« How to insulate a house from the outside? - this question worries many owners of private buildings. Insulating any room from the outside creates not only a comfortable microclimate, but also has an economic effect. First of all, increasing the temperature eliminates the need to frequently turn on additional heating. Secondly, low temperatures promote the development of fungus and mold. For this reason, things, ceilings, walls begin to rot. And again - additional costs.
Thermal insulation on the outside is done in different ways. However, when choosing a suitable insulation, you need to focus on the material from which the walls are made. Let's look at several options for thermal insulation and types of insulation.
What is the best way to insulate a house from the outside?
2. Prime the surface.
3. Install flashings (external window sills). Align them horizontally using a level.
4. Place a base that will allow you to maintain the line and prevent the slab from sliding down.
Start laying foam sheets from the bottom. The evenness of the entire row will depend on how correctly the lowest slab is positioned. Place the slabs on the glue. After 3 days, further strengthen them with nails. If polystyrene foam is used to insulate a timber house, carefully seal all cracks and holes. You can take any material - polyurethane foam, ecowool or mineral wool. The main thing is that you eliminate drafts and air circulation.
How to insulate the walls of a house outside
How can you insulate a house from the outside?
2. Cover the slabs with another layer of the same mixture. This is necessary for additional protection.
3. Apply alkali-resistant fiberglass mesh.
4. Prime the entire surface.
5. Last layer – choose it yourself. Can be plastered or painted. Or you can choose some decorative material.
How to insulate a wooden house from the outside
First of all, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that wood of any type evaporates moisture. That is why, when insulating external walls, it is necessary to take care of creating high-quality ventilation. Choose basalt wool or glass wool as insulation. The second option will cost you less. Before starting work, replace wooden window frames with plastic frames.
Begin installation by installing the frame, which is mounted from wooden slats installed vertically. The distance between the slats is equal to the width of the slab of heat-insulating material. Special plastic dowels are used for fastening.
How to insulate a timber house from the outside
To build a house from timber, as a rule, timber with a section of 200 by 200 mm or 150 by 150 mm is used. The technology of building from this material came to us from southern countries, so here it “blesses” its owners with colossal heat losses. However, with skillful hands and desire, you can reduce them to almost zero.
2 layers - timber with a section of 50 by 100 mm
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2. Apply the first layer of waterproofing.
3. Install the sheathing.
4. Install insulation.
5. Apply a second layer of waterproofing.
2. Install the foam: attach it to the wall using special adhesive mixtures. Apply the composition, distribute evenly over the entire surface. After drying, reinforce the foam with umbrella dowels.
3. Perform reinforcement. For this purpose, a plastic plaster mesh is suitable, onto which a layer of plaster is subsequently applied.
How to insulate the walls of a house outside: the best insulation
It is quite difficult to achieve optimal efficiency in energy saving at home, even with an ultra-modern heating system, but without resorting to insulation of external walls. It has been established experimentally that about 30% heat escapes through uninsulated walls. The best way out of this situation is to insulate the outside walls of the house. Thus, with the help of special materials with a minimum thermal conductivity coefficient, the protection of walls from external influences is enhanced. Insulation from the outside creates a kind of barrier between the damp and cold atmosphere of the street and the microclimate inside the home. However, the success of this process will directly depend on the correctly selected insulation.
Types of materials for external wall insulation
Most often, houses are insulated on the outside with the following types of materials:
Styrofoam– has a low thermal conductivity. It consists of 90% air and 10% polymers. Easy to install and quite cheap.
Mineral wool– heat-insulating material, which is made from metallurgical slags and silicates. Unlike glass wool, working with it is safe.
Polyurethane foam– does not require the construction of frame structures. All work is carried out only by professionals, since working with insulation requires certain skills.
Penoplex– a new formula for wall insulation that retains heat better and more efficiently. It has a finely porous structure due to extrusion. Has high thermal insulation characteristics.
They also use thermal insulation, expanded polystyrene, liquid expanded clay materials, cellulose, etc. However, these insulation materials are not used as often as the above. Therefore, we will focus on considering the main insulation materials for walls.
Mineral wool
Mineral (basalt, stone) wool is a fibrous insulation material that is similar to the natural material basalt. This insulation is made from alloys of volcanic rocks at very high temperatures. This type of wool is completely fireproof and unaffected by fire.
Mineral wool options
Advantages of mineral wool:
Thermal insulation characteristics are very high due to the porous qualities of the fiber. The material retains heat well and prevents heat from entering the house in summer.
The sound insulation qualities of basalt wool are high, thanks to the chaotic interweaving of basalt fibers, which delays sound waves.
Long service life. Once you have insulated the walls of your home with mineral wool, you no longer have to worry about thermal insulation.
High tightness throughout the entire service life.
Mineral wool is an absolutely environmentally friendly wall insulation material that poses no danger to people or the environment. Installation of mineral wool on the facade and walls takes place in several stages:
Preparing the outside walls of the house.
Laying a layer of vapor-permeable membrane over the wall.
Fastening wooden slats or profiles to walls.
Laying heat-insulating mats.
Another layer of film is stretched over the insulation.
Installation of a ventilating facade of the house from the outside.
And at the final stage, new slopes, window sills and finishing elements are installed due to the increase in the thickness of the walls.
The cost of such house insulation varies from 100 to 400 rubles per m².
Polystyrene foam is very often used to insulate external walls. After all, its thermal conductivity is lower than that of mineral wool - 0.032-0.038 W/m*K and are slightly inferior to extruded polystyrene foam.
This insulation has many advantages:
Excellent sound insulation of walls;
Light weight, which does not increase the load on the building;
Simplicity and ease of installation.
Installation of foam plastic on the walls of the house is as follows:
Installation diagram of foam insulation
Setting up a starting profile.
Applying adhesive composition to insulation.
Gluing foam plastic boards to the walls of the house.
Fastening sheets using dowel fasteners.
Installation of reinforcement elements.
Applying a decorative protective layer to the wall.
Giving the façade texture.
Drawing of mounted foam
The cost of such insulation is affordable - about 50 rubles per m²
Polyurethane foam
This material for insulating the outside walls of a house is a type of plastic. It has a cellular foamy structure and 90% consists of a gaseous substance. The remaining volume is the cell walls.
Polyurethane foam in section
Thermal insulation and properties of polyurethane foam:
The thermal conductivity of the material ranges from 0.018 to 0.035 W/m*K, which is better than that of mineral wool.
Excellent noise absorption and sound blocking.
Resistant to aggressive chemicals.
Has low moisture permeability properties.
The service life of polyurethane foam reaches 30 years old. This material is absolutely environmentally friendly.
Insulation of the walls of a house using this thermal insulation material takes place in the following order:
Polyurethane foam insulation scheme
Reinforcement to improve thermal insulation.
The cost of polyurethane foam is calculated based on the size of the wall that needs to be insulated. For example, it is necessary to insulate the facade up to 50 square meters. m. It will cost from 300 rubles per m².
Extruded penoplex is an innovative development that is designed to save energy resources.
Advantages of penoplex insulation:
The lowest thermal conductivity values than all the materials described above.
Can withstand heavy loads.
It has a long service life - more than 40 years.
Today, more and more home owners prefer Penolex due to its high performance characteristics. How does the insulation installation process go:
Penoplex insulation scheme
Preparatory work on the walls.
Applying glue to insulation boards.
Fastening with dowels.
Finishing outside.
The cost of such material varies from 300 to 400 rubles per m².
Features of installing insulation for a home
It is worth noting that the process of installing any type of insulation may differ depending on what material the house itself is built from. Walls made of logs, for example, do not require the creation of an air layer between layers of thermal insulation and the outer surface of the walls. After insulating a wooden house, preference is almost always given to a ventilated facade, which ensures air circulation. Sometimes it is lined with boards, clapboard, or façade tiles are installed. Insulation of the walls of a house made of brick and panel blocks is carried out according to a similar, standard principle.
Insulation for outside walls of a house: how to insulate it and which one is better
It has been established experimentally that about 30% of heat escapes through uninsulated walls. The best way out of this situation is to insulate the outside walls of the house.
How to insulate a house from the outside and with what
To improve the heat-saving characteristics and increase the durability of a house made of wood, brick or foam concrete, external insulation is often done using the principle of a curtain wall or using “wet” technology. In this article we will figure out how to carry out external insulation of a house and what thermal insulation materials are best used for this.
Review of insulation materials
Mineral wool
Mineral (stone or glass) wool is the most versatile insulation material, which is produced with various densities. For internal insulation, a less dense version of the heat insulator is used, for external installation - a denser one, which is able to withstand various negative influences. In general, mineral wool differs from other types of insulation in its high thermal insulation ability, durability, non-flammability, and mechanical strength. Its disadvantages are poor resistance to moisture and fairly high cost.
Ecowool is an environmentally friendly type of insulation with low thermal conductivity, just like mineral wool insulation. Ecowool is made from recycled cellulose raw materials and impregnated with special compounds that prevent fire and rotting of the material. The only disadvantage of ecowool is the complex technological process of application by spraying, however, this method allows you to evenly fill all the cracks and structural protrusions of the facades, reliably protecting the building from the penetration of cold and moisture into the interior.
Expanded polystyrene
Expanded polystyrene is one of the most popular polymer types of insulation, characterized by durability, almost zero water absorption, excellent heat-saving properties, and ease of installation. Most types of polystyrene foam boards are impregnated with fire retardant compounds, thus improving its fire resistance. Unlike insulation made from natural components, polystyrene and other types of polymer heat insulators are not susceptible to damage by microorganisms: mold, mildew and moss.
Polystyrene foam is an insulation material with a fairly high heat-insulating ability, light in weight and easy to install, moisture-resistant and inexpensive. The disadvantages of polystyrene foam include its airtightness, low resistance to mechanical damage and toxicity when ignited. In addition, polystyrene foam has low durability; it is destroyed by elevated temperatures and upon contact with chemically aggressive substances that are part of some paints and varnishes.
Which material to choose
But, along with excellent heat-saving properties, insulation materials of natural origin have increased hygroscopicity - they quickly absorb moisture, retain it in their thickness, and when frost sets in, they freeze and lose their ability to shield the cold.
In order to protect the insulating layer made of natural materials, it is recommended to use vapor barrier and waterproofing membranes, which screen out moisture and do not interfere with the ventilation of the walls.
Unlike mineral wool and other types of insulation made from natural raw materials, thermal insulation made from foamed polymers practically does not absorb moisture and lasts quite a long time. If the installation of stone or glass wool involves certain difficulties and requires compliance with safety standards, then the installation of polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam can be quickly and easily done independently. At the same time, the thermal insulation properties of these materials are slightly worse than mineral wool.
Features of insulating the walls of a house outside
Insulation of walls from the outside is mainly carried out using curtain-wall facade technology, leaving a ventilation gap between the insulating layer and the finishing cladding - this way the walls of the house are ventilated more effectively. 
Stages of insulating a house from the outside when installing a curtain wall:
- Cleaning and drying, treating walls with antiseptic compounds.
- Installation of vapor barrier film with sealing of panel joints with mounting tape.
- Installation of a frame for installation of insulation and external cladding.
- Laying insulation, fixing with disc dowels.
- Installation of a waterproofing, windproof multifunctional membrane.
- Fastening the façade finishing to the frame using clamps.
Insulating the facades of a house can also be done using “wet” technology - gluing a layer of heat insulation to the outer walls and applying a layer of decorative paint or plaster.
Conclusion
In some regions of Russia, the heat-saving properties of brick, wood, and concrete walls are often not enough to create a comfortable microclimate inside the house. External insulation will create an optimal temperature regime in the interior of the building and significantly save on heating costs.
To preserve the ability of walls to pass air, it is recommended to insulate houses with thermal insulators made from natural materials. But if the budget allocated for home insulation is limited, then the best solution would be to use polymer types of thermal insulation: polystyrene foam or polystyrene - besides, these materials are easy to install with your own hands.
How to insulate a house from the outside and with what: Expert advice
How to properly insulate a house from the outside and what material to choose for insulation, in the answers from construction experts.
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Home insulation is one of the most important factors influencing family budget savings. After all, if the house is ventilated from all sides, heating costs increase many times over. Experienced craftsmen do not advise insulating rooms from the inside - this leads not only to a decrease in usable area, but also to the destruction of walls due to the formation of condensation between the walls and thermal insulation, which means that such work should be carried out outside the buildings. Types of insulation for external walls, price and materials for making thermal insulation - this is the topic of our conversation today.
Wall insulation is very important for saving the family budget
The reason for external insulation is that the thermal insulation for walls made indoors does not allow the internal air to warm up the building. As a result, during the cold season, condensation forms on the cooled wall, on the inside. Thermal insulation prevents it from evaporating, which not only entails the formation of mold and mildew between the insulation and the wall. This leads to fairly rapid destruction of the wall. In addition, literally after a year or two a persistent smell of dampness begins to appear in the home, which is quite difficult to get rid of.
Extruded polystyrene foam - what is it?
This material has a higher cost, but its technical characteristics are much better. The most famous of such insulation for external walls can be safely called penoplex. It is quite durable, although it has a porous structure. It is also very convenient for plastering. Installation is carried out using special mastics and adhesive bases without the use of acetone, but the best option for external finishing can be called special plastic anchors.
For rodents and various pests, such insulation is of no interest. In addition, in its manufacture, substances are used that are not susceptible to the formation of fungus. In fact, there is only one minus - high flammability. The weight of the slabs is small, which, coupled with its strength, allows one person to carry out work on insulating the outside of the house with penoplex foam without any help.
Polyurethane foam - what are its disadvantages and advantages
This material has been known for a long time and has found application not only as a thermal insulator. It is used as a filler in armchairs and sofas, car and bus seats. To put it simply, this is foam rubber, which is probably known to every person.
It can only be used as insulation under panels. Its soft structure does not allow plastering. Although some home craftsmen, using foam rubber as a heat insulator, then close it or, which allows subsequent plastering of the wall.
It is important to know! Its huge disadvantage is its instability to high temperatures. In addition, “thanks to” its chemical composition, this thermal insulator, when ignited, releases very toxic substances that are quite easy to poison, unlike extruded polystyrene foam, which is not subject to combustion.
Many people are now talking about the harm caused by the phenol allegedly released by this material. However, the opinions of scientists here are divided. Some say that it is absolutely neutral, while others, on the contrary, claim that it causes colossal harm to the body. We will not take sides, limiting ourselves to stating the facts - this material is now used in almost all furniture, in cars, and even as a filling for pillows. And if its harm had been proven, it is unlikely that a self-respecting manufacturer would dare to poison people.
Mineral wool, its varieties and the possibility of using it for thermal insulation
This heat insulator can be used inside or in external thermal insulation of walls with subsequent finishing with siding or wall panels. It is most widely used in the construction of ventilated facades and insulation. Most often, a variety of it is used for these purposes - slabs of a certain size of basalt insulation, the price of which is relatively low.
Mineral wool has higher thermal conductivity and vapor permeability than previous options. It is due to this that it is the cheapest insulation. However, when using it, the heat in the house becomes quite sufficient. A rather unpleasant moment is that when working with it, the body begins to itch. Of course, not as strong as it was with its predecessor - glass wool, but still sensitive. In addition, it is a rather brittle and fragile material. But still, for this type of insulation, such as a ventilated facade, such a thermal insulator is practically irreplaceable.
Liquid insulation for walls - how to use it and how well it performs its functions
In appearance, such a heat insulator resembles thick paint. There is no doubt about the quality of its performance of its functions. However, its popularity is reduced by its high cost - not everyone can afford it. It is for this reason that professionals advise applying it only in the corners of the house and at the joints of the foundation and walls. It is better to cover the remaining area with more affordable insulation. Choosing it to insulate all wall surfaces will be very wasteful.
This material can be divided into 2 groups - heat paint and liquid foam. Both of them do an excellent job not only with insulation, but also with. It fits well on them, which means they are compatible with any material. High adhesion allows the use of this heat insulator on any surface, be it stone, concrete, brick or wood.
Main manufacturers of thermal insulation materials - a brief overview
There are quite a lot of thermal insulation manufacturers in Russia. And each of them is good in its own way, and therefore there is no point in compiling any kind of rating. So today we’ll just say a few words about each of them.
- "Ecover"– manufacturer of basalt slabs of very good quality. In addition to wall materials, it produces roofing heat-insulating materials and sandwich panels.
- "Knauf"- the same mineral wool, but the manufacturer’s peculiarity is that he produces it not in slabs, but in rolls. The thickness of the layer may vary.
- "Isover"– glass wool and its varieties. Such a thermal insulator has a very big drawback - it requires organization of moisture removal
- "Penofol"– basalt slabs are of quite high quality, but the heat-insulating material made from extruded polystyrene foam brought great popularity to this brand.
- "TechnoNIKOL" is a brand known throughout Russia and with factories in many regions. In addition to roofing felt and other roofing materials, it produces EPS boards and basalt insulation.
- "URSA"– mainly basalt and fiberglass slabs of excellent quality
- "Penoplex"– the name has become a household name. “Penoplex” is now the name given to all EPS boards, regardless of the manufacturer.
- "Ekoteplin"– unique and completely natural tile materials, which contain flax fibers, borax and starch.
- "Astratek"– liquid insulation materials that have no analogues in Russia. High-quality thermal insulation is achieved by applying a layer of only 3 mm.
Related article:
By selecting slabs of suitable thickness, you can ensure a sufficient level of thermal insulation of walls, floors, and ceilings. Let's talk about this insulation in more detail in our review.
The list of manufacturers can be endless; we have named only a few of the most famous.
Features of wall insulation outside the house - ventilated facade
Mineral wool is used for the ventilated façade. In simple words without using construction terms, a frame is assembled on the wall from a metal profile with cells the size of mineral, fiberglass or basalt slabs, or the same profiles are attached in a line from the bottom to the top of the building, between which insulation is laid. Afterwards it is closed with a special hydro-and. The cladding is made with ceramic-granite tiles (usually 50x50 cm), which are fixed to the same guides using special metal clamps called “crabs”.
In this way, the developer achieves a solution to several problems at once - insulation, vapor barrier and finishing.
Three-layer wall construction - installation features
In this way, the walls of low-rise buildings are often insulated from or. The technology is quite simple. A building made of rough brick is insulated from the outside using any polymer thermal insulator, and then covered with facing bricks. But although the quality of such thermal insulation is not bad, this method also has its drawbacks. The main one is the low durability of insulation compared to building and facing materials. Despite this, the popularity of such insulation is quite high.
Calculation of insulation for house walls: convenient online calculators
It is not difficult to calculate the required dimensions of the slabs according to the length and width of the wall. A much bigger problem here is the calculation of the required thickness, which depends on many different parameters, including the region in which the residential building is located. That is why we suggest you use our online calculators, which will perform all the calculations themselves.
Online calculator for calculating the thickness of insulation of the walls of a wooden house
In order to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature even in the coldest winter, it is necessary to properly insulate the house. If a new building is being built, insulation is carried out after the walls and roof of the building are installed.
If a private house is many years old, then it is possible that the wall material has already lost its strength and cracks of various sizes have appeared in places, which contribute to heat loss; in this case, it is necessary to first seal all the cracks and irregularities, and only then begin work on insulating the house.
Insulation materials
There are a huge number of materials that can be used to insulate the walls of a house.
Most popular:
Expanded polystyrene
This material is the most inexpensive among insulation materials for outdoor use. This is not the only advantage. Expanded polystyrene has very low thermal conductivity, which allows the use of a smaller layer of insulation, is lightweight, and can be easily cut into pieces of the required size.
The disadvantages of this insulation include low vapor permeability and high flammability. It is not advisable to use expanded polystyrene for insulating wooden houses, due to insufficient good air exchange, as a result of which the wood will be susceptible to rotting processes.
This material is most often used for insulating brick and stone houses. A layer of insulation 100 mm thick will reduce the cost of heating the room by 5 times.
Expanded polystyrene has very low thermal conductivity, which allows the use of a smaller layer of insulation, is lightweight, and can be easily cut into pieces of the required size Glass wool
This material has a large number of advantages, among which is its low weight, thanks to which this insulation can be used to insulate old buildings. Glass wool is not subject to rotting, and mice cannot chew through this material.
Glass wool bends easily, so insulating walls that have various curves in their design is not a problem. This material is made from quartz sand and cullet, which cannot but have a positive effect on the final cost of this product.
Glass wool is not without its drawbacks, among which the most unpleasant is the hygroscopicity of the material. By absorbing moisture, the insulation loses to a large extent its thermal insulation properties, so it is undesirable to use this material for external insulation in places where the groundwater level comes too close to the surface of the earth.
If the climate in a given region is too humid, then it is better to abandon the use of this insulation, or use high-quality glass wool waterproofing. Over time, glass wool fibers can stick together and decrease in volume, which also contributes to a decrease in thermal insulation properties.
When working with this material, you should adhere to strict safety requirements, use rubberized gloves, a respirator and goggles. Getting tiny particles of glass into the lungs and eyes can lead to undesirable consequences. If you work with this insulation without gloves, the glass fibers can penetrate the skin causing prolonged irritation and tingling.
Glass wool is not subject to rotting, mice cannot chew through this material Stone wool
This material resembles glass wool in many characteristics, but there are several fundamental differences that make this material more attractive for use in external insulation of a house. The manufacturing process of this material involves drawing thin threads from the melt of basalt group rocks.
The threads are placed in random order into molds in which the material is pressed under certain temperature conditions. Stone wool is a denser material compared to glass wool, but its thermal insulation characteristics are superior to this material. Stone wool is easily cut into blocks of any shape, which makes the process of installing slabs easy and not time-consuming.
This material has very high vapor permeability with virtually no hygroscopicity. If no technological errors were made during insulation, the wall will remain “breathable”. Due to the fact that this thermal insulation material has an increased density, it can be easily installed with glue, which also speeds up the installation process.
Stone wool has disadvantages, the most unpleasant of which is its high cost.
Stone wool is a denser material compared to glass wool, but its thermal insulation characteristics are superior to this material. Foil insulation
It is used mainly for insulating the floor of a room, but can also be used for thermal insulation of walls. The insulation consists of a layer of foamed polyethylene and thin aluminum foil. Due to its high heat-reflecting characteristics, this material is 2 times higher than the insulating properties of stone wool.
Foil insulation is easily mounted on the wall due to its very low weight, which significantly reduces the work time.
The disadvantage of this material is almost 100% vapor permeability.
Due to its high heat-reflecting characteristics, this material is 2 times higher than the insulating properties of stone wool.
To carry out proper installation, it is necessary to first level the walls so that the cork slabs are installed on the outer wall of the house without gaps. Unlike the above materials, no synthetic substances are used to produce cork insulation, which makes cork boards one of the most environmentally friendly materials for insulating residential premises.
This material can be used both for interior decoration and for wall insulation. Unlike glass wool, cork does not absorb moisture, which allows it to be used even in conditions of high humidity and high groundwater.
Even after a long period of use, the material does not shrink, so the plastered surface does not deform or form cracks. The material does not interfere with the passage of steam, which allows it to be used for insulating the external facades of wooden houses. When insulating brick and stone walls, vapor exchange also occurs through the pores of the walls and the insulating layer.
Cork insulation is fireproof and does not emit substances hazardous to humans when exposed to high temperatures. The disadvantage of cork is its high cost, which is significantly higher than similar sized stone and glass wool slabs.
Unlike glass wool, cork does not absorb moisture, which allows it to be used even in conditions of high humidity and high groundwater levels Making a choice
In order to determine what material to use for external wall insulation, you should answer the following questions:
- What material are the walls made of?
- What is the humidity in the area where the house is located?
- How high is the groundwater?
- What is the financial possibility of purchasing 1 m2.
- How many people will be involved in the work?
If the walls of the house are made of wood, then materials such as polystyrene foam, foil insulation and glass wool are not used.
Expanded polystyrene is flammable, which increases the fire hazard of a wooden structure.
Foil insulation almost completely seals the structure, resulting in wood rotting and mold formation.
At high humidity and close proximity to groundwater, glass wool is not used for insulation of wooden houses.
The most suitable material for insulating wooden walls is cork insulation., but its cost is quite high, so before you go to the store to purchase this product, you should make correct calculations of the total cost.
You can insulate a wooden house with cork slabs yourself. Cork is lightweight and is attached to a wooden base using nails or self-tapping screws.
If you need to insulate the outside of a stone or brick house, then polystyrene foam is the most suitable material for this purpose.
Even if groundwater is located close to the construction site, this fact does not have a negative impact on the quality of the thermal insulation layer.
As for financial costs, expanded polystyrene is the most inexpensive of the known materials for thermal insulation of walls.
To insulate brick and stone walls, basalt slabs are used, which do not absorb moisture and have high thermal insulation properties. The price of this material is quite high, but the heating costs of a house insulated with stone wool will be significantly reduced.
Features of insulation
Foam insulation
Due to its high flammability and low vapor permeability, it is practically not used for thermal insulation work on wooden structures.
Insulation of concrete and brick walls is carried out in the following sequence:
- The surface of the wall must be perfectly flat. Cracks, sagging and other irregularities must be sealed with sand-cement mortar.
- After the wall is leveled, the surface should be primed to improve adhesion. For this purpose, primers with deep penetration are used. This work can be done using a roller, brush or spray.
- Installation of the slabs is carried out after the primer layer has completely dried. Gluing polystyrene foam to the wall is carried out with a special glue for polystyrene foam or using dry mixtures. Installation of polystyrene foam begins from the bottom, the rows are installed in a checkerboard pattern in half-sheet increments. If dry mixtures are used to install expanded polystyrene, then immediately before starting work, prepare a working solution using a construction mixer or a special attachment that is installed on a drill. The mortar is applied to the wall with a comb spatula, and you can even out the wall a little by applying more mortar where the wall has slight inward curvatures.
- After applying the glue, the foam sheets are installed manually. When pressing each slab against the wall, you must ensure that there is no adhesive in the joints between the slabs. If a gap has formed between the plates, it must be sealed using pieces of polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam.
- After completing the work of installing the slabs on the adhesive base, and allowing the solution to stand for at least 3 days, the polystyrene foam slabs are additionally secured with plastic dowels. For this purpose, 5 holes are drilled for each sheet with a depth slightly exceeding the length of the plastic dowel. One hole is drilled exactly in the middle of the sheet, the other four - in the corners. Then a plastic “mushroom” is installed in each hole, the cap of which should be in the same plane with the surface of the foam sheet. After installing the “fungus”, a plastic nail is driven in, which is inserted so that the head of the “fungus” is immersed inside the foam by 2 - 3 mm. After the foam is fixed, plastic dowels are used to reinforce the outer surface using plastic facade mesh and special adhesive mixtures for reinforcement. The adhesive composition is applied with a spatula to the installed foam plastic boards in an even layer, after which a reinforcing mesh is installed in the adhesive layer, and the layer of solution protruding beyond its surface is leveled. In this way, the outer walls of the house are insulated with polystyrene foam.
Insulation of walls with mineral wool
Insulation of the external walls of a building using mineral wool can be done in three different ways:
- Ventilated way– a hinged frame structure is used.
- “Well” method– when implementing this installation method, a layer of heat insulation is laid between two layers of brickwork.
- Wet method– a layer of plaster is applied to the insulation.
When using a ventilated installation method, insulation can be carried out on wooden, concrete or brick walls. The installation process is carried out in the following sequence:
- An adhesive base is applied to the wall.
- A slab of mineral wool is pressed against the wall.
- After the glue has dried, the slabs are additionally secured with plastic dowels.
- Then, with a small gap from the insulation layer, facing slabs are installed on the frame.
Thus, there will be constant air circulation between the mineral wool layer and the facing slabs, which will prevent the formation of high air humidity between these layers.
When constructing brick walls, the “well” type of laying mineral wool is the most preferable method. Old buildings can also be insulated in this way.
This insulation method is very simple, and is carried out in the following sequence:
- Thermal insulation slabs are fixed to the main layer of the wall.
- The wall is lined with silicate or ceramic bricks.
By using this method of insulating the external walls of a building, you can obtain a high degree of thermal insulation, while the wall will be absolutely vapor permeable.
The wet method involves applying a layer of plaster on top of the insulation.
First, mineral wool slabs are laid on the wall in the manner described above. Then, using an adhesive solution, a reinforcing plastic mesh is laid on the heat-insulating layer. Thermal insulation work is completed by applying a plaster layer to the reinforcing mesh.
Insulation with polyurethane foam
A modern way to insulate walls is to spray a layer of polyurethane. In terms of time, this method takes less time than installing various heat-insulating boards.
Spraying can be done under siding and under plaster:
- Under the siding, brackets are first installed on the wall on which the profile will be installed. Then a calculated layer of insulation is sprayed.
- Under the plaster, a layer of polyurethane foam is applied to the wall in an even layer. After the foam has completely dried, the most protruding tubercles of the hardened substance are cut off. After this, a layer of special primer is applied to increase adhesion between the layer of insulation and plaster. Then a uniform layer of plaster is applied to the insulation, into which a reinforcing plastic mesh is embedded. After the first layer of plaster has completely dried, the final, decorative layer of plaster is applied.
- Walls insulated from the outside allow not only to retain heat, but also significantly increase the mechanical strength of walls from the effects of negative environmental factors.
- When using polyurethane foam to insulate a house and glass wool, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment.
- When insulating external walls at a significant height, it is necessary to equip special scaffolding.
- To purchase materials for external wall insulation, please contact only to specialized retail outlets.
You can provide your home with warmth in the winter season and keep it cool in the summer, while significantly saving energy resources, by insulating the facade from the outside. The materials used for insulation must be such that they do not carry additional load on the foundation. How to insulate a house from the outside and with what? What insulation should I use for walls made of this or that material? We offer examples of various technologies and recommendations on how to insulate private houses from the outside.
How to insulate a house from the outside and with what? Types of thermal insulation materials and their properties
When answering the question of what is the best way to insulate the walls of a house from the outside, you should familiarize yourself with the types and characteristics of insulation materials. The main criteria when choosing thermal insulation materials are thermal conductivity, moisture resistance and vapor permeability. Let's find out how you can insulate the outside of houses using current types of thermal insulation.
Styrofoam
Expanded polystyrene (foam) is a material consisting of air bubbles placed inside foamed polystyrene. Available in the form of slabs of varying densities. It has good insulating and moisture-resistant qualities, but is vulnerable to sunlight, is easily flammable, and releases harmful substances when burned. When directly interacting with liquid, it picks up moisture.
Content
Not only comfort, but also people’s health depends on the microclimate in the house. The optimal temperature for a living space is 20–25°C, and the humidity level is 50–60%. If winters are harsh, much of the heat energy is lost through the walls, roof, door and window openings. To retain heat as much as possible, wall structures must be insulated.
Choosing insulation for the outside walls of a house
It is recommended to thermally insulate a private house from the outside, since internal insulation has many disadvantages. Insulation for the external walls of a house is not uncommon on the market. Therefore, in order to select a quality material, it is enough to take into account the technical parameters and installation features when choosing. This way you can choose the ideal thermal insulation.
Principles of insulating the external walls of a house
It is important to understand why façade insulation is a priority over thermal insulation of residential premises from the inside. There are situations when it is not possible to install heat-insulating material and external finishing of the building from the outside; in these cases, internal insulation is the only possible option.
The problem is the location of the “dew point” - the place where heat meets cold, causing condensation to form. And in a living room, moisture is always present in the air due to evaporation from bodies, breathing, and the use of water for domestic needs.
The dew point in an uninsulated wall is located approximately in the middle of the enclosing structure. This means that the wall is picking up moisture from the room. If you install thermal insulation on the inner surface of the walls, the structure will freeze through and the slightest access of warm, moist air behind the insulating layer will lead to condensation - the wall will get wet under the insulation.
Experts say that it is better to insulate the house from the outside. In this case, the wall structures will be insulated from contact with cold air, as a result of which the walls will not freeze. Depending on the insulation technology used on the outside, the moist warm air that passes through the wall:
- will not come into contact with the cold, since the insulating layer is mounted directly on the wall structure;
- gets into the ventilation gap between the wall and the heat insulator, the moisture will quickly evaporate, due to which there will be no conditions for the wall to get wet - with external insulation, the dew point is located outside the structure.
To choose the best option for external insulation, you need to take into account the characteristics of the materials from which the house is built, as well as the technical characteristics of the heat insulators.
Properties of thermal insulators
Thermal insulation with mineral glass wool Insulation for a home, regardless of the type of construction, is characterized by a low thermal conductivity. But heat insulators are compared not only by this parameter. It is equally important to evaluate other characteristics that affect the durability, safety and functional properties of the material for external insulation:
- indicators of vapor permeability and water absorption;
- impact on the microclimate of the room;
- resistance to aggressive environments;
- fire resistance;
- environmental friendliness and health safety;
- resistance to biological damage (mold, rodents, insects);
- physical and mechanical parameters (including tendency to shrinkage, resistance to mechanical stress, elasticity, etc.);
- noise-absorbing properties;
- installation technology and ease of work;
- the ability to create a seamless thermal insulation coating;
- possibility of application on surfaces of complex configuration with a large number of hard-to-reach places;
- strength and long service life.
When designing wall insulation, it is necessary to calculate the thickness of the thermal insulation layer using the thermal conductivity value of the selected material. Pay attention to the indicators of water absorption and vapor permeability of the insulation, because they affect the technology of installation work.
Types of heat insulators
Examples of various thermal insulators There are various types of wall insulation on the market, each of which has its own advantages. Thermal insulation of the facade is most often carried out using:
- foam plastic (expanded polystyrene);
- extruded polystyrene foam (penoplex, eps, extruded polystyrene foam);
- sprayed polyurethane foam;
- mineral wool (basalt);
- liquid thermal insulation.
You should choose good thermal insulation taking into account the material from which the wall is built, as well as the planned option for external finishing.
Styrofoam
Thermal insulation of external walls using foam plastic Expanded polystyrene boards are actively used for external thermal insulation of building structures. Advantages of polymer material: light weight, easy installation, moisture resistance, affordable price. In addition, the heat insulator does not become a haven for fungus and is not damaged by insect pests. If you prevent ultraviolet radiation from entering the insulation, the material will last more than 50 years.
At the same time, the material also has a number of serious disadvantages - it is flammable and easily damaged by rodents. With a density of less than 35 kg/m3, the foam has a loose structure, and it is vapor permeable due to the pores between the interconnected foamed polymer granules. The denser the material, the higher its thermal insulation properties.
Extruded polystyrene foam
Insulation with polystyrene foam EPPS, penoplex is a foamed polymer material with a closed-cell structure. Polymer insulation for thermal insulation of a house has the same advantages, but extruded polystyrene foam differs for the better from polystyrene foam:
- low flammability (combustion is maintained only with constant contact with the flame; in the absence of a fire source, the material extinguishes itself);
- vapor tightness;
- resistance to damage by rodents.
EPS is widely used as external insulation; if graphite nanoparticles are used in its production, the material has higher energy-saving properties and strength.
Spray polyurethane foam
An example of insulation with sprayed polyurethane foam PPU is a heat-insulating material with a closed-cell structure. Due to the fact that 90% of the weight is air enclosed in the cells, modern insulation is characterized by low thermal conductivity.
Polyurethane foam is resistant to biological damage, does not spread fire, and due to its low weight, such wall insulation does not load structures and foundations. The material is moisture- and gas-proof and provides an airtight coating.
The spraying method allows the use of polyurethane foam to create seamless elastic thermal insulation on surfaces of any configuration. Polyurethane foam has high adhesion and adheres reliably to any type of base - wood, brick and block structures.
The disadvantages of polyurethane foam include the high cost and the need to use professional equipment during installation.
Mineral wool
Thermal insulation of walls using mineral wool Fibrous materials for insulating walls outside are stone wool, slag wool, glass wool. The type of mineral wool depends on the raw materials used. They can be waste from glass production and the metallurgical industry, or molten rock (basalt).
To choose the right mineral wool heat insulator, you should take into account that slag wool is not environmentally friendly; it is better for insulating non-residential buildings. Glass wool tends to cake over time, losing its thermal insulation properties. The ideal option is basalt wool, which holds its shape well, does not burn, is easy to install, dampens sound waves, is not afraid of biological damage and is durable.
Basalt wool can be used to insulate walls made of building blocks, bricks, and timber. Work on thermal insulation of the facade is carried out at any temperature.
The fibrous material is vapor-permeable and capable of absorbing moisture, which requires its reliable vapor barrier when installing internal insulation and external thermal insulation under the cladding. Moisture condensation reduces the thermal insulation properties of the material.
However, vapor permeability is a useful property if the thermal insulation of external walls made of “breathable” materials is carried out using the “plastered” technology. In such a situation, moist warm air from the room passes through the mineral wool and is discharged outside, and a favorable microclimate is maintained in the house.
Liquid thermal insulation
Application of liquid thermal insulation Liquid thermal insulation is an innovative material for insulating external wall structures. It is used for processing metal structural elements (prevents the formation of cold bridges), as well as for insulating walls made of foam blocks, bricks, and wood.
The ceramic multicomponent composition visually looks like paint, but has a porous structure with vacuum voids. The total volume of voids reaches 80% of the material, due to which thermal insulation properties are ensured.
The list of advantages of the material includes:
- integrity of the coating, absence of seams;
- a simple method of applying to walls from the outside (using a roller, brush or vacuum sprayer);
- Possibility of application on surfaces of any configuration;
- resistance of the heat-protective layer to external influences (high and low temperatures, moisture, ultraviolet radiation, mechanical damage);
- decorative appearance (the building does not require finishing on top of the insulating layer);
- protection of structures (protects metal from corrosion, wood from UV radiation and moisture);
- resistance to biological damage.
Using liquid thermal insulation, you can successfully insulate the facade of a private residential house, outbuilding, or industrial facility.
Methods of external insulation
The materials used to insulate the outside of a house are mostly universal and suitable for wall structures built from any materials. But it is important to understand how insulation will affect the wall’s ability to “breathe” with a particular installation technology. Pay attention to the external finish on the outside of the insulation. As a rule, plaster, facade panels, siding, and facing bricks are used.
There are three main ways to insulate a building from the outside:
- fastening the heat insulator under the plaster;
- arrangement of a non-ventilated three-layer system;
- installation of a ventilated facade.
The application of liquid heat-insulating composition has not yet become widespread.
Insulation of walls under plaster
“Pie” of the wall when thermally insulated with mineral wool For installation under plaster, slab insulation is used for the external walls of the house. The material is attached using special glue and umbrella fasteners to the leveled walls (wooden structures are pre-treated with an antiseptic). Sheathing elements are mounted “in a staggered manner” so that there are no long connecting seams.
Then plaster is applied with the obligatory use of mesh for reinforcement. To prevent the plaster layer from falling off the polymer insulation over time, it is recommended to treat its smooth surface with an abrasive for better adhesion and use a plaster material with high adhesion.
When choosing a heat insulator, it is important to consider:
- If you use polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam as insulation material, the house turns into a thermos, since these materials are vapor-proof. To prevent the walls from becoming damp from the inside, the house must have effective exhaust ventilation.
- By using mineral wool, you will maintain the vapor permeability of the wall, but provided that the plaster is not painted with acrylic paint, since it creates a film.
Non-ventilated three-layer system
Section of a wall during installation of a non-ventilated three-layer system Used if the wall material is brick or blocks. The procedure for insulating walls when installing a three-layer non-ventilated system:
- a heat insulator of any type is attached to the wall using glue or spraying;
- with an indentation for an air gap, the external cladding of the house from decorative brick is installed.
If you insulate a house using this technology with foamed polymer, you need to take care of good ventilation, since the walls stop “breathing.” The advantages of the technology include the ability to create a beautiful brick facade of the house. You can also install façade panels.
Ventilated facade
Insulation of walls using a ventilated facade The most common option provides the possibility of covering the house with siding, decorative panels, and clapboard. The materials for thermal insulation of the facade can be mineral wool, EPS boards, or polystyrene foam.
The design of the “pie” is as follows:
- sheathing of boards to create a ventilation gap;
- fastening of hydro-vapor barrier;
- lathing (on boards) for laying heat insulation;
- insulation in the resulting sections;
- windproof film;
- counter-lattice to create an air gap;
- finishing cladding with the selected material.
Note! A common mistake is to install waterproofing directly on the wall of the house. In this case, the vapor permeability of the structure is lost.
Conclusion
To prevent a wall insulated from the outside from becoming damp and moldy, it is necessary to use a technology that does not interfere with its vapor permeability, or it is necessary to install a high-quality ventilation system.