Insulation frame house polystyrene foam is a common method of thermal insulation of residential and industrial buildings. The second most commonly used material after mineral wool. Popular due to low thermal conductivity and low cost.

Heat loss of frame houses

Foam plastic is a material consisting of foamed cellular plastic masses. Due to the high gas content, it has low density and low specific gravity. Common types in everyday life are: non-pressed and extruded polystyrene foam.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages include:

• high thermal insulation performance;
• low coefficient of moisture permeability;
• good sound and noise permeability;
• light weight;
• Suitable for work outside and inside the house.

There are a number of disadvantages:

1. Susceptible to destruction from exposure to chemical liquids. Therefore, when finishing works we need to take this into account.
2. When burned and heated, toxic substances are released. It is worth choosing carefully when finishing interior spaces, facades.
3. Subject to mechanical stress.
4. Vapor permeable. Drops settle inside and, when frozen, destroy the material.

In construction, it is used as a heat-insulating material for. It has found its application in the creation of structural and decorative parts - arches, false fireplaces.

Video: choosing foam

Kinds

Based on their structural structure and method of application, polystyrene foam is divided into types. There are:

• tile expanded polystyrene (PPT);
• pressless self-extinguishing foam plastic (PSB-S);
• penoplex - improved foam plastic;
• penofol - rolled thermal insulation material;
• liquid – urea-formaldehyde polystyrene foam.

All types are classified according to the principle of use and application specification.

Density and markings

To distinguish types of polystyrene foam, markings with letters and numbers are used. For pressed foam - PS, for non-pressed foam - PSB. The numbers following the letters indicate the density of the material.

The main brands of pressless foam:

1. PSB-S-15. Due to its low density (15 kg/m³), the material is used in cases where there are no special requirements for rigidity.
2. PSB-S-25. A common thermal insulator for building insulation. High density, long service life.
3. PSB-S-35. Thermal insulation of foundation, pipeline.
4. PSB-S-50. Highest density. Mainly used in the construction of industrial enterprises.

Thermal conductivity of the material and level of fire resistance

The thermal conductivity of a material directly depends on its density. The higher the density, the less heat loss. Let's look at this ratio in the table.

Watch the video: testing expanded polystyrene in practice.

The fire resistance of a material can be determined by its marking. PSB-S foam contains fire retardants, so the material does not support combustion and will not ignite. The letter C in the marking means self-extinguishing.

Mixtures and fasteners used for foam insulation

Construction markets offer various mixtures for fastening foam. Main types of fastening:

• adhesive mortar based on cement mixtures;
• plastic dowels.

Popular types of mixtures:

1. Mapei.

The mixture can be applied in several ways, it all depends on the surface to be insulated. Main types of application:

• continuous – with differences on the insulated surface of up to 5 mm;
• applying stripes over the entire area;
• point, up to 5 points over the entire surface (differences over 10 mm).

To secure the slab, secure it with plastic dowels.

Calculation of the required amount of foam

• slab size;
• insulated surface (floor, ceiling, walls);
• foam thickness;
• area of ​​the insulated surface.

Be sure to take heat resistance into account. It is different for each region.

Floor insulation technology

For thermal insulation, you need to install beams on which the floorboard will be laid. When choosing a material, consider the density. It must be at least 25 kg/m³. Basically, four methods are used to insulate floors in a frame house:

• laying insulation under rough screed;
• installation on sand or prancing;
• laying foam on a layer waterproofing material;
• floor insulation along joists.

Let's consider each method in detail.

Under the rough screed

In this case, one layer of insulation consists of three sheets of foam.

1. A layer of waterproofing is laid.
2. Install a damper tape around the perimeter.
3. Glue the slabs together and lay them on waterproofing layer.
4. The insulation is covered with a vapor barrier material.
5. Pour a rough screed over it. The layer thickness is at least 7 centimeters.

On the sand or prancing

Apply a layer of wet sand or sandstone evenly to the foundation. Lay insulation boards on top. To ensure that the installation is even and dense, cut the foam into pieces measuring 20 x 30 cm. Install beacons on the laid insulation and apply a finishing screed. The disadvantage of this method is that the slightest irregularities will cause the screed to “play.”

On waterproofing film

Most non-standard way. Lay down waterproofing film between the beams, and lay foam sheets on top of it. Then another layer of waterproofing. Cover the entire surface with boards.

Insulation by joists

This method can be used to insulate floors during construction and in a completed building. They use the method of dividing into rough and finishing floors. Stages of work:

1. Lay boards on the floor beams. They must be treated with an antiseptic solution and covered with metal mesh. This will protect the house from mice.
2. The next step is a layer of wind protection. Attach to the joists using a construction stapler.
3. Lay a layer of insulation. It is better to combine two types - mineral wool and expanded polystyrene. Mineral wool is laid on top of foam boards. For ventilation, the gap between the thermal insulation and the finished floor boards must be at least 50 mm.
4. Seal all joints polyurethane foam.
5. The last layer is a vapor barrier film. You can lay a finished floor on top of it.

To reduce humidity, cover the underground space with a layer of sand and expanded clay.

Frame house construction is quite a promising direction in the construction of private houses. They do not require powerful foundations and are easy to install. The construction of a frame house will require much less financial investment than the construction of a brick building. To ensure that savings do not end at the construction stage, it is necessary to think in advance about ways to preserve heat indoors. One option would be to insulate a private frame house with polystyrene foam.

What is expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is a foam material of artificial origin. There are two types of polystyrene foam for do-it-yourself insulation of walls and other building structures:

1. Styrofoam;
2. extruded polystyrene foam.

As the most affordable option Foam can be used for thermal insulation. It consists of small balls with a cavity filled with air inside. Air is one of the most effective insulation materials; only inert gases prevent heat loss better than it. Do-it-yourself insulation with expanded polystyrene allows you to achieve excellent results thanks to the following material characteristics:

• availability and low cost;
• high thermal insulation characteristics;
• resistance to biological effects (mold, fungus);
• ease of working with the material and installing it yourself;
• the material does not shrink over time;
• safety for humans.

• low strength (required additional protection polystyrene foam from mechanical stress);
• instability of the material to high humidity at low temperatures, can easily crumble into individual balls;
• instability to fire.

All these shortcomings are compensated by the low price of the material, but it is possible to take them into account and reduce the negative manifestations to zero.

Wall insulation

Insulation scheme with a suspended facade: 1 – interior decoration; 2 – vapor barrier; 3 – frame stand; 4 – expanded polystyrene; 5 – siding; 6 – vapor-permeable moisture-proof membrane.

Insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam in this case is carried out between the frame posts. After that, sheathing is done on both sides. Work is carried out in the following order:

1. frame processing: cleaning from dirt and dust, eliminating unevenness, removing unnecessary sharp objects;
2. laying a waterproofing layer with outside walls;
3. laying insulation;
4. laying a vapor barrier layer;
5. wall covering.

When using polystyrene foam there is no need to install a ventilated façade, unlike the equally popular mineral wool.

Option with using OSB as water and wind protection

Waterproofing is installed to protect the wall material from moisture penetration from the outside. When building a house with your own hands, you can use the following as a waterproofing layer:

• plastic film;
• modern moisture-proof, vapor-permeable membranes;
• OSB-3.

The waterproofing material is laid with an overlap of 10 cm, the joints are sealed with a special tape. Manufacturers present polystyrene foam as a material that has a low degree of water absorption, but it must be remembered that in winter it can collapse if exposed to moisture.

To prevent this unpleasant phenomenon, it is necessary to provide waterproofing of the walls.

Additional foam insulation on the outside

It is important to remember that waterproofing is always located on the cold air side (when insulating walls from the outside), and vapor barrier on the warm air side. Polyethylene film can be used as a vapor barrier for walls.

Insulation of floors

There are several options for using polystyrene foam:

• insulation of floors above a cold basement or technical underground;
• insulation of attic floors in the presence of a cold attic;
• increasing the sound insulation characteristics of interfloor ceilings.

In the case of a frame house, the material is laid between the joists. When using extruded polystyrene foam, insulation under a reinforced cement-sand screed is possible.

When insulating floors with your own hands using polystyrene foam, it is important to correctly observe the order of layers. In the floor structure of the first floor, waterproofing is first laid, followed by foam plastic, and a vapor barrier on top. For interfloor and attic floors, the vapor barrier and waterproofing layers must be swapped.

Insulation scheme attic floor

As a compromise between price and quality, you can use polystyrene foam insulation in the following form: a main layer of foam is laid inside the floor pie, and a layer of extruded polystyrene foam of a small thickness is laid on the outside. This will increase the strength of the insulation layer without large financial costs.

Insulation of attic roof

The order of layers when insulating the attic

When building a private house, the option of using the under-roof space as an attic is becoming increasingly popular. In this case it is necessary to ensure comfortable conditions stay and reliably protect the room from the cold. Basic heat losses occur precisely through the roof, so sufficient attention must be paid to its insulation.

In the vast majority of cases, polystyrene foam is placed between the rafters. Fastening is carried out using adhesives and special nails to the rafter legs. The bottom sheathing acts as additional reinforcement.

The thickness of insulation in the main territory of the country will be in the range of 150-200 mm. It is important to remember that the height rafter legs cannot be taken less than the thickness of the insulation layer. In the case of polystyrene foam, a ventilated air layer is not necessary. To protect structures and foam from negative internal and external influences, the following materials are used:

• vapor barrier;
• waterproofing;
• wind protection

As the second and third layers, modern moisture-windproof membranes can be used, which are mounted outside the heat-protective material.

Installation technology

The main difficulty when working with polystyrene foam is maintaining the exact spacing between the slabs of the material. Expanded polystyrene is subject to thermal expansion; it is to compensate for this that it is necessary to provide small gaps. The joints of the plates are glued with a special adhesive tape, it can also be foil tape.

Fastening to the surface from the outside and inside can be done using adhesives or dowels. The latter provides a reliable connection, but violates the integrity of the layer. When using expanded polystyrene, several requirements apply to the adhesive composition, but one of them is the most important: the adhesive must not contain chemically aggressive components. The taboo applies to:

• acetone and other solvents;
• petrol;
• kerosene;
• formaldehyde;
• formalin;
• toluene;
• benzene;
• aggressive resins.

Insulating a frame house using polystyrene foam is a simple but effective measure that does not require large financial costs. With its help, without special training, you can insulate walls and other structures. Long term The service of the material will allow you to forget about the problem of heat losses for a long time and significantly save on heating a private home.

Improper insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam can lead to wooden structure will become unusable after a few years. How to prevent this? In this article I will try to answer the question posed and describe in detail the insulation technology.

Thermal insulation frame structure polystyrene foam requires adherence to technology

Foam parameters

Advantages of this material:

• Low thermal conductivity. On average, the coefficient is about 0.037 W/mC;
• Light weight. The density of the insulation is in the range of 15-25 m3;
• Low cost: The price starts from 1400-1500 rubles. per cube;
• Doesn't shrink. Some types of mineral wool shrink during use, resulting in top part the walls turn out to be uninsulated. If you use polystyrene foam, you will not encounter such problems;

Foam plastic is an effective polymer insulation with the lowest price

Flaws:

• Zero vapor permeability. As a result, moisture that penetrates the walls from the room accumulates between the wooden elements and the insulation. This leads to wood rotting;
• Fire hazard. Polystyrene foam, especially from little-known manufacturers, burns well;
• Toxicity. During operation, polystyrene foam is harmless, however, in the event of a fire, it releases dangerous toxins that lead to severe poisoning.

During combustion, foam releases toxins

Therefore, foam plastic is far from best insulation for frame houses. However, if the high cost of mineral wool does not suit you, you can also use expanded polystyrene, but subject to certain technology.

Wall insulation technology

Insulation of the frame with foam plastic can be divided into two main stages:

Stage 1: internal vapor barrier

To prevent the wood of the frame from rotting, the walls must be protected from steam, i.e. high air humidity. The work is done like this:

Illustrations	Description of actions
	Materials. You will need: Double-sided sealing adhesive tape (butyl rubber); Vapor barrier (reinforced film can be used.
	Sealing the places where the film adheres: Remove dust and dirt from racks and other frame elements; Tear off the protective film from the tape and glue it to all frame elements to which the vapor barrier will adhere; Tear off the top protective film from the glued tape with your own hands. All racks and other wooden parts of the frame must be treated with protective impregnation.
	Installation of vapor barrier: Roll the roll across the racks, gluing the film to the tape in parallel; Cover all joints with adhesive tape. The canvases should overlap each other by 200 millimeters; Additionally, secure the vapor barrier using a stapler. The staples should be spaced in increments of 25-30 cm.
	Installation of sheathing. Attach wooden slats to the frame in a horizontal or vertical position, to which the finishing coating (plasterboard, lining, etc.) will subsequently be attached. Lathing can be done immediately or before installation finishing material when the wall is insulated.

A house insulated using this technology requires effective ventilation. Otherwise, the humidity in the room will always be high, which can lead to mold and other negative consequences.

Stage 2: installation of insulation and waterproofing

Now we begin insulating the frame walls with polystyrene foam. This operation is performed like this:

Illustrations	Description of actions
	Materials. You will need: Plates with a thickness of 10 cm. Since there will be no mechanical stress on the insulation, you can use slabs with a density of 15 kg/m3; Hydro-windproof film; Slats with a section of 20x30 mm; Adhesive sealing tape; Polyurethane foam.
	Installation of insulation: Place foam boards between the posts. As a rule, the frame for foam plastic is made with a strut pitch of 50 cm. If the step is larger, add a strip of foam plastic to the whole slab. To cut, use a fine-toothed hacksaw or utility knife; All existing cracks in the insulation must be filled with polyurethane foam; Next, lay the second layer of insulation in the frame, always with the joints offset relative to the first row. Otherwise, cold bridges may appear; The gaps in the second layer of insulation also need to be filled with foam.
	Installation of hydro-wind protection. Now the foam walls need to be protected from moisture penetration from the outside. The work is performed in the same way as installing a vapor barrier from the inside: A sealing tape is glued to the frame; A membrane is glued to the frame; Additionally, the membrane is fixed with a stapler.
	Lathing installation: On top of the waterproofing, you need to attach slats to the racks using self-tapping screws. Thanks to them, between the façade cladding and the windproof film, a ventilation gap necessary to remove moisture.

To ensure a smooth wall surface, check the position of the sheathing slats with a level, especially if there are flaws in the installation of the frame. To level the position of the slats, you can place scraps of plywood under them.

After the insulation of the walls of the frame house with polystyrene foam is completed, you need to sheathe the facade. This work is carried out by standard scheme, which I have already described several times on the pages of our portal, so I will not repeat it.

It must be said that we examined the process of insulating walls with foam plastic from the outside, however, the work can be done in the reverse order, i.e. First, finish the facade, and then insulate it from the inside.

The floor is insulated according to the same principle as the walls.

We insulate the floor

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam is performed as follows:

Illustrations	Description of work
	Materials. To insulate the floor you should prepare: Styrofoam; Vapor barrier film; Polyurethane foam; Substrate (foamed polyethylene, cork, etc.).
	Laying vapor barrier. The film should be placed directly on top of the joists. At the same time, do not forget to glue the joints and ensure overlap.
	Laying insulation: Fill the space between the joists with insulation; Fill the existing cracks with polyurethane foam.
	Laying the top layer of vapor barrier: The film is laid according to the standard scheme; Lay strips of underlay on top of the joists to provide sound insulation.

Ceiling insulation

In order for the insulation of a frame house with polystyrene foam to be effective, it is necessary to insulate the ceiling. The easiest way to perform this procedure is from the ceiling. In this case, the work is carried out according to the same scheme as floor insulation.

Installation of insulation from the inside is carried out slightly differently:

Illustrations	Description of actions
	Materials. To insulate the ceiling you should prepare: Expanded polystyrene boards; Vapor barrier; Sealing self-adhesive tape; Nylon thread; Nails.
	Installation of vapor barrier. Secure the film to the floor joists and attic flooring using duct tape and a staple gun.
	Laying insulation. The instructions for installing foam plastic look like this: Drive nails into the lower part of the edges of the beams at intervals of 20-30 cm. The caps should protrude slightly so that a nylon cord can be tied to them; Insert insulation boards between the floor beams; To secure the insulation, pull the cord in a zigzag pattern, tying it to the nails. If the slabs fit tightly into the space between the beams, they do not need to be fixed additionally.
	Installation of vapor barrier. Secure the film to the floor beams with a stapler, as shown in the photo.

That's all the information on how to insulate frame house polystyrene foam.

Conclusion

Now you know how to insulate a frame house with foam plastic so that your home will serve you for many years. Additionally, watch the video in this article. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments, and I will definitely answer you.

When using polystyrene foam, it is worth considering the specifics of this material based on its strengths and weaknesses.

• Provides excellent thermal insulation - thermal conductivity is only 0.037-0.043 W/K*m. In winter, no heat comes out of such a house, and in summer there is no coolness; hot street air is again trapped outside. Polystyrene foam creates the effect of a thermos and allows you to save on both heating and air conditioning.
• It has excellent moisture resistance and waterproofing, the water absorption of a foam sheet for 28 days under water is about 3%, the resistance to water vapor diffusion is (p) for rigid foams from 20 to 100 units.
• High level of noise absorption.
• Low price, one of the most available materials for thermal insulation.

• When exposed to environmental temperature conditions (temperatures of more than +100 C are terrible for polystyrene foam), the material practically does not change its volume. The consequence of this is the lack of movement inside the frame when the foam is heated, leading to damage to the fasteners and surrounding materials. The slabs sit in place, do not deteriorate, which means they do not require replacement or repair, and the service life of the entire structure increases.
• No toxic substances. Polystyrene foam does not emit dangerous fumes, does not provoke allergies, and does not emit unpleasant odors and is completely safe for health under normal conditions.
• Flammability. Standard polystyrene foam (PSB, PPT) has a flammability degree of G3-G4; when fire retardants are added, it is reduced to G1 (low-flammable self-extinguishing substances) and is marked with the prefix C - PSB-S.
• Simple and easy installation. The work can be performed by one person and does not require physical strength or special skills; all you need to do is carefully familiarize yourself with the technology.

The weaknesses of the heat insulator are not many characteristics.

• Vapor tightness. Moisture entering the walls cannot pass freely through the foam and accumulates, as a result wooden frame gets damp and can rot. In houses with high humidity, exhaust ventilation is necessary.
• High flammability of low-quality PPT. An unscrupulous manufacturer may not add fire retardant components, as a result of which the flammability of the foam will be at the G3-G4 level.
• Toxicity. Under normal conditions, polystyrene foam is safe, but when melted and burned it releases toxic substances.

For information on how to insulate the floor in a frame house with polystyrene foam, see below.

Workers who have specialized education do not recommend insulating the walls of a frame house with foam plastic. This is due to several disadvantages of the material:

1. Flammability. The insulation is easily flammable. For it to catch fire, you need a continuous source of fire, which can be the wooden elements of the house frame. Although manufacturers claim that the material is treated with special fire retardants and is absolutely safe in this regard. But the opinions of fire safety experts differ. And by State standards Polystyrene foam is still considered a combustible material.
2. Toxicity. During operation, the insulation does not emit any caustic or harmful substances. But if the material begins to ignite, black smoke is released, which is very dangerous to human life and health.
3. Low vapor permeability. In the process of life, all living organisms emit steam. To live comfortably indoors, steam needs to escape outside. Otherwise, mold and mildew will develop on the surfaces in the rooms, which is also very dangerous for humans.

Resistance of polystyrene foam to chemical compounds

Chemical compound
Saline solution (brine, sea water)	+
Soap and wetting solution	+
Bleach: hypochlorite, chlorine solutions or hydrogen peroxide	+
Acid solutions	+
Not concentrated hydrochloric acid(35%) or nitric acid (less than 50%)	+
Concentrated sulfuric acid, 100% formic acid	—
Caustic sodium, ammonia	+
Organic solvents: acetone, ether, benzene, xylene, trichlorethylene	—
Medical gasoline, white spirit	—
Paraffin oil, Vaseline	+ —
Diesel fuel	—
Petrol	—
Alcohols: methanol, ethanol	+ —
Organosilicon compounds	+
stable (regardless of duration of action)	+
conditionally stable (long-term action leads to shrinkage or destruction of the surface layer)	+ —
unstable (shrinks or dissolves)	—

Since the material does not allow steam to pass through, it will accumulate between the wall and the insulation and this will lead to the wooden elements beginning to collapse prematurely. In addition, insulating a frame house with foam plastic creates the effect of a thermos. Heat is retained indoors at all times winter time and in the summer.

But if for the cold season such an effect is simply necessary, then in the summer it will be unbearable to be in the house, due to the constant high temperature air. It will be necessary to install air conditioning or fans.

If choosing a safer insulation does not allow family budget, you can use several tips from professionals:

• Before insulating a house with polystyrene foam from the outside, the material must be additionally treated with fire retardants (substances that resist fire).
• Forced ventilation will help remove environment steam.
• Foam insulation must be covered on both sides with windproof film. On the side of the inner wall it will serve as waterproofing. Condensed steam will be removed using a ventilated gap. And the outside will be protected from moisture from the atmosphere and low temperatures.

How to insulate walls

Polystyrene foam is traditionally used to insulate the walls of a frame house, but it is still better to use it to insulate the house from the outside, since the technical smell that foam boards emit disappears from the room in at least a week. In the first week after insulating the walls inside the house, residents may experience headaches and disturbed sleep.

Insulation of an internal wall with foam plastic

What you will need to prepare the walls for insulation:

• hammer drill
• grater
• paint brushes
• bucket or other container for diluting mixtures
• spatulas
• needle roller
• hammer

To fix the foam, you need to make a flat wall surface, for which we remove old finishing. After cleaning the wall from dirt, dust and other coatings, make sure that when applying the foam sheets there are no recesses or air spaces left. The foam should fit tightly to the wall. If the quality of the walls leaves much to be desired, it is necessary to prime them. To do this, use a brush or spray.

Using a needle roller, we roughen the surface of the foam board.

Important: we start gluing the insulation from the bottom, for which we install starting bar. This strip will act as a support for the first sheets of polystyrene foam, and will help to install them evenly

Using a spatula, apply the adhesive mixture to the insulation, then press it to the surface of the wall and press it with your palm. You cannot use hard things that will damage the foam - only your palm. After installing the insulation, check for dents, cracks or damage.

We continue to insulate all the walls in the same way, trying not to leave gaps between the foam sheets. When the work is finished, it is necessary to use special plastic nails, which experts call mushroom. This mushroom consists of a plastic circle and a sleeve-leg. Hammer a nail into the sleeve, which is preferably plastic, this will avoid cold spots.

Mushroom for fixing foam boards to the wall

The fungus is attached thanks to holes made using a puncher. The length of the holes should be 20 mm greater than the size of the fungus. On average, one sheet of polystyrene foam takes 5 fungi.

Fungi are located at the joints of the plates, additionally pressing the foam sheets against the wall

Make sure that the caps are level with the insulation, and after hammering the nails, they are heated by 1.5-2 mm. If, after insulating the wall, gaps of 5 mm or more remain between the sheets, they must be additionally foamed

The required foam sizes are easy to cut

How to properly insulate a frame house from the inside with polystyrene foam

Before starting to insulate walls with foam plastic from the inside, everyone asks many questions about the rules and technology of the process.

Remember that you need to follow certain rules when insulating a frame house from the inside with foam plastic, otherwise the work will be a waste of money and time.

You should take care of the following nuances:

• firstly, if you are planning to insulate the walls, then think about insulating the ceiling and floor, because they also allow the cold to pass through. Correct solution problems – it’s worthwhile to completely insulate the house;
• secondly, the room must have good internal and external waterproofing;
• thirdly, when laying foam sheets, do not forget to make small special ventilation gaps.

The technology for insulating a house from the inside is not much different from the process of insulating a house with polystyrene foam from the outside, but there are still some differences.

Stages of work:

• prepare the wall: remove and clean the surface from the remains of the old wall covering;
• leveling and priming walls. Unlike external insulation, regular ceramic tile adhesive can be used inside. If you wish, you can attach sheets of foam plastic with plastic dowels (this is not necessary, since the foam inside is not influenced by negative external factors, for example, strong temperature changes);
• apply glue. Lay the mesh so that it overlaps the adjacent sheet by 15 centimeters. Then apply another layer of glue at least 2 mm thick;
• after everything has dried, do the facing work: glue wallpaper, paint the walls, etc.

Which is better: insulating walls with foam plastic inside or outside?

From the above properties of the material, it can be argued that external insulation has more advantages than internal insulation:

• saves room space. If we take into account that a country house, which is usually small in size, is being insulated, then saving space inside will be very useful;
• the temperature in the building does not change, and because of this, condensation will not appear inside the room.

The thickness of the foam sheet layer depends only on the desire of the owner and on the climatic conditions in which the house is located.

Foam sheets of different thicknesses are produced, so some use several layers of material when insulating to be sure.

The checkerboard order when gluing sheets of polystyrene foam must be observed, otherwise the so-called. “cold bridges” that allow air to pass through.

Pay special attention to the joints and corners in the openings - they need to be well filled with polyurethane foam. . Products made from expanded polystyrene are safe for health, and due to the fact that the material consists of 98% air, such “upholstery” retains heat in the premises: the best remedy for home insulation cannot be found in terms of quality and price

Products made from expanded polystyrene are safe for health, and due to the fact that the material consists of 98% air, such “upholstery” retains heat in the premises: you cannot find a better means for insulating a house in terms of quality and price.

Installation technology

A frame house can be insulated with expanded polystyrene both outside and inside. In any case, the slabs are placed between the studs and the sheathing on both sides of the walls. To avoid the formation of cold bridges between polystyrene foam boards, it is necessary to install them correctly.

Preparation

At this stage, the frame is processed. Remove uneven walls, protruding nails, and wire.

The surface is cleaned of dust and debris. Gaps and cracks are filled with foam to prevent air from getting into them. Wet wood is dried with a hair dryer. The entire area of ​​the frame is primed and allowed to dry completely.

Waterproofing layer

A layer of waterproofing is installed on the outside of the walls: it will protect them from moisture and wind. Of course, polystyrene foam is a moisture-resistant material, but sub-zero temperatures dampness and moisture penetrating inside the frame can freeze and destroy the insulation.

Waterproofing material (glassine, polyethylene film or membrane coating) must be laid on the walls, secured with nails, and the joints taped. The strips are overlapped (10 cm overlap).

Laying insulation

Installation of vertical sags and beacons is carried out using cords. In this way, it will be possible to accurately position the polystyrene foam slabs and prevent them from warping.

The insulation is fixed between the frame posts using glue. It is mixed in the amount required for 1 hour of work. Adhesive composition Apply it pointwise in five places on the slab and carefully treat the edges of the insulation with it. If the pieces of foam do not match, they are cut with a heated knife.

Additionally, the heat-insulating material is secured with plastic dowels (5 pieces). You should not use metal fasteners: they will create cold bridges in the insulation. The fastening points must be primed with adhesive.

All cracks must be sealed with liquid foam or frost-resistant foam.

In order for the insulation of the surfaces of a frame house to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to lay the heat insulator in three layers, each 5 cm thick. In this case, the installation of the slabs is carried out in such a way that the next layer overlaps the joints of the previous one.

Reinforcement

A reinforcing mesh fixed on top of the heat-insulating material will help securely connect the subsequent final finishing layer to the foam. The corners of the walls must be strengthened using special corner profiles.

For reinforcement, choose a mesh with a cell size of 3*6 cm. It is laid overlapping (an overlap of 10 cm), pressed tightly into the insulation boards and fixed with a layer of glue.

Final finishing

Protecting walls from negativity atmospheric exposure can be done using putty. The surface is treated with it twice; before applying the second layer, the first must be completely dry.

After puttying, you can start painting the surface. facade paint. This type of work is carried out using a roller. The coloring composition is applied from top to bottom in 2-3 layers. Each subsequent layer is performed after the previous one has dried. Paint for facade works dries quickly and is easy to apply.

The external walls of a frame house can be decorated with stone or siding. In the latter case, installation of sheathing is required. In the case of a frame house, its functions will be performed by the frame elements.

Step-by-step algorithm for installing the walls of a frame house

It is very important to carry out high-quality antiseptic treatment before starting any work, using special impregnations for this. The frame of the house must begin to be erected from the bottom frame

Initially, you need to install cut-off waterproofing.

To preserve the wood as much as possible, the concrete is coated with bitumen. The timber should be laid on roofing felt, pulling it to the concrete base with anchors.

Next is the process of constructing the corners of the frame structure. To connect the boards and so that they do not change their position during the construction process, you must first secure them with special spacers.

Then they equip intermediate racks, installing the upper trim on top. To further strengthen the structure, the gaps must be reinforced with jibs. Also, jibs are installed in the openings of doors and windows. After completing the installation process, you can begin to insulate the walls.

Technology of wall insulation with foam plastic

A frame house is insulated directly between the posts and always on both sides. To do this, you first need to process the frame and prepare it for insulation work. It is imperative to remove all air channels so that after filing the foam the cold does not pass through. It is desirable that the walls be smooth, but if this cannot be achieved, then you need to carefully nail the sheets into all recessed areas.

It is also necessary to remove all old nails from the walls and other protruding objects. The key to quality work is that the foam sheets fit snugly against the wall. If vibration is observed, this can significantly affect further processing of the walls. Each remaining space between the wall and the foam can cause cracks in the facing plaster and, in general, the thermal insulation properties may be impaired because of this.

The walls of a frame house must be dry, but if there is moisture or even dampness appears as black spots, then everything must be thoroughly dried with a hair dryer. Black spots of mold can be treated with special solutions (antifungal primer deep penetration), so that it does not appear again after a while.

As a result, a high-quality and reliable frame must be dry, smooth and hermetically sealed. This stage is called preparatory and a lot depends on it. First of all, this concerns durability. The more responsible the preparatory work is, the more likely it is that the insulated walls will last a long time. It’s also better not to skimp on the materials themselves, because you have to pay for quality.

Next, you should properly waterproof the walls. Taking into account the fact that foam plastic is completely resistant to moisture and does not absorb moisture, the waterproofing layer can only be applied with inside Houses. This is absolutely necessary so that after a few years the walls do not begin to freeze in severe frosts.

In modern construction, polyethylene film, glassine, or special membrane coatings are used as waterproofing materials. It is worth remembering that each subsequent waterproofing sheet of material must be overlapped by at least 10 cm and then glued with a special adhesive film or transparent tape.

At the end of the successful construction work, you can proceed directly to laying the foam. The thickness of the sheet is chosen purely according to individual preferences, since everything depends on the house itself and the desired result. Each sheet of foam plastic must be placed between the frame posts. The foam is pre-treated special glue, on which the sheets are attached.

Polystyrene foam can also be fixed using special nails (umbrellas), but if the wall is not level, then in order to avoid unnecessary gaps, it is better to use adhesive solutions. Dowels are more suitable for smooth walls and at the same time fix the insulation quite well. It is also worth noting that each joint of the sheets must be filled with frost-resistant foam. This will further save heat and protect the walls from freezing during severe frosts.

When insulating the walls of a frame house, it is necessary to take into account the fact that walls can be compressed and expanded during temperature changes; accordingly, it is recommended to leave gaps of a few millimeters between the sheets of foam plastic.

Also this feature significantly affects appearance facing plaster. If you do not leave gaps between the foam sheets, then over time cracks may appear in the plaster.
Be sure not to forget about such a nuance as the vapor barrier procedure. For this, a special vapor barrier film is used, which is necessary to protect the insulating layer and to prevent condensation from appearing on the walls.

So, for example, with outside walls can be vapor-proofed after waterproofing. As for the interior finishing, it is recommended to pre-plaster the surface using a special mesh. For example, fiberglass mesh is ideal for plastering works or regular plastic. Finally, you can prime the wall.

Installation rules

If the building is being erected on your own, then with the question of how to properly insulate a frame house with polystyrene foam, you should turn to professionals. After all, if you do not adhere to technology, then over time the wooden elements of the frame will begin to rot.

Insulation scheme with a suspended facade: 1 - interior decoration; 2 - vapor barrier; 3 - frame stand; 4 - expanded polystyrene; 5 - siding; 6 - vapor-permeable moisture-proof membrane.

1. In order to extend the service life of the main structural elements, they must be protected from moisture. To do this, they are covered with double-sided sealing adhesive tape. Before applying protection, you need to clean the wooden posts from dirt.
2. The next stage of foam insulation will be the installation of a vapor barrier. On the side of the premises, a vapor-proof membrane is laid to a length of 10–15 cm; the joints must be taped. This will make the layer airtight.
3. The wall on the side of the room is covered with boards or slabs.
4. Next you need to go to the side of the facade. There it is done between the frame posts. The slabs of material are laid tightly so that there are no gaps or cracks. It is advisable to treat the joints with sealant or polyurethane foam. It is necessary to ensure that the joints of subsequent rows do not coincide with the previous ones.
5. When the insulation is completely laid over the entire area of ​​the facade, it should be covered with a windproof membrane. Not a large number of moisture that gets on the foam can destroy the material under the influence of low temperatures. The film will protect both the insulation and the premises from heat loss.
6. Insulated frame houses with polystyrene foam require additional decorative finishing. It will also perform the function of protection from external negative impacts. For this you can use siding, facade tiles and even decorative plaster.

Insulation of a frame house with extruded polystyrene foam is carried out using the same technology as polystyrene foam. The difference is that if penoplex is used, you do not need to buy slabs of maximum thickness. This insulation has a thermal conductivity coefficient even lower than that of polystyrene foam.

We insulate external walls and basement

Most often, foam boards are used for external insulation of a house. Since it is not afraid of moisture, it is therefore preferable to use it instead of mineral wool. As we know, a frame wall consists of several layers, and its last layer– OSB board.

We insulate a frame house from the outside with polystyrene foam

It is best if the work is carried out in the warm season, since frosts worsen the properties of the glue and the insulation boards will not adhere well. We attach the foam in the same way as we attached it to the wall. We use dowels after we have glued several sheets. They securely fix the sheets. And you can be sure that when the adhesive expires, the sheets will not come off.

Insulation of the foundation and basement

To insulate the base we use 10 cm polystyrene foam, since the base is the coldest part of the wall. We process the base using reinforcing mesh cement mortar. When the cement is completely dry, you can begin exterior finishing. The most commonly used material is plaster. If you have chosen lime plaster, you must add cement of a grade of at least 400 to it. We process the wall in two layers without intermediate grouting. We read about finishing the facade after insulation.

Floor installation

Installation of a floor in a frame house begins with preparatory work. Thus, the wooden materials used are necessarily impregnated with special agents that protect against fire, pests and mice in a frame house.

If the construction of a frame house is carried out on columnar foundation, at the preparatory stage it is necessary to start arranging the pillars. Insulation of the floor of a frame house on screw piles It starts with screwing in the piles themselves.

Lags

Before installing the logs in a frame house, the bottom piping of the foundation is made, which allows you to connect the pile-screw foundation and the floor into a single chain. Tying is done as follows:

1. The lower frame beam is laid out on the pile foundation.
2. The strapping beam is connected to each other at the corners “into the paw” and is additionally fixed with a bracket.
3. The timber is bolted to the ends of the pile foundation.

Floor joists and subfloor.

After tying, they begin to lay the lag directly. For the process, 100 by 50 mm boards are most often used. The choice depends on the load on flooring. The logs are laid on bottom trim foundation and fixed with nails. Impregnation must already be carried out finished design antiseptics and fire-fighting solutions.

Traditional construction of a frame house involves the installation of a subfloor at the first stage; after installation is completed, the installation of walls and partitions begins. Deviations from the described principle are allowed depending on the type of construction and the wishes of the home owner.

Subfloor

Wooden slats are placed between the joists, on which sheet plywood or special moisture-resistant boards are laid. In order not to hide the height of the joists, which can be used to lay insulation of greater height, you can attach the subfloor directly to the bottom of the joists without using support rails. There are several installation recommendations.

1. The subfloor sheets are laid in a checkerboard pattern.
2. The thickness of the plywood or slab is selected depending on the distance between the logs.
3. The sheets are fastened complex method– with the help of special glue and self-tapping screws, this approach allows you to avoid squeaks in the floor when walking.
4. Fastening is carried out along the edge and in the center, fasteners with self-tapping screws are placed 150 mm from each other.
5. A gap of 2-3 mm must be left between the sheets of plywood. To ensure that the distance is the same everywhere, nails of the required diameter are placed in the gaps. After installation is completed, they are pulled out.

The subfloor boards are attached to the joists.

Waterproofing membrane

A waterproofing membrane must be installed in the space between the joists and the subfloor. It is most convenient to attach the waterproofing membrane using a construction stapler. Insulation of the floor in a frame house on stilts is one of last stages floor installation. For insulation, foam or mineral wool is most often used. We will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each insulation later.

Insulation of a frame house with foam plastic

Before you start laying insulation into the space between the posts, you need to cut sheets of the required size. This will be needed if the pitch of the frame and the width of the insulation do not match. Foam can be cut using a tool designed for this purpose. It is sold in construction stores. If it is not possible to buy it, and the amount of work is large, you can make a similar device yourself. The principle of its operation is to heat a thin metal string that can cut foam like butter.

The cutting is done in such a way that the insulation fits tightly into the space between the posts. But no matter how hard you try, cracks will remain somewhere. Polystyrene foam is a non-plastic material and tends to crumble. Therefore, the appearance of gaps is inevitable. Each of them should be filled with polyurethane foam. After completing this work, they begin installing a vapor barrier.

The membrane is placed on frame racks and attached to them using a stapler and staples

It is important not to mix up the sides of the material and place it as recommended by the manufacturer. To do this, you need to follow the markings on the canvas.

Vapor barrier is installed on the inside of the walls. Windproof fabric is placed on the outside.

Pros and cons of the material

Among the main advantages of polystyrene foam:

• good thermal insulation performance, allowing the house to warm up quickly and cool down slowly;
• good moisture resistance, due to which this material is used as insulation for ground floor, foundation;
• excellent sound insulation;
• when insulating with foam plastic, there is no special need for wind protection and vapor barriers;
• Quite low cost, allowing significant savings for large volumes of work;
• the service life of foam plastic as insulation can be 20-50 years, depending on the density and thickness of the material and correct installation;
• constancy overall dimensions when there are temperature changes, the foam slabs do not shrink or move;
• low weight of material;
• ease of installation.

insulation of frame cabins with polystyrene foam

However, there are also disadvantages, here they are:

• low mechanical strength, to protect against mechanical damage, it is necessary to take care of a protective coating;
• the material is almost completely impervious to air;
• polystyrene foam is destroyed under the influence of organic solvents, paints based on nitro paints, petroleum products, and exposure to ultraviolet rays;
• flammability, although the addition of special additives - fire retardants - reduces the flammability of the material. Burning may release toxic materials.

Based on the properties of the material, the economic feasibility of using polystyrene foam as insulation is quite obvious. Low cost and excellent performance characteristics were the reason for the particular popularity of the material among budget developers.

Advice: the apparent cheapness of the material may turn out to be imaginary. For high-quality thermal insulation with polystyrene foam, a lot of polyurethane foam may be required.

Video about the production and characteristics of polystyrene foam:

Insulating the walls of a frame house with your own hands

The material for wall insulation can be any. Need to remember
about your area and select material accordingly. Expanded clay or slag can be used
if in winter it is not colder than 20°C. Otherwise, the material must be different. Before insulation
walls need to be waterproofed between outer wall and insulation, the best
The material is parchment paper. The waterproofing is fixed with slats and secured
overlap Corners and bends overlap by at least 20 cm.

Having completed the construction of the walls, you need to take care of their insulation. Properly Done
insulation will protect the building from heat loss during the cold season and will contribute to
maintaining a comfortable temperature regime indoors. So, let's start insulating
frame house. Various types of insulation can be used as insulation for walls.
structure and their technical characteristics of materials. Insulation can be distributed
into two types - organic and inorganic. When we choose one of the types of insulation
for the walls of our house, we need to ensure the effectiveness of the insulation. He is not
must lose its quality properties during the operation of the building. Material,
which we will use to insulate the walls of the house must have a density, not
exceeding 500-600 kilograms per cubic meter. Insulation materials such as slag
or expanded clay, of course, can be used for thermal insulation of walls, but only if
In the area where you live, the average daily temperature in winter does not drop
below 20°C.

Before you start insulating the walls, you need to perform waterproofing -
between the outer wall and the insulation. For this purpose, you can use film, better
For example, parchment paper is suitable for waterproofing. Cutting out
her on the stripes required sizes, fasten them to the wall using slats, making sure to fix them
overlapping material (sheet on sheet). For corner joints of house walls, the overlap should be
not less than 20 cm.

Plate materials

It is more convenient to insulate walls with slab materials. Because fall asleep
pouring bulk material onto the wall is a rather labor-intensive procedure. As a slab material
can serve stone wool or mineral wool. After fastening, do not forget about the joints
- they need to be covered with foam or other material.

If you are insulating your house using bulk materials, automatically increases
the complexity of the work performed. But insulating walls using slab materials,
for example, mineral wool, will provide us with high-quality and fast work.

Mineral wool must be attached to the walls of the house using bars with a cross-section of 15×20
see. It is advisable to fill the bars vertically. Remember that you need to provide
sealing the longest joint of mineral wool slabs (from the bottom point of the building to the top).
Therefore, it is best to fill the joints of the slabs with bars that have a large width,
than those that fasten mineral wool slabs in the middle.

Stage-by-stage insulation of the house

Vapor barrier

Polystyrene foam does not allow steam to pass through, and, accordingly, does not allow moisture that has entered through the facade of the building to evaporate. To prevent its penetration into the building frame from the premises, it is necessary to provide a vapor barrier.

• double-sided sealing adhesive tape;
• reinforced mesh or other material as a vapor barrier.

Work is performed in a certain order.

• At the time of work, the frame must be treated with protective impregnations, after which access to it will be closed.
• Dust and dirt are removed from the frame in the work area.
• The protective film is removed from the tape and applied to all frame elements with which the vapor barrier will come into contact.
• The protective film on the second side is removed from the tape.

• The roll with vapor barrier is rolled out across the racks, sequentially pressing against the tapes. The joints are taped, and the roll webs overlap each other by approximately 200 mm.
• After gluing the film, it is additionally fixed with a stapler at intervals of 25 to 30 cm.
• To ensure further wall cladding and protect the vapor barrier from damage, slats are mounted on the frame. It does not matter whether they will be attached immediately after the vapor barrier or immediately before finishing.

Wall vapor barrier technology provides absolute protection against moisture penetration into the foam, but prevents it from leaving the room. In this regard, the house must have good exhaust ventilation, otherwise mold and other problems cannot be avoided.

Thermal insulation and waterproofing of walls

After the vapor barrier is completed, it is time to insulate the walls with foam plastic. For these purposes you will need the following materials:

• PPT or PSB-S slabs are 10 cm thick; polystyrene foam with a density of 15 kg/cubic meter is suitable. m or higher;
• film with wind and waterproof properties;
• slats with a section of 20x30 mm;
• adhesive sealing tape;
• polyurethane foam.

The work is carried out as follows.

1. The slabs are laid between the frame posts, often the distance between them is initially set to the size of the slabs - 50 cm. If the slabs are not of the same size, you will either have to cut them or fill the gap with a cut piece of the slab of the appropriate width. To cut foam plastic, it is better to use a small hacksaw or mounting knife.
2. The gaps between the frame and the slabs are filled with polyurethane foam.
3. The second layer of slabs is laid so that the joints do not line up with the first row, otherwise there will be cold bridges. The cracks are also filled with foam.
4. The wind and waterproofing film on the outside is installed similar to the vapor barrier on the inside. The frame is pasted over sealing tape, then a protective film is attached to it and subsequently secured with a stapler.
5. On top of the attached film, slats are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws. The gap created is necessary for ventilation in order to remove moisture trapped under the façade cladding. When installing slats, you need to use a level to maintain the correct verticality of the walls. If the frame was not built perfectly, slats make it possible to correct this. The location of the slats is easily adjusted by placing scraps of plywood under the required end.

There is no big difference between sheathing the frame first from the inside and then from the outside, or, conversely, the sequence of these stages is left to your discretion.

Floor insulation

At this stage you will need the following materials:

• PPT-35;
• vapor barrier film;
• sealing adhesive tape;
• polyurethane foam;
• penofol or other substrate.

Isolation occurs according to this plan:

1. a vapor barrier film is laid on the logs with the joints glued; the overlap of the sheets should be about 200 mm;
2. PPT is laid between the logs, and the gaps between them are filled with foam;
3. a second layer of vapor barrier film is laid on top, the fastening method is the same as for the walls - on duct tape, securing with a stapler;
4. a substrate is laid above to improve sound insulation.

Ceiling insulation

For these purposes you will need the following materials:

• vapor barrier film;
• sealing adhesive tape;
• nylon thread;
• nails.

The work is carried out in the following order:

1. the vapor barrier is secured to the floor beams and attic flooring using self-adhesive tape and a stapler, like walls;
2. nails are driven in at the bottom of the beams at intervals of 20-30 cm, so that the heads protrude under the thread binding;
3. polystyrene foam is inserted between the floor beams and fixed by zigzag stretching the nylon thread between the nails; if the slabs fit tightly, additional fixation may not be necessary;
4. the second layer of vapor barrier is fixed to the beams with a stapler.

Floor insulation

“Cranial” (support) beams are attached to the bottom of the side surfaces of the logs. Any sheet material spreads on them:

• Chipboard; OSB; thick (at least 1 cm) plywood.

Croaker can be used unedged board, as well as boards of 2 - 3 grades. When using cheap lumber, they must be cleared of bark.

In addition, before starting work, the surfaces of wooden sheets or lumber must be treated with an antiseptic. The rolling surface is covered with a waterproofing membrane - moisture permeability is at least 800 g/m2. The canvas is laid overlapping with an overlap of about 20 cm onto the wall. Then a layer of any “breathable” insulation is laid:

• basalt wool; glass wool - special care should be taken during installation; slag; expanded clay.

Wood waste can be used - small shavings and sawdust. But in this case it is necessary to provide for their protection from rodents. Another disadvantage is that sawdust is highly flammable.

A moisture-proof fabric is laid on top of the insulation. The work from the inside is completed with the installation of the “finished” floor and floor covering.

Specifications

Polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene) is a heat-insulating material characterized by excellent physicochemical properties. Available in the form of white slabs consisting of polystyrene balls filled with pure hydrocarbon (pentane).

To make this material, only 2% polystyrene is used, the remaining 98% is air. During the foam creation process, pentane becomes volatile and expands. The balls, filling with air, increase in volume. When exposed to steam, they become elastic and stick together. So it turns out lightweight material, the scope of which includes not only construction.

Depending on the brand, the density of the foam is from 15 to 50 kg/m3. When bending, the strength limit is up to 0.42 MPa. In a dry state at temperatures from +20 °C to +30 °C, the thermal conductivity of the foam is no more than 0.029-0.033 W. Humidity no more than 2%.

Insulation of walls with polystyrene foam sequence of work

Insulation can be done from inside the house or outside. The technologies are the same. Careful observance of them ensures that the room will forever be warm, cozy atmosphere, which neither wind, nor rain, nor temperature changes can spoil.

Scheme of waterproofing frame walls.

1. Proper thermal insulation is carried out in several layers at once, and begins with preparation. Remove paintwork, nails, and any foreign inclusions from the wall. If the partition is uneven or made of bulk materials, it must be well plastered. The result should be a smooth surface without depressions or cracks. Before it should be coated with a primer: this will improve adhesion (adhesive properties).
2. If insulation is carried out in a building under construction, then at the second stage it is recommended to install external window sills and insulate the slopes. The ebbs are attached so that the window sill protrudes beyond the wall by 3-4 centimeters: this leaves room for thermal insulation. In order for the slope insulation to fit reliably with the wall insulation, it should not be cut flush: it is better if it protrudes 1 cm beyond the wall from the outer slope.
3. Before gluing the insulation on the bottom, a profile is installed that secures the foam. If the insulation is placed on a flat surface, then the fixing solution can be applied under the comb. If there are differences of more than a centimeter, it is better to do it in bloopers, so that more solution gets into the recesses, and less into the bulges. This way the plane will be smoother, so the insulator will be attached to it more securely.
4. The solution is also applied to the edges of the foam: on the wall it will disperse and fall under other sheets. The work is carried out from the bottom up.
5. Important: when gluing the slabs, you should ensure that they are laid in a checkerboard pattern, and the seams of the next row do not coincide with the seams of the previous one.
6. After the sticker last sheet The thermal insulation is allowed to stand for three days so that the glue dries.

What is expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is a foam material of artificial origin. There are two types of polystyrene foam for do-it-yourself insulation of walls and other building structures:

Option 1. Foam plastic

Option 2. Extruded polystyrene foam

1. Styrofoam;
2. extruded polystyrene foam.

The most affordable option for thermal insulation is polystyrene foam. It consists of small balls with a cavity filled with air inside. Air is one of the most effective insulation materials; only inert gases prevent heat loss better than it. Do-it-yourself insulation with polystyrene foam allows you to achieve excellent results due to the following material characteristics:

• availability and low cost;
• high thermal insulation characteristics;
• resistance to biological effects (mold, fungus);
• ease of working with the material and installing it yourself;
• the material does not shrink over time;
• safety for humans.

• low strength (additional protection of the foam from mechanical stress is required);
• the material is unstable to high humidity at low temperatures and can easily crumble into individual balls;
• instability to fire.

All these shortcomings are compensated by the low price of the material, but it is possible to take them into account and reduce the negative manifestations to zero.

Insulation of attic roof

The order of layers when insulating the attic

When building a private house, the option of using the under-roof space as an attic is becoming increasingly popular. In this case, it is necessary to ensure comfortable living conditions and reliably protect the room from the cold

The main heat losses occur through the roof, so sufficient attention should be paid to its insulation.

In the vast majority of cases, polystyrene foam is placed between the rafters. Fastening is carried out using adhesives and special nails to the rafter legs. The bottom sheathing acts as additional reinforcement.

The thickness of insulation in the main territory of the country will be in the range of 150-200 mm

It is important to remember that the height of the rafter legs cannot be taken less than the thickness of the insulation layer. In the case of polystyrene foam, a ventilated air layer is not necessary

To protect structures and foam from negative internal and external influences, the following materials are used:

• vapor barrier;
• waterproofing;
• wind protection

As the second and third layers, modern moisture-windproof membranes can be used, which are mounted outside the heat-protective material.

• Main characteristics and properties of polystyrene foam
• Recommendations for insulating the outside of a building

Polystyrene foam is construction material, with which buildings are insulated.

Polystyrene foam is used in all areas of construction and is used for interior and exterior work. The material is in demand in the construction market.

Due to the high air content, foam sheets have high thermal insulation properties.

To make polystyrene foam, you need to use a fairly large amount of different raw materials, which will differ in density and strength.

The main properties of polystyrene foam should be highlighted:

• safety. The material is manufactured, used and disposed of without harming the health of others. Evidence of the safety of polystyrene foam is the fact that it is used not only as a building material for insulation, but also as packaging for vegetables and fruits, children's toys, etc.;
• good thermal insulation. Retains heat not only in dry weather, but also in wet conditions and at low temperatures;
• high level of sound insulation. Prevents the desired sounds from entering;
• moisture resistance. If PSB-S sheets are placed under water, the material will absorb only a few percent of its volume. Therefore, polystyrene foam is recommended to be used not only for insulating frame houses, but also for insulating the foundation. After all, when such a slab comes into contact with the ground, absolutely nothing will happen to it, only the basement will be better insulated;
• one of the main properties of expanded polystyrene is its high resistance to stress;
• durability. The material is not susceptible to rotting, the spread of various bacteria, fungi and mold on the surface;
• convenient to use. Because polystyrene foam sheets are so lightweight, they can be cut to any size and raised to any height;
• hypoallergenic;
• resistance to external factors (temperature changes, fungal infection or mold), to various chemicals, for example: sea ​​water, soap, alcohol, water-soluble paints and much more.

The only drawback of polystyrene foam is that rodents and termites love the material. If this problem occurs on the site, then it is better to use other materials: cement, stone, concrete, sand.

Wall insulation

Most often, polystyrene foam in a frame house is used to insulate the surface of the walls between the studs and the sheathing on both sides. This is done as follows.

Pre-cleaning and sealing

Insulating a frame house with polystyrene foam always begins with processing the frame itself. If this is not done, then even the most careful styling thermal insulation material will not help to avoid thermal losses through the air channels remaining at the joints.

Despite the fact that foam insulation technology involves high speed of processing even large areas as one of its main advantages, preliminary steps must be performed very carefully.

All bumps, nails and other protruding sharp objects must be removed. Existing gaps and cracks must be filled with polyurethane foam. If during the construction stage the wood was exposed to moisture, we treat the damp areas with a construction hairdryer.

As a result, the frame should be a dry, even and airtight structure, ready for laying insulation.

Waterproofing

The waterproofing layer is laid on the outside of the walls and protects them from moisture and wind. Many experts claim that polystyrene foam does not absorb moisture at all, so it is possible to insulate a house with it without external insulation. However, dampness and humidity, which penetrates inside the frame at subzero temperatures, can freeze and destroy the insulation material and walls.

Typically used as waterproofing:

• glassine;
• plastic film;
• modern membrane coatings.

The waterproofing material must be laid with an overlap of one row over another (about 10 cm) and taped with a special tape.

Laying foam

Sheets of insulation are laid in the opening between the frame posts and secured in it:

• If internal or outside surface The walls are already ready, the foam is attached to it using impregnation pre-treated with an adhesive composition. This is done in order to avoid air gaps. For additional fastening of insulation, you can use plastic dowels. Fastening polystyrene foam to dowels
• If the walls of a frame house will be mounted after insulation, then the foam plastic is attached to self-tapping screws through the inside of the studs and additionally secured with twine attached to the frame.

To insulate frame-panel house With maximum quality, it is better to use three layers of polystyrene foam, each 5 cm thick, laying them on top of each other and overlapping the joints in the previous one with the next layer. The joints between slabs within one layer must be coated with professional frost-resistant polyurethane foam.

One of the most important parameters that must be ensured when insulating walls with foam plastic is the size of the gaps between the plates. The fact is that the insulation of a frame house undergoes expansion and contraction as the outside temperature changes. The correct placement of the slabs will not allow them to warp during expansion and affect the outer cladding.

More details about laying insulation during heat treatment of walls can be seen in the video:

Vapor barrier and wall cladding

A vapor barrier film is laid on the inside of the walls. It protects the insulation layer from excessive moisture due to condensation. Most often, foil materials (penofol) or special membrane films are used for these purposes.

Please note - all seams must be foamed

External cladding can be installed directly over the waterproofing. A ventilated façade is not required when insulated with foam plastic. Interior decoration It is done in the same way; if it is necessary to pre-plaster the surface, a reinforcing mesh is used.

Alternative floor insulation options

For many years, expanded clay has been one of the basic means for insulating foundations in a house. This material is used in buildings of a wide variety of structures. Although it has certain disadvantages, positive traits its significant. Sometimes what has been tested by time becomes much more reliable than modern and the latest materials.

The double floor design is a classic base insulation technology that has survived to this day. A lot of people insulate their own frame houses using a system of finished and subfloors with a layer of air between them. Today, the concept of double flooring comes down to the use of a laminate system on a substrate. This makes it possible to maintain the temperature of the base in the house at a very high level.

It is possible to use a water or electric heating. In this option, you will need a separate material for insulation. However, such warm floors are primarily a method of heating internal air in a buiding. Floor insulation will be additional, and not the primary purpose of the above system.

If you need to insulate the constructed foundations, you can use gypsum fiber boards. This material is a modern product for complex use. It has fairly good heat and noise insulation characteristics. In this regard, this product can be used as additional heating of the bases. Latest system in organizing the insulation of foundations in the house - self-leveling floors. The use of a leveling warm mixture makes it possible to reduce the level of heat loss through the base by 15%. Observed good vapor permeability, sound insulation, environmental friendliness and fire safety of these materials.

Houses built using frame technology are often used as a summer residence or place of permanent residence. Such buildings are distinguished by their special design, high strength and durability. Insulating a frame house with foam plastic will make life in it more comfortable. Correct installation This heat insulator can be installed without the help of professional craftsmen.

Specifications

Polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene) is a heat-insulating material characterized by excellent physicochemical properties. Available in the form of white slabs consisting of polystyrene balls filled with pure hydrocarbon (pentane).

To make this material, only 2% polystyrene is used, the remaining 98% is air. During the foam creation process, pentane becomes volatile and expands. The balls, filling with air, increase in volume. When exposed to steam, they become elastic and stick together. This results in a lightweight material, the scope of which includes not only construction.

Depending on the brand, the density of the foam is from 15 to 50 kg/m3. When bending, the strength limit is up to 0.42 MPa. In a dry state at temperatures from +20 °C to +30 °C, the thermal conductivity of the foam is no more than 0.029-0.033 W. Humidity no more than 2%.

Advantages

Expanded polystyrene as insulation for walls, floors, and roofs is very popular among owners of frame houses. This is due to a number of its advantages compared to other heat-insulating materials:

• moisture resistance (can be used to insulate foundations and basements where there is direct contact with water);
• fire safety ( modern foam plastic does not support the combustion process);
• not subject to rotting;
• low cost;
• light weight;
• low level of thermal conductivity;
• environmental friendliness (does not emit toxins during installation and operation);
• ease of installation.

This heat-insulating material is not afraid of temperature changes. Foam insulation creates an additional soundproofing layer. Over time, its slabs do not shrink and do not change their geometric parameters.

Due to its many advantages, this material has been used in construction for more than 40 years. More than 60% of all expanded polystyrene produced in Europe is used to insulate houses.

Flaws

Polystyrene foam cannot come into contact with organic solvents (acetone, turpentine), saturated hydrocarbons (alcohol) and petroleum products (kerosene, gasoline and others): under their influence it is damaged or dissolved.

With prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the material may begin to deteriorate, so it is always covered during storage.

Installation technology

A frame house can be insulated with expanded polystyrene both outside and inside. In any case, the slabs are placed between the studs and the sheathing on both sides of the walls. To avoid the formation of cold bridges between polystyrene foam boards, it is necessary to install them correctly.

Preparation

At this stage, the frame is processed. Remove uneven walls, protruding nails, and wire.

The surface is cleaned of dust and debris. Gaps and cracks are filled with foam to prevent air from getting into them. Wet wood is dried with a hair dryer. The entire area of ​​the frame is primed and allowed to dry completely.

Waterproofing layer

A layer of waterproofing is installed on the outside of the walls: it will protect them from moisture and wind. Of course, polystyrene foam is a moisture-resistant material, but at sub-zero temperatures, dampness and moisture penetrating inside the frame can freeze and destroy the insulation.

Waterproofing material (glassine, plastic film or membrane coating) must be laid on the walls, secured with nails, and the joints taped. The strips are overlapped (10 cm overlap).

Installation of vertical sags and beacons is carried out using cords. In this way, it will be possible to accurately position the polystyrene foam slabs and prevent them from warping.

The insulation is fixed between the frame posts using glue. It is mixed in the amount required for 1 hour of work. The adhesive composition is applied pointwise in five places of the slab and the edges of the insulation are carefully treated with it. If the pieces of foam do not match, they are cut with a heated knife.

Additionally, the heat-insulating material is secured with plastic dowels (5 pieces). You should not use metal fasteners: they will create cold bridges in the insulation. The fastening points must be primed with adhesive.

All cracks must be sealed with liquid foam or frost-resistant foam.

In order for the insulation of the surfaces of a frame house to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to lay the heat insulator in three layers, each 5 cm thick. In this case, the installation of the slabs is carried out in such a way that the next layer overlaps the joints of the previous one.

Reinforcement

A reinforcing mesh fixed on top of the heat-insulating material will help securely connect the subsequent final finishing layer to the foam. The corners of the walls must be strengthened using special corner profiles.

For reinforcement, choose a mesh with a cell size of 3*6 cm. It is laid overlapping (an overlap of 10 cm), pressed tightly into the insulation boards and fixed with a layer of glue.

Walls can be protected from negative atmospheric influences using putty. The surface is treated with it twice; before applying the second layer, the first must be completely dry.

After puttying, you can begin painting the surface with façade paint. This type of work is carried out using a roller. The coloring composition is applied from top to bottom in 2-3 layers. Each subsequent layer is performed after the previous one has dried. Facade paint dries quickly and is easy to apply.

The external walls of a frame house can be decorated with stone or siding. In the latter case, installation of sheathing is required. In the case of a frame house, its functions will be performed by the frame elements.

Internal thermal insulation

Insulation interior walls using expanded polystyrene is carried out in a similar way, only after the installation of the heat insulator it is necessary to lay a vapor barrier layer.

After this, reinforcement is carried out. Then the surfaces are plastered or finished with plasterboard. In the future, they can be painted, wallpapered, tiled.

Maintaining precision and careful execution of work is a guarantee of high-quality insulation of a frame house using polystyrene foam.