Is it possible to insulate the ceiling in a cellar with polystyrene foam? Methods for insulating a cellar from inside and outside against freezing

The insulation of a cellar cannot be overestimated. In particular, if the basement located under the house is not insulated, then cold air will penetrate through it into the living spaces. In addition, high-quality thermal insulation will significantly increase the level of protection of the underground storage facility from dampness. One of the simplest and budget ways The solution to the problem of insulation is to line the inside of the cellar with foam plastic.

Microclimate in the cellar

Even in cases where the cellar is not under country house, and separately from it, insulation must be carried out. Otherwise, the building will not serve you for even several years, gradually collapsing from the effects of surrounding dampness and temperature changes.

In addition, the temperature in the cellar that is optimal for storing food must be maintained year-round (about 2-4 degrees Celsius). High-quality installation of thermal insulation materials will allow you to maintain such a microclimate both in summer and winter. In the summer months, a layer of insulation will not allow warm air to penetrate into the room through the ceiling, and in winter it will protect against frost.

Without insulation and maintaining a constant temperature, moisture will gradually accumulate in the cellar, which will begin to condense on the ceiling and wall surfaces. In addition, when arranging thermal insulation, it is very important to provide for the presence high-quality waterproofing. After all, even the most best insulation and powerful ventilation system will not be able to provide an optimal microclimate inside the cellar if groundwater systematically enters it.

For creating the right conditions To store food in the cellar, all work must be carried out comprehensively: thermal insulation, waterproofing and installation of a ventilation system.

Do-it-yourself cellar insulation

Before building a cellar, you need to decide on the thermal insulation material that is best suited for your situation. One of the most accessible and inexpensive heat insulators, as already mentioned, is ordinary polystyrene foam.

Today there are many technologies according to which it is possible to make high-quality insulation of the cellar.

Fastening foam plastic boards using dowels.

If the basement is just under construction and it is possible to insulate it from the outside, this should be done. Since it is warm during installation insulating material outside the building, possible freezing of the basement can be completely eliminated winter months. However, if the premises have already been built, then thermal insulation work in most cases it can only be done from the inside. The floor, ceiling and walls should be insulated.

It is worth noting that when internal thermal insulation at the junctions of two materials (between the insulation and the wall), condensation will form, which will negatively affect the building material. Therefore, the heat insulator must be resistant to moisture.

It is very important to provide good waterproofing for cellar walls from precipitation and groundwater. This approach will protect the insulation from its gradual destruction during operation.

When insulating the basement with foam plastic, many problems associated with the operation of this room are solved. Polystyrene foam is also excellent for cellars as the main insulation material.

Preparatory work

If the cellar is located under your house, then all work on its insulation must be provided for at the design stage. In addition, if the thermal insulation layer is laid during construction, it will be possible to immediately combine it with waterproofing and drainage.

Preparatory work The cellar insulation design has the following features:

Before installing the insulation, it is necessary to ensure that the walls are perfectly level.
After leveling the surface, it should be treated with special antiseptic compounds.
Immediately after installing the thermal insulation layer inside the cellar, the humidity level will increase, so you must immediately provide for the presence of a high-quality ventilation system.

When constructing a thermal insulation layer for a cellar made of polystyrene foam, it is important to observe correct order works

Ceiling insulation

Cellar insulation includes work on thermal insulation of walls, ceiling and floor. It is imperative to insulate the ceiling, paying special attention to this work.

Foam insulated ceiling.

The work is carried out using the following technology:

The first step is to eliminate all cracks, seams and crevices on the surface. If you use dowels to fasten the heat-insulating material, then they must also be insulated with insulation, because cold will definitely penetrate into the room through them, although not in significant quantities.
On next stage It will be necessary to install a vapor barrier material on the ceiling so that condensation does not form in large quantities during operation of the cellar. Penofol can be used as a vapor barrier material. This material, among other things, will also create an additional thermal insulation layer, and of quite high quality.
Next, the hangers necessary for fastening the sheathing profiles are installed. The distance between the hangers should be equal to the width of the slabs of heat-insulating material. Then, using self-tapping screws, the longitudinal profiles are fixed to the hangers.
Thermal insulation material is laid between the profiles. In our case, foam boards. It is also recommended to insulate joints using construction foam or other material.
It is recommended to install another layer of vapor barrier on top of the thermal insulation layer. It is important to maintain a distance of approximately 40-50 mm between the heat insulator and the vapor barrier. This gap will allow for micro-ventilation between the materials.

After all the work is completed, the height of the cellar will be slightly reduced, but this must be sacrificed in order to obtain an optimal indoor microclimate. Finally, any materials intended for finishing, if any, can be installed on the vapor barrier layer.

Floor insulation

It is unlikely that anyone will agree to install a heated floor system in a utility cellar or basement, so you need to consider more traditional options for carrying out insulation work.

Insulation of room walls with foam plastic.

The work is carried out in the following order:

The first layer is a waterproofing material, which will prevent moisture from entering the room and onto the foam. Before gluing the material, you need to level the surface.
Foam boards are mounted on the waterproofing layer. To secure them, you can use any high-quality adhesives.
After the entire surface of the cellar wall is finished with foam plastic slabs, it needs to be covered cement screed small thickness. If you are concerned about the strength of the screed, then it is recommended to use additional reinforcement when constructing it. To create a concrete layer, you need to purchase cement grade M 100.
Cellar - a room with high humidity, therefore it is best to lay an additional waterproofing layer on the wall.
The finished surface can be covered with tiles or any other finishing material.

All joints that will be formed must be sealed with a special polyurethane foam. Then you will have a perfectly insulated cellar made of polystyrene foam.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

What can be distinguished from the advantages and disadvantages of foam plastic boards for insulation?

The material is afraid of high temperatures, which, however, is practically not relevant for the cellar.

The advantages of the material include:

Good thermal insulation properties.
Polystyrene foam weighs little, so it does not put stress on the walls and foundation.
When compared with traditional and modern analogues, polystyrene foam is a very affordable thermal insulation material.
The material has high level resistance to moisture.

As for the disadvantages:

If we consider the option with external insulation, then polystyrene foam is unlikely to be suitable here, because when heated (for example, from sun rays) it begins to release vapors.
When exposed to fire, polystyrene foam will begin to melt and burn, releasing toxic substances. However, in the case of a cellar, this problem, as a rule, is practically irrelevant.
Foam plastic is subject to mechanical stress, so before installing the insulation, it is necessary to check the integrity of the installed slabs, because some of them may be cracked.

All work on insulating the basement can be done with your own hands, so there is no need to involve specialists in this process. If the cellar needs to be insulated in an already built house, then it is recommended to insulate the room with inside, because in the process of carrying out external insulation work, certain problems with the foundation may arise.

Insulating the basement from the inside allows you to extend the life of the building. Proper insulation and insulation helps reduce heat loss, protect against dampness, and prevents the appearance of cracks if the soil swells. Insulation will allow you not to heat the basement and maintain a stable temperature inside it. The cost of materials for insulation is not high, so all work can be completed without significant costs. The equipped basement can be used as free space.

Each house has in stock basement, which is the area located between the ground and the first floor. Typically, the height and width of the basement allows it to be used for a wide variety of purposes. Many people use the basement as a cellar for storing vegetables and canning.

For successful and long-term storage of food, the temperature in the cellar must be stable and optimal.

Proper insulation can make the room temperature normal and suitable for year-round use of the room. Basement insulation can reduce heat losses up to 20%. Basement insulation has a positive effect on the condition of the cellar walls, protecting them from dampness and moisture. Insulating the floor with polystyrene foam will protect the surface from hypothermia.

Tips for strengthening your basement:

The most effective way of strengthening is external insulation of the basement. With this technology, thermal insulation is installed on the outside of the building. This prevents basement walls from freezing during cold periods.
If you insulate the basement from the inside, condensation may form on the walls. Where the junction of the insulation and the wall passes.
Do not forget that basement walls need to be waterproofed. Thermal insulation must be resistant to moisture.
An excellent option for wall insulation is polystyrene foam. Polystyrene foam should be used at the initial stage of building construction.

Air insulation must be done so that cold air does not penetrate into the room. Foam insulation will ensure a stable microclimate in the cellar both in summer and winter. You should also take care of high-quality waterproofing, since protection from the cold will not be enough.

Insulation of the cellar: preparatory work

You can insulate the cellar with your own hands, but to do this, you must first decide what material will be used for this. At the initial stage of construction, the cellar can also be insulated from the outside. Floors, walls and ceilings must be insulated.

If all work on the construction of the cellar is completed, then the basement can only be insulated from the inside.

It is important to remember that when insulating from the inside, condensation occurs between the joints of two materials. Typically condensation causes Construction Materials are starting to deteriorate. To prevent this, it is necessary to perform high-quality waterproofing that will protect the basement from the penetration of underwater water.

Preparatory work:

Before laying insulation on the surfaces, it is important to make sure that they are perfectly level.
When the surface of the walls and ceiling is smooth, it should be treated with a special antiseptic solution.
When the thermal insulation layer is laid, the humidity level in the cellar will increase. To fix this, you need to take care of installing a high-quality ventilation system.

In order for the surface to be insulated reliably and efficiently, all cracks and crevices must first be removed. If the material is attached to the surface using dowels, it is important to ensure that they are also insulated, because cold will also penetrate through the cracks around them. You should not forget that you need to install a vapor barrier material.

How to insulate a cellar from the inside against freezing

Usually a lot of moisture forms in the cellar, which negatively affects the condition of all surfaces: floor, walls and ceiling. In winter, surfaces freeze, and in spring they become covered with condensation. The cellar must be protected from freezing, condensation, and penetration of melt and groundwater.

Many craftsmen advise insulating surfaces that are located outside, since insulation from the inside often leads to the formation of a freezing zone. A good option external insulation - use of roofing felt. To insulate the surface from the outside, you first need to remove the soil that has fallen on the walls and let the brick dry.

Step-by-step insulation:

Remove soil.
It is important to take breaks so that the walls have time to dry.
Paste foam boards. For reliability, it is better to secure them with dowels.
Cover all surfaces with roofing felt to protect them from moisture.

For insulation to be reliable, it should be done not only from the outside, but also from the inside. Best material for this purpose - polystyrene foam. The foam is very strong and reliable, it does not crumble and is not afraid of moisture. You can easily install the slabs yourself.

Step-by-step actions: how to insulate a basement from the inside

Today, the most common method of insulating walls, ceilings and floors in a basement, garage or shed is insulation using foam boards. The slabs can be easily glued to the surface yourself, after first cleaning and leveling it. For reliability, the foam is attached with dowels.

A significant disadvantage of insulation as foam is its instability to attacks by rodents - they love it very much and quickly damage it.

It is also important to pay attention to the fact that polystyrene foam burns well, so you should not mount it close to sockets and electrical wiring. At the initial stage of insulation, careful preparation of surfaces should not be neglected. The foam boards will attach securely if the surfaces are level.

The most common material for laying floors and ceilings is concrete. Concrete allows cold to penetrate into the room. But in the summer it heats up. Concrete also cannot withstand moisture.

How to insulate the floor and ceiling:

Concrete slabs must be treated with a special waterproofing compound, which penetrates deeply into the concrete, filling capillaries and concrete cracks.
After complete drying concrete surface need to start fixing concrete slabs.
The slabs must be additionally secured with dowels.

After the slabs are securely fastened, it is necessary to cover them with a mounting mesh and secure them with plaster. Surfaces can also be reinforced with mineral wool. In order to secure the cotton wool, it is necessary to first mount wooden blocks on the surface.

How to insulate a cellar in a garage (video)

It is very important to securely strengthen the basement, since moisture and cold will penetrate into an unprotected room. All surfaces must be carefully prepared before insulation - they must be as smooth and dry as possible. It is also important to insulate the places where the insulating material is secured with dowels, as well as the cellar lid and hatch. It is important to reliably insulate a concrete or sand floor, as they allow groundwater to pass through very well.

In the country, personal plot or in the courtyard of an honest house they set up a separate structure for storing vegetables, canned goods, winter preparations, twists and other things. Correct device The cellar requires insulation to create an optimal microclimate in the storage. The cellar and basement differ in a number of parameters, which means the approach to insulating them for the winter will differ in several ways.

What is the difference between a cellar and a basement?

Basement- a room located under residential building. The key characteristic is the presence of indirect heating. IN in this case, during the heating period the basement is much warmer than the cellar. In addition, it contains communications. In this connection, the requirements are stricter. Among other things, the basement ceiling is a serious source of heat loss from the heated rooms on the first floor.

Cellar- an object located separately or located under summer kitchen, garage, outbuildings. The temperature in it is more stable throughout the year, which means canned goods, vegetables or wine are stored much better.

This is what leads to the fact that, if there is free space on the site, the owners tend to build a cellar on the street. And already during operation, the question invariably arises whether it is necessary to insulate the cellar. After all, from an excess of heat, vegetables will begin to wither and rot, and from a lack of heat, they will freeze.

Of course, it is better to carry out thermal insulation work during the construction of the cellar. But what about those who already have a cellar in their country house? How to insulate a cellar from freezing without serious expenses?

The choice of insulation method involves carrying out work in one of the following areas:

insulation of the cellar from the outside;
insulation of the cellar from the inside;
combined insulation. The most effective way, because is complex.

Types of cellars for a private home

When deciding how to insulate a cellar from the inside or outside, the type of cellar is first taken into account:

A separate room with a depth of up to 0.5 m into the soil. It can be free-standing or wall-mounted (one of the walls of the cellar is the wall outbuilding or garage). From the point of view of insulation, this is the simplest option, because... It is possible to insulate the walls and roof from the outside and inside.

Deep cellar

The lowest point of the building is located at a depth of no more than 1.5 m from the ground surface. In this case, in addition to insulation, you should also think about neutralizing the effects of groundwater and frost heaving of the soil.

Underground (bulk) cellar

It is distinguished by the location of the floor at a level of 2-3 meters underground. With proper waterproofing, this is the most advantageous cellar from the point of view of operation, which perfectly maintains above-zero temperatures, approximately constant, throughout the year.

Despite the differences in construction, the design of the cellar is not diverse.

Standard cellar design:

walls - if the soil is dense - soil, if the soil is moving - brick or stone;
there is no floor, or rather it is dirt;
ceiling - reinforced concrete or wood.

Accordingly, the ceiling, walls, and floor are insulated. Those. all cellar surfaces through which heat loss is possible.

Materials for cellar insulation

Despite the significant variety of thermal insulation materials, it should be taken into account that not all of them are suitable. The material for insulating a cellar must have such properties as the ability to maintain geometry, withstand water and soil pressure, have high insulating properties (table), and absolute hygroscopicity.

Due to the above reasons, mineral wool or ecowool is of little use for thermal insulation.

If you arrange the materials in descending order, the following sequence will appear:

cellar insulation with foam plastic. Most popular insulation. After all, in addition to thermal insulation characteristics, foam plastic is distinguished by low price and ease of installation. Polystyrene foam does not rot, is not hygroscopic, is biologically inert, is lightweight, and does not require any use. vapor barrier films and arrangement of sheathing. Mounted both outside and inside the room;

insulation of the cellar with sawdust or peat soil, which retain heat well and are unattractive to rodents;

cellar insulation with polyurethane foam. PPU refers to sprayed insulation. Possessing all the properties of its predecessors, it is distinguished by its non-flammability and ability to fill the entire space (cracks, crevices). PPU creates a shell, which is the most reliable way to insulate cellars both outside and inside. At the same time, the cost of polyurethane foam is high, and application requires special equipment and the involvement of specialists;

cellar insulation with polystyrene foam. Expanded polystyrene has all the characteristics of polystyrene foam. The only difference is the higher price, which is due to the higher density of the material, the integrity of the sheet structure (the ability not to crumble during installation), and the presence of a tongue-and-groove installation system;

cellar insulation with expanded clay. Expanded clay, like any other bulk material, has a limited scope of application. As a rule, it is used for floor insulation. It can also be used for walls when external insulation underground (buried) cellar.

cellar insulation with black soil. Used for external insulation. In this case, the earth is poured onto the roof of the cellar. However, when modern level technology development there is much more effective ways insulation while maintaining absolute environmental cleanliness of the site.

Insulation technology depending on the type of cellar

An approach to thermal insulation taking into account the structure of the structure.

Insulation of a ground cellar

With this design, the main emphasis is on insulating the walls and roof. This means that it is best to carry out external work and use polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam. Insulation work is carried out outdoors, according to the technology for installing these materials. The roof is insulated from the inside. For these works, soft or hard insulation can be used.

Insulation of a deep cellar

The walls of such a cellar are half located in the ground. Therefore, there is a risk of flooding. To level it, you need to release (dig up) the buried part outer wall from the ground, treat it with any waterproofing solution (mastic) or wrap it with roofing felt. Then lay down rigid insulation or polyurethane foam, re-wrap it with roofing felt (this will protect the sheet from deformation) and cover it with soil. To minimize the influence of water, it is better to equip a drainage system.

Insulation of bulk cellar (underground)

Performed both externally and internally. Below are detailed recommendations and advice on step-by-step thermal insulation of structures for storing agricultural products in the country.

How to insulate a cellar with your own hands

Different insulation technologies in the form of step-by-step instructions.

External insulation of a bulk cellar

The most labor-intensive part of the work involves performing a number of actions:

The soil surrounding the roof and walls of the cellar is removed.
Note. Sometimes it is not possible to excavate the soil. For example, when a cellar is dug into the ground and the resulting slopes are finished with brick. Such walls can collapse. In this case, users are advised to remove the soil at a distance of 100-150 mm. from the wall, and then gradually remove the rest.

Additional protection from moisture will be provided by installing a crushed stone-sand cushion at a depth of 200-300 mm. from the base of the wall.

Rigid insulation boards are installed or polyurethane foam is applied;

all defects from the surface of the walls are eliminated;

For further work, the roof and walls must be completely dry. Therefore, work stops until the walls are completely dry. As you can see, it is better to carry out work in the warm, dry season;

Roof insulation is, in essence, covering the cellar with insulation. The technology involves laying roofing felt on top of the ceiling, filling the roof with a clay-straw mixture on top. The height of the filling on the roof is 0.4-0.5 m. The mixture is carefully compacted and covered with a dense film. The edges of the film are wrapped on the wall with an overlap of 150-200 mm.

The wall is being waterproofed. Primer treatment will not help much in this case. It is better to use a solution of bitumen with diesel fuel (1:3), mastic, roofing material or a special film;

the joints between the sheets are blown with foam;
Some experts advise tightening the insulation polymer mesh, to ensure the integrity of the sheet. Roofing material will cope with this task more successfully. But often the distance between the wall and the soil is simply filled with expanded clay, soil with a high clay content, or a mixture of soil, sawdust/straw and clay.

If there is no ventilation in the cellar, it is advisable to take care of it at this stage.

the resulting hill is covered with a layer fertile soil 100-150 mm high. followed by disembarkation herbaceous plants, which will protect the cellar from sunlight and strengthen the soil with their roots.

Internal insulation of the cellar

The walls, ceiling, floor and doors are subject to thermal insulation from the inside. A few photos as an example of the finished result.

Insulating the cellar wall from the inside

Execution technology:

the walls are inspected for defects;

the cellar is emptied of contents, shelves and drawers are temporarily dismantled;

detected defects are eliminated (protrusions are knocked down, cracks are filled with foam or sealant);
Increased attention is paid to the quality of the surface, because... significant irregularities prevent high-quality installation polystyrene foam;

the wall is waterproofed (with mastic or liquid rubber);

Rigid insulation boards are fixed.
For this, umbrella dowels or glue are used. Attaching the foam starts from the bottom row and moves upward. In this case, in each subsequent row an offset of half a sheet is performed;

a polymer mesh is attached to the insulated surface;
the junctions of the sheets are blown with foam. If the gap is significant, foam cuttings are placed in it;
apply plaster.

Note. To eliminate pockets of mold, it is advisable to treat the walls with a solution of lime and copper sulfate.

Insulation of the cellar floor

There are several methods of insulation that have proven themselves in practice. Let's consider floor insulation with expanded clay as the best option in terms of price/quality ratio.

Work order:

after the concrete on which the beacons are placed and fixed has hardened, expanded clay gravel with a fraction of 5-20 mm is poured. At the same time, the thickness of the gravel layer depends on the load that will fall on the floor;
A vapor barrier film is laid on its surface with access to the wall. The height of the overlap is equal to the height of the backfill;
the floor is deepened to the depth of the future heat-insulating layer (200-300 mm) and leveled;
Beacons are installed along the film. The first of them is at a distance of 300-400 mm from the wall. The rest are at a distance equal to length the rules that the screed will be equal to;
reinforced screed is poured. The thickness of the screed also depends on the load.

Thermal insulation method using sand and crushed stone. This method can only be used for loose floors.

Sequence of work:

if insulation is not used, the floor is filled with hot bitumen. It will perform the function of waterproofing;
the sand-crushed stone cushion is carefully compacted;
a layer of crushed stone is poured (100 mm);
the floor is deepened to the depth of the future thermal insulation layer and leveled;
a layer of sand (50 mm) is poured on top;
Rigid thermal insulation material (for example, penoplex, expanded polystyrene boards) can be laid on the surface;
the prepared floor is filled with reinforced concrete screed.

Insulation of the cellar ceiling

In the case of buried or above ground cellar The roof of the structure needs insulation. Roof insulation work involves the use of soft or hard insulation, which is installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

As for the underground (buried, bulk) cellar, then in additional insulation needs the ceiling of the room.

Work order:

plaster is applied.
a layer of rigid insulation is installed;
concrete floor slab or wooden beams treated with a penetrating waterproofing primer. The composition fills the capillaries and prevents water seepage. The wood is additionally treated with an antiseptic;
the thermal insulation material is covered with a mounting mesh;
Whitewashing is done with lime and copper sulfate.

Note. The ceiling in the cellar is the most vulnerable from the point of view temperature regime place. Therefore, it is better to insulate it in two layers (100 mm).

Insulation of the entrance area: doors or hatch to the cellar

If the entrance to the cellar is located in a house or garage, there are no special requirements for its insulation.

But if the entrance is located on the street, then it is necessary to insulate the entrance to the cellar.

Work order:

cellar door insulation previously carried out using felt and other soft materials. However, now the use of rigid insulation materials that are glued to the doors is considered justified. Then the insulation is covered with a sheet of plywood, plastic or natural wood. Be sure to eliminate the gaps at the junction of the door and the frame. The door seal is installed at this location;

cellar hatch insulation performed in the same way. Only more attention is paid to reliable fixation of the insulation on the surface of the lid. Otherwise, it may fall off.

An important point that you should pay attention to when insulating a door or hatch is to exclude the possibility of them opening arbitrarily. Otherwise, all work on thermal insulation of the cellar will be useless.

Insulating a concrete or brick cellar is not difficult due to the optimality of their shape and resistance to mechanical damage(brick, concrete walls can be drilled, fixing an umbrella dowel or processed hot mastic to ensure waterproofing).

Nose modern caissons For cellars the situation is somewhat different, because... Thermal insulation measures may damage the seal of the tank.

However, insulating them is also important, because the walls easily transmit both heat and cold. Since the caisson is a solid structure, it does not require waterproofing. From the point of view of the material used, caissons for the cellar can be (types):

plastic (made of polymer materials);
reinforced concrete (made of concrete rings);
metal (steel).

It should be taken into account that materials have different heat loss rates.

In this case, the caisson cellar can have the shape of a cube or cylinder, which affects the choice of heat insulator. To insulate a caisson for a cellar, you can use bulk, rigid and sprayed insulation. Let's consider ways to use them in descending order of popularity:

hard insulation. They are used in cases where the caisson has the shape of a cube, square, rectangle with smooth walls. The insulation is glued to the surface of the caisson. The caisson is placed in the ground, the distance between it and the soil is filled;

bulk insulation: soil, expanded clay, sand, peat soil. In this case, the caisson is placed in the ground, and the distance between its walls and the soil is filled up;

sprayed insulation - polyurethane foam. Provide the most effective thermal insulation. But the disadvantage of PPU insulation is high price and the need to attract specialists with special equipment.

The indicated types of thermal insulation materials are suitable for insulating a metal cellar, as well as insulating a plastic cellar. The construction market offers cellars made of plastic with insulation, which eliminates the need to carry out insulation work with your own hands; it is enough to carry out the installation correctly.

Conclusion

An insulated cellar in a country house or in the courtyard of a private house is a guarantee that winter preparations will be safe and sound, despite the cold or heat “overboard”.

For high-quality storage of crops and homemade products in the cellar during the cold season, it is necessary to maintain an optimal temperature in it. If the work related to the arrangement and insulation of this building is carried out correctly, the surfaces of its walls and ceiling will not be covered with condensation and there will be a sufficient volume of fresh air.

Warming the cellar from freezing

Owners of private households and country houses It is possible to equip your own basement structure, designed for storing seasonal harvests of fruits and vegetables, preparations and various food supplies. In order for all internal and external surfaces in it to be reliably protected from moisture accumulation and freezing, you need to know how to insulate the ceiling, door and walls in the cellar.

It is possible to create an optimal microclimate in such a storage facility if it is properly constructed and insulated. A well-equipped cellar is a guarantee that harvested will be preserved completely regardless of the weather outside.

When deciding how to insulate a basement, you should take into account its type, which can be:

ground;
underground;
buried.

It is easiest to insulate a ground-based object, since in this case it is possible to install thermal insulation inside and outside it. In turn, a buried basement requires not only insulation, but also waterproofing of surfaces. Most good option arrangement of the cellar - underground or bulk, since then positive temperature conditions are constantly maintained.

Despite the differences in storage types described above, their design has a roof, floor and ceiling. Therefore, when performing insulation, all these surfaces should be insulated in accordance with the operating characteristics of the building.

For example, during the construction of a ground structure Special attention They pay attention to insulating the cellar - the ceiling, roof and walls in it, and for external work they use polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam. Before thermal insulation of a buried storage facility, waterproofing is carried out, since there is a high probability of flooding.

The process of arranging an underground facility is considered the most labor-intensive - it involves partial excavation of the soil that surrounds the walls and roof, with the subsequent construction of a protective barrier that prevents the penetration of moisture.

Waterproofing surfaces in storage

The deeper the cellar is planned, the more serious the requirements for its waterproofing. If everything is done correctly at the construction stage, then the cost of thermal insulation will be negligible.

The fact is that it is much more difficult to bring an already damp storage facility into proper condition. Therefore, before starting construction work you need to find out the depth of groundwater and soil freezing in winter time years in a specific place.

If the groundwater level is low, it is enough to pour a concrete floor and plaster and whitewash the surface of the walls. Roofing felt is used for waterproofing.

When groundwater is located close to the surface, then it is necessary to plaster the walls on both sides - internal and external. They also need to be covered in several layers with roofing felt based on bitumen mastic and pressed against a wall made of red brick. In order to ensure additional protection on brickwork Apply crumpled fatty clay in a layer 20 centimeters high.

If the storage facility is built on sandy, drainable soil, it cement walls cover in two layers bitumen mastic and immediately sprinkle with coarse sand.

The buried cellar is additionally waterproofed before insulation is carried out. The fact is that the walls of such buildings are located half in the ground, which means there is a risk of flooding with groundwater. To prevent such a situation from developing, you should underground part free the walls from soil, cover them with roofing felt or treat them with a waterproofing compound.

Then they install polyurethane foam or rigid insulation, cover it again with roofing felt and cover it with earth. In addition to all the above measures to minimize the impact high humidity for the cellar, experts advise creating a drainage system.

Insulating the basement from freezing from the inside

To inner space the object was protected from freezing, the cellar should be insulated - the ceiling, walls, floor and all other structural elements through which heat usually leaks. To do this, use roofing felt, expanded clay or rigid thermal insulation materials. The process of insulating various internal surfaces of a building has its own characteristics.

In the cellar it will be necessary to insulate:

ceiling plane;
walls;
door.

Floor insulation

As many years of practice have proven, the optimal method of thermal insulation of a floor in a home cellar is the use of expanded clay from the point of view of the relationship between its cost and quality.

This technology involves the following stages:

A layer is poured onto an already prepared concrete floor with exposed beacons expanded clay gravel, having fractions from 5 to 20 millimeters. Its height depends on the planned load on the floor.
Expanded clay is covered with a vapor barrier film extending onto the inner wall. In this case, the size of the overlap is made in accordance with the thickness of the backfill.
The beacons are installed along the film, and the first of them is placed at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from the wall, and the rest - at a distance that is equal to the length of the rule for leveling the concrete solution.
Reinforced screed poured, focusing on the beacons - its thickness is determined taking into account the expected load.

In some cases, the bulk floor is insulated using sand and crushed stone. To do this, it is filled with hot bitumen, which performs a waterproofing function. A crushed stone-sand cushion is laid on top of it and carefully compacted.

The layer of crushed stone should be 10 centimeters, and the layer of sand – 5 centimeters. Next, a rigid heat insulator, such as polystyrene foam or penoplex, is placed on the pillow, which must be filled with reinforced concrete screed.

Ceiling insulation

Since the ceiling of a buried cellar is the most vulnerable place through which heat leaks, insulation of the basement ceiling should be done in two layers.

Thermal insulation work is carried out in a certain sequence:

Plastering the ceiling surface.
Treatment of concrete floor slabs or wooden beams with a penetrating waterproofing primer.
Laying rigid insulation in one layer.
Covering thermal insulation with mounting mesh.

Finally, the ceiling is whitewashed with lime, to which a little copper sulfate is added.

Wall insulation

Thermal insulation of basement walls is a labor-intensive process - in this case, it requires preliminary preparation. To do this, the storage is completely emptied, all racks and shelves are removed from it. Then they carefully inspect the walls to detect defects and eliminate all existing cracks and protrusions, foaming or knocking them down.

The preparatory stage must be carried out efficiently, since all remaining errors on the surface of the walls significantly affect correct installation insulation. Next, they begin to arrange the waterproofing by applying a special mastic and only then begin laying the foam using dowels or an adhesive composition.

When attaching heat-insulating material, start from the bottom row, moving upward. In this case, in each next row the foam plate is shifted by half of the product. The joints are treated with foam, and the insulated surface is covered with a polymer mesh and then plastered.

Thermal insulation of a basement door

In the case when the door leading to the cellar is located on outdoors, it should be insulated. This process is carried out using rigid thermal insulation materials. They are attached to the door and sheathed on top with plastic, plywood or wood.

You need to pay attention to the presence of gaps between door frame and the door. If they are found, it is necessary to use a special door insulation. It is also necessary to check the door for spontaneous opening, since all the work to preserve heat will be in vain.

Insulating the cellar lid

Foam or polystyrene foam is usually used as an insulating material to prevent heat loss, which can be easily fixed with glue. They are decorated on top wooden elements or plastic. It is advisable to make sure that the hatch cover fits tightly to the hole. Existing cracks are covered with door seal tape.

Materials for self-insulation

When choosing how to insulate a basement ceiling, it is very important that the materials are of high quality. Since the domestic market for construction products offers a wide range of modern thermal insulators, purchasing them will not be difficult.

Most insulation materials used in basement construction are acceptable not only in quality, but also in cost:

Styrofoam;
mineral wool and fiberglass;
polyurethane foam.

Styrofoam

This insulation is the most popular among consumers. It has been used in the construction industry for a long time and is valued for its quality, ease of installation and affordable cost. But all these advantages do not allow the use of polystyrene foam for thermal insulation of basements, since it is not able to properly protect underground storage facilities from moisture and cold.

You need to know that water that gets on this insulation freezes on its surface and, as a result, destroys it. For this reason, the use of foam plastic in underground storage rooms is impossible without the use of hydro- and vapor barrier films. Taking into account the above, it is clear that as a thermal insulation material it can be used exclusively when solving the problem of how to insulate the ceiling in the basement.

Mineral wool and fiberglass

Another popular building material is mineral wool. It is accessible to many consumers due to its low price. Mineral wool is distinguished by fire resistance, vapor permeability, environmental friendliness, thermal conductivity and a high degree of sound insulation. In addition, it is non-hygroscopic. This insulation is strong and durable, it is easy to install on any surfaces of different configurations.

When working with mineral wool, the home craftsman must provide respiratory protection, since the smallest particles of this material like dust rise into the air. Inhaling them by humans can lead to health problems.

Also, this type of insulation emits such a harmful component as phenol. For this reason, it is necessary to work with it in a respirator, and cover the heat-insulated surface with a vapor-proof polyvinyl chloride film.

Glass wool is a type of mineral wool. She is elastic and durable material, consisting of fragile glass threads that, breaking, dig into skin and eyes. When working with glass wool, you should take precautions - wear long sleeves, a respirator, gloves, and goggles.

Polyurethane foam

A frequently used thermal insulation material is polyurethane foam (abbreviated PUF). Its popularity is explained by such advantages as biological neutrality, ensuring the tightness of the furnished premises, and high-quality protection from moisture.

Since polyurethane foam is applied to the surface as a monolithic layer, the resulting coating quickly hardens and has no visible joints and seams. Even in the case of direct contact with moisture, this insulation does not succumb to mold and is resistant to rotting processes.

Polyurethane foam can be used for interior and exterior work. PU foam has one drawback, which is the method of its application. The fact is that its installation requires expensive equipment, operating under high pressure. Construction companies can afford to purchase it. But this minus is insignificant compared to the effective result obtained.

Creating ventilation in an insulated cellar

Home storage of harvest and winter preparations certainly requires a reliable ventilation system. It is especially necessary for an insulated cellar, since due to the constant above-zero temperature, air humidity increases in it, as a result of which mold appears.

To prevent this, it is necessary to create vents - ventilation holes - even at the construction stage of the storage facility. them in winter period closed, but kept open at other times of the year.

Eg, supply and exhaust ventilation provides inflow and outflow of fresh air masses, A normal temperature provided in other ways. Can be insulated ventilation duct mineral wool and cover with waterproofing material. As a result, the ventilation system will function smoothly and efficiently, and the temperature in the cellar will always be comfortable.

Types of polystyrene foam, scope of application and process of its production. Advantages and disadvantages of thermal insulation material. Right choice insulator and technology for insulating floors, ceilings, external and internal walls of the basement.

The content of the article:

Insulating the basement with polystyrene foam is a procedure that protects the room from the penetration of cold air and the occurrence of dampness. The material is affordable and easy to install. Since thermal insulation work does not require special skills, even a beginner can handle it. You just need to choose the right polystyrene foam, prepare the necessary tools and follow our recommendations during insulation. We will consider all these points in our article.

Description and production of polystyrene foam

Styrofoam - universal material, used in many areas of construction. It is indispensable for insulating various ceilings, walls, floors and other structures. Since it is resistant to dampness, it is often used to protect basements without losing its first-class performance properties for many years.

There are several types of material: granulated polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, polypropylene foam, polyethylene foam. All of the listed types can be used to insulate basements. The most common and well-known is granulated polystyrene foam, which is familiar to us from childhood.

The material is produced in the form of sheets of various thicknesses and strengths, which are manufactured in several stages:

Foaming. The raw materials are placed in a special container for several minutes, the granules under pressure increase significantly, after which the foamed material is unloaded.
Drying. A jet of hot air removes any moisture remaining on the granules, and additionally shakes them. In some cases this procedure is not performed.
Tracking. This is placing the pellets in a hopper. The duration of the procedure depends on their size and air temperature. Duration on average is up to 12 hours.
Molding. Combining the granules by placing them for about 10 minutes in special forms in which, under the influence high temperature and the steam they sinter.
aging. Relieving the material of internal stress and excess moisture. The sheets are stacked for a period of from several days to a month in production premises.
cutting. This The final stage, produced using heated nichrome strings allowing you to vertically or horizontally cut the material into sheets of the required length, thickness, width.

Styrofoam - unique material, having the following advantages: low weight, first-class thermal insulation properties, good moisture resistance, affordable cost.

This one has finishing material and some disadvantages: release of vapors when heated, poor fire resistance and release of toxic substances during combustion, susceptibility to mechanical damage. Despite the shortcomings of polystyrene foam, they are fully compensated by its advantages. Moreover, when insulating a basement, not all of its negative aspects are relevant.

Important! The process of making polystyrene foam is not too labor-intensive. The construction market offers a wide range of all varieties of this material, ideal for basement insulation.

Why is basement insulation required?

Long-term use of the basement is unthinkable without its high-quality insulation. The procedure is necessary both when there is a recessed room directly in a private house, and when it separate location. Otherwise, within a few years, under the influence of dampness and temperature changes, it will become unusable.

Basement insulation allows you to maintain a constant microclimate in the room at any time of the year - protecting you from frost in winter, and from penetration in summer. warm air. Thanks to this, the temperature in the basement is maintained at 2-4 degrees, which is optimal for storing many products.

A constant microclimate is also important to combat dampness. Indeed, with temperature fluctuations, condensation will certainly appear on the walls and ceiling of the room. To achieve greater resistance of the room to moisture, take care of high-quality waterproofing and ventilation. Otherwise, even foam insulation will not be able to protect the basement from dampness, especially if the groundwater is shallow.

To achieve long term basement services and create a microclimate in it that is optimal for storing food, you should not only properly insulate the room, but also equip stable ventilation and improve its waterproofing.

Basement insulation technology with foam plastic

You can achieve first-class thermal insulation for your basement by installing polystyrene foam not only on the interior and exterior walls, but also on the floor and ceiling. Let us consider in detail the technology of work for each structure separately.

Foam selection

Some people, wanting to save money, buy foam plastic for the basement from dubious manufacturers in places not intended for trading in such material. This is risky as the products may be of poor quality and you will only end up wasting your money. To buy quality material, purchase it only at specialized retail outlets.

When choosing polystyrene foam, remember that high-quality products are distinguished by a uniform white color and consist of granules same size. If the color has a yellowish tint and the granules do not adhere tightly, the quality of the insulator is in question.

Keep in mind that for high-quality thermal insulation of the basement you will need to attach not one, but several layers of material. This is the only way to ensure it reliable waterproofing and a strong grip.

Pay attention to the manufacturer. Buy products from well-known, well-established brands in the construction market. Thanks to this, you will be confident in the quality and durability of the material.

Important! Remember, buying high-quality insulation is the key to reliable thermal insulation and long service life.

Preparatory work and necessary tools

Before insulating the basement with polystyrene foam, the base surface must be prepared. To protect walls and mold from fungus and mold ceilings The premises are treated with an antiseptic. Please note that when carrying out this procedure you should wear a respirator, as the composition is harmful to health.

Don't forget about sustainable natural or forced ventilation, otherwise the air in the basement will be too humid. Ventilation holes are usually located on opposite walls basement In warm weather they are open, and in cold weather they are closed from the inside with rags.

Before starting work, prepare the necessary tools and materials. In addition to sheets of foam plastic, you will also need: a saw, a stapler, an ax, construction knife, nails, hammer, glue, board approximately 4 cm thick, primer, painting reinforcing mesh, dowels, painting corners, finishing.

Important! By preparing everything listed above in advance, you will not waste time purchasing necessary tools and materials during installation.

Protecting the basement with foam from the inside

Insulating the basement from the inside is an important component of the thermal insulation of the room, which cannot be neglected.

Let's look at the features internal protection basement:

Floor. Installing foam plastic on the floor of the room protects it from the penetration of groundwater. Before fixing the insulation, it is laid on the surface waterproofing material, for example, PVC film, roofing felt. The thickness of the foam layer is approximately 5 centimeters. After installing the insulation along the perimeter at the level of the foundation, they lay drainage pipes designed to drain water.
Ceiling. If the basement is located in the house, insulating the basement ceiling helps protect the living room floor from the cold. Before installation, dirt is removed from the base surface and existing defects are eliminated. Next, the ceiling is marked and its center is determined using two diagonally drawn lines. A special glue is used to fix the foam to the surface. Having applied the composition to the product, it is immediately applied to the ceiling. To cut the material, use a regular construction knife. After laying the insulation, putty is first applied to it, and then paint.
Walls. Installation of foam plastic on interior walls a basement located in the building reduces heat loss in residential areas. Before installing it, the surface of the walls is carefully prepared. It is cleaned of dirt and significant defects are eliminated. Laying the material begins from the bottom of the wall. Seams between products are minimal. For fixation, a special glue is used, which is generously applied to the material. Then the reinforcing mesh is installed, the adhesive is applied again, and after it has completely dried, the surface is grouted. The base is leveled with a special mixture, primed and finished. For more reliable fixation of foam and increased durability of use, plastic dowels are used.

Basement insulation with foam plastic from outside

For insulation of external basement walls, polystyrene foam is indispensable. After all, many similar thermal insulation materials, for example, mineral wool or expanded clay, have poor moisture resistance and are not able to cope with soil pressure.

First, the waterproofing is laid, and only then the insulation itself, glued along the entire perimeter. A special mastic is applied to the lower part of the material located in the ground. The installed insulation is plastered and covered with panels.

There are several rules for basement insulation that should be followed to achieve the desired result. The recommendations are as follows:

The outer walls of the basement should be insulated only in dry weather.
When installing foam, use moisture-repellent mastic. It is applied both pointwise and over the entire surface of the material. The second option is more preferable, as it allows you to protect the foam from deformation due to soil pressure.

Surface finishing

Having coped with the insulation of the floor, ceiling, internal and external walls, proceed to finishing. Using a coarse grater, remove all irregularities and excess glue that are on the foam, apply a layer of primer to the material. After waiting for it to dry, proceed to puttying work. Apply the putty evenly over the entire surface of the material, in a layer up to 3 mm thick.

Then apply the reinforcing mesh to the surface and drown it in the solution using a spatula. Reinforce small areas of the surface (no more than 2 meters), and overlap the mesh at the joints, completely hiding them under a layer of putty. Next, carefully level the surface.

Having dealt with the reinforcement, wait for the solution to dry completely, carefully treat the surface with sandpaper, clearing the wall of sagging and unevenness, reapply the primer, and then a special leveling mixture.

Important! Upon completion of finishing you will receive a well-insulated, perfectly flat surface.

How to insulate a basement with polystyrene foam - watch the video:

Foam insulation is the key to a stable microclimate in the basement at any time of the year. Reliable thermal insulation protects it from temperature fluctuations, moisture penetration, condensation, and dampness, significantly increasing the service life of the booster. When choosing a material, pay attention to the manufacturing company, its color, and the size of the granules. The installation process is quite simple, does not require special skills or tools, and the price of insulation is affordable for everyone. Follow the recommendations outlined, and the desired result will be achieved.