The floor is considered the coldest part of the house, especially if we're talking about about a country wooden building. There is nothing surprising in this, the usual laws of physics: warm air rushes upward, and the cold one spreads along the bottom, and drafts blow down the legs from the cracks between the cracked floorboards.

A solid foundation, four strong walls and reliable roof– this is only part of comfortable suburban housing. In order to minimize heat loss, it is necessary to insulate the floor in wooden house.

The functions of this action are very clear: retaining 20% ​​to 30% of heat, significantly reducing humidity, preventing mold, reducing the cost of organizing a stove, gas or electric heating. A good, warm floor will make your life in a wooden house surrounded by nature as pleasant as possible. You will feel comfortable both in the gloomy off-season and in winter frosts.

What is the best way to insulate the floor in a wooden house?

Floor insulation in wooden houses is carried out using different materials that have the same characteristics. As the simplest and inexpensive insulation materials, which are poured in a layer on top of the floor roughing, which serves as an auxiliary base.

These materials are sufficiently hygroscopic, they protect the wood from rotting, the appearance of fungus and microorganisms, and also ensure air movement. However, this method of thermal insulation has a significant drawback: bulk non-metallic insulation materials lose their hygroscopicity over time.

Introductory video guide

A country house made of logs or timber is an environmentally friendly home, so the materials for its insulation are also subject to environmentally friendly requirements. This will help preserve the unique natural aura! Previously, they were widely used for floor insulation. sawdust, granulated sawdust insulation, sawdust concrete, wood concrete, and foam plastic. But today there are more convenient and effective materials on sale that are also environmentally friendly.

Currently, manufacturers produce a wide range of thermal insulators. They suggest insulating floors in a wooden house with mineral wool made from basalt, stone chips or slag, ecowool made from cellulose, fiberglass, penoplex, expanded polystyrene, penofol, isolon and other modern materials. Usually they are used for thermal insulation of walls, attic and roofing slabs. Each insulation has its own characteristics, therefore, when choosing a material, you need to take into account its pros and cons.

At the same time there are General requirements to all thermal insulator materials. They should be light (not weigh down the structure wooden structure), durable, safe, easy to install and, naturally, have low thermal conductivity.

The insulation is selected taking into account the parameters of the building, and it is possible to avoid heat leakage only with proper organization of thermal insulation.

Fiberglass and mineral wool - these are materials distinctive characteristics which are density, low thermal conductivity, good noise absorption, durability, availability, environmental friendliness, non-flammability, chemical resistance, water resistance and high level thermal insulation, so they are most often used for floor insulation in a wooden house.

Sometimes unscrupulous manufacturers use harmful phenol-formaldehyde resins to connect the fibers in these materials. Glass wool that does not meet environmental requirements has a yellowish tint, and mineral wool has a brownish tint.

Expanded polystyrene and penoplex– modern materials that are sprayed onto the surface of the auxiliary floor and fill the space between the joists. They are distinguished by such qualities as efficiency, low thermal conductivity, minimal level of water absorption, stability of shape and volume, environmental friendliness, biostability, efficiency and durability.

Due to their low cost and ease of use, expanded polystyrene and penoplex are used in wooden houses for insulating floors and other structures. High-quality polystyrene foam must be absolutely dry, without the presence of volatile compounds, which can be released when the temperature rises and cause harm to health.

Acrylic and latex binders used in the production of these materials are safe for human body. This is confirmed by quality certificates.

The main manufacturers of materials for thermal insulation of buildings today are the following companies: Izovol, Izorok, Izorus, Knauf, Rockwool, Ursa and others.

Stage 1– laying the subfloor along the joists. This simple and versatile design is most often used in renovations and new construction. Its main advantage is that the insulation is not affected by mechanical loads, so any heat-insulating material can be used.

This floor is made from wooden shields or rough boards measuring approximately 25x150 mm. You can also use boards left over from the foundation formwork for these purposes, provided they are in good condition. In any case, it is recommended to pre-treat the wood with an antiseptic composition.

First they lay wooden joists, not reaching the walls by about 2-3 cm. They are either installed using a T-shaped cut into a log house, or laid on a foundation, brick pillars or wooden pad at a distance of 0.6-1.0 m from each other. A cranial beam with a cross-section of no more than 50x50 mm is attached to the logs using screws, then shields or boards are nailed to it from below rough boards, making sure that there are no large gaps between them.

Stage 2– laying insulation. Sheet, slab or roll thermal insulation material (foam plastic, glass, eco-, mineral wool, etc.) is placed tightly on wooden base between the lags, and the remaining gaps are filled polyurethane foam. Sometimes such insulation is laid under the subfloor.

Sprayed insulation is fixed using special equipment. These materials have good adhesion, follow the contours of the surface and do not form joints.

Stage 3– laying vapor barrier (waterproofing) material. Waterproofing the subfloor is mandatory when insulating wet rooms wooden house, as well as in the case of using hygroscopic heat insulators. In particular, it is necessary when using fiberglass, ecowool or mineral wool as insulation. At the same time, you can do without it if you use sprayed insulation.

Waterproofing is divided into impregnation, painting and pasting. Pasting materials include polyethylene films, PVC membranes, glassine, roofing felt, isoplast, etc. Film waterproofing materials perfectly protect fiber insulation from condensation and moisture penetration.

Sheets of vapor barrier film are laid over the thermal insulation layer with an overlap of approximately 15 cm, and the edges are folded by approximately 10 cm and attached to the joists. The joints and resulting gaps are glued with metallized tape. Sometimes two layers are laid moisture resistant film: waterproofing - on the subfloor, vapor barrier - on the insulation.

Stage 4– laying the finished floor and its finishing. The finished floor is laid on top of the vapor barrier layer at a distance of 3-4 cm from the auxiliary base (subfloor). For its construction, specially treated boards with a width of 9.8-14.5 cm and a thickness of 3.0-4.4 cm are used, which have longitudinal grooves on the bottom side to ensure natural ventilation.

Video guide for floor insulation in a wooden house

It is not recommended to use unedged boards for laying the finished floor, because before laying they will need to be prepared: cut off the wane with an ax, plan front side. This is a rather labor-intensive process that takes energy and time. Sometimes they put it on top of the boards fibreboards(Fibreboard) and soundproofing coating.

To enlarge, click on the picture

As finishing finishing materials For a finished insulated floor in a wooden house, paint and varnish are used, or slabs, linoleum, and carpet are used. They are laid according to generally accepted rules governing the installation of these materials, and then skirting boards or profiled slats are installed along the joints with the walls. On straight sections they are connected at an angle of 90 degrees, and in corners - at an angle of 45 degrees.

The profiled slats are pressed tightly against the floor and walls and secured with 75 mm nails, keeping a distance of 60-70 cm between them. Also, nails must be driven into the joints of the baseboards.

So the walls and roof of the wooden house were erected, windows and doors were installed. It's time to move on to interior finishing work. And they usually start with the installation of floors. This is one of the most important and responsible stages of work, because the overall microclimate in the premises of a wooden structure and the level of heating costs will depend on how correctly and efficiently the floor pie is made. At the same time, close attention should be paid to the choice of insulation for floors, because up to 20% of the heat in the house is lost through the flooring.

How to choose insulation?

The most important thing on which the choice of insulation for treating the finished floor from below depends is the type of foundation and, accordingly, the floor structure:

• If the foundation is strip, then the floor can be laid directly on the ground or on a ceiling arranged along beams.
• A low grillage foundation assumes the same floor arrangement options as with tape type foundation.
• With a high grillage foundation, the floor is arranged on floors laid on beams.
• If there is a floating slab (this is often done during construction wooden houses on wet soils), then the floor can be arranged on joists or on a screed.

So, it becomes clear that there are three options for flooring in a wooden house, on which the choice of material for their insulation directly depends. This is the installation of floors on the ground, on a slab and on wooden floors with joists.

Therefore, when choosing insulation, you should definitely take into account the mutual influence of the floor pie construction materials.

Wooden floors

Since the floors of a wooden house are also made of wood, when using vapor-tight thermal insulation, all the moisture that ends up inside the floor structure will be absorbed into the wood and, due to the tight contact with the insulation, will not be able to escape outside. The result of this will be the appearance in a year and a half of fungus, insects and the spread of rotting processes.

Insulation with hygroscopic property gives a completely different result.(sawdust, ecowool, cork granules, mineral wool, expanded clay) and due to this, they absorb moisture in the same way as wood, but at the same time release it to the outside.

Therefore, with this type of floor installation, it is strictly forbidden to use various insulation materials based on polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam.

Wood and similar materials are incompatible things.

Floors on soil and slab

In this kind of floor structures, the insulation is covered with a screed on top.

Bulk and wadding materials will not be able to provide the required level of strength, although mineral wool with a fairly high density is now also produced.

In addition, these types of thermal insulation are hygroscopic and there is a possibility of them getting wet. And if they get wet, they will not be able to release moisture out through the screed.

Therefore, polystyrene foam insulation is most suitable for this type of floor - it is dense and does not absorb moisture.

In addition, when choosing thermal insulation for floors in a wooden house, you should proceed from the following factors:

• maximum weight of the floor structure;
• required thickness;
• humidity and temperature conditions inside the house, the presence of temperature changes;
• design loads on the floor structure and operating conditions.

Separately, you should dwell on the thickness of the thermal insulation layer.

This indicator determines how warm it will be in a wooden house. It is calculated individually and depends on the climatic conditions in which the house is built and the thermal conductivity of the insulation itself. To determine the thickness of the insulation, it is necessary to multiply the thermal conductivity coefficient specified in the technical description for a specific insulation by the thermal resistance of the structure (determined according to SNiP “Thermal Protection of Buildings”). This formula helps to accurately calculate what the thermal insulation layer in the floor structure should be in order to ensure optimal temperature conditions in the house.

When choosing thermal insulation for the floor, you should also pay attention to:

• ease of installation of the material;
• environmental friendliness;
• efficiency, that is, maintaining its characteristics throughout the entire service life;
• fire safety;
• density and reliability;
• price.

How to insulate?

You can insulate floors in wooden houses different materials. Today, the building materials market is replete with a wide variety of thermal insulation, from the simplest to the most modern types.

Insulation materials

Sawdust

The simplest and cheapest insulation. It is easy to use - just sprinkle it on rough foundation floor. This material is environmentally friendly and safe. But it has a serious drawback - a high degree of fire hazard. And also when using sawdust as insulation, they will have to be laid in a layer as much as 0.3 m. Sawdust, in addition, like any wood product, can rot, and rodents can grow in it. Therefore, simply sawdust is most often used to insulate the floors of unused attic spaces.

However, sawdust in Lately increasingly act as a raw material in the production of other more modern and effective thermal insulations.

Ecowool

Thermal insulation material made from cellulose with the addition of fire retardants and antiseptic compounds. This product has good performance thermal insulation, vapor permeability. It is environmentally friendly, non-flammable, resistant to rodents and fungi. But ecowool strongly absorbs moisture. This is its main drawback.

Expanded clay

Material with high strength and thermal insulation characteristics. Expanded clay is suitable for installing floors on flat substrates. To ensure optimal thermal insulation performance, expanded clay must be laid in a layer of at least 15 cm. The convenience of this material is also that all necessary communications can be laid in it. Expanded clay is quite hygroscopic, so before using it on the ground, waterproofing measures must be carried out.

The main advantage of bulk thermal insulation for floors is their waste-free nature and ability to fill all kinds of (even the most difficult-to-reach) voids.

Expanded polystyrene, foam plastic, polyethylene

These materials are vapor-tight thermal insulation that can be used when laying a floor pie on a flat base. For floors on floors with joists (in wooden houses on stilts, posts, strip and grillage foundations), such material is not suitable due to the laws of building heating engineering.

The thickness of the insulation layer will be 5-10 cm for polystyrene foam and 5-13 cm for polystyrene foam.

These types of thermal insulation materials have the following characteristics:

• low thermal conductivity;
• strength;
• resistance to rodents and rot;
• resistance to temperature changes.

Expanded polystyrene insulation materials in our country are presented under the names “Penoplex”, “Technoplex”, “Knauf”.

Insulation materials based on polyethylene foam are also used for thermal insulation of floors. One of the varieties of such insulation is the rolled foil material penofol, which has high performance and thermal insulation properties. Penofol is a polyethylene foam covered on one or both sides with a layer of foil.

The high thermal insulation properties of this material are ensured by retaining heat in air bubbles sealed in polyethylene balls. The foil acts as a barrier that traps heat in winter and reflects solar heat in summer, thereby maintaining optimal thermal regime in room.

Penofol is also a waterproofing material.

It is lightweight, non-hygroscopic, safe for health and has a long service life (up to 25 years).

Fibrolite

A not very common type of insulation, which is made from a mixture liquid glass, cement powder and wood wool. This material retains heat well and has high sound insulation characteristics. Due to its hygroscopicity, such insulation is not suitable for laying floors on the ground, but is ideal for floors on beams. To insulate the floor of the first floor, it is laid with a layer of 15 cm, the second - 10 cm.

Foam glass

Foam glass is obtained by foaming quartz sand. This is a durable slab or granular material with high vapor barrier and noise insulation characteristics that can withstand the weight of a truck.

Fiberboard slabs are used for insulating floors on a flat base, and granules are used for backfilling between joists on subfloors. The thickness of the insulation layer is 18 cm for the first floor and 15 cm for the second.

Mineral wool

This type of thermal insulation is by far the most popular. Mineral wool insulation is made from slag fiber, fiberglass or basalt.

The most inexpensive mineral wool insulation is glass wool, which is made from broken glass, sand, borax, dolomite, limestone and soda.

The raw material for slag wool is blast furnace slag, which is a waste product from the production of cast iron. Due to its excessive hygroscopicity, slag wool has practically not been used recently.

Stone wool is made from basaltic rocks such as gabbro and basalt. Diabase with the addition of carbonate rocks (limestone and dolomite).

The main advantages of such insulation:

• they conduct heat poorly, and therefore retain it well;
• vapor permeability. The insulation ensures good air exchange, the floor design is “breathable”, which allows you to maintain optimal temperature and humidity conditions in a wooden house. The likelihood of condensation forming in the insulation is small;
• high density;
• high noise insulation characteristics;
• they are resistant to impact high temperatures and fire, no smoke is emitted upon contact with fire;
• waterproof. Stone wool and glass wool do not absorb moisture, so there is no need to worry about dampness occurring inside the field structure;
• long period of operation - up to 50 years. This type of thermal insulation is not susceptible to rotting and damage by rodents.

The disadvantages of mineral wool thermal insulation are ambiguous. Currently, many large manufacturers have practically reduced them to zero, while others are successfully working to minimize them.

Among the disadvantages, it is noted that when working with mineral wool, especially with glass wool, a lot of dust arises, since the insulation consists of fragile fibers, which, when damaged, form very thin and sharp fragments. When they come into contact with the skin during installation of insulation, they lead to itching. Getting these fibers into the respiratory system is also dangerous. Therefore, such insulation can only be laid using individual funds protection, such as a respirator, overalls, goggles, gloves.

When wet, mineral wool loses its high thermal performance. Therefore, such insulation materials are specially treated with hydrophobes. To reduce the likelihood of mineral wool getting wet, it is recommended to install waterproofing on the room side and vapor barrier on the street side.

Builders still argue that mineral wool releases phenol-formaldehyde resins into the air. But recent research data indicate their very small quantities, which cannot have a detrimental effect on human health.

Mineral wool can be produced in the form of rolls or slabs. Mineral wool material in rolls has a lower density than thermal insulation in slabs. It is used more often as an addition to slab material or where a low level of thermal insulation is required.

The main brands of mineral wool are “Izover”, “Rokvol”, “Knauf”, “Ursa”, “TechnoNIKOL”, “Ecover”, “Izovol”, “Parok” and others.

Professionals cannot give a definite answer to the question about floor insulation for a wooden house - which choice is the best.

The temperature in the house determines the level of living comfort. A wooden building is faster and easier to heat, but heating alone will not be enough. Warmth must be maintained in the house. Good thermal insulation reduces overall heat loss by 25%. Insulating walls without floors is ineffective.

A country house made of wood is an environmentally friendly home, so all building materials used must also meet environmentally friendly requirements. Previously, sawdust, wood concrete, and foam plastic were used for this. Modern materials more convenient to install and have greater efficiency. An insulated floor prevents the formation of mold in the house and reduces heating costs.

Choice of insulation

Many materials are used to insulate the floors of a wooden house. The simplest and most inexpensive is expanded clay or sand, which is poured between the rough and finishing coating. They are hygroscopic and protect the boards from rotting, the spread of fungus and provide ventilation. However, bulk non-metallic insulation has its own drawback - over time, their hygroscopicity decreases.

Today on the market you can find many materials for insulating a wooden house. In addition to good thermal insulation, it must meet basic requirements:

• ecologically pure;
• be safe for the residents of the house;
• long service life.

For insulation, fiberglass, mineral wool, penoplex, expanded polystyrene, etc. are used. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages:

o Mineral wool. It can be slag, stone and glass. The form of release is also varied - plate, roll, mat. Mineral wool has high density, does not burn, conducts heat poorly and is quite economical. The main disadvantage is considered to be low moisture resistance.

When using mineral wool, you should carefully consider the vapor barrier system and ventilation. The side of the stove that is not covered with foil should be on the bottom.

When purchasing mineral wool, carefully read the composition, since the impregnation often contains substances hazardous to the body. The more saturated yellow material, it is more dangerous there.

IN construction stores more in demand:

• Izovol- a product made from mineral fibers. A distinctive feature is its high hydrophobic efficiency in comparison with conventional mineral wool. Additionally, it has low thermal conductivity, is non-flammable, biologically and chemically resistant.
• Rockwool- basalt minute tile. Its peculiarity is that it does not cake, does not lend itself to deformation and shrinkage, like mineral wool. Rockwool resists mechanical stress well. The material is additionally used for sound insulation, since the porous structure absorbs noise well at any frequency. Like Izovol, Rockwool conducts heat poorly, does not burn and is resistant to biological and chemical influences.
• Expanded polystyrene- has a high thermal insulation rate. It is resistant to moisture and does not absorb water, holds its shape well under temperature changes, is durable, environmentally friendly, durable and is not subject to the destructive effects of microorganisms. Expanded polystyrene is easy to process and use.
• Penofol- modern heat insulator. Sold in rolls, it is insulation with a layer of foil. The thickness and weight are small. The base may vary, but in most cases it is penofol (foamed polyethylene). Thermal insulation properties are maintained under high mechanical load. Laying occurs overlapping or butt. The seams must be taped with metallized adhesive tape. Penofol does not require an additional layer of hydro- and vapor barrier, since the foil already performs these functions.
• Ecowool- natural heat insulator made from cellulose. The fibers are bound with boric acid and lagnin (an organic antiseptic). The uniqueness of the material is that it does not absorb water and removes it outside. The composition contains no components hazardous to health. Ecowool is fire- and bio-resistant, absorbs sound well and does not conduct heat. A special sprayer is used for application, but the material consumption then increases by 40%.
• Izolon - new material in construction. With a thickness of 2-10 mm, it insulates well heat and sound, has high moisture resistance, is not subject to rotting and is durable.

For insulation, ordinary sawdust can be used. This heat insulator has been used for many centuries. The natural material is quite cheap and completely safe for the body. Sawdust is often left behind after building a house. This is the most affordable insulation for a wooden house.

Sawdust is added to some building materials:

• sawdust concrete consists of sawdust, cement, sand and water;
• granular heat insulator - sawdust, glue and antiseptic-fire retardant;
• wood concrete - sawdust with cement and chemical additives;
• wood blocks - sawdust, cement and copper sulfate.

Calculation of insulation thickness

The thickness of the insulation layer plays an important role. It is calculated individually for each house, taking into account design features, climate and type of insulation. The formula is given in SNiP 02/23/2003:

h = R * A

• R- thermal resistance. It is determined from the tables in the SNiP appendix.
• A- coefficient of thermal conductivity. Each type of insulation has its own. The value is indicated by the manufacturer or can be found in the SNiP tables.

If you need to install insulation thin layer, then it is better to use extruded polystyrene foam and other materials in mats or rolls. Mats increase strength and elasticity.

Insulation of floors

In a wooden house, thermal insulation can be done different ways. It is important to consider the purpose of the room, its average temperature and humidity, the load on flooring, minimum thickness heat insulator. Good insulation and adherence to technology guarantees success.

To insulate the floor you will need:

• drill;
• hacksaw;
• set of drills;
• level;
• roulette;
• hammer;
• plane;
• screwdriver;
• construction knife.

Double floor

For residential premises, the floor is made double, consisting of a rough and finishing layer. For the bottom layer, use a board; its thickness should be more than 20 mm. Since the subfloor does not carry any aesthetic load, a slab or an illicit board is used for it. It is not fastened to the joists.

The sheathing is secured to the base of the floor with self-tapping screws. The lathing can consist of beams 50x50 mm. Next, the bottom layer is nailed to it using nails. Nails should not reach the joists.

Subfloor boards must be treated with fire retardants and antiseptics (Snezh, Finesta, Pinotex). The gaps between the boards should not be more than 1 cm. Next, waterproofing is laid on the subfloor.

Experts insist on membrane thermal insulation. The film should allow moisture to drain down. Plastic film or similar materials will create a humid microclimate in the underground, which will cause the boards to rot. When laying the membrane film, provide a smell of 10-15 cm, and seal the joints with construction tape.

After waterproofing, they begin to work on the joists. Any type of insulation is laid between them. It is permissible to combine several types at the same time. The insulation should fill the space tightly, but not protrude into lags.

Previously, expanded clay was used for insulation. Modern materials have better thermal insulation properties.

The insulation is covered with a layer of membrane vapor barrier, and the finished floor is laid.

Insulation by joists

When choosing this method, the logs must be installed in 50 cm increments on the foundation or frame. Boards or a subfloor board are attached to them. IN free space insulation is laid, which is covered with hydro- and vapor barrier. Then the boards are laid under the finishing floor covering.

The logs do not need to rest on the foundation, but use brick columns for this. The insulation will be mineral wool or polystyrene foam. I collect the entire “pie” according to the sequence described above.

This method allows you to increase the distance between the finished floor and the ground, and the insulation does not experience mechanical stress. Simplicity and efficiency have made insulation using joists the most common.

Construction stages:

• Subfloor flooring. I use a shield or rough board 25x150 mm. It is acceptable to take boards from the formwork if they are in good condition. The wood is treated with an antiseptic.

First, wooden logs are laid, leaving a gap of a couple of centimeters to the wall. You can use a T-shaped notch. A cranial beam measuring no more than 50x50 cm is attached to the logs, and shields are attached below.

• Laying insulation. Thermal insulation material is laid between the joists, and the gaps are filled with foam. It is acceptable to use insulation under the subfloor.

Sprayed insulation has good adhesion, has no joints and follows the contour of the surface.

• Vapor barrier layer. Waterproofing is important for damp rooms or when using hygroscopic heat insulators (fiberglass, ecowool, mineral wool). For sprayed insulation, this item is omitted.

Waterproofing can be:

1. impregnating;
2. lining (polyethylene films, roofing felt, PVC membranes, isoplast, glassine);
3. painting

The vapor barrier film is laid over the heat-insulating layer with an overlap of 15 cm. The edges are folded by 10-15 cm and attached to the joists. The joints are sealed with metallized tape.

• Finish floor and finishing. The finishing boards are laid 3-4 cm above the auxiliary base. It is required to ensure natural ventilation. They use special boards 3-4 cm thick and 10-14 cm wide with longitudinal gutters on the bottom side.

The final finish can be painting, varnishing, carpeting, linoleum. Installation is carried out according to the instructions; baseboards are laid along the walls.

Thermal insulation of concrete floor

Concrete floors must be insulated. Expanded clay concrete screed is used. Expanded clay has the form of hollow granules with low thermal conductivity. It's quite light.

For insulation, you can use polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam. The latter is better due to its moisture resistance and lack of love from rodents.

The procedure for insulating the floor is as follows:

• lies down waterproofing layer;
• lay a heat insulator;
• reinforced screed more than 50 mm;
• vapor barrier is laid;
• finishing floor covering.

Ecowool thermal insulation

Ecowool can be used in two ways:

1. Dense compaction of material into the space between the joists. All joints and seams must be pre-sealed with polyurethane foam.
2. Blowing material using special equipment. Ecowool is served under high pressure along the hose. The material can be dry or wet. Lignin is sometimes used to glue fibers together.

Insulating an old floor

After dismantling the old floor, check the safety of the joists. If defects, damage (cracks, rotting) and vibration due to mechanical stress are detected, they are replaced. The work is similar to roofing. The big disadvantage will be the duration, since you will have to knock out the joists from the concrete.

Again, check the level and fill with concrete. It is important to secure the ends into the mounting sockets using dry gravel. On new stage do not move until the concrete has completely hardened.

Subfloor boards are not mounted directly on the joists. Install the sheathing small beams, and then they put boards on them. Nails should not penetrate the thickness of the joist. Experts have different opinions about antiseptic treatment at this stage. But insurance against mold and fungi will not be superfluous, although it will require time and financial costs. There should be no differences in the rough field.

Membranes will help ensure proper waterproofing. It is mounted on the subfloor with the walls reaching the height of the finished floor.

Logs made of 150x50 mm timber are fixed in increments of 100 cm. When installing heavy furniture, the size is increased to 75x150 mm. The gap between the finishing joists and the wall is filled with insulation.

The heat insulator is placed on waterproofing membrane. A gap of 3 cm is provided to the level of the finished floor for ventilation. A vapor barrier layer is mounted on the insulation.

The finishing coating is secured with screws or nails. If they are in good condition, you can use old boards.

An alternative method of insulation

If there is no such thing in the region harsh winters, then you can insulate a wooden house without traditional materials. Insulation occurs using fiberboard, which is mounted on the finishing flooring or under it. If the slabs are on top, then they are covered with carpet or laminate. Carpet covering and linoleum will increase the effectiveness of insulation.

Important points of thermal insulation

1. When purchasing insulation material, you need to check its quality. Don't be shy about asking for a certificate for verification. Quality materials restore their shape after mechanical impact.
2. The main criterion for choosing thermal insulation material for residential premises should be health safety, not cost. Remodeling a floor is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process.
3. Waterproofing of insulation must be organized on both sides (internal and external).
4. It is worth providing a compensation gap between the insulation and the finished floor.
5. A metal mesh can be placed on the rough flooring to protect the floor from rodents.
6. Between the rough and finished floors, you can organize a heating system using a special heating cable.
7. The floor of a wooden house should be well ventilated.
8. To increase thermal insulation, the foundation and basement are insulated.

A reliably furnished floor in a wooden house is a criterion for heat preservation. It is not difficult to insulate it yourself, the main thing is to choose the right material. The most popular method is the double floor system.

Houses made of wood require a more careful approach to floor insulation work. This is necessary, first of all, to preserve the structure itself from rotting and fungus. Warm floors make the house cozy, pleasant and comfortable to be in.

Before you start insulating the floor yourself, you need to familiarize yourself with the types and features of insulation. As well as an algorithm for performing work. This is exactly what our article will discuss.

Peculiarities

Wooden floors, unlike concrete, are much warmer. Wood is a capricious material and when building a house it is not always possible to achieve the desired effect. The ratio of thickness and thermal conductivity is often disproportionate, so insulating floors in a wood house is simply necessary.

The possibility of floor insulation exists not only in new houses, but also in those built a long time ago.

• dampness;
• the appearance and proliferation of mold;
• the appearance of microorganisms and fungi that adversely affect the health of those living in the house;
• high consumption thermal energy for heating the house;
• damage and destruction of the building.

You can carry out floor insulation work yourself. This will significantly reduce the budget. Construction stores offer a wide range of materials that can be worked with even without specific skills.

Insulation of structures implies different types works:

• insulation of floors above ground floor;
• insulation of interfloor ceilings;
• insulation of the floor between the living space and the attic.

In each case, materials are used not only to maintain optimal temperature regime, but also for sound insulation. A well-insulated first floor is a guarantee that the house will become comfortable for living.

Types of floor

In houses made of wood, two types of floors are used: concrete and wood.

The second option is divided into two categories:

• floor boards, laminated wood;
• parquet board and laminate.

You can make a concrete floor yourself without involving specialists. There are two options for laying concrete: on the ground and on logs. The most common is the first option.

All work is carried out in several stages:

• priming;
• sand;
• thermal insulation;
• waterproofing.

The next step is pouring the floor concrete screed. If a warm floor is installed, then it must be installed at this stage.

Wooden floor, like concrete covering, also has several layers:

• bulk floor (rough);
• waterproofing layer;
• thermal insulation layer;
• fine coating.

If installation of a heated floor system is necessary, it is carried out at the construction stage between the finishing and rough coatings. Wooden floor is natural material, and therefore environmentally friendly. During operation, substances harmful to humans will not be released into the air. This coating has an aesthetic and noble appearance.

How can you insulate it?

Insulation of the floor in a wooden house is carried out in order to reduce heat loss. The most commonly used and inexpensive insulation materials are expanded clay and sand. Below is a list of other popular floor insulation materials.

• Mineral wool. The main features of this heat insulator are low thermal conductivity, durability, high noise insulation properties, and moisture absorption. It is also worth noting that mineral wool is an environmentally friendly material.

In order to determine whether the product in front of you is of high quality or not, you need to check its color. Mineral wool, made from natural raw materials, has Brown color. A product in the production of which prohibited substances were used will have a yellow tint.

This insulation is produced in slabs and rolls. Roll insulation most common when used on large areas. Mineral wool is very convenient; no special knowledge or skills are required during operation. Everything can be done with your own hands. The material is lightweight and breathable.

• Polyurethane foam. The insulation is quite expensive. This will require not only the help of specialists, but also special equipment. The material's properties are close to polystyrene foam. But he won't stand the screed. They can be used to insulate the floor from below. The average service life of such insulation is 30 years.

• Expanded clay. The material is quite common. Expanded clay is granules of baked foamed clay. The material has high performance properties and is lightweight. But with all the variety of advantages, there is one serious drawback. Expanded clay absorbs moisture very well, so when using it, it is imperative to install waterproofing.

• Sawdust is a bulk insulation option. Sawdust mixed with slaked lime powder is used against mice: 8 parts sawdust to 2 parts lime. Such insulation can be poured between the rough and finished floors. The average layer thickness is 20-40 cm, depending on climatic conditions.

• Isolon is polyethylene, which has a foam structure. The thickness of this coating is 10 mm. Foil coated on one or both sides. Placed on top of the cotton wool. It is also used as a covering for underfloor heating.

Which is better to choose?

A wooden house can be placed on a foundation and have a ground floor (basement), or it can be located on stilts.

Houses on stilts are in great demand among consumers. This is due to the fact that such a design does not require a large amount of time and energy during construction and operation. There are also no requirements for the soil on which the building will be located. Choosing insulation for a house on stilts requires taking into account the design features. At the right approach the house will become not only warm, but also cozy.

But with all the advantages, there is also a disadvantage: the house is located at a distance from the ground. The building is not protected by the ground floor and is exposed to winds. In this case, it turns out that the house is protected from soil moisture, but at the same time the entire floor area is exposed to winds and frost. In order for the house to please its owners, it is worth making high-quality insulation of the floors.

Floor insulation in houses on stilts is carried out in several stages:

• Preparation. Before starting work on floor insulation, it is worth ensuring full access to the joists. This is done to enable control checks. Once work begins, inspection will not be possible.
• Rough floor. There are a lot of ways to create a subfloor, but still builders often use the traditional one. It is necessary to nail a beam onto the logs, which will later serve as a support for the flooring made of boards. Timber and logs are processed by special means against rotting and fungus.

But you should not use products that create a film. This will prevent the wood from breathing, which will lead to rot. Flooring boards under the subfloor should also be treated. This is necessary to increase the service life of the material. When calculating, it is worth taking into account the weight of the insulation that will be used. Plywood can be used as flooring for lightweight insulation. If, for example, polystyrene is used, then to strengthen the bottom layer you can use reinforced mesh. This will help distribute the weight.

• Vapor barrier. A vapor barrier must be used to prevent moisture from entering the insulation. For this it is better to use polyethylene or roofing felt. These materials belong to economy class. When laying them, it is necessary to provide ventilation ducts. The vapor barrier layer should be both on top of the insulation and below. This will prevent condensation formed due to temperature changes from getting onto the materials.

• Finish floor. The finishing floor is the final stage of floor insulation, which can also be finishing coat. For this, absolutely any materials can be used (solid wood, chipboard, plywood).

To make a house on stilts look presentable, as well as for additional protection from the effects of climatic conditions, experts advise doing easy option ground floor.

Caring for insulated floors

Manufacturers

Many companies are engaged in the production of materials for floor insulation. Among them are world-famous brands and those who are just starting their journey. Most of the companies have almost a century of history. To help you make your choice, below is a rating of the most popular manufacturers. All of them present materials with proven quality.

• Knauf. The international manufacturer has over 90 years of experience. Insulation materials are popular all over the world. Products are made from natural raw materials the latest technologies. All insulation materials are environmentally friendly and harmless. Knauf has been a leader in the market for many years.

• Rockwool. The company operates on modern technologies and specializes in basalt thermal insulation materials. The advantage of this raw material is its high performance qualities and affordable price. In Russia, branches are located in Moscow, Chelyabinsk and Leningrad regions. The company is in second place in the ranking of manufacturers of insulation materials.
• Paroc. The company also specializes mainly in the production of mineral wool. Time-tested quality. The manufacturer focuses on saving thermal energy for heating living spaces and excellent sound insulation. But the disadvantage of this company is that all insulation products have a fairly high price. That is why the company ranks third.

Natural wood is one of the best building materials. It is environmentally friendly and high performance characteristics, but requires appropriate care. So just won't be enough. It is necessary to carry out a number of mandatory accompanying measures, among which one of the most important is floor insulation. It’s not difficult to figure out how to insulate the floor in a wooden house. You just need to strictly follow the instructions, and you will not only make your home more cozy and comfortable, but you will also be able to reduce heat loss, significantly save on heating and extend the life of the building.

What materials can be used for insulation?

Before insulating the floor in a wooden house, you need to choose the appropriate material. Present on the modern market big choice various solutions with a wide variety of characteristics. Currently, you can insulate a wooden floor using the following materials:

When insulating with mineral wool, it is placed between the load-bearing elements of the frame.

• isolona;
• mineral wool;
• expanded polystyrene and polyurethane foam;
• penofol;
• ecowool.

The simplest and budget material, with which you can insulate the floor, is sawdust. One of the main advantages of sawdust is that it can be poured even into the most inaccessible places where it is impossible to install other existing insulation materials. In addition, sawdust is a wood processing product, so the floor of a wooden house protected by this material will be completely environmentally friendly.

No less popular and accessible material with which you can insulate the floor in a wooden house is mineral wool and its varieties. Such insulation practically does not support combustion, it is resistant to biological and chemical influences, has good sound and heat insulation properties. However, if you decide to insulate the floor in a wooden house with this material, then keep in mind that it absorbs moisture well, while losing its insulating characteristics. Therefore, it is very important to arrange high-quality waterproofing on each side of the insulation. Among other things, mineral wool is characterized by relatively low strength and is not always safe for human health. Mineral wool contains phenol-formaldehyde resins - a very toxic substance. So if you have a more or less decent budget, then it is better to insulate the floor in a wooden house using other materials.

Mineral wool is sold in the form of a flexible mat or slab. The sides of the slab usually have different hardnesses. The one that is harder is marked with a blue stripe. If you insulate the floor in a wooden house with this material, remember that it must be laid with the blue marking strip facing up.

Izolon is a non-flammable material resistant to chemical and biological damage. It is made from mineral fibers, but has a much higher hydrophobic ability and low thermal conductivity compared to ordinary mineral wool. The floor in a wooden house, protected with such material, will always remain warm. Rockwool has similar properties, but higher resistance to mechanical damage. This insulation, made on the basis of basalt wool, is also a very good sound insulator.

Expanded polystyrene is a very durable and moisture-resistant material. It has a long service life and good thermal insulation properties. The material is not interesting to rodents and insects. It is safe for humans, very easy to install, retains its original volume well and maintains its shape.

Scheme of a floor insulated with ecowool: 1-finish floor; 2.5-kraft paper; 3-lags; 4-ewool; 6-rough floor.

When choosing the material with which you will insulate the floor in your wooden house, pay attention to its service life. Understanding which of the available materials is the most durable is not so easy. For example, some insulation materials are not able to maintain their original shape and volume for a long time.

During operation, they become deformed and begin to loosely adhere to the floor boards and joists, resulting in the formation of cold bridges and condensation. Therefore, it is better not to insulate the floor in a wooden house with such materials.

Checking the quality of thermal insulation is very simple. In the process of choosing it, you just need to step on it small area material. If it has returned to its original form, you can safely use it to insulate the floor in a wooden house. If the area does not recover after the applied load, it is better not to use such material.

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Preparing for laying insulation

First of all, you need to prepare the tools with which you will insulate the floor in a wooden house. You will need the following:

• hacksaw;
• drill;
• level;
• set of drills;
• plane;
• hammer;
• roulette;
• screwdriver;
• construction knife.

The floor in a wooden house is insulated in the following sequence:

1. First, a surface is created from slabs or boards. Vapor barrier and moisture protection are installed along it.
2. Wooden logs are installed.
3. Insulation is being installed.
4. The finished floor is being installed.

The floor in a wooden house is insulated quite easily. You just need to strictly follow the instructions. First of all, delete the old one wood covering and correct existing defects. The next step will be installing the subfloor. Thanks to it, the required frame rigidity will be ensured. It also allows you to prevent the occurrence of distortions during the use of floors in the house for their intended purpose.

In most cases, the subfloor in a wooden house is created from a slab coniferous species. The boards need to be tightly fitted to each other. Before installation, be sure to treat them with an antiseptic. If this is not done, then after 5-6 years the untreated boards and joists will rot. Most often, boards with a width of 12-15 cm and a thickness of about 5 cm are used. Screws or nails are used to fix the boards.

Fine mesh is laid on top of the rough flooring. metal grid, which will protect the insulation from rodents. Sprinkle the mesh with expanded clay or coarse sand. A layer 3-4 cm thick will be enough. The powder will not only press down the protective mesh, but will also create sufficient ventilation of the subfloor. This will protect it from damage by fungus and mold.

Regardless of what kind of insulation you use, you must provide waterproofing.

To do this, you can put PVC membranes, roofing felt or ordinary plastic film on a layer of powder. All these materials do an excellent job with their assigned functions.

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Step-by-step instructions for insulating joists

The most popular and effective way floor insulation in a wooden house is a method of thermal insulation along joists. It can significantly reduce heat loss through the floor in a wooden house and is easy to do with your own hands. This method is well suited for those floors that are located close to the ground.

First of all, you need to select optimal thickness layer of thermal insulation. This value depends on what kind of insulation will be used, as well as on the climate in the region where the zone is located. For each specific building, the layer width is calculated individually.

Warming is carried out as follows. First on waterproofing film wooden logs are laid. They are attached to the subfloor using screws or nails. The pitch between the fasteners is no more than 80-100 cm. Insulation is installed in the space between the joists.

If thermal insulation is used in the form of slabs, they must be laid close to the joists. There should be no voids left. Insulation can be laid in 1 or 2 layers. You need to cover it on top vapor barrier material. Lay the film overlapping by 10-15 cm. Attach it to the joists with a construction stapler.

To create a finished floor, use special milled wooden boards. They need to be attached to established lags. Typically, when producing such boards, the manufacturer provides the possibility of fastening them together with a tongue-and-groove connection. In most cases, boards 4-5 cm thick are used. They must have the same thickness. The width of the boards is about 10-13 cm. As a rule, there is a longitudinal recess on their back side, which greatly facilitates the process of installing the flooring and ensures the necessary air circulation under the boards.

Do not lay the boards close to the walls, leave a gap of 1-1.5 cm - in the future it will be covered with a plinth.