels from the heating system. This means they are in the zone subzero temperatures. As a result, the dew point shifts to the inner surface of the walls, as a result of which condensation accumulates between the insulation and the enclosing structure, which contributes to the development of fungus. However, with proper internal insulation, many of its negative factors can be minimized.
If it is possible to insulate panel walls from the outside, it is recommended to give preference to this method. It has undoubted advantages:
- The load-bearing walls of the building are covered with insulation and sheathing against weathering and precipitation, which extends its service life.
- By moving the dew point to the outer surface of the walls, they do not freeze in winter and keep the room cool in summer.
- Saved effective area rooms, which is especially important for small apartments.
- Unlike internal insulation, the room can be fully used during thermal insulation.
External thermal insulation changes the appearance of the facade. Sometimes this requires permission from the authorities.
Selection of material for wall insulation
Wall insulation is carried out using various heat-insulating materials, which differ from each other in their properties, scope and cost. The most popular of them in in this case are foam, glass and mineral basalt wool.
Any wall insulation must be characterized by long-term operation, fire resistance, elasticity, absence of heat loss and the presence of biological protection. Their environmental Safety is also extremely important, especially when used for internal insulation of premises, since low-quality material can negatively affect the health of their inhabitants.
For the right choice it is necessary to know the properties of this or that insulation. Let's look at them in detail:
- Mineral wool. Basalt stone is used as the main raw material for its production. Cotton wool has a fibrous structure, thanks to which the material retains air, which in itself is an excellent heat insulator. Mineral wool is available in slabs or rolls. It has low thermal conductivity, good fire resistance and durability. Its only drawback will be instability to moisture. Therefore, when installing mineral wool, it requires careful waterproofing protection. The material is used for both external and internal insulation of walls in a panel house.
- Glass wool. The structure of this insulation is made up of thin glass fibers up to 5 cm long. Previously, the material was very popular, but in last years began to give way to more technologically advanced models. Glass wool does not burn, withstands well low temperatures, has good soundproofing characteristics and low cost. It is not suitable for rodents and does not support the development of fungus and mold. The insulation is environmentally friendly and elastic: if glass wool is compressed, it quickly acquires its original appearance after removal from the packaging. However, compared to other thermal insulation materials, the service life of glass wool is slightly lower. In addition, working with it requires the presence of protective equipment for the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. When the glass fibers of the material come into contact with the body, they cause severe itching, so it is recommended to install such insulation in thick clothing and gloves. Special glasses and a respirator will also not be superfluous.
- Styrofoam. This is the most common and economical insulation. There are two types of it: foamed and extruded. They differ in manufacturing technology, appearance and price. The first is cheaper, consists of sintered granules, and the second has a dense, fine-cell structure. Most often, polystyrene foam is produced in the form of slabs. It has excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics, excellent moisture resistance, light weight and durability at correct installation. The disadvantages of this insulation include its fragility, which mainly concerns foamed foam. Therefore, when purchasing several slabs, it is recommended to take in reserve. Polystyrene foam is a flammable material that, in the event of a fire, releases toxins that are hazardous to health, although the fire itself can hardly be called safe. And lastly: this insulation does not have biological protection, so rodents and mold can grow in it. To minimize risks, you need to work with polystyrene foam in a strictly technological sequence.
- Penofol. It belongs to the new generation of thermal insulation. The insulation is made by foaming polyethylene and has a foil coating. It can be used for external and internal wall insulation. Penofol is produced in the form of rolls and is characterized by its small thickness, which does not affect its heat-insulating qualities. It is environmentally friendly, easy to install and compact for transportation. In addition, this material is characterized by high sound insulation, fire safety and low vapor permeability. The insulation is laid using a special adhesive composition.
- Fibrolite. The insulation is made from compressed wood shavings, as binder Magnesia salt or Portland cement is used. Fiberboard goes on sale in the form of slabs covered with protective film, which prevents the penetration of moisture into the material and the formation of mold. The material is easy to process and easy to install. After installation on the wall, the fiberboard slabs are plastered. After this, the finished coating becomes hard and durable.
- Cork insulation. The material is used for internal insulation of panel walls. Of all the above insulation materials, it is the most environmentally friendly. Cork insulation has high strength, low weight, and low thermal conductivity. It is durable, multifunctional and shrink resistant. The material is produced in the form of plates. After installing them on the wall, there is no need to perform further finishing of the coating; it will already have a quite presentable appearance. In addition, cork insulation has good biological protection, which counteracts the appearance of various microorganisms in it. This material It is expensive, but the price is more than compensated by its advantages.
- Foamed polyurethane. To apply it to the surface, special equipment and installation of formwork are required. The material goes through the polymerization process very quickly, and after its completion it is covered waterproofing film. The structure of the insulation resembles a frozen layer polyurethane foam. Its strength is low, so polyurethane must be covered external finishing. Can be used as an additional hard covering plasterboard sheets or plywood. Due to the fact that the entire structure is mounted on a frame, the usable area of the room will be reduced by the thickness of the internal cladding.
Preparing the surface of panel walls for thermal insulation
Before insulating the walls of a panel house with the selected material, it is necessary to prepare them with the preliminary purchase of the appropriate tools. But first you need to determine the source of heat loss through the wall panels. As a rule, residents of the lower floors suffer more than others from cold and dampness. The same applies to rooms that are located at the end parts of the building. In such places there is the largest area of contact between the walls and outside air and humidity.
Cold can enter the room through cracks in door and window openings, but the main cause of heat loss is poor-quality sealing or destruction of the material interpanel seams. The main indicator of such a defect is the presence of traces of mold in the corners of the ceiling or floor. In addition, the air in the room is constantly damp. Therefore, any insulation of panel walls should begin with sealing the joints between their elements. For this purpose they are used special mixtures silicone based.
Thermal insulation of panels is recommended to be carried out during the warm season, preferably in summer. The walls must be dry. During internal insulation, their surface should be cleaned of paint, wallpaper and other decorative finishes. When working outside, the façade must also be cleaned and dried. These procedures are performed using hand and electric tools: spatulas, scrapers, drills with attachments, industrial hair dryers, etc.
After cleaning the panel walls, they must be inspected to identify cracks, crevices, depressions and sagging. Lumps from the surface can be knocked off with a chisel, and the remaining defects found can be sealed with cement or gypsum mortar. Problem areas Before repair, it should be treated with a primer for better adhesion of materials.
When minor defects in the panels have been eliminated, it is recommended to check their surface with a two-meter strip. The gaps between the wall plane and the attached tool should not exceed 2-3 mm. But usually no problems arise, since factory-made concrete products are initially smooth. If necessary, continuous leveling can be done with a thin layer of putty.
On last stage To prepare the walls, they need to be treated with a penetrating primer in 2-3 layers. The adhesive composition of the insulation on such a surface will adhere much better. For internal thermal insulation, the wall should be treated with an antiseptic before priming to prevent the formation of mold. Each applied coat of primer must be completely dry. After final drying, you can begin internal or external insulation of walls in a panel house.
As mentioned above, thermal insulation of walls from the inside creates favorable conditions for condensation to form between the insulation and the inner surface of the wall. To minimize the risk of fungus formation for this reason, the layer of material must be hermetically sealed with a vapor-proof film and provide the necessary resistance to heat transfer when minimum thickness. The thicker the insulation layer, the lower the temperature on the wall and the higher the likelihood of steam condensation. In addition, for internal insulation, similar insulation is required for door and window slopes external walls.
Thermal insulation of panel walls with foam plastic
For thermal insulation of panel walls, foam plastic boards PSB-S-25(35), which have an increased density, are used. They are fixed to the surface with a special or tile adhesive, which should ensure maximum filling of the gap between the wall and the insulation.
After gluing, it is recommended that all plates be additionally secured to the wall with plastic disc-shaped dowels, the caps of which will tightly press the material to the base surface. Five dowels are enough for one slab. The coating must be airtight, so the joints of the sheets must be tightly adjusted, and large gaps must be filled with polyurethane foam.
Then a layer of glue should be evenly applied to the surface of the thermal insulation and a fiberglass reinforcing mesh with cells measuring 3-6 mm should be pressed into it. After the mixture has dried, an adhesive leveling layer 2 mm thick should be applied to the coating, and the corners should be reinforced with perforated galvanized profiles.
When the glue has dried, the wall can be plastered for wallpapering, painting, or simply tiled.
Wall insulation with mineral wool
For such thermal insulation, a wall frame is required. It can be made from U-shaped metal profiles or wooden beam. The pitch between the frame posts should be 2-3 mm less than the width of the insulation boards. This will allow the material to be held apart between the vertical bars. The density of mineral wool must be at least 75 kg/m3.
Unlike polystyrene foam, mineral wool is vapor permeable. Therefore, after laying the insulation into the cells of the frame, the heat-insulating material must be hermetically covered with a protective film. It is attached to the wooden frame using staplers, and to the metal frame with double-sided tape. Vapor barrier sheets are installed with an overlap of at least 100 mm, their joints are located on the vertical elements of the frame and are glued with metallized tape. The film must have overlaps on the floor, ceiling, openings and adjacent walls.
Places where the film is adjacent to pipes and electrical appliances must be carefully treated. For this purpose special liquid sealants. The composition is applied to the junction, the film is pressed against it, and then secured with construction tape to prevent displacement.
After completing the thermal insulation of the wall, you can finish it. As base coat plasterboard sheets, plastic panels, wooden lining and other materials that can be attached to the frame with screws.
Insulation of walls in a panel house with penofol
For internal wall insulation with this material you need wooden frame, which allows you to use all its properties with maximum effect. Due to the fact that penofol has a foil coating, which has high electrical conductivity, it is necessary to check the insulation of cables passing along the wall in order to avoid short circuit. If necessary, they can be stretched in a protective corrugated sleeve.
After making the frame, you should cut the penofol with a knife into sheets, and then attach them end-to-end to wooden racks staplers. Then you need to make another frame, leaving an air gap of 2 cm, and attach sheets or panels to it, which can later be puttied, wallpapered or painted.
Thermal insulation of walls in a panel house from the outside
There are two main methods of external insulation of panel walls: dry and wet. The first method of thermal insulation involves installing a special protective screen on the wall, which is called a “ventilated facade”. Its basis is a frame made of metal, on which the insulation is fixed, and then the external cladding is made.
Wet insulation is frameless installation insulation on the walls followed by finishing with building mixtures. Usually these are different types of plaster, which may differ from each other color scheme, efficiency, relief and other advantages.
Work on external insulation of a house begins with the repair of interpanel seams. They are cleaned of seals, old plaster, and then primed and dried. Then a new seal is installed in the seams, and the priming and putty are repeated.
At the next stage, the walls are prepared. They are cleaned of dirt and old coating. With the wet insulation method, foam plastic is most often used as a thermal insulation material. The technology for its installation is practically no different from the method described in the previous section. The only caveat is that the quality finishing coating here, to protect the insulation, building mixtures that are resistant to precipitation and temperature changes should be used.
Using frame technology When insulating walls from the outside, the heat insulator is usually basalt wool, which is placed in cells metal structure ventilated facade and sealed with a vapor barrier membrane. External cladding the frame in this case can be made of profiled sheet, plastic panels, wood and other materials.
Watch a video about thermal insulation of walls in a panel house:
To summarize, I would like to add the following. Necessary information how to insulate a panel wall in an accessible way, we hope you received it. It became obvious that it is better to carry out such work from the outside rather than from the inside of the house. Finding performers for this task is not difficult. There are many construction companies who will insulate the apartment reliably, quickly and efficiently. But if your home is low-rise, you can do all the work yourself and spend the money saved on charity!
Old Soviet panel houses are much inferior in thermal insulation to modern monolithic buildings. New SNIPs dictate that developers maintain the required wall thickness and insulate facades immediately after completion of pouring work and laying out walls. Five- and nine-story panel buildings were designed only for internal heating, without insulating the external walls from the cold. Thousands of people live in corner apartments, and the issue of their thermal insulation becomes more pressing every year.
Options for insulating walls of panel houses
Modern technologies present two options for insulating wall surfaces apartment building: inside and outside. Both options will solve the problem of low room temperatures and rapid heat loss. More was installed in panel houses cast iron radiators with excellent heating qualities, but due to the thinness of the walls and their direct contact with frosty air, the efficiency of the radiators is significantly reduced.
Important! The task of thermal insulation is not to heat the room, but to keep it warm and prevent air cooling due to its contact with the cold surface of the walls, especially if corner apartment is end.
Both options are suitable for this, but their implementation is radically different, so it is necessary to determine a simpler and more economical one that you can do yourself.
Which method is preferable?
Let's consider the pros and cons of both methods and choose the most suitable one. Advantages of insulating walls outside a panel house:
- the work will be carried out on the facade, which means it will not interfere with residents directly living in the apartments;
- along with insulation, the external façade will be updated simultaneously with decorative plaster or hanging panels;
- the whole house will be insulated, which means that the premises will also be insulated common use will become less cold.
Insulation of external walls of a panel house - disadvantages:
- the impossibility of insulating only your own apartment, even if it is corner - at least two walls in each room will be adjacent to the uninsulated neighboring apartments;
- high cost of work - insulation and finishing will be carried out by a specially hired team, which requires constant monitoring and payment;
- lack of privacy in a multi-storey building - the work will take place outside, which means the builders will need scaffolding structures or a hanging cradle, and this entails their constant presence right outside the windows of the apartment, where they can easily look into;
- duration of the process - if the house is large, then the work can take more than one month, and all this time there will be trucks, lifts, building materials and scaffolding near the house.
Insulating walls in a panel house from the inside - disadvantages:
- reducing the living space of rooms - hanging additional structures on the walls will increase the offset of each of them by at least 5 - 8 centimeters;
- the inability to live in a room where renovations are underway - residents will have to move to other rooms, because the area being renovated will be occupied by materials;
- the likelihood of temporary relocation - the work may involve painting and the use of strong-smelling substances, so it will not be possible to stay in it during insulation.
Advantages of internal insulation:
- independent implementation of insulation inside the home - no high-rise work or construction of additional structures will be required, only care, a competent approach and tools will be required;
- low cost - compared to external insulation, interior work will be cheaper if we consider only insulation, because the final decorative finishing of the walls can be anything and can be expensive;
- short deadlines - if all the material is purchased and there is enough time, then each room inside can be insulated in 2 days and the same amount of time will be needed for finishing, so you won’t have to endure the inconvenience and temporary relocation for long.
Having studied all the nuances, it is clear that the advantages of internal insulation are greater than those of external insulation and they are more significant. Important: timing, cost and the ability to do everything yourself. Therefore, we will consider this option further.
Selection of insulation material
Modern world building materials provides a wide range of possibilities. Here are the main options for insulating a panel house from the inside:
- polystyrene foam (penoplex);
- polyurethane foam;
- mineral wool.
Any of them will cope with the task, but they differ in the installation method and cost, which may affect the choice of insulation. It all depends on what tools are available and the size of the budget.
Important! The least attractive option is to use polyurethane foam, because it will require deep formwork, which means that such insulation will “eat up” more of the room’s area. Its installation requires a special sprayer, which may not be available.
Mineral wool a good option for insulating the walls of an apartment building, it is thin enough, can be easily reshaped and is not expensive. The main disadvantage is its composition, which includes fiberglass. When it comes into contact with the skin, it leaves an unpleasant sensation and can cause irritation. Clothes with long sleeves and a special face mask can help prevent this. 
Penoplex is convenient because it is pre-cut into convenient panels. It is lightweight and can be installed by one person. Each panel fits groove into groove and is assembled like a construction set. It can be selected optimal thickness, saving the trimmed area. The disadvantage over other materials is the higher cost, but this is compensated by the ability to get by finishing without using drywall. In the best way, work will be carried out using foam insulation.
Preparatory work
Regardless of the chosen option, before insulation, you will need to carry out preparatory work. An important note is that it is better to carry out insulation in the warm and dry season to avoid sudden temperature changes and the formation of condensation. What you need to do:
- free up the space of the room, remove unnecessary pieces of furniture and limit the entry of strangers and pets into the living space;
- get rid of the current wall decoration - remove old paint or wallpaper from partitions;
- remove plaster from the walls - this will require special scrapers;
- vacuum or wash the walls - this is required to get rid of dust;
- prime and let dry;
- level the plane - if necessary, if it is clear that the unevenness is too large;
- completely dry the room.
What you will need to work on insulating a room in an apartment building
Insulation work will require proper skill and attention, but it can be done easily if you strictly follow the technology and have it on hand necessary tool. Here is a list of what you may need:
- construction stapler;
- polyurethane foam;
- sealant gun;
- screwdriver;
- hammer drill or powerful drill;
- construction knife;
- ladder or trestles;
- hammer;
- metal screws;
- metal corners;
- liquid level;
- thread;
- serpyanka;
- putty knife;
- liquid nails for exterior use;
- plastic mushrooms for attaching foam;
- vapor barrier film.
The specified list may be wider depending on the installation method, but you can easily get by with what is listed. Having everything you need, you can get to work. Remember that it is better to ventilate the room well, and carry out noisy work only at the permitted time of day in order to avoid conflicts with neighbors.
DIY installation
By performing steps step by step, you can achieve an ideal result. Begin:
- Glue (liquid nails) is generously applied to the surface of the wall and penoplex panels, and then pressed tightly against each other. We carry out such actions with each panel, placing the next one exactly in the groove of the previous one. end side. This applies to both the side sections and those on top. Penoplex is easily cut with a knife, so where a whole panel does not fit, it is carefully cut and inserted into the space. It is important to cut exactly to size in order to leave a minimum of gaps and lay them exactly at the end.
- The panels can also be fastened using wall anchors and plastic mushrooms; for this, holes are made in the walls and fasteners are driven into them directly through the attached polystyrene foam. This method is very noisy, so we recommend the first option.
- All joints between panels, walls, floors and ceilings are coated with sealant. This is necessary to ensure maximum thermal insulation.
- The tighter the foam is pressed against the wall surface, the better its insulating properties, so don’t skimp on glue or anchors.
- This installation option involves final finishing using plaster. After the sealant has dried, the entire surface of the wall is covered with putty and leveled. If you want to further strengthen the layer, you can smear a special mesh (serpyanka) into the plaster.
- After final leveling, the putty must be allowed to dry and then primed, thereby preparing its surface for painting or wallpapering.
Important! If you plan to hang cabinets on the wall, then you need to choose a slightly different installation option. Before the first point in the previous instructions, you need to mount a suspended structure made of metal profiles on the walls, and lay foam plastic between the guides according to the instructions. The following list should be considered a continuation of the previous one, after the fourth point:
- You need to stretch a vapor barrier film over the foam and guides to isolate the formation of moisture inside the wall. Its installation is carried out using plastic mushrooms through foam.
- We attach the drywall to the vertical and horizontal guides using self-tapping screws.
- Next, as in the previous instructions, the surface is puttyed, leveled and primed.
Installation is not at all difficult. The main thing is to stick to technology, then the work will go quickly and efficiently. After finishing, you will immediately feel that the apartment has become much warmer and drier, even if it is an end apartment. This is because the insulation helped to get rid of the contact of warm air with the surface of the cold walls. Therefore, if heating occurs not due to batteries, but warm floors, they can be turned on less often, thereby saving on utility costs.
Panel buildings have weak heat-saving properties. To insulate them, it is worth using heat-saving materials of greater thickness than for houses made of wooden beams or bricks. Insulation of panel walls from the outside - best option, which will save up to 50% of heat indoors.
This option is attractive because there is no need to look for temporary housing during the renovation; after the work is completed, the cubic capacity of the apartment does not change. External insulation protects panel houses from freezing, thawing, moisture accumulation, and other atmospheric phenomena.
Preparing for insulation
Thermal insulation of a panel house from the outside is carried out by teams of craftsmen. This work can be mastered independently by those who are engaged in industrial mountaineering, that is, directly working as a high-altitude installer. Preparatory work before gluing the thermal insulation material look like this:
- Check the tightness of the joints between the slabs of the building. If there are cracks, they are thoroughly cleaned of dust, debris, and dirt for subsequent sealing.
- After cleaning, the joints are dried and primed. From the inside, the cracks are sealed with porous nairite, poroizol for maximum insulation.
- When the joints are processed and sealed, they are primed again, then coated with bitumen mastic.
- After the mastic has dried, begin cleaning the walls. They clean off old peeling plaster and paint, after which the surfaces are primed, which will improve the adhesion of the wall and the adhesive.
Tools that craftsmen use for their work:
- Equipment for industrial mountaineering;
- Bucket, perforator, shovel and drill for it, hammer;
- Umbrellas for attaching insulation, construction knife.
Insulation materials
External insulation of panel buildings is carried out using traditional materials:
- Glass wool is a fibrous material with good elasticity and strength. It is produced in slabs; when working with it, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment.
- Foam plastic - foamed plastic with low thermal conductivity, low price, ease of cutting and installation.
Modern thermal insulation materials have the advantages of their predecessors and new advantages. To carry out the work use:
- Polyurethane foam, initially liquid, after hardening, solid insulation, which is poured into the cracks, filling the smallest voids. Retains heat well, ideal for processing hard to reach places, after hardening it forms a monolithic seamless surface.
- Extruded polystyrene foam, which has frost resistance, low thermal conductivity, and does not absorb water.
- Basalt wool, produced from basalt rocks. It is environmentally friendly and has a service life of up to 40 years.
- Mineral wool is a fibrous insulation made from silicates, slag, and rocks. Attracts with its environmental friendliness and ease of installation.
Advantages of external thermal insulation of panel houses
- The wall acquires an aesthetic appearance.
- Mechanical and shrinkage deformations of panels are reduced.
- Temperature fluctuations in the structure are reduced.
- Water absorption of surfaces is reduced, providing an optimal microclimate inside the home.
- The insulation prevents the destruction of structures, creating a reliable moisture barrier.
- Sealing the seams between the slabs increases the heat capacity of the structure and ensures maximum sound and vibration absorption.
Exterior insulation technology for a panel house
Insulation of the facade and end walls panel houses held:
- Dry method, including installation of a heat shield on outer surface buildings.
- Wet method with the application of liquid construction mixtures, for example, decorative plaster.
- Combined, including both of the above technologies.
The advantages of the wet method are that the material is applied in a continuous layer, preventing the formation of cold bridges on the surface of the walls. Decorative plasters give buildings an attractive appearance.
Advantages of the dry method - wide range thermal insulation materials, insulation options. The heat shield is strong, durable, and weather resistant.
Work process
After the inspection and processing of the joints between the panels, they proceed directly to cladding the walls and insulating the panel house from the outside. The most common material used is expanded polystyrene sheets. For gluing insulation, ready-made construction materials are used. adhesive compositions. They are applied to polystyrene foam boards, after which they are attached tightly to each other.
Laying begins from the bottom up; if necessary, a level limiter is installed at the bottom. Rotational movements distribute the adhesive mixture evenly under the sheet. Another way is to apply the insulation, moving it to the side a couple of centimeters, then, lightly pressing on the sheet, move it to the desired place. Until the adhesive mixture has dried, the sheets are secured with plastic umbrella dowels using a hammer and a hammer drill.
Important: The length of the dowel must be equal to the thickness of the insulation plus 6 cm. For 1 m2 you will need 4 “umbrellas. You should not use metal dowels, which can easily become cold bridges, reducing the temperature inside the home.”
Then, using a spatula, a reinforcing mesh is installed on top of the heat-insulating materials, which they begin to glue from the end and facade corners of the building. The adhesive mixture is applied to the surface, a reinforcing mesh is placed on top with an overlap of 10 cm, pressing it 2-3 mm into the glue. After this, level the plane with a 2nd layer of glue. When the glue dries, begin finishing the walls on the outside.
Thermal insulation using new materials using modern technologies
The walls of panel buildings today are insulated from the outside with polyurethane foam or penoplex.
Polyurethane foam is not afraid of temperature changes and high humidity. It is produced in panels with a standard width of 1.115 m, length is arbitrary, thickness - from 25 to 100 mm. The boards can be with a foil layer, coated with paper and cached polyethylene, or paper interspersed with foil. The panels are glued to the adhesive mixtures used for installing penoplex; they can be reinforced on top with mushroom-shaped screws.
Penoplex is many times denser than polystyrene foam, is non-flammable, and has a high density. Available in slabs 12060 cm thick, 2-10 cm thick, sometimes with foil on one side. It is laid outside the panel walls as desired, vertically, horizontally, secured with umbrella screws.
Important: If you use penoplex, you should pay attention that ceramic tile does not adhere well to its surface. For reliable adhesion, heavy-duty adhesives are used.
- Before laying thermal insulation material, the walls should be treated with antifungal compounds.
- Whatever work is carried out, it is worth using a building level.
- Thermal insulation outside is more effective than similar work indoors.
- In parallel with the thermal insulation of the walls, it is worth sealing the cracks in window openings, under the window sill, glaze the balcony. This will significantly improve the indoor microclimate.
- Additionally, installing a “warm floor” system inside the apartment will help to insulate the walls.