As you know, full-fledged insulation of a private house is simply physically impossible without ceiling insulation: it is from there that the strongest wind pressure “blows”, cold air enters in winter and too hot in summer. For example, if you insulate the walls and do not do the same with the ceiling, all the work will go down the drain, as it will have absolutely no effect (all the heat will simply go “to the ceiling”).
The main types of insulation and their characteristics
Today on the market you can buy dozens of types of heaters
- mineral wool;
- Styrofoam;
- expanded clay;
- sawdust.
Benefits of mineral wool:
Mineral wool also has its drawbacks:
The cheapest of all types of ceiling insulation is, of course, the well-known foam plastic (and outbuildings are most often insulated with clay). Despite its cheapness and visually apparent fragility, this material is still worth considering as a heater: it has some important positive characteristics.
It is also important to add that expanded polystyrene (this is the official name for polystyrene in the construction industry) is often used in conjunction with other thermal insulation materials (especially when it comes to ceilings - not only in the house, but also in the garage).
Styrofoam is one of the cheapest materials The advantages of foam as a heater include the following:
- this material is completely indifferent to moisture and can be used indoors with simply enormous levels of humidity (up to 99%);
- a priori, mold cannot form in it (and on it), since the material is completely resistant to fungi of various origins;
- cheapness (a ton of foam plastic does not even reach $ 100 in value - this amount is enough for the whole palace of Shaherizade, and not just for an ordinary house, roof, attic or roof);
- lightness (practically does not carry additional load on the floors and foundation of the building);
- long service life;
- can withstand severe temperature fluctuations (from -65C° to +50C°), which makes it possible to use it both in the Far North and in the southern regions of Russia.
Of course, expanded polystyrene also has its drawbacks:
- minimum mechanical strength (the smallest force is enough to pierce the foam or deform it - everyone knows this from infancy for sure);
- polystyrene foam has an air permeability coefficient of 10% - this is negligible (the material practically does not let air through - it will be cool in the room in winter and quite hot in the warm season, and this is not very good);
- easily destroyed under the influence of furniture varnish and paints produced on the basis of nitroglycerin (modern facade paints contain it in large quantities, with the exception of oil and epoxy paints).
In general, we can conclude that polystyrene is an extremely cheap material that is easy to install with your own hands, but still not an effective insulation (especially for houses made of foam blocks).
It is suitable for a temporary home (dacha, for example), but for a permanent one it is better not to use it anyway (technology often simply does not allow).
Table with the characteristics of some types of insulation
Among the advantages of this material, one can single out an extremely low coefficient of thermal conductivity, ease of installation, high soundproofing and noise-absorbing properties. By the way, noise and sound are completely different things, although many do not understand this (and building materials manufacturers classify them differently).
Expanded clay is divided into several types, depending on the size of the fractions Expanded clay also has disadvantages: a porous structure and extreme fragility (a particle of expanded clay can be crushed into powder literally by pressing the little fingers of both hands).
The process of insulating the ceiling with expanded clay
Sawdust as a heater has been used for a very long time. Strictly speaking, they have only 2 main advantages: low cost and good thermal insulation properties. In simple terms, we can say the following: to insulate the ceiling with sawdust is a more correct solution when compared with expanded clay, however, in terms of their technical qualities, they are noticeably inferior to polystyrene foam and mineral wool. Sawdust just like that, from the bay-floundering, cannot be used in any case.
They must meet the following criteria:
Methods for installing insulation
Insulation from above (from the attic)
External insulation of the ceiling (in the absence of a concrete balcony) is a more preferable option, since it is corny easier to install from the attic area. Some people prefer to insulate the ceiling both from the attic and from the inside, believing that it would be better this way.
In fact, it is enough to carry out insulation only from above, everything else is superfluous. And from a technical point of view, an additional layer of internal thermal insulation will not give anything: the level of thermal conductivity will be approximately the same. However, here everything is decided by the owner of the house. The work is carried out in several stages:
If you use mineral wool as a heater, you must definitely build a metal frame under the screed - so it’s better to get by with one foam plastic (in extreme cases, foam or polystyrene foam).
Warming outside
Internal insulation of the ceiling is a somewhat more complicated task. You will have to do the following in sequence:
As an example, consider the insulation of the ceiling in a house with a wooden beamed roof (such houses in Russia are most common). Default: climate - temperate, insulation - mineral wool.
Mineral wool for a wooden house is the best option for the simple reason that it does not chemically interact with wood. And even though its structure itself is cellular, porous, insects will certainly not be able to get into it, which is very, very important for a house made of wood.
Ceiling insulation scheme in frame private houses It is necessary to perform the following steps for warming:
- Using a stapler, you need to fix a plastic film to the beams in order to completely block the access of moisture. The overlap of the canvases is mandatory: it must be at least 10 centimeters.
- A crate is being made (under sheathing with PVC panels). For such panels, small wooden slats (beams measuring 50 * 50 millimeters) are sufficient. They need to be nailed in increments of 60 centimeters. A cut board may also work.
- The lumber gap is filled with mineral wool (you can also use ecowool).
- A second layer of polyethylene film is laid (again, using a stapler).
- PVC panels are sewn from below.
Features of ceiling insulation in a wooden house
Wooden houses are always insulated using the same technology. Actually, there are not so many features themselves:
Insulation with sprayed heat insulator
By the way, more recently, an innovative sprayable heat insulator based on polyurethane foam (PPU) has also appeared on sale. While it has not yet become popular among domestic homeowners, however, this material has good positive characteristics:
True, the spray device itself must have a power of at least 380 W, the compressor capacity must be at least 700 liters per hour. Such equipment is usually rented rather than bought for a single use. However, sprayed thermal insulation also has its significant disadvantages, according to the statements of many builders.
Among them, the following can be distinguished: a rather high cost, polyurethane foam has a low fire resistance class (in the event of a serious fire, the house will blaze like a match is the most significant drawback).
After drying, the sprayed heat insulator acquires a fibrous structure Special impregnation can be added to the heat insulator to reduce flammability, but PPU will not foam so much. In general, all this needs to be decided independently, here both the pros and cons are approximately equal.
Video
You can watch a video on how to properly insulate the ceiling in a private house
First, let's figure out why. You can insulate walls, floors and roofs. Now consider the characteristics of the materials between which you have to make a choice. We are primarily interested in thermal conductivity, for expanded clay its coefficient is 0.1, but for mineral wool it is only 0.04. Consequently, the latter will release much less heat to the outside than the former, with the same thickness of thermal insulation. And now the second important factor is weight. What is better, expanded clay or mineral wool weighing up to 250 kilograms per cubic meter, the mass of which is no more than 30 kilos for the same cubic meter?
The friability of expanded clay depends on the size of the granules, which can have a diameter of less than 5 millimeters (sand) and up to 20-40 millimeters, and coarse-grained material is cheaper.
But it is still premature to draw conclusions. Let's say a 5-centimeter layer of mineral wool is enough to insulate the floor. Accordingly, expanded clay will need to be poured 12 centimeters. Even if it weighs 8 times more than fibrous insulation, it is unlikely that expanded clay granules will require an increase in the bearing capacity of walls and foundations. We make a low box for the entire floor area, fill it with expanded clay, close it with a vapor barrier, and complete order. It should also be taken into account the fact that the smallest particles of mineral wool, getting into the lungs, can lead to serious diseases, and clay is an environmentally friendly product.
How to replace expanded clay, are there any analogues?
If it seems to you that for your purposes, namely, for bulk thermal insulation, it is too heavy, you can turn to other porous and swollen backfills. In particular, an analogue of expanded clay, similar in properties, is agloporite, a kind of pumice stone with a glass-like structure. This filler is made from low-melting clays mixed with a mixture of waste from coal mining and shale mining, as well as with ash and slag from thermal power plant furnaces. However, the environmental friendliness of this material is questionable. Another alternative to expanded clay is expanded perlite, its moisture absorption is even lower than that of expanded clay, only 3-5%, but the thermal conductivity coefficient is only 0.04, like that of mineral wool.
The best option than replacing expanded clay is expanded vermiculite. This is an environmentally friendly material produced from a rock belonging to the group of hydromica (remember the mica plates that were inserted into windows in Russia). For comparison, the thermal conductivity coefficient of expanded clay corresponds to 0.1, and that of vermiculite is 0.08, which is 2 times lower than that of mineral wool.. The volumetric weight of a cubic meter of expanded vermiculite is 100 kilograms, which is relatively small. The use of this material will result in a thinner layer of backfill, less load on the floor and will be a completely acceptable basis for the screed.
Why is expanded clay harmful, and isn't it better to use polystyrene?
Often, warnings appear on the Internet that, along with materials like mineral wool, which is rather unhealthy, but has wonderful properties as a heater, expanded clay also poses a danger. That supposedly after a certain incubation period, swollen granules begin to release substances harmful to health. Is it so? First of all, let's turn to the original source, by which we mean not the manufacturer, but the raw material. Ordinary red clay, capable of swelling under the influence of high temperatures. So why is expanded clay, which is a material related to brick, harmful? There is no specific information about the toxins allegedly emitted by him.
Another thing, if you choose, lay foam or expanded clay as a heater. Anyone requires moisture protection along with a vapor barrier. However, if it suddenly happens that dampness penetrates the thickness of the expanded clay layer, in the presence of a ventilated gap, its granules will work as a kind of drainage, and then the moisture will evaporate. Styrofoam, on the other hand, tends to rot in a damp environment, literally in a year it turns black, mold can develop on it. And, what is most unpleasant, if a fire suddenly occurs (which we would not want), expanded clay, like a brick, will not react to it in any way, but the foam plastic will begin to release very caustic and harmful substances.
The thermal conductivity of building materials is one of the determining parameters during construction, since maintaining a certain temperature regime in a room (residential - in particular) or the need to improve this regime is often a task of construction work.
The figure indicating the thermal conductivity of heaters is a very, very serious indicator that deserves attention.
About thermal conductivity
First of all, let's define what thermal conductivity is. This is, in fact, the ability to transfer heat from a warmer surface to a colder one. If we apply the definition to construction, it can be expressed as follows: it is the process of transferring heat from the premises to the street.
Accordingly, the higher the thermal conductivity, the easier and easier the material transfers heat from the apartment (house) to the outside. This means that we need to use materials with the lowest indicator of this parameter.
For calculation, when designing a building, the thermal conductivity coefficient is used, which is a number indicating how much energy passes through a body with an area of 1 m 2 and a thickness of 1 m per unit time - W / (m * K).
Data for most building materials are summarized in thermal conductivity tables indicating also the density of these materials, but since this parameter may vary depending on the composition of the material and the additives introduced by the manufacturer, there may be variations even within the same type.
The thermal conductivity of thermal insulation or other insulating materials, as a property, also allows you to choose the most suitable in terms of parameters, but at the same time a material that is more convenient to mount or an insulator with a smaller thickness when it is critical.
First, we give indicators specifically for building materials:
- silicate hollow brick - 0.66;
- ceramic hollow brick - 0.57;
- clinker brick - 0.8;
- solid brick - 0.6;
- glued laminated timber (150 x 150 mm) - 0.1;
- concrete (on sand) - 0.7;
- concrete (on gravel) - 1.3.
Now - the table of thermal conductivity of heaters:
Density comparison table (average):
Now let's look briefly at each of these materials.
Mineral wool
Mineral wool comes in several varieties, including depending on the raw materials from which it is produced. There are stone and slag mineral wool. The first is made from various rocks (basalt, limestone), and the second is made from metallurgical slag.
Most often, the first variety is used in construction, since it is more resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity.
Mineral wool is used as a heater for walls and ceilings, as well as for thermal insulation of internal partitions, there are also industrial varieties, for insulating pipelines, for example.
The thermal conductivity of mineral wool is from 0.035 W / (m * K) on average. For example, the thermal conductivity of basalt wool is 0.039 W / (m * K), while the required thickness of the insulating layer is at least 167 mm.
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of basalt wool is thus slightly above average, but clearly not the maximum for this material. The maximum thermal conductivity of Rockwool mineral wool in the comparison is also the highest among these materials.
The average price is from 1000 rubles / roll (for example, Rockwool Multirock Roll mineral wool). The thermal conductivity of Rockwool mineral wool is from 0.035 W / (m * K).
Penoplex
Penoplex is an extruded polystyrene foam suitable for use both for construction purposes (thermal insulation of foundations, floors, walls and roofs) and for industrial applications, including road and airfield construction.
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of penoplex averages from 0.28 W / (m * K), for plates of different densities, this indicator may differ slightly. Comparison of the thermal conductivity of foam with a density of 30 kg / m 3 and 45 kg / m 3 shows almost no difference at different compression and bending densities.
Given the indicated thermal conductivity of Penofol, it is more often used if complex insulating material is needed than just as thermal insulation.
The price of Penofol depends on the thickness (it is supplied according to the standard from 3 to 10 mm thick, but for special conditions it can be up to 40 mm thick). The average minimum thickness of one-sided foiling is from 145 rubles / m 2, its own version of the maximum thickness of 40 mm - from 2800 rubles / m 2.
Polyurethane foam (sprayed)
Polyurethane foam - has an average coefficient of thermal conductivity, the smallest among the described materials.
Also, a feature of its application is the technique of seamless spraying, which allows solving heat-insulating problems with a minimum layer of insulation and, if necessary, achieving different densities. Non-toxic, resistant to fungi and mold.
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of polyurethane foam is from 0.023 W / (m * K), and the cost depends on the density of spraying and the area of coverage. So, spraying 100 mm (maximum layer) on an area of more than 1000 m 2 will cost from 1320 rubles / m 3.
Expanded clay
Expanded clay is a bulk insulation, which creates sufficient variability in thermal conductivity, since its density can also be different. Depending on the size of the expanded clay granule, it is divided into:
- gravel;
- crushed stone;
- sand.
As a consequence, it is necessary to choose a material with a maximum granule size, since this means an increase in its porosity (respectively, a decrease in thermal conductivity). The thermal conductivity of expanded clay can also change due to its hygroscopic properties. The use of the material requires additional waterproofing.
The thermal conductivity of expanded clay varies from 0.10 W / (m * K) to 0.18 W / (m * K), that is, in order to achieve the thermal insulation properties of mineral wool, the expanded clay layer must be thicker. The thermal conductivity of expanded clay and mineral wool is approximately 1:4, i.e. the difference is 2.5 times.
The cost of expanded clay on average is from 180 rubles / bag (weighing 25 kg).
Laminate
Laminate is a well-known material as a floor covering, but it can also be an independent heat-insulating material, but the thermal conductivity of the laminate is too high - 0.1 W / (m * K). Moreover, additional thermal insulation is often mounted under the laminate (by the way, mineral wool or expanded clay can be used here).
At the same time, if we compare it with other floor coverings, then only cork floors have less thermal conductivity. Laminate is often recommended as a "warm" floor covering, that is, its high thermal conductivity is used for additional heat transfer to the room.
Because of this, the price of the laminate in the framework of this article is not considered.
About thermal conductivity (video)
The efficiency of the heating system largely depends on the insulation used for thermal insulation of walls and ceilings. Expanded clay or mineral wool are evaluated in terms of practicality, cost, performance.
Thermal conductivity is not the only indicator used to assess the merits of thermal insulation materials. The thermal conductivity coefficient of mineral wool is about 0.04 W / (m * K), and expanded clay - 0.1-0.18 W / (m * K). During operation, this indicator is influenced by the scope, the thickness of the insulation layer, and the level of humidity.
The practicality of mineral wool and expanded clay granules is evaluated by a number of parameters:
| Characteristics | Expanded clay | mineral wool |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity | 0.18 W/(m*K) | 0.048 W/(m*K) |
| Layer thickness | 950 mm | 253 mm |
| Condensation | Not | Yes - vapor barrier required | 475 kg/m² | 10.1 kg/m² |
| Environmental friendliness | Clay is a natural material | Phenolic resins are used in the production of mineral wool |
| fire safety | Incombustible | With direct exposure to fire, the adhesive binder burns, releasing phenol |
| Biostability | Resistant to fungi, mold. Not a habitat for insects and rodents |
Mineral wool or expanded clay can be used to insulate a horizontal surface. Vertical backfill will settle over time, bursting the walls. Moisture-resistant expanded clay granules are considered the best insulation for the basement, basement rooms and bathrooms. Lightweight cotton wool insulation is carefully isolated from living quarters to eliminate health hazards.
Subject to the installation rules, manufacturers of both types of insulation guarantee a service life of more than 50 years.
Which is cheaper: comparing the cost of two materials
1 cubic meter of expanded clay gravel can be bought for 1500 rubles, 1 roll of mineral wool measuring 8200 × 1220 × 50 mm costs from 1400 rubles.
The cost estimate for insulation should include the cost of:
- for the services of loaders - for the delivery of heavy bags with expanded clay;
- additional consumables - timber, vapor barrier membrane, fasteners;
- personal protective equipment - important when using mineral wool insulation.
For the simultaneous solution of the problems of thermal insulation and sound insulation, it is clear that mineral wool is better. Expanded clay is not a heater, and the cheapness of the material can be completely offset by the need to use it in large quantities.
Expanded clay reviews
Alexander, 42 years old, Volgograd: “I used expanded clay for floor screed in the bathroom and toilet. Waterproofing "Osnovit", 7 cm layer filled with cement milk, cement-sand screed and tiles on top. Fine, warm."
Aleksey, 38 years old, Saratov: “I covered the roof of the attic of the old house with a layer of 20 cm with expanded clay. It became warmer, and the rain was not so audible.”
No matter how modern and powerful the heating system is, without high-quality reliable thermal insulation, its efficiency is minimized due to large heat loss. Expanded clay and mineral wool are most often used to insulate walls, roofs, floors or floors of residential buildings. It is impossible to categorically say which of the materials is better. Both heat insulators have their positive and negative sides. Their heat-saving function depends not only on physical and technical indicators, but also on compliance with the rules for installing thermal insulation.
General requirements for heaters
During the construction of buildings, thermal insulation of walls, ceilings and floors is mandatory, using heaters from special building materials - polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, expanded clay, mineral wool. They are characterized by low thermal conductivity, light weight and low price. Thermal insulation materials also have a noise-protective effect. They must meet the mandatory requirements: environmental safety and fire resistance.
What is expanded clay
Expanded clay is a loose, porous, fairly light building material. The main difference between expanded clay and other similar building materials is the use of special types of clay with a content of about 30% quartz as the basis.
Expanded clay is obtained by firing fusible clay rocks that can quickly swell when heated to 1050-1300C for 30-40 minutes. As a result of thermal shock, rounded granules with a melted surface are formed.
It can be said that expanded clay appeared due to defective clay bricks, when burned, sedimentary clay rocks swell. The release of gas and the transition of clay rock to a pyroplastic state during heat treatment is taken as the basis for the production of expanded clay. Most often, expanded clay is used to fill concrete structures and thermal insulation of the foundation, ceiling, roof.
What are the types of expanded clay
Depending on the size and shape of the granules, there are:
- Expanded clay gravel. Granules are oblong.
- Expanded clay gravel. Granules in the form of cubes with sharp corners.
- Expanded clay sand. Small granules, less than 5 mm in size.
The quality of expanded clay is affected by the size of the granules, bulk density, bulk density, porosity, strength. The porosity of expanded clay can be of different structures, its insulating properties depend on it. The more pores, the higher the heat-saving function of expanded clay. Outside, the granules are, as a rule, brown in color, on the fault - black.
Depending on the size of the grains, expanded clay is divided into fractions. According to GOST 9757-90, the following expanded clay fractions are distinguished: 5-10, 10-20 and 20-40 mm. Material with granules less than 5 mm refers to expanded clay sand.
Performance characteristics of expanded clay
Thermal conductivity
High thermal insulation ability. The heat-saving properties of the material depend on the type of processing. Even a small expanded clay layer under the floor significantly increases the level of thermal insulation. The thermal protection of a layer of expanded clay with a thickness of 100 mm is the same as 250 mm of wood.
The weight
Due to its lightness, expanded clay insulation is used at all stages of the construction process. The weight of one cubic meter of expanded clay reaches 250 kg.
Sound protection
Expanded clay is characterized by a high degree of soundproofing. The soundproofing properties of expanded clay are important in housing construction.
Strength and durability
Thanks to "hardening", as a result of clay firing and the formation of a strong sintered shell, the material becomes chemically inert, resistant to mechanical damage and temperature effects (frost resistance, at least 25 cycles).
It is not subject to rotting, damage by rodents and damage by fungus, mold.
Flowability
Expanded clay fill spaces of any volumes and geometric shapes.
Environmental Safety
Expanded clay is a completely natural material. Does not contain toxic impurities.
Water resistance
Expanded clay is not susceptible to moisture. The water absorption of the material is 8–20%. Any insulation needs protection from moisture and vapor barrier. But even if moisture gets into the expanded clay layer, its granules act as drainage, thanks to ventilated gaps. And the moisture gradually evaporates.
Affordable price
The material is relatively inexpensive. For example, one cubic meter of expanded clay gravel (fraction 10-20) can be bought for 1450 rubles, the price with delivery is 1500 rubles. Expanded clay is sold both in bulk and packaged in bags.
Physical and technical characteristics of expanded clay
Bulk density
Expanded clay is assigned different grades depending on the bulk bulk density. The total number of expanded clay grades varies from 250 to 800, the grade number indicates the bulk density of the material.
For example, expanded clay gravel 250 has a bulk density of 250 kg/m3. An analysis to determine the bulk density by fractions is carried out by pouring expanded clay into measuring containers. The finer the granules, the greater the bulk density.
moisture absorption
This indicator expresses a percentage ratio to the weight of dry filler. Unlike other fillers, expanded clay is protected from moisture penetration inside due to the presence of a burnt crust. The correlation coefficient of high-quality expanded clay is not lower than 0.46. Defective material has a low porosity of the granules, which greatly increases the ability to absorb and retain moisture.
Ability to deform
The deformation coefficient is determined by the porous structure of the material. As a rule, after the first test cycle, the vast majority of material samples show a reliable shrinkage result. Permissible value of the deformation coefficient is not more than 0.14 mm/m.
Thermal conductivity
The glassy phase of production has a great influence on the thermal insulation properties of expanded clay. The higher the glass content, the lower the thermal conductivity of the material. Good quality expanded clay has a thermal conductivity of 0.07-0.16 W / m, which allows you to save up to 80% of heat.
Method for the production of expanded clay
Clay shale is fired in metal kilns in the form of drums with a diameter of 2-5 m and a length of up to 70 m. The drums are located at an angle of inclination. Oil shale granules are poured into the upper part of the furnace, they go down the drum, where the nozzle for fuel combustion is located. The firing time of the pellets in the oven is 45 minutes.
There are two-drum furnaces, in which the drums are separated by a threshold and rotate at different speeds. In such furnaces, it is possible to process lower-quality raw materials and obtain expanded clay or gravel at the output, which is not inferior to the material obtained in single-drum furnaces.
Where is expanded clay used
- An economical bulk insulation for walls, floors, building floors, basements, pitched roofs, as well as for arranging heat and water supply networks. Expanded clay gravel of good quality reduces the heat loss of the building by 70-80%.
- Filler for lightweight concrete (expanded concrete). Production of blocks from expanded clay concrete.
- Decorative material and at the same time a heat insulator for soil and lawns.
- Drainage material and heat insulator for earthen road embankments in areas of water-saturated soil.
Ways to insulate the floor with expanded clay
In modern construction, there are different ways to construct a subfloor. One of the most frequently used is a floor screed with expanded clay, which is performed both dry and wet.
wet way
The use of expanded clay as a filler for concrete mortar gives strength to the structure. As a result of the penetration of the solution into the porous structure of the granules, the adhesion force of concrete increases.
How to calculate expanded clay consumption
The calculation of expanded clay for floor screed is carried out taking into account the required thickness of the heat-insulating layer. Before you buy expanded clay and other screed materials, you need to calculate their quantity.
Usually the following proportion is adhered to: for 1 sq.m of a screed 30 mm thick, 17 kg of cement and 50 kg of sand will be required. Expanded clay consumption depends on the thickness of the insulation layer and the fraction of the material and is approximately one bag of 50 kg, which is enough for a 4-5 m2 screed.
Calculation of expanded clay for a warm floor
The use of expanded clay allows more economical use of concrete mortar. Laying a "warm floor" has its own characteristics, since the concrete-claydite coating experiences not only mechanical loads, but also temperature effects. In this case, the proportional content of cement and sand will be 1:2.
The amount of expanded clay depends on the thickness of the thermal insulation layer, for example, with a layer thickness of 10 mm, 0.01 m3 of material per 1 m2 is required. It is difficult to calculate the exact consumption of expanded clay in advance; often the required amount of material is determined empirically during the construction process. A plasticizer is added to the concrete mixture for a "warm floor" at the rate of 150-200 ml per 1 m2.
The procedure for laying expanded clay
Thermal insulation with expanded clay requires strict adherence to technology.
The procedure for insulation with expanded clay:
- Clear the floor. If the floor is made of wood, then remove all structures except for the fixing beams.
- Set beacons around the perimeter of the room, maintaining a small gap from the wall.
- Cover the surface with a layer of sand 100 mm thick and compact.
- Pour expanded clay on top of the sand layer. The minimum thickness of the expanded clay layer must be at least 150 mm. It is determined taking into account the load on the floor.
- Level the surface of the expanded clay layer along the beacons with a fishing line.
- Cover with a waterproofing film to protect the expanded clay insulation from moisture penetration.
- Pour concrete solution. Laying concrete requires care so as not to disturb the level of expanded clay. Within 3-4 weeks, the floor is regularly moistened with water to avoid cracks.
Dry way
A feature of the dry screed technology is that no concrete mixture is used. The design consumption of expanded clay is 0.01 m3 per square meter of floor with a layer thickness of 10 mm. However, the calculation of expanded clay for dry screed is done for a layer thickness of 30-40 mm, which means that at least 0.03-0.04 m3 of material will be required per 1 m2 of area.
In practice, the consumption of expanded clay may differ slightly from the calculated one due to various reasons: the slope of the floor, the change in the area of the screed after the installation of beacons, etc.
Insulation of the floor of a country house with expanded clay
The country house can be insulated with expanded clay. The insulation layer should be at least 30 cm. When laying expanded clay directly on the ground, the floor will be cold. A more efficient method of double flooring. A draft floor is attached to the beams from tightly fitted boards without slots. The flooring is covered with thin durable paper - glassine, which is used instead of roofing paper. Expanded clay is poured from above to the level of the middle of the beam. Then the finished floor is laid.
Insulation requires protection from moisture, which is formed both inside the house and penetrating from the external environment. For this, waterproofing membranes are used.
What is mineral wool
Mineral wool is one of the most common heat insulators, which has been used in various types of insulation. Mineral wool is a soft coarse-fiber building material. Mineral wool insulation is produced from waste metal and carbon alloys of minerals.
Mineral wool is widely in demand in construction, due to its durability, simple and quick installation, and fire resistance. The disadvantage of this insulation is reduced moisture resistance. To protect against dampness, the material is impregnated with special compounds.
Such property of mineral wool as air permeability is especially appreciated. Due to the ability to "breathe", mineral wool is often used to insulate wooden houses. Release form of mineral wool insulation: plates, rolls, mats of various lengths and thicknesses. The choice of the size of the plates depends on the conditions of the thermal insulation installation and the tasks ahead.
For summer houses, the dimensions of the insulation will be smaller. So for a panel board country house, sheets with a thickness of 50 mm are required. Year-round houses need more thorough insulation; in this case, the required thickness of the mineral wool layer reaches 200 mm.
Performance characteristics of mineral wool
- Mineral wool is a refractory material.
- Provides a high degree of sound insulation, which is especially important in residential buildings with thin walls.
- Not subject to deformation from exposure to high and low temperatures.
- Acceptable price. The cost of the material depends on the form of release and size. For example, a set of mineral wool in rolls based on fiberglass for heat and sound insulation of various structures from two mats 8200x1220x50 mm in size costs 1,375.00 rubles.
Disadvantages of mineral wool insulation: the material is fragile and non-moisture resistant. Mineral wool cannot be called an environmentally friendly insulation. Its particles, when inhaled, have a harmful effect on the human body.
These shortcomings are neutralized with proper handling of the material and compliance with the technology of thermal insulation installation.
Thermal insulation of the floor with mineral wool along the logs
One of the ways to insulate the floor is laying on the logs.
Floor insulation along the logs is carried out on the ground. Underground space with this method will be cold. If the house is brick, then it is necessary to insulate the foundation of the house. This is due to the high thermal conductivity of the brick and the possibility of the formation of cold bridges. Thermal insulation by the method of lags is more often carried out in wooden houses, since wood has a lower thermal conductivity.
Modern insulation materials are very effective. But sometimes their use leads to freezing of the plinth in wooden buildings. Such a reverse effect is associated with the high tightness of modern heat insulators and the obstacle to heating the underground space due to the heat of the house. Therefore, when insulating a wooden house with modern materials, thermal insulation of the basement is also required.
The order of floor insulation by lags
- Soil compaction.
- Laying a layer of crushed stone, fastened with bituminous mastic. Bitumen is used for waterproofing.
- Installation of brick columns with a longitudinal interval of 2 m and a transverse interval of 60 cm.
- Pole waterproofing.
- Laying wooden logs with a section of 100x50 mm, which is enough to withstand the load on the floor.
- Fixation of a windproof layer at the bottom of each log. First, a metal mesh is fixed, and a wind-protective film is attached to it. This is necessary so that the insulation layer does not scatter under the action of air currents under the floor of the house. This film is vapor permeable.
- Laying mineral wool insulation on the film between the lags. Mineral slabs with a windproof coating are now being produced. In this case, a metal mesh and a film are not required.
- Covering the insulation with a layer of vapor barrier.
- Sealing joints between sheets.
- Plank flooring.
If the floor is wooden on a concrete base, then remove the boards and everything under them and clean the concrete surface. If the boards are in good condition and it is planned to re-lay them after insulation, then note the order of their location and carefully remove them.
Then spread the waterproofing film. Logs with a section of 50x50 mm are laid on top at a distance of 50 cm from each other. A heater is placed between the lags. From above, a vapor barrier film laid with an overlap is fastened with small slats. The final stage: finishing flooring.
When insulating the floor with mineral wool, it should be borne in mind that the height of the floor will rise by approximately 50 mm.
Attic insulation with mineral wool
So that the attic is not empty, it can be insulated and turned into an additional attic room or pantry. For thermal insulation of the attic are used:
- Organic derivatives (polyurethane foam).
- mineral wool materials.
- Bulk dry insulation (expanded clay).
For high-quality thermal insulation of the attic, all three types of materials are used and combined.
Mineral wool is well suited for insulating all surfaces of the attic: floors, walls and roofs. Insulation of the attic with mineral wool requires the additional use of an external wind- and hydro-insulating polymer film. It is advisable to treat the metal surface of the roof with oil paint to prevent condensation in the cold season.
Mineral wool has a loose structure, it passes steam well, therefore, on the inside, the insulation is covered with a vapor barrier layer of foil polyethylene.
Mineral wool is used in the form of rolls and mats. The seams between the individual fragments of the insulation are carefully sealed with metallized adhesive tape.
Mineral wool is placed between the roof rafters, and on the floor - between the lags of the supporting structures. During thermal insulation work, it is very important to take into account the increased load on the support pillars due to the weight of the insulation.
Therefore, before starting insulation measures in the attic, you should make sure that the supporting structures and the roof itself are strong, and, if necessary, replace obsolete worn parts.
Thermal insulation of the attic with expanded clay
Expanded clay is an excellent material for warming the attic. A dry, loose expanded clay layer creates a well-ventilated space and retains heat at the same time. Expanded clay is usually used for attic floor insulation, and in some cases for thermal insulation of gables and the roof itself.
The loose claydite layer passes moisture and air well, and therefore a wind- and moisture-proof polymer layer is needed outside. It is recommended to leave a small ventilated gap between the roof and the expanded clay layer to allow moisture vapor to escape.
From the inside, the expanded clay layer needs vapor barrier protection. Backfilling of expanded clay is made in a special frame. This hides part of the space inside the attic. A special box is made on the floor, expanded clay is poured into it, and wooden or tiled flooring is laid on top.
Often, expanded clay thermal insulation is supplemented with mineral wool or polyurethane foam, especially in the area of \u200b\u200bpipes where ventilation is most required. Expanded clay is poured into these places and carefully closed on all sides with moisture and windproof membranes.
So what is better: mineral wool or expanded clay?
Thermal insulation of buildings with mineral wool and expanded clay is considered the most common due to several factors: a relatively inexpensive price, a fairly simple installation process and quite a decent quality of insulation.
The choice of one or another insulation depends on the specific conditions of construction, financial and technical capabilities. In addition, expanded clay and mineral wool perfectly complement each other and are often used in a combined version. Expanded clay and mineral wool are time-tested materials that have become traditional in construction. And it seems that in the foreseeable future they are not going to give up their positions.
__________________________________________________
