IN Lately For the construction of houses in mountainous and mobile areas, they try to use mainly frame houses, installing them on pile foundations.

The reason for this is not only their low price, but also the possibility of creating the most stable foundation in problem areas. Moreover, such structures are very easy to install, which makes it hassle-free to install such a building even with your own hands, without hiring specialists for this.

At the same time, there are a certain number of nuances that are still worth paying attention to. This concerns, first of all, the insulation of the frame floor structure. The reason is that this process has many various features, which must be taken into account so that no problems arise during the further use of this building.

Peculiarities

First of all, in order to correctly lay the floor in the frame, you need to install the layers in the following sequence:

• first a load-bearing wooden floor;
• then the load-bearing insulation is laid;
• now, to ensure the protection of the insulation, you need to lay a vapor-permeable windproof layer;
• next comes thermal insulation;
• then vapor barrier;
• The last floor to be laid is the subfloor in the form of a screed and a finishing floor.

During the construction of a building, it is important to place all layers in the correct sequence indicated above. There are certain types of specialists who argue that vapor barriers should be installed exclusively with outside.

However, as many years of practice have shown, there is practically no point in this action. The reason for this is the process of steam formation itself, which occurs precisely inside any warm room.

What is the need

Perhaps, people who are far from all the intricacies of the process of constructing pile structures may not understand the need for floor insulation.

The absence of one, first of all, will lead not only to inconvenience during the operation of the building, but also to greatly increased heating costs in the winter. The reason is that without proper insulation, the floor simply will not retain heat inside the structure.

It is important to know: A properly laid thermal insulation pie makes it possible to avoid the occurrence of such negative situations, as well as significantly increase the service life of both the building itself as a whole and its individual elements.

It is also possible that certain problems may arise in the form of:

• Formation of condensate on the surface of many floors;
• Rotting of wood due to the formation of mold on it, which is preceded by increased moisture;
• Significant reduction in the energy efficiency of such a house.

Kinds

Arrangement in frame houses proper insulation flooring is a very serious stage of work. That is why it is very important to choose a suitable material for this that meets all the requirements for a particular case.

The most common options used for insulation today are:

• Styrofoam

In addition to good heat-shielding properties, this material also has a very low cost. However, its use should be done with extreme caution. The reason is that if it is exposed to very low temperatures for a long time, as well as high humidity, there is a high probability of its disintegration into small balls that make it up.

If this happens, all thermal protection the building will be destroyed. Therefore, if you choose it as insulation material, it is recommended to provide it with the proper level of protection from moisture.

• Penoplex

This material also has another name -. In terms of its characteristics and appearance, it has similar properties to polystyrene foam, but does not have its inherent disadvantages.

This type of material is characterized by excellent strength and almost complete absence of water absorption. It is precisely these characteristics that make it possible to use it in environments of low temperatures and high humidity. This is ensured due to the presence of special additives in it, which also give it increased resistance to fire.

• Mineral wool

Perfect for creating a good insulating pie. The fact is that such a material has a set of advantages, the main of which are non-flammability, as well as excellent thermal insulation properties. In addition to the above, it also has greater resistance to various biological influences.

However, when deciding to use mineral wool, you need to remember that it also has its disadvantages. For example, if water gets on it or moisture settles, it sags and due to this loses its thermal insulation properties. In addition, the price of such insulation will be quite high.

Take note: Today this type of material is offered in the form of slabs or ordinary rolls. But for proper installation of floor insulation, it is recommended to use options in the form of slabs. The reason is that they have a much more rigid structure and density, due to which they retain heat better.

To carry out installation work on mineral wool, you should use the following products: personal protection such as: mask, gloves, and protective suit.

• Expanded clay

There are also cases when for an insulation device frame house apply . However, even taking into account its very low price, the properties of expanded clay for use in such cases will be greatly inferior similar materials. Its main advantage is its very simple installation, which is why some builders still continue to use it.

Device

In addition to protection from impact on the floor external environment, due to the use of various materials with low thermal conductivity, it is possible to carry out additional insulation using water or electric version heating(). It is installed on top of the insulation, on which a reflective screen is placed to reduce heating costs, and a screed of the required thickness is made on top of it.

Here it is very important to first eliminate all existing cold zones that may arise regardless of the type of foundation, be it pile or strip. To do this, you need to seal all joints and cracks.

When the house is still under construction, it is most profitable to use. The reason is that its installation is not particularly troublesome.

You can lay it on top of the finished floor or under the “black” screed plastic pipes. In addition, this option is the most economical, and all the funds spent on it will pay off fairly quickly.

If its installation is impossible for some reason, there is a second option - laying flexible self-regulating cables. However, its use will be fraught with large bills for electricity.

Before settling on any particular method of insulating your floor, it is recommended to first consult with a specialist who has the proper knowledge and experience. Here you need to take into account a large number of various factors, ranging from climate, as well as geological features of the area and ending with the design features of the building itself.

Therefore, they usually try to carry out all the necessary technological calculations in advance. How to insulate the floor in a frame house, watch expert advice in the following video:

The advantage of any frame house is its practicality and attractive external characteristics for individual types of development. The only and most significant drawback of this structure is low thermal insulation.

To eliminate this factor, the frame house is insulated mineral wool according to a scheme that takes everything into account design features building. Thanks to correctly selected technology and strict adherence to instructions, you can easily insulate frame house with your own hands.

Selecting insulation: characteristics of mineral wool

Among the presented types of thermal insulation materials for insulation frame houses Most often, mineral basalt wool, fiberglass or ecowool are used. Much less commonly used are polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam and expanded clay. Such high popularity basalt wool due to a number of objective reasons, namely:

• environmental friendliness of the material;
• fire safety, withstands temperatures up to 1000°C;
• durability, average service life is about 30 years;
• vapor permeability;
• low thermal conductivity;
• ease of installation.

Basalt mineral wool is a synthetic thermal insulation material. It has high elasticity and resilience, does not burn, and can withstand heavy loads. The disadvantages of mineral wool include:

1. The presence of formaldehyde resins and small particles that are harmful to human health;
2. Exposure to moisture.

To prevent release harmful substances into the air, the insulation on top is tightly covered with a special film, which simultaneously serves to protect the mineral wool from moisture and various precipitation. When installing a heat insulator on the walls of a frame house, you should carefully perform not only vapor insulation, but also waterproofing.

This will protect the facades from the appearance of condensation inside the walls, dampness in the room, the development of fungi, changes in temperature conditions and other negative consequences that may occur when the insulation gets wet. It is worth noting that it is preferable to use basalt wool in slabs rather than in rolls for insulating frame houses, since they are denser and when used, the wool does not shrink so much in the wall, forming cracks in the wall.

In addition, it is especially worth highlighting ecowool, which is a safer material than basalt wool, but at the same time, in terms of its thermal insulation and strength characteristics, it is absolutely not inferior to it. Ecowool is a good heat and sound insulator, which is designed for a long service life (about 50-70 years).

Insulation placement diagrams

As a rule, when insulating frame houses, the main thermal insulation work are performed with the following structural elements:

• floors on the first floor;
• attic floors;
• mansard roof;
• external walls.

Thermal insulation of all these elements is carried out taking into account construction schemes, based on the design of the building itself. The construction of such buildings can be carried out in two ways.

Frame-panel

The production of the presented frame houses is carried out in factories, and the integral assembly of the building itself is carried out on site using the supplied components. Thermal insulation for such production is already provided by the manufacturer, so the owner only needs to correctly install and mount the insulation into the walls of the structure, taking into account the requirements and instructions noted in the instructions.

Frame-frame

This method involves building a house according to individual project. IN finished form Only profiled timber is purchased, all other finishing elements are purchased separately. Therefore, when constructing such a building, the insulation scheme and installation of materials are carried out independently.

Video “Insulation of a frame house”

Video instructions for performing thermal insulation work.

Insulation installation diagram

Installation of mineral wool is quite simple, however, this process requires certain training and qualifications. First of all, work begins with the sheathing interior walls chipboards, the joining of which is carried out on beams and strapping bars. After which, for their further finishing, they use eurolining or plasterboard, under which a vapor barrier film is laid. And only then the insulation is installed on top.

The heat insulator is laid in layers, the number of which is calculated based on the climatic conditions in the region. It is worth noting that the installation of new layers should be carried out in such a way that the seams of the previous layer overlap the next one. When insulating the walls of a frame house, mineral wool is laid in layers not from the inner or outside, and between the frame posts. This allows you to significantly reduce the thickness of the walls, increase living space and build a building in a shorter time.

Double-layer insulation

This method of insulation requires the presence of a ventilated layer, the thickness of which should be more than 4 cm. This allows for the circulation of cold air flow between the mineral wool surface and the wall. When performing two-layer external insulation on the facade of a frame house, it is necessary to adhere to the laying of layers in the following order:

1. Interior finishing stage.
2. Performing vapor barrier.
3. Thermal insulation with mineral wool in two layers.
4. Installation of a windproof membrane.
5. Installation of OSB-3 on the sheathing.
6. Performance exterior finishing facade.

The complexity of the work and the peculiarity of floor insulation in frame houses directly depends on the foundation of the building itself. For most of these houses, pile-screw types of foundation are used. Therefore, first of all, when insulating floors, it is necessary to use waterproofing.

Houses located on logs that can be climbed under are insulated with a waterproofing film from below. To install it, you can use a regular stapler. The film is covered on top with cladding boards, which are nailed both closely and at a distance of up to 40 cm from each other.

If the distance from the ground is small, then rows of boards are placed under the logs, on top of which a film is laid from the inside. Mineral wool is placed tightly between the joists on a waterproofing film.

The pitch between the joists should be approximately 58-59 cm, since standard sizes The wool slabs are 60 cm wide.

The mineral wool is laid in several layers, its thickness is approximately 15 cm. A vapor barrier film is attached to the top of the mineral wool and the log with double-sided tape. Plywood, OSB or boards are laid on top of the film, so that their edges rest tightly against the walls. Thanks to this, moisture and dust will not enter the house.

Wall insulation scheme for a frame house

Insulation of the walls of a frame house can be carried out both outside and inside the house. The materials used for this purpose are the same, the only difference is the thermal insulation technology.

Thermal insulation of external walls

External wall insulation consists of several stages. First of all, the frame is lined with OSB boards on the outside, maintaining a distance between them of 3-4 mm. After that, polyurethane foam is used to fill the cracks. Provides protection to mineral wool waterproofing film, which stretches over its entire surface. Double-sided tape is used to insulate the seams.

The final element when decorating the walls is siding. To install it, a frame is created from beams, to which the finishing material is attached. On the other hand, insulation boards are installed between the frame. It is noteworthy that the density of such slabs should be about 35-50 kg/m³. It is securely fixed and does not sag or roll over time.

Having completed the installation of the heat insulator, all gaps formed should be eliminated using polyurethane foam. Also with inside it is necessary to stretch a vapor barrier film, which will protect the mineral wool from moisture and fumes. After which the film is covered OSB sheets, plywood and boards.

Insulation of walls inside the house

The internal walls of frame houses are insulated for sound insulation. In addition to mineral wool, other types of insulation and soundproofing materials can be used for this. Unlike external insulation, it is not advisable to use waterproofing films; you can do without them.

Thermal insulation of the ceiling of frame houses

One of the key aspects of residential thermal insulation is ceiling insulation. As a rule, this stage is carried out while the roof is not yet assembled, since nothing should interfere with laying mineral wool on top of the ceiling.

The vapor barrier film is attached to ceiling beams. Then a board, plywood or OSB board, the thickness of which is 2.5 cm, is nailed onto the film. The insulation is fastened to the plywood, according to the same principle as when insulating other structures. Mineral wool must be laid across the entire width of the ceiling, taking into account the overlap of the width of the walls.

If the attic is not used for living, there is no need to install membrane film. For cladding, you can use plywood or a regular board. If it is not possible to insulate the ceiling from above, then you should internal insulation, tying insulation boards to the ceiling. Then the ceiling is covered with vapor barrier film and plywood sheets.

Considering that warm air masses rise upward, if insulation is incorrect, the house will lose a huge amount of heat.

Roof insulation

Thermal insulation of the roof of a frame house is carried out by analogy with the thermal insulation of the ceiling, but has some differences. A waterproofing film is attached to the upper surface of the mineral wool to protect the insulation from external factors (wind precipitation).

The vapor barrier film is hemmed from the bottom side rafter system, it is lined with hemming boards or plywood sheets. After that, sheets of insulation are laid on the outside so that they are covered with a waterproofing film covered with counter lathing. At the end, the roofing is lathed and the roofing material is laid.

Thermal insulation of the roof is best done from the outside, since pieces of cotton wool fibers will not fall down, getting into the eyes and lungs.

If the roof is already assembled, then the roof can be insulated from the inside. But such work is more labor-intensive because it becomes necessary to strengthen the mineral wool slabs before stretching the vapor barrier film.

Video “Thermal insulation of a house on a frame basis”

Informative video on how to insulate a private house with your own hands.

Frame construction is now gaining demand in our country. Abroad, such houses have long been the norm, as they allow you to significantly save on construction and get reliable, beautiful and warm designs. A separate line in the construction process is the insulation of the frame house with mineral wool.

Installation process of mineral wool slabs

This procedure requires the master to know the laws of physics, or at least technology, so that the house is warm. Today this topic will be covered in as much detail as possible, since many people make critical mistakes in this matter.

What makes it different frame buildings from any others? Lack of filling inside with base material. All walls, ceilings and roofs are hollow, which means that such a house cannot, by definition, be warm without taking appropriate measures. Therefore, it is thermally insulated all around.

Wooden skeleton of a frame house

The structure consists of the following parts:

• Foundation - its type influences the need to insulate the floor and the choice of method for this procedure.
• The lower frame is a perimeter frame made of powerful wooden beam, which carries loads from the walls and transfers them to the foundation.
• Joists are boards installed on edges that break up the space inside the ceiling formed by the bottom and other frames. The purpose of this element is the base for the floor.
• The walls consist of a series vertical racks– corner and intermediate. In some places, the racks can be connected by horizontal and inclined jumpers to strengthen the frame.
• Installed on top of racks top harness, which will be the base of the roof or the next floor.
• The rafter system is a sequence of inclined boards that define the shape of the roof and create a base for the roofing material.

Sectional view of a frame house - the diagram shows the location of the insulation

The boards from which joists, racks and rafters are made have their own width - usually 150 mm, although they can be smaller. This distance is filled with mineral wool or other insulation materials. In fact, it turns out to be a real “layer cake” from different materials, which will protect the internal filling from water, wind, fire, and will make the structure beautiful.

Insulation is installed in all listed parts of the house, including internal partitions and floors, since in addition to thermal insulation properties, it also has sound insulation properties. Noise transmission is one of the significant disadvantages of frame buildings.

What is mineral wool, what are its capabilities?

Mineral wool slabs

Many are perplexed - to build a good warm wall you need to make it at least 50 cm thick. Is 15 cm of mineral wool really enough to replace all this? Yes, specialized thermal insulation materials much more effective than the same bricks, and even less thickness frame wall will be warm. However, for this to happen, you need to understand the properties of the material and other parts of the entire structure.

Mineral wool refers to a group of materials of similar structure, made from raw materials of inorganic origin. The structure of such insulation consists of microscopic fibers intertwined into a single mass. Air is trapped between these fibers, which is a heat insulator.

• Mineral wool is made from glass, slag (metallurgical waste) and some rocks. The type of raw material will greatly affect operational parameters.
• Each of the listed materials is non-flammable, which allows the use of such insulation in rooms where the temperature is high. They line the walls of fireplaces, chimneys and stoves.
• You can buy mineral wool in the form of sheets of standardized sizes, rolls and toroidal rings. The first type is very convenient for laying walls and sloping roofs, the second is for horizontal floors, and the third is used for lining chimney pipes of a suitable cross-section.

Insulation of floors with rolled mineral wool

Types of mineral wool

Choosing insulation for a frame house is a rather difficult task. In construction stores you can buy the following:

Type of mineral wool, photo:	Description:
	It is not worth buying it for insulating residential premises; this material has several serious disadvantages. It consists of small and very sharp fibers that get clogged even under thick clothing. They can also penetrate the respiratory tract, causing irritation of the mucous membranes and allergic reactions. However, if you do buy it, you will need to seal the insulator with a vapor-permeable film. The advantage of this insulation is its price, which averages 150 rubles. per square in two layers. In centimeters this equals 10.
	A more advanced and safer material is stone wool. It is mainly made from basalt. The material turns out to be less hygroscopic, resistant to mechanical and vibration loads. It has lower thermal conductivity for the same material thickness, but the price is higher. There is no glass in the composition, so the material is considered harmless, but it also chips quite well. Basalt is a very hard mineral with a high melting point. Cotton wool from it can withstand heat of +1000 degrees Celsius. Even when exposed to a burner flame, it simply turns black and slightly charred.
Stitched slag wool with foil layer	Slag wool is made from blast furnace slag remaining after iron smelting. This material has many disadvantages, but holds heat a little better than glass wool.

Interesting to know! More expensive insulation materials have an additional foil layer. It creates a heat reflector effect - the material will be more effective than pure analogues.

Pros and cons of mineral wool as insulation

What general properties do mineral wools have? Should I even take them for home insulation, since there are so many other materials on the market, both artificial and natural?

Table of density of mineral wool and other insulation materials

Let's start with the positive aspects:

• An important point is that mineral wool is of no interest to rodents who like to live in layers of insulation. They especially like the foam they eat. Insulation after the colony multiplies will turn into nothing in a very short time, and few people will like to listen to the constant rustling overhead.
• Resistant to high and low temperatures— the material does not burn, which makes it indispensable in different situations.
• Thermal efficiency is at a high level.
• The material is easy to install - anyone can handle the task.

The negative qualities are as follows:

• Different models contain phenol-formaldehydes, which are constantly released into the air. The issue of the dangers of mineral wool is still not resolved, but many people use it everywhere. Modern materials contain a minimum of harmful resins, which is why they are officially considered harmless.
• The material is very dusty, which not only complicates working with it, but can also create inconvenience during operation. This property is especially pronounced in slag and glass wool. When working with them, be sure to wear protective clothing, hide your eyes, close your hands and airways.
• Moisture is destructive for all types of mineral wool. Their hygroscopicity will differ, but the essence is approximately the same - the water inside increases the thermal conductivity properties. Research shows that when the humidity in glass wool increases by just 2%, the thermal insulation properties decrease by 10%.

Therefore, it is so important to correctly assemble the frame walls and cover the insulation on all sides. How to do this will be explained in the following chapters.

Vapor barrier as an important component of an insulated structure

An important part of the “layer cake” with mineral wool is. This material is a film that prevents water vapor contained in the air from penetrating into the structure.

Membrane vapor barrier

Natural air humidity with improper insulation of frame walls and ceilings can greatly wet mineral wool. To make it clear how much, take a look at the following photo, which shows that water is running due to removed film jet.

Improperly performed vapor barrier will completely “kill” the insulation

If you look closely, you can see black mold showing through. Why did this happen?

Vapor barrier films can be solid (double-sided) or membrane (one-sided). The first ones do not allow either water or air to pass through in two directions. These materials are good as a waterproofing barrier. Because of them, condensation and steam will form, which nevertheless penetrates into the insulation and will have nowhere to evaporate.

The second type of film allows moist air to pass through in one direction; the second side is a barrier that greatly reduces the passage of steam. Its meaning is that the structure continues to “breathe”, but at the same time gets less wet.

Layer-by-layer structure of a frame wall

Such films are placed on both sides of the insulation. You can see what a complete diagram of the walls of a frame house looks like in the diagram above. An internal vapor barrier is installed so that air can escape from the wall, but not vice versa. External - also does not prevent steam from escaping from the walls and protects the material from precipitation (if outer skin leaks) and wind - this material is very durable, multi-layered, which helps it cope with high mechanical loads.

Attention! Mineral wool suffers not only from moisture, the wind also destroys it, gradually blowing out particles.

Let's return to the photo with an incorrectly made vapor barrier. The vapor barrier film was installed on the wrong side and as a result, moisture from the room got inside, but there was nowhere for it to escape. Then it’s only a matter of time before the mineral wool gets wet through and stops fulfilling its intended purpose.

To avoid such mistakes, carefully read the film manufacturer’s instructions to avoid the wrong side during installation.

Membrane films do not completely stop steam - some of it still penetrates from the room, so reverse side must be provided ventilation gap, along which street air will move, as shown in the diagram below. It will involve evaporation in the movement, due to which the mineral wool will dry well without losing its properties.

Scheme of steam movement through an insulated roof

If the room being insulated has very high humidity (bathhouse, bathroom, sauna, kitchen), it is better not to use diffuse membranes, as they will not cope with such a load. These rooms must be sealed tightly to completely prevent steam from entering the walls.

Read about it in our article.

In this case, double-sided vapor barriers are used. An excellent solution is foil materials on a polyethylene foam base. They themselves are good insulation, which will increase the overall efficiency of thermal insulation.

Sealed vapor barrier in the bathroom of a frame house with penofol

Due to the fact that steam will not pass through the walls at all, it will begin to accumulate and condense in the room - the windows will “cry” first. This is fraught with the formation of a greenhouse effect and the proliferation of mold on surfaces. To prevent this from happening, a good supply and exhaust ventilation– passive or forced, depending on the size and configuration of the room.

Forced ventilation In bathroom

Principles of insulation of different parts of a frame house

Now let's take a more specific look at the methods of insulating each of the previously mentioned parts of the structure with mineral wool. In general, the principle remains the same, but there are some differences, and they must be remembered.

Concrete floor slab above the basement and soil

The foundation of a frame house can be anything - pile, column, strip or slab. It is selected depending on considerations of savings on construction, the type of soil on the site, the presence of a basement, total weight structure and other factors. Each type of floor will differ not only in material, but also in thermal efficiency.

You can learn about the types of foundation from our articles:

Insulated screed in a frame house

If, then a strip foundation is used. It can be covered with a solid top reinforced concrete slab. The floor can also be ground - a thick layer of reinforced screed is poured on top of it. The essence is the same - the floor surface turns out to be concrete.

There are several ways to insulate such a floor with mineral wool:

It is very important that the floor finish is vapor permeable, for example parquet, wood flooring or parquet board. Yes, a lot of steam will not come from such a floor, but some movement will remain, and this moisture also needs to come out. If you want as flooring use ceramic tiles, laminate, marmoleum and other vapor-proof materials, replace mineral wool with polymer insulation.

Attention! If the house has a basement or cellar, it is best to insulate the floor on its side - on the ceiling. So, the dew point will be outside the ceiling, and condensation will not get into it.

It is much faster in time and easier in terms of labor intensity to insulate a concrete floor using joists.

Technology for insulating concrete floors using joists

In order not to waste energy and time on leveling the joist system, first take care of bringing it into the plane concrete base thin layer self-leveling floor. Otherwise, you will have to provide a system of supports for the boards.

The process of insulation by logs:

The structure of the floor largely depends on what rooms it divides. If both of them are heated, then you can do without a ventilation gap by reducing the thickness, since condensation will not form - just make a vapor-permeable ceiling.

If the ceiling leads, for example, to the attic, then you won’t be able to do without it, since the dew point will be above the insulation, which means the material will begin to get wet.

Attention! Upper layer The vapor barrier film should serve as a waterproofing barrier that will not let water in during leaks - this is especially important for insulated roofs of frame buildings.

Wooden floors of the first floor

Another flooring option will be implemented if the house is on stilts, although they can be made on strip foundations in a similar way.

First floor floor insulation scheme

The joists and main floor beams rest on a base, which can be a strip foundation or the lower frame of the building, standing on piles or pillars.

The insulation should lie on a surface made of boards or sheet materials. They are attached to the frame from below with self-tapping screws and nails, if there is access under the building, or through cranial bars mounted to the lower edge of the joists and beams - see the diagram below.

Base on cranial bars

After installation of the base, it is laid waterproofing membrane. If the house is on stilts, you need to use durable material that will withstand wind loads.

Interfloor ceilings

Many will ask, why insulate interfloor ceilings if both the upper and lower rooms are heated? It's simple - mineral wool in this case acts as a good sound insulator, significantly reducing the noise level.

Insulation of a frame house with mineral wool - floor plan

In terms of its structure, such an overlap is not much different from that described earlier, only instead of waterproofing, a vapor barrier film can be hemmed underneath.

Theoretically, if the ceiling consists only of vapor-permeable materials, the film can not be installed at all if we are talking about dry rooms. Steam will pass freely through the structure without greatly moistening the insulation. In this case, the room will “breathe”; it will not require additional ventilation.

However, you should still not do this so that if there are leaks from above, water does not flow onto the insulation.

Attic ceiling

When the ceiling leads into an unheated room, you will have to provide ways to dry the condensate.

Insulating the attic floor

The scheme, again, is practically the same, but there is one important point - the floor beams also need to be protected from getting wet. Proceed as follows:

If you intend to use the attic, then a layer of vapor barrier is attached to create a ventilation gap, after which the subfloor is installed. If you do not need this room, the waterproofing is attached to the roof slopes, under the roofing material, and the mineral wool remains open, which will allow it to dry effectively.

Frame house facade and roof

TO external walls and the roof have special requirements, since through them street moisture can enter the structure - fog, rain, snow.

Scheme for insulating the walls of a frame house with mineral wool

1. The inside of the insulation is also covered with a vapor barrier film.
2. On the outside, close to the mineral wool, a layer of windproof waterproofing membrane film is attached, allowing steam to pass in the opposite direction.
3. Then a counter-lattice is installed to create a ventilated gap - its height should not be less than 60 mm.
4. Installation of façade panels.

The roof structure is almost identical to the walls. Only the structure of the ventilation gap can differ, depending on the waterproofing used.

This is described in detail in our article.

Double ventilated gap

If a superdiffusion membrane is used, a single ventilation gap, the same as we described on façade walls. If the materials used have limited vapor permeability, double ventilation must be done. The first part is organized between the insulation and the film, and the second - between the film and the roofing material.

This scheme is relevant for roofs made of corrugated sheets and other metal coverings.

Frame houses are distinguished not only by practicality, but also by attractive external characteristics. This is an ideal option for those who want to acquire inexpensive but comfortable housing. Today we will talk about insulating a frame house.

Do-it-yourself insulation of a frame house

Design Features

There are two main methods of constructing frame buildings:

1. frame-panel (buildings are assembled directly at the factory with ready-made elements);
2. frame-frame (all elements are prepared and assembled at the construction site).

In cross-section, the wall of a frame house looks like a multi-layer cake (this can be seen in the image above). It is also worth noting that the frames themselves can be of two types:

1. wooden;
2. metal.

For a long time wood was the main building material, and no wonder - it is cheap, durable, lightweight, easy to process and has excellent thermal conductivity. Metal structures are erected from perforated steel profiles, mostly galvanized (this extends the service life to one hundred years).

Now - directly to the process of insulating a frame house!

Stage one. Choosing a material for insulating a frame house

After it's ready Basic structure, you need to start thermal insulation, and here, of course, there are a lot of questions. And the main one is the choice of suitable material. There are quite a lot of them, but the most popular are polystyrene foam, basalt, eco- and glass wool, extruded polystyrene foam, materials that are sprayed or filled. It would seem that the choice is quite wide, but not all of the described insulation materials are suitable for a frame building.

For example, expanded polystyrene and polystyrene foam are not suitable because if they are placed tightly in the inter-frame voids, then the structure itself will increase in volume in the future or shrink due to natural properties wood, which causes cracks to form between the thermal insulator and the frame. It is quite obvious that through these cracks the thermal energy, and the insulating material itself will no longer be effective. Therefore, a thermal insulator suitable for us must be elastic: even if the shape of the frame changes, there will still be no gaps, since the freed-up space will be filled with this material.

Now let's move on to specifics. Let's look at all the remaining materials, and you can decide for yourself which one is more suitable (in terms of price, quality, etc.).

Option #1. Basalt wool for insulating a frame house

Perhaps one of the most popular insulating materials. It has excellent noise and thermal insulation properties and is produced by melting rock basalt. For this reason, the material is sometimes called stone wool.

Note! The temperature it can withstand is +1000 C, so it is a real fireproof insulation.

The disadvantage of the material is that it absorbs moisture, which is why its main properties deteriorate over time. Therefore, when insulating a frame house, you should protect the basalt wool using vapor and waterproofing materials. We also note that for thermal insulation of walls it is necessary to use the material that is produced in slabs. It is advisable that there be a special marking on it indicating that it is for walls, otherwise after a couple of years the wool will shrink and cracks will form in the wall (namely in its upper part), through which it will penetrate cold air.

Option #2. Ecowool

Modern material made from cellulose. It differs from the previous version not only in appearance, but also in installation technology. To insulate ecowool, you need a special machine to mix the material with water droplets; then this entire mixture is driven into the interframe space.

Droplets of water are here for a reason - they glue pieces of ecowool together, forming a monolithic thermal insulator along the entire perimeter of the building. Consequently, there cannot be any cold bridges in such walls. Although it is possible to install ecowool without using special equipment, that is, dry. In this case, it is simply poured between the layers of walls and carefully compacted.

Ecowool is impervious to high humidity coming from the room, so no vapor barrier is needed in this case. The only drawback of the material is the high cost (not only of it, but also of installation work).

Option #3. Glass wool

Another very popular material that can be used in a frame house. It differs from basalt wool in that it is made from molten glass. It is characterized by excellent thermal insulation properties, fire safety and the fact that no toxic substances are released when exposed to fire.

Note! Glass wool is often produced in rolls. You should pay attention to the fact that it must have markings for the walls (this is necessary for a frame-type house).

Option number 4. Bulk insulation materials

These include sawdust, expanded clay, slag and the like. At one time, this technology was a great success, since it was quite difficult to get good insulating material. But today bulk materials are practically not used. Everything is explained quite simply: their common drawback is that over time they shrink, and their thermal insulation properties are very questionable.

Option #5. Glassine

Glassine is thick paper treated with bitumen. The material is often used in construction to protect against wind and moisture, although in reality this is not necessary - the material does not allow moisture to pass through, which comes from the room, and it accumulates in the frame itself.

Note! We do not consider spraying polyurethane foam, although it is very effective and can be applied to almost any surface. Firstly, it is afraid of direct sunlight, which reduces its service life by half. Secondly, its application requires special equipment, and this is not a cheap pleasure. We are talking about insulating a frame house, which in itself implies minimizing costs.

Video - How to insulate a house

Stage two. Preparatory activities

First we need to understand a number of important points, without which the thermal insulation of a frame building can easily turn into a waste of money. First, we note that you need to think not only about the walls, since both the ceiling and the floor can also let in cold air! In addition, the insulating material should be properly protected from moisture using internal/external waterproofing. Finally, when performing installation work, you need to leave small ventilation gaps between the walls and the insulation itself.

Before you start installation work, thoroughly clean all working surfaces from dirt and dust. If protruding screws or nails are found, remove them. And if there are gaps between the frame elements of the building, then blow them out polyurethane foam. All damp areas(if any) dry with a hair dryer.

Note! If before that outside surface the walls were thermally insulated using waterproofing material, then its re-installation inside the building is no longer required, otherwise an excess amount of moisture will accumulate in the structure and, as a result, it will quickly collapse. Below are instructions for internal insulation only.

Stage three. Waterproofing layer

Let’s immediately make a reservation that the installation technology for all materials is approximately the same. First, measure all the walls of the frame, then, in accordance with the calculations, cut strips of the material that was chosen for waterproofing. Attach the material to the posts using a stapler so that the frame is completely covered.

Stage four. Installation of a vapor barrier layer

Even if moisture-resistant materials are used for insulation, vapor barrier must still be performed. At first glance, these are unnecessary expenses that can be completely avoided. But the fact is that inside the frame there will be not only insulation, but also other elements (for example, wood), which still need protection from steam penetrating into the walls from the room.

Scheme for laying a vapor barrier layer when insulating a frame house

Both a special film and foamed polyethylene can be used as a vapor barrier. Attach the selected material to the frame racks close to the thermal insulator using a mounting stapler. Sometimes insulation blocks are simply wrapped in this material, but in reality this is not necessary - as we just noted, protection must be provided for all frame elements without exception.

The material is laid with an overlap of at least 10 centimeters, and all joints are carefully sealed with high-quality double-sided tape. Also don't forget the fact that the thickness vapor barrier material does not in any way affect the similar indicator of the insulating material.

Stage five. Installation of insulation

If mineral wool is used for thermal insulation, before starting work, be sure to put on personal protective equipment - a respirator, gloves, safety glasses, and special clothing. If you use polystyrene foam (and this material, as we said, is not very suitable), then such safety measures are not needed. When insulating a frame house, lay the material evenly between the frame posts, not forgetting the ventilation gaps required between the thermal insulator and the sheathing. To cut mineral wool you can use scissors or an ordinary knife, but for polystyrene foam you will need electric jigsaw or a hacksaw with small teeth.

Note! Experts say that it is more effective to lay insulation in two layers. So, first there should be a first layer 10 centimeters thick, then a wooden sheathing is laid in a horizontal position, on top of which the second layer is laid (its thickness should already be 5 centimeters). This little “trick” will help avoid the formation of cold bridges.

Place on top of the insulation protective film(if it is necessary, that is, if the outside of the house was not properly insulated). This will ensure that the material will always be in a dry state, and moisture will not get in from the outside.

Note! For the ventilation gap, which has been mentioned more than once, fill wooden sheathing 3 centimeters thick.

After this, you can begin installing OSB boards and decorative trim.

Stage six. We sew up the walls in a frame house

The procedure for insulating a frame house is almost complete; all that remains is to sew up all the walls from the inside. OSB boards are often used for this, although you can also use sheets of plasterboard. Although we note that drywall is advisable only in the case of a fairly even frame, otherwise it will take on all forms of irregularities. On the contrary, OSB is much tougher, so it can be used to eliminate minor flaws. Start finishing on top of one of them.

Fastening OSB boards to the frame in the presence of a second floor

Two options for joining plates

About additional insulation

If what is described above is not enough, then you can additionally take care of external insulation (if, of course, it is not already present). If mineral wool was used inside, then lay a vapor barrier on the outside, which will protect the material from condensed moisture. By the way, it can be not only film, but also aluminum foil, although, to be honest, this material is not the best.

You can use the same OSB or plywood as wind protection. Finish coating can serve as eurolining, siding or other suitable materials. That's all, good luck with your work and have a warm winter!

Video - Do-it-yourself insulation of a frame house

A frame house is one of the fastest and available ways housing constructions. But there are many nuances here. After all, there is no structure on the walls that resists the impact environment. Therefore, the issue of thermal insulation in such buildings is acute.

For insulation of frame houses, mineral wool is often chosen. Therefore, you need to figure out which type to choose and how to install it correctly.

This type of heat insulator is known, given, but not inferior in popularity and technical specifications modern technologies. At some points you can even be a step higher. If we compare the popular polystyrene foam or penoplex with mineral wool, then the second option is good at transmitting vapors that accumulate in the premises.

Some types of mineral wool are made from waste. For example, metallurgical waste is suitable for slag wool; glass wool is created from glass production residues or broken material.

In addition, insulation can be purchased at any hardware store. Special conditions There is no transportation either, so you can use your own transport. The main thing is that the cotton wool does not get wet.

Advantages and disadvantages

Manufacturers establish a certain list of advantages and disadvantages of their material at the design stage. But since mineral wool is already used, consumers have added several of their own points. The undeniable advantages of insulation include:

1. Low heat conductivity, which means an excellent heat insulator. But pay attention to the hardness of the wool. Stiffer material retains warm air better.
2. Fire safety. All types of mineral wool are not capable of supporting combustion. This point is very important for a frame house.
3. Duration of operation. This point is only possible if all rules for installing a heat insulator are observed.
4. Noise absorption. In addition to the fact that wool is a heat insulator, it can also reduce the amount of noise that can penetrate into the interior. Moreover, it works well both outside and inside.
5. Easy installation. Of course, there are several nuances, but the insulation does not cause any particular difficulties. The material can be easily adjusted to the desired size.

As for the shortcomings, there are only a few of them:

• hygroscopicity - cotton wool quickly absorbs moisture and loses its thermal insulation properties. Therefore, it is protected with special membranes on both sides;
• high cost - when compared with polystyrene foam, the price is slightly higher;
• the need to use a thicker layer of material to provide thermal insulation;
• fragility of fibers - this is especially true for glass wool. Therefore, installation of insulation is carried out only in protective clothing using glasses and gloves.

If the owner is not satisfied with this balance of pros and cons, he has the right to choose another option. But before that, be sure to consult with professional craftsmen.

Types of mineral wool

As mentioned above, there are several types of this insulation. Each has all the pros and cons that we have already become familiar with. The options differ in the raw materials used for production.

Slag

The main raw materials are metallurgical waste. At high temperatures, the components are fused and drawn into thin threads. This option is the cheapest of all types of cotton wool. But it also has a lot of disadvantages:

1. When wet, strong acids are formed that can even destroy metal.
2. Retains heat less efficiently.
3. Short service life.
4. Capable of withstanding loads up to 300 degrees Celsius.

Glass wool

To make this type of insulation, waste from the glass industry or the same materials as for glass melting (sand, borax, soda, limestone) are used. Everything is thoroughly mixed and, of course, fused. Next, thin threads are drawn out, from which the future insulator is formed.

Features of the material include:

• the most brittle and prickly fibers of all types of mineral wool;
• less hygroscopicity than the slag representative;
• resists biological, mechanical and chemical influences;
• gives less shrinkage;
• withstands heating up to 450 degrees, after which it melts.

Basalt wool

For this option, rocks are chosen as raw materials, namely basalt and bentonite clays. That’s why there is another name for stone wool.

Some manufacturers also add urea resins. But all components are safe for human life and health. Temperature in production it is around 1500 degrees.

The material has a lower coefficient of moisture absorption, practically does not shrink, and can protect the house from exposure to temperatures in the range from – 180 to 700 degrees. The cost of this insulation is slightly higher than the previous two. But is it worth saving when it comes to your own comfort and coziness?

Insulation thickness

In order not to make a mistake when choosing the size of insulation, focus on the following points:

1. Climatic location of the site and the house. If you live in the northernmost part of the country, then you need to choose thicker insulation or several layers. The thickness of the thermal insulation should be 30 cm.
2. Heating method.
3. The height of ceilings in future premises.
4. The size of the windows, as well as their design (wood or plastic and the number of cameras).

Technology of thermal insulation of walls with mineral wool

In order for the cotton wool to fully perform the tasks assigned to it, it is necessary to adhere to all installation rules. Otherwise, within a few years the cold will begin to penetrate into the premises, and the frame house will be covered with ice.

The owner will spend all his savings on heating at this time. Therefore, either carefully study all the intricacies of the installation and do everything yourself. Or take care of a professional team.

As for technology, you can work in two directions:

• from interior spaces out. From the inside, the wall is covered with OSB board - vapor barrier - insulation - water barrier - again board - cladding;
• from outside to inside. First, OSB - water barrier - insulation - vapor barrier - slab - interior finishing.

There are no differences in the amount of materials used, and in future operation too, the main thing is not to confuse where the vapor barrier is and where the hydrobarrier is.

Vapor barriers

This membrane is covered under insulation. The wall on the side of the room will be closed OSB board. This layer will allow vapors to escape freely, but not accumulate in the insulation. We already know that mineral wool quickly absorbs moisture, therefore vapor barrier is a necessary element in the process of insulating a frame house.

The film must be laid with an overlap of 10–15 cm. You can move both horizontally and vertically. The joints must be taped to prevent moisture from seeping through these places.

Installation of mineral wool

The insulation is placed tightly between the frame posts. If the width of the material is 60 cm, then the distance between the elements is about 59 cm.

This is necessary to ensure that the mineral wool does not slip and even small cracks do not form. But you also need to make sure that the slabs do not bulge, otherwise complete insulation will not be possible.

Internal walls (interior) are also filled with mineral wool. In this case, it is used as a sound insulator. The installation process is identical, but there is no need to use a water barrier. It is better to lay a vapor barrier on both sides.

Installation of wind and moisture protection

This layer is laid in exactly the same way as the vapor barrier. The membrane is laid over the insulation, moving either from bottom to top or from left to right.

Be sure to make an overlap of 10-15 cm, which is glued with tape. Such a membrane will protect the insulation, and the entire frame, from atmospheric moisture and strong wind gusts.

Wall decoration

For external cladding frame walls wooden house You should not use heavy options. Vinyl or acrylic siding is perfect. To install it, a counter-lattice is placed on top of the windbreak. It is to these strips that the facing material is mounted.

Additional lathing will also create a ventilation gap, which means that the moisture that comes out of the rooms will leave the walls faster. The frame of the house will remain strong and reliable longer.

Required Tools

You don't need anything special. Everything that the owner has in the kit is suitable for installing mineral wool. Although some tools may not be at hand. Then we rent it or borrow it from someone.

1. Impregnation for wooden elements.
2. Roller or brush for applying impregnation.
3. Hammer or screwdriver.
4. Chisel.
5. Nail puller.
6. Jigsaw with blades for transverse and longitudinal cuts.
7. Construction knife - for cutting insulation.
8. Wood saw.

How to do everything yourself?

In a frame house, as in any other house, it is necessary to insulate not only the walls, but also the floor, ceiling, and even the roof. Such events will ensure that in the future residents will not freeze in the winter and swelter from the heat in the summer. Therefore, you should not lose sight of some elements of the structure.

Floors

Floor insulation begins with waterproofing. But the execution process will depend on the foundation on which the frame house stands. There are two options:

1. You can crawl under the house - a pile-screw foundation. First, the wind-moisture-proof membrane is fixed. Be sure to overlap and glue the joints. Chipboard is nailed on top of it, but on the ground side. Next, they begin work on the premises. The insulation is tightly laid and covered with a vapor barrier. Then wood boards or boards are laid.
2. If it is not possible to get under the house, then first fix the chipboard and lay a protective film on top. And then they work the same way as in the previous version.

For ceiling insulation, there is also a choice:

• from the side of the room;
• from the attic side.

The first option is somewhat inconvenient. Mineral wool fibers break off and get into the eyes and respiratory tract. This is very unpleasant and can cause allergic reaction. But if it is not possible to use another option, then this one will also work.

The insulation is tied to the ceiling, covered with a vapor barrier, and then OSB or chipboard is used. After which you can begin finishing work.

In the second option, slabs will be used first, followed by insulation. After which the insulation is covered. Make sure everything is tight. The top of the mineral wool is covered with either boards or slab material.

Pitched roof

It is better to insulate the roof before the roofing material is installed. They work according to this plan:

1. Wood boards are fixed from the attic side.
2. Lay a vapor barrier.
3. Install mineral wool.
4. Provides wind and moisture protection.
5. Install roofing material.

If the roof is completely closed, then they work in the reverse order.

Thermal insulation with mineral wool

When starting to insulate walls, be sure to take into account the height of the walls. If this indicator is higher than 3 m, it is necessary to add horizontal frame elements on which the mineral wool will rest. In this case, the load on the lower layers of insulation is reduced, which means it will not sag.