Frame houses are distinguished not only by practicality, but also by attractive external characteristics. This perfect option for those who want to acquire inexpensive but comfortable housing. Today we will talk about insulation frame house.
Do-it-yourself insulation of a frame house
Design Features
There are two main methods of constructing frame buildings:
- frame-panel (buildings are assembled directly at the factory with ready-made elements);
- frame-frame (all elements are prepared and assembled at the construction site).
In cross-section, the wall of a frame house looks like a multi-layer cake (this can be seen in the image above). It is also worth noting that the frames themselves can be of two types:
- wooden;
- metal.
For a long time wood was the main building material, and no wonder - it is cheap, durable, lightweight, easy to process and has excellent thermal conductivity. Metal structures are erected from perforated steel profiles, mostly galvanized (this extends the service life to one hundred years).
Now - directly to the process of insulating a frame house!
Stage one. Choosing a material for insulating a frame house
After it's ready Basic structure, you need to start thermal insulation, and here, of course, there are a lot of questions. And the main one is the choice of suitable material. There are quite a lot of them, but the most popular are polystyrene foam, basalt, eco- and glass wool, extruded polystyrene foam, materials that are sprayed or filled. It would seem that the choice is quite wide, but not all of the described insulation materials are suitable for a frame building.
For example, expanded polystyrene and polystyrene foam are not suitable because if they are tightly placed in the inter-frame voids, the structure itself will increase in volume in the future or shrink due to the natural properties of wood, which causes cracks to form between the thermal insulator and the frame. It is quite obvious that thermal energy will escape through these cracks, and the insulating material itself will no longer be effective. Therefore, a thermal insulator suitable for us must be elastic: even if the shape of the frame changes, there will still be no gaps, since the freed-up space will be filled with this material.
Now let's move on to specifics. Let's look at all the remaining materials, and you can decide for yourself which one is more suitable (in terms of price, quality, etc.).
Option #1. Basalt wool for insulating a frame house
Perhaps one of the most popular insulating materials. It has excellent noise and thermal insulation properties and is produced by melting rock basalt. For this reason, the material is sometimes called stone wool.
Note! The temperature it can withstand is +1000 C, so it is a real fireproof insulation.
The disadvantage of the material is that it absorbs moisture, which is why its main properties deteriorate over time. Therefore, when insulating a frame house, you should protect the basalt wool using vapor and waterproofing materials. We also note that for thermal insulation of walls it is necessary to use the material that is produced in slabs. It is advisable that there is a special marking on it indicating that it is for walls, otherwise after a couple of years the wool will shrink and cracks will form in the wall (namely in its upper part), through which cold air will penetrate.
Option #2. Ecowool
Modern material made from cellulose. It differs from the previous version not only in appearance, but also in installation technology. To insulate ecowool, you need a special machine to mix the material with water droplets; then this entire mixture is driven into the interframe space.
Droplets of water are here for a reason - they glue pieces of ecowool together, forming a monolithic thermal insulator along the entire perimeter of the building. Consequently, there cannot be any cold bridges in such walls. Although it is possible to install ecowool without using special equipment, that is, dry. In this case, it is simply poured between the layers of walls and carefully compacted.
Ecowool is immune to high humidity coming from the room, so there is no vapor barrier in in this case no need. The only drawback of the material is the high cost (not only of it, but also of installation work).
Option #3. Glass wool
Another very popular material that can be used in a frame house. From basalt wool it is distinguished by the fact that it is made from molten glass. It is characterized by excellent thermal insulation properties, fire safety and the fact that no toxic substances are released when exposed to fire.
Note! Glass wool is often produced in rolls. You should pay attention to the fact that it must have markings for the walls (this is necessary for a frame-type house).
Option number 4. Bulk insulation materials
These include sawdust, expanded clay, slag and the like. At one time, this technology was a great success, since it was quite difficult to get good insulating material. But today bulk materials are practically not used. Everything is explained quite simply: their common drawback is that over time they shrink, and their thermal insulation properties are very questionable.
Option #5. Glassine
Glassine is thick paper treated with bitumen. The material is often used in construction to protect against wind and moisture, although in reality this is not necessary - the material does not allow moisture to pass through, which comes from the room, and it accumulates in the frame itself.
Note! We do not consider spraying polyurethane foam, although it is very effective and can be applied to almost any surface. Firstly, it is afraid of direct sunlight, which reduces its service life by half. Secondly, its application requires special equipment, and this is not a cheap pleasure. We are talking about insulating a frame house, which in itself implies minimizing costs.
Video - How to insulate a house
Stage two. Preparatory activities
First, you should understand a number of important points, without which thermal insulation of a frame building can easily turn into a waste of money. First, we note that you need to think not only about the walls, since both the ceiling and the floor can also let in cold air! In addition, the insulating material should be properly protected from moisture using internal/external waterproofing. Finally, when performing installation work, you need to leave small ventilation gaps between the walls and the insulation itself.
Before you start installation work, thoroughly clean all working surfaces from dirt and dust. If protruding screws or nails are found, remove them. And if there are gaps between the frame elements of the building, then fill them with polyurethane foam. Dry all damp areas (if any) using a hair dryer.
Note! If previously the outer surface of the walls was thermally insulated using waterproofing material, then its re-installation inside the building is no longer required, otherwise an excess amount of moisture will accumulate in the structure and, as a result, it will quickly collapse. Below are instructions for internal insulation only.
Stage three. Waterproofing layer
Let’s immediately make a reservation that the installation technology for all materials is approximately the same. First, measure all the walls of the frame, then, in accordance with the calculations, cut strips of the material that was chosen for waterproofing. Attach the material to the posts using a stapler so that the frame is completely covered.
Stage four. Installation of a vapor barrier layer
Even if moisture-resistant materials are used for insulation, vapor barrier must still be performed. At first glance, these are unnecessary expenses that can be completely avoided. But the fact is that inside the frame there will be not only insulation, but also other elements (for example, wood), which still need protection from steam penetrating into the walls from the room.
Scheme for laying a vapor barrier layer when insulating a frame house
Both a special film and foamed polyethylene can be used as a vapor barrier. Attach the selected material to the frame racks close to the thermal insulator using a mounting stapler. Sometimes insulation blocks are simply wrapped in this material, but in reality this is not necessary - as we just noted, protection must be provided for all frame elements without exception.
The material is laid with an overlap of at least 10 centimeters, and all joints are carefully sealed with high-quality double-sided tape. Also, do not forget the fact that the thickness of the vapor barrier material in no way affects the similar indicator of the insulating material.
Stage five. Installation of insulation
If mineral wool is used for thermal insulation, be sure to put on the protective equipment before starting work. personal protection– respirator, gloves, safety glasses, special clothing. If you use polystyrene foam (and this material, as we said, is not very suitable), then such safety measures are not needed. When insulating a frame house, lay the material between frame racks evenly, not forgetting the ventilation gaps required between the thermal insulator and the sheathing. To cut mineral wool you can use scissors or ordinary knife, but for foam plastic you will need electric jigsaw or a hacksaw with small teeth.
Note! Experts say that it is more effective to lay insulation in two layers. So, first there should be a first layer 10 centimeters thick, then a wooden sheathing is laid in a horizontal position, on top of which the second layer is laid (its thickness should already be 5 centimeters). This little “trick” will help avoid the formation of cold bridges.
Place on top of the insulation protective film(if it is necessary, that is, if the outside of the house was not properly insulated). This will ensure that the material will always be in a dry state, and moisture will not get in from the outside.
Note! For the ventilation gap, which has been mentioned more than once, fill wooden sheathing 3 centimeters thick.
After this, you can begin installing OSB boards and decorative trim.
Stage six. We sew up the walls in a frame house
The procedure for insulating a frame house is almost complete; all that remains is to sew up all the walls from the inside. OSB boards are often used for this, although you can also use sheets of plasterboard. Although we note that drywall is advisable only in the case of a fairly even frame, otherwise it will take on all forms of irregularities. On the contrary, OSB is much tougher, so it can be used to eliminate minor flaws. Start finishing on top of one of them.
Fastening OSB boards to the harness if there is a second floor
Two options for joining plates
About additional insulation
If what is described above is not enough, then you can additionally take care of external insulation (if, of course, it is not already present). If mineral wool was used inside, then lay a vapor barrier on the outside, which will protect the material from condensed moisture. By the way, it can be not only film, but also aluminum foil, although, to be honest, this material is not the best.
You can use the same OSB or plywood as wind protection. Finish coating Eurolining, siding or other suitable materials can serve. That's all, good luck with your work and have a warm winter!
Video - Do-it-yourself insulation of a frame house
The walls erected by frame technology the houses consist almost entirely inside thermal insulation material. It is he who guarantees the preservation of heat in such a home. However, without additional insulation still can't do it. Which insulation is best for a frame house? There are both traditional options, used for decades, and new ones that have just appeared on the domestic market. Using each of them promises its own benefits.
Three most popular insulation materials for frame cottages
There is no clear opinion on the best way to insulate frame houses. There are several popular thermal insulation materials that are used most often. To choose best option, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the characteristics of each of them.
Comparative characteristics insulation for frame houses
Sellers, as part of their advertising wars, spread a lot of rumors about competitors’ insulation products, but most of them are simply myths. When choosing a heat insulator, you need to focus on density, moisture resistance and thermal conductivity, and also take into account the environmental friendliness of the material.
Option #1: Rolled mineral wool
The first on the list of insulation materials for frame houses is mineral wool. It was originally used in the construction of frames. Modern mineral wool is obtained from glass melts, metal slags or rocks. Accordingly, it happens:
- glass;
- slag;
- basalt (stone).
All three insulation options differ from each other in characteristics. If we compare a roll of the same thickness, then the “warmest” is stone wool, it has the lowest thermal conductivity coefficient. And the worst thing about thermal insulation properties is slag wool. The cost of mineral wool is reduced in the same manner.
Characteristics of various types of mineral wool
However, much when analyzing the heat-protective properties of mineral wool depends on its saturation with moisture. If the material is dry, then air bubbles in the insulation prevent heat from escaping into the street. When the material is moistened, the thermal conductivity increases sharply, which leads to a decrease in its thermal insulation qualities.
Important! Main enemy all types of mineral wool - moisture. When wet, the material instantly loses its thermal insulation characteristics, beginning to release heat from the house, as if there were no insulation in the frame walls.
Without a properly installed vapor barrier, mineral wool will become saturated with moisture, which will simply turn into ice when it freezes. As a result, thermal insulation is reduced and the material is destroyed. Mineral wool has another significant drawback - the fragility of the fibers, small pieces of which cause itching when they come into contact with the skin. They can also cause breathing difficulties. Laying mineral wool should only be done with protective gloves and a respirator with goggles.
The denser the mineral wool, the worse its thermal insulation characteristics. As a result, it has to be laid in a thicker layer. At the same time, with increasing density, the strength of the insulation used for thermal insulation in the walls of a frame house increases. If you choose a material that is too loose, it will slide in the frame towards the foundation, leaving a gap on top for the cold.
When installing mineral wool, the walls of a frame house must be divided vertically with timber into segments one meter high, this will reduce the likelihood of the insulation settling
It is recommended to choose mineral wool depending on its density as follows:
- up to 35 kg/m3 – for unloaded horizontal surfaces;
- up to 75 kg/m3 – for partitions inside the house;
- up to 125 kg/m3 – for external facades;
- up to 175 kg/m3 – for load-bearing vertical structures;
- up to 220 kg/m3 – for floors under concrete screed.
The cost of mineral wool increases along with its density. In most cases, this overpayment does not bring any benefit, but the frame of the house will have to be made stronger and more expensive due to the increasing weight of the insulation.
Option #2: EPS - expanded polystyrene in the form of plates
Extruded polystyrene foam is one of the varieties of conventional polystyrene foam. EPS is lightweight and has excellent thermal insulation properties. In almost all respects it is better than mineral wool. But there is a significant problem - it is flammable.
Wall diagram of a frame house with EPS as insulation
Expanded polystyrene is used to form sandwich panels, which are widely used in the construction of frame houses. It is laid between two OSB sheets, resulting in a durable structural material with excellent thermal insulation properties. Two in one - SIP panel (insulation and at the same time the frame of the building itself).
Important! EPS does not allow heat to pass through, but it easily seeps into the joints between the polystyrene foam and the SIP panel's strapping beam. If these cracks are not filled with polyurethane foam, then all the money spent on insulating the frame house will be wasted.
The density of expanded polystyrene is low; it is quite fragile to break. But in combination with oriented strand board, the result is a building material that is good for both external walls, and for laying floors and roofs. An EPS wall will not lose its thermal insulation properties even after half a century. She is only afraid of fire and rodents. But for this there are appropriate protective impregnations.
When installing panels with extruded polystyrene foam inside, it is extremely important to ensure that all joints are sealed
EPPS is the best insulation for a frame house based on all its characteristics. However, if there is poor ventilation in a cottage with polystyrene foam walls, it will be impossible to live in it. The material practically does not allow moisture to pass through, without a well-organized forced circulation there will be too much air in the rooms high humidity.
Advice! It is better to use expanded polystyrene as insulation for the walls of a frame house only if you purchase ready-made, factory-made SIP panels. It is quite difficult to independently adjust the EPS boards to the exact dimensions of the frame and seal all the gaps.
Option #3: Spray polyurethane foam
This insulation for a frame house belongs to sprayed thermal insulation materials. When the two components are mixed, a foam with high adhesion is formed, which sticks to the walls and fills even small cracks. The result is a uniform insulating layer without cold bridges.
Comparison technical characteristics polyurethane foam, mineral wool and polystyrene foam
Polyurethane foam is expensive, but it provides better thermal insulation than polystyrene foam and mineral wool. At the same time, it is non-flammable and easy to apply to walls, floors and ceilings. However, for spraying you will need special equipment, which you will have to buy or rent, and this is an additional expense.
The construction of frame-based houses is famous for its low cost. It is impossible by definition to classify polyurethane foam as a budget insulation material. It makes an excellent thermal insulation layer, but the whole point of using frame technology is lost.
How good is cement bonded particle board?
For the walls of a frame house, you can choose fiberboard slabs as insulation. They are made from cement, liquid glass and wood chips, which are placed in the volume of material in different directions.
The use of fiberboard in the construction of a frame house
Fiberboard is produced in slabs:
- low density – 250–450 kg/m3;
- medium density – about 600 kg/m3;
- high density– 950–1050 kg/m3.
The first option is designed for noise and heat insulation brick walls, and the second is ideal for laying in a frame. It is worth choosing for cladding partitions of a frame house. For external walls it is better to use the third type of fiberboard.
In terms of density and weight, the structural fiberboard board is comparable to expanded polystyrene, inferior to it slightly in terms of thermal insulation characteristics. But it is stronger than it and is not flammable, and in terms of service life it is close to reinforced concrete and steel. At the same time, formaldehyde and other resins are not used in the production of fiberboard; cement is the binding material.
If you need the cheapest insulation for a frame house, then it is best to choose mineral wool. Expanded polystyrene should be used only in the form of factory-made SIP panels, and it is better to replace it with fiberboard, which is more fireproof. Polyurethane foam is too expensive for a frame. The frame can also be insulated with cellulose ecowool or straw. The final choice depends solely on the wishes and capabilities of the cottage owner. The main thing is to install the insulation correctly.
Frame houses have become an excellent innovation in our country - inexpensive and quick way construction of individual buildings.
But, despite the large number of advantages, these buildings have one important drawback, these buildings need additional thermal insulation, since the climatic conditions in Russia are very harsh.
Let's consider which insulation is better for a frame house? How to properly produce thermal insulation work, and which insulation is better to use.
Materials for thermal insulation of houses made according to Finnish technology a lot of. Everyone has their shortcomings and positive sides, therefore, in order to understand how to choose insulation for a frame house and apply the optimal thermal insulation option, it is worth examining in detail the most popular thermal insulators on the construction market.
Mineral wool for insulating frame structures
How to properly insulate frame house mineral wool? This material is often used not only construction companies, but also private developers.
This is understandable - the insulation has excellent sound absorption and retains heat excellently. Mineral wool is an environmentally friendly, fire-resistant material. A 5 cm layer of insulation is capable of retaining heat as well as brickwork half a meter thick.
The main nuance during installation basalt insulation– arrangement of a vapor barrier to protect the material from moisture. The fact is that when mineral wool gets wet, it loses its thermal insulation properties.
If you decide to use this insulation for insulation, then do not spare money on purchasing vapor barrier material and special membranes.
How to insulate with mineral wool
The insulation of the walls of a frame house is carried out using lathing, the cells of which should be spaced 60 cm apart - this is important, since stone wool is produced in a roll of this size. The insulator must be cut so that the wool fits between the bars with force and does not sag.
The thickness of the material is selected based on weather conditions in the region. If the climate is harsh, then it is better to use layers 20 cm thick; in mild climates, 5–10 cm is enough.
With multi-layer insulation, cold bridges may appear; to eliminate them, 5 cm slabs are laid in two layers, in cells. It is worth understanding that the guide bars must have a cross-section of 10x10. The second two layers of material are laid on top of the frame bars.
Insulating a frame house with mineral wool requires a mandatory vapor barrier, but since outer wall Since the building is already equipped with this material, it does not need to be used before installing the insulation.
After laying the insulator, care must be taken to protect the mineral wool from condensation fumes. Paro insulating material It is sold in rolls, and it will not be possible to lay it in one sheet, so we purchase construction tape to seal the joints.
Floor insulation in a frame house is done with the same basalt wool. Only in this case, the insulator layer must be at least 20 cm. The work is carried out as when insulating frame walls.
Ecowool insulation
An environmentally friendly and affordable insulation for frame houses, the production of which uses waste from the production of cellulose products: paper, cardboard. Ecowool consists of 80% fiber and 10% antiseptic, which protects against the development of fungal formations and microorganisms. To make the insulation less flammable, 10% special additives were introduced into its composition.
Ecowool - disadvantages
Private developers very rarely use this material to insulate their buildings. Ecowool has a number of features that some builders consider as disadvantages:
Strictly follow the standards for filling surfaces with insulation recommended by the manufacturer, otherwise during the shrinkage process areas without insulation may form.
Positive characteristics of ecowool
Many may think that such a process as insulating a frame house for winter living using ecowool is impractical, since this material has a lot of disadvantages.
But with strict adherence technological processes application, the positive characteristics of the material are significantly enhanced:
- Low material consumption makes it cost-effective.
- Ecowool has good noise-absorbing properties.
- The best insulation is made from natural raw materials, which determines its environmental friendliness and safety for people living in the house.
- The composition gains resistance to combustion thanks to additives, and it is worth studying the composition of the product before purchasing. If the composition contains components such as, boric acid and ammonium sulfate, it is better to abandon its use. These components give ecowool an unpleasant and persistent odor, while the fire resistance of the material practically does not decrease. You should only buy a product that contains borax.
- The material is laid without seams, which is a huge advantage, since there are no cold bridges, and the insulation of a wooden house is high-quality and reliable.
But the decisive factor indicating the importance of using cross-insulation of a frame house from the inside with this material is the inexpensive cost in combination with positive characteristics.
Insulation of a frame house with ecowool - technological process
As is already known, there are two ways to insulate a frame house – “wet” and “dry”. You can simply spray the material on the walls by diluting it with water or glue, then you will get a great result. But most private developers follow a simpler path and use the “dry” method of insulation, which we will consider.
So, we insulate the frame house with our own hands using ecowool according to the following algorithm:
- First of all, we will undertake to insulate the floor in the house, for this a pressed briquette of material weighing 15 kg, you need to loosen it well, you can use it for this a regular drill with a special nozzle. After these steps, the volume of material will increase three times;
- thermal insulation of the floor of a frame house is quite simple - the material is poured onto the rough covering between the beams with a slight excess, which will be pressed down by the weight of the board for finishing;
- Let's move on to the walls. Before insulation begins, a frame is constructed from bars of the required cross-section. A vapor barrier is attached to the racks, required element when insulated with ecowool. The frame is sheathed with OSB sheets so that there is a gap on top for filling in insulation. The material will compact under its own weight as it falls asleep, and the top should be well compacted.
Thermal insulation of a frame house with ecowool is worth stocking up on protective equipment: gloves, goggles and respirator. You can significantly optimize the process by renting equipment that loosens the material and blows it out in finished form.
Linen based insulation
Linen has excellent heat-retaining parameters, this is achieved thanks to the optimal combination of density and porosity of the material.
Linen insulation is produced in several configurations:
- slabs can be used to insulate a frame house from the inside;
- linen strips of laminated veneer lumber construction;
- tow is caulking the walls made of logs.
Due to its high density, this insulator is used for insulation of roofs, floors, partitions and attic floors, in which recreation areas are set up.
Thermal insulation made from flax fiber can be considered the most preferable for insulating a house from the inside - it is environmentally friendly, lasts for more than 70 years, does not rot, and mold does not form on it. Unlike ecowool, it is not subject to shrinkage.
Expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam - which is more practical?
Choosing insulation for a frame house is not an easy task; many nuances need to be taken into account. As for such heat insulators as expanded polystyrene and polystyrene foam, both materials are successfully used to insulate a house from the inside and outside.
Foam plastic, of course, is inferior to its counterpart in some positive properties, but it is so cheap that many private developers prefer to use this material for home insulation.
Among the disadvantages are:
- low level of sound insulation;
- when burning, toxins are released;
- the material is susceptible to attacks by rodents.
Thermal insulation of the facade with foam plastic
- Insulating a frame house from the outside begins with preparing the surface, which needs to be leveled, cracks repaired, and primed with deep penetration impregnation.
- After the facade has dried, you need to install direct hangers on it, which will prevent the slabs from moving off the surface; they will be securely fixed.
- Five points of glue are applied to the foam, the edges are coated around the perimeter.
- The slab with glue is pressed tightly to the surface, working from corner to corner.
- Second row foam boards stacked in a checkerboard pattern.
The glue composition is prepared in such a way that it can be produced in an hour.
Inconsistencies in the material are adjusted with a heated knife; when gaps form, they are sealed with the following compounds:
- crushed foam is added to the glue;
- fill with penoizol;
- apply polyurethane foam.
For structural strength, the heat insulator should be attached to the surface with plastic dowels, 5 pieces each. on the stove. After this, you can apply any facing material.
Thermal insulation of a frame structure from the inside
The insulation scheme for a frame house from the room side is similar to the previous version. The only difference is in the soil used - you need a composition for interior work with antiseptic properties.
When using an insulating insulator with inside Simple tile adhesive along with dowels is used as an adhesive.
The installed foam plastic slabs are covered with overlapping reinforcing mesh if the surface is to be puttyed, but plasterboard is often used for wall cladding. This method of thermal insulation is much simpler than insulating a frame house using ecowool.
Penoplex
Don’t know what is the best way to insulate a frame house? Buy penoplex - an analogue of polystyrene foam, only with a denser structure, which is why it costs a little more. It is also worth noting that this material is much more demanding during installation - you need to protect it from moisture and sun rays.
In custody
We built a frame house - insulation can be done either independently or with the help of a team of specialists. Is the building located in a harsh climate? Apply cross insulation, and we described in detail above how to choose an insulator and how to properly insulate a frame house.
Insulation is a necessary component of any residential building. A large temperature difference is the main reason why you need to choose this material very carefully. The comfort of living in the house will depend on the right decision, especially in the coldest and hottest seasons. Information on the characteristics of popular methods of thermal finishing of a home will help you make the best choice.
Insulation for the walls of a frame house - what functions does it perform?
Almost half of the heat supplied by the heating system is lost due to poor-quality wall cladding. To make it warmer in winter, we simply turn on the boiler higher, and the temperature becomes comfortable again. A caring and practical owner will definitely think about good thermal insulation.
The advantages it gives:
- saving gas fuel used to heat water in the heating system;
- effective sound insulation;
- no need for air conditioning in summer;
- constant comfortable temperature;
- increasing the service life of the frame and the “filling” of the walls, roof and floor.
It’s hard to believe, but all this is provided by insulation for a frame house. The heat will not escape outside the room, which means the heating boiler will work at minimum power. You will save on fuel. Walls with dense filler will block noise coming from the road and street, even if the house is located near a highway, it will be quiet and peaceful. In summer, the heat in your home will not go away - you can do without air conditioning. With an optimal microclimate inside the wall, the filler and load-bearing components will be protected from premature destruction.
The best insulation for a frame house - types, properties, characteristics
Before going to a building materials store, analyze the following components:
- what condition is it in?
- terrain characteristics, climatic conditions;
- your experience in construction work ah - if you decide to insulate your home yourself;
- budget that can be allocated to purchase the necessary materials.
The specificity of the structure of a frame house is that it is entirely made of wood. On the one hand, such a cottage is quickly built and environmentally friendly. With another - wooden base unable to retain heat. The entire load falls on the insulation. What is the best way to insulate a frame house and what should you pay attention to when choosing a material:
- Heat-retaining properties. The material must have low thermal conductivity. The lower its coefficient, the thinner the width of the insulating sheet will be. For frame structure the optimal value is in the range from 10 to 15 cm. This is suitable for the middle zone. The further north you go, the thicker it should be, and vice versa.
- Weight. A frame house is not able to withstand heavy weight loads, so you should not choose heavy materials for its cladding and insulation. Lightweight items are easier to install.
- Vapor permeability. Term wooden structure will last significantly if you choose insulation that allows air to pass through. Frame walls are usually sheathed sheet materials, which “breathe” well. Properly selected filler will ensure good infiltration and a normal indoor microclimate. If excess moisture leaves the house, its level will always be normal. You will not need to additionally ventilate the rooms.
- Environmental friendliness. Living in your home will be safe if you use environmentally friendly clean materials for its construction. The health of the residents will depend on what kind of insulation is inside the wall.
- Hygroscopicity. No matter the method exterior finishing building, its “filling” will be exposed to moisture contained in the atmosphere. The direct culprits are rain and snow. Choose waterproof materials or those that will not change their characteristics due to water contact. Relevant for areas where atmospheric humidity is high.
- Strength. The insulation for the frame structure must retain its original shape and dimensions. If the shrinkage is minimal, then the cold will not get inside the room. During installation, the dimensions of the insulating boards are calculated so that they fit together as tightly as possible.
- Price. This figure depends on your budget. How to insulate a frame house if the amount of funds is limited? The main rule is do not take the cheapest one. This will cause you to lose money in the future.
Look at the characteristics of the most popular insulation and choose what suits your situation best.
Basalt mat or mineral wool
Basalt consists of minerals of volcanic origin. First they are melted, then ultra-thin threads are obtained, which are glued together with phenol-formaldehyde resin. Slabs or mats are formed from the resulting mass.
Why basalt is interesting:
- has very low thermal conductivity. This indicator is provided by the air located between the fibers;
- due to the resin it contains, it does not absorb water;
- the open structure does not interfere with normal air infiltration;
- the mineral from which the cotton wool is made burns only when the temperature reaches 1000 degrees;
- absorbs airborne and impact noise;
- has antiseptic and chemically resistant properties, does not undergo biocorrosion, mold or mildew will never grow here;
- very durable in compression, retains its geometry throughout the entire period of use, does not fall off or shrink inside the wall;
- environmentally friendly.
The disadvantage of mineral wool is its high cost. Among the options for insulating the frame of a house, it is considered one of the best materials.
Foam plastic - inexpensive and convenient
It is produced by foaming polystyrene using steam and under high temperature. Polystyrene foam consists of thin-walled polymer granules, which are filled with atmospheric gas inside. In construction it is used in the form of slabs of various configurations and sizes. Advantages:
- Since this insulation consists of 98% air, its thermal conductivity coefficient is lower than that of basalt wool. For located in middle lane, several layers with a total thickness of 10 cm are quite enough. Choose foam with a density of 34 kg/m3.
- The closed cell structure inside the foam does not allow moisture to pass inside. The total water level will never exceed 4%. During construction work, the material does not need to be covered with films from the outside - it will not warp or become damp if it rains.
- The material does not deform inside the wall, despite the fact that it is quite fragile when fractured.
- Blocks noise.
- Resistant to mold.
- It's inexpensive. If you are looking a budget option with good characteristics, it is best to insulate it with foam plastic.
Thermal insulating foam layer withstands freezing and thawing in unlimited quantity. This does not affect its condition in any way, because water, which usually destroys the structure during crystallization, is almost absent here.
Polystyrene foam does not conduct air. Its vapor permeability coefficient is comparable to monolithic concrete. In order for the walls of the frame to breathe and release moisture from wooden beams, they do not need to be tightly covered with slabs. In a house with foam insulation, it is necessary to install a good ventilation system.
Disadvantage: deterioration when exposed to sunlight, high level flammability. This can be dealt with by treating the slabs protective compounds.
Polyurethane is a new word in the field of wall insulation
Construction technologies do not stand still. Appeared new way insulation - using polyurethane foam. It is obtained through a chemical reaction of components that are connected to each other using a special installation, right before application. PU foam is applied by experienced specialists; during work, a special spraying installation equipped with a compressor is used.
Positive traits:
- Today, polyurethane foam is the leader in low thermal conductivity. It can be adjusted during application.
- Compared to polystyrene foam, the material can absorb only 2% of its volume of moisture. To enhance water-repellent properties, castor oil is added to the composition.
- Does not burn thanks to special additives.
- Does not allow noise to pass through.
- It has a high level of strength with a density above 35 kg/m3. On top of the polyurethane foam it is enough to simply treat it with plaster, because... shrinkage coefficient is zero. When applied, the foam first expands, fills the space and hardens. Ideally maintains geometry for the entire period of operation.
- Ecologically pure.
To the disadvantages newest material refers to low vapor permeability. Applied to frame walls the foam completely blocks air circulation with the street. The frame should not be completely foamed - the moisture inside the tree should evaporate. If you cover everything completely with foam, the water will be trapped inside the material. This will lead to premature destruction of the building. Before working with polyurethane foam, all wooden components must be thoroughly dried.
Which insulation option from the ones presented is right for you? Weigh the pros and cons, visit construction stores, look at what the materials look like, compare prices. Take your time, study the characteristics again, this will help you make the right decision.
