Synthetic inter-crown insulation for timber. Choosing interventional insulation for a wooden house

In a wooden house built from timber or logs, an amazing atmosphere is always created, which has a beneficial effect on the psychological and physical state of the residents, and this is due to the properties of natural wood. So that such a home is warm, and it is not blown out by strong winds and does not freeze in winter period, its walls need to be well insulated by choosing the appropriate material for this process.

Which inter-crown insulation for timber should you choose in order to achieve all your goals at once? This question arises for everyone who has started building a log house for a house. Since log buildings have been built from time immemorial, only natural materials. This tradition has passed on to the present day, although today a considerable number of artificial heat insulators are produced - they have not been able to fully replace the natural ones that were traditionally used by builders.

If the construction of the log house is entrusted construction team, then it would be useful to keep the entire work process under control and independently select and purchase all the necessary auxiliary materials, including inter-crown insulation. Otherwise, you may end up with poor-quality work, which sometimes simply cannot be corrected without a complete overhaul of the entire frame.

For what purposes is interventional insulation used?

To understand how important it is to choose the right and high-quality insulation, you need to fully understand why it is needed when building a wooden log house.

Inter-crown insulation is required:

• To preserve and enhance all the thermal insulation qualities of wood, as well as to maximize the life of the building.
• To avoid the penetration of moisture between logs or beams, with the subsequent emergence and development of mold or mildew, nests of unwanted insects in the house.
• To provide steam-permeable abilities, since wood is a breathable material and reacts to increased humidity and temperature changes. Therefore, inter-crown insulation is mounted not only between beams or logs, but also around window frames and door frames.

In the presence of correctly selected and installed insulation, a residential building acquires the following qualities necessary for it:

- low thermal conductivity, since the walls will not have cold bridges;

- resistance to strong winds, because the walls become windproof;

- balance balance moisture absorption and moisture evaporation.

As you can see, this seemingly insignificant element at first glance has a serious impact on both the quality and overall durability of the building.

Which insulation for crowns to choose?

Previously, when constructing wooden log houses, waste materials produced at home from various plants were used for insulation. The main one was flax, the fibers of which are a good “breathable” heat insulator. As you know, fabric was made from flax, and the rough parts of the plant unsuitable for it were turned into insulation for the walls of the house.

In addition to flax, moss was used to seal the joints of logs, which could be found in large quantities in the forest and in swamps.

Another popular insulation used to close gaps between logs is felt, which was made from sheep wool, compressing it and then cutting it into strips of the required width and thickness.

These materials are in perfect harmony with wood, so the hut insulated with them served without any problems. additional repairs many decades.

Today in specialized stores you can find many different artificially produced materials that manufacturers offer instead of traditional ones. They have more low price than natural insulation materials, which is why many owners who are inexperienced in construction purchase them, not knowing the consequences of such use. Such materials include polystyrene foam, mineral wool, silicone sealants or penofol. Modern artificial insulation materials, of course, have their advantages, and in some cases you simply cannot do without them, but they are absolutely not suitable for laying between the crowns of logs or beams.

Video: a brief overview of inter-crown insulation

Natural interventional insulation

Linen wool for insulation of crowns

As can be understood from the name of the insulation, it is made from flax; it is also often called linen felt. It remains popular today, as it meets all the requirements necessary for interventional insulation:

• This is an environmentally friendly natural material, so it does not cause allergies even in people with a predisposition to it.
• Today flax wool is made not from flax waste, but from purified raw materials, therefore, thanks to its components, the insulation is able to create a microclimate that is favorable for the health of residents.
• This insulation ensures uniform compaction over the entire width and length of the crown.
• It perfectly blocks wind flows.
• Linen wool does not attract dust and does not fray on its own.
• The material is able to adequately respond to fluctuations in humidity - it either accumulates or releases excess moisture, thereby maintaining the most optimal balance.
• Linen wool is breathable vapor permeable material.
• It provides a high level of thermal insulation and sound insulation due to its good adhesion to the wood.
• This insulation is very easy to install.

Flax wool is non-woven material, made by pressing and cut into strips of a certain width, which can vary from 8.5 to 200 mm. The thickness of the material is 5 ÷ 7 mm, the length of the strip in a roll is usually 2000 mm.

If the insulation does not have the required density, then it is laid in two or three layers, securing the logs to the crown with staples.

The edges of the insulation should not extend beyond the crown, otherwise, after installing the logs, they will have to be hammered into the cracks. It is recommended to think through this point in advance and carefully bend and secure the edges inside when laying the next crown.

You need to know that when using flax batting, it is recommended to cover the joints of the logs after installation with a decorative cord made of jute so that the seams look aesthetically pleasing, and this will lead to additional costs.

Flax wool also has negative sides:

- it can become a breeding ground for various insects, such as moths, wood borers, bedbugs and others;

— birds happily use this material to build nests, plucking out pieces of it from the gaps between logs, which leads to mandatory repairs, in which the seams need to be stuffed with insulation again.

Therefore, when using flax wool, you need to coat the beams or logs very well with an antiseptic before laying it.

Moss as inter-crown insulation

Insulation such as moss has been used for laying between crowns since ancient times. They have not abandoned its use today, since it is still considered the most reliable and affordable material.

In regions where log buildings were traditional, moss grew almost everywhere, which is why it was the only insulating material for inter-crown sealing. Houses insulated with moss served for decades without repair, and even when they were dismantled after many years of use, one could notice that the logs were kept in perfect condition and were suitable for constructing a log house in another place.

In total, there are about 300 different types of moss, but only two of them, called “sphagnum” and “cuckoo flax,” are suitable for insulating wooden log houses. These flora representatives contain a large number of antiseptic substances that resist putrefactive processes well. Penetrating into the wood, flavonoids disinfect its fibers, thereby preventing them from decomposing.

Prices for interventional insulation

Intercrown insulation

A log harvested with moss has an amazing aroma of the forest, which creates a special microclimate in it. Since the material is environmentally friendly and non-allergenic, it is safe for humans. In addition, many people suffering from asthma, lung diseases, dermatitis and other ailments feel significant relief while in such a house.

Moss is especially well suited for insulating walls made of manually processed logs, since they do not have ideal evenness of the crowns. In this case, the moss can be laid unevenly - in some places a thicker layer, in others a very thin layer, which is difficult to do using tape material.

• Sphagnum moss is a low-growing plant with soft, small, light green leaves and long, fibrous roots. This type of moss has more antiseptic ingredients than cuckoo flax, so herbalists used it to treat non-healing wounds, as it works on a par with the well-known brilliant green or iodine.

The optimal choice for insulation is sphagnum moss

How this type of moss differs as insulation high density and elasticity. It perfectly maintains the moisture balance of wood and does not respond to temperature changes. In addition, sphagnum is not afraid of ultraviolet radiation, does not dry out from it and does not lose all its heat-insulating properties.

Sphagnum grows in damp swampy areas or forest thickets. It covers the soil with a soft carpet, and it is quite simple to collect, but it is recommended to carry out this activity in sunny, dry weather. After collection, the moss is piled in small bunches to dry for a short time. Drying time takes one to two weeks, depending on the moisture content of the raw materials, and this, in turn, will depend on the place and time of collection of the plants.

Laying sphagnum on crowns is quite complicated and not as convenient as when using ready-made tapes of other insulation materials. But this approach is most effective for thermal insulation and protecting the log house from various negative natural influences.

• Kukushkin flax is a hard, long-fiber, brown-colored moss. When dry, it acquires a reddish tint. You can find this plant the same way as any moss - in a damp, swampy area or in the thicket of a forest. If cuckoo flax is collected for use as insulation, then it is better to look for it in the forest, since there it is not so saturated with moisture.

Unlike sphagnum, cuckoo flax is recommended to be collected in cloudy weather, so it will better preserve its qualities. After collection, this type of moss is laid to dry in long strips, which, after drying, can be laid on the crowns of logs. It should be remembered that cuckoo flax is not dried thoroughly, since when laying it must have a certain percentage of moisture. If the raw material accidentally dries out, then it needs to be slightly moistened during installation. However, cuckoo flax is often laid even when freshly harvested.

The process of inter-crown compaction is carried out in 4 ÷ 5 layers, each of them being laid perpendicular to the previous one. When laying logs on the insulation, the material should be held, as this process requires care. Upon completion of the work, the moss left hanging outside must be caulked into the joints of the logs using a chisel.

Kukushkin flax has good density and does not crumble when dried. He is not subject to putrefactive processes, is not afraid high humidity and retains all its insulating qualities for the entire period of its operation.

This insulation also has its drawbacks, which should be taken into account when choosing it - low fire resistance, as well as heterogeneity and friability of the material, which makes it difficult to install. In addition, it is one of the favorite food for birds. To protect the insulation from birds, it must be tucked well into the seams between the logs, and covered with jute rope on top.

Jute insulation

Another effective insulation for roof joints is jute, made from tropical annual plant the linden family of the same name, the fibers of which have a high percentage of lignin content. This is the name of a unique resin, which is an excellent natural antiseptic that can protect not only the insulation itself, but also m material of timber or logs.

Thanks to this component, jute material is resistant to moisture, which means it is not susceptible to putrefactive processes. It is not taken away by birds or damaged by rodents, which is also very important for high-quality insulation of a residential building.

Jute insulation in our time is often produced in the form of a tape with a width of 100, 120, 150 and 200 mm, and a thickness of about 15 mm. The density of material of this thickness is 400 ÷ 450 g/m². The insulation tapes are rolled into rolls of 2000 mm.

In addition, ropes are made from jute, which are also used to decorate the inter-crown seams of log or timber frame houses.

Jute has a golden hue that harmonizes perfectly with the color of the fibers of any type of wood.

However, paradoxically, the disadvantage of pure jute insulation is its main advantage - very often an excess of lignin contributes to the gluing of its fibers, causing the material to lose its plasticity and become rough and rigid. Therefore, jute is combined with flax fibers, which are also used to insulate crowns.

So, several are produced combined options:

- flax jute ( jute flax);

- jute felt.

• Linen jute is made from flax and jute fibers. Their ratio may be different for each individual manufacturer, therefore the characteristics of the insulation may vary somewhat.

Proportions of 1:1 are considered ideal, since the resulting material combines the elasticity and softness of flax, as well as the rigidity and strength of jute. Flax fibers are located inside the tape, and jute acts as a protective layer - the result is a durable and plastic insulation.

Therefore, the combined material is considered optimal insulation, especially for such problematic objects in terms of high humidity as saunas and Russian baths.

• Jute felt is also made from flax and jute, but in a ratio of 10% to 90%. In this embodiment, the two components are mixed together. Linen dilutes the rigidity of jute and prevents its fibers from sticking together, which has a beneficial effect on the insulating and antiseptic qualities of the material.

Like any tape insulation, jute is easy to install. The main thing is to choose the right ribbon width for the crown.

The tape is rolled out on the crown, and if overhangs form, they need to be folded and stapled using a stapler. Experts advise choosing the width of the tape slightly larger than the size of the crown, and making bends during installation - this process will add accuracy appearance and the necessary thickening of the insulating layer.

Insulation - tow

Tow is made from different materials - it can be flax or hemp, and consists of processed fibers from these plants. These fibers are sometimes pressed into strips and are also used to insulate crowns, having good thermal insulation properties.

Tow is a long-known, but, alas, not the best insulation material.

Despite the good insulation properties and affordable price, tow has not become such a popular material for insulating crowns. One of the reasons for this lack of demand can be called the great love of birds for this insulation. Its fibers are easily separated from the total mass, so birds willingly take advantage of this when building nests in the spring.

After such raids, the seams have to be repaired annually. If this material is used, it is recommended to cover it from the outside with jute rope.

It should be noted that tow is more hygroscopic than other insulation materials - it absorbs moisture and is susceptible to rotting. It is advisable to use it indoors with normal humidity therefore, it is more often used for insulating window and door openings if the windows and doors are made of wood.

From the above we can conclude that any tow is not the most the best choice for insulation of crowns.

Sheep wool (felt)

Sheep wool has long been used as insulation, especially in those countries where sheep breeding is developed. Over time, such insulation began to be produced on an industrial scale and exported throughout the world.

Natural felt made from sheep wool is an excellent material for insulating a log house.

This material is made from raw materials purified and treated against insects by mixing and combining wool and felt fibers into one sheet.

The insulation is produced in thicknesses from 12 to 18 mm, widths from 90 to 200 mm and has very high heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties.

• Thanks to its elastic and springy structure, the insulation fills the entire inter-crown space, leaving no cold bridges. When walls shrink or gaps between logs expand, it is able to shrink and straighten.
• Natural felt does not cake or compact over time, and therefore does not lose its original qualities.
• Sheep wool perfectly accumulates moisture, promoting good vapor permeability of seams, therefore it is not affected by fungal formations and does not rot.

The only drawback of this material can be considered high price, since mainly only imported samples are on sale.

Artificial insulation

Manufacturers also offer artificial insulation for inter-crown insulation. Some of them, more or less suitable for this process, are also worth considering.

« PolyTerm »

Manufacturers of "PolyTerm" characterize it as environmentally friendly heat insulating material, since it is made from 100% polyester fiber. Its production technology was developed in Finland, where it has been successfully used in harsh subpolar climatic conditions for a long time.

Insulation of a log house with "PolyTerm"

"PolyTerm" is widely used as inter-crown insulation for residential buildings, for saunas and baths.

TO positive qualities material includes the following:

• This material is “breathable”, which means it will harmonize well with the structure of the wood. “PolyTherm” is not hygroscopic and has the ability to repel moisture, so when using it, you don’t have to worry about additional sealing work.
• The insulation has vapor permeable properties, that is, it does not interfere with the natural exchange of gases and vapors.
• Thanks to the mentioned advantages, there is no favorable environment for the development of microflora. Unlike natural materials, PolyTerm is unattractive to birds and various insects.
• The material is elastic and resilient, so when the walls shrink or the wood dries out, it straightens out and fills the resulting space.
• "PolyTerm" has high fire resistance.
• Its most important quality is its low thermal conductivity coefficient.
• The material does not contain harmful phenol-formaldehyde compounds.
• The chemical composition of the fibers does not cause allergic reactions in the body.

Roll "PolyTerma"

Manufacturers claim that “PolyTerm” may well not only replace natural materials for inter-crown insulation, but even perform their function at a higher level.

Video: “Holofiber” is a representative of synthetic inter-crown insulation for a house made of timber.

Latex sealant

For insulation wooden buildings sealants made from different bases. One of them is “Consil”, which is intended specifically for inter-crown insulation and sealing natural cracks in logs or beams caused by drying out of the wood.

Cans and tubes of latex sealant "Consil"

"Consil" is a one-component sealant made on a latex basis and used for external and interior works associated with a tree.

Sealing the joints of a log frame with sealant, ...

• Latex sealant allows you to normalize the humidity and temperature conditions, which are comfortable for living inside a log structure.

... or grooves in a log house made of profiled timber

• This material perfectly restrains wind flows, so the walls become windproof and there will never be drafts in the house.
• Thanks to the sealant, there is absolutely no heat leakage, so it is retained in the house, which can significantly reduce heating costs.
• Seams sealed with Consil do not require periodic repair - caulking, which has to be carried out periodically if natural tape insulation is used.
• The sealant ensures reliable closure of roof gaps and cracks from the penetration of various insects into the house.
• Insulation is produced in various color scheme, so you can always choose the necessary option for a specific type of wood.

This is what the diagram of a poorly insulated log house looks like. It is shown what problems can arise with the wood of logs, as well as how serious heat leaks will occur from the room.

Schematically - what it leads to poor quality insulation log house

Since a poorly sealed roof gap is not protected from atmospheric influences, the risk of dampness and mold, insects, wind and sounds from outside entering the house, as well as cold in winter and hot air in summer increases.

If there are gaps between the crowns and cracks on the logs sealed reliably, the house can be considered protected from all the mentioned problems. Heat generated heating devices, remains completely inside the house, and street cold or heat will have no bridges to penetrate inside.

Application of the sealant is quite simple, since it has aggressive adhesion to wooden surfaces, literally soaking in them. Good adhesion of materials is maintained throughout the entire operation of the building, since “consil” is not affected by low and high temperatures.

The sealant remains elastic and is able to change size and shape many times, under the influence of expansion and drying of wood or shrinkage of walls.

It is impossible not to mention the moisture resistance of this material. After hardening it is not exposed to precipitation, does not allow water to pass through and is not washed out her from the gaps. In addition, the sealant is resistant not only to temperature changes, but also to the ultraviolet component sun rays.

Based on the results of tests on the effect of sealant at different temperatures, aquatic environment, ultraviolet radiation and deformation by 50%, manufacturers predicted the service life of the material - it is 30 years or more.

The nuances of laying inter-crown insulation

Whatever insulation for the crowns is chosen, its installation follows the same pattern. Naturally, it is much easier to secure the tape material than to lay out moss or tow, but both works are carried out according to the same principle.

• The tape insulation is rolled out on the surface of the laid log and fixed with staples. If the insulation is wider than required, its edges are wrapped and also secured with staples.
• If the edges of the insulation were not folded inward before laying the next log on top of it, then after completion of the work, this excess is driven into the cracks using a chisel. This process is called primary caulking.
• Secondary caulking is carried out a year later, after the walls have shrinked.
• When using moss or tow for insulation, the material is carefully laid out on the crown, in a layer of 10 ÷ 15 mm, pressing it to the base.

• After laying the insulation on top of the logs, the fibers hanging down on the sides (usually an allowance of about 50 mm in each direction) are also tucked into the gaps between the logs using the same chisel.
• Sometimes insulation is combined using tape insulation, which is rolled out over a beam or placed in a special groove, and a sealing jute cord is laid along its edges. After installing the top log, the gap between the logs on the street side is filled with sealant. The gap between the logs with inside the walls can be carefully caulked with one of the natural materials.

Now, knowing the characteristics of most of the materials used for insulating crowns, you can study them well, compare the price level in the region of residence or the possibility of independent procurement, and, in the end, settle on onthe most optimal option. All that remains is to correctly carry out the insulation process yourself or check the conscientiousness of the builders’ work to ensure that the material is laid correctly.

You may be interested in information about the insulation and technical characteristics

Evgeniy AfanasyevChief Editor

Author of the publication 03.09.2015

Modern people have long been accustomed to the fact that it is customary to use apartments in high-rise buildings as housing. They are built from foam concrete and brick. To insulate the walls in these buildings, materials of synthetic origin are increasingly being used, which, although not harmful to human health, are sometimes unable to perform their direct functions.

That is why residents of megacities are trying to move into houses made of natural wood. If this is not possible, then you can build a house outside the city. For this purpose, logs or beams insulated with jute thermal insulation are usually used.

Types and features of jute insulation

Before you lay jute on timber, you should become more familiar with the varieties and features of this material. He has natural origin, therefore close to dry wood. It can be considered that jute is a dry grass, a spinning crop that successfully replaces flax.

Modern jute thermal insulation has excellent characteristics, including:

• ability to seal joints;
• biological inertia;
• no unpleasant odor;
• tight fit to timber and logs;
• vapor permeability;
• rot resistance.

Additional benefits

Jute insulation is also quite dense. If you purchase high-quality jute, its density will be 60 g/m2, while the layer thickness can be up to 10 mm. The fiber length does not exceed three centimeters.

You can find jute insulation in several varieties; in the first case, felt is added to the material in an amount of up to 15%, in the second - flax - up to 50%. Pure jute and jute with admixtures of flax are produced in rolls of different widths.

Selection and installation

Before you lay jute on the timber, it is important to choose the right material. It is necessary to begin insulation work only some time after the completion of the house. During this period, the wood will reach the desired level of humidity, and the walls will shrink. But even after thermal insulation, moisture that comes from the timber or log will pass through.

Using thermal insulation, it will be possible to fill the joints to prevent the formation of cold bridges. Choosing a thicker seal will ensure ease of installation. The material should be placed in the connecting groove so that it does not move, and after it is pressed with a log, the insulation must be fixed with a stapler, installing the fasteners at a distance of 250 mm. If you purchased a ribbon that is too wide, its edges must be folded inward. The tape should also be located in the bowls.

Features of caulk

Laying jute on timber is prerequisite insulation. Some craftsmen believe that there is no need to caulk joints, but in practice this procedure is still required. Once the log has settled, it can be twisted violently. On one side, a 0.5 cm gap is formed, while on the other side the seal is tightly clamped.

In this case, caulking helps, in which it is best to use tow or tape. This must be done only a year and a half after the construction of the house. In some cases, laying inter-crown insulation does not involve tucking in the ends of an overly wide tape. In this case, the ends will hang on both sides. After the house has settled, the hanging ends can be driven into the joints.

However, in in this case You may encounter a problem, which is that after 2 years the seal will deteriorate under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, moisture and wind. In the end, you will have to hammer in low-quality material between the joints, which does not always allow for complete sealing.

Why choose jute sealant?

If you have not yet decided whether jute will be laid on timber or some other material, then you should familiarize yourself with this issue in more detail. First of all, construction begins with the main goal of environmental friendliness. To caulk the joints between the crowns, you can use other materials, namely:

• flax wool;
• liquid acrylic sealants;
• linen rope.

One of the advantages of jute over the above materials is that it does not wrap around the drill. The insulation has such a structure that when drilling, the metal does not adhere to the thermal insulation, which is very convenient when working. In addition, jute is ready to last exactly as long as a wooden house will last. The declared service life of thermal insulation is 75 years.

Some owners wooden houses do not use jute to insulate the crowns of timber, preferring Experts believe that the feasibility of this approach may raise doubts. Although the joints will not allow the cold to pass through, the walls will lose their ability to breathe. The steam will stop circulating and the wood may begin to rot.

Laying features

You can independently lay jute on timber; the specifics of this work require compliance with several rules. It is important to place the tape on the connecting groove. It should fill the space of the bowls.

The material is laid without bends if the house is built from ordinary logs or glued profiled timber. Sometimes the insulation has a double-sided fold; this solution is suitable for houses made of logs or logs. The material can also be laid with a one-sided bend; this method is suitable for structures made of planed timber.

It is also important to take into account the dependence of the thickness of the insulation on the wall material. If it is intended to use laminated veneer lumber in construction, then the insulation should have a thickness of 0.5 cm. When the system is based on a rounded log, it is necessary to purchase insulation with a thickness of 0.8 to 1 centimeter. If you plan to use chopped logs, then the jute should have a thickness of up to 1.5 cm.

Work technology

Quite often, novice craftsmen wonder how to properly lay timber when jute insulation is used. The work will consist of several stages. The first involves the distribution of insulation along the inter-crown grooves, on next stage the material is fixed using a stapler. Next, the next log or timber is laid, and at the end of the crowns the thermal insulation is cut with scissors.

Once the installation of the frame is completed, the protruding parts of the insulation can be caulked inside. It is important to pay special attention to the fact that the grooves must be completely filled with thermal insulation. During installations that will be assembled manually, it is necessary to select thermal insulation depending on the quality of the roof joints. The neater and denser they are, the easier it will be to insulate the walls. But, as practice shows, log elements assembled by hand are of average quality. In this case, it is important to know how to properly lay jute on timber.

Mentioned insulation material combined with an analogue in the form of tow. Lay out the thermal insulation with your hands and place it in the cuts and grooves. In the place where the thickness of the jute tape is sufficient, you can fix the tow with a stapler.

Recommendations for laying jute between rounded logs and beams without longitudinal grooves

Quite often lately, home craftsmen have been laying jute. Profiled timber or rounded logs are insulated in one layer. When using conventional timber, thermal insulation must be laid in two layers. This rule will be more applicable to timber houses that do not have longitudinal grooves. The construction material lacks recesses for insulation, there is no possibility of forming a thermal lock in it, so it will be subject to blowing.

Conclusion

A prerequisite for the construction of a wooden house is the laying of jute on timber. Inter-crown insulation made from natural materials is preferable to synthetic sealants, which, although easy to use, do not allow the wood to breathe. As practice shows, the technologies for insulating wooden residential structures, which were popular with our ancestors, are not only more familiar, but also more reliable for Russian residents.

Careful insulation of inter-crown joints and sealing of seams can increase the thermal resistance of log walls made of rectangular or profiled timber by 10% - 12% and by 15% - 20% for walls made of cylindrical logs. However, not only thermal insulation is important, but also a number of other functions that the insulation must perform. About how various materials presented on the construction market cope with the task, as well as about a special approach to insulation wooden baths- is discussed in this review.

Requirements for an ideal inter-crown heat insulator for a log bathhouse

In addition to the maximum possible coefficient thermal resistance interventional insulation for a bath you should:

1. Have moderate vapor permeability. The temperature and humidity in the steam room fluctuate intensely.
   

   The ability of a heat insulator to accumulate and evaporate moisture should be comparable to that of wood. Only then will it be possible to avoid condensation of liquid between the crowns, which contributes to the development of bacterial and fungal flora.

2. Demonstrate volume recovery after removal of the load. For a log house in which a steam room is installed, it is doubly important to compensate for the cyclic change in the gaps between the beams. Indeed, here, in addition to natural shrinkage and the change of seasons, the wood is affected by extreme changes in humidity, which contribute to the expansion and contraction of logs. Only inter-crown insulation with good residual elasticity is capable of filling gaps of varying sizes.
3. Contain antiseptics and/or other substances that resist mold and rot.
4. Be distinguished by biological resistance and stability of properties. That is, to be “uninteresting” for birds and insects, and also not to become brittle and lose integrity under the influence of temperature, humidity and solar radiation.
5. Be moderate in price and easy to use. You don’t expect to spend 30% or 40% of the budget of the entire building on purchasing insulation for inter-crown joints, do you?
6. Harmonize with the aesthetics of the log house.
7. Be an environmentally friendly material.

Insulation and sealing

The material that is laid between beams or logs during the construction of a log house works to reduce heat transfer.

The individual elements that are used to seal the joints from the outside after construction are not so much thermal insulators as sealants. They perform the function of wind and moisture protection, reduce convection heat transfer and, if possible, decorate the exterior and interior. Sometimes it makes sense to use different materials for insulation and sealing.

The main thermal insulators used: pros and cons

The origin of the word “caulk” is associated with hemp, from which hemp and twine for sealing cracks were made hundreds of years ago. Products based on this plant are still produced in separate nonwoven fabric factories. But sphagnum moss and “cuckoo flax”, which were once the most popular sealants in Russia wooden architecture, are now perceived as exotic. We will limit ourselves to considering what is present on the shelves of construction supermarkets and specialty stores.

Rolled flax insulation

Inter-crown linen seal

This inter-crown insulation is made from flax fibers using needle-punched technology. We can order any strip width from 3 to 40 cm in 0.5 cm increments. The thickness at a density of 700 g/m² is 8 - 10 mm.

Linen wool (as this thermal insulator is also called) is one of the best means on residual elasticity, heat saving, environmental friendliness, aesthetic properties. In addition, flax fiber tape is currently the most inexpensive way qualitatively caulk the chopped bathhouse. Rolled flax is easy to use. The strip is laid in the groove of the crown and adjusted with staples. The log can then be mounted. Wind is not a hindrance to installation.

Among the disadvantages of flax, it is not the best biostability. Birds happily take it out of the cracks to build nests. Some insects also live in this material.

Rolled jute insulation and jute-linen materials

Jute inter-crown seal

Thermal insulation made from jute is a coarse, homogeneous non-woven fabric produced using the same technology as the insulation made from flax. Jute inter-crown insulation is a durable and relatively rigid tape, which, in addition to good heat-shielding and hydrophobic properties, is distinguished by the presence of 20% lignin in its composition. Lignin is a resin similar in properties to the resins of coniferous trees. Thanks to its presence, jute exhibits both positive and negative qualities.

Inter-crown insulation made of jute has pronounced antiseptic properties. Birds are indifferent to it, and insects are repelled by the smell of lignin. The only thing in which jute is inferior to its flax counterparts is residual elasticity. This material cakes and forms when high blood pressure layers close in density to natural wood.

Jute roll fabric is produced in strips with a width of 10 to 20 cm. With a density of 700 g/m², its thickness is 4 - 6 mm, and the cost is approximately the same as the price of linen fabric.

Trying to combine the advantages of two types of plant fibers and compensate for their disadvantages, manufacturers of non-woven fabrics began to produce combined materials. It is assumed that the jute component provides them with strength, antiseptic action and biological resistance, and the flax component provides elasticity.

Rolled insulation made from artificial fibers

Synthetic inter-crown insulation

The Scandinavians have developed and are promoting several types of inter-crown non-woven tapes based on synthetics - polyester, padding polyester and other fibers. According to experts, these materials can displace natural linen and jute insulation from the sector wood construction, in which well-dried raw materials are used. This includes, for example, laminated veneer lumber produced in Norway and Sweden.

Wood with natural (average) and high level humidity reacts to contact with synthetics quite capriciously: with the formation of non-evaporating internal condensate films and the formation of mold.

Ropes and ropes made from natural fibers

The wall sealed with rope looks elegant

Ropes for sealing joints, made of jute or flax, have all the advantages and disadvantages of these materials. On the street side, preference should be given to jute seals. Linen cords are sometimes used for aesthetic reasons, when light gray is more suitable for an interior or exterior ensemble than brownish-gray jute.

Wool felt

Sheep wool felt passes special treatment and goes into the production of thermal insulation plates for wooden construction. In almost all respects, processed wool is superior to inter-crown insulation materials of plant origin. Except for one indicator - price. The price tag for special wool felt is quite impressive. For this reason, the material is practically not used in the construction of baths.

Sealing pastes

Sealing pastes

Many types of acrylic, silicone, latex and rubber compounds are produced under the general hyperbrand “ warm seam" Some of these sealants are intended for thermal insulation of crowns over sample areas. Others are made to make sealing joints. And all of them are characterized by increased adhesion to wood.

For chopped baths sealants are not suitable due to their zero vapor permeability. But for residential log houses they are used with great success.

Rational combinations of insulation

The combination of linen insulation with jute rope seals has proven itself well. In this option, it is possible to compensate for the low biostability of flax, while maintaining its elasticity. In some cases (in the steam room there is no covering of logs with clapboard and other materials), it is permissible to seal the seams on the street side with rubber or latex paste, using jute tape as an inter-crown heat insulator.

External interventional sealing of the bath

Summary

And yet, is there a universal solution for most chopped baths? interventional insulation for timber: which one to choose without going into the analysis of details? If you trust the experience of builders specializing in the construction of wooden spa areas, then in functional terms it makes sense to limit yourself to jute tape, and use sealing ropes more as a decoration. The selected option works well for profiled and rectangular timber, regardless of the structure of the building and the initial moisture content of the material.

However, it is necessary to define exceptions to general rule: a universal solution is not suitable for log houses with high blood pressure to the inter-crown contact zone. These include bathhouses made of rounded logs of small diameter, as well as two-story buildings.

A wooden house differs from buildings made from other materials in its environmental friendliness and pleasant microclimate. Such characteristics are achieved when correct construction and arrangement of thermal insulation. For this purpose, inter-crown insulation for timber is used.

When a house is built from logs or beams, gaps and spaces between the parts are formed to a greater or lesser extent. These shortcomings lead to the penetration of cold air currents, atmospheric moisture, etc. into the premises. Negative influence. The inter-crown seal closes cracks and gaps.

In addition, it also performs the following functions:

1. Insulation – retains heat indoors.
2. Natural ventilation. Materials that are used as inter-crown insulation easily absorb moisture from rooms and at the same time quickly release into the environment. Therefore, it is comfortable to be in such a house both in winter and in summer.
3. Fills gaps that form as wood dries out.
4. Protects the joints of logs from moisture, which extends the life of the entire structure.

Considering the functions that the seal performs, mostly natural materials are chosen. Some of them have been used for many decades.

But modern technologies dictate their conditions and synthetic substitutes have appeared on sale. Most professional builders do not trust artificial materials and continue to use “old-fashioned” technologies.

Natural interventional insulation

Natural sealants are suitable for log buildings, since their properties are as close as possible to wood. The materials are capable of transmitting moisture from the premises to the outside, which allows maintaining a pleasant microclimate.

Natural insulation materials include:

• jute;
• wool;
• tow.

To determine which interventional insulation is better, you need to more carefully familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of each of them.

Flax for insulating timber crowns

One of the old, but still popular methods of insulating wooden houses. Suitable for buildings made of rounded or chopped logs, laminated veneer lumber or profiled timber. Used in the form of felt. Long purified fibers are straightened with a comb, pressed, and a web is created, which is cut into strips different thicknesses. When going shopping, decide on the sizes in advance.

The material is affordable and performs well protective functions. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly. It is laid along the log during the construction of the house. The edges should hang slightly, and when finished construction work the sagging part is caulked.

Moss as inter-crown insulation

For such a thing would be better suited sphagnum moss or cuckoo flax. The materials have gained popularity due to their availability. Moss is obtained from forests and swamps where it grows in its natural environment. 'Cause there's no need to spend large amounts to purchase insulation.

But this is not the only advantage of moss:

1. It has the property of absorbing and releasing moisture.
2. Reliably closes gaps between logs.
3. Keeps rooms warm.
4. Can be used for caulking gaps after lumber has dried.

But there are several disadvantages:

1. Birds like to use the material to build nests, so it needs to be hidden from their sight.
2. Moss must be damp when laying. Dry - it crumbles and loses its properties, and wet - it will cause wood to rot.
3. The insulation is highly flammable.

Moss is laid during the construction of the main structure, across the log and in large quantities, compacting it.

Jute insulation

More modern, but still natural material. Does not contain polypropylene impurities. They are made from fibers of a certain tree species that grow in Africa, Asia, and America. This is a good inter-crown insulation for laminated timber and other wooden buildings. It fits conveniently, there is no need to leave pieces that will hang down.

The dense structure allows you to completely close the gaps. Resists sudden temperature changes environment. Has vapor-permeable properties. Jute material has long term operation.

Sheep wool (felt)

This is an expensive material, so it is rarely used for insulation. log house. It is difficult to find domestic material in construction stores; this is an assortment only from foreign manufacturers.

Wool retains heat and closes gaps tightly. Absorbs moisture, but releases it much harder. Manufacturers dealt with this deficiency by adding specific components to the composition. The substances also fight the development of fungus and mold in the insulation.

Insulation - tow

This inter-crown insulation is made from jute or flax. Materials differ in density and price. Jute tow is cheaper, dense and rigid. Linen is a little more expensive, but softer.

The material for insulating wooden houses is rarely used, since it is more susceptible to rotting than other materials. In addition, birds use it to build nests and during the construction of a house, they constantly steal material. It is better to use tow as insulation for wooden doors, windows, and balconies.

Synthetic insulation

Some believe that it is better to choose artificial material for insulating a house made of timber or logs. This option is more convenient and faster. It is much easier to work with sealant, polyurethane foam than with jute or moss.

But synthetic insulation is not capable of transmitting moisture from the room, which provokes the development of mold, and therefore reduces its service life and worsens the microclimate. Porous materials, although they absorb steam, are unable to completely close cracks and gaps, which leads to heat loss.

But still some builders and home owners choose following materials for insulation of inter-crown space:

• Mineral wool.
• Izover.
• Polyurethane.
• Polytherm.

Now let’s consider whether such options are suitable and what consequences will occur after using them.

Mineral wool

As a façade insulation material, this material is perfect for timber structures, but it is better not to use it for inter-crown spaces. The material quickly absorbs moisture, but is unable to release it. external space. When shrinking, the logs compress the mineral wool, which leads to a decrease in thermal insulation properties.

Izover

Despite the large number of advantages, isover is rarely used as insulation. TO positive aspects include:

1. Fire safety (does not burn).
2. Convenient to use.
3. Completely fills cracks.
4. Doesn't rot.
5. Birds are indifferent to such material.

But one serious drawback prevents it from becoming a popular and sought-after insulation material. When damaged, the material releases dust in the form of small needles, which irritate the respiratory tract and mucous membranes. It is dangerous to human health. In addition, isover accumulates a lot of moisture and is unable to release it.

Polyurethane foam

An excellent building material, which is chosen for the following characteristics:

• Seals joints and corners well.
• Holds elements together tightly.
• Some types are safe for buildings and humans (does not burn and does not emit corrosive substances).

But it is not suitable for wooden houses for the following reasons:

• Lack of plasticity after hardening. The tree constantly changes size, albeit slightly. Polyurethane foam cannot adapt to such changes, which is why microcracks appear on the surface of the walls. Moisture gets into them and gradually destroys the frame of the building.
• Fears low temperatures. After thawing it begins to crumble.
• When exposed to sunlight, it loses strength.
• Two-component foams are dangerous to human life and health. Easily flammable and release toxic substances.

Polytherm

This material is similar to padding polyester. It is different:

• Resistant to low temperatures.
• Long service life.
• Not flammable.
• Inert to the effects of fungi and mold.
• Recyclable.
• Ability to restore shape after prolonged compression.

But polytherm is categorically not suitable for houses built from logs or timber. This synthetic material is not capable of allowing air to pass through or absorb moisture. Such shortcomings are quite enough to refuse insulation.

But that is not all. If it happens that the polterm gets wet, it will take a very long time to dry, which means that the wood that comes into contact with the seal will begin to rot.

Which material is best suited for timber or logs?

In order for a wooden house to retain its properties, it is better to choose natural materials for insulation and sealing of the inter-crown space. These insulation materials will not become a barrier to the escape of steam from their premises and moisture from the log itself. While synthetic materials on the contrary, they do not release evaporation.

The use of such insulation leads to additional costs:

1. For installation of a forced ventilation system.
2. Frequent repairs.
3. Increased heating costs to dry the walls from the inside.

Do-it-yourself installation of interventional insulation

Any of the selected natural insulation materials is installed according to the same principle. The material is spread along the logs around the entire perimeter of the house. A stapler is used to secure the laid layer. Thus, they are protected from slipping or being blown away by the wind.

A new log is laid on top, which should press the insulation. It is important to place the material so that it hangs after laying the wood by 5 cm on both sides. Therefore, even before the start of construction, they measure the laminated veneer lumber or log and buy insulation 10 cm wider.

After the house is erected, the overhanging areas need to be caulked using a chisel. This is the primary caulk. And after a year and a half, you need to do it again, because during this time it happens natural drying wood and shrinkage of insulation. A house that is protected from external influence If not prettier, it will look like it was recently built.

How much does insulation material cost?

There is no point in saving on insulation. If the material is not laid tightly enough, chamber gaps will appear through which heat escapes into the external environment, and cold air enters from there. As mentioned above, it is better to use only natural materials to insulate houses made of logs and beams, so let’s take a look at their cost:

• moss can be collected in the nearest forest, then the costs will be minimal, or you can buy a bag for 280 rubles;
• linen can be bought from 3.5 rubles for linear meter up to 60;
• jute will cost from 7 to 100 rubles per linear meter;
• wool - from 34 rubles per linear meter;
• tow - from 430 rubles per roll of 4 kg.

You need to understand that such a difference in price is due to the different thickness and width of the material.

Wooden beams are an excellent building material. It is lightweight, absorbs and releases moisture, and its thermal conductivity is several times lower than that of brick, concrete or stone. The only serious drawback of this material is the change in size during the drying process. Therefore, the dimensions of both the timber itself and the house made from it are constantly changing. In winter and autumn, the timber increases, absorbing atmospheric moisture, in spring and summer it decreases, because during the drying process the moisture evaporates. Because of this, gaps appear between the crowns, which increase heat loss in the house, and this negatively affects the microclimate of the rooms and increases heating costs. In this article we will talk about various insulation materials, which are used in the construction of houses made of timber, and we will also give recommendations on choosing the most suitable one for specific conditions.

Requirements for interventional insulation

IN wooden houses, including those built from timber, it is necessary to use only organic insulation. This is due to their characteristics, the main ones of which are:

• the ability to absorb and release moisture without increasing thermal conductivity;
• resistance to high humidity;
• flexibility and elasticity;
• UV resistance;
• inapplicability for the construction of bird nests and burrows of various small animals.

One of the main requirements for insulation is the ability to retain its properties even after getting wet, because during rain, the insulation absorbs a certain amount of moisture. Therefore, mineral wool is not used as insulation, which sharply loses its properties. thermal insulation properties when wet or under strong pressure. No less important characteristic– ability to absorb and evaporate moisture. After all wooden wall absorbs moisture both from rain and from the room, so wooden houses with normal ventilation are never damp or too dry. If the insulation absorbs well, but does not release moisture well, then the timber will begin to rot, which is why the house will soon begin to collapse. Therefore, modern synthetic insulation cannot be used for. They absorb water well, but do not evaporate it well, which is why the timber at the point of contact with the insulation will constantly become damp. In such conditions, the appearance of rot and fungi is only a matter of time.

Important characteristics of insulation are flexibility and elasticity. When a house is being built, the pressure on the insulation lower crowns maximum. Then summer comes, the timber, under the influence of heat and sunlight, loses moisture and dries out, which is why gaps appear between the crowns. If the insulation is not elastic enough, it will remain crumpled and compressed, as a result of which the joint between the crowns will become a source of cold. Therefore, a house with unsuitable insulation often has to be caulked, because this is the only way to avoid drafts in winter. An important factor influencing the choice of material is its demand among birds and various rodents, which can use it to create or decorate nests and burrows. Therefore, for use as inter-crown insulation, it is necessary to use only those materials that will not be attacked by birds and rodents. Otherwise, they will pick out the insulation from the walls, which will lead to an increase in their thermal conductivity and the appearance of cold bridges in winter.

What kinds of inter-crown insulation are there - jute, flax

Most often, the following materials are used as inter-crown insulation:

• jute;
• flax wool;
• felt.

Which interventional insulation to choose + Video

When starting to choose insulation, first of all calculate required amount material. To insulate profiled or laminated timber, the insulation consumption is 200–400 grams per square meter of total insulated area. For sawn and planed timber, the consumption is 300–500 grams per square meter. For timber natural humidity insulation consumption is 350–600 grams per square meter. After this, it is necessary to determine the thickness of the insulation. For dry profiled and laminated timber, the optimal thickness is 3 mm. For sawn and planed timber, the optimal insulation thickness is 4–5 mm. For timber with natural humidity, the thickness of the insulation should be from 6 to 10 mm. This is due to humidity and the shape of the timber. Having determined the quantity and thickness of insulation, find out the cost in stores various materials, then calculate the price of the entire volume and think about whether you can afford such expenses. At correct installation any of the materials described above will provide excellent insulation for a house made of timber, so there is not much difference between them.

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