Insulation of the foundation with foam plastic and waterproofing with your own hands. Is it necessary to lower penoplex when insulating below the foundation into the ground. The technology of insulation of foundation walls with foam

The living conditions in the house are determined by the reliability, quality of the foundation, timely insulation. One of the most effective ways to eliminate cold bridges and prevent freezing of the base is the installation of foam plastic - a polymeric material. For its production, a liquid polymer mass is foamed using carbon dioxide and freon. This article will tell you how to insulate the foundation of a house from the outside with your own hands with foam plastic for a long time.

Penoplex is a set of closed cells, inside of which there is air, which increases the thermal insulation qualities of the material. An additional advantage of such a structure is the minimum moisture absorption, not more than 0.5% of the total volume of insulation. The diameter of each granule is 0.2 mm or less. The overall structure is dense, resistant to external influences.

On sale there are options with grooves and ridges that facilitate installation. In the finished coating, there are practically no gaps that reduce the strength of the structure.

Buyers are offered plates of 600x1200 mm, the thickness varies between 20-100 mm.

If we compare the heat-conducting qualities of foam plastic and other materials, then a layer 20 mm thick is comparable to:

• sheets of mineral wool from 38 mm;
• wood from 250 mm and more;
• cellular concrete from 270 mm.

Foundation insulation options

Among the main ways to insulate the foundation, it is necessary to highlight:

• insulation of the outer side surfaces and the plinth. The option is relevant for structures with significant depth. The main advantage is that the supporting structures of the building do not freeze through. As a result, the house is warmer in winter, heating costs are reduced. For fixing, a special glue is used. Dowels are recommended to be used only on the plinth, so that cold bridges do not form in the base.

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Sergey Yurievich

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Warming is carried out both at the stage of laying the building, and after the completion of construction;

• installation of insulation boards under the base of the foundation. The main task to be solved is the consequences of heaving of the soil in winter. Additionally, a warm blind area is equipped around the entire perimeter using foam boards. A relative disadvantage is that the insulation is laid before the concrete is poured and the reinforcement is installed.

For a blind area around the building, a pillow of sand and gravel is being constructed. Insulation is placed on top and concreting is performed;

• insulation of the internal walls of the foundation. As an independent species, it is practically not used. Significant effect will be only in combination with other types of work. The entire structure of the building will not be protected from the winter cold.

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Sergey Yurievich

Construction of houses, outbuildings, terraces and verandas.

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To avoid the difficult and lengthy digging of a trench after putting the house into operation, it is better to carry out insulation work at the stage of pouring the foundation. Otherwise, a large amount of earthwork cannot be avoided.

The advantages of penoplex as a heater

For the consumer, the following advantages are most important:

• mechanical influences will not lead to a violation of the waterproofing layer when using plates. Groundwater will not penetrate into the basement and will not be able to destroy the structure of the walls;
• the house becomes drier, the microclimate becomes comfortable. The dew point moves closer to the outer surface;
• heat-insulating material does not collapse under the influence of high and low temperatures, including seasonal ones ranging from -500C to +750C. Numerous freeze/thaw cycles do not break the cellular structure. The service life of the entire building is significantly increased;
• thermal conductivity is in the range of 0.03-0.032 W/(m*°K). For high-quality insulation, plates of minimum thickness are sufficient, which significantly reduces the cost of the total cost of work;
• without changes and deformations withstands a compression load of up to 27 t/sq. m., which is enough even for a multi-storey building;
• the small weight of the plates themselves does not lead to a heavier structure and the need to strengthen the foundation;
• resistance to chemicals, aggressive liquids. Mold and fungal spores do not form on the surface. Penoplex is not attractive as food for mice and rats. The total service life without replacement is at least 50 years;
• the absence of volatile substances harmful to humans. The material is safe, can be used in the construction of children's and medical institutions;
• easy and quick installation due to the tongue-and-groove system with minimal glue consumption. You can cut the slab to the desired size using a regular knife.

Disadvantages of using foam

Each technology and material has its drawbacks. And in this case, they do. It's about resistance to fire. Like any "representative" of the foam family, this one quickly melts and burns out. The problem is leveled only by the fact that there will be soil on top - a natural obstacle in the path of the flame.

Warming technology

If the house has already been built, put into operation, then the owner, who wants to live in warmth and comfort, will face a significant amount of work on digging, cleaning the walls from dirt and earth, installing slabs and backfilling.

For work you will need:

• heater directly. To determine the amount, you will have to remember the school mathematics course, measure the length and width of the foundation and calculate its area. Then it remains only to divide the resulting number by 0.72 (the area of ​​\u200b\u200bone sheet) and get the desired value.

The maximum effect is achieved by blocking all cold bridges. To do this, plates of smaller thickness are placed in 2 layers. In one package, 8 plates are standard.

1. dowels for mounting on a plinth with a diameter of 10 mm and a length of 120 mm;
2. primer;
3. reinforcing mesh. Choose from stainless steel or polymer options;
4. adhesive composition for mounting plates on the foundation part based on acrylic;
5. joint sealant.

The top edge is masked with special galvanized steel profiles. If the insulation does not come to the surface of the earth, skip this item.

Required tools:

1. capacity for adhesive solution;
2. construction mixer and level;
3. perforator. Without it, it will not be possible to drill concrete for dowels;
4. spatula for cleaning from the ground and applying glue;

Important points when choosing insulation boards

Russia is a very, very large country with many climatic zones. What is good for Krasnodar is unacceptable in Krasnoyarsk. Manufacturers take this into account and offer insulation boards designed for a specific region.

But you can also independently carry out calculations so that it would not be a shame later for wasted money. Start with the following formula:

R = H1: K1 + H2: K2, where

R is the heat transfer resistance calculated for a specific region and climate;

H1 and H2 - the thickness of the base wall and the insulation sheet, respectively;

and K1 and K2 are the thermal conductivity coefficients calculated for the base and foam.

To carry out full-fledged insulation, it is important to calculate H2 - the thickness of the insulation sheets. If the number is a fraction, rounding up is performed. As mentioned earlier, for greater effect, use two layers of plates of a thinner thickness than one thick one.

We release from the ground

The homeowner has a lot of work to do. Initially, it is necessary to completely dig out the underground part of the foundation. Important: some experts in construction do not recommend carrying out the procedure immediately around the entire perimeter, as this will significantly weaken the structure. It is enough to dig up to 10 meters at a time.

How to perform the work, simultaneously or in parts, is up to the owner. But in the second case, the process of warming runs the risk of becoming endless. An additional problem is that the optimal width of the trench should be at least 1 meter. Otherwise, it will be difficult to work.

The excavation of the base is used for another purpose - the installation of a drainage system. This is true for coastal settlements, areas with a high level of groundwater. The drainage pipe is laid at a distance of up to half a meter from the house at the level of a sand and gravel cushion. A slope is required (2 cm per 1 meter of pipe) and outlet to a storm sewer or well.

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Sergey Yurievich

Construction of houses, outbuildings, terraces and verandas.

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The liberated foundation is carefully cleaned of earth and debris using an iron brush with stiff bristles. The surface must be absolutely clean. Otherwise, good adhesion cannot be expected.

If there are irregularities, cracks, chips, they must be carefully repaired and leveled with plaster. Reinforcing mesh that can break the waterproofing membrane should not come to the surface.

To prepare a plaster mortar, one part of cement is mixed with four parts of sand. Important: the composition should not be liquid, but plastic. This will help to avoid spreading the composition over the surface. Yes, and the setting period will decrease. The work is done from top to bottom. The composition is "thrown" on the wall with the help of a construction trowel. Alignment is carried out using the rule. Excess solution is removed.

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Construction of houses, outbuildings, terraces and verandas.

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The pressure on the rule should be the same along the entire length. The drying process takes at least a week. It is better to wait two and then proceed to the next stage of work.

Arrangement of waterproofing

Penoplex - material steady against water. But, if waterproofing is not carried out, moisture coming from below will accumulate in the cracks, destroying the structure of the base. You can avoid this in one of two ways:

• using bituminous mastic;
• pasting the foundation with rolled insulating material.

Mastic is used, both homemade and purchased. For the first option, machine oil is added to the melted bitumen to give better plasticity to the mass. For every 150 kg of dry bitumen, 50 liters of oil are added. If this is not done, the mastic will crack in winter, unable to withstand temperature changes.

Liquid waterproofing is applied to pre-dried and leveled walls. Layer thickness - 2-4 mm. There should be no untreated areas, unfilled pores on the surface. For greater reliability, rolled waterproofing is laid on top. On stacks - an overlap of at least 10 cm. Laying is carried out from the bottom up.

A gas burner is required for installation. The back of each sheet is heated and quickly applied to the wall. Air bubbles are removed by smoothing. During the heating process, there must be at least 25 cm between the burner and the waterproofing. Otherwise, the material may ignite. Joints are additionally coated with bitumen.

Penoplex installation

Only after laying the waterproofing proceed to laying the sheets of insulation directly. The work is done from the bottom up. The adhesive mass is not applied to the entire surface of the plate, but in dots - 5-6 on each.

A sheet with applied glue is applied to the wall of the house and pressed tightly for a minute or two. Further, by analogy, the rest are stacked, taking into account the grooves and ridges. For strength, the seams are treated with glue or sealant (mounting foam). The next layer of foam is laid in the same way, but with an offset relative to the seams of the first.

On the basement of the house, the sheets are additionally fastened with dowels (5-6 pcs) per sheet. The attachment points are treated with acrylic-based glue so that there are no dents. The surface must be smooth. Proceed to the next step as soon as the glue is completely dry.

Dowels are not used on the foundation for two reasons:

• not to create bridges of cold;
• so that the waterproofing sheets remain intact, without damage.

Finishing

Contact of insulation with open ground can lead to loss of consumer qualities. To prevent this from happening, all surfaces are treated with plaster. As an alternative - several layers of acrylic-based adhesive.

Preliminary, both on the foundation and on the basement, a fiberglass mesh for reinforcement is attached using a construction stapler. At the joints of the sheets - an overlap of at least 10-15 cm.

Once the plaster or adhesive is completely dry, backfill the trench. For additional thermal insulation, replace part of the soil with expanded clay. Important: leave at least 30 cm to the surface for arranging the blind area.

Installation of a blind area around the house

All work and labor will be nullified if the underground part of the building freezes. It is equally important to minimize the temperature difference between the inner and outer surfaces of the foundation. This can be done using insulated blind areas. An additional advantage is that there will be no condensation that is detrimental to concrete. The building will have a comfortable microclimate, and the useful life will increase significantly.

For the blind area around the perimeter of the house, soil 1.5-2 meters wide is removed to a depth of 0.3 meters. The entire space is covered with sand and compacted. A roofing material is placed on top with the obligatory sizing of the seams with bitumen.

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Construction of houses, outbuildings, terraces and verandas.

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Along the edge of the future blind area, formwork is made of boards or other improvised material. On top of the roofing material, foam plastic and a layer of polyethylene film are laid with entry to the base.

From above, everything is poured with concrete with a slight slope away from the house. Otherwise, water will seep under the foundation and erode the foundation. The formwork is removed after the concrete has completely cured (28 days). It is important to prevent premature drying of the mixture. For better adhesion at all times, the concrete is covered with a black dense film.

How to insulate the sole of the foundation

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Sergey Yurievich

Construction of houses, outbuildings, terraces and verandas.

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Carrying out insulation in this way is possible only at the construction stage and is applicable to tape or slab bases.

As soon as the sand cushion is filled and compacted, a thin layer of concrete mixture is poured. Reinforcement is done later. After the concrete has set, a 50-10 mm thick insulation is laid on it. No gaps are allowed. A layer of polyethylene film is placed on top. The joints are sealed with tape. Polyethylene will prevent contact between concrete and insulation.

• formwork is mounted;
• fittings are installed;
• concrete is poured.

Timely insulation, made in accordance with the standards, guarantees both the absence of freezing and long service life of the building. The advantage of penoplex is that it does not require any special skills in work, nor careful care afterwards.

Video about the insulation of the foundation of the house with penoplex

Basement insulation- an important process, the implementation of which allows you to cope with a number of tasks.

External insulation allows significantly reduce heat loss building, and also increases the service life of the plinth, which is affected by atmospheric phenomena that destroy it.

Extruded polystyrene foam (foam) - the most popular basement insulation material both from the inside and outside. This material is in high demand because:

• its cost is low;
• it has excellent thermal insulation properties;
• differs in high durability;
• easy to install;
• does not burn;
• waterproof.

The most effective is the insulation of the blind area and the foundation in the complex. The work must be carried out according to a certain algorithm, and the first step is to prepare the surface:

Before proceeding with the installation of insulation after the initial plinth preparation, waterproofing material should be used.

Most commonly used bituminous mastic, characterized by low cost and ease of use.

The mastic is applied to the absolutely entire area of ​​​​the base with a brush and left to dry completely. Not recommended preheat the material and glue foam directly onto it - this design will not last long.

Do not dilute the mask acetone or gasoline, since these solvents will destroy the penoplex by reacting with it. Mastic can be purchased in a ready-to-use form or made independently by melting the bitumen in a container and mixing it with used engine oil in a ratio of 1: 3, which will give the material greater elasticity and the mastic will not crack even in severe frosts.

It should be applied in a layer 3-5 mm thick. After application, it is necessary to wait for complete drying. The next stage is the gluing of waterproofing sheets, for example TechnoNIKOL, carried out using gas burners, which should be kept at a distance of at least 20 cm from the surface to be treated so as not to damage the material.

Penoplex sheets are stacked with an overlap of 8-10 cm on each other, and the joints themselves should be smeared with mastic. Thus the foundation will completely protected from moisture.

Waterproofing TechnoNIKOL characterized by increased flexibility and plasticity, which are preserved even at sub-zero temperatures. The company managed to achieve the plasticity of the material by impregnating waterproofing sheets with polymers.

In the line of bitumen-polymer sheets you can choose the most suitable material in terms of price and quality, for example:

1. Bikrost- the most inexpensive option, but the service life of this material does not exceed 10 years.
2. Linokrom, Bikroelast- materials belong to the middle price category, with proper operation they will last about 15 years.
3. Uniflex- this material refers to goods with a price above the average. It consists of five layers made of different materials, so the range of its application is quite wide, and the service life reaches 25 years.
4. Technoelast- the most expensive material, which differs from those listed above by a longer service life (up to 30 years) and excellent quality characteristics.

Now you should glue the foam boards, for which glue is used, most often acrylic. When gluing plates, the following requirements are met:

• glue is applied pointwise to the plates, after gluing it must cover at least 40% of the entire area of ​​​​the material;
• plates are installed vertically, from the bottom up;
• the penoplex must be pressed against the wall for at least 1 minute so that the glue grabs properly;
• the first row of slabs is the lowest, it is laid around the entire perimeter of the foundation;
• the second row and subsequent rows of plates are mounted above the first;
• when laying the material, it is important to ensure that the grooves on the tiles match, which will avoid large gaps between them;
• for additional fastening, you can use dowels-umbrellas, it is enough to use 4-6 pieces for each tile.

Important! When insulating the basement, all the gaps between the plates should be filled with acrylic adhesive or mounting foam.

A layer is placed on top of the foam fiberglass mesh protecting the material from damage. Facing is carried out using plaster, which enhances the waterproofing and thermal insulation properties of previously installed materials.

Advantages and disadvantages of heaters

For external insulation of the basement, you can use several types of heaters, which differ in cost and characteristics. These include:

1. Styrofoam is the cheapest material, but it is categorically not recommended to use it for warming wooden houses, since it is not only combustible, but also actively supports combustion. For fire safety purposes, other materials should be used.
2. Styrofoam. At a cost, this material is higher than polystyrene, but this is offset by its high thermal insulation properties. In addition, it is non-flammable, impervious to moisture, durable and has a porous structure with microcells.
3. Polyurethane foam. The material has a minimum coefficient of thermal conductivity, it easily adheres to any surface when sprayed, forming an even monolithic layer. Polyurethane foam is applied using a special sprayer, in several layers, the thickness of each of which should be at least 15 mm. The only downside this heater - its high cost.

When choosing the most suitable insulation, be guided by its heat-insulating and waterproofing properties, flammability and price.

Nuances to consider when insulating the basement

If the foundation of the house is deepened, then before carrying out work on insulation, it is necessary to dig a trench along the entire basement, depth to its base, and a width of half a meter to one and a half meters.

Upon completion of the work, the trench is buried with the same soil or it will be replaced with expanded clay and sand, improving thermal insulation.

and a depth of about 30 cm a ten-meter layer of sand is poured from the top of the trench and compacted tightly. After that, roofing material is laid, a width slightly exceeding the width of the dug trench, its joints are smeared with bitumen.

When the bitumen hardens, on top of the roofing material at the bottom of the trench, foam is glued with acrylic glue, its joints are coated with mounting foam or the same glue. After the glue has dried, a concrete screed should be made with a slope from the base - which will allow excess moisture to be removed from the house.

final finishing plinths can be made of clinker tiles, stone or other materials. Insulation of the basement of the foundation helps to reduce heat loss by more than 20%. Carrying out work also protects the base from mechanical damage, protects against the formation of cracks and the appearance of mold, the development of fungus.

If you do not make external thermal insulation, then foundation service life significantly reduced due to the fact that it is exposed to harmful factors - frost, moisture. You can do the external insulation of the basement of the foundation with your own hands; for this, you should purchase materials and carefully study the technology of work.

A master class on warming the basement of the foundation from the outside, step by step, look at the video:

Insulation of the foundation of a wooden house

Many owners of wooden houses are faced with the fact that in winter the floor freezes on the 1st floor. There is only one way to eliminate this phenomenon - to insulate the foundation of a wooden house from the outside. The foundation in a wooden house is erected from different materials. The way how to insulate the foundation of a wooden house depends on the type of supporting structure of the building. To insulate the base of the house, modern heat-insulating materials are used. This article presents options for warming foundations of various designs.

Why you need to insulate the foundation from the outside

The foundation of a wooden house is a supporting structure that is in direct contact with the natural foundation and the building itself. In addition to its supporting function, the foundation protects housing from the negative effects of the soil. It is important that the base of the wooden house does not cause heat leakage from the dwelling.

The base of the house is constantly exposed to the penetration of moisture from the soil and changes in ambient temperature. In winter, the moisture that has entered the body of the base of the structure freezes and destroys the support array. Through the cracks, the cold begins to penetrate into the dwelling. As a result, the floors in the house will always be cold in winter. That is why it is necessary to arrange thermal insulation of the base of a wooden house.

It is impossible to insulate the old foundation from below, but its walls are quite accessible for thermal insulation. Since the supporting structures can be of various types, the thermal insulation of the foundation from the outside is carried out in different ways.

Foundation insulation materials

Insulation of the foundation must be done at the stage of its construction. Although there are circumstances when negligent builders did not take care of this at the time. And now the owners of the house have to re-insulate the base of the wooden house.

The time comes, and homeowners think about what kind of insulation to choose. Among the wide variety of heat-insulating means, it is necessary to single out materials suitable for warming foundations:

• expanded polystyrene;
• polyurethane foam;
• expanded clay;
• Styrofoam.

All these materials have low thermal conductivity and high resistance to temperature changes.

Styrofoam

Penoplex plates (expanded polystyrene)

This material has high thermal insulation properties, moisture resistance and resistance to low temperatures. Thanks to these qualities, extruded polystyrene foam has gained great popularity as an external insulation for the foundations of wooden houses. Expanded polystyrene is convenient for insulating strip foundations and plinths.

The material has a fine-mesh structure. It is produced by exposure to high temperature and pressure on polymer granules in carbon dioxide. Insulation goes on sale in the form of a plate material called penoplex. The service life of polystyrene is about 40 years.

Manufacturers often refer to expanded polystyrene boards as foam boards. Penoplex with a thickness of 50 mm in terms of heat-shielding properties corresponds to 75 mm of foam plastic and 95 mm of mineral wool.

Video on the insulation of the foundation with foam:

polyurethane foam

The polymer is sprayed onto the walls of the foundation using special equipment. Getting on the treated surface, polyurethane foam greatly increases in volume. In terms of its thermal insulation properties, a 50 mm polymer layer is similar to a 120 mm thick expanded polystyrene sheet.

Insulation of the foundation with polyurethane foam

The hardened foam on the walls of the base of the building forms a seamless dense coating. Unlike sheet insulation, the sprayed outer coating does not need additional sealing of the joints. In addition, the polymer has high adhesion and "sticks" to almost any surface.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay granules are obtained by firing a foamed clay solution. Expanded clay has high thermal insulation qualities. This is one of the cheapest heat-insulating building materials.

Facing the outer walls of the foundation with expanded clay does not allow the base of a wooden house to freeze even in the conditions of the Far North. The only drawback of the material is its low availability on the market.

Styrofoam

Styrofoam is essentially the same polystyrene foam, only not subjected to extrusion (pressure treatment at high temperature). Foam boards are used to insulate the foundation and basement of the house. To prevent heat leakage from a wooden house from below, foam plastic with a thickness of 40 to 120 mm is used.

Polymer boards are easy to process. Most often they are attached to the walls of the foundation on bituminous mastic. Styrofoam is also fixed on the wall with dowels - fungi.

Styrofoam, along with its high thermal insulation qualities, is a very fragile material, therefore, the foundation walls lined with foam plastic from the outside necessarily need a finishing protective coating.

Ways to insulate the foundation of a wooden house

Basically, wooden houses are built on tape, columnar and pile foundations. In each case, it is necessary to cover the base and basement of the house with insulation.

Strip foundation

The foundation of this type can be made monolithic or erected from precast concrete blocks. Also, a support tape under a wooden house is laid from rubble stone or flagstone.

The technology of how to insulate the foundation of a wooden house from the outside with your own hands is as follows:

1. A trench is dug along the perimeter of a wooden house to the depth of soil freezing.
2. The walls of the foundation are cleaned of soil residues and covered with bituminous mastic.
3. Insulation plates are installed on a vertical surface, heating the bituminous waterproofing layer with a burner.
4. A reinforcing metal or polymer mesh is fixed on the insulation.
5. All surfaces are primed, puttied and plastered.
6. A heater is laid on the sandy pillow of the blind area.
7. The blind area is concreted, asphalted, lined with ceramics or stone.

The scheme of insulation of the strip foundation of a wooden house

The concrete monolith of the support tape of the house with a thickness of 40 - 50 cm does not need to be insulated. The physical characteristic of such an array of reinforced concrete has a sufficient heat-insulating property.

Column Foundation

As a matter of fact, it makes no sense to insulate the columnar foundation itself. The main heat leakage occurs through the space between the bottom of the wooden house and the ground. The constant movement of air masses in the underground creates an outflow of heat from the lower floor of the building.

To prevent this negative phenomenon, the outer perimeter of the underground is closed with vertical fences. Fences can be made from a variety of materials, from wooden shields to reinforced concrete slabs. Enclose the basement with siding (thin-sheet metal or polymer panels). Siding performs a purely enclosing function.

Due to the closed space, drafts stop and the underground air temperature stabilizes in the positive range, and this ultimately leads to effective insulation of a wooden house.

The basement fence is built of brick, wild stone or other masonry material. It is important that the masonry of the fence is not rigidly connected to the columnar supports. Due to various geological movements, the pillars can move the fence masonry. The wall of the base in this case may crack and collapse.

The hermetically sealed space inside the plinth can lead to increased air humidity. This, in turn, will create a favorable environment for the occurrence of fungi and mold. So that the air in the underground does not stagnate, it is imperative that vents are made in the basement fencing - small openings that provide natural ventilation of the underground.

For greater reliability of the thermal insulation of the base of the house, polyurethane foam is sprayed onto the inner surfaces of the fence.

pile foundation

The principle of warming the pile foundation of a wooden house is the same as in the previous case. The house, located on stilts, also has an open underground, which must be closed from the outside.

Wooden houses rest on both wooden and reinforced concrete and screw piles. To insulate the basement of a house on a pile foundation, wooden shields, polymer or metal siding are most often used.

Features of insulation of the foundation with expanded clay

The method of warming the foundation with expanded clay has its own characteristics. Since, unlike slab insulation, expanded clay is a bulk material, it is done in this way:

• a trench around a wooden house is made 20–30 cm wide; the depth of the ditch is made just below the soil freezing mark;
• sand 10 cm thick is poured at the bottom of the trench; then make a layer of crushed stone or gravel of the same thickness;
• sheets of roofing material are attached to the walls along the outer perimeter of the trench;
• the ditch is filled with expanded clay; the granules are poured in layers of 30-40 cm; each layer is compacted;
• the top of the insulation is covered with a cement screed;
• a wall half a brick thick is laid along the screed; masonry is carried out to the height of the basement of the building;
• a metal mesh is laid through three rows of bricks, linking the masonry and the basement of the house;
• the space between the masonry and the plinth is filled with expanded clay;
• on the top of the masonry, a blind area is made of cement mortar; the screed is covered with a galvanized sheet.

Basement insulation with expanded clay

If, simultaneously with the thermal insulation of the supporting structures of the building, the roof is not insulated, then the thermal insulation of the foundation will not bring the desired result. The heat will go up, the floors and walls in the dwelling will remain cold.

The base of a wooden house must be insulated, since the owners try to eliminate the cold in residential premises by increasing the load on the heating system of the house, and this results in exorbitant financial costs for heating the home. In this regard, it is better to insulate the foundation once with high quality and live in a warm house for many winters without incurring unnecessary expenses for heating the house.

For a person who undertakes the construction of his own house for the first time and has not studied the “materiel” enough, the very fact that the foundation, it turns out, also needs thermal insulation, may seem strange. It would seem - why insulate a reinforced concrete tape if neither a basement nor a basement is supposed to be? If there is no direct contact with living rooms, are they located higher? Which is better to apply? Such a misunderstanding of the importance of the issue often leads to the fact that thermal insulation work on the foundation is not initially planned and not included in the estimate.

Meanwhile, such neglect of this stage of work entails a lot of negative consequences - a little lower we will talk about this. Moreover, the condition of the entire house as a whole directly depends on the strength of the foundation of the building and its durability. And a negligent owner, looking for savings in such matters, lays a "time bomb" under his possessions.

This publication will consider the insulation of the foundation with foam plastic technology, calculations, important nuances of implementation, up to step-by-step instructions. Read, get acquainted, immediately provide for one of the mandatory stages of construction. Well, if someone’s house already stands on an insulated strip foundation, it’s not too late to correct the situation.

Is it really necessary to insulate a reinforced concrete foundation?

So, for starters, it seems necessary to dispel doubts about the advisability of insulating a reinforced concrete foundation. And several reasons can be cited as justification.

• It would be very naive to believe that the problem of thermal insulation of the ground floor premises is solved by insulating walls and floors. If the foundation in its recessed and basement parts remained "bare", then it, due to the huge heat capacity, turns into a powerful cold accumulator. And it will literally “pull on itself” the heat generated by the heating system. The consequences are clear: these are difficulties in providing comfortable living conditions, and unnecessary energy overruns. And with an insulated foundation, heating costs are very sensitively reduced.
• If the foundation is not insulated, then the temperature of its upper buried part, above the freezing level, and even more so - the basement, will always be strikingly different from that in the sole area (here it does not change much throughout the year). Such a temperature difference and the resulting difference in the linear expansion of the material create very significant internal stresses in the reinforced concrete foundation belt. And this, in turn, becomes a prerequisite for the appearance of cracks, accelerated aging of the structure, deformations and even gradual destruction. This means that it is necessary to take measures to eliminate such a “temperature gradient” - this will just help to make a layer of thermal insulation.

• The eternal "enemy" is water, which penetrates into the pores of the material and leads to its erosion during freezing and thawing. Thermal insulation fights this too. First, most of the insulation materials used in this area of ​​the building make a good waterproofing barrier on their own. Secondly, the thermal insulation layer brings the dew point out, namely to the insulation layer, and the foundation material no longer suffers so much from high humidity in combination with temperature changes. Of course, high-quality concrete, according to its characteristics, has a rather high frost resistance index (permissible number of freeze and thaw cycles). But this pledged reserve of its strength is still not worth spending thoughtlessly.
• As a rule, the insulation of the foundation is carried out in conjunction with the creation of an insulated blind area around the perimeter of the house. This combination of vertical and horizontal thermal insulation will not allow the soil to freeze in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe foundation tape. And this, in turn, means that the forces of frost heaving will not act on the foundation.

• In the importance of waterproofing the buried part of the foundation, it is wrong, no one needs to be convinced. And the layer of insulation here plays another very prominent role. Firstly, it does not allow direct contact of wet soil with reinforced concrete tape. And secondly, it protects the waterproofing layer applied to the foundation from mechanical damage.

Pay attention to an important nuance. All the positive properties of the thermal insulation layer listed above will be possible only when it is located on the outside of the foundation tape. You should not leave it "for later", with the expectation of sticking the walls from the inside, "when the hands reach". Yes, perhaps this will somewhat improve the microclimate in the basement or basement. But in fact, the foundation still remains without any kind of protection. So - only on the outside!

Why is penoplex seen as the optimal material for insulating the foundation?

The variety of modern thermal insulation materials is quite wide. But not all of them are suitable for the specific conditions of foundation insulation.

It is understandable - the insulation, in fact, is buried in the ground, that is, it will be subjected to a very serious mechanical effect. In addition, it is constant contact with the soil, which, especially in the upper layers, is saturated with soil moisture, often containing very aggressive chemical compounds.

That is, the material must have sufficient rigidity and strength, minimal hygroscopicity, a high degree of inertness to chemically aggressive substances, and at the same time not lose its thermal insulation qualities throughout the entire service life. There is such a material - it is extruded polystyrene foam (EPS). One of the most famous Russian manufacturers of XPS is the Penoplex company. And its name, having slightly changed, has become a household name in our time - penoplex is often called any high-quality extruded polystyrene foam.

Nevertheless, let's look at Penoplex branded products. For individual construction, the company's product range offers four brands of insulation boards - "Comfort", "Foundation", "Wall" and "Pitched Roof". It is very convenient with the names - you can immediately see which parts of the building are mainly intended for insulation.

By the way, all of the listed brands have a sufficient degree of versatility. But still, Penoplex ® Foundation slabs are adapted to the maximum extent to the specific operating conditions mentioned above.

These plates are given increased rigidity and mechanical strength in compression and fracture. And the fact that they do not undergo special treatment to increase resistance to fire or ultraviolet radiation is absolutely nothing to worry about. It is clear that hidden by a layer of soil, they are completely protected from both fire and sunlight. At the same time, their thermal insulation qualities are no worse than those of slabs intended for walls, roofs, ceilings, etc.

The main characteristics of "Penoplex ® Foundation" are shown in the table below:

As you can see, the material is very light and quite durable. Almost complete water resistance gives it the function of additional waterproofing. The chemical structure is highly stable (unlike, for example, a close "relative" of foam plastic - ordinary white foam), and is completely unaffected by biological decomposition and damage.

You may be interested in information on how to do it yourself

The convenience of working with penoplex (as it will be called in the course of the article further, meaning "Penoplex ® Foundation") lies in the presence of mating edges along the perimeter of the plates. L-shaped grooves (quarters) when laying the material overlap the lines of joints, thereby making the thermal insulation coating continuous, without through cold bridges.

If necessary, the material is easily cut - cut with a hacksaw or even a sharp construction knife.

According to what scheme is the strip foundation insulated?

Approximate scheme for performing thermal insulation of the foundation with foam plastic

In order to move on and analyze all the nuances of the foundation insulation technology, first you need to understand the general scheme by which it will be produced. The scheme, of course, is given in some simplification, but still reflects all the main elements of the structure being created.

1 - soil at the construction site.

2 - sand (sand-gravel, sand-gravel, depending on the characteristics of the soil) cushion under the base of the foundation.

3 - shows a pipe of an annular drainage system, which is often provided along the perimeter of the foundation if it is being built on waterlogged or seasonally waterlogged soil.

4 - reinforced concrete foundation tape. (By the way, the foundation can also be prefabricated, made of reinforced concrete blocks, rubble stones, etc.)

5 - a mandatory outer layer of reliable waterproofing of the vertical walls of the foundation tape.

The basis of any home is a solid foundation. The integrity, safety, durability of the building, and to a certain extent even the microclimate inside the premises directly depend on its condition. That is why for the construction of the foundation it is necessary to use the most reliable and high-quality structures and materials. However, it is not enough just to build this part of the house - it needs special protection from external influences.

In one of the publications of our portal are detailed. Usually, in combination with these measures, with the right approach, its insulation is immediately provided. Various building technologies can be used for this, but most widespread, simple, affordable for self-conducting is the insulation of the foundation with foam plastic.

This article will consider the reasons for the need for thermal insulation of the foundation, the properties of the insulation material - foam, set out the sequence of the process of carrying out such work and the applied technological methods.

Why insulate the foundation?

It would seem - why insulate the foundation? It may seem that it is enough to isolate it from the penetration of moisture, and this will fully ensure its safety. All living quarters are located above, do not directly interact with the basement and have their own thermal insulation. This opinion is widespread enough that many homeowners simply discount the need for such work, without even laying it in the construction plan. Meanwhile, foundation insulation is necessary for several reasons at once:

• The massive construction of the foundation and basement becomes the "main path" for the penetration of cold. A significant part of the heat loss of a house is always associated with a poorly insulated ground floor floor. But even with a seemingly reliable thermal isolation the cold bridge acts from the foundation base through the walls. This leads to significant losses in terms of energy costs, and in an uncomfortable indoor environment. And properly conducted insulation gives up to 30% of the total heat savings.
• The bottom of the foundation is usually located below the freezing level of the soil, and its temperature is quite constant due to the constant effect of geothermal heat. The upper part is subject to significant temperature differences. Such unevenness causes internal stresses of the reinforced concrete structure associated with the difference in the linear expansion of the material, which leads to its rapid “aging”. In order for the entire foundation array to have approximately the same heating, regardless of the season, reliable thermal insulation will be required.
• A layer of insulation on the foundation walls shifts the dew point outward, and concrete structures will not become damp from the formation of condensate caused by the difference in external and internal temperatures.
• Although any reinforced concrete structure has a certain margin of frost resistance, expressed in the number of cycles of complete freezing and thawing, it is better not to waste this “internal reserve” by minimizing or completely eliminating the effects of negative temperatures.
• It is advisable, along with the insulation of the foundation walls, to also carry out thermal insulation of the adjacent layers of soil backfill by placing a horizontal thermally insulating belt at the level of the sole (with shallow foundations) or under a concrete pavement. This can achieve a reduction in the risk of soil heaving during freezing, which is dangerous for the appearance of deformations and violation of the integrity of the foundation.
• The insulation layer becomes another fairly reliable barrier to soil moisture. In addition, it well closes the layer of waterproofing that is vulnerable to mechanical stress.

The insulation of the foundation should be carried out along its outer wall. Thermal insulation material placed inside the basement (basement) room will only slightly improve the microclimate there, but will not solve the main problems.

Penoplex - the best material for insulation of the foundation

Of all the existing thermal insulation materials, it is penoplex that is probably the most the most optimal for insulation of the foundation and basement. Of course, other technologies are also used, for example, but still, foam plastic is better for independent carrying out of such work both in terms of physical and operational qualities, and it is still difficult to find at a price.

Penoplex is an extruded plate. The extrusion technology, that is, melting a mixture of polystyrene granules with foaming it with special agents and then forcing it through a molding nozzle (extrusion head), makes it possible to obtain a high-density material while maintaining excellent thermal insulation qualities.

• The density of penoplex varies, depending on the brand, from 30 to 45 kg / m³. This allows the materials to withstand significant mechanical loads. So, the limit of the compressive force with a volumetric deformation of up to 10%, even for the “lightest” foam plastic, is at least 20 t / m², and for the densest it reaches 50 t / m². These indicators are quite enough not only to insulate the walls of the foundation, but also to lay a thermal insulator under its soles or install it as a basis for pouring a slab foundation.

Video: strength testing of extruded polystyrene foam

• Penoplex, due to its saturation with air, has excellent indicators of thermal resistance. Thus, the coefficient of thermal conductivity is only 0.030 W / m × Cº - one of the lowest among all modern thermal insulation materials .
• At the same time, the closed cellular structure of the material resists moisture penetration well. Water absorption on the first day does not exceed 0.2% of the total volume, within a month - no more than 0.4 — 0.5%, and in the future this value does not change during the entire period of operation.
• The temperature range at which foam plastic does not change its physical qualities is from - 50 to + 75 ºС.
• The material is absolutely harmless from an environmental point of view, does not decompose over time, does not emit harmful substances, and its service life is estimated at at least 30 — 40 years.

Penoplex is produced in the form of rectangular slabs, usually orange, 600 × 1200 mm in size, 20 to 60 mm thick (in 10 mm increments), 80 or 100 mm. The plates have a tongue-and-groove locking part, thanks to which the installation is extremely simplified and "cold bridges" at the joints of the panels are minimized.

Several types of penoplex are produced, which are divided into classes, from Penoplex 31C to Penoplex 75. The main difference is the level of density of the material, which is quite clearly expressed by a digital indicator. In the composition of "Penoplex 31" and "35", in addition, flame retardants were additionally added, which significantly increase their fire resistance. However, for external insulation of the foundation, this indicator is not decisive. For such work, they usually purchase class material " 35C", " 45C", And for installation under the seam or under the slab foundation - "45".

Prices for thermal insulation materials

Thermal insulation materials

Schemes and calculation of foundation insulation parameters

So, in order to achieve the effectiveness of thermal insulation of the foundation and the thickness of the soil adjacent to it, the insulation system should include two sections:

• Vertical - a layer of insulation is installed directly on the walls of the foundation from the outside, from the sole itself to the upper edge of the base. This solves the problem of eliminating "cold bridges" through the walls and the basement of the building.
• Horizontal - laid out in a continuous layer around the perimeter of the building and prevents freezing of the soil around the foundation walls, thereby completely eliminating or minimizing heaving processes. Depending on the depth of freezing in a particular area, on the type of foundation and its deepening, this layer can be located at the level of the sole, or higher, at a depth above the freezing point. In practice, very often a horizontal layer of insulation is placed directly under the concrete pavement.

What should be the thickness of the penoplex in order for the insulation to be effective and fully justify its purpose? There are special counting methodsused by experts. In some simplification, you can make a similar calculation yourself.

The thickness of the foam for the vertical section can be determined based on the following formula:

R = h 1/λ 1 + h 2/λ 2

R is the value of resistance to heat transfer, a constant established for specific regions, taking into account their climatic features;

h 1 - the thickness of the walls of the foundation;

λ 1 - coefficient of thermal conductivity of the material from which the foundation is made;

h 2 and λ 2 - respectively, the required thickness of the foam layer and its coefficient of thermal conductivity.

Meaning R it is easy to check with any local construction organization - it is installed by SNiP 23 — 02-2003 . For example, the table below shows this minimum value for some regions of Russia:

h 1 = 0.5 m

λ 1 for concrete - W/m×° To

λ 2 for foam plastic - 0.032 W / m × ° To

3,28 = 0,5 / 1,69 + h 2/0,032

Simple arithmetic calculations give 0.0955 m. Of course, it should be rounded up, and as a result we get a 100 mm foam layer.

Foundation insulation thickness calculator

To make it easier for readers of the site, we present a special built-in calculator that allows you to quickly and accurately calculate the thickness of thermal insulation for different materials and dimensions of the foundation, and for various types of heaters that are relevant in this case.

The problem of maintaining heat in a residential building has been relevant at all times. In recent years, due to the increasing cost of various types of fuel used in individual heating systems, this issue has become most acute. The best recognized way to protect against heat loss through the foundation is to insulate it with expanded polystyrene foam - an artificial material with a wide range of uses.

Getting to know the material

The name of the slab extruded polystyrene foam comes from the manufacturer. Currently, two equivalent names have been adopted - "Penoplex" and "Penoplex", obtained from the English transcription. According to the structure, the material is a slab of dense consistency, consisting of micropores filled with a gaseous mixture.

Depending on the purpose, mechanical and operational properties, Penoplex heaters are available in several versions:

• The standard is a slab heat insulator with a wide range of applications from insulation of engineering networks to improving the thermal insulation of floors, walls, and foundations.
• Penoplex 35, which is also produced under the name Penoplex foundation, is used for finishing tape and slab types of building foundations for both vertical and horizontal use.
• Penoplex 45 is the densest type of foamed PPS, which allows it to be used for insulating heavily loaded structures and structures, such as highways, railways and even airfield runways.

Due to its uniformity and density, the material is well exposed to such mechanical processing methods as sawing and drilling. Professionals recommend cutting foam boards at medium speeds to avoid melting the insulation and sticking it to the cutting parts of the tools.

Depending on the conditions in the construction area and the required indicators, the dimensions, density and thickness of the foam for insulation of the foundation must be correctly selected. Plates basically have standard parameters: width - 600 mm, length 1200 mm. The thickness of the material varies from 2 to 10 cm in increments of 1 cm. Naturally, an upward change in certain indicators also affects the cost of the material.

Foam insulation options

Insulation foam foundation is widely used to reduce the thermal conductivity of two types of concrete bases of various structures - tape and slab. Currently, there are two main ways of laying - horizontal and vertical. The first type of mounting is used for the soles of the shallow-depth tape, the second for the side surfaces.

Horizontal insulation

Penoplex insulation for a foundation or foundation slab has been used quite often in recent years. This is due to the high performance of the plates. They are not afraid of high humidity and can be used even on wet marshy soils, which is a great advantage over other types of insulation.

The technology for performing insulation of the foundation in the form of a slab or non-buried foam tape is as follows:

1. A site of the required size is marked out and high-quality excavation is carried out with giving the base the maximum possible flatness and horizontality;
2. The bottom of the recess is tamped, backfilled with wet sand, and after laying the geotextile layer, crushed stone is dumped;
3. On crushed stone, a thin concrete screed is made without reinforcement and the mass is allowed to completely harden;
4. On the leveling layer, the foam insulation is laid as tightly as possible, using a tongue-and-groove system, the elements of which are made on all edges of the material plates. Thus, the entire surface of the future foundation is covered.
5. On top of the foam plex foundation plates, it is necessary to spread a layer of polyethylene with a thickness of at least 150-200 microns. The film is applied to adjacent canvases with an overlap of at least 200 mm and glued with stationery tape for better waterproofing.
6. A reinforcing frame is mounted directly on the foundation insulation and polyethylene and poured with the prepared concrete mixture. This is how the insulation of the foundation slab and the base of the shallow-depth tape are achieved.

Vertical insulation

Installation and laying of foam plastic on the foundation requires reliable fastening, especially in the upper, basement part of the tape. To do this, use special dowel nails with a plastic dowel having a cap of increased diameter. This allows you to significantly increase the clamping area and prevents the destruction of the foam boards.

• the internal volume of the basement or basement of the house does not decrease;
• thanks to the insulation of the foundation, it is possible to provide additional waterproofing;
• additional protection of the base of the house from freezing is carried out, which significantly increases its service life;
• the technical characteristics of the foam for the foundation can significantly shift the dew point, which also leads to the safety of concrete.

The technology for performing vertical insulation of the foundation with foam plastic differs from horizontal. To do this, it is necessary to fix the plates with the help of various building mixtures and specialized fasteners, which were mentioned above. The insulation of the foundation with foam plastic is preceded by the implementation of high-quality waterproofing, which can consist of two layers - and.

An important point is the choice, taking into account the characteristics of the insulation for the foundation: foam 1200x600x50 mm or 100 mm. With calculated indicators requiring the installation of insulation with a layer of 10 cm, builders recommend laying two layers of 5 cm plates. This will allow you to close the seams between individual plates in the first row and get a higher quality of work.

We warm the foundation ourselves

The high cost of the required materials and the simplicity of the process make it possible to insulate the foundation with your own hands, minimizing the total cost of this type of work. we will dwell on the features of each option for installing the foam plastic foundation in more detail, which will avoid inevitable mistakes in the future.

We warm the slab foundation

The technology for insulating the foundation with foam plastic with your own hands is not complicated and is similar to working with the simplest version of a children's designer. Plates are laid on a pre-prepared base, tightly joining them to each other. Additional fastening for this, as a rule, is not required. A prerequisite is the laying of a polyethylene sheet to prevent the concrete mixture from leaking into the seams.

Calculating the required amount will also not be difficult for any home craftsman who has not yet forgotten the elementary school mathematics course. The area of ​​​​a standard foam foam foundation slab with its dimensions of 1200x600 mm is 0.72 m 2. Therefore, to determine the required amount of material, it is enough to divide the total area of ​​​​the future slab by 0.72, rounding up to the nearest integer. When calculating, do not forget to determine the amount of foam insulation for the side walls of the slab base of the house.

Often, to determine the transport costs, it is also necessary to calculate the number of packages of the material. For this, in addition to the total number of plates, it is necessary to know their required thickness. This is due to the different configuration of foam packs, which have a standard thickness of 400 mm. So, 50 mm thick plates in the package will contain 8 pieces, and 20 mm thick plates - 20 pieces.

We warm the strip foundation

Since the tape type of bases is the most common, the technology of its insulation should be considered in more detail. Penoplex plates allow you to finish the walls of the foundation of a new house or one that has stood for several decades. The sequence of work will look like this:

1. from the tape base, it is necessary to completely remove the soil at a distance convenient for moving two people. Usually, this value is 1 meter.
2. the surface of the tape is thoroughly cleaned of various debris and lagging parts of the concrete mixture. This is especially true for foundations with a long service life. As tools, plastic brushes are recommended, fixed in a drill chuck or on a grinder.
3. In the event of the formation of deep depressions on the surface of the foundation walls, they must be filled with fresh cement mortar and plastered.
4. Before attaching the foam boards to the foundation, it must be isolated from moisture. To do this, the dried walls of the tape are covered with coating mastic, on which roofing material is glued. Waterproofing the foundation with foam plastic, even considering its low moisture transmission, is not recommended.
5. Having decided on the basis of preliminary calculations, which foam for the foundation is suitable for your conditions, we carry out its installation. In the lower, underground part, a special adhesive for slabs is used, sold as a dry mix and prepared directly at the construction site. For the above-ground part, builders advise using dowel nails.

Not so long ago, when energy resources were mere pennies, the issue of high-quality thermal insulation of a residential building was simply irrelevant, since any design inaccuracies were more than covered by powerful heating. Then it was not applied in principle.

Now, due to the rapid rise in the price of heating gas, the issue of thermal insulation and energy saving is becoming increasingly important.

One of the most effective methods to achieve the above goal is the insulation of the foundation, which, in addition to reducing the heat loss of housing, will significantly extend the life of the foundation itself, as it will provide it with the necessary protection from the external environment.

As an insulating material, the use of slab foam is most justified - this is a heater, the technical characteristics of which are an order of magnitude superior to the thermal insulation properties of any similar material.

Insulation of the foundation with foam plastic, in comparison with foam plastic, looks like a real archaism, both in terms of efficiency and in terms of the effective operation of such a heater. By the way, we recommend.

1 Penoplex - general information

Penoplex, the common name of which is extruded polystyrene foam, is a type of classic polystyrene foam, which is produced by foaming it under the influence of high temperatures.

The technology for the production of extruded polystyrene foam involves the use of special foaming additives, which are used as a mixture of freon and carbon dioxide, which makes it possible to obtain a uniform density and high technical characteristics of the foam.

The manufacturing technology of foam plastic belongs to one of the leading domestic companies in the production of insulating materials for walls and roofs of buildings, pipelines and roadways.

The best option for warming the foundation are Penoplex Foundation slabs. Such plates have dimensions of 60 * 120 cm, and the thickness, depending on the model, can be from 20 to 100 mm.

2 Advantages and disadvantages

In comparison with other options for insulating materials, penoplex has the following advantages:

• Compression resistance

This characteristic is extremely important when facing foundations, which, under the influence of soil masses, experience huge external loads. The foam compressive strength index is 27 t/m2.

• Thermal insulation properties

Penoplex has the highest coefficient of thermal insulation among all insulating materials, which allows the use of plates with a thickness of 2 to 15 centimeters. The most popular version of this insulation is Penoplex 100, which is ideal in most situations, has a thickness of 10 centimeters.

• Waterproofing

Independent studies have shown that in 30 days, during which the insulation was completely immersed in water, the foam 10 centimeters thick was filled with liquid only by 0.6 percent. Such technical characteristics indicate that the lining of the foundation with foam plastic will help not only reduce the heat loss of the building, but also protect the foundation from the negative impact of groundwater, which has an extremely negative effect on the condition of the foundation.

• Temperature regime

This material can easily withstand temperature differences from -50 to + 75 degrees, while there is no question of any loss of operational properties.

• Dimensions and weight are smaller than

Since penoplex is produced in the form of compact plates, which, moreover, have a minimum weight (the mass of the Penoplex Foundation 100 mm thick plate is only 2.5 kg), its transportation does not cause any difficulties, and installation can be done by one person, without involving additional forces and special equipment.

Printed foam packagingResistant to external influences;

Penoplex is not subject to decay, mold does not form on it, it does not decompose even after 50 years of operation. In addition, penoplex is not afraid of the effects of chemicals that can be saturated with groundwater in environmentally unfavorable areas.

The only drawback of the general disadvantage of extruded polystyrene foam, which also applies to foam under the foundation, is flammability. However, due to the fact that this insulation will be located in the ground, this minus loses any importance.

3 Where to insulate: outside or inside?

This is perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions regarding the insulation of the foundation with foam plastic. It is worth clarifying right away that it is the side of the cladding that most affects what function the insulation will perform, and how effectively it will do it.

Those who want to insulate the foundation with foam plastic from the inside of the basement or basement should understand that in this case they will only perform the usual thermal insulation of the room, but not the foundation at all - the base itself will not receive any insulation, as well as protection from external influences .

The correct use of penoplex under the foundation is its installation outside the base. In this case, the insulation will fully reveal its full potential: direct insulation of the foundation will be provided, in addition, the base will receive protection from external influences.

Of course, the insulation of the foundation with foam plastic from the outside is a much more time-consuming process, which, ideally, should be carried out even at the stage of construction of a residential building, however, having done all the work with your own hands according to the correct technology, you will get a decent return.
The benefits that you get by insulating the foundation from the outside:

• Protection of the foundation from freezing during the cold season;
• Concrete is not subject to destruction under the influence of groundwater;
• The consequences of seasonal temperature fluctuations are reduced to zero, as a result of which the life of the foundation is significantly increased;
• Foam cladding outside also increases the average air temperature inside the basement;

4 Material calculation

It is required to make simple calculations in order to determine what thickness of the penoplex is needed in a particular situation.

Calculations are performed according to the following formula: T = (s1/y1) + (s2/y2).

The designations are as follows:

• T - heat transfer resistance (varies depending on the region, for example, in Moscow it is 3.2 m² / W);
• s1 is the base thickness;
• y1 – coefficient. thermal conductivity of the base material;
• s2 is the thickness of the insulation;
• y2 – coefficient. thermal conductivity of the heater.

For example, let's perform a calculation for a reinforced concrete foundation (y1 = 1.69) with a thickness of 0.4 meters.

3.2 = 0.4/1.69 + H2/0.032;

3.2 = 0.24 + S2/0.032;

2.96= S2/$0.032;

S2 = 0.0947 m, or 95 mm.

The calculation showed that in order to carry out work on the insulation of a strip foundation with a thickness of 0.4 meters with our own hands, we need a Penoplex Foundation insulation with a thickness of 100 mm.

By the way, you need to round the thickness up, since additional density and thermal insulation characteristics are never superfluous. This formula is also applicable in the case when the foundation is insulated with ordinary foam.

Next, we calculate the amount of required foam 100 mm. This indicator is calculated based on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe foundation. For example, we need to insulate a foundation with a height of 2 meters with our own hands, with a wall length of 8,10,8 and 10 meters.

The total length is 36 meters, multiplied by 2 meters in height, and we get an area equal to 72 m2. Based on the fact that one Penoplex 100 slab has an area of ​​0.72 m2, it determines the amount of material needed: 72 / 0.72 = 100. In total, we need 100 foam 100 slabs in total.

Also, for insulation using additional waterproofing materials, dowels with a wide cap, cement, and bituminous mastic will be needed.

5 Stages and features of the work

1. First of all, you need to dig the foundation. Outside, along the perimeter of the base, we make a trench one and a half meters wide to the entire depth of the foundation.
2. We clean the walls of the basement and foundation from the earth, damaged elements, and other mechanical impurities. If necessary, level them with cement mortar or plaster mixture, and let dry.
3. We make the main waterproofing: outside the foundation we apply a thin layer of bituminous mastic, on top of which we glue sheets of roofing material or technicol, with an overlap of at least 10 centimeters. We cover the joints with mastic.

We continue the process:

1. Installing foam panels. Installation must be done from the bottom up.
2. Penoplex is fastened to the foundation by means of building glue. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the elements of the "thorn-groove" system, which are equipped with the ends of the insulation, are connected.
3. We close the connecting slots with liquid foam.
4. The technology of insulation of the foundation with foam plastic provides for the possibility of using dowels only on the basement of the foundation, where you need 5 dowels per 1 panel.
5. We plaster the mounted foam panels from the outside using a reinforcing mesh.
6. We fill the trench with earth. At the same time, at a depth of 30 cm from the soil surface, it is recommended to lay a layer of roofing material 1 meter thick around the perimeter of the foundation, which will contribute to additional protection of the foundation from surface water.

6 Features of the technology of insulation of the foundation with foam (video)