Load loose insulation into the wall using a garden vacuum cleaner. Granulated polystyrene foam

To insulate walls, ceilings and other structural parts of buildings, different types of insulation are used. It is more profitable to use bulk insulation, which is much cheaper with equal efficiency of traditional slab and roll materials. In addition, such material is much easier to install.

Advantages of bulk insulation

Insulating a house is a very important step in completing construction. The main objective of this procedure is to significantly reduce the level of heat loss, which will allow you to save on insulation; you just need to choose the right thermal insulation material. In addition to the low thermal conductivity of bulk materials, which determines their particular popularity, they have other undeniable advantages:

have good resistance to temperature fluctuations;
have a sufficiently low weight, creating a minimal load on the walls or ceiling;
They are environmentally friendly and fireproof material;
retain heat well in rooms;
are durable.

Working with bulk materials is quite simple; their installation does not require special skills or expensive tools. Delivery of bulk insulation in bags does not require special equipment or a manipulator. You can bring such high-quality modern thermal insulation in a regular car trailer or even in the trunk. When laid, backfill insulation easily fills any space without leaving voids or cracks; it is only important to select the required fraction.

Floor insulation

Loose floor insulation materials are used very often.

The most popular material is expanded clay.

Its production is quite simple; the advantages of expanded clay include low price and high quality Moreover, this material is environmentally friendly, is not afraid of moisture and is quite frost-resistant. Depending on the required insulation area, you can purchase expanded clay both in bags and in bulk, which is much more economical.

To insulate floors in rooms with high humidity, perlite backfill insulation, made from volcanic rocks, is recommended. Natural material with a high degree of environmental purity, chemically inert and fire-resistant, able to withstand very high temperatures. Due to its porosity, perlite is an excellent thermal insulation material.

Vermiculite, a backfill thermal insulation made from natural raw materials, with high fire resistance and hardness, is characterized by a significant coefficient of moisture absorption, chemical and bacteriological resistance. Mold and pathogens will not develop in it, and the load on the foundation from structures with this type of insulation will be minimal.

The flowability of such cheap and widespread lumber as ordinary sawdust allows it to be used after special antiseptic treatment for floor insulation.

Insulation of walls and ceilings

To make the house warm and comfortable, it is necessary to insulate the external walls. For this purpose, foam glass, a granulated environmentally friendly material obtained from raw fractions by foaming, can be used. This wall insulation is chemically resistant and can form the basis of heat-insulating plaster. Foam glass is ideal for insulating basement walls and foundations, since it is not afraid of groundwater.

A granule of foamed polymers is the basis of penoplex, lightweight and moisture-resistant thermal insulation material. This heat insulator does not have a very wide operating temperature range, so it is not recommended to use it for insulating baths. Penoplex can be quite easily filled with frame walls. The granules fill the smallest voids.

Mineral wool for wall insulation can be used not only in the form of conventional slabs or rolls, but also in the form of granules larger than 10 mm in size. Such bulk insulation is vapor-permeable and fire-resistant, and is not afraid of high temperatures. In addition to thermal insulation properties, granulated mineral wool has good sound insulation properties. When laying mineral wool, it is necessary to provide protection for the skin and respiratory tract.

Mineral wool for wall insulation can be used not only in the form of conventional slabs or rolls, but also in the form of granules larger than 10 mm in size.

To preserve heat in rooms, ceilings are often insulated. Recently, penoizol, which looks like foam chips, has gained popularity. This lightweight, low-density material is characterized by increased biological resistance. Rodents and mold will not grow in such a thermal insulation layer.

When choosing heat-insulating bulk materials, you should pay attention to such characteristics as thermal conductivity, density, moisture absorption, weight and particle size. Most of the bulk insulation can be delivered and installed independently, which will significantly reduce the cost of insulation work, which is especially important for owners of dachas and small country houses.

Bulk insulation: types and characteristics

Types of bulk insulation. Expanded clay, vermiculite and mineral wool in granules. Selecting fill-in insulation based on characteristics for floors and walls.

Bulk insulation: types, application

Today we will tell you about bulk insulation, which is available in eight different types. The variety is simply impressive, as they are made from paper, stone, resin, polymers and even clay. Each material has its own strengths and weak sides, although there are also those who have nothing to praise for, even if they wanted to. All bulk insulation can be installed using two methods: manually or using a compressor. Such materials are good because they fill all the cracks and voids. And negative qualities include shrinkage, which is inherent in all insulation materials from this cohort.

Expanded polystyrene crumbs

The first bulk insulation we will consider is polystyrene foam. If you look closely at a sheet of polystyrene foam, you can see that it consists of many balls. These component parts may not be fastened together, and their density decreases. If you take a sheet of polystyrene foam and loosen it into individual balls, they will take up much more space. Naturally, as the density decreases, the material’s resistance to heat transfer decreases somewhat, so unless absolutely necessary, it is better to use sheets.

Bulk insulation for walls made from foam spheres is used only when it is necessary to fill the cavities of already built structures. The crumbs are simply blown out using a special machine, trying to achieve maximum density. The disadvantage of crumbs is that the insulation can shrink. In addition, the material:

burns;
emits toxic smoke;
Rodents feel great in it.

This bulk wall insulation is transported in plastic bags. Can be used to insulate floors, ceilings, and pitched roofs.

Loose penoizol

Penoizol flakes have a random shape.

In appearance, penoizol looks like foam chips, but if you look more closely, the difference is obvious. Despite the visual similarity, these are two completely different materials. Penoizol is more like snow flakes, it does not have perfect shape ball, this material is softer. Penoizol is used as fill-in insulation for walls and horizontal ceilings. In addition, it is also available in sheets, but is mainly used in liquid form. Unlike polystyrene foam, penoizol:

The thermal conductivity characteristics of both materials are almost equal.

Penoizol backfill insulation for walls is made from resin. The quality of the material primarily depends on the quality of the resin used for production.

First, the liquid substance is poured into blocks, about a meter by meter. Then the blocks are cut into sheets, and only then the sheets are crumbled. Installation is carried out using a blowing machine or manually. When working, you need to control the degree of density of the material.

Foam glass in granules

Fractions of foam glass come in different sizes, up to crushed stone.

It is made from broken glass, which is crushed into smallest fractions, melted and mixed with coal. As a result, carbon dioxide begins to escape from the material, which forms air spheres in the structure of the foam glass. This is a very expensive material; it is used in industrial facilities or in the construction of high-rise buildings. It is used extremely rarely in private construction, since not everyone can afford such a cost. They are used as bulk insulation for ceilings, floors and walls, and in the form of slabs or blocks. Bulk comes in different fractions, based on this, it looks like:

Bulk foam glass insulation has the following characteristics:

does not absorb water;
does not burn;
thermal conductivity 0.04–0.08 W/m*C;
does not allow steam to pass through;
high compressive strength 4 MPa;
bending strength is even more than 0.6 MPa;
operating temperature range from -250 to +500 degrees.

The peculiarity of using bulk insulation for floors is that foam glass can be part of the cement mortars with which the screed is poured. The same is true when pouring foundations; instead of ordinary crushed stone, you can use foam glass.

Expanded clay is ugly, but time-tested.

Probably the oldest and most well-known fill-in insulation is expanded clay. Made from clay by firing.

It should be noted that expanded clay is much cheaper than its competitors, namely perlite and vermiculite, which we will talk about a little later. The density of the material can vary between 250-800 kg/m. cube The degree of thermal conductivity ranges from 0.10 to 0.18 W/m*C.

Expanded clay practically does not absorb moisture; this process occurs very slowly. But, having filled up with water, he is very reluctant to part with it, which cannot but affect his characteristics.

It is used as bulk insulation for walls, floors, ceilings and roofs. Also read “Use of expanded clay for roofing.” It does not enter into any chemical reactions, mold does not grow in it, and mice do not live in it. Since the starting material for manufacturing is clay, expanded clay has all its positive qualities:

Expanded clay can be mixed with sawdust, but the insulation layer should be slightly larger, since wood has a slightly lower resistance to heat transfer.

Loose thermal insulation ecowool

Ecowool was developed as part of a waste recycling program.

This type of insulation was developed in Europe as part of a recycling program. That is, the main goal is to usefully recycle waste. It is made exclusively from newspapers; no more than 10% cardboard is allowed. To prevent ecowool from burning, microorganisms from growing in it, and mice not gnawing on it, borax and boric acid are added to the detailed newsprint.

It is used as bulk insulation for floors and walls, installation is carried out using dry and wet methods. The density when blown by machine is 65 kg/m in the wall. cube, on floors 45 kg/m. cube, density for manual laying - up to 90 kg/m. cube Thanks to fire retardants, the material does not burn, but smolders successfully.

The service life of ecowool produced in the Omsk and Tomsk regions is 10–12 years. Western manufacturers claim that the material will last 50 years. But they give such forecasts based on the climatic conditions of their region, where temperature differences are smaller and, accordingly, less moisture settles in the insulation (due to the dew point). For Russia, with its cold and humidity, these forecasts are unlikely to come true.

The thermal conductivity of ecowool is 0.037–0.042 W/m*C. It easily absorbs moisture and releases it just as easily.

When wet, it becomes heavier, which leads to shrinkage, which is inevitable. In fact, ecowool has nothing to do with environmental friendliness. It is simply stuffed with chemicals and we do not recommend using it.

Bulk perlite insulation

Perlite always white.

Perlite is a volcanic ore (acidic glass). For insulation, construction perlite is used, the fraction of which varies from 0.16 to 1.25 mm. After ore is mined, it is crushed and heated to 1 thousand degrees. It is important that the heating is carried out sharply, and the water that is in the structure of the rock begins to evaporate. As a result of this process, perlite swells and reaches a porosity of 70–90%.

thermal conductivity 0.04–0.05 W/m*K;
does not burn;
does not absorb moisture;
allows steam to pass through;
chemically inert.

The density of insulation in the wall varies from 60 to 100 kg/m. cube Membranes cannot be used during installation, as they quickly become clogged during operation. For laying on pitched roofs Perlite treated with bitumen is used. After a solvent is added to bituminized perlite, it becomes sticky, and after it hardens, it forms a single insulating layer of any shape.

Vermiculite backfill insulation

Vermiculite has become very popular recently.

Loose thermal insulation vermiculite is made from mica - an ore that is mined in quarries. The ore is broken into small fractions, which are subsequently intensively heated to 700 degrees and due to the evaporation of moisture, swelling occurs; naturally, the fractions increase in volume. If you gradually heat the mica fractions, the moisture will slowly evaporate and swelling will not occur.

The service life of the material is unlimited, because there are no adhesive impurities in it, there is simply nothing there to spoil. Material characteristics:

thermal conductivity 0.048-0.06 W/m*K;
density 65-150 kg/m. cube;
does not burn;
non-toxic;
allows steam to pass through;
when moistened by 15%, it does not lose its thermal insulation properties.

Vermiculite transports and distributes liquids well. This means that even with intensive, deliberate moistening of a separate area, perlite will evenly distribute moisture over all its areas, and then completely remove it outside. This property allows you to minimize the consequences of getting the insulation wet. Vermiculite costs almost the same as ecowool (about 4,500 rubles per cubic meter). It can be mixed with sawdust in a 50/50 ratio.

Wood sawdust

The thermal conductivity of sawdust is 0.07–0.08 W/m*C. Sawdust is rarely used as an independent insulation material, as it is prone to absorbing moisture and further rotting. Therefore, they are mixed with other materials:

The ability of these materials to remove moisture prevents sawdust from being blocked even when laid in a thick layer. By the way, you can only use small sawdust, which is obtained when processing wood on modern machines with high speeds.

Having examined all types of bulk insulation, we can conclude that heat insulators made from rocks and clay have proven themselves to be the best. In terms of price/practicality/heat transfer resistance, the best option is penoizol. An outsider in our rating, ecowool is poison in pure form, not otherwise.

Types of bulk insulation for ceilings, wall insulation

There are eight types of bulk insulation. It is used for thermal insulation of walls, floors, ceilings, and pitched roofs. Technical characteristics of bulk insulation.

Bulk insulation - material properties and installation features

Energy-saving internal and external cladding can be made using bulk insulation materials. Manufacturers offer a large selection of this insulation option.

Which bulk wall insulation materials are preferable? And what option for floor thermal insulation will be optimal when choosing bulk insulation?

Budget option for insulation - bulk insulation

Variety of insulating fills

Installation and leveling of thermal insulation

The construction market offers a large selection of loose granular heat insulators:

Expanded clay;
Foam concrete crumbs;
Ecowool;
Traditional sawdust and sand;
Boiler slag;
Vermiculite.

Let's try to understand the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the main technical characteristics of these materials.

This bulk heat insulator is lightweight and has a porous structure. Expanded clay is produced by firing light alloy clay. Therefore, it is an absolutely safe and environmentally friendly heat insulator.

Expanded clay sand
Expanded clay gravel

Floor insulation with expanded clay – “last century” or modern technology).

Expanded clay can be produced in three versions:

Expanded clay sand- has a particle size from 0.14 to 5 millimeters. It is mainly used for filling lightweight concrete and as bulk insulation for floors;
Expanded expanded clay crushed stone– granules from 5 to 40 millimeters. An excellent option for thermal insulation of foundations and floors of residential buildings;
Expanded clay gravel– has a rounded granule shape. Since the surface of the granules is melted, the material acquires a porous structure. Due to this property, expanded clay gravel has increased frost resistance and resistance to open fire. The size of the granules ranges from 5 to 40 millimeters.

Granulated polystyrene foam

insulation of attic floors, since the material is lightweight and has low thermal conductivity. Installing an energy-saving layer on the attic floor is easy to do with your own hands.

Marking of the expanded clay fraction indicates the size of the granules:

Fractions from 5 to 10 millimeters are recommended for thermal insulation of floors and roofs;
Expanded clay fractions from 10 to 20 millimeters are ideal thermal insulation for baths and saunas. This insulation option is able to maintain a certain temperature and humidity in the room;
Granules over 20 millimeters are used for thermal insulation of foundations and basements.

Important. When performing insulation with bulk materials, it should be taken into account that such insulation settles over time. Therefore, the installation instructions for granulated expanded clay recommend carefully compacting the insulation layer.

Below is a comparative table of insulation thickness depending on average winter temperatures.

Granulated polystyrene foam

There is still debate among experts regarding this insulation. On the one hand, it is a lightweight material that is used as backfill for insulating walls and roofs, or is used as an additive to concrete insulating mixtures.

Opponents of this insulation talk about its toxicity and flammability. And it is recommended to use granulated foam glass as an external and internal heat insulator. But this insulation is relatively new and its properties have not yet been sufficiently tested in various operating temperature conditions.

By combining these two opposing opinions, we can come to the conclusion that the golden mean is more reasonable. In addition, the price of granulated polystyrene foam is low. Therefore, it can be used to insulate walls using the well masonry method.

Or add as additional thermal insulation to concrete mixtures for finishing basements and foundations.

Vermiculite

Laying a layer of vermiculite when insulating the floor

This thermal insulation material is made on the basis of mica and has a layered structure. In the process of producing vermiculite, no chemical additives or impurities are used, so this insulation can be used when insulating loggias, external and internal energy-saving cladding of residential premises.

Backfilling with vermiculite five centimeters thick reduces heat loss by 75 percent, and a layer thickness of 10 centimeters guarantees a reduction in heat loss by 92 percent.

The advantages of this modern insulation include the following characteristics:

The high porosity of the material ensures the breathability of the insulation, which allows the walls to “breathe” under the finish. This quality of vermiculite provides a comfortable indoor microclimate;
Vermiculite is environmentally friendly and does not emit toxic substances;
This is a non-flammable material (flammability group - G1);
The insulation is resistant to fungi and mold. And also rodents and insects do not spoil this insulation;

Location of insulation layers

Vermiculite backfill insulation for walls does not require special skills during installation. It is enough to fill in a layer of insulation and seal the insulation. No additional fasteners are required during installation;
The service life of this insulation is at least fifty years, and the price is quite affordable.

Important. The thermal insulation instructions recommend insulating the walls with a ten-centimeter layer of backfill. And for thermal insulation of attics and roofs and interfloor ceilings, a backfill of five centimeters is sufficient. To protect the insulation from moisture, it is recommended to lay a layer of vapor barrier film.

Wood chips and sand

Thermal insulation of the attic with sawdust

Traditional insulation materials used for energy-efficient finishing of basements and attics. These bulk floor insulation materials have been traditionally used for centuries. But there are many modern, more convenient to install materials that have low thermal conductivity and good water-repellent characteristics.

insulation materials used for energy-saving finishing of basements and attics. These bulk floor insulation materials have been traditionally used for centuries. But there are many modern, more convenient to install materials that have low thermal conductivity and good water-repellent characteristics.

Cellulose insulation - ecowool

Bulk insulation made from shredded newsprint (81 percent), antiseptics (12 percent) and fire retardants (7 percent). In world construction practice, this composition of insulation has been used for more than eighty years, but it appeared on the construction market of Russia and the CIS about ten years ago.

The insulation contains boric acid as an antiseptic, and borax as a fire retardant. So we can speak with confidence about the environmental safety of the material.

Due to the fact that the fibers of the material fill all the voids in the energy-saving finish, it can be recommended for insulating complex building structures.

Features of installation of bulk insulation materials

Laying loose insulation for pitched roofs

Insulation of pitched roofs with bulk materials, for example, expanded clay, occurs from the outside, after laying the vapor barrier. To evenly distribute the insulation along the slope, it is necessary to install transverse stops between the rafters;
Bulk insulation for floors and basements must be compacted after installation. This is necessary in order to avoid shrinkage of the insulation and deformation of the finish;
When insulating rooms with high humidity (baths, saunas), it is necessary to ensure high-quality hydro- and vapor barrier of the insulation layer;
Bulk insulation is laid in such a way as to avoid spillage of insulation through cracks and cracks in the finishing.

There are several basic rules for installing bulk materials. But experts recommend, first of all, to be guided by the requirements that are regulated by the instructions for laying this or that insulation.

Bulk insulation for walls and floors: bulk, backfill, video instructions for do-it-yourself insulation, photo and price

Once again about fill-in insulation

Type of backfill insulation

The differences between bulk heat insulators and roll, tile and other insulation materials are moderate, affordable price, in simple installation technology. You just need to distribute it evenly, taking into account proper vapor barrier. As a rule, only fill-in insulation does not leave cracks and penetrates into hard-to-reach areas. However, the variety of materials dictates its own rules - how not to make a mistake, take into account all the advantages and disadvantages and choose the one that is ideal for your home? The comparison after the review below will surely make this task easier.

Vermiculite (fill)

Thermal insulation backfill Vermiculite is a natural material, since it is a mineral of the hydromica group that has been fired. Thermal conductivity depends on the size of the fractions. For backfill thermal insulation in civil engineering, expanded vermiculite of a coarse fraction up to 1 cm with a luster and scaly structure characteristic of mica is used. Roasting allows you to increase the volume of raw materials by 7-10 times, its volumetric mass is about 90 kg per cubic meter. The heat insulation layer does not cake and easily releases absorbed moisture. Used for insulating floors, roofs, inter-wall spaces, and backfilling foam blocks.

The most positive thing about its environmental friendliness is that when heated, Vermiculite does not release toxins and is odorless. It is bioresistant, fireproof, and breathability has a beneficial effect on the formation of the microclimate of rooms insulated with backfill expanded vermiculite. Vermiculite does not interfere with natural air circulation (not to be confused with drafts and convection). Used as an additive in cement mortars, in finishing materials. High cost is not always a positive aspect when choosing.

Aerated concrete crumbs (backfill)

Aerated concrete crumbs, this is a mixture of porous crushed stone and sand , obtained after crushing aerated concrete. Unevenness of fractions up to 30mm, irregular shapes particles form a layer that does not lose its given shape. It is used as bulk insulation, additional bedding for sound insulation in building structures (walls, ceilings). It is in demand as insulation for pitched roofs with a slight angle of inclination. Does not disrupt natural circulation, providing optimal humidity and gas exchange. Backfill aerated concrete chips are used instead of expanded clay in lightweight concrete when pouring the foundation. In this case, aerated concrete crushed stone insulates the foundation, due to its low thermal conductivity, and also contributes to its anti-swelling. Inexpensive drainage and insulation for road surfaces. The disadvantage is the dusting of fine fractions during backfilling.

Expanded clay (fill)

Expanded clay, a traditional fill-in thermal insulator. Firing low-melting clay makes it possible to obtain oval granules of various fractions. The porous structure, light weight of hardened foam clay, and natural base will keep this material on the bulk insulation market for a long time. Although, it is also widely used in filling lightweight concrete, as drainage. Fireproof, rot resistant. Its cost is equal to the cost of rough building materials. It is widely used for ceiling insulation, but here it is necessary to take into account the disadvantages of expanded clay. It is fragile, easily absorbs moisture, but gives it away with difficulty. It is necessary to ensure reliable waterproofing; it is not advisable to pour it onto the ceiling itself. A vapor barrier substrate and mandatory waterproofing will slightly increase the cost of such insulation. Shrinkage is possible. Expanded clay gravel of large fractions up to 20mm is also suitable for insulating saunas and baths. For foundations and basements, a coarser fractional material is recommended, which can be classified as crushed stone.

Foam glass (fill-in insulation)

Foam glass. As a fill-in insulation, it comes in several types and this is due to different technologies for its production. This:

filing of foam glass slabs;
foam glass crushed stone obtained by foaming the mass and rapid cooling. This leads to destruction; additional mechanical crushing produces crushed stone without an outer fused layer;
granulated foam glass, which is widely used in the construction market, both as an independent backfill and as the basis for heat-insulating plasters.

Granulated foam glass is obtained from foamed raw granules. Essentially it is glass foam with a fused outer surface. The porous structure of the melted surface gives unique properties inorganic insulation. It is rigid, with high compressive strength, waterproof, and not subject to chemical and bacteriological destruction. Eco-friendly. It has practically no temperature restrictions during operation (from -200 to +500°C). Excellent for arranging and insulating inversion roofing, insulating basements, foundations, since it is not afraid of external and groundwater. Reuse and reuse is possible, the thermal conductivity coefficient remains unchanged (0.05-0.07 W/(m °C)). Can be used as fill-in insulation in ceilings and walls. But this is not a budget option.

Penoplex or Polyfoam (Fill)

Light airy (made from foamed polymers) spherical granules are often pressed into slabs, which simplifies the installation of the heat-protective layer. Penoplex, Foam plastic, Expanded polystyrene. But unpressed granules or expanded polystyrene crumbs, after recycling substandard sheets, find use as an independent heat insulator and as an additive to concrete (polystyrene concrete). Such insulation does not have absorbent properties - it does not absorb moisture, the shock-absorbing capabilities of a layer of polystyrene granules are high (remember the “living” Bubble chairs, a bag filled with a similar backfill). Crumbs are always cheaper than granules, but their properties are not strictly regulated. Very light material that needs protection from sun rays, chemical and temperature influences. Easily “lifted” by air flow. The material is relatively new, its properties have not been tested by time and often cause controversy both among builders and consumers. The trend towards environmentally friendly housing is clearly against us here. Although the heat and sound insulation properties declared by the manufacturers are high and the price is affordable for budget construction.

Mineral wool (backfill)

The raw materials for mineral wool are a number of rocks, metallurgical slags, and quartz (fiberglass). Slag mineral wool is inferior in quality and characteristics to a heat insulator made from molten rocks. Since mineral wool fibers affect the mucous membranes and respiratory tract, the production process does not always stop at obtaining the fibers and their deposition. Cotton wool is either glued with glue based on polymer resins (plates, roll insulation) or granulated mechanically. Loose mineral wool includes both fibers and granules. Loose mineral wool is not always suitable for insulation, since compaction breaks the fiber structure and there is a risk of shrinkage. And it is difficult to work with it; protective measures are required for the skin and respiratory tract. Granular mineral wool is recommended as effective insulation technological equipment, chimneys, it is resistant to high temperatures (stability threshold 1090°C), non-flammable and has a lower weight in volume (250 kg/1m3) than loose. The size of the granules is usually 10-15mm. Minerals are not characterized by bio-destruction, so mineral wool does not rot, it has good vapor permeability, but when wet, the thermal insulation properties decrease. Mineral wool is difficult to dry.

Cellulose insulation (ecowool)

Backfill ecowool is recommended as an excellent insulation and soundproofing material for any structure. But having a wood base - recycled cellulose treated with borates, it is ideal for wooden structures, since it has 100% compatibility of characteristics with wood. This avoids many problems of incompatibility of contacting materials. Widely used in low-rise frame construction as a backfill heat insulator for walls, roofs and ceilings. Ecologically pure material, does not rot, resists fire. Ecowool is the right insulation for houses with natural ventilation, without the risk of exposure to volatile toxins. Eliminates the issue of rodent populations appearing in overlapping areas. Along with the advantages, backfill ecowool has disadvantages. Manual laying is a very labor-intensive process, in which it is difficult to adhere to the recommended density. It is “dusty” because it has the fibrous structure of wood fluff. It is advisable to include the installation of the layer into the cost of insulating a house with ecowool. mechanized way(under measured pressure and using a blow molding machine). But ecowool insulation produced once, it does not reduce its thermal insulation properties under the influence of time and external factors throughout the life of the house.

How to choose the best bulk insulation for your home?

Types of loose insulation materials, scope of application of loose heat insulators, properties

Used to insulate houses different kinds insulation materials. This includes the famous mineral wool, polystyrene foam, expanded clay and many others. The line of insulation products is numerous and varied.

Bulk insulation materials occupy a worthy place in it. Being a natural material, they have earned themselves worthy respect due to their qualities.

For floor

During any construction, the closest attention is paid to thermal insulation. Not left without attention either. Bulk insulation materials are best suited for this.

The most common among them are:

perlite;
vermiculite

Expanded clay in floor insulation is the most widespread insulating material. Low price, mass production and high thermal insulation properties played an important role in this. And, although it is made from clay, the resulting product is quite light. Weight of 1 m³ is on average 350 kg.

It is appropriate to mention that expanded clay is the most environmentally friendly material. It is not susceptible to moisture and at the same time frost-resistant. Sold in bags or in bulk. Expanded clay can be used as an independent insulation material or in combination with concrete. Expanded clay concrete not only retains heat, but in addition is a very durable substrate, foundation.

The next representative of bulk insulation will be perlite. Its origin is volcanic rocks.

A distinctive feature, unique to it, is a high percentage of moisture absorption. Research has shown that it is capable of absorbing four times its own weight in moisture. It is because of this that it is recommended for insulating rooms with high humidity.

Environmentally friendly natural material that does not enter into any chemical reactions. Has high fire resistance.

You can learn about other fire-resistant thermal insulation from this material:

Withstands temperatures up to 900ᵒ C. Having a porosity of up to 40%, it is an excellent insulation material. For insulation it is used in the form of perlite sand. You can buy it in the same way as expanded clay, in bags or in bulk.

This is interesting: Perlite is not only used in construction, it is also used to filter vegetable oil, fruit juices and beer.

Vermiculite is also an excellent natural insulation material. It is distinguished by its hardness. Along with high fire resistance (up to 1200ᵒ C), it has an impressive moisture absorption coefficient of more than 530%. It has amazing thermal insulation properties.

With a layer thickness of only 5 cm, heat loss is reduced by 75%. It is an environmentally friendly material. Has high chemical and biological resistance. Prevents the appearance of mold and mildew. Having a low volumetric weight, it does not create a load on the foundation. It is sold like all bulk insulation materials - in bags and in bulk.

For floor insulation, not only bulk insulation materials are used. Polystyrene foam, mineral wool, liquid insulation, cork and a number of others are also often used. Each of them has both positive and negative sides. Some are very good, but expensive. For example, cork insulation. Others, like polystyrene foam, are not fire resistant.

Good floor insulation is obtained from ordinary sawdust, but it requires special antiseptic treatment. In addition, it shrinks very quickly and cakes. Bulk insulation materials have the most optimal parameters for floor insulation.

Note: Bulk insulation materials tend to shrink. Dense compaction reduces its size.

For walls

To maintain heat in the house, you need to insulate not only the floor, but also the walls. And not only from the inside, but also from the outside. There is a large selection of insulation materials, but you want to choose the best one. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of insulation and choose the one that is most suitable.

The following materials are widely used for wall insulation:

foam glass;
Styrofoam;
penoplex;
polyurethane foam.

The list of insulation materials is presented in a very wide range. Bulk insulation materials are still in great demand. The same old proven insulation materials that are used for floors have proven themselves to be excellent. More modern ones have also appeared. For example, foam glass is very popular among builders.

This environmentally friendly material is chemically stable and does not undergo biological destruction. Granulated foam glass is used not only as an independent backfill, but also as the basis for heat-insulating plaster. It is obtained from foamed raw granules. It is produced in the form of slabs, crushed stone and in granular form of various fractions.

It is worth noting: granulated foam glass is absolutely not afraid of groundwater. Therefore, in addition to walls, it can be safely used for insulating foundations and basements.

Penoplex - granules made of foamed polymers. Sold in the form of slabs or crumbs. Absolutely does not absorb moisture. Very light weight material. Requires protection from sunlight and chemical influences.

Please note: Penoplex can only be used within the operating temperature range (from -50ᵒ C to +75ᵒ C).

For work on wall insulation, loose penoplex is very convenient. Especially when making walls of a frame structure. Containing very small granules (from 0.1 mm), it is able to penetrate into the smallest voids.

Mineral wool is widely used for insulating not only walls. Granule size from 10 mm. Has good vapor permeability. Fire resistant. Does not change its properties up to 1000ᵒ C. Good sound insulator. Recommended for internal insulation. Sold in bags, in bulk, in rolls. When working with mineral wool, it is necessary to take measures to protect the respiratory tract and skin.

Note: wet mineral wool noticeably reduces its thermal insulation parameters. Very difficult to dry.

To summarize, we can confidently note that as insulation for walls, the leading place is occupied bybulk insulation materials.

For ceilings

Just like floors and walls, ceilings require insulation. The insulation materials discussed above may well be used in this case.

A more specific insulation material is penoizol. In appearance it somewhat resembles foam chips. This is where the similarity ends, if you do not take into account the thermal conductivity characteristics.

Penoizol is absolutely not flammable. Has high chemical and biological resistance. Rodents avoid it. It is good for insulating ceilings because it is very light in weight. Its density is from 5 to 75 kg/m³. Due to low thermal conductivity, a thickness of insulation layer of 5 cm is sufficient. When working, bulk material is used, in sheets and in liquid form.

Note: Penoizol shrinks slightly (0.1 - 5%). It is compensated when work is performed by professional craftsmen at modern equipment. Otherwise, cracking of the insulation is inevitable. (this applies to the use of the liquid fraction).

When considering bulk insulation for ceilings, one cannot ignore such a widely used material as sawdust. as the cheapest material. Their use as an independent insulation material is highly undesirable. The fact is that they are susceptible to rotting due to moisture absorption.

They are also excellent breeding grounds for mice. Even if you do not take into account the fact that they are a fire hazardous material, it is easy to conclude that they are unsuitable. “Craftsmen” go to all sorts of tricks in order to somehow reduce these negative factors. To do this, sawdust is mixed with expanded clay, lime, even broken glass and other building materials. Such measures somewhat improve the properties of the insulation, but not much.

As a conclusion, it should be noted that when insulating ceilings, the advantage is on the sidebackfillheat-insulating materials.

Advantages of bulk insulation

Everyone is interested in insulating their home. All that remains is to choose the right insulation material. Bulk insulation materials are best suited for this.

Their advantages are obvious:

environmentally friendly material;
have low weight;
excellent heat retention;
fireproof;
easy to handle when working with them;
durable.

Backfillinsulation easily penetrates into any space and leaves no gaps. The main thing is to choose the desired faction, and success will be guaranteed.

Watch the video in which a specialist explains how to insulate a ceiling with a mixture of vermiculite and sawdust:

Installation and dismantling of traditional wall insulation with mineral wool, foam plastic and other boards is a rather labor-intensive process. In some cases, it is appropriate to use bulk insulation. It is much cheaper and more convenient with the same efficiency. There is a very diverse selection of such materials on the market.

Characteristic

Bulk heat insulation is used not only for internal surfaces - it can also be used to insulate a room outside. Walls, floor, roof - you can insulate all elements that structurally allow the filling of material.

Loose fill insulation is cheap. Some of its types are simply industrial waste (sawdust) or ready-made natural materials (sand).

The only drawback is hygroscopicity. When wet, it loses its properties.

It is necessary to pay special attention to the hydro- and vapor barrier of its layers. However, the fear of moisture is characteristic to the same extent for all types of thermal insulation.

Features of the material

There are several types of bulk material for insulation. Each of them has its own properties. List of bulk insulation materials:

expanded clay;
polystyrene foam in granules;
foam concrete crumbs;
ecowool;
sawdust and sand;
boiler slag;
vermiculite

The usual form of this material is round or oval granules. Granules or other shaped material are porous and very light (some types can float on the surface of the water). Expanded clay is formed by firing light alloy clay. It is absolutely non-flammable, safe, and environmentally friendly in its composition.

The material can be in three forms:

sand with grain size from 0.14 to 5 mm. It is used as a filler for lightweight concrete and for floor insulation;
Expanded expanded clay crushed stone is granules with a fraction of 5–40 mm. The best option for thermal insulation of foundations and floors of residential premises;
expanded clay gravel. Round granules 5–40 mm with a fused surface, absolutely resistant to fire. They have closed pores inside, which gives them excellent frost resistance. This gravel is recommended for insulating attic floors: the material is lightweight and has low thermal conductivity.

The labeling of a material must include the size of its fraction:

5–10 mm – floors and roofs;
10–20 mm – baths and saunas, able to maintain temperature and humidity in the room for some time;
more than 20 mm - for foundations and basements.

This is the most controversial bulk material. It is a very light, airy white granule. It is used as backfill for insulating roofs and walls; it is also used as an additive in mixtures for insulating concrete.

The disadvantages are toxicity and flammability, but its properties have not yet been fully studied. Instead, it is recommended to use granulated foam glass. Expanded polystyrene is cheap and convenient for insulation using the well-laying method.

This is a mica-based layered material. In the process of its production no chemical additives, impurities. Is excellent option for insulation of loggias and rooms. Used as an energy-saving cladding for housing inside and outside. For floors and walls, a layer of at least 10 cm is recommended, for the roof - at least 5 cm. Backfilling with this material 5 cm thick reduces heat loss by 75%, 10 cm - 92%.

Material Features:

high breathability of insulation - the material is porous - which allows the walls to “breathe”, ideal for natural circulation, air renewal and ensuring a microclimate in the room;
environmentally friendly, without toxic substances;
non-flammable, fire-resistant, belongs to the G1 flammability group;
fungi, mold, rodents, insects are not afraid of such isolation;
special skills or experience, special tools are not needed to fill it. The layer of material is simply poured back and compacted. No additional fasteners are needed;
service life - more than 50 years.

For walls, a vermiculite backfill thickness of 10 cm is sufficient; for attics, roofs, interfloor ceilings – 5 cm. When laying, it is advisable to use a vapor barrier film - this will additionally protect the insulation from moisture.

Sawdust and sand

These are traditional heat preservation materials that are used in attics and basements and have been used for centuries. Disadvantages: they are poorly insulated from moisture, pests can grow in them. Sawdust is flammable and susceptible to mold and mildew. It is still recommended to use more modern materials.

For insulation, they use not ordinary sand, but perlite. It is light weight, less hygroscopic, and its characteristics resemble mineral wool. Due to its low bulk density, it does not create a load on the walls and does not burst them.

Ecowool or cellulose

The components of this insulation are ecowool (7%), shredded paper (81%), antiseptics (12%) and fire retardants (7%). The material is non-flammable and does not rot thanks to special impregnations. It has been used in the world for more than 80 years; it has been known in the CIS for the last decade.

This material uses boric acid as an antiseptic and borax as a fire retardant. These substances are environmentally friendly.

The material is quite practical: the fibers fill small voids well, so it is recommended for complex structures.

For backfilling there are the following recommendations. Firstly, bulk material settles over time, so it needs to be compacted well. It is advisable to use boiler slag and expanded clay in regions where winter temperatures do not drop below -20°C. Insulation of pitched roofs with expanded clay and similar compounds is carried out from the outside, after laying the vapor barrier. Transverse stops are installed along the slope between the rafters - they evenly distribute the insulation.

After laying it on the floor or in the basement, it is well compacted to prevent shrinkage and deformation of the finish. The only problem is moisture ingress; bulk insulation materials are quite hygroscopic. In baths and saunas and, indeed, everywhere, the insulation layer must have high-quality hydro- and vapor barrier. It is necessary to ensure that there are no cracks in the finishing and that bulk material does not spill through them. It is also worth remembering that expanded clay is quite heavy. It is necessary to ensure that its mass does not push apart too weak partitions or walls.

Backfilling methods

The process of filling any insulation is the same: the material is poured into the cavity and compacted. It is recommended that the issue of insulation be addressed immediately when designing a house. If there are no internal cavities for filling in insulation, layers are made using PVC panels or plasterboard.

A good option is when the insulation is poured between facing and ordinary bricks, between internal and external masonry. There may be ribs inside so that it is well distributed. Thanks to loose thermal insulation, the walls do not need to be made thick, which saves costs. There are ready-made concrete products on sale - slabs, inside of which there are already cavities filled with expanded clay; they retain heat 50% better than ordinary ones.

Options

For floors, these methods of insulation with bulk components are used. The first option is fill-in (or loose) insulation on the joists. Joists are made on the floor on posts, skull blocks are nailed, then flooring is made of boards. A vapor barrier is placed on the flooring and expanded clay is poured. Further, if necessary, the next layer of thermal insulation, on it - screed, rough wood flooring.

The second option is an embankment on top of a concrete slab. An option for low-quality housing - Khrushchev, for example - when it is possible to raise the floor level. The floor covering is removed, waterproofing is laid, expanded clay is poured onto it in a layer of 5 - 10 cm. Then you can put a mesh for reinforcement, and it is done on it rough screed– the basis of the finishing floor covering. A vapor barrier is laid on top of the expanded clay cushion, and another layer of insulation is placed on top of it.

Finally, the third option is a dry expanded clay screed. A layer of expanded clay is poured, a layer of gravel is placed on it, then another layer of expanded clay. The surface is leveled, gypsum fiber boards are laid on it, and any finishing coating is placed on them.

Basalt-fiber insulation acts as the basic thermal insulation. When choosing a material, you should always look at its technical parameters and characteristics. Stone microfiber actually has a fossilized structure, it retains heat stably and for a long time due to a layer of natural ventilation. The material also helps protect the room from wind and moisture. If additional insulation is required, this is provided by ventilation gaps and waterproof cladding on the outside. Typically, one layer of insulation with high density and medium dimensions is sufficient. But often insulation is carried out with several layers of insulation with overlapping seams in order to increase specifications.

On top basalt mats a special film is laid, which additionally protects the 5 cm thick basalt insulation from condensation. At outdoor installation When using insulation, remember that the material is sensitive to drafts and strong winds. In this case, the efficiency of the thermal insulation material will not exceed 40 percent of the original indicators. Main properties high-quality insulation, which does not require additional protection, their combination should be called - acceptable thermal insulation, a stable level of water vapor diffusion, sufficient resistance to fungal attack, long term services.

The thickness of the insulation layer of 15 cm is sufficient to provide the room with a high level of insulation (thermal, hydro, sound insulation) with a film thickness of 20 mm, 30 mm or 100 mm.

When finishing walls and laying basalt insulation, it is worth considering that sections or mats do not adhere well to the wall surface. In this case, a primer will not save the situation. It is better to use a dowel attachment. The practical use of basalt fiber insulation is recommended when laying the material on any surface. During the installation process, the material is usually cut into pieces 20 to 25 cm wide. This way the material can maintain its strength and performance characteristics.

Initially, the material from natural raw materials has the necessary qualities for covering walls inside and outside. In addition, the material is used for thermal insulation of fireplace exhaust or stove pipes, sauna stoves, and their quantity does not matter. In such cases, there is no need to worry about high temperatures. It is worth considering that, depending on the brand, basalt mats, when laid on the ground, draw water from the contact surface. The latter must be treated with a hydrophobic compound in constant contact with moisture, so you should not use basalt wool to insulate foundations, even if the material has high thermal conductivity, but floors are quite possible and necessary. Basalt insulation perfectly resists shrinkage, because the structure of the material is rigid, protective against rodents. Basalt slabs are purchased in packages of several pieces.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay is ugly, but time-tested.

Probably the oldest and most well-known fill-in insulation is expanded clay. Made from clay by firing. Depending on the size of the fractions, it can be in the form of:

gravel;
crushed stone;
sand (dropouts).

It is used as bulk insulation for walls, floors, ceilings and roofs. Also read ““. It does not enter into any chemical reactions, mold does not grow in it, and mice do not live in it. Since the starting material for manufacturing is clay, expanded clay has all its positive qualities:

does not harm health;
does not burn;
does not contain poisons.

Expanded clay can be mixed with sawdust, but the insulation layer should be slightly larger, since wood has a slightly lower resistance to heat transfer.

Perlite

Types of backfill thermal insulation

Hundreds of years ago, when building wooden houses from timber or logs, the very first fill-in insulation was used - sawdust. Like modern analogues, they were quite good in terms of thermal conductivity, but they shrink or lose their properties when wet. Today's materials are more advanced in many ways. The most popular of them are discussed in detail below.

Expanded clay.

Insulation based on clay. It is used as an independent heat insulator for residential or industrial buildings, or in combination with concrete (expanded clay concrete is obtained). Today it is obtained by burning clay shale.

Production technology varies depending on the required size of the final granules.

By studying the labeling of the fill-in insulation, you can understand what size granules of the material are and for what areas of the house it is suitable. For example, expanded clay sand is used as a heat insulator for floors or acts as a component of concrete cladding. Granules with a diameter of 5-10 mm are suitable for pitched and flat roofs, floors, and attics; larger than 15 mm - for insulating a basement or foundation.

Expanded clay inevitably settles as it is used, so during initial installation it must be compacted strongly to minimize shrinkage. It is recommended to insulate walls with this material only in regions where the temperature in winter does not drop below −20 degrees.

Perlite.

The insulation is made from silicate volcanic rocks using the same technology as expanded clay. When heated to 1000-1200 degrees, moisture evaporates from the surface of the stones, leaving air inside them. The result is white or gray granules with a diameter of 1 to 10 mm. The density of perlite ranges from 75 to 150 kg/m3, and because of its color it is also called “glass insulation.”

Minimum size granules (1-2 mm) form perlite sand, used in the following areas:

insulation of premises of residential buildings;
production of acoustic materials;
production of insulating plaster;
creation of fire-resistant concrete.

Granules filled with air weigh less than expanded clay, so they are suitable for thermal insulation of walls. In addition, the material will resemble mineral wool, since in addition to preserving heat, it will prevent the penetration of extraneous noise into the room.

Vermiculite.

Expanded material from hydrated mica, through heat treatment increased in volume by 15-20 times. It has increased fire-resistant properties, due to which it is used when installing chimneys. Ideal for floors and walls.

A thin layer of vermiculite 5 cm thick will retain up to 70% of the heat of the room. This is enough to insulate the roof. For walls, floors and foundations, it is recommended to make twice as much material.

The density of vermiculite is lower than that of expanded clay or perlite - the highest volumetric mass is 100 kg/m3. This fill-in insulation is supplied in bags of a certain volume, and is used in almost all rooms of a residential building.

The advantages of vermiculite include:

low thermal conductivity coefficient (0.04-0.06), comparable to foam plastic and mineral wool;
no possibility of voids and seams;
high melting point (1400 degrees);
absence of toxic materials;
biological resistance (prevents mold, mildew, is not of interest to rodents);
good sound insulation;
lightness of the material, allowing it to be used in frame houses, on supporting systems or foundations;
ease insulation works and saving time.

Ecowool.

A relatively new material that appeared on the market only 10 years ago. Made from recycled paper, fire retardants (substances that prevent fire), and antiseptics. Safe for humans, resistant to rotting, and does not spread fire. It is most often used for thermal insulation of walls, attics or roofs of complex construction.

Advantages of bulk mineral wool

The loose mixture creates perfectly smooth and continuous surfaces

Bulk types have properties that allow them to bypass similar materials. It is worth noting that mineral wool technical characteristics, which are similar to all products of this line, have high level environmentally friendly, that is, the material is absolutely safe for the environment and human health. Plus, it is necessary to highlight all the advantages of this brand:

Low cost;
The ability to fill the most inaccessible cracks and cavities, thereby increasing the thermal insulation properties of the house;
Low fire hazard as the material is fire resistant;
Ease of transportation of products;
A small percentage of shrinkage, not exceeding 5%;
Speed of installation work;
The material is recyclable;
Loose types of mineral wool help save on the heating season;
The loose mixture creates perfectly smooth and continuous surfaces.

Advantages and disadvantages of stone wool

Having considered the main characteristics of this material, we can draw conclusions about its advantages and disadvantages.

The positive qualities of mineral wool include:

High thermal insulation ability;
Good vapor transmission;
Fire safety;
Biostability;
Environmental friendliness;
Durability;
Easy to install.

The main disadvantage of basalt wool appears at the installation stage. When working with it, dust is formed, consisting of small particles of stone fibers. They enter the respiratory system, causing coughing and irritation. Eliminating the damage caused by dust is not difficult. To do this, you should use standard personal protective equipment (masks or respirators). Also, negative factors include the considerable cost of the material.

Features and Benefits

The insulation is a low-density porous material, the granules of which are produced by firing foamed raw materials at high temperatures. The ease of manufacture is reflected in the low cost of thermal insulation, and the structure also allows saving on labor costs.

The disadvantages of fill-in insulation are:

their shrinkage by 10-15% of the initial volume;
loss of thermal insulation properties when wet.

Loose-fill insulation is usually used for horizontal surfaces. The work seems simple, but requires careful preparation. For example, when insulating floors in buildings without basements, the soil is first compacted and covered with screed. Next, waterproofing material is laid on the latter, and insulation is poured onto it. It looks like the situation is the same with roof insulation, but no screed is required. Instead, a layer of vapor barrier is laid on top of the backfill material.

When covering walls, a frame consisting of durable sheet elements is constructed in advance. After this, insulation is poured inside the resulting structure.

Scope of application of fill-in insulation

Since the material in question is light and hardly weighs down the structure, it is usually used when covering a sloping roof. It is also used for insulating the following areas of houses:

attic floors;
attics;
frame structures (walls);
floor, foundation;
horizontal partitions between floors;
brick walls.

The optimal combination of price, quality, as well as the combination of lightness with reliable thermal insulation contributed to the growth in demand for the considered fill-in insulation. If your home requires good protection from the cold, but there is little time for work, expanded clay, perlite, vermiculite and ecowool will be excellent helpers in the implementation of your plans.

Perlite

This is a natural material of volcanic origin. The material absorbs moisture; studies show that perlite weighing one hundred kilos can absorb up to four hundred kilos of moisture. For this reason, experts recommend perlite for floor insulation in rooms with high humidity. The material is non-flammable. The material is supplied for sale in the form of perlite sand, sold in bulk or in bags.

A remarkable fact: perlite is used not only for insulating floors, but also for filtering vegetable oil, juices and even beer. The service life of the material is extremely long, almost unlimited!

Bulk mineral wool is an ideal thermal insulation material of a new format

It is made from waste plate and roll products. For this purpose, special equipment and a dispersion (grinding) method are used, by which a loose granular mixture is obtained. The production of bulk insulation in St. Petersburg is carried out by the company Brois, whose specialists have honed the process of manufacturing the material to perfection.

Advantages of bulk wool

This material has high fire resistance parameters, does not ignite or burn.
The decomposition cycle of mineral wool up to 50 years allows it to be used for a long period without reducing its thermal insulation characteristics.
Environmental friendliness and safety for the environment and people make it possible to use it for insulation of residential and commercial buildings of various types.
When the material comes into contact with structural surfaces, mold and mildew do not form.
Possibility of compaction in a certain range of values – from 25 to 60 kg/cub.m., in order to increase the thermal conductivity coefficient. This property is used when it is necessary to set certain material parameters for a specific object.
Due to its structure, bulk insulation in St. Petersburg creates a dense cover without “cold bridges,” which is sometimes impossible when using sheet and roll materials.
High installation speed. If specialized compressor-screw equipment is used, an experienced craftsman can complete an impressive amount of work (30-35 square meters of surface) in one hour.
Low threshold of hygroscopicity. practically does not accumulate moisture, unlike its analogues.

All these advantages of innovative thermal insulation material attract customers and builders to it, and make the work process fast and high-tech.

How to choose

Any buyer of building materials is interested in basalt insulation having the necessary properties to the maximum extent, so it is selected for a set of reasons. The insulation, of course, must meet modern technical requirements. Mineral wool is suitable as the main material for thermal insulation, but today it is better to buy basalt slabs.

When inspecting products, close attention is paid to the density of the material (D). . Lightweight material – D up to 35 kg/m³ – suitable for light-duty structures

For example, for pitched roof structures or when arranging attic and attic spaces.
Plates – D 35–50 kg/m³ – are suitable for the construction of structures made of light alloys and for sound insulation when decorating the facades of low-rise buildings.
Material – D 50–75 kg/m³ – designed for finishing floor surfaces and ceilings, thick internal partitions. In addition, a layer of thermal insulation is needed for arranging a three-layer wall structure in low-rise buildings (it represents the middle layer).
D 75–100 kg/m³ – used as a thermal insulation material for finishing external walls or when organizing ventilated facades. The high fiber density allows the material to be used for installing two-layer thermal insulation of external walls.
Plates – D 125–150 kg/m³ – are necessary for the construction of soundproof partitions. The wall can be thermally insulated under plaster.
Basalt slabs – D 175 kg/m³ – are used as a layer of independent heat-insulating material when constructing partitions, walls, and facades based on reinforced concrete surfaces.
Plates – D 175–200 kg/m³ – are suitable for soundproofing floors under screed.

Lightweight material – D up to 35 kg/m³ – suitable for light-duty structures. For example, for pitched roof structures or when arranging attic and attic spaces.
Plates – D 35–50 kg/m³ – are suitable for the construction of structures made of light alloys and for sound insulation when decorating the facades of low-rise buildings.
Material – D 50–75 kg/m³ – designed for finishing floor surfaces and ceilings, thick internal partitions. In addition, a layer of thermal insulation is needed for arranging a three-layer wall structure in low-rise buildings (it represents the middle layer).
D 75–100 kg/m³ – used as a thermal insulation material for finishing external walls or when organizing ventilated facades. The high fiber density allows the material to be used for installing two-layer thermal insulation of external walls.
Plates – D 125–150 kg/m³ – are necessary for the construction of soundproof partitions. The wall can be thermally insulated under plaster.
Basalt slabs – D 175 kg/m³ – are used as a layer of independent heat-insulating material when constructing partitions, walls, and facades based on reinforced concrete surfaces.
Plates – D 175–200 kg/m³ – are suitable for soundproofing floors under screed.

Terminology and production features

First, let's figure out what the insulation in question is: basalt wool, according to GOST number 4640-2011, belongs to the category of fibrous heat-insulating materials obtained by melting mineral raw materials. This instruction states that mineral wool can be made from:

glass and its components (lime, quartz, etc.);
blast furnace waste;
minerals of volcanic origin.

Gabbro-basalt is the raw material for the production of basalt insulation.

So, wool made from volcanic stone, or rather gabbro-basalt, is what we call basalt thermal insulation. Therefore, the question that is often asked to me about which is better - basalt insulation or mineral wool, as you understand, makes absolutely no sense.

To produce thermal insulation material, the raw material is heated to a temperature of 1500 degrees Celsius, as a result of which the basalt melts and becomes fluid. Then the liquid mass is sent to a centrifuge, where, under the influence of a strong air flow, individual fibers up to 5 cm long and up to 7 microns thick are formed from it.

After this, the fibrous mass is glued together with phenol-formaldehyde resins, which give the material elasticity and bind them together. The insulation is formed into separate heat-insulating mats or rolls using the pressing method.

At the final stage of production, the almost finished insulation is subjected to heat treatment (the material is heated to 300 degrees Celsius) in order to neutralize the adhesive composition and reduce the subsequent emission of harmful substances from the thermal insulation.

Summary

Now you understand what a basalt heat insulator is and you can independently choose the appropriate material for the job in the store. As an example of its use, I would like to invite you to watch the video in this article, which describes how to insulate a house from the outside using this heat insulator.

If you have already used basalt insulation to insulate your own home or, conversely, want to get additional information, you can ask questions and share your own experience in the comments to the material.

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something, add a comment or say thank you!

Features of bulk mineral wool

This material is not only comfortable to use, but also economical and has excellent thermal insulation properties.

Bulk mineral wool is also called blow-in type. This material is not only comfortable to use, but also economical and has excellent thermal insulation properties. It is produced using factory technology, which includes grinding and processing processes in a special mechanism. You can purchase the mineral wool product in bags where it is packaged in crumbly form.

Attention! The bag capacity is 30 or 50 kg. . Mineral wool is packed into containers mechanically or manually

What is this building material? The crumbly mixture is obtained by grinding mineral slabs, resulting in finely crushed loose sand. The material is widely used in creating thermal and sound insulation, insulating attics, floors and other building elements. Today there are two options for thermal insulation:

Mineral wool is packed into containers mechanically or manually. What is this building material? The crumbly mixture is obtained by grinding mineral slabs, resulting in finely crushed loose sand. The material is widely used in creating thermal and sound insulation, insulating attics, floors and other building elements. Today there are two options for thermal insulation:

Automated insulation. With this technology, a special compressor device is used, which applies one layer of bulk wool to thermally insulate the surface.
Mechanical insulation. With this technology, mineral wool is applied to the surface with your own hands.

Advantages of bulk heat-insulating materials

If you do not take into account the cost (it is different for everyone), then the main advantages of these materials are as follows:

denser, in comparison with slabs, filling of the insulated space. As a result - less heat loss and greater sound insulation;
vapor permeability, which reduces the risk of condensation;
durability;
preservation of structure.

In addition, these materials are environmentally friendly because they contain natural ingredients- clay, cellulose, rocks, etc. They are fire-resistant and not attractive to rodents. The loose structure makes them indispensable for horizontal insulation. But, perhaps, the most important advantage of these insulation materials is their lightness. That is why they are often preferred to denser and heavier rolled or tile materials, if the building structure turns out to be heavy (for example, a two-story building, or built from heavy materials) - so as not to make it even heavier and not to overload the foundation.

Foam glass in granules

Fractions of foam glass come in different sizes, up to crushed stone.

granules;
crushed stone

Bulk foam glass insulation has the following characteristics:

does not absorb water;
does not burn;
thermal conductivity 0.04–0.08 W/m*C;
does not allow steam to pass through;
high compressive strength 4 MPa;
bending strength is even more than 0.6 MPa;
operating temperature range from -250 to +500 degrees.

Why is it necessary to include filters for gas boilers in the heater piping? Wiring diagram and installation methods.

Interested in installing a safety group for heating: video instructions.

Installation rules

Most often, mineral wool is used for external insulation of walls, attic floors and roofs. Foam plastic is better suited for thermal insulation of the foundation - an inexpensive and fairly rigid material that does not allow water to pass through.

Failure to comply with technology is costly!

Stone wool for the facade of a wooden house is installed after treating the walls with an antiseptic, which protects them from rotting. The surface of foam concrete and bricks before insulation is cleaned of old paint and peeling plaster. The work of installing insulation is best done during the warm season on dry walls.

All window sills and door frames must be removed before installation. Since the thickness of the walls will increase after covering with mineral wool, you will have to buy new elements of window and door cladding.

Dry installation of insulation into the frame

There are two ways to insulate with stone wool: dry and “wet”. The first involves the use of a wooden or steel frame (lathing), in the cells of which insulation is placed. In the second method, the slabs are attached to walls without a frame using glue and disc dowels.

"Wet" installation option

It should be noted that installation in a frame is most often used when constructing a ventilated facade. The lathing allows you to create a gap between the insulation and the outer cladding (4-6 cm), through which water vapor is released into the atmosphere.

The disc dowel is used for both dry and “wet” installation

Mineral wool is placed on glue and dowels in cases where a finishing layer (plaster, putty) will be applied to its surface.

Scope of application of bulk wool

The main area where this material can be used is the thermal insulation of attics.

Bulk mineral wool is optimally used for cold and warm surfaces, with a temperature range from -200 to +600 degrees. Today, it is popular to backfill hollow structural elements of buildings, thus improving thermal insulation performance. The demand for this material has increased due to its universal qualities, such as the non-flammable consistency of mineral wool and its unattractiveness to rodents.

Attention! When working with mineral wool, it is very important to follow safety precautions, as it can cause an irritant reaction in the human mucosa and skin. . Loose mineral wool, which is formed as a result of by-products of products made from this material, has excellent properties.

The scraps from the slabs and mats are thrown into a special machine, where they are crushed. After processing, a loose mixture is obtained, which the consumer can then purchase at any hardware store. The main area where this material can be used is the thermal insulation of attics.

Loose mineral wool, which is formed as a result of the by-production of products made from this material, has excellent properties. The scraps from the slabs and mats are thrown into a special machine, where they are crushed. After processing, a loose mixture is obtained, which the consumer can then purchase at any hardware store. The main area where this material can be used is the thermal insulation of attics.

Different brands of loose mineral wool are used in approximately the same way. So, the mixture is poured into the injector funnel, where under pressure the mixture passes through the hoses into the nozzle. Under the influence of compressed air flow, its thickness is fixed in accordance with the established indicators in the project. It is thanks to this technology that the material is called inflatable mineral wool.

Attention! Since loose types of wool are used for thermal insulation, transition bridges should be installed in the attic space.

Bulk basalt

Bulk basalt insulation is a “blown”, “stuffed” material. It is very convenient and economical. The material is supplied in bags and in bulk. This is an excellent addition to existing thermal insulation made from slag, sawdust, expanded clay and other things. The density of the material is about 35-50 kilos per cubic meter. The material is in high demand in Europe, and the volume of purchases of this material there is growing every year. Reviews about bulk basalt insulation are quite positive. The main disadvantage is the impossibility of using the material as the main insulation, but only as a supplement.

Bulk perlite insulation

Perlite is always white.

It is important that the heating is carried out sharply, and the water that is in the structure of the rock begins to evaporate. As a result of this process, perlite swells and reaches a porosity of 70–90%

Material characteristics:

thermal conductivity 0.04–0.05 W/m*K;
does not burn;
does not absorb moisture;
allows steam to pass through;
chemically inert.

The density of insulation in the wall varies from 60 to 100 kg/m. cube Membranes cannot be used during installation, as they quickly become clogged during operation. For installation on pitched roofs, perlite treated with bitumen is used. After a solvent is added to bituminized perlite, it becomes sticky, and after it hardens, it forms a single insulating layer of any shape.

Ecowool cellulose

The components of this insulation are ecowool (about 10%), shredded paper (about 80%), antiseptics (about 5%) and pyrine retardants (about 5%). The material is non-flammable and does not rot over time due to the presence of special impregnations. Ecowool has been used in the world for almost a century! Insulation appeared in Russia and the CIS about ten years ago, but the buyer really liked it and is rapidly gaining popularity. It must be admitted that in Europe they know a lot about construction and the materials that are used for this construction.

Boric acid is used as an antiseptic in ecowool, and borax plays the role of a fire retardant. These substances are 100% environmentally friendly. This insulation material is quite practical in every sense. Ecowool fibers perfectly fill small voids, so the material can be used even for the most complex structures.

To sum up

Bulk mineral insulation has become an integral part of modern construction. The materials are relatively new, but they are quickly gaining their share of the building materials market. Such thermal insulators undoubtedly have advantages; no one is trying to dispute them. Some people are only stopped by the novelty of the materials. Our people don’t particularly like new products, especially when it comes to construction for many years, in which they invest a lot of money. But all new products become proven materials, and very soon this will happen with bulk insulation.

But there are also options for people who don't like new items. You can remember the good old proven slag. It was an excellent insulator in its time, this bulk material was a hit in its time. There was a downside to the slag - it was dirt and dust from it. Modern bulk insulation materials still have the same excellent thermal insulation qualities, only without dust and dirt.

There used to be sawdust (an analogue of modern bulk materials for insulation). Sawdust retained heat well, but was afraid of fire and water. Modern bulk insulation materials retain heat well. They are not afraid of moisture and do not burn. There are exceptions - some types of insulating bulk materials). But you can always choose an option that suits you. We think that doubts about bulk insulation materials have been dispelled!

Wet installation method

With this option, the main role is played by the glue that fixes the mineral wool slabs to the wall. It must have good vapor transmission so that condensation does not accumulate in the insulation. Be sure to take this point into account when purchasing. The market offers special adhesive compositions designed to work with stone wool.

Sequence of work when wet method visible in the figure.

Design for insulating walls with basalt wool and adhesive mortar

The installation of the slabs begins after installing the starting profile, which covers the slabs from below and prevents them from sliding until the adhesive composition sets.

A layer of glue is evenly distributed over the slab with a notched trowel and then pressed against the wall. Having installed a horizontal row, the insulation is additionally fixed with plastic disc-shaped dowels.

Having finished covering the wall, a layer of glue is also applied to the surface of the material and a fiberglass reinforcing mesh is embedded in it. Having leveled the surface with the rule, the solution is allowed to dry. The final operation is plastering.

Minuses

Thermal insulation material made from basalt fibers, like other types of construction raw materials, in addition to its positive properties, can also cause concern. Many people do not know whether basalt fiber carries any harm. It’s worth looking into this in more detail. In the process of producing basalt fiber, companies demonstrate the insulation’s resistance to fire. The experiment is carried out, for example, under the flame of a propane or acetylene torch. However, you should not completely rely on the fire resistance of the material. If a house is completely engulfed in fire, it will not be possible to save yourself by relying on an insulator. Modern high-quality material is indeed capable of blocking the path to the spread of fire, but this is a matter of time.

Another important point when choosing natural insulation is that the material is not without harmful qualities.

It's worth considering them too.

Thermal insulation material may generate dust when handled, carried, laid or cut, although it does not itself leave dust marks. It's all about the contact with other surfaces in the quality of production. In any case, when working with mineral materials, it is important to follow safety precautions: wear special goggles and gloves, and work in a respirator.
The material itself does not burn, but in the event of a strong fire or fire, the material releases gases (vapors and resins can be a consequence of the adhesive base).
Manufacturers of basalt insulation use auxiliary materials to increase insulation properties - they use phenol-formaldehyde resins, the harmfulness of which is obvious to everyone.

There are also more unpredictable consequences of using additional compounds in the production of stone fiber - this is the radiation background of the rock.

It is clear that we are talking about places of extraction of raw materials, so it is worth asking where exactly the rock was mined, whether it might contain compounds of heavy metals and isotopes. During the processing process, harmful substances are practically not destroyed. When choosing basalt mats, it is always necessary to monitor the quality of the product.

Many types, one purpose

This is understandable; the purpose of all insulation materials is to insulate. Only their different types are intended for different areas of work, have different installation complexity, properties and prices.

And all this is important to take into account and calculate, so as not to end up miscalculating.

So, to the question of bulk insulation. Roughly speaking, bulk materials are everything that is not in slabs or rolls, and for the installation of which no other binding compounds are required.

As the name implies, to insulate them, it is enough to pour them over the desired area in a certain layer. These include varieties such as:

expanded clay;
vermiculite;
perlite;
foam glass;
aerated concrete (crumbs);
bulk stone wool).

Bulk insulation materials with a loose or fractional structure are poured onto horizontal planes. They cover mainly floors and ceilings.

Vermiculite is one of the options for bulk insulation

Manufacturers and prices

In recent years, a whole “cage” of manufacturers of high-quality stone wool has formed on the market. These are foreign brands Isover(Izover), Rockwool(Rockwool), Paroc(Parok). A domestic company competes with them on equal terms TechnoNIKOL. The products of the Russian company have also earned a good reputation Izovol(Izovol).

The range of products they produce covers all areas of insulation, from the basement to the roof.

For a correct comparison, consider the price for 1 m2 of insulation with a thickness of 10 cm for universal use, offered by different companies:

Rockwool LIGHT BUTTS SCANDIC(37 kg/m3) 170-190 rub./m2;
Isover MASTER OF WARM WALLS(38-48 kg/m3) 160-200 rub./m2;
Paroc EXTRA(30-34 kg/m3) from 200/m2;
TechnoNIKOL ROCKLIGHT(30-40 kg/m3) from 160/m2;
Izovol L-35(35 kg/m3) from 160/m2.

You need to choose the material based on your goals and objectives. The characteristics of thermal insulators should be taken into account, because some are not suitable for hot rooms, while others tolerate moisture and elevated temperatures well. In addition, some bulk insulation materials are very hard and are suitable as a substrate or base for a floor.

In any case, one general piece of advice can be given; it concerns the fact that it is worth purchasing these thermal insulators in trusted places with good reviews, so as not to run into fake or low-quality products.

In general, it must be objectively admitted that bulk insulation materials are very attractive in terms of prices. Also, we must not forget about their durability; classic mineral wool will last no more than ten or twenty years. best case scenario. And for bulk insulation materials, the service life is much longer, many times!

You also need to understand that not all bulk thermal insulators are the same. They differ in their properties. For certain tasks it is required specific material. If you are in doubt about your choice, then contact a specialist with this question; he will be able to advise you on the right materials.

For example, expanded clay is not suitable as the main insulation in regions with extremely harsh winters (frosts of 40 degrees). This needs to be taken into account. In addition, there are many other nuances, which is why consultation with specialists is extremely important for each individual case.

What is stone wool made from?

This material is made from basalt, a rock of volcanic origin. In order to obtain soft fiber from hard stone, it is melted. After this, the hot mass is separated into fibers using various technologies (blowing, rolling, spunbond and centrifugal drawing).

The resulting semi-finished product has one significant drawback: the basalt fibers crumble and it is impossible to form a single mass from them. Therefore on next stage An adhesive is introduced into the fiber.

Most often, phenol-formaldehyde resin is used in this capacity. It connects the fibers together, allowing you to form a carpet required thickness. Next, the material is given water-repellent properties by treating it with mineral oil. The last operations are cutting the insulation and packaging it.

It should be noted that in the construction market the term stone wool is not often used. The names more familiar to the mass buyer are mineral wool and basalt wool. To avoid confusion, it should be remembered that we are talking about the same material obtained from basalt rock.

One more note: basalt mineral wool should not be confused with glass wool and slag wool. The first type of insulation is obtained from molten glass. The raw material for the second is blast furnace slag. Today, mineral wool has practically supplanted its closest competitors. Glass wool is noticeably inferior to it in terms of environmental friendliness. The quality of slag wool is low, so the demand for it has fallen.

Today we will tell you about bulk insulation, which is available in eight different types. The variety is simply impressive, as they are made from paper, stone, resin, polymers and even clay. Each material has its own strengths and weaknesses, although there are also those that there is nothing to praise for, even if one would like to. All bulk insulation can be installed using two methods: manually or using a compressor. Such materials are good because they fill all the cracks and voids. And negative qualities include shrinkage, which is inherent in all insulation materials from this cohort.

Expanded polystyrene crumbs

Styrofoam crumbs.

burns;
emits toxic smoke;
Rodents feel great in it.

This bulk wall insulation is transported in plastic bags. Can be used to insulate floors, ceilings, and pitched roofs.

How does a chimney for a solid fuel boiler differ from its counterpart for a gas heater with a sealed combustion chamber?

All about how to choose a chimney for gas boiler you will find here.

Loose penoizol

Penoizol flakes have a random shape.

In appearance, penoizol looks like foam chips, but if you look more closely, the difference is obvious. Despite the visual similarity, these are two completely different materials. Penoizol is more reminiscent of snow flakes, it does not have an ideal ball shape, this material is softer. Penoizol is used as fill-in insulation for walls and horizontal ceilings. In addition, it is also available in sheets, but is mainly used in liquid form. Unlike polystyrene foam, penoizol:

does not burn;
does not smoke;
allows moisture to pass through, but does not absorb it.

The thermal conductivity characteristics of both materials are almost equal.

Penoizol backfill insulation for walls is made from resin. The quality of the material primarily depends on the quality of the resin used for production.

Foam glass in granules

Fractions of foam glass come in different sizes, up to crushed stone.

granules;
crushed stone

Bulk foam glass insulation has the following characteristics:

does not absorb water;
does not burn;
thermal conductivity 0.04–0.08 W/m*C;
does not allow steam to pass through;
high compressive strength 4 MPa;
bending strength is even more than 0.6 MPa;
operating temperature range from -250 to +500 degrees.

Why is it necessary to include filters for gas boilers in the heater piping? Wiring diagram and installation methods.

Interested in installing a safety group for heating: video instructions here.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay is ugly, but time-tested.

Probably the oldest and most well-known fill-in insulation is expanded clay. Made from clay by firing. Depending on the size of the fractions, it can be in the form of:

gravel;
crushed stone;
sand (dropouts).

Expanded clay practically does not absorb moisture; this process occurs very slowly. But, having filled up with water, he is very reluctant to part with it, which cannot but affect his characteristics.

does not harm health;
does not burn;
does not contain poisons.

Expanded clay can be mixed with sawdust, but the insulation layer should be slightly larger, since wood has a slightly lower resistance to heat transfer.

Loose thermal insulation ecowool

Ecowool was developed as part of a waste recycling program.

The thermal conductivity of ecowool is 0.037–0.042 W/m*C. It easily absorbs moisture and releases it just as easily.

Bulk perlite insulation

Perlite is always white.

Material characteristics:

thermal conductivity 0.04–0.05 W/m*K;
does not burn;
does not absorb moisture;
allows steam to pass through;
chemically inert.

Vermiculite backfill insulation

Vermiculite has become very popular recently.

The service life of the material is unlimited, because there are no adhesive impurities in it, there is simply nothing there to spoil. Material characteristics:

thermal conductivity 0.048-0.06 W/m*K;
density 65-150 kg/m. cube;
does not burn;
non-toxic;
allows steam to pass through;
when moistened by 15%, it does not lose its thermal insulation properties.

Wood sawdust

clay;
expanded clay;
perlite;
vermiculite

utepleniedoma.com

Bulk insulation for floors, walls and ceilings

Various types of insulation materials are used to insulate houses. This includes the famous mineral wool, polystyrene foam, expanded clay and many others. The line of insulation products is numerous and varied.

Bulk insulation materials occupy a worthy place in it. Being a natural material, they have earned themselves worthy respect due to their qualities.

For floor

During any construction, the closest attention is paid to thermal insulation. Floor insulation has not been left without attention. Bulk insulation materials are best suited for this.

The most common among them are:

The next representative of bulk insulation will be perlite. Its origin is volcanic rocks.

Environmentally friendly natural material that does not enter into any chemical reactions. Has high fire resistance. Withstands temperatures up to 900ᵒ C. Having a porosity of up to 40%, it is an excellent insulation material. For insulation it is used in the form of perlite sand. You can buy it in the same way as expanded clay, in bags or in bulk.

This is interesting: Perlite is not only used in construction, it is also used to filter vegetable oil, fruit juices and beer.

Note: Bulk insulation materials tend to shrink. Dense compaction reduces its size.

For walls

The following materials are widely used for wall insulation:

It is worth noting: granulated foam glass is absolutely not afraid of groundwater. Therefore, in addition to walls, it can be safely used for insulating foundations and basements.

Please note: Penoplex can only be used within the operating temperature range (from -50ᵒ C to +75ᵒ C).

Note: wet mineral wool noticeably reduces its thermal insulation parameters. Very difficult to dry.

To summarize, we can confidently note that as insulation for walls, the leading place is occupied bybulk insulation materials.

For ceilings

Just like floors and walls, ceilings require insulation. The insulation materials discussed above may well be used in this case.

Note: Penoizol shrinks slightly (0.1 - 5%). It is compensated when work is performed by professional craftsmen using modern equipment. Otherwise, cracking of the insulation is inevitable. (this applies to the use of the liquid fraction).

When considering bulk insulation for ceilings, one cannot ignore such a widely used material as sawdust. Sawdust is used for insulation as the cheapest material. Their use as an independent insulation material is highly undesirable. The fact is that they are susceptible to rotting due to moisture absorption.

As a conclusion, it should be noted that when insulating ceilings, the advantage is on the sidebackfillheat-insulating materials.

Advantages of bulk insulation

Everyone is interested in insulating their home. All that remains is to choose the right insulation material. Bulk insulation materials are best suited for this.

Their advantages are obvious:

environmentally friendly material;
have low weight;
excellent heat retention;
fireproof;
easy to handle when working with them;
durable.

Backfillinsulation easily penetrates into any space and leaves no gaps. The main thing is to choose the right faction, and success will be guaranteed.

Watch the video in which a specialist explains how to insulate a ceiling with a mixture of vermiculite and sawdust:

heat.guru

bulk, roll or slab, detailed photo and video

Every child from a school physics course knows three things: distance is equal to speed multiplied by time, a photo actually draws light on paper, and warm air is much lighter than cold air and, accordingly, will rise to the top in a room anyway. And at the top of a private house, under the roof itself, of course, there is an attic space. If you do not insulate the attic on time, then as soon as the autumn-spring cold sets in, the residents of the house will feel that a chilly wind is blowing from the ceiling, and the heat is lost to no one knows where. But this is only if the attic is not insulated.

Surely, many remember this problem of modern architecture: buildings that were built in the 20-21st centuries are fragile and short-lived, while stone churches, cathedrals, ancient mansions have stood for centuries, millennia, and yet the inside is always dry and warm. The fact is that previously, in the absence of modern materials and technologies, such tasks had architectural solution: the air itself maintains the required temperature and humidity in such places. This idea is well implemented in many modern materials, for example, ecological wool. In the old days, the roofs of buildings were most often made gable, so that in winter the snow would linger longer on the surface and prevent cold air from penetrating into the rooms; attic rooms were made with special small windows on the sides - with their help they controlled the temperature in living quarters both in winter and summer. There was no longer any need to insulate the roof slope. But in the 21st century, relying on the thermal insulation properties of snow alone (very weak, although there were enough of them at that time) is unreasonable, and humanity’s need for comfort has increased significantly since then, so the temperature in the room is +15-20 degrees in winter is no longer considered acceptable.

Each owner has his own requirements for work in the house, some strive for high quality standards, others want to carry out repairs as economically as possible, in addition, some may decide to hire workers, while others may want to carry out thermal insulation in the house themselves. It is for the second type of people that this article is intended, although it will also be useful to read it for those who have decided to hire professionals for the job: so that they can imagine the future process. Read also: “Cold attic: device.”

Price, quality, work time will directly depend on what material the home owner chooses for thermal insulation. With scientific progress, it has become possible to synthesize many new materials, some specifically with enhanced thermal insulation properties. And some, in the old fashioned way, prefer to insulate the attic with straw or environmentally friendly reeds. There is room for your imagination to run wild.

Almost always, thermal insulation is laid in three layers: the first is the treatment of the floors - sometimes it is necessary to lay a vapor barrier film for the ceiling, sometimes just coat a layer of clay; the second is a layer of thermal insulation material, the thickness of which can vary from two to five centimeters; the third, optional, layer can be a cement-sand screed, on which the floor will then be laid.

It is already difficult to call an insulated attic space an attic; it is quite suitable for the title of an attic. Anyone who decides to insulate the ceiling will no longer have an attic, but will have an attic, a warm room, which over time can be turned into a guest room, a child’s bedroom or a cozy winter garden where the whole family will gather in the evenings. Attic spaces are a good find for creative people and simply for those who like to surround themselves with a cozy atmosphere.

Classification of materials

The owner, who is thinking for the first time about how to insulate the attic ceiling, is faced with another difficult question. How to insulate the ceiling in a private house? It is not enough to lay the material; it is also important to choose it correctly. After all, there are a huge number of materials on the market today, and it is not always clear whether they are suitable for the area in which the house is located; In some areas the temperature is lower, in some – higher.

Depending on the type and design of the roof, three types of materials can be used for insulation: “light”, bulk, or roll, or “heavy” slabs. The first type is suitable if the roof is covered with wooden beams, then the material from which the house is built will “breathe” and allow air to pass through to the ceilings; the last one - if the floor is made of concrete, then it won’t matter what you put in. There are different roll materials, but most of them are quite environmentally friendly and can be used in a house made from natural materials (read another article: “How and with what to insulate a ceiling”).

Often if the owner uses bulk materials, he faces difficulties afterwards if he decides to turn the attic into a full-fledged attic and lay the floor. As a rule, such problems do not arise with slab and roll materials.

The choice is quite wide, so you can choose the material of the desired price category, affordable and of high quality. In terms of importance, the first factor is thermal insulation properties, the second is resistance to temperature changes, and the third is ease of use. In addition, each material has a number of additional properties that must be taken into account when choosing.

It doesn’t cost anything to choose an environmentally friendly or even natural material; the use of such materials, which is important, will not negatively affect the health of residents, which cannot be said about toxic substitutes. In addition, the same foam plastic will contribute to the rapid rotting of a wooden roof. The material should be selected carefully.

Many unscrupulous sellers try to sell as much material as possible and at a higher price, without caring whether this type of thermal insulation is suitable for a particular owner, which is why you should be careful when choosing a material.

Insulating the ceiling from the attic is a fairly simple process; even a non-professional can handle it independently.

Insulation with bulk materials

Sawdust, straw, reeds, glass wool, expanded clay, and flax can be used as bulk materials. They are inexpensive and widely available. Ecological wool will cost more. Sometimes algae, slag, and foam are used as bulk materials for insulation. As a rule, the floor is not laid on top of bulk materials; for ease of movement, several boards can be laid.

Sawdust is one of the cheapest materials; you can even get it for free if there is a working sawmill nearby. Sawdust was used as insulation hundreds of years ago. A significant disadvantage of insulating the ceiling with sawdust is that mice often like it, and they make their holes in the sawdust, so when working, you should first sprinkle a layer of slaked lime with carbide or use some other folk remedy. Spread sawdust in a layer of 1-2 cm. Sawdust is such a flammable material that in order to prevent the layer from igniting, it should be sprinkled with slag processing or a similar material on top. Particular care should be taken when using sawdust near chimneys and other heat sources.

Kostra (linen) is a cheap material, resistant to rotting, lightweight, and friable. Rodents and insects do not like flax, since it is inconvenient to move in flax layers - the material quickly crumbles. Insulating the ceiling in the attic using a fire has a number of disadvantages, for example, this material sometimes cakes, but you can always add a new layer! Also, the material is highly flammable, which is both an advantage in disposal and a disadvantage in operation. They fill the flax with a layer of 1.5-4 cm. If the owner decides to insulate the attic with a fire pit, then it will no longer be possible to make a full-fledged floor there, but you can lay boards for ease of movement. Linen needs to be dried, so it is suitable if ventilation is provided in the attic.

Straw is poured in a layer of 2-5 cm. To avoid fires, before pouring the material, the ceilings should be coated with a layer of clay. Straw, like sawdust, is susceptible to rodent attacks, so it will also need protection.

Ecological wool consists of recycled cellulose (recycled paper) and additives that reduce flammability. Ecowool is the most reliable and fireproof material among bulk materials; its sound insulation properties will be a pleasant bonus. In general, sound insulation is never superfluous in a house. Owners of private houses can sometimes hear, in windy weather, the sound of something falling and rolling somewhere above, in the attic. In fact, these are just plays of the wind, a frequent coincidence of circumstances. Lay ecowool on a vapor barrier film, so that there are no cracks left, in a layer of 2.5-5 cm (it is important to take into account that ecowool cakes over time, so more in this case is better). Soon, after two weeks, lignin appears on top of the ecowool, a protective crust.

Glass wool is an old proven way to insulate an attic. Glass wool has many advantages: safety, moisture resistance, etc. and one significant disadvantage: high toxicity. Laying should be done only in thick clothing and a respirator. After laying, the clothes are burned. In addition, glass wool cakes quickly and will have to be replaced frequently. Lay glass wool in a layer of 2-2.5 cm.

Expanded clay, although a bulk material, is also suitable for insulation concrete floors(read also: “Warming concrete ceiling from the inside"). It is convenient because after laying it, it is possible to create a full-fledged floor in the attic, which is difficult to achieve with most bulk materials. Expanded clay is laid in a layer of 2-2.5 cm, placed on top cement-sand screed layer of 0.5 cm.

How to insulate an attic ceiling with bulk material, technology:

Place kraft paper on the floors. As a substitute, you can use cardboard, glassine or something similar. The second preparation option: coat the ceiling with 2-3 cm of clay and sprinkle with sand - so that if cracks form in the clay, the sand will fill them.
Add material. The thickness of the layer depends on the material itself and the expected temperatures of the area.
It is best to produce thermal insulation not in one, but in two layers.
Lay boards on top that you can walk on.

Don’t forget that the hatch to the attic also needs to be insulated!

How to insulate an attic ceiling with rolled material

The main advantage of rolled materials is that they are convenient to use in the space between the joists. The leader among such materials is mineral wool. Laying technologies for different materials vary. Read also: “How to insulate a ceiling in a wooden house.”

So, before laying mineral wool, it is worth laying a vapor barrier coating to avoid the formation of condensation (for more details: “How to insulate a ceiling in a private house with mineral wool”). Joints and cracks must be carefully taped; there is special tape for this purpose. Also, to protect against moisture, you can lay a waterproofing coating on top, but when insulating attic spaces, this is usually not done. Waterproofing will be required if the owner decides to insulate the roof (read: “How to insulate the ceiling in a house: outside and inside”).

Mineral wool is no less toxic than glass wool, so work should be carried out with similar precautions.

Mineral wool is the most common rolled material for thermal insulation.

Pros of mineral wool:

mineral wool does not rot and will serve its owner for a long time;
mineral wool does not burn, which is extremely important in terms of safety;
mineral wool is protected from rodents and insects;
mineral wool has soundproofing properties.

Eco-friendly natural material is algae. Algae ladders have many advantages, such as:

algae are not subject to rotting;
algae are not afraid of bacteria and other microorganisms;
due to the fact that the algae is thoroughly saturated with iodine and sea salt, rodents will not spoil the material;
algae practically does not burn, and with the help special processing flammability can be reduced to almost zero;
algae is environmentally friendly.

Algae have the same thermal insulation properties as synthesized materials. Lay the ladders of algae in a layer of 2-3 cm. It is quite possible to lay a real floor on top. Perhaps, algae is the most environmentally friendly and most useful material for thermal insulation; such a coating will have a positive effect on the health of residents mainly due to the high iodine content; installation is simple; algae will last a long time and be useful.

Linen insulation

Linen insulation beats mineral wool in that it is much more environmentally friendly than the latter. It is perfect if the house is built from natural materials, such as wood, etc.

Laying the material is very simple. Before laying the linen rolls, the cracks in the floors are covered with clay, then the material itself comes in. There should be no gaps at the joints.

Insulation of the ceiling with sawdust, more details in the video:

Insulation with slab materials

The slab material will completely block the access of oxygen to the floors, so there is no point in using slabs to insulate the ceiling from the attic side if the house is built from natural materials.

Popular board materials include polystyrene foam, mineral wool in boards, straw, seaweed, and reeds.

Lay slab materials only on a flat surface; if there are deficiencies, it is better to correct them. A vapor barrier film is placed on top of the ceilings. After laying the slab material, it will be possible to lay a real floor in the attic.

Dense extruded polystyrene foam (otherwise known as polystyrene foam) is well suited for attic insulation. A significant disadvantage is flammability and toxicity. When laying gaps at the joints of slabs, it is necessary to fill polyurethane foam. A cement-sand screed is placed on top of the slabs in a layer of 4-5 cm. The screed is quite capable of replacing a full-fledged floor, but if desired, you can lay boards, etc.

Reed is an environmentally friendly natural material that has appeared on the insulation market quite recently. It is absolutely non-toxic, of course, safe, burns low, and after treatment you can achieve complete fire safety. Reed is one of the few slab materials that are suitable for insulating houses made from natural materials.

Choosing a material for thermal insulation is a serious matter, it is better not to make mistakes. After all, the temperature in the house, the quality of life of the family living in it, and the service life of the building as a whole depend on thermal insulation, so insulating the ceiling from the attic is an important and necessary thing.

pod-potol.com

Bulk insulation: types and characteristics

Advantages of bulk insulation

have good resistance to temperature fluctuations;
have a sufficiently low weight, creating a minimal load on the walls or ceiling;
They are environmentally friendly and fireproof material;
retain heat well in rooms;
are durable.

Floor insulation

Loose floor insulation materials are used very often.

The most popular material is expanded clay.

Its production is quite simple, the advantages of expanded clay include low price and high quality, moreover, this material is environmentally friendly, is not afraid of moisture and is quite frost-resistant. Depending on the required insulation area, you can purchase expanded clay both in bags and in bulk, which is much more economical.

To insulate floors in rooms with high humidity, perlite backfill insulation, made from volcanic rocks, is recommended. A natural material with a high degree of environmental purity, it is chemically inert and fire-resistant, and can withstand very high temperatures. Due to its porosity, perlite is an excellent thermal insulation material.

The flowability of such cheap and widespread lumber as ordinary sawdust allows it to be used after special antiseptic treatment for floor insulation.

Insulation of walls and ceilings

A granule of foamed polymers is the basis of penoplex, a lightweight and moisture-resistant thermal insulation material. This heat insulator does not have a very wide operating temperature range, so it is not recommended to use it for insulating baths. Penoplex can be quite easily filled with frame walls. The granules fill the smallest voids.

Mineral wool for wall insulation can be used not only in the form of conventional slabs or rolls, but also in the form of granules larger than 10 mm in size.

An interesting argument comparing two types of insulation:

uteplix.com

How to properly insulate a ceiling, installing insulation on a ceiling under a cold roof

During the cold season, any house loses heat due to leaks at the joints of building structures, cracks in windows and doors, as well as due to thermal radiation from walls, floors and ceilings into the surrounding space. At the same time, ceilings and roofs account for 15 to 45% of all heat losses. Therefore, the ceiling must be insulated, eliminating heat loss due to the release of heated air and due to heat transfer. Most insulation methods do not require expensive equipment and special qualifications of workers. They are quite capable of doing the work of insulating a house with their own hands.

In addition to the most important task - heat preservation - thermal insulation work also solves one more - maintaining optimal humidity. For this, in addition to insulation materials, vapor barrier and waterproofing membranes are used to prevent condensation from accumulating on ceilings and walls. Semi-permeable membrane films allow water vapor to pass through them in one direction and do not allow moisture to pass through in the opposite direction.

General scheme of ceiling and roof insulation

Ceiling and roof insulation schemes

From the point of view of insulation, all roofs are divided into two types:

Warm. Under the roofing material there are several layers: vapor barrier, ceiling insulation and waterproofing. They are held in place by battens - spatial structures attached to the rafters. The ceiling of attic rooms is insulated according to exactly this scheme.
Cold. They have a layer of roofing material and load-bearing structure and a layer of vapor and waterproofing placed under them. The air gap in the attic is an additional barrier to heat loss. The ceiling located under the so-called cold roof must be insulated and waterproofed.

Features of ceiling insulation

The main feature of insulating a flat ceiling is the inability to arrange condensate drainage, as is done for sloping roofs. Therefore, almost all insulation solutions are aimed at removing water vapor upward, ensuring its unhindered passage through all layers.

Cold overlap

How to properly insulate a ceiling in a cold attic? Air gaps are left above a cold or heat-conducting ceiling (for example, concrete). The first, auxiliary between the vapor barrier film and the insulation, comes into effect when there are large temperature changes and heavy condensation. It must be well ventilated. It is easier to make the main gap between the insulation and the waterproofing layer ventilated - just leave a small gap around the perimeter. It is preferable to insulate a cold ceiling both from above and from below. The insulation used for the ceiling located under a cold attic must be moisture resistant.

Warm ceiling

A floor made of materials with low thermal conductivity, such as wood, is called warm. Such floors, which themselves serve as a heat insulator, need only be insulated from above. Even if condensation forms during extreme temperature changes, it will be absorbed into wooden structures without changing their properties, and will subsequently evaporate. As a rule, this process is invisible to the inhabitants.

The vapor barrier is laid on the ceiling without a gap, then the insulation is laid. The air gap between the thermal insulation layer and the hydrobarrier membrane should also be left and will provide the possibility of its ventilation.

Insulation materials

There is no clear answer to the question of which insulation is better. The choice is determined by several factors, such as:

thermal insulation properties;
ceiling design features;
price;
qualification and equipment requirements
availability of materials.

Materials for insulation are divided into basic and auxiliary. The auxiliary ones include barrier and membrane ones.

Barriers and membranes

Vapor barriers

Vapor barriers are needed to prevent water vapor from passing through them. For their production, polypropylene films with a thickness of over 55 microns are used.

Polyethylene is unsuitable as a vapor barrier - over time, due to temperature fluctuations, it cracks and begins to let vapor through. However, if you solder a layer of polyethylene and a layer of foil, you get a high-quality vapor barrier.

Folgoizols are also supplied with a layer of fibrous nonwoven material such as padding polyester. This layer collects moisture from the insulation and carries it away through capillaries. If it is present, there is no need to create an additional air gap above the cold ceiling.

Membranes

Multilayer reinforced membrane materials allow vapor to pass in one direction and retain moisture in the opposite direction. The reinforcing mesh layer ensures the strength of the film, prevents it from sagging and guarantees a constant size of the main air gap.

Membranes with a reinforcing layer

Membranes for installation under roofing have a metalized outer side. It increases resistance to weather conditions - high humidity, wind loads and temperature changes.

Insulation materials

What is the best way to insulate a cold ceiling? The main thermal insulation materials used for insulating ceilings can be divided into the following categories:

Solid. Such materials consist of foamed plastics, are little susceptible to moisture, and are easy to install.
Fibrous. Mats or rolls are formed from compressed fibers. Inexpensive, have good thermal insulation. Sensitive to moisture, when wet they lose their thermal insulation properties.
Bulk. Traditional bulk materials - sawdust, expanded clay, etc. The cheapest ones have the weakest thermal insulation. Ecowool stands out separately - an expensive, but extremely effective material.
Sprayable. Modern coatings made of foamed plastics. They are sprayed locally and do not form joints or seams. The best thermal insulation, very expensive equipment.

How to insulate the ceiling, everyone decides for themselves, based on their needs and capabilities.

Mineral wool

Rolled mineral wool

The most popular type of fibrous materials. Produced from several types of raw materials:

Basalt wool from volcanic rocks. High strength and density, short hard fibers. High moisture resistance.
Glass wool from recycled glass. Low strength, light and elastic, long elastic fibers.
Slag from blast furnace waste. Low thermal insulation properties, low cost. Not applicable for residential buildings.

To insulate with mineral wool, no special equipment is required; the installation process is simple and quite fast. It is produced both in rolls and in slabs with insulation thickness up to 150 mm.

Mineral wool is harmful to health; during installation you must use a respirator, protective gloves and goggles.

Attention! If fibers get on the mucous membranes, respiratory or digestive organs, you should immediately consult a doctor.

After installation during use, mineral wool is completely harmless to those living in the house.

An important feature of mineral wool that must be taken into account when designing and installing is big number joints and junctions. They need to be done so that the gap is minimal, the slabs are laid against the guides and opposite each other. Half-centimeter gaps between slabs can reduce the effectiveness of the coating by a third.

Correct and incorrect installation of insulation

The thermal insulating properties of mineral wool are reduced until they are lost when the material gets wet. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the removal of vapors and condensate.

Monolithic

The most suitable and popular material for thermal insulation of ceilings is polystyrene foam. It is produced in the form of 1200*600mm panels equipped with tongue and groove. This allows you to make high-quality joints during installation. In addition, cracks and gaps are sealed with polyurethane foam. The material is resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations. Works great when insulating ceilings both outside and inside

Its disadvantage is low fire resistance. When burned, it releases substances harmful to health.

Insulation with polyurethane foam

Polystyrene foam, or polyurethane foam, is significantly cheaper than polystyrene foam, but has low strength and is prone to chipping. Suitable for insulating ceilings from the inside.

Sprayed and bulk materials

Sprayed materials are very effective, have no joints or seams, and almost do not burn. They can be effectively sprayed into hard-to-reach areas and cavities, providing thermal insulation where other materials can only be placed with partial dismantling of building structures.

The main disadvantage is the extremely high cost of the equipment and the highly qualified operator. This hinders the widespread adoption of this promising method.

Ecowool

Very promising as bulk and sprayed insulation for roofs and ceilings. Occupies an intermediate position between sprayed and bulk materials. It is made from recycled paper and has the same thermal conductivity as mineral wool. Fibers with the addition of glue are fed to the surface or into the cavity under slight pressure and harden there. When wet, it partially loses its properties, but after drying they return.

Additives in ecowool make it low flammable, environmentally safe and unattractive to rodents and mold. The material does not cause allergies and does not contribute to the development of cancer.

Methods for laying ecowool

Applying ecowool does not require special qualifications, and installation is a little more complicated than a vacuum cleaner. One of the few drawbacks is the requirement for application temperature: not lower than +23 o C

Expanded clay and foam glass crumbs (foam crumbs)

When filling with expanded clay or foam crumbs, it is necessary to take into account that its thermal insulation properties are low compared to more modern materials. Therefore, a significantly thicker layer will be required.

Expanded clay - traditional bulk insulation

A few advantages of the material are its low cost, moisture resistance and non-flammability.

Expanded clay is used in budget decisions, as an outer layer, the internal thermal insulation is performed with mineral wool

Scheme of two-layer insulation with expanded clay and mineral wool

Sawdust and shavings

These materials can be attractive due to their low cost; sawdust and shavings can be obtained completely free of charge at woodworking factories. Wood shavings have a high fire hazard; sawdust burns much worse.

Ceiling insulation

Let's consider the process of insulating the attic ceiling with mineral wool. The technology varies based on the specific designs and circuits chosen.

Outside

The simplest and fastest method of thermal insulation is inter-beam. If the ceiling is made of solid boards, a vapor barrier must be placed around the beams or film wraps must be made on them. If the ceiling is made of thin lining or slats, a foil vapor barrier film is attached below the beams, along the ceiling.

Methods for insulating a wooden ceiling from the attic

A complete insulation scheme requires significantly more labor, materials and time, but it is also much more effective. An above-beam double layer of slabs is added to the inter-beam layer of rolls or mats. The layers must be laid overlapping.

How to insulate a cold ceiling from the inside

When choosing a method of thermal insulation of the ceiling from the inside, you need to understand that any of them will reduce the height of the room. Minimal height loss will occur in the case of installing a suspended ceiling or suspended ceiling made of plasterboard. In this case, thermal insulation boards can be placed between the guide metal profiles.

Fastening basalt wool to disc dowels

If a suspended ceiling is not planned, then insulation boards can be attached in various ways:

Still, make guides from wooden slats or metal profile.
Secure the panels with special disc dowels. For one mat measuring 1200 * 600 mm you need at least 4-5 dowels
Glue to the ceiling with mastic.

Glued to the bottom of the insulation reinforced mesh, and leveling primer and layers of paint are applied to it.

No attic

When insulating buildings without an attic, in addition to solving the problem of heat preservation itself, it is necessary to ensure the removal of excess moisture, both contained in the air in the form of vapor and condensing on cold surfaces.

Scheme for buildings without an attic

A vapor barrier is laid under the light ceiling, and a layer of thermal insulation material is laid on it. It is necessary to provide two ventilated gaps - between the thermal insulation and waterproofing and between the waterproofing and roofing material. You need to install vents along the ridge or simply lift the ridge cap so that the air can escape freely.

Special cases

Let's look at a few special cases

In an apartment building

Apartments on the top floors of apartment buildings are known to be cold. Especially if the builders performed thermal insulation of the ceiling in violation of the technology. Any DIY work in the attic apartment building illegal, it is better to spend time complaining to the construction or operating organization and forcing them to fulfill their obligations to ensure normal temperatures. But the claim process is not a quick process, and the rooms are already cold today.

However, you can quickly and inexpensively insulate the ceiling from the inside and do it yourself. You will have to “please” your neighbors by drilling numerous holes in the ceiling for dowels, but the result is worth it.

Ceiling insulation in an apartment building

Another drawback will be a reduction in the height of the rooms by 4-5 cm, and around the perimeter of the ceiling - up to 40 cm. But heat is more expensive.

On warm ceiling a system of guides is installed from wooden slats or a metal profile 4 cm high. 30 mm thick foam plastic sheets are laid between them and attached to the ceiling with disc dowels.

After this, a foil vapor barrier is attached along the lower edges of the guides. Slopes with a radius of 40-40 cm are made along the perimeter, ensuring a smooth connection between the planes of the lines of the false ceiling and walls. On last stage sheets of moisture-resistant plasterboard are attached. Curvilinear slopes are covered with foam chips, starting from the short sides of the room. Ecowool is also suitable for this.

Attic

A residential attic must be insulated. Insulation of a non-residential attic will not hurt either - this will be an additional barrier to the cold on the residential floors. How to reliably insulate the ceiling in a residential attic? The most common scheme is insulation with mineral wool or polyurethane foam slabs laid between the rafters. For vertical walls, you will need to take special cotton wool with a low shrinkage coefficient.

Attic thermal insulation diagram

Particular attention will need to be paid to vapor barrier. In an already built house, the space under the ridge is not always available. In this case, ecowool can help out - it can be blown out through temporary technological holes, which are then sealed with polyurethane foam.

Garage and bathhouse

The roof of a garage is often supported by metal I-beams. When installing guides for insulation, drilling holes from bottom to top in a steel beam is inconvenient, so the method shown in the figure is used. Thermal insulation boards are laid in two overlapping layers. Instead of fibrous materials, you can try ecowool. In this case, you can do without foil insulation, and instead lay kraft paper on the false ceiling.

Installation diagrams for bathhouses and garages

For the bathhouse, a standard thermal insulation scheme is used. High humidity the premises require the use of basalt wool - insulating the ceiling of a building with glass wool is not recommended. Particular attention should be paid to the quality of ventilation of the gaps. Ecowool must be moistened with glue. If a bath ceiling is insulated, working from the attic side, bulk materials such as sawdust and shavings are often used.

Worker skills and tools

Popular insulation methods do not require expensive equipment or high qualifications. For insulation home handyman General construction skills and ordinary tools will be enough:

hammer
screwdriver
hacksaw
stepladders
roulette

When installing the guides, it is best to call an assistant. Help with cutting and laying rolled materials would also be helpful.

Before starting work and purchasing materials, it is necessary to make a sketch drawing. This will help you not make mistakes with the dimensions and correctly calculate the amount of materials purchased.

znatoktepla.ru

The best insulation for ceilings: foil, roll, non-flammable, bulk

The optimal insulation for the ceiling is selected taking into account the characteristics of the material, the design features of the room, the natural and climatic conditions of living and the type of installation of the insulator. A preliminary study of the above nuances allows you to purchase a TIM that minimizes home heating costs.

Briefly about heat insulators and how to use them

All thermal insulation materials are conditionally systematized into 3 groups: coatings installed from the inside of the structure, products mounted on outside ceiling (used in insulating the attic floor) and universal.

Installing the first type of TIMs keeps the living room area unchanged, partially protects the surface from moisture and extends the life of the building.

Attic structures from concrete slabs allow you to prevent heat loss using any materials. If the building's floors are made of wood, special attention should be paid to the weight of the thermal insulator and its vapor permeability coefficient (the ability to retain water vapor provokes the formation of mold and mildew).

You can insulate a room from the inside at any time of the year, but the work carried out will reduce the height of the ceilings.

When deciding which insulation is best to purchase, you should consider:

Environmental safety of the product.
Strength.
Bio-, frost resistance.
Ability to repel moisture.
Fire resistance.
Elasticity, compression resistance, no shrinkage.
Difficult to install.
Duration of operation.

Popular TIMs for ceilings include roll insulation, bulk and foil groups of products, a detailed description of which can be found below.

Reflective materials

Materials of this type reduce the intensity of thermal convection due to the presence of a reflective surface. The category includes self-adhesive products, foil-isolon, as well as foam and basalt wool with special coatings.

The advantages of the described TIMs are:

waterproofing properties;
safety for human health;
service life;
frost resistance, elasticity;
ease of installation.

The most popular foil insulation is foil-isolon. The basis of this durable, non-emitting, lightweight and economical building material is foamed polypropylene (polyethylene). A metallized coating or foil is applied to one or both sides of the product. TIM is thin and does not require special tools to cut it; can be used both indoors and for thermal insulation of ceilings from the outside.

Expanded polystyrene with double-sided coating can be used at temperatures up to +170ºC and is characterized by corrosion resistance. Foil-coated basalt wool, sold in rolls and slabs up to 100 mm thick, is impervious to aggressive environments. It is recommended to use materials for insulating attic structures.

Self-adhesive C-type Penofol is recognized as a new generation heat insulator. TIM belongs to the group of universal products, used at temperatures from +100 to -60ºC, and is bioresistant and inert to atmospheric influences. The flexible coating is easy to install and can be used to insulate curved surfaces. The minimum service life of Penofol with an adhesive layer is 25 years.

Group of backfill thermal insulation materials

Backfill TIMS are used to suppress heat loss inside the roof. Their advantages include durability, increased heat and sound insulation properties.

Characteristics of modern TIMs

Among the promising, in-demand insulation materials are expanded clay, vermiculite, and ecowool.

The first of the listed insulators is a loose insulation with a porous structure, made from clay. Among its disadvantages are hygroscopicity (granules absorb water) and the ability to release toxins when exposed to elevated temperatures. A layer of expanded clay up to 16 cm thick can reduce heat loss as much as possible.

Ecowool is a waste paper recycling product; it is used for any type of coating and does not require the installation of waterproofing. Additional components of an environmentally friendly product are substances that reduce flammability (fire retardants), mineral binders. A number of consumers use the material by conventional backfilling, but the presence of temperature bridges can be minimized only by using special blowing units. The layer thickness required for thermal insulation varies between 35-40 cm.

Vermiculite - ceiling insulation mineral origin. The demand for TIM is due to its positive characteristics, including:

fire, biostability;
environmental friendliness;
no shrinkage;
duration of operation.

A layer of granules 10 cm high reduces heat loss by 90%. Among the disadvantages of the material are hygroscopicity and high cost.

Properties of classic type products

Traditional materials include wood shavings, sawdust. Compared to modern TIMs, they are less convenient to use, are highly flammable and are often damaged by rodents. The disadvantages of the insulators under consideration are compensated by environmental friendliness, low thermal conductivity and a significant (from 10 years) service life. In addition, sawdust is the cheapest insulation material; often lumber waste can be removed from the territory of wood processing enterprises absolutely free of charge.

When choosing shavings, preference should be given to medium-sized dry products (the weight of small particles is greater; when they fall asleep, they generate dust), obtained by cutting coniferous trees(resin reduces the risk of fungus). The smallest coating thickness that can increase the energy efficiency of a building varies between 30–50 centimeters.

Insulation of floors with mineral wool and linen products

When choosing the best way to insulate a ceiling, clients of construction stores often opt for heat insulators supplied in rolls - TIMs made of flax or mineral wool.

The first of these coatings is made from natural and polyester fibers and treated with fire retardants. Linen material is one of the safe, bio-resistant, soundproof products. TIM, deformed when wet or mechanically, restores its original shape in the shortest possible time.

The average service life of products is 75 years. The length of the roll is usually 6 m, width - 1 meter, thickness - 5 cm. Cutting and installation of the material does not require the use of special tools. The main disadvantage of linen thermal insulator is its high cost.

Mineral wool is a bioresistant, non-flammable insulation, produced in 3 positions (stone, slag, fiberglass products). The last two of the listed types of products are used to reduce heat loss from the attic; the first type can be used from inside the room.

The list of advantages of a mineral insulator:

strength;
resistance to aggressive environments;
durability;
relatively low price.

Slag material is used in the temperature range from −50 to +300ºC; the maximum positive temperatures at which the operation of fiberglass and stone products is permitted are 450 and 600ºC, respectively. The thickness and width of TIM rolls vary from 600×50 to 1200×60 millimeters.

When installing mineral wool, you should wear protective clothing and gloves: upon contact with skin, the fibers can cause allergic reactions.

Briefly about polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam

The TIMS under consideration are a type of insulation produced in the form of slabs. Polystyrene granules are used to produce materials.

Expanded polystyrene and foam plastic are among the insulators that can be used to insulate ceilings from the attic side. Products are mounted only on a flat surface; if necessary, additionally filled with cement-sand mortar.

The main disadvantage of insulation is increased flammability, the advantage is low cost.

To understand the differences between coatings and which one is better at preventing heat transfer, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the products in the table below.

The budget nature of TIMs encourages consumers to use the described products to insulate residential premises from the inside, but, according to SNiP standards, this method of suppressing heat transfer can harm the health of residents: 15-20 years after installation, the slabs begin to deteriorate and release toxins (including styrene) .

Before you begin thermal insulation of a structure, you should carefully study the technology for performing the work: a process carried out taking into account all the nuances will reduce heat loss to a minimum.

kakpotolok.ru

Bulk insulation for baths and home: review of materials

High-quality insulation of the upper floors in structures for various purposes significantly reduces heating costs. Among the available, convenient and cheap ways to suppress heat transfer is the use of organic and artificial insulators. To decide what to fill the ceiling with in a bathhouse or wooden house, you should know about the characteristics of the materials, understand their advantages and disadvantages, and take into account the nuances of using TIMs.

Basic criteria for choosing thermal insulation

Bulk insulation for the ceiling must meet a number of parameters. Among the most important are environmental friendliness, ease of installation, hygroscopicity and resistance to high temperatures.

In addition, the choice of TIM is made taking into account:

climate zone;
flooring material;
distances between roof beams;
weight of the insulator, size of its fraction;
proximity to the chimney pipe.

Most bulk insulation materials are durable, safe and low cost. A separate group of products is characterized by a lack of resistance to the influence of biological factors - such TIMs require the additional use of various impregnations that improve the properties of insulators.

List of the most popular materials

A thorough review of materials posted on construction forums and portals allows us to identify the 9 most common types of insulation. Among them are sand, sawdust, small shavings, vermiculite, expanded clay, boiler waste, penoizol, polystyrene foam granules, ecowool.

Characteristics of traditional types of products

To the group classic materials include slag, shavings, sawdust.

The last two of these insulators are characterized by high flammability. This disadvantage is minimized by using fire retardants. Antifungal treatment makes it possible to reduce the susceptibility of the TIMs in question to bacterial agents.

Among the significant disadvantages of traditional wood insulation is frequent damage by mice and rats. How to get rid of rodents making nests in sawdust will be suggested by the advice of “traditional craftsmen”: builders who have several decades of work behind them recommend mixing insulators with lime at a ratio of 10:1.

You can reduce the heat transfer of the ceiling in a bathhouse using slag. It is preferable to use waste from boiler houses in regions where negative temperatures do not exceed −20°C. Slag fillers are easy to install and have high fire resistance. Their disadvantages include their large weight: only durable upper floors should be insulated with boiler waste.

Sand, vermiculite or expanded clay?

The modern bulk insulation materials for the ceilings of residential premises and saunas offered by the construction market are distinguished by a significant range. Each product has special properties.

A popular insulator is perlite shelter. A layer of compacted expanded sand of 3 centimeters is equal in thermal conductivity to 15 cm thick brickwork. If necessary, the filled perlite is additionally strengthened with cement mortar - this design allows you to build a warm room in the attic.

Ceiling insulation with vermiculite

Fire-resistant, frost-resistant expanded clay granules measuring from 5 to 40 mm are used for thermal insulation of various types of floors. The weight of the material depends on the size of the fraction. For wooden flat and pitched roofs, it is preferable to use TIM with markings up to 10 mm, for saunas and baths - up to 20 mm; The insulation layer must be protected by vapor and waterproofing.

The best filling is achieved by mixing several types of granules. An additional advantage of expanded clay is good sound insulation.

The advantages of vermiculite include fire resistance and a long service life (from 50 years). Among the advantages of the material, experts also note:

environmental friendliness;
high breathability;
inertness to the effects of biological agents;
ease of installation (it is enough to fill it and compact it).

To suppress heat loss, use vermiculite in a layer of 5 cm.

Expanded clay - effective thermal insulation for the ceiling

Features of foam chips, penoizol

You can also fill the ceiling in a wooden house with polymer granules, which are characterized by moisture resistance, light weight, fire resistance (when using fire retardants) and cost-effectiveness.

A special method for producing polystyrene foam chips gives the type of TIMs in question elasticity and density; the balls do not change their structure when squeezed and quickly return to their original shape. The diameter of the polymer spheres varies from 1 to 8 millimeters. The material is easy to fill and transport.

Foam chips lose these properties when exposed to acetone, dichloroethane, or a number of other substances contained in paints and varnishes.

Loose penoizol differs from polymer crumbs in shape - its granules are not round (visually they look like snow flakes). The thermal conductivity characteristics of TIMs are almost the same.

Advantages and disadvantages of ecowool

The material, made from waste paper, fills small voids well; used as a heat insulator for complex structural solutions.

The disadvantages of ecowool - susceptibility to combustion and biological factors - are minimized by including boric acid and borax in the TIM composition.

The thermal conductivity of the products does not exceed 0.042 W/m*C. When the material gets wet, shrinkage occurs.

The service life of ecowool varies depending on the climatic characteristics of the area. With small temperature changes, the service life can reach 50 years, in severe winter conditions - from 15 to 20 years.

A wide range of bulk thermal insulators allows you to choose the most economical TIM, taking into account the characteristics of the structure that needs insulation. Particular attention should be paid to modern materials that do not require significant installation time and ensure maximum suppression of heat transfer.

Lithium liquid glass - production in different ways, including from cullet, can it be made at home and what can be made from it?