Knife for cutting mineral wool insulation. Recommendations from experts on working with mineral wool insulation

There are always a lot of questions about what and how to cut mineral wool. Especially for those who are going to build housing on their own (for example, frame housing, which involves assembling it yourself). After all, in its structure it is a fibrous material, which also has a certain thickness. Ordinary table knives or scissors designed for cutting cardboard or thick fabrics are completely unsuitable here.

However, before you start cutting mineral wool, it is important to deliver it correctly to the construction site. Indeed, otherwise, the material, brought to the state of defect, will not have to be cut, but simply replaced with a new one. And these are additional costs.

The science is simple, but very important. So:

slabs and mats are transported horizontally;
the truck must have a protective awning;
transportation is carried out only in packaged form;
during transportation, loading and unloading operations, it is important not to compress the insulation too much;
unpack the mineral wool immediately before starting insulation work.

What will we cut with?

This can be done with different devices, depending on the thickness of the mineral wool.

Thin materials (no more than 50 mm):

Denser and thicker materials:

special knives about 300 mm long. They are often offered by manufacturers of insulating materials. This tool has teeth different sizes for cutting mineral wool different thicknesses and density;
saws with straight teeth;
hacksaw for metal;
cutting machines. Used when cutting elements complex shape. However, for self-construction own home, that is, for one-time use, purchase so expensive equipment impractical - you will have to adapt to the capabilities of other tools.

How to cut

at self-construction, when the workers do not have sufficient experience, it is advisable to consult with specialists before starting cutting, especially if the presence of pieces of complex shape is expected. This will help prevent unnecessary consumption of insulation;
the cutting tool must be well sharpened so that the mineral wool does not tear into fibers and generates less dust;
when cutting insulation, it should be taken into account that in order to ensure a tight covering of the insulated space with mineral wool, it is necessary to leave allowances of about 2 cm;
It is better to cut rolled mineral wool before unrolling it;
mineral wool slabs must be removed from the packaging and cut one at a time;
It is not recommended to cut mineral wool “for future use” - for the entire volume of work at once. This increases the risk of accidental damage to its shape when additional shifting from place to place or stacking pieces on top of each other.

It is important to create a safe working environment

This is really important. As in any business, following simple safety precautions will help maintain health and carry out work in optimal timing and at a high quality level. What you need to pay attention to:

It is better to cut insulation in cool weather, since for work it is necessary to wear a protective suit made of dense material, which will prevent skin contact with the fibers of the mineral wool and its irritation;
To protect your hands, wear special gloves - with silicone or rubber coating on the palms;
To protect your eyes you will need special glasses;
The respiratory system will be protected by a respirator.

Such measures must be observed, since when cutting insulation, particles of material rise into the air from under the knives. Which can get into the eyes, respiratory tract, and also cause skin irritation.

In addition, it is important to remember:

when working with this type of insulation, you need to periodically take a break, during which you ventilate the room;
the cut pieces must be rearranged carefully, without throwing them, in order to reduce the amount of fibrous suspension in the air;
There should be no children on the construction site at this time, even in protective equipment.

As can be seen from the above, there is nothing overly complicated in cutting mineral wool. If you follow the indicated rules, it will not be difficult to perform the work efficiently and safely.

The manufacturer of mineral wool insulation TM "Beltep" ensures that thermal insulation materials with wide possibilities use. However, practice has shown that the possibilities of mineral wool insulation can become almost limitless if you follow the recommendations listed below when installing it.

How much mineral wool is in one package?

Products trademark"Beltep" is produced in the form of rolled mats or slabs packed in packs. The number of slabs in a pack directly depends on the thickness of the material. As a rule, one pack weighs 10-70 kilograms and occupies a volume of 0.3-0.4 m3. In order to determine as accurately as possible how many packs of mineral wool insulation are needed, you need to look through the Beltep product catalog, which presents tables with exact calculations for mats or slabs of all sizes and types.

How to cut mineral wool insulation?

It is recommended to cut stone wool insulation with a special long and sharp knife or a hacksaw for metal. When cutting the insulation, you must remember so that during installation thermal insulation material densely fills the entire insulated space, it is necessary to leave an allowance: for mats - 1-2 cm, for slabs - 0.5 cm. It is best to cut insulation in the form of rolls before it is unrolled. But it is recommended to cut the slabs not in packs, but separately (that is, one at a time).

Does stone wool get wet or not?

In general, stone wool handles water quite well. If drops of water fall on its surface, they simply roll off it, like from the hood of a polished car. However, only on the condition that the water has somewhere to roll off. With prolonged contact with water (for example, if stone wool is in water for several hours in a row), this insulation will get wet, which will have a most negative impact on thermal insulation characteristics stone wool. Therefore, when carrying out work using mineral wool, it is recommended to carefully ensure that the material comes into contact with water as little as possible.

How to properly transport and store mineral wool insulation?

Mineral wool insulation must be transported in cars closed type. At the same time, they must be well secured and reliably protected from exposure to precipitation. Mineral wool mats are very convenient to transport, since they are packed in a compressed state, and, as a result, take up less space. During storage, mineral wool must be protected from moisture, so it is recommended to store it in closed, dry rooms. Stone wool in the form of slabs for storage is stacked in stacks no more than 2 meters high, and roll insulation is installed in one row in a vertical position. During storage, it is advisable to avoid walking on hard slabs, and walking on soft mineral wool is strictly prohibited, as this can damage the integrity of the thermal insulation material.

Does basalt wool have high fire resistance ratings?

One of the main advantages of basalt wool is its highest, compared to other types of heat insulating materials, fire resistance. Basalt wool fibers can withstand temperatures up to 1500 degrees. For comparison, metal begins to melt at a temperature of 1535 degrees.

What safety equipment should be used when working with mineral wool insulation?

Mineral wool is a material that produces dust during the cutting and installation process. Therefore, when working with it, it is recommended:

wear protective clothing, gloves, safety glasses and a mask covering the nose and mouth;
provide good ventilation workplace;
After finishing work with mineral wool insulation, wash your hands thoroughly and remove dust from work clothes.

You can achieve the maximum thermal insulation effect when using mineral wool if:

for thermal insulation flat roof lay mineral wool slabs in two layers;
for heat and sound insulation wooden floor use granulated mineral wool;
use two-layer insulation for thermal insulation of exploited attics;
accurately trim mineral wool slabs to avoid the occurrence of “cold bridges”;
used for insulation of enclosing structures frame type soft mineral wool;
carefully study the information written on the packaging about the properties of materials and optimal conditions for its operation

The construction of any house involves minimizing heat losses. This problem is solved using various types insulation materials, among which mineral wool is considered the most popular.

It is reliable and long term service, as it perfectly resists fire and rotting. You can get acquainted with the main technical characteristics of mineral wool on the website http://www.minvatka.com.

Insulation classification

Mineral wool is a product that has a fibrous structure. This allows you to achieve high-quality heat and sound insulation.

There are several types of such insulation:

Glass mineral wool. The product is made from thin threads of molten glass.
Stone mineral wool. The main component of this substance is melts of various rocks.
Slag mineral wool is obtained from blast furnace slag.

All types of this insulation emit small particles of fibers and phenol-formaldehyde resins into the air. This can be the cause of various diseases. To minimize the impact of these substances, when laying it, it is isolated using special films.

Cutting tools

Processing mineral wool is not very complicated, which allows you to do all the work yourself. You can cut insulation with several tools:

Stationery knife. Suitable only for thin sheets material.
Hacksaw for metal. With its help you can process wool with a thickness of more than 50 mm.
Special knives. Outwardly, they largely resemble saws with fine teeth. But at the same time they do not move to the side and are located in one line.
Bread knife. In the absence of any other tool, this product can also cope perfectly with mineral wool.

It should be noted that all blades must be very sharp. This will minimize the pulling of fibers from the mat structure. Experts recommend cutting before the roll is unrolled.

If you need to obtain elements of complex shapes, then it is better to use special cutting machines. They can process cotton wool not only in a straight line, but also in a circle. This is very important, especially in industrial production. If this is a one-time task, then purchasing such a tool will be inappropriate and it is better to use available material.

It is important to consult with a professional before cutting to minimize the cost of sheets used.

To achieve the required thermal insulation of a flat roof, mineral wool slabs are sometimes laid in two layers.

Sound insulation of wooden floors can be provided by granulated mineral wool.

Slabs with ventilation grooves are practical.

Slabs with variable cross-sections are used to give the roof a slope for water drainage.

Two-layer mineral wool insulation is also used in used attics.

Lamellar mineral wool board is used primarily for insulating walls in “wet” type insulation systems.

If the building is one-story, there is no need to leave a ventilation gap in the three-layer wall.

The broken lines applied to the surface of mineral wool products greatly simplify the cutting and measuring process.

Mineral wool slabs must be precisely trimmed so that after installation, cracks do not form between them, acting as “cold bridges.”

Soft, resilient mineral wool is excellent for sound insulation frame walls and insulation of walls from the inside.

How much mineral wool insulation is in one pack?

The mats are rolled into rolls, the slabs are packed into packs of several pieces depending on the thickness of the slab. Typically, one pack occupies a volume of about 0.3–0.4 m3 and weighs from 10 to 70 kg. To find out how many packs are needed to perform insulation, just go online to the manufacturer’s website or look at its catalog: there are tables with calculations for slabs and mats of all types and sizes.

Insulation - under the knife

Mineral wool insulation is cut with a long sharp knife or hacksaw. It is necessary to leave an allowance: about 0.5 cm in slabs and 1–2 cm in mats, so that after installation the material tightly fills the insulated space. Roll insulation It's easier to cut before it's unrolled than after. It is better to cut the slabs one at a time, each separately.

Transportation and storage

Mineral wool insulation materials must be transported in closed vehicles. They must be well protected from precipitation and well secured during transportation. Mineral wool mats and felts are compressed in packages during transportation and storage, which significantly reduces the volume they occupy. It is necessary to protect mineral wool from moisture, so it is better to store it in dry, indoors. The slabs are stacked one on top of the other in stacks no higher than 2 m, and the mats and rolls are installed vertically in one row. You should avoid walking on hard slabs and you should absolutely not walk on laid out soft mineral wool - it can be easily damaged.

It is important to know

Safety precautions when working with mineral wool

Mineral wool is a dust-emitting material. Therefore, during its cutting and installation it is necessary:

wear gloves and protective clothing;
When laying slabs, wear safety glasses and a mask over your mouth and nose;
ensure good ventilation in the workplace;
After finishing work with mineral wool, wash your hands thoroughly and remove dust from clothes.

svestnik.kz

Scheme of basalt insulation.

thermal insulation and hydrophobization. The first parameter is from 0.042 to 0.048 W/mK. Other known insulation materials(for example, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam). Mineral wool is not able to accumulate moisture (hygroscopicity is less than 1%), which makes its weight unchanged. Distinctive feature can be called vapor permeability, which guarantees insulation and at the same time intensive moisture exchange between the external environment and the walls of the building;

To cut basalt insulation, it is best to use a mounting knife.

Insulation scheme using basalt wool.

Based on materials from the site: http://1poteply.ru

fix-builder.ru

What will we cut with?

On an industrial scale, special machine equipment is used to cut mineral insulation. Let's consider how to cut mineral wool insulation yourself at home.

Often a mounting knife is used to cut mineral wool. But it has one drawback - a short blade, which is not suitable for working with thick insulation boards. In addition, the blade quickly becomes dull and requires replacement.

Sometimes a special hacksaw is used for wood or metal, and craftsmen found how to cut mineral wool at home - a kitchen serrated knife for cutting bread.

Knife with stainless steel blade

Knife for cutting insulation with a long blade made of durable of stainless steel suitable for working with mineral wool of any thickness. To cut insulation of different hardness, larger and smaller teeth are located on each side. This blade easily penetrates the thickness of the slab, allowing you to make even shaped cuts thanks to its sharp tip.

Knife with carbon steel blade

Knife for cutting mineral wool with a blade made of carbon steel It has high quality cutting and easy to sharpen. However, it requires more careful care compared to a stainless steel blade, as it is susceptible to rust. It must be wiped dry after each use and lubricated.

For example: MORA knife for cutting mineral wool

The Swedish company MORA produces tools for cutting mineral insulation. Knife with blade stainless steel is used for cutting stone and glass mineral wool. The blade is made of special cold-rolled stainless steel and has a serrated sharpening. The ergonomic and comfortable plastic handle is suitable for working with gloves. Its characteristics:

total length - 500 mm;
blade length - 335 mm;
blade thickness - 1 mm;
weight - 0.238 kg.

Knife with blade Carbon steel is used for cutting different types of mineral insulation. It has a smooth blade made of high-quality carbon steel with a length of 350 mm. The plastic handle provides a good grip when wearing work gloves.

How to cut mineral wool

Mineral wool has a fiber structure, and accordingly, when it is cut, small particles of these fibers enter the air. To prevent them from getting into the respiratory tract and onto the skin, it is important to create safe conditions works:

ensure good ventilation in the work area;
use special clothing and protective equipment - overalls, gloves, mask or respirator, goggles;
immediately after finishing work, wash thoroughly cold water hands and then face.

To minimize the amount of harmful dust in the air, cutting mineral wool should be done with tools with a well-sharpened, sharp working edge. It is better to cut across the grain.

To obtain stripes of the same width mineral insulation, produced in rolls, it is recommended to first cut directly in the roll, without unfolding, and cut mineral wool slabs one at a time.

To ensure smooth and precise cuts, you must first mark the material or cut directly along a ruler.

What to do with scraps and remains of mineral wool

If there are scraps left after working with mineral wool, you can use them to insulate, for example, a garage or shed. Some people choose this budget option for insulation, so they can sell the leftovers at a low price.

There is also the option of recycling waste to reuse. In this case, the remains of mineral wool slabs are crushed using special equipment.

uteplix.com

Necessary information for working with mineral wool

The specificity of the installation of mineral wool, its transportation and storage is to provide the conditions necessary to preserve its qualities for the longest possible time. Typically, recommendations are given by manufacturers for a specific brand and type of material, but there are a number of simple universal rules which must be observed when working specifically with mineral wool.

Basalt mineral wool: transport and store correctly

Transportation with subsequent storage has its own characteristics, since mineral wool for insulation can quickly absorb moisture from the air. Therefore, transporting it in closed vehicles with subsequent storage in dry rooms is prerequisite to prevent loss of the most important qualities.

Mats should be transported and stored compressed and in packages - this makes it possible to reduce the occupied volume.

The slabs should be laid in stacks less than 2 m high; roll packages and mats should be installed in a vertical position.

It is prohibited to walk on laid out and unpackaged mineral wool, as it may be damaged.

Cutting mineral wool

Today you can buy mineral wool both in rolls and in the form of slabs and mats. To adjust it to required size You should use a sharp long knife or hacksaw, leaving allowances along the edges (1-2 cm in mats, 0.5 cm in slabs). Allowances are necessary to completely fill the cut piece of mineral wool into the insulated space.

It is easier to cut mineral wool in rolls before unrolling it, and it is better to cut the slabs individually.

Amount of insulation

Packaging of mineral wool is done by rolling mats of the same size into rolls, while slabs in a pack can be different quantities depending on their thickness. On average, a pack has a volume of 0.3-0.4 m 3, its weight is 12-70 kg.

To calculate the number of packs of such insulation, you can use catalogs provided by manufacturers on the Internet. There are tables on the most accurate calculation required material(both in the form of slabs and mats of various sizes).

Safety precautions when working with mineral wool

You should know that there are special safety precautions when working with this material, which prevents its negative impact on human health: basalt mineral wool emits dust, which is extremely dangerous for people working with it.

When cutting and further installing this insulation, the following rules should be observed:

use protective clothing made of thick fabric and construction gloves;
When laying slabs, wear special glasses over your eyes and a protective mask over your face;
After work, be sure to wash your hands, change clothes or clean them thoroughly.

Good ventilation in the workplace avoids negative influence dust from mineral wool on human health.

Since the technical characteristics of mineral wool vary from different manufacturers can vary significantly, there are several practical advice, making it possible to obtain high-quality insulation for any initial mineral wool data.

These include:

When insulating a flat roof, mineral wool should be laid in two layers.
To increase the degree of sound insulation, it is recommended to use granulated mineral wool.
The most practical are slabs with ventilation grooves.
During construction one-story building three-layer wall may not have a ventilation slot.
Used attics are most often insulated with two layers of mineral wool.
Precise cutting of mineral wool slabs guarantees the absence of cracks and the likelihood of “cold bridges” occurring.

The presence of broken lines on the insulation boards facilitates the process of measuring and subsequent cutting.

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Operational features of basalt wool

Basalt and other rocks of its group are used for production. Thin fibers are taken, into the melt of which limestone (10-15%) or charge is added. Additives increase the resistance of the material to excessive high temperature, aggressive environment. The result is an insulation material with fairly high performance characteristics:

thermal insulation and hydrophobization. The first parameter is from 0.042 to 0.048 W/mK. Other well-known insulation materials (for example, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam) have approximately the same characteristics. Mineral wool is not able to accumulate moisture (hygroscopicity is less than 1%), which makes its weight unchanged. A distinctive feature is vapor permeability, which guarantees insulation and at the same time intense moisture exchange between the external environment and the walls of the building;
density, strength. The insulation has sufficient density (from 30 to 100 kg/cubic m), which guarantees high thermal insulation properties with optimal strength. The rigidity of the material is ensured by the direction of the fibers; they are located in horizontal and vertical directions;
soundproofing. Good characteristics noise protection is achieved due to the porous structure of the wool;
resistance to aggressive environments. Vata is “indifferent” to alkali and acids; does not rot, is not affected by fungus. Rodents also avoid this insulation;
fire resistance. Basalt wool able to withstand heating up to +700°C. This protects the structure from complete destruction in a fire and gives time for residents to evacuate;
health safety. In production, resins containing harmful substances (formaldehyde, phenol) are used. However, adherence to the technology requires their introduction into the insulation composition in a chemically bound state. The substances become completely neutral in relation to the environment and do not pose a danger to humans.

However, if mineral wool is produced by handicraft methods, then there is a health hazard. Therefore, it is more advisable to purchase material from trusted manufacturers.

External wall insulation technology

Insulating the façade with cotton wool is done using glue and special dowels with a large head. The material is supplied in the form of rolls or slabs, which are cut into pieces of the required size. You will also need a metal profile or wooden blocks, between which the insulation will be fixed. You can cut the material with an ordinary sharpened knife. However, if the density is high enough (80-100 kg/cubic m), then you will have to cut it using a hacksaw. Insulation of the facade is carried out in the following order:

wall mounted vapor barrier film; it must release moisture under the mineral wool slabs and prevent cold air from entering the house;
then wooden blocks or a metal profile are attached to the wall in a vertical position. Their width should correspond to the thickness of the insulation. The interval between the posts should be such that the mineral wool is inserted with little effort;
The insulation is fastened with glue and special dowels if the wall is stone, or with nails (screws) with large washers if the surface is wooden. For 1 sq. m you need 5-6 pieces;
It is recommended to lay a windproof membrane on the fixed basalt wool, the joints of which are taped with adhesive tape;
to ensure ventilation under subsequent decorative coating It is advisable to make a counter-lattice over the slabs from wooden blocks or a metal profile 10-15 mm high.

This technology is suitable when facade insulation under siding is required. However, in some cases, for example, in multi-storey buildings, it is necessary to secure the insulation more firmly. In this case, it is additionally fixed to the surface with glue, and reinforcement is carried out at the same time. This operation strengthens the structure, extinguishes thermal expansion material, which can promote the formation of cracks and increase thermal conductivity.

Reinforcement is made on the already installed insulation using special glue and mesh that is resistant to alkali. First, glue is applied on which the mesh is laid, then it is covered with another layer of adhesive. Final decorative finishing can be produced using facade paint, decorative plaster.

Features of installing mineral wool insulation

The manufacturer produces the material in the form of rolls or slabs. Mineral wool insulation is used for walls, roofing or interior partitions. In the latter case, mainly to achieve good soundproofing parameters of the structure. During installation, the requirements for insulation are taken into account, which you need to know before purchasing:

installation in sloping roof involves the use of cotton wool with a density of at least 30-40 kg/m3. m, otherwise the material will simply sag over time. Recommended thickness - 15 cm;
the arrangement of partitions should be carried out using mineral wool with a density of 50 kg/cubic. m. Increased density is needed to ensure high-quality insulation from noise;
Load-bearing walls are best insulated from the outside, because this will bring the dew point, where condensation will form, to outside walls. The density of the material must be at least 80 kg / cubic meter. m, and thickness - 10 cm.

Modern mineral wool - high-quality insulation, tested for more than a dozen years. Current technologies have made this material completely safe for installation and operation, and its technical characteristics, combined with cost, leave its closest competitors behind.

1poteply.ru

What types of mineral wool are there?

Mineral wool is usually classified according to the material from which it is made. This leads to the conclusion that mineral wool, made from different starting materials, differs in structure - fibers, and, accordingly, in the type of cutting. That's how they exist following types mineral wool:

Glass mineral wool. Consists of glass melts.
Stone mineral wool. It is most often made from various rock melts.
Slag mineral wool. Raw material– blast furnace slag.

In fact, you should pay attention to the fact that sometimes mineral wool can be harmful. This is due to the fact that it contains dust and phenol-formaldehyde resins. Therefore it is necessary to refer to this material selectively, although mineral wool cannot be classified as a human carcinogen.

How to cut mineral wool:

Cutting mineral wool can be done either independently at home or using various equipment. Equipment for cutting mineral wool boards can be different. The question is one of scale. The mineral wool cutting machine is suitable for serious and large scale applications - for enterprises, manufacturers, etc. But a knife for cutting mineral wool will become an indispensable assistant in cutting insulating materials at home.

It is important that cutting mineral wool does not damage the fibres, so equipment must be selected carefully. The cut should be smooth. At home, cutting rolls of mineral wool (the so-called “50s”) will be convenient using a cutting knife, but for larger ones (“100s”) a special hacksaw for insulation will be convenient. At the beginning, its price may seem unreasonably high, but it is worth it. It is important that the work is done properly. Circular cutting of mineral wool can be convenient. A mineral wool cutting machine can easily cope with such a task.

How to cut mineral wool:

If you don’t know how to cut mineral wool at home, we can advise you great tools best suited for cutting mineral wool.

So, for cutting mineral wool the best thing a good one will do, spicy stationery knife or a hacksaw for metal, carefully cut the mineral wool in the required directions; for greater accuracy, you can draw lines with a pencil or cut directly along a ruler. The process of cutting mineral wool is somewhat similar to cutting paralon, only you need to apply a little more effort, pressing a little harder on the tool for cutting mineral wool.

What to do with scraps and remnants of mineral wool.

One of the solutions may pleasantly please many (especially companies and large manufacturers). Mineral wool scraps are not useless and can be useful for those who decide to insulate their walls and ceilings in budget option. Trimmings can be sold at a low price, and the demand for the product will be very high.

It is also possible to recycle scraps of mineral wool boards. In this case, using special equipment, the remains of mineral wool slabs are crushed into granules with the possibility of further reuse.

bazaltovaya-vata.ru

Today, a method has been developed for producing a special type of insulation - stone wool made from basalt. Twenty years ago, such mineral wool was used exclusively for the needs of the defense industry, but today this insulation is widely used for thermal insulation of any buildings.

Mineral wool does not contain such harmful substances. environment components such as acrylic and phenol-formaldehyde resins. It consists only of natural binders, therefore it is safe for humans. This thermal insulation material not only perfectly retains heat, but also allows you to create reliable sound insulation of rooms. Basalt mineral wool is becoming more and more popular and has already been tested by time, but people still have a lot of questions regarding technological issues, which we will try to focus on in this article.

How to properly attach mineral wool?

IN in this case it all depends on the type of insulation and the type of structure on which the insulation is mounted. Lightweight grades of mineral wool are installed in frame structures by surprise Rigid mineral wool boards are fastened with special dowels or fixed using special adhesives.

When fastening the surface, mineral wool is placed very tightly in a pre-assembled frame made of slats and bars. wooden frame. The thickness of the frame must correspond to the thickness of the insulation. The interval between the slats is 1.5-2 cm less than the width of the mineral wool, which does not allow the material to slide during operation. The mats are installed starting from the bottom of the structure, and the rolls from the top. Wherein whole pieces are laid first, and the free space, for example, near doors or windows, is filled later.

High-density mineral wool is often installed without intermediate/support beams. It is completely wrapped behind the frame and pressed against the frame without any gap. load-bearing structure, after which, for safety reasons, they are fixed with dowels with a wide head, that is, the so-called “dish-shaped” dowels. In such a system, frame elements are placed on top of the insulating layer and press the wool against the wall; in addition, brackets that pass through the mats help to hold the insulation in place.

When using the bonded thermal insulation method ( wet method) frames are not used at all, so adhesives must be used as fastening. In this case, you will have to purchase a dry mixture, but it must be intended for gluing mineral wool insulation. IN Lately Polyurethane adhesive in cylinders is becoming increasingly popular, which allows you to mount dense mineral wool to any base, including wood, metal, and polymer. This technology also involves the use of disc dowels. We discussed in more detail the features of gluing insulation in articles about adhesive compositions And wet insulation facade.

What is the best way to cut mineral wool?

It is recommended to cut thermal insulation materials from stone wool with a hacksaw or with a sharp long knife specially designed for this purpose, the blade of which is serrated. In any case, the equipment must be well sharpened so that as few fibers are pulled out as possible. Many companies that produce insulation also offer their customers cutting tool: knives about 300 mm long, as well as saws with straight teeth, about 60 cm long. For lack of special devices For such purposes, kitchen bread knives with fine teeth and a wavy edge work well. Thin soft boards and mats (50 mm) can be cut with a regular mounting knife.

It is best to cut mineral wool produced in rolls before unrolling them. And mineral wool slabs are taken out of the packs and cut one at a time. It should be remembered that when installing thermal insulation, the insulation must fill the entire insulated space very tightly, so allowances should be left before cutting: for slabs - 0.5 cm; and for mats - about 1-2 cm.

Is it true that mineral wool needs to be protected from moisture and wind?

During the operation of insulated buildings, their walls, roofs and other structures should be protected from increased atmospheric humidity and from blowing by strong winds. Therefore, mineral wool insulation after installation with outside covered with fabrics made of vapor-permeable, moisture- and windproof membrane. This allows you to prevent cold winds and drops of slanting rain from penetrating into the thickness of the wall. At the same time, water vapor from internal space, through diffusion passing through the walls, will be able to go outside without obstacles.

The undoubted advantage of mineral wool is its vapor permeability, and this property should be used to the maximum. When installing mineral wool thermal insulation materials between load-bearing wall and there is no need to install a vapor barrier with insulation, since such sealing will negatively affect the climate inside the building. Absence artificial ventilation in this case, it will lead to increased humidity and the formation of condensation, which, in turn, will cause the formation of mold and fungi.

A vapor barrier film must be used when installing thermal insulation indoors - in this case it is installed on the warm side of the mineral wool. This allows you to protect the insulation from water vapor from the premises. Can be used as a vapor barrier reinforced polyethylene, which is placed between the insulation and the cladding.

If the design allows, between the insulation and exterior decoration It is imperative to provide a ventilated air gap. This will help keep the mineral wool dry without reducing the vapor permeability of the building.

What to do if you need to use wool in a layer of 15 or 20 cm, but the insulation is supplied 5 or 10 cm thick?

There is nothing complicated here. Need to calculate required thickness using formulas or using an online calculator (we talked about this in the last article), and then you can easily create an insulating barrier from several layers. In addition, this method allows you to easily eliminate the problem of the formation of cold bridges and blowing of joints. To do this, when installing insulation, sheets of outer and inner layers offset relative to each other by 20-30 mm in order to reliably cover the seams.

Is it necessary to use protective equipment? Which?

Mineral wool is considered a safe thermal insulation material, both during operation and during installation. However, when long work With this insulation, it is still better to protect yourself by using personal protective equipment.

Stone wool, compared to glass wool, is much more convenient to use and safer, but you should still be careful when installing it. It is best to work on cool days in overalls made of thick fabric, covering the entire body from contact with mineral wool. It is not recommended to touch this material with bare hands; to protect them, you can use “glazier gloves” - fabric ones with rubber or silicone coating in the palm area. It is also necessary to mandatory protect your eyes and scalp. To protect the respiratory system, wear a respirator.

During the installation of stone wool, you should take a break to ventilate the room. Open packs of material must be moved carefully, preventing them from falling, so that microparticles do not escape from them. There should be no children or people not using protective equipment on the construction site during installation of thermal insulation.

Are there any nuances in transportation and storage?

Mineral wool insulation should be stored in whole packages on a flat, dry surface; the height of the stacks should not exceed 2 meters. Stacks are made in closed spaces protected from rain and humidity. If mineral wool is stored outdoors, it must be covered plastic film or tarpaulin.

Mats and insulation boards are transported horizontally in covered trucks. During transportation, the insulation must be protected from mechanical damage and atmospheric precipitation. During loading, unloading and transportation, the material should not be compressed too much.

You need to unpack mineral wool correctly. To do this, remove the insulation from the packaging immediately before installation, which significantly reduces the risk of damage to the thermal insulation. Insulation packaging can be used on a construction site when laying out mineral wool (when you need to protect it from contamination); it is also suitable as bags for construction waste.

Which cotton wool is better?

There is no definite answer to this question, since different conditions the best option there will be different types of material.

Basalt soft wool. It is used where high loads are not expected. This material can be used to insulate walls made according to frame technology, as well as for thermal insulation of floors and roofs. The fact that cotton wool is soft does not mean that its performance characteristics are poor. It is simply made from thin fibers, which ensures that the insulation contains many cavities in which air is retained, preventing heat loss.

Mineral wool of medium hardness (density). It is used mainly for insulating ventilated facades, where high-speed air flows are created in the air cavities. It is also used for fire prevention measures, sound and heat insulation of ventilation channels. Mineral wool medium density can be installed without problems instead of soft basalt wool, but the cost of thermal insulation will be more expensive.

Hard basalt wool. This insulation is used in places where high loads are possible. For example, where it is planned to insulate walls with reinforcement and plastering (wet method) or when creating certain types of floors.

Cylindrical insulation for pipes. They are usually produced with a diameter of more than 50 mm. They come in the form of slotted pieces that can be unrolled and slipped onto the pipe, or two-piece models that fit together on the pipe.

Foil basalt wool. This thermal insulation material is characterized not only by low heat transfer, but also reflects heat, directing it indoors. Mineral wool can be covered with foil on one or both sides. When laying, the heat insulator is installed with the foil side facing the heat source. The scope of application of this insulation is quite extensive, it is considered universal material, suitable for all methods and types of thermal insulation.

Stitching cotton wool. It consists of very durable mats, one side of which is sheathed/reinforced steel mesh(galvanized, stainless, fire-resistant, acid-resistant). The sheets can be of different thicknesses and can be used to perform various types of thermal insulation. Stitched wool is usually non-flammable, so it can be used to insulate surfaces with elevated temperatures (up to plus 660-700 degrees).

Important technical characteristics mineral wool is its specific density. Insulation, the density of which is up to 75 kg per cubic meter, is ideal for thermal insulation of surfaces where heavy loads are not expected, for example, for installation in ceilings in attics and roofs. Low-density basalt wool is often used for wrapping pipes in heating plants, boilers and similar components/communications.

Stone wool, the density of which is up to 125 kg per cubic meter, holds its shape well and is excellent for insulating ceilings, walls inside buildings, and various vertical structures. It is used for thermal insulation brick walls, as well as surfaces made of foam block or aerated concrete. Mineral wool of this specific gravity allows you not only to insulate the building, but also to ensure its reliable sound insulation.

High-density basalt wool - from 175 to 200 kg per cubic meter is characterized, in addition, increased rigidity, hence the abbreviation in its name (PPZh). Such insulation is used for thermal insulation of initially too cold planes - reinforced concrete, sheet metal. The PPZh-200 brand is also excellent for arranging additional protection residential buildings from fire. Only high-density mineral wool can be installed using wet facade insulation technology.

Mineral wool does not contain components harmful to the environment such as acrylic and phenol-formaldehyde resins. It consists only of natural binders, therefore it is safe for humans. This thermal insulation material not only perfectly retains heat, but also allows you to create reliable sound insulation of rooms. Basalt mineral wool is becoming more and more popular and has already been tested by time, but people still have a lot of questions regarding technological issues, which we will try to focus on in this article.

How to properly attach mineral wool?

In this case, everything depends on the type of insulation and on the type of structure on which the thermal insulation is mounted. Lightweight grades of mineral wool are installed in frame structures by surprise. Rigid mineral wool boards are fastened with special dowels or fixed using special adhesives.

When fastening by surprise, mineral wool is placed very tightly into a wooden frame pre-assembled from slats and bars. The thickness of the frame must correspond to the thickness of the insulation. The interval between the slats is 1.5-2 cm less than the width of the mineral wool, which does not allow the material to slide during operation. The mats are installed starting from the bottom of the structure, and the rolls from the top. In this case, solid pieces are laid first, and free space, for example, near doors or windows, is filled later.

High-density mineral wool is often installed without intermediate/support beams. It is completely inserted behind the frame and pressed against the supporting structure without a gap, after which, for safety, it is fixed with dowels with a wide head, that is, the so-called “dish-shaped” dowels. In such a system, frame elements are placed on top of the insulating layer and press the wool against the wall; in addition, brackets that pass through the mats help to hold the insulation in place.

When using the method of bonded thermal insulation (wet method), frames are not used at all, so adhesives must be used as fastening. In this case, you will have to purchase a dry mixture, but it must be intended for gluing mineral wool insulation. Recently, polyurethane glue in cylinders has become increasingly popular, which allows you to mount dense mineral wool to any base, including wood, metal, and polymer. This technology also involves the use of disc dowels. We discussed in more detail the features of gluing insulation in articles on adhesive compositions and wet insulation of facades.

What is the best way to cut mineral wool?

It is recommended to cut thermal insulation materials from stone wool with a hacksaw or with a sharp long knife specially designed for this purpose, the blade of which is serrated. In any case, the equipment must be well sharpened so that as few fibers are pulled out as possible. Many companies that produce insulation also offer their customers cutting tools: knives about 300 mm long, as well as saws with straight teeth, about 60 cm long. In the absence of special devices for such purposes, kitchen bread knives with fine teeth work well and a wavy edge. Thin soft boards and mats (50 mm) can be cut with a regular mounting knife.

Is it true that mineral wool needs to be protected from moisture and wind?

During the operation of insulated buildings, their walls, roofs and other structures should be protected from increased atmospheric humidity and from blowing by strong winds. Therefore, after installation, mineral wool insulation is covered from the outside with sheets of vapor-permeable, moisture- and windproof membrane. This allows you to prevent cold winds and drops of slanting rain from penetrating into the thickness of the wall. In this case, water vapor from the internal space, passing through the walls through diffusion, will be able to exit outside without obstacles.

The undoubted advantage of mineral wool is its vapor permeability, and this property should be used to the maximum. When installing mineral wool thermal insulation materials between the load-bearing wall and the insulation, there is no need to install a vapor barrier, since such sealing will negatively affect the climate inside the building. The lack of artificial ventilation in this case will lead to increased humidity and the formation of condensation, which, in turn, will cause the formation of mold and fungi.

A vapor barrier film must be used when installing thermal insulation indoors - in this case it is installed on the warm side of the mineral wool. This allows you to protect the insulation from water vapor from the premises. Reinforced polyethylene can be used as a vapor barrier, which is placed between the insulation and the cladding.

If the design allows, a ventilated air gap should be provided between the insulation and the exterior finish. This will help keep the mineral wool dry without reducing the vapor permeability of the building.

What to do if you need to use wool in a layer of 15 or 20 cm, but the insulation is supplied 5 or 10 cm thick?

There is nothing complicated here. You need to calculate the required thickness using formulas or using an online calculator (we talked about this in the last article), and then you can easily create an insulating barrier from several layers. In addition, this method allows you to easily eliminate the problem of the formation of cold bridges and blowing of joints. To do this, when installing insulation, the sheets of the outer and inner layers should be shifted relative to each other by 20-30 mm in order to reliably cover the seams.

Is it necessary to use protective equipment? Which?

Mineral wool is considered a safe thermal insulation material, both during operation and during installation. However, when working with this insulation for a long time, it is still better to protect yourself by using personal protective equipment.

Stone wool, compared to glass wool, is much more convenient to use and safer, but you should still be careful when installing it. It is best to work on cool days in overalls made of thick fabric, covering the entire body from contact with mineral wool. It is not recommended to touch this material with bare hands; to protect them, you can use “glazier gloves” - fabric ones with rubber or silicone coating in the palm area. It is also imperative to protect your eyes and scalp. To protect the respiratory system, wear a respirator.

Are there any nuances in transportation and storage?

Mats and insulation boards are transported horizontally in covered trucks. During transportation, the insulation must be protected from mechanical damage and precipitation. During loading/unloading and transportation, the material must not be compressed too much.

Which cotton wool is better?

There is no clear answer to this question, since in different conditions the best option will be different types of material.

Basalt soft wool. It is used where high loads are not expected. This material can be used for insulating walls made using frame technology, as well as for thermal insulation of floors and roofs. The fact that cotton wool is soft does not mean that its performance characteristics are poor. It is simply made from thin fibers, which ensures that the insulation contains many cavities in which air is retained, preventing heat loss.

Mineral wool of medium hardness (density). It is used mainly for insulating ventilated facades, where high-speed air flows are created in the air cavities. It is also used for fire prevention measures, sound and heat insulation of ventilation ducts. Medium-density mineral wool can be installed without problems instead of soft basalt wool, but the cost of thermal insulation will be more expensive.

Foil basalt wool. This thermal insulation material is characterized not only by low heat transfer, but also reflects heat, directing it indoors. Mineral wool can be covered with foil on one or both sides. When laying, the heat insulator is installed with the foil side facing the heat source. The scope of application of this insulation is quite extensive; it is considered a universal material, suitable for all methods and types of thermal insulation.

Stitching cotton wool. It consists of very durable mats, one side of which is lined/reinforced with steel mesh (galvanized, stainless, fire-resistant, acid-resistant). The sheets can be of different thicknesses and can be used to perform various types of thermal insulation. Stitched wool is usually non-flammable, so it can be used to insulate surfaces with elevated temperatures (up to plus 660-700 degrees).

An important technical characteristic of mineral wool is its specific density. Insulation, the density of which is up to 75 kg per cubic meter, is ideal for thermal insulation of surfaces where heavy loads are not expected, for example, for installation in ceilings in attics and roofs. Low-density basalt wool is often used for wrapping pipes in heating plants, boilers and similar components/communications.

Stone wool, whose density is up to 125 kg per cubic meter, holds its shape well and is excellent for insulating ceilings, walls inside buildings, and various vertical structures. It is used for thermal insulation of brick walls, as well as surfaces made of foam block or aerated concrete. Mineral wool of this specific density allows not only to insulate a building, but also to ensure its reliable sound insulation.

High-density basalt wool - from 175 to 200 kg per cubic meter is also characterized by increased rigidity, hence the abbreviation in its name (PPZh). Such insulation is used for thermal insulation of initially too cold planes - reinforced concrete, sheet metal. The PPZH-200 brand is also excellent for providing additional protection for residential buildings against fire. Only high-density mineral wool can be installed using wet facade insulation technology.