Options for insulating a house outside. Insulation of a private house

How to make external wall insulation for a private house efficiently, quickly and inexpensively? Is it possible to do this kind of work with your own hands? It should be noted that the important fact is that insulation from the outside is not only about improving the microclimate and creating comfortable conditions accommodation. Such measures have purely economic grounds: the fact is that with high-quality insulation of the walls in the house from the outside, there is no need to use additional systems space heating (for example, electric heaters). This means that your electricity bills will be noticeably lower. The savings will be noticeable even if you heat your dacha with gas, because you will not have to use the maximum power of the boiler or other gas equipment you have. Another important advantage of carefully insulating the walls of your home with your own hands is that at low temperatures, coupled with high humidity there is a high probability of developing fungi and mold: and if the house is warm and dry, this risk is minimized.

Thermal insulation of the walls of a private household from the outside can be done either with the help of professionals or with your own hands. The choice of materials on the modern market is quite large, and every homeowner will be able to find an option that is optimal in cost. However, when choosing an insulation material, you need to focus not only on cost, but also on other important points.

The first aspect of choice is the material from which the walls of your country house. For each insulation option, individual installation methods are provided. And it may turn out that a certain type of insulation is suitable for your home, but it will be impossible to install it yourself, or you can only insulate it with the condition additional training surface and, accordingly, with the involvement of additional finances (and the final amount may turn out to be greater than you expected). And in order to minimize both financial and time costs, you need to choose the insulation material very carefully.

It should be remembered that insulation for a private house from the outside will be most effective. The undoubted advantage of careful external insulation is that in this case the material will not reduce the living space of the premises, in addition, moisture does not accumulate in the rooms (there is no “sweating” effect).

External insulation is one of the most important aspects regarding the improvement of your home. Experts note that up to thirty percent of the heat can escape through insufficiently insulated building walls. What materials should you prefer? There are many options, the most popular of which are:

thermal insulation of the building with foam plastic;
thermal insulation mineral wool;
use of “Penoplex” (extruded polystyrene foam) as insulation - only for basement and basement walls.

External thermal insulation of a residential building with foam plastic

Foam plastic, without a doubt, is one of the most affordable, lightweight, and therefore very popular materials used to insulate the walls of a home outside. In order to install such insulation material, you do not need any complex additional accessories: All the work can be done with your own hands. However, we must not forget about such a disadvantage of polystyrene foam as its instability to fire (it is a flammable building material).

Thermal insulation with foam plastic can be carried out in the following way. First of all, the surface is prepared: it needs to be carefully leveled. Polystyrene foam is produced in the form of slabs, and if such insulation is applied to uneven surfaces, voids will inevitably appear and, accordingly, the rooms will be colder than one would expect. Secondly, with mechanical impact at the points of contact foam board With uneven wall the material may simply burst. It is also important to remember that an isolated space is a possible place for insects, moisture, etc. to accumulate. Therefore, it is very important, before you start insulating the outside walls of a private house using polystyrene foam, to perform a thorough primer. If there are, for example, significant traces of whitewash on the walls, thermal insulation with foam insulation becomes less effective (the glue may not “set”).

After the outside walls have been thoroughly washed and primed, it’s time to proceed to the next stage, namely, the installation of drip linings. They are leveled horizontally using a level: this will allow you to later insulate the walls with foam plastic yourself without additional cutting of the slabs. Before laying the foam plastic, you should put a “starting bar” - a base that will prevent the slabs from sliding off the walls. In addition, it will be much easier to maintain the line during further installation. How level the entire row is will depend on how the bottom plate is positioned. When thermally insulating a building from the outside with polystyrene foam, the slabs are installed by hand using special glue. If the walls in the house allow it, after a few days you can additionally secure the material with nails.

Video with a master class on foam insulation:

If your house is built from timber, you should additionally seal all the cracks: polyurethane foam, mineral wool or other materials suitable for this purpose. It is important to eliminate drafts: without this, insulation on the outside of a residential building will not be as effective.

External insulation for the house with mineral wool

Thermal insulation of the outside of a residential building can also be carried out using another popular material - mineral wool. If you have heard, for example, that walls are insulated with “glassy” or “ stone wool- then this is the same material. It is based on fiberglass. As a rule, for external thermal insulation Special slabs of mineral wool are used and the façade is covered with them.
To install this type of slab, special fittings are used. To insulate the attic and roof of a building, it is recommended to use Linerock wool. Its advantage is good flexibility, which means that in order to insulate the outside of your home, you do not have to carry out careful preliminary preparation surfaces.

The undoubted advantages of stone wool are:

low thermal conductivity combined with high sound insulation;
relatively low price;
stone wool does not support combustion;
it is not susceptible to rodent damage, as well as mold and mildew;
the material is vapor-permeable, the building “breathes”;
Stone wool is easy to install with your own hands: you can choose the optimal type of insulation - in rolls or mats;
the material is environmentally friendly and safe.

External wall insulation for a household using stone wool is carried out in several stages. With help plaster mixture The slabs are glued to the wall surface. Next, the mineral wool is covered with another layer of the mixture, then a fiberglass alkali-resistant fiberglass mesh is installed, a primer is performed and, finally, finishing (painting, decorative plaster etc).

Video with a master class on mineral wool insulation:

Thermal insulation with “Penoplex”: we insulate the building from the outside with our own hands

Just as in the case of mineral wool or polystyrene foam, you can do the external thermal insulation of the walls of a building with your own hands using Penoplex. Today this material is very popular for self-insulation of residential buildings.

Important! Only the basement and basement walls can be insulated with Penoplex. The fact is that this material does not allow water vapor to pass through it, flowing from living quarters to the outside, which can lead to the formation of fungus and mold.

Important advantages of “Penoplex” for thermal insulation of a building:

the material is light, quite warm and durable;
extruded polystyrene foam is impervious to moisture;
fire resistant material when exposed to high temperature practically does not burn;
installing it when insulating a building with your own hands is easy and convenient.

Thickness of “Penoplex” for thermal insulation of a residential building, according to modern standards, must be at least 5 centimeters. Laying of this material is carried out in several stages:

leveling surfaces, eliminating cracks, priming;
installation of “Penoplex” with special glue, after 2-3 days – additional fixation of the material with dowels;
gluing reinforced mesh;
carrying out pre-finishing of the surface;
finishing of the facade using facade plaster.

In order for the insulation of a residential building to be of high quality, do not skimp on insulation material. If thermal insulation with polystyrene foam, Penoplex or stone wool was carried out in compliance with all the rules, you will be able to ensure the most comfortable atmosphere in your living quarters and, at the same time, reduce heating costs.

External thermal insulation gives a much better effect than insulating a house from the inside. In addition to its main functions, insulation protects walls from precipitation, mechanical damage, weathering and thereby extends the service life of the entire building. Installing insulation does not require special knowledge or skills, and most homeowners can easily cope with this task on their own. But in order to do everything as efficiently as possible, you need to know what materials are available for insulating walls outside, and how to attach them correctly.

Despite the fact that the operating conditions outside and inside the house are strikingly different, the same materials can be used in both cases. However, when choosing insulation, preference should be given to those options that best meet the following requirements:

increased resistance to shrinkage;
resistance to mechanical damage;
UV resistance;
durability;
ease of installation;
resistance to insects and microorganisms.

For wooden houses The vapor permeability of the insulation is also important, because wooden walls must “breathe”. As a rule, finishing coatings for facades are designed for long-term use, and removing them every few years to replace thermal insulation that has become unusable is too troublesome and not always advisable. At the same time, if the insulation under the finishing becomes compressed, cracks, begins to rot, or is chewed off by mice, it will no longer be able to retain heat, which means it will not be possible to do without repairs. That is why it is so important that the selected material fully meets the specified criteria.

Types of thermal insulation materials

At the moment, the construction market offers the following materials for insulating houses:

They all differ in technical characteristics, installation technology, and have different service life. Moreover, each of them is suitable for outdoor use and has its own advantages. Let's look at these materials in more detail.

Mineral wool is made from fine fibers obtained by melting and pulverizing glass, blast furnace slag or rocks. Depending on the location of the fibers, the structure of the insulation can be corrugated, vertically layered and horizontally layered, and have different densities and thickness. Each type of mineral wool has its own characteristics:

Mineral wool is produced in slabs and mats with various options coverings – kraft paper, aluminum foil, fiberglass. In terms of cost, basalt insulation is the most expensive, and the higher its density, the more expensive it is.

Advantages of mineral wool:

the fine-fiber structure facilitates the free passage of air and water vapor, so the risk of condensation on the insulated surface is minimal;
Due to its mineral base, the material is not subject to combustion, which means it is additional protection walls from fire;
the insulation has a relatively high moisture resistance, and therefore effectively prevents the penetration of dampness into the house;
mineral wool perfectly absorbs sounds and vibrations, and almost no street noise penetrates into the insulated room;
the insulation is lightweight, easy to process, and thanks to its elasticity, quickly restores its shape after being crushed during installation;
Microorganisms and insects do not develop in mineral wool; rodents do not like it.

Flaws:

mineral wool has a tendency to shrink, and the lower the density of the material, the faster deformations occur. Rigid basalt slabs are the least susceptible to shrinkage, but due to the high cost, not everyone can afford such thermal insulation;
when wet for a long time, the insulation becomes saturated with moisture and loses its thermal insulation qualities;
microscopic fibers are easily destroyed when squeezing and cutting the material, and then settle on the skin, causing irritation, and can enter the eyes and lungs. Glass wool is considered the most dangerous in this regard, but with other types of mineral wool you should use at least gloves and a respirator.

Popular brands of mineral wool.

Name	Brief characteristics
	Basalt insulation with increased rigidity, is produced in the form of slabs with a thickness of 25 to 180 mm. Suitable for all types of facades, can serve as a basis for applying plaster. It is resistant to deformation and shrinkage, waterproof, low thermal conductivity, and absolutely non-flammable. Fastening is done using dowels and glue
	A type of glass wool with various additives that improve the characteristics of the insulation. Available in slabs and rolls, there are options with foil coating. Widely used for insulating facades of all types, frame structures, internal partitions, roofing systems
	Fiberglass insulation that does not contain formaldehyde additives. Available in slabs and rolls, it is characterized by biological and chemical resistance, elasticity, and good vapor permeability. Material thickness – from 5 to 10 cm
	Glass wool insulation with a high content of water repellents. Available in the form of rolls, mats, rigid and semi-rigid slabs, 50-100 mm thick. Suitable for all types of surfaces, ventilated facades, frame structures

Prices for mineral wool

Foam and EPS

Insulation materials based on polystyrene foam are excellent heat insulators due to their closed cellular structure. Almost 98% of the material is air or inert gas, enclosed in sealed cells, so the insulation weighs very little. Both polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam practically do not absorb moisture, which means they are excellent for insulating foundations, plinths, basements. When thermally insulating facades, these materials serve as the basis for applying plaster.

Advantages:

polystyrene foam insulation is lightweight and easy to process during installation, so even a beginner can handle it. In addition, such thermal insulation does not place a large load on the base, which means there is no need for additional reinforcement of load-bearing structures;
microorganisms cannot develop in polystyrene foam, so the insulation is not afraid of fungi and mold;
with proper installation, these materials last quite a long time, especially EPS - up to 50 years;
polystyrene foam and EPS are resistant to soap and saline solutions, alkalis, bleach and other chemically aggressive substances;
installation does not require the use of protective equipment in the form of a respirator or gloves, since the insulation does not emit toxic fumes or small particles and does not cause irritation.

Flaws:

expanded polystyrene is a vapor-tight material, and therefore cannot be used for insulating wooden walls;
insulation is destroyed upon contact with solvents, drying oil, some types of varnishes, as well as under the influence sun rays;
sound insulation properties are much lower than those of mineral wool insulation;
already at + 30 degrees, polystyrene foam begins to release harmful substances - toluene, styrene, formaldehyde and others. When burning, the amount of toxic emissions increases significantly.

EPPS is in great demand in the domestic market domestic production– “Penoplex” and “Teplex”, as well as polystyrene foam insulation of the Ursa, GREENPLEX, PRIMAPLEX brands.

Prices for foam plastic

Styrofoam

Cellulose insulation

Cellulose insulation, also called ecowool, is made from waste paper production and waste paper. Ecowool consists of 80% cellulose fibers, the remaining 20% are antiseptics and fire retardants. The material is tightly packed into all irregularities and voids and forms a dense seamless coating with high vapor permeability. Installation of insulation is carried out in two ways - dry and wet-adhesive, and both options can be done either manually or using a special installation.

The dry method allows you to perform thermal insulation in a short time and immediately begin finishing. But at the same time, the coating density will not be high enough, which will lead to shrinkage and the appearance of cold bridges. In addition, when dry blowing, a large amount of fine dust is formed and you have to work in a respirator.

The wet-adhesive method ensures better adhesion of the insulation to the base; the layer is much denser and more resistant to shrinkage, which guarantees the durability of the thermal insulation. True, it takes time for the material to dry - from 2 to 3 days, and even longer in cold or damp weather. And until the layer is completely dry, you cannot begin finishing.

Advantages:

environmental Safety;
excellent heat and sound insulation properties;
resistance to bacteria, fungi, insects;
fire resistance;
long service life;
affordable price.

tendency to shrink;
high hygroscopicity;
the complexity of performing work manually.

Polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam, or PPU, belongs to a new generation of insulation and has improved characteristics compared to traditional materials. It is a liquid polymer mixture, which, after application to the surface, hardens and forms durable coating with a cellular structure. The components are mixed immediately before starting work, and the finished solution is applied by spraying using a special installation.

Advantages:

the liquid mixture easily fills all irregularities, cracks, recesses, and is conveniently applied in hard-to-reach places;
the material retains heat well and muffles sounds;
Polyurethane foam is resistant to chemically aggressive substances, practically does not absorb water, and can withstand sudden temperature changes;
can be applied to any type of surface - wood, concrete, brick, metal;
the insulation is very light, so it does not require reinforcement of the load-bearing foundations;
the average service life is 25-30 years.

polyurethane foam is destroyed when exposed to sunlight;
Spraying requires equipment and skills to work with it;
Polyurethane foam cannot be used in areas that are very hot;
high price materials and specialist services.

Wall insulation technology

Thermal insulation of the facade can be performed in different ways, depending on the type of insulation. But for all options prerequisite is high-quality preparation of the base, because not a single insulation can stop the processes of destruction of wall materials. Let's consider methods of insulation with mineral wool and polystyrene foam boards, as the most popular in frequent construction.

Insulation with mineral wool

External walls are cleaned of dirt, peeling plaster or paint. Repair cracks and problem areas, and be sure to treat areas affected by fungus. There is no need to eliminate minor irregularities - the mineral wool insulation is mounted using a frame, so all defects will be hidden inside. Finally, the walls are coated with a waterproof primer with antiseptic properties so that mold does not develop under the layer of thermal insulation.

Step 1. The beams for the frame are cut to the required length and processed on all sides antiseptic impregnation and air dry.

Advice. The cross-section of the beams should be selected taking into account the thickness of the heat-insulating layer. That is, if slabs with a thickness of 50 mm are laid in one row, the thickness of the frame should be 5-6 cm, with a two-layer laying - no less than 11 cm. In the first case, a beam with a section of 50x50 mm is suitable for the racks, in the second - a board 40x110 mm installed on the edge.

Step 2. Markings are made on the walls for the frame guides strictly according to the level, holes are drilled for fasteners and the beams are installed. The distance between the posts should be 10-15 mm less than the width of the insulation board. During the installation process, the location of the elements is controlled at the building level; if necessary, wooden supports are used under the beams so that all the racks are in the same plane.

Step 3. The insulation is inserted into the cells of the frame. To do this, the plates are slightly squeezed along the edges, pressed between the racks and released. The material expands on its own and tightly fills the space. The insulation must be inserted so that there are no gaps between the plates.

Step 4. After filling all the cells on top, the insulation must be covered with a windproof, moisture-proof membrane. The membrane is laid with the marked side out, the canvases are positioned horizontally, starting from the bottom. To fix the membrane use construction stapler. The top sheet is overlapped by 8-10 cm, and it is recommended to glue the joints with tape.

Step 5. Stuffed on top of the membrane wooden slats counter battens 30-40 mm thick to provide an air gap. If this is not done, condensation will accumulate on the insulation and moisture will absorb wooden frame and the structure will quickly become unusable.

After this, all that remains is to install the finishing coating, for example, siding or corrugated sheeting. The finishing must completely cover the thermal insulation layer so that precipitation does not fall on the slabs. Only under such conditions will the material last long and effectively.

Last step - decorative finishing facade

Insulation with polystyrene foam

This method of insulation is noticeably different from the previous one. First, the base must be leveled so that the material fits snugly to the surface. Secondly, installation is carried out without sheathing; the slabs are attached with glue and mushroom dowels.

Step 1. The prepared walls are coated with a primer with quartz sand, for example, Betokontakt. If the base is porous, the primer is applied in 2 layers.

Step 2. Determine the lower limit of thermal insulation and draw along the perimeter of the house horizontal line. Drill holes for dowels according to the markings in increments of 20-30 cm and secure the starting strip.

Starting bar fixed

Step 3. To fix the insulation you will need special glue. Can be used assembly adhesive in cylinders, for example, TYTAN STYRO 753, or dry glue mixture(Ceresit CT 83). The mixture is diluted in clean water according to the manufacturer's instructions, mix until smooth with a mixer at low speed.

Take the first sheet, apply glue on the back side in a continuous strip around the perimeter and in the center. Next, apply the insulation to the wall, resting the bottom edge on the starting profile, check the location with a level, and press it firmly to the base.

Step 4. Secure the entire row, tightly joining the sheets together. The next row begins with half a sheet to offset the vertical seams. Excess glue that appears at the joints is carefully removed with a spatula.

Step 5. When the glue has hardened, each sheet must be secured with disc dowels. To do this, carefully drill holes in the wall through the insulation, insert dowels and carefully hammer them in with a hammer. One sheet requires 5 fasteners - in each corner and in the center.

Step 6. Next, mix the adhesive solution, apply a continuous layer to the insulation, lay a fiberglass reinforcing mesh on top and embed it in the solution. Openings and corners are additionally reinforced with corner profiles.

When the solution has dried, the surface is sanded, dusted and plastered with a thin layer. Now all that remains is to paint the facade or apply decorative plaster.

Prices for Ceresit glue

Ceresit glue

Video - Materials for insulating walls outside

Video - Insulating the facade with penoplex

Why is home insulation so important? The question may seem stupid, but some novice masters may ask it because they do not yet fully understand the importance of this event. And if insulating a garage or country house can sometimes be neglected, as well as the insulation of a building located in southern latitudes, then it is imperative to take measures to increase the level of thermal insulation of the walls of a house located in a harsh climate.

So, firstly, it is worth noting that insufficiently insulated walls of any building cause large losses of thermal energy. About 45% of the heat is lost through them and goes to “heating” the street, which means that approximately the same 45% of the heat needs to be taken from somewhere to keep the house warm. And this is a significant increase in the amount of expenses for heating and heating the house, and annually. It is enough to install the insulation once during construction and forget about replacing it for many years. And the cost of heating the building will be significantly lower. Moreover, it is also very important to lay the insulation correctly so that cold bridges do not form, otherwise the loss of thermal energy will still be quite large.

On a note! Nowadays, home insulation is mandatory in accordance with the standards for building insulation work. Thus, a building project may not even be approved without meeting the requirements SNiP 02/23/2003, which report that the house should be insulated from the outside.

In general, insulation can be done using two methods - both from the inside and outside the room. Deciding which method is better is quite simple. Thus, it is extremely rare to resort to laying insulation on walls from the inside, since this method has many disadvantages compared to the method of insulation from the street.

If the house is insulated from the inside, then the wall of the building from the outside is completely unprotected from the effects external factors, which means that the materials will be subject to attack from sunlight, cold, moisture, etc., which will significantly reduce their service life. It is also worth taking into account the so-called dew point - the place where condensation collects. When installing insulation from inside the house, it will be too close to the inside of the rooms, which means drying out the walls will be worse, dampness may form and, as a result, mold, mildew, etc. It is also important to understand that insulating the walls from the inside will “eat up” part of the free space, and the rooms will be smaller.

If you insulate the house from the outside, then all these negative factors can be avoided. That is, the wall from the street will be well protected from cold, light and water, and the room inside will be freer, and the quality of insulation will not suffer at all.

Advice! You should insulate a house from the inside only if it is impossible to insulate the structure from the outside of the building, and also if there is a good layer of vapor barrier from the inside of the house.

Materials that can be used for insulation

Previously, mineral wool was used to insulate various buildings. It is still used today, but a fairly large number of alternative materials have appeared on the market that may well replace it. You will have to choose yourself, taking into account their service life, composition, cost and a number of other factors. Materials may differ from each other in the degree of moisture resistance, tendency to deformation, level of thermal conductivity, etc. When choosing insulation, it is worth considering all of them specifications and be sure to focus on the climatic conditions of the region in which the house is being built.

Expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene foam

One of the most commonly used materials is expanded polystyrene or foam. It can be used in the form large slabs or as bulk insulation. Its thermal conductivity is low and depends directly on its density, but a sufficient level of thermal insulation can be achieved due to its cellular structure (that is, the material has a mass of cells filled with air).

– the material is inexpensive, easy to install, does not absorb moisture, and is a low-flammable material. It can be bought at almost any hardware store. As part of the wall pie, it has a sufficient level of strength.

Important! When burning, foam releases very toxic fumes. There are, of course, types of material that are capable of extinguishing on their own, but... That is why such insulation is used only for insulating the outside.

Extruded polystyrene foam- a “relative” of foam plastic - has a certain difference from the standard material associated with manufacturing technology. Its percentage of water absorption is also low, its thermal conductivity is low, but its compressive strength is higher. This insulation is perfect for installing thermal insulation at the base or foundation level. It costs more than standard foam.

The installation of these materials is the same: you need to clean the walls of debris and level them. Then you just need to glue the slabs of material to the wall, using adhesives designed specifically for such materials; they can additionally be fixed with anchors with wide caps - mushrooms. By the way, before attaching the EPS, it needs to be made somewhat rough before applying glue - the surface of the material is too smooth. After installation of the insulation is completed, the walls can be plastered or covered with other facing materials, having previously laid a reinforcing mesh.

You can also install these types of insulation using wooden sheathing. Wooden slats are fixed on the walls. Moreover, their thickness should be equal to the thickness of the insulation or slightly exceed it. Then between the external finishing material and the polystyrene foam there will be a small pocket with air for ventilation. The slats are fastened from each other at a distance equal to the width of the insulation element itself.

On a note! You can also attach facing material to the sheathing after installing the insulating elements.

Prices for foam plastic

Styrofoam

Mineral wool

Traditionally, you can insulate a house with ordinary mineral wool. The material is based on rocks, usually basalt. This fibrous insulation has a low level of thermal conductivity, inferior to foam plastic, and low density. But the main advantage of the material is its absolute non-flammability. Mineral wool also “breathes” perfectly.

Mineral wool is installed using a frame, because this insulation is too soft compared to expanded polystyrene and does not hold its shape as well. You can additionally secure the cotton wool using anchors on which the cotton wool is placed, or dowels with wide caps.

The main disadvantage of mineral wool is its tendency to absorb moisture. So waterproofing cannot be neglected when using it. Moisture layer insulating material laid on top of the installed insulation. If this measure is neglected, the mineral wool will lose all its properties when saturated with water.

Advice! When constructing a sheathing for mineral wool, it is recommended to make the distance between adjacent elements of the sheathing slightly less than the width of the layer of wool. Then the sheets will fit tightly between them.

Prices for mineral wool

Polyurethane foam

This material is new to the insulation market. It is already quite widespread. The material can be used both in the form of slabs and in the form of sprayed substances (the latter option is more common).

Polyurethane foam (PPU) - advanced thermal insulation technology

On a note! By the way, polyurethane foam is also known as polyurethane foam.

Some tiled types such insulation already have an external decorative layer. So in this case, insulation can be combined with the cladding of the house. Such polyurethane foam is attached to dowels or to a special fastening system, if we are not talking about a sprayed composition.

The main disadvantage of sprayed insulation is its high cost. But polyurethane foam carefully closes all cracks and does not require installation vapor barrier materials, has high strength, perfectly insulates noise and does not release heat from the house.

The application of sprayed insulation can only be trusted by professionals. It is not recommended to carry out the procedure on your own, since during the process of applying it to the walls you can inhale toxic substances, which cease to be released only when the material hardens.

Which is better to use?

Choosing the right material is quite simple for an experienced craftsman, but it will not be easy for beginners to decide. You can rely on ready-made recommendations, for example, depending on the materials with which the house will be faced.

Table. The choice of insulation depends on the material from which the wall cladding will be made.

Wall/façade type	Recommendations
Facing brick	If there is such facing material It is important to ensure that there is a small layer of air, otherwise the wall materials will get wet. Here it is recommended to make a wall structure consisting of three layers.
Ventilated	Finishing is done along the lathing. The easiest way to insulate is with mineral wool - perfect option for curtain facades.
Wooden house	Such buildings are insulated only with mineral wool; the technology of the so-called hinged method of facade installation is used.
Wet	Usually insulation is done with mineral wool, but sometimes polystyrene foam is used, but it is important to leave a gap for air.

The question about the number of layers of thermal insulation will be answered normative document. You can insulate a house from the street in two or three layers. In the latter option, finishing with panels or plastering separate layer do not work, so in a three-layer wall, the third layer needs to be laid with structural material.

On a note! Whatever one may say, most often the choice of insulation comes down to the fact that you need to decide what to buy - mineral wool or expanded polystyrene.

Calculation of insulation thickness

Calculating the amount of insulation is not easy, even if you know the dimensions of the walls and follow the recommendations of SNiP, SP and GOST. You can make the calculations yourself, or use the services of a special company that deals with such calculations, or look for online calculators. It is worth understanding that to correctly determine the thickness of thermal insulation, it is important to take into account everything possible options heat loss at home, heating system power, climatic conditions, etc.

Important! Each building has certain parameters, and the thickness of the material must be calculated for each house individually.

Fixing thermal insulation

Prices for dowels for fastening insulation

Dowel umbrella

Installation standard types insulation such as mineral wool and polystyrene foam is produced on walls that have been thoroughly cleaned of old materials, if any. Whatever one may say, you need to remove all dust, noticeable dirt, remove all hanging elements, remove any signs, etc. Next, the entire surface must be dropped, cleaned and primed. Moreover, it is better to apply deep-penetrating primer.

Make the walls smooth and suitable for further work Can be used with adhesive. You can check their evenness using a long level or rule. So, with level differences of up to 5 mm adhesive composition can be applied to the entire surface of the wall plane; if there are more irregularities and the difference is 5-20 mm, then the glue is placed in cakes along the edges and on the entire surface of the insulation element.

In order to fix the first row correctly and evenly, it is recommended to install a starting strip above the base, and the slabs will rest on it. Subsequent rows of insulation are installed with some row shifting so that the joints between elements in adjacent rows do not coincide with each other. Each insulation board must be secured with dowels so that there are 5 pieces per 1 m2. fasteners.

Important! If the façade is finished according to the “ wet facade", then there should be only one layer of insulation.

Insulation with polystyrene foam

Step 1. The first step is to do the preparatory work. That is, the walls need to be cleaned of dirt and debris.

Step 2. Next, you need to apply a deep-penetrating primer, which will increase the level of adhesion of other materials and also rid the walls of dust. It must be applied over the entire surface of the walls using a brush or roller.

Step 3. After this you need to mount the starting bar. It is fixed above the base of the building using dowels, after carefully leveling it, focusing on the building level. Starting bar will allow you to properly glue the polystyrene foam.

Prices for Ceresit glue

Ceresit glue

Step 5. The adhesive solution must be applied to the expanded polystyrene slab using the “side-flat” method - a strip of glue is applied around the perimeter of the slab, and then 3-5 cakes of the adhesive composition must be placed in the middle. In this case, the glue will cover about 40% of the surface of the slab.

Step 7 Whether the panel is glued evenly can be determined using a building level. You need to check the evenness of the panel in three planes - on the sides and on top.

Prices for building levels

Construction levels

Step 8 Now you can glue the remaining panels in the first row. By the way, in subsequent rows the panels are glued in a checkerboard pattern.

Step 9 After installing the slabs, you need to wait 12 hours for the glue to set, and then fill the wide gaps between the slabs with polyurethane foam.

Step 10 Excess foam needs to be cut off after drying. sharp knife, and sand the panel joints.

Step 11 When installing expanded polystyrene in the area of window and door openings, it is important not to forget to reinforce the corners of the insulation with strips of reinforcing mesh. This will strengthen them. The mesh should be laid at an angle of 40-45 degrees. This measure will help avoid cracking of walls in these places in the future.

Step 12 At the corners of the house, the panels still need to be laid in a checkerboard pattern, joining the sections from different sides of the house (demonstrated in the image). Here, by the way, you also need to use a mesh for reinforcement.

Laying mineral wool

Step 1. On the facade of the walls of a wooden house in in this case you need to attach steel brackets. The length of the bracket will depend on the thickness of the insulating coating. The brackets can be fixed using self-tapping screws.

Step 2. A paronite gasket must be placed between each bracket and the wall.

Step 4. Additionally, the cotton wool must be secured using self-tapping screws and wide plastic fasteners, screwing the screws into them.

Step 5. This is how you need to lay the first row of cotton wool. It is important to attach the second row on top of the first so as to cover all the joints between the sheets of cotton wool in the first row.

Step 6. When the second layer of mineral wool has been laid, you can begin installing the wind-waterproofing layer. The brackets need to be threaded through the film.

Step 7 The protective film can also be fixed using self-tapping screws and wide plastic fasteners.

Step 8 After completing the installation of the insulating material, you can begin the construction of the ventilated facade, that is, the installation of the frame and the façade itself. finishing material. The guides, by the way, are attached to the same brackets.

Video - Insulating walls with mineral wool

Insulating a house is a profitable investment in saving the budget and the personal comfort of the people living in it. So it’s not worth saving on thermal insulation. In addition, as we see, there is nothing complicated in installing the insulating layer directly. And it is important to remember that, if possible, the house should be insulated from the outside, in accordance with the rules and regulations.

The approach of winter is a good reason for those who have not yet done so to think about insulating their home. After all, in the warm season we do not feel the loss of heat as much as in the cold season.

It is better to think about correct and effective energy saving at the design stage. But what about those who have already built a house or cottage or residents apartment buildings. Of course, additionally insulate the walls outside and inside.

Wall insulation work can be divided into three types:

external insulation;
internal wall insulation.

Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Within this article, we will look at how to insulate walls from the outside and review materials for insulation with photos, graphs and diagrams.

External insulation, as follows from the definition, is the insulation of an external wall.

Advantages of external insulation technology:

freedom of access. Agree, it is much easier to do work outside the building than inside;

possibility of performing work in a residential building. Insulating the walls of the house from the outside does not disturb the way of life (there is no need to move furniture, freeing up the walls, and then carry out interior decoration of almost all rooms);

preservation usable area interior spaces of a residential building. The thicker the insulation, the more heat will remain in the house. But the size of the room will decrease by the same amount. Residents of multi-storey buildings are especially sensitive to apartment space;

heat accumulation by walls. The wall material accumulates heat or cold, depending on which side the insulation is located on. If from the side of the rooms, then it accumulates cold and will give it off for a long time. Even when the air temperature rises higher. Insulation from the outside will additionally protect the building from the appearance of dampness in the walls. In the summer, the insulation will not allow the house to warm up too much.

no additional load on the foundation. Installation of thermal insulation materials outside does not increase the load on load-bearing walls and foundation;

aesthetic appearance . Decorative finishing of the house is a mandatory stage of insulation from the outside, because... thermal insulation material also needs protection. Therefore, after all the work is completed, the house is transformed.

But, all these advantages can be achieved only if the thermal insulation material is chosen correctly, its high-quality installation and correct calculation.

When calculating insulation you need to take into account:

type of insulation. Each of the materials has its own properties;
condition of the wall to be insulated. The material it is made from will have a significant impact. The structure of the building, the presence of cracks, protrusions, metal elements also significantly reduces the wall’s ability to accumulate heat;
purpose of the insulated room. After all, the requirements for insulation, for example, of a bathhouse and a garage are different. Even when insulating a house, you need to understand that the bedroom needs to be insulated more than the corridor.
location of the house. Wind, amount and level of precipitation, and minimum temperature play a role here.

Should you do the external wall insulation yourself or trust the professionals?

The quality of insulation will depend on the correct consideration of the listed components. And vice versa, if something is taken into account incorrectly, there may be either insufficient insulation of the house, or high costs for its excessive insulation.

Therefore, when performing calculations, you need to turn to professionals. Choosing construction company, pay attention to the period of their work, the objects made, the availability of licenses and, of course, reviews, which best indicate the quality of the work. However, there are types of work that simply cannot be done without professionals. For example, it is almost impossible to insulate the walls of an apartment from the outside on your own. You can’t do this without help (you need to take into account the complexity and danger of working at height, and not everyone has industrial mountaineering skills).

It is quite possible to insulate the external walls of a private or low-rise building on your own. As a reliable guide, when doing work with your own hands there will be SNiP 02/23/2003 “ Thermal protection buildings." The document establishes requirements for the protection of buildings.

Materials for external wall insulation

The main indicators of insulation are:

thermal conductivity- the ability of insulation to transfer heat. The lower this indicator, the greater the amount of heat will be saved in the insulated room.

fire resistance- the ability of insulation to resist fire. The higher this indicator, the safer the insulated building will be.

hygroscopicity- the ability of insulation to absorb and accumulate moisture. The lower the value of this indicator, the better. This is explained simply: molecules in a humid environment are located closer to each other than in gas ( air layer in cotton wool). The pressed molecules conduct heat better. An ideal thermal insulation material should have zero hygroscopicity. Because the presence of moisture in it reduces the thermal insulation properties and destroys the material over time. It has been proven that increasing the humidity of insulation by 1% will lead to a decrease in its thermal insulation properties by 25%. In addition, a building insulated with such insulation will be susceptible to fungi, which will negatively affect the microclimate in the house.

breathability- the ability of insulation to ensure air movement between interior spaces and the environment;

chemical and biological stability- the ability of the insulation to withstand the action chemical substances and living organisms, respectively.

Comparative characteristics of thermal insulation materials in terms of density and minimum permissible layer are given in the table.

Comparative characteristics of thermal insulation materials from the standpoint of thermal conductivity, fire resistance and hygroscopicity.

Type	Material	Thermal conductivity	Fire resistance	Hygroscopicity
Bulk	Slag	*****	****	****
	Expanded clay	****	****	**
	Glasspore	**	****	*****
	Perlite, vermiculite	*	****	*****
Roll	Basalt fiber	**	****	****
	Glass wool	**	**	****
	Minvata	**	**	****
	Stitched mats	**	**	****
	Plastiform	**	***	*
	Izover, URSA	**	**	****
Plate-sheet	Styrofoam	*	*	*
	Expanded polystyrene	*	*	*
	Polyurethane foam	*	*	*
	From glass wool and mineral wool	**	**	***
	Woody-fibrous	****	*	*****
Wall blocks	Expanded clay concrete	*****	**	***
	Foam concrete	****	**	****
	Aerated concrete	****	**	****
	Cellular concrete	****	**	****
	Gas silicate blocks	****	**	****

Testing the fire resistance of the most common materials: polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam and basalt wool, presented on video

An ideal thermal insulation material should have these parameters.

Naturally, in practice it is impossible to achieve such indicators. Therefore, most often the materials are combined with each other or with other materials. And the resulting insulation system looks like a multi-layer cake. This scheme allows you to offset the disadvantages of some materials with the advantages of others. The design of a “layered” system requires knowledge and experience from the master.

The table illustrates how thick the insulation must be in order to perform external wall insulation and ensure equal wall insulation.

At the same time, the installation technology for each of the presented materials is different.

As already mentioned, wall insulation panel houses the outside differs from the increased complexity of the work and a smaller selection of materials. Since in this case only rigid insulation can be used. On the one hand, their price is much lower than all others, on the other, the cost of work is significantly higher.

When designing insulation, you need to take into account the wall material. Sometimes wall material imposes significant restrictions.

So, for example, insulation of wooden walls from the outside is carried out only natural materials such as tow, felt jute or moss. Their use allows you to preserve the natural beauty of natural wood and reduce heat loss through the cracks.

Here's the insulation brick walls the outside can be made with almost any material. Does not impose significant restrictions on the choice of insulation material gas silicate walls outside.

External wall insulation technologies

Today on the market there are various materials for insulating walls outside. Their wide range allows you to choose the one that is suitable for a specific room. Depending on the type to be used different instructions on arrangement. However, for understanding, we will briefly summarize the main approaches to insulating the outside of a house with various materials.

Foam plastic is the most popular material for thermal insulation, both private and high-rise buildings. Due to its low thermal conductivity, light weight, availability and low cost, it has become widespread among users. The process is relatively simple.

Frameless foam installation involves the use of glue to attach sheets to the surface. The sheets are carefully joined together. However, cold bridges form at the junction points. To avoid this, it is better to lay the sheets in two layers. By overlapping each other, they will better conserve heat. The sheet is fixed with a plastic dowel and covered with a polymer mesh. This method is used if plaster is applied over the foam.

Frame method of fastening foam- requires mandatory installation of the frame. It should be noted that this method is rarely used and most often when the exterior of the building is planned to be finished with siding or lumber (lining).

For more information about foam insulation, watch the video

Insulation of external walls with expanded polystyrene and penoplex is carried out according to a similar principle. Because penoplex is the trade name for extruded polystyrene foam.

Mineral wool boards (mats) are suitable for insulating walls outside a private house. The use of mineral wool (except for material with increased density) requires mandatory installation of the frame. In addition, mineral wool, due to its porous structure, absorbs moisture well. Therefore, the installation scheme for wool involves the use protective films. Plus, mineral wool is good for.

Video instructions for insulating walls with mineral wool

Insulation of external walls with polyurethane foam

Spraying polyurethane foam (PPU or simply “foam rubber”) is a new product in the field of insulation. This inflatable material (from the group of gas-filled plastics) quickly finds its adherents due to its high speed of work and excellent insulation quality.

Even the high cost and the inability to do the work yourself are not an obstacle to the growing popularity of this insulation.

What are the advantages of insulating walls with polyurethane foam? The main thing is that it simplifies the work, is applied to any substrate and has high insulating properties. Using this material, you do not need to prepare a drawing or examine the wall for defects. Various structural features of the wall - protruding parts, pipes - are no longer a hindrance. After all, the material is simply sprayed (inflated) onto the wall. The process is well shown in the video

The technology of insulating plaster walls is a very conventional concept. In fact, the so-called “wet” insulation method involves the use of insulation as the main thermal insulation layer and plaster as a finishing layer. That is, in order to achieve the effect, it is necessary to insulate the walls from the outside under plaster.

Siding insulation technology along with the use wet method, also does not apply to self-insulation. , and even more so, cannot be classified as thermal insulation materials. They are also used only as a facing (finishing) material for finishing. Insulation of external walls under siding can be done using polystyrene foam or mineral wool. The materials are placed in a frame, the installation of which is a mandatory step when hanging siding.

Conclusion

External wall insulation will allow you to save from 10 to 25% of heat. But walls are not the only source of heat loss. In order for the insulation of a house to be effective, you need to take care of the thermal insulation of not only the walls, but also the basement, roof, attic (attic), windows and doors.

In most cases, people are accustomed to insulating their houses with inside, although this is not entirely correct. Thermal insulation of walls with external insulation has a number of advantages compared to internal insulation apartments. Insulation installed indoors reduces the usable space of rooms, especially when it comes to corner apartments or private housing construction.

By installing insulation only on the internal walls of the house, not all energy saving problems can be solved. In such a situation, the outside of the building will continue to freeze and accumulate excess moisture, which over time can penetrate inside the house. Therefore it is advisable carry out external insulation. But just before we start installation work you need to learn to understand the basic characteristics of external wall insulation.

Advantages of external wall insulation

The main advantages of insulating walls outside is saving usable space indoors, protecting the house from freezing and increasing the overall service life of the building. Wherein external insulation walls do not increase the load on the structure of the building and do not put additional pressure on the foundation.

Home insulation deserves special attention high degree of protection from freezing. First of all, this is due to the fact that laying thermal insulation from the inside prevents heat from escaping from the room to the outside, while the walls continue to freeze when negative temperatures. Between internal walls and thermal insulation material, a zone is formed in which water condenses, which accompanies the formation of fungal mold and rapid cooling of the room under the influence of moisture.

The insulation inside the room, saturated with moisture, does not dry out even in the summer heat, creating a constant zone of water accumulation, which significantly affects the service life of the building. When using external insulation for walls, the point of condensation formation shifts towards the thermal insulation layer. Walls insulated from the outside do not cool down and retain heat, reducing heat loss for a long time. External thermal insulation materials quickly lose moisture, maintaining their basic characteristics, increasing the service life of the walls. To the main advantages External wall insulation includes the following characteristics:

saving thermal energy in winter;
keeping the room cool in the summer heat;
saving energy resources when heating or cooling a home;
increasing the service life of the house;
preventing the development of fungal mold;
the aesthetic component of external insulation transforms the house.

Another advantage of using external thermal insulation materials is the high sound insulation of the room. If in private sector buildings this issue is not so important, then in large cities soundproofing of premises remains relevant.

Requirements for external insulation for walls

Carrying out outdoor thermal insulation works must be comprehensive. This is because right choice insulation depends on the material from which the structure is constructed. Yes, for brick houses most often they use the familiar polystyrene foam. In its turn, wooden buildings It is better to insulate with mineral wool. Naturally, the final choice remains with the homeowner. At the same time, choosing external insulation for walls, you need to pay attention for the following material characteristics:

But regardless of the insulation used and its main characteristics, the main thing is to try to create a rational thermal insulation structure that will avoid a lot of unwanted problems with external wall insulation. In particular it is necessary take into account external factors, such as rain, snow and other precipitation, as well as strong temperature changes in winter and summer period year, which the external thermal insulation material must withstand.

Types of fastening external insulation

To the most popular methods carrying out installation work on insulating walls with external insulation includes the following:

Naturally, each insulation option has its own characteristics and difficulties in implementing it. Today there are a lot of materials on the market combined type, which not only solve the issue of insulating the building, but, subject to installation technology, ensure waterproofing and fire safety of the building.

Selection criteria and types of external insulation

Regardless of which thermal insulation material the homeowner chooses, he will cope with the tasks assigned to him. But they all differ in their basic characteristics and, of course, in price, which plays an important role in external insulation. In this case you will have to choose from the following typical materials:

foam or polystyrene foam boards;
mineral roll insulation;
slabs or liquid polyurethane foam;
basalt insulation;
cellulose thermal insulation material.

If we consider the main differences between external insulation materials, they lie in the degree of moisture resistance, vapor permeability and heat conductivity. In this case, the first two parameters should be selected based on the climate conditions of the region in which the structure was erected. In turn, the thermal conductivity of the material affects the thickness and installation of insulation, depending on the goals pursued.

Preparatory stage of insulation work

Having selected a thermal insulation material that is suitable for price and quality, you can proceed to the stage of external wall insulation. But first surface preparation is in progress. If necessary, old plaster is removed, in some cases down to the base of the building. The result of this work should be a flat surface made of brick or stone, it all depends on the material used in construction.

An important role is played by the primer, which is often neglected by people carrying out do-it-yourself repair. If differences or other defects in the walls that exceed several centimeters are detected, they are sealed with mortar. The most suitable primer is considered deep penetration. To obtain an even thermal insulation layer that will not interfere next stages finishing works, need in advance install plumb beacons. This will allow you to outline the outer plane of the wall, which will facilitate installation work.

Self-tapping screws are attached to the upper edge of the wall surface, to which a construction cord is attached, which is supplied with a weight at the end and lowered to the very bottom of the wall. Horizontal ropes are stretched between the outer cords to create a control grid, which will be the main guideline when installing external thermal insulation. Then they proceed to attaching sheets of material, the installation of which differs depending on the characteristics of the insulation.

We insulate the outside wall of the house with polystyrene foam

Sheets of insulation are attached to the wall using an adhesive compound and are additionally secured with dowels. The reliability of the dowels will directly affect the quality of insulation retention under strong wind loads. At the same time, there are two main types of dowels with a standard and extended spacer zone. In this case, standard fasteners are used to fix polystyrene foam on walls made of concrete and brick. In turn, it is advisable to use elongated dowels for walls made of porous material - foam block, lightweight concrete, etc..

Polystyrene insulation boards have one significant drawback - the high flammability of the material. Although manufacturers were able to solve this problem through the use of new manufacturing technologies. Therefore, it is the fire resistance of the material that needs to be given special attention when choosing.

After the adhesive composition has been applied to the surface of the wall, begin attaching the slabs. The glue is applied in sufficient volume so that the composition completely fills all the irregularities. The insulation board is pressed tightly against the wall surface, while excess comes out from under it. adhesive solution, falling under the adjacent slab, making the joints more reliable. After this, the plate is additionally secured with dowels in the corners and center of the product. Adjacent joints of the slabs, as well as the dowel heads, are covered with mastic.

After laying the external insulation perform reinforcement of the resulting structure. To do this, use a fiberglass mesh, and, if necessary, metal products. The slabs are opened with adhesive compounds, on which the mesh is laid, by pressing them against the heat insulator. For greater reliability, the mesh is fastened with an overlap. After the adhesive has dried, it is sanded and the finishing is applied. The most popular is decorative plaster, which, after drying, is covered with a layer of weather-resistant paint.

Liquid polyurethane foam - quality and durability

One of the most interesting and effective methods of external wall insulation is polyurethane foam. The liquid insulation has many advantages compared to slab materials. The preparation of the material occurs immediately before applying the insulation to the wall surface. In addition, polyurethane foam there are a number of other advantages:

The process of installing polyurethane foam itself consists of spraying a layer of heat-insulating polymers onto wall surfaces of any shape, followed by hardening of the insulation. In a special container mixing of two polymers occurs foaming with carbon dioxide. The resulting composition is sprayed from a gun onto the surface of the wall, covering it with an even layer.

On finishing stage insulation, decorative finishing is applied on top of the heat-insulating layer. Thanks to this finishing coating the insulation will be completely protected from external factors environment. Plus, this will improve the aesthetic appeal of the building.

Only by choosing the right material for external wall insulation and only by following the technological process for its installation can a homeowner be sure that his house will be cool in summer and warm in winter for a long time.