Floor insulation: all materials that can be used, their description, characteristics and application features. What insulation is better to use for floors in a wooden house, what to choose? thermal insulation floor

When building a cozy and comfortable home, you need to isolate all areas through which the cold penetrates inside. The floor is just such a zone, its proximity to the ground and insufficient thickness significantly reduces the temperature of the coating. High heating costs make little difference, so homeowners have to decide how best to insulate the floor.

You can carry out work on floor insulation in a house or apartment on your own, the main thing is to choose the right material. To avoid mistakes, you need to analyze the main characteristics thermal insulation materials:

resistance to fire;
low thermal conductivity;
environmental safety, no toxic fumes during operation;
strength, no deformation;
life time;
vapor permeability, the material should easily release accumulated moisture;
installation complexity.

floor insulation technology

The purpose of thermal insulation is to create a reliable barrier to the cold. To do this, between the base of the floor (concrete slab, earth embankment, logs) and top coat place a layer of insulation. Material covered vapor barrier film. To achieve maximum effect and protect it from moisture, before insulating the floor, it is necessary to lay waterproofing.

The sequence of work depends on the type of foundation, operating conditions of the premises, allowable thickness insulating layer.

Floor heaters, what to choose?

Polyfoam is popular not only because of its low cost, the material has low thermal conductivity and is resistant to moisture. It will be the best choice for insulating the basement and basement. Styrofoam is environmentally friendly, and when placed under a layer of concrete screed, it is not at risk of fire. Floor insulation is universal in use, it is laid on concrete, ceramics, wood or brick.

Expanded polystyrene is an improved version of polystyrene. It is denser (40 kg/m3 versus 10 kg/m3), absorbs less moisture, and has a uniform structure. Expanded polystyrene does not rot, has low thermal conductivity and weight. Insulation plates do not crumple, serve as sound insulation, suitable for concrete and wooden floors.

Expanded clay is a natural material that is used in dry form and as an additive in concrete. It is made of clay, so it is safe for health. Expanded clay does not burn, resistant to temperature changes. As part of the screed, it significantly reduces the thermal conductivity. When used in the form of bulk granules, the insulation is sensitive to moisture, so waterproofing is required. The effective layer of material is up to 20 cm, not everywhere it is possible to raise the floor level to such a height.

Mineral wool is offered in three types:

Glass wool is an elastic and durable floor insulation, excellent heat and sound insulator. Its disadvantage is skin-irritating fibers. Modern mineral wool is made from high-quality raw materials, it is less dangerous and caustic.
Stone - a fragile insulation with high hygroscopicity. Plus mineral wool - low cost.
Basalt wool is resistant to burning, frost and biological effects. Insulation made in the form of rigid plates is not prone to creasing and deformation. Its density is 30-35 kg/m3. Basalt wool is safe for health, has good vapor permeability, and is used for up to 30 years. The material loses its properties when wet, so during installation it is carefully protected from moisture. Basalt wool is most often used as thermal insulation for wooden floors.

Cork insulation is characterized by high elasticity and sound absorption. It is environmentally friendly, retains heat and is not afraid of moisture. Available in rolls, allowing you to quickly cover the floor in the room. cork material in the form of plates are laid between the lags under a wooden covering.

Polyurethane foam has a minimum thermal conductivity due to its low density. When sprayed, the composition forms a cellular structure that provides high insulating properties. When solidified, polyurethane foam forms a continuous surface without seams. Due to the high moisture resistance of the insulation, it is not necessary to lay a vapor barrier sheet. The polymer composition is used under a screed or subfloor made of plywood.

High moisture resistance allows not to cover the polyurethane foam with a vapor barrier film.

Thermal insulators with a layer of foil, such as penofol, reflect infrared waves back into the room. A thin layer of aluminum-coated polyethylene foam is indispensable as a substrate for laminate or linoleum. The density of penofol is quite high, it does not deform from the load. The material is used alone or in combination with other insulation.

The "warm floor" system - types and possibility of installation

The device in a private house of a water-heated floor will forever solve the problem of cold coverage. It is mounted under a concrete screed and is in an economical way maintain a comfortable temperature in the room.

In addition to hot water circulating through plastic pipes, electric cable can be used for floor heating.

It is impossible to arrange such a system in an apartment due to the high load on the floor. The infrared floor on the film has become a replacement for wires and pipes under the screed. Covering strips are easy to install and spread under tiles, laminate, parquet and linoleum.

Wooden floor insulation

The tree is characterized by low thermal conductivity, but the thickness of the boards is not enough to exclude the penetration of cold, in addition, over time, gaps form in the coating, creating a draft. Recommendations on how to properly insulate the floor will help you cope with the work yourself.

A wooden bar (logs) is laid along the entire length of the floor.
Plywood or trimming boards are attached to the bottom of the log, which will become the basis for the insulation.
Thermal insulation material - mineral wool, penofol, polystyrene foam is tightly placed between the timber. The thickness of the insulation for the floor depends on the location of the room - on the ground floor you will need a more solid layer.
The insulation is covered with plastic wrap or glassine for vapor barrier.
Floor boards are laid.

How to insulate a concrete floor

It is impossible to use a concrete base in a residential area without multi-layer insulation. For work, you need a dense, durable, resistant to stress and moisture material. When choosing how to properly insulate a concrete floor, consider several options.

Laying a heat insulator under the screed.

During the initial flooring, a pillow is made from a mixture of gravel and sand, which is poured with a thin layer of concrete.
Roll waterproofing is laid on top of the screed.
A heater is placed on the canvas that protects from moisture: expanded polystyrene, basalt wool, foam glass. The slabs of material are laid close to each other so that cold bridges do not occur.
A damper tape is placed between the thermal insulation and the wall.
A plastic film is laid on the insulation and a reinforcing mesh is laid.
The concrete screed is poured.

The addition of perlite or expanded clay to concrete reduces the thermal conductivity of the material. Installation of "raised floor". This method is suitable for rooms with high ceilings.

Laid on a concrete base wooden logs from a bar 5 × 10 cm.
Waterproofing is laid with a 10 cm approach to the walls.
A heater is placed between the lags: expanded clay, polystyrene foam, basalt wool.
The heat-insulating material is covered with moisture-resistant plywood or fiberboard.
The finish coat is being applied.

Having studied the performance characteristics and laying technology popular heaters, you can easily insulate the floor.

September 7, 2016
Specialization: Capital construction works(laying the foundation, erecting walls, constructing the roof, etc.). Internal construction works (laying of internal communications, rough and fine finishing). Hobbies: mobile communications, high technology, computer technology, programming.

Very important role Insulation for the floor plays an important role in improving the energy efficiency of a home. Especially if you are going to equip the underfloor heating system with a flexible self-regulating cable or hot water pipes. After all, the better it will work thermal insulation layer, the more heat energy will be spent on heating the room, and not the floor slabs.

Today I will talk about different kinds thermal insulation materials and tell you what kind of insulation to use for the floor. The instructions below will be of great help to home craftsmen who are going to do the insulation with their own hands.

The role of the thermal insulation layer for the floor

To achieve comfortable conditions for people to live, it is necessary that the air temperature in the room be the same throughout the entire volume of the latter. And according to physical laws, warm air masses rise to the ceiling, that is, cold zones appear in the floor area. Moreover, regardless of whether the floor is made on the floor slab or there is a construction on the ground.

Sometimes the temperature difference between the top and bottom of a room can be very significant. To avoid this, one or another floor insulation is used. And for greater efficiency, water or electric underfloor heating is additionally mounted.

Requirements for the used heaters

I must say right away that when choosing thermal insulation materials, it is especially important to choose the right insulation for a warm water floor. It is these operating conditions that are the most difficult, which often leads to a reduction in the service life of heat insulators, damage to floor slabs, breakdowns in heating systems, and so on.

I compiled a small table in which I indicated the most important requirements that a heater for underfloor heating must meet:

Characteristic	Description
Strength	The material used must be strong enough to withstand the stress of the heating used (pipes filled with water), finishing material(screeds), installed furniture and moving people.
Heat resistance	Thermal insulation must maintain its original size regardless of temperature fluctuations. That is, when the heating system is turned on, the width, thickness and length of the elements of the insulating layer should not increase.
Resistance to aggressive environment	The insulation you choose should be well tolerated by contact with other building materials (in particular, cement mortar), which are usually used for arranging the floor. In addition, the heat insulator should not be destroyed by aggressive compounds.
Low thermal conductivity	From the thermal conductivity of the insulation depends on its thickness under the warm floor. A thin but rigid thermal insulation layer will allow you to maintain a greater distance between the floor and the ceiling.
hydrophobicity	The insulation must protect the heating system and the dwelling itself from moisture ingress. In addition, the heat insulator itself should not change its technical characteristics (in particular, thermal conductivity) when wet.

In addition, I note that the insulation for water-heated floors and floor coverings with electric heating is also perfect for thermal insulation of ordinary floors. Because if the material withstands operation in extreme conditions, he will perfectly cope with the tasks and in all other cases.

Varieties of thermal insulation materials

Well, now let's take a close look at the question of which insulation is better for the floor. Here you need to choose according to the most important operational properties. I have already done some of the work for you and have selected a few of the most interesting options, which are reflected in the diagram:

Well, now about each of them in more detail.

Expanded clay

This natural insulation is a loose mineral material obtained from natural clay by firing it in kilns at high temperature. As a result of this treatment, the surface of individual pieces of clay is melted and becomes smooth.

The gases released from the raw materials during the firing process form a porous structure inside the individual granules, due to which expanded clay acquires high thermal insulation properties.

Despite the high porosity, the insulation in question is characterized by sufficient strength. Expanded clay can be used as a mineral filler in concrete, mortar for the formation of wall blocks and as an addition under a cement screed when arranging the floor.

I myself have repeatedly performed dry, semi-dry and wet insulated screed using expanded clay. As a result, a sufficiently reliable and solid floor is obtained, on which water pipes or cables of an electrical heating system can be mounted without fear.

To facilitate the work with the material, there are three types of it on sale:

Gravel. Classic insulation with oval or round granules. The material has a red-brown tint. It is this option that I recommend using when arranging an insulating layer for the floor.

Rubble. Expanded clay, the individual particles of which are quite large. This type of insulation is formed by splitting large stones into smaller ones, resulting in pebbles with sharp edges. This material is more suitable as a mineral additive in concretes with low thermal conductivity.

Screenings or sand. Very fine expanded clay, which is formed by firing or splitting expanded clay of the two previous varieties. Not suitable for insulation, used as decorative material in aquariums and for filtering liquids.

To figure out how effective insulation is expanded clay, I will focus on describing some of its technical characteristics:

Fraction composition. On sale you can see three types of material: with a fraction size of up to 10, up to 20 and up to 40 mm. There is also a material with smaller particles, but it is not suitable for construction.

For insulation, I advise using expanded clay, which is a mixture of fractions of all sizes - from 5 to 40 mm. In this case, the voids inside the floor insulation layer will be filled as densely as possible and you can not be afraid of failures during operation.

In addition, dense backfill reduces air convection, which, as you know, reduces the insulating qualities of the material used.

Density. According to GOST number 9759-90, seven density values \u200b\u200bare established from 250 to 600 kg per cubic meter. There is also a denser expanded clay, but it is only available on request for specific applications.

Here it should be borne in mind that the bulk density of the material will be 2 times less, since regardless of the quality of ramming, there will still be gaps between individual expanded clay granules.

The specific brand of insulation must be determined after thermal engineering calculations. After all, the density of the material is directly proportional to strength, but inversely proportional to thermal conductivity. And it is important to find a middle ground between these two parameters. In my work, I use expanded clay grade 300 or 400.

Strength. According to this parameter, 13 grades of expanded clay crushed stone and 11 grades of expanded clay gravel are distinguished, which are determined by squeezing the material in a cylinder.

The strength of both types of material of the same brand varies and this must be taken into account when buying. For example, gravel P100 withstands a compressive load of 2.5 MPa, and crushed stone - no more than 1.6.

Compaction factor. A parameter showing the change in the volume of the material as a result of compaction during the transportation and storage of expanded clay mass.

The compaction coefficient for expanded clay is 1.15. This means that if you need 2 cubic meters of gravel to insulate the floor, then you need to buy 2x1.15 = 2.3 m3 of material. In addition, I note that expanded clay in bags is sold already compacted and it is not necessary to apply an amendment there.

Thermal conductivity. It is on this parameter that it depends on how thick the insulation layer used when installing the floor (including with heating) should be. Exact valueλ for expanded clay is in the range from 0.1 to 0.18 W / (m * K) and depends on the density.

Usually, for high-quality surface insulation, it is necessary to pour a layer of expanded clay of medium density with a thickness of 10-20 cm.

Water absorption. Due to its high porosity and the presence of a large number of gaps, the expanded clay insulation layer absorbs a considerable amount of moisture. The water absorption coefficient (as well as several other parameters) depends on the density and is equal to 8 to 20% of its own volume.

From a consumer point of view, this means that the thermal insulation must be carefully protected from moisture by means of waterproofing membranes. Especially if we are talking about the bathroom (I wrote about how to lay expanded clay under a dry screed in a plumbing room in one of my articles on this blog).

Soundproofing. Like other thermal insulation materials with open structure, expanded clay is able to absorb sound waves of both air and structural origin well.

This property of expanded clay is widely used in the arrangement of interfloor ceilings in residential buildings from wood. The material is poured between the floor lags and does not let noise through between floors.

Despite the large number of advantages, expanded clay has several disadvantages:

High tendency to dust formation. When working indoors, expanded clay backfill forms a large amount of dust, which is dangerous for the human respiratory system. To avoid negative consequences, I recommend using a respirator.
Prolonged drying of wet expanded clay. In order for the air humidity to remain within normal limits in rooms insulated with this material, the heat-insulating layer must be protected with vapor and hydroprotective membranes.

Despite the shortcomings, I still recommend using expanded clay for thermal insulation, if only because it is the most cheap material from those described in the article. The price for a bag of expanded clay is from 60 to 100 rubles, or about 1300 rubles per cubic meter in bulk.

But the most environmentally friendly will be discussed in the next section.

Cork

Cork insulation is a heat-insulating material made from particles of cork tree bark. Multilayer plates are formed from it, which contain a minimum of solid matter and a maximum of air gaps. Thanks to the latter, cork boards get such a low coefficient of thermal conductivity.

I can say right away that I really like this insulation as a material to increase the thermal resistance of the floor. This is facilitated by the many advantages of cork:

has a very low coefficient of thermal conductivity (depends on the type of cork agglomerate);
prevents moisture condensation on insulated enclosing surfaces;
has a high sound absorption coefficient, protecting living rooms from airborne and impact noise;
is not a conductor of electric current;
due to its natural origin does not harm human health;
retains its original technical characteristics and operational properties, regardless of the level of humidity, temperature fluctuations in the air and other external factors;
is chemically neutral, does not collapse under the influence of aggressive liquids and gases;
has antiseptic properties, mold does not multiply on its surface and fungus does not appear, mice and insects do not gnaw on the cork;
It has fire-fighting properties, does not ignite well, does not contribute to the spread of flame and does not emit toxic combustion products into the air.

The set of properties listed above makes cork just an excellent material for thermal insulation of the floor, including under the heating system. In addition, cork bark agglomerate can be used for thermal insulation of walls, floors, roofs. The appearance of cork slabs is so good that they do not require additional decorative finishes.

On sale there is a heater of two varieties:

white agglomerate;
black cork agglomerate.

White is more suitable for decorative interior decoration, although no one bothers to use it as an additional insulating layer. The exact technical characteristics of the material are presented in the table:

White cork agglomerate is available in slabs of the following sizes:

91.5 by 61 cm;
93.5 by 64 cm.

The thickness of the plates varies from 1 mm to 50 cm. Thin ones are used exclusively for decorating rooms, thick ones - for thermal insulation of the floor and other surfaces.

Black cork agglomerate is made from pieces of cork oak bark. The raw material is crushed, heated and pressed into slabs. No synthetic materials are used in the production process. For gluing the agglomerate, suberin is used - a substance located in the integumentary part of the cortex.

The exact technical characteristics of black cork agglomerate are presented in the table:

Cork insulation tolerates sharp temperature fluctuations well and does not change its technical characteristics during operation.

For floor insulation, including heated floors, black cork agglomerate is well suited, produced in the form of separate sheets with dimensions of 100 by 50 cm and a thickness of 1 to 32 cm.

But I advise you to pay attention to the cork in rolls. The thickness of the insulation in this case is from 2 to 6 mm, the width is 1 meter, and the length is up to 10 meters. The thermal insulation effect of this material is difficult to overestimate. A 3 mm layer of cork replaces 4 cm of mineral wool or 150 cm of reinforced concrete floor slab.

The big disadvantage of this solution is the very high cost. Square meter a material 1 cm thick costs 640 rubles, and if you take a thicker one, the price rises to 1800. More accurate parameters are indicated in the table.

Foamed polyethylene

Another type of insulation that is suitable for insulating floor coverings (with and without heating) is cellular polyethylene foam with a heat-reflecting layer of aluminum foil. The polymer with cells has a low thermal conductivity, and the metallized layer reflects inward almost all (up to 98%) thermal energy produced by the floor heating system.

As a result, pipes or electric cables do not heat the floor slab or the ground under the house, but the room in which people live.

On sale there are heaters with one or two metallized surfaces. For work, I recommend using a heater with one aluminum layer, which, when laid, unfolds inside the room (for example, Penofol Type A). Some varieties of the material in question have markings on the foil, which facilitates the laying of pipes or cables.

The material is sold in the form of rolls with a thickness of 3 to 10 mm. Foamed polyethylene can be used as an independent insulation or paired with traditional heat-insulating materials - mineral wool, extruded polystyrene foam, and so on.

stop for more detailed description some technical characteristics of this heater:

Thermal conductivity. The coefficient of thermal conductivity of foamed polyethylene is 0.049 W / (m * K), however, its use does not greatly increase the thermal resistance of the floor due to the small thickness of the insulation layer.

Nevertheless, the efficiency of the material is much higher than it might seem at first glance. This is due to the presence of a heat-reflecting layer. It reflects infrared rays, thanks to which the air in the room warms up. As a result, the final heat transfer resistance of the floor is 1.2-1.23 W / (m2 * K).

In other words, a 4 mm layer of polyethylene foil foam is just as effective as an 8 cm layer of mineral wool.

Hygroscopicity. Unlike cork and expanded clay, polyethylene foam has a closed cell structure, so it absolutely does not absorb water. Moreover, this parameter does not depend on the time of year or temperature fluctuations.

Foam polyethylene foil can be used for thermal insulation of the floor under the heating system (water or electric) without the use of additional waterproofing membranes. It is enough to properly seal the substrate with adhesive tape.

Soundproof properties. Class A insulation (with foil glued to one side of the material) is able to effectively absorb sound waves up to 32 dB.

Foamed polyethylene differs in the greatest efficiency in frame structures when laying it on floors made along logs. Like cork, this material is able to absorb both structural and airborne noise.

Vapor permeability. Aluminum foil glued to a layer of polyethylene foam makes the insulation in question absolutely vapor-tight. The vapor permeability coefficient does not exceed 0.001 mg/(m*h*Pa).

Thanks to this, the heater can be used as vapor barrier membrane. If you lay it on the floor on top of a layer of mineral wool, you can not be afraid of wetting the latter with water vapor formed as a result of human activity.

Fire safety. Foamed polyethylene belongs to the category building materials, which are difficult to ignite and do not support combustion. Therefore, it is possible to safely lay electrical on it without fear of ignition of the insulating layer as a result of a short circuit.

In direct contact with a flame, cellular polyethylene melts, releasing water and carbon dioxide, which are harmless to humans and do not impede the evacuation of people from residential premises.

Life time. The polymer from which polyethylene foam is made is able to maintain its original performance properties for at least 200 years. This is much more than even the most stringent building codes require.
The exact technical characteristics of foamed polyethylene insulation depend on the manufacturer of the material. I will indicate them using the example of the Penofol trademark material, aluminum foiled on one side.

The cost of a roll of Penofol Type A, 15 m long, 1.2 meters wide and 10 mm thick, is about 1,400 rubles apiece.

Foil foam

Another insulation that is specifically designed for warming underfloor heating (and is not used for thermal insulation of conventional floors) is foil foam. For its manufacture, block polystyrene foam with a density of 20 kg per cubic meter is used, which complies with the PN-B-20130 standard.

The thickness of this material varies from 2 to 10 cm. To increase the efficiency of the foam, a multilayer polymer film is glued to its surface, containing a metallized layer inside, which plays the role of a heat shield.

The protective film on the surface is placed in such a way as to protrude beyond the edge of the foam boards at a distance of 5 cm. Thanks to this tolerance, the joints of the insulation mats are overlapped, creating a sealed and moisture-resistant base for laying pipes or heating cables. In addition, the polymer film prevents the liquid component from leaking during pouring. cement screed and provides high-quality dehydration of the solution.

For ease of installation, markings are applied on the surface of the film in the form of squares with a side of 5 cm, which facilitate the placement of pipes at the required distance from each other.

I will briefly tell you about the most important technical characteristics of foam mats with a metallized layer:

structural stability. The foam retains all original physical and Chemical properties during laying, pouring concrete mortar and further operation. The insulation can be operated at temperatures from -180 to + 180 degrees Celsius.
High soundproof properties. Insulation under warm floors perfectly isolates the room from structural noise transmitted through the ceiling. In other words, the inhabitants of the lower floor will not suffer from the rumble emitted by the tenants located above.
Chemical stability. Polyfoam perfectly tolerates the effects of an alkaline environment, characteristic of a solution with a cement binder. Therefore, it is often used in the arrangement of insulated heated floors, which are then leveled using the “wet” screed method.
Antiseptic. The insulation is biologically neutral; mold fungus that cannot feed on styrene does not appear and does not develop on its surface. This is very important, since the high temperature with the heating system turned on creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of microorganisms.
Hygroscopicity. Block foam with a heat-reflecting layer has a high moisture resistance coefficient. The insulating layer does not absorb moisture, does not swell and does not dissolve, regardless of the level of humidity.
Strength. Despite the low density, the material has a high deformation strength. The static and dynamic load exerted on the floor will not lead to its destruction and violation of the integrity of pipes or electric cables.

Summary

Unfortunately, I cannot say which is the best thermal insulation material for floor insulation. But based on the above technical specifications you can make an informed choice. If you need advice on how to lay, for example, bulk insulation, watch the video in this article for a detailed description of the related technology.

You can leave your options for which floor insulation is better to use in private construction, as well as advice, questions and wishes, in the comments below.

September 7, 2016

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Publication date: 31-10-2015

"What insulation is best for the floor?" - a question that is asked by everyone who appreciates comfort. After all, it is always nice to walk on the floor with bare feet, not being afraid of bad weather outside the window, this is especially true when central heating not included. When choosing a material for insulation, it is important to take into account the characteristics of the room and the climatic zone in which you live. Where to stop? This is what we will talk about today.

Heat from underfloor heating

Water systems are often made in children's rooms and kitchens. low temperature heating and "warm floors". The first option is based on laying pipes under the floor, in which hot water. These elements of the system are usually made from polymers, they are strong, flexible, resistant to thermal aging, they are not afraid of corrosion.

Water heated floor: scheme

This method is considered effective, but rather troublesome, because the design, in addition to pipes, requires collectors, special risers, shutoff valves, and an automatic shutdown device.

"Warm floor" means laying a cable under the floor covering that generates heat. The disadvantage of the option is that in the event of a breakdown, the entire system will have to be completely dismantled.

But you will have to face difficulties even during installation, installing such a design is not an easy task. Much easier in this sense, the organization of the infrared floor. The film coating does not require a tie, it is easy to install and quickly connected. On top you can lay tiles, linoleum, parquet or laminate. Another plus - the system is easy to remove (can be moved to another room).

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Universal material

Styrofoam (aka expanded polystyrene) is a material that does not require special communications, this is the most common floor insulation. Its heat-insulating performance is 25 times better than that of its counterpart in the workshop - expanded clay concrete. Such a floor absorbs heat slowly, which means that it is pleasant to walk on it, its temperature is always approximately the same.

Styrofoam is laid as a floor insulation during the construction of a floating screed, it is poured with cement or concrete. You can also fill the gaps between the lags with polystyrene foam when installing a wooden floor. Another option is to lay the slabs on a concrete floor, and plywood sheets on top of them.

Styrofoam is much better than its competitors in many respects, it is not afraid of water, it is “bio-stable”. The scope of its application is not limited, it is used in apartments and private houses, on balconies and in rooms with a high level of humidity.

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Efficiency and price

Expanded clay is one of the most affordable materials. It is added to concrete and used in the construction of a dry screed. He is different high efficiency(heat retention is three times greater than that of wood) and low price (ten times cheaper than brick). The basis of expanded clay is clay, which means that such a heater withstands temperature extremes better than many others, it does not burn, rodents will not damage it.

Expanded clay - the owner of excellent soundproofing properties - what inhabitant of multi-storey buildings does not dream of silence! In addition, it can be used in almost any climatic conditions (even in the most extreme ones). Expanded clay is an environmentally friendly product, and in modern world this is especially important.

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Thinness and warmth

Compared with the same expanded clay, the thickness of polystyrene concrete is much less. Only 5 cm of the product is enough to ensure good thermal insulation of the room. In addition, with this material, the pressure on the floors will be less. Polystyrene concrete allows you to level the floor. Over layer this insulation it is best to install tiles, although other floor coverings are not prohibited.

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Nothing to do with "scoop"

Glass wool is a mineral fiber. According to the manufacturing process, it is very similar to mineral wool, these products are made from the same raw materials, but the properties are slightly different. Their main difference lies in the length of the product, the length of glass wool is 3 times longer than mineral wool, due to which this material has increased elasticity and strength. The product has high vibration resistance.

Glass wool is able to retain air for a long time, so in winter the heat does not leave the building, and in summer the room does not heat up. Separately, it is worth noting the soundproofing qualities of glass wool.

If you use it as a heater for the entire room, then a working TV will only be heard in the room where it is located. Glass wool takes first place in the lists of thermal insulation materials. A modern product, unlike its Soviet predecessor, is much softer to the touch, does not burn, does not cause skin irritation and, of course, meets all quality and safety standards. She is today universal insulation: it is used both in attics and in floors, and with internal wall insulation.

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"Fellow" glass wool

Mineral wool board is another item on the list "Which insulation to choose for the floor." It is a heat-insulating material made of mineral wool. It is resistant to high temperatures and many aggressive chemical substances e.g. alkalis, solvents. Mineral wool is the owner of a high coefficient of vapor permeability, this helps to protect the product from the formation of mold and pests.

The advantages of mineral wool boards also include:

low moisture absorption
complete incombustibility,
ease of use,
She doesn't need fasteners
plates are easy to cut,
does not deform even under heavy loads,
good sound insulation and environmental friendliness,
durability (will last up to 25 years).

Here are the walls and the roof wooden house, Windows And Doors Are Inserted. It's time to move on to the inside finishing work. And they usually start with the flooring. This is one of the most important and crucial stages of work, because the general microclimate in the premises of the wooden structure and the level of heating costs will depend on how correctly and efficiently the floor cake is made. At the same time, close attention should be paid to the choice of floor insulation, because up to 20% of the heat in the house is lost through the flooring.

How to choose a heater?

The most important thing that determines the choice of insulation for processing the finished floor from below is the type of foundation and, accordingly, the design of the floor:

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

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

Therefore, when choosing a heater, it is necessary to 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 is inside the floor structure will be absorbed into the wood and, due to close contact with the insulation, will not be able to go outside. The result of this will be the appearance in a year and a half of fungus, insects and the spread of decay processes.

A completely different result is given by heaters with the property of hygroscopicity.(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 give it out.

Therefore, with this type of floor device, it is absolutely impossible to use various heaters based on expanded polystyrene and polystyrene.

Wood and similar materials are incompatible things.

Floors on the ground and slab

In this kind of floor structures, the insulation is covered from above with a screed.

Loose and wadded materials will not be able to provide the required level of strength, although now they also produce mineral wool with a fairly high density.

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

Therefore, polystyrene foam heaters are most suitable for this type of floor - they are dense and do not absorb moisture.

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

maximum weight of the floor structure;
required thickness;
humidity- temperature regime inside the house, the presence of temperature differences;
design loads on the floor structure and its operating conditions.

Separately, one should dwell on the thickness of the heat-insulating 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 material;
environmental friendliness;
efficiency, that is, the preservation of its characteristics throughout the entire service life;
fire safety;
density and reliability;
price.

What to insulate?

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

Materials for insulation

Sawdust

The simplest and cheapest insulation. It is easy to apply - just sprinkle it on the rough base of the 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 a heater, they will have to be laid in a layer as much as 0.3 m. Sawdust, in addition, like any wood product, can rot, rodents can start in them. Therefore, just sawdust is most often used to insulate the floor of unused attic spaces.

However, sawdust has recently been increasingly used as a raw material in the production of other more modern and efficient thermal insulation.

Ecowool

Thermal insulation material made from cellulose with the addition of flame 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 the device of floors on the equal bases. To ensure optimal performance of thermal insulation, expanded clay must be laid with a layer of at least 15 cm. The convenience of this material is also that it is possible to lay all the necessary communications in it. Expanded clay is quite hygroscopic, therefore, before using it on the ground, waterproofing measures must be taken.

The main advantage of bulk thermal insulation for the floor is their wastelessness and the ability to fill all kinds of (even the most inaccessible) voids.

Expanded polystyrene, polystyrene, polyethylene

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

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

These types of thermal insulation materials have the following characteristics:

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

Expanded polystyrene heaters in our country are presented under the names "Penoplex", "Technoplex", "Knauf".

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

High thermal insulation performance of this material is ensured by retaining heat in air bubbles sealed in polyethylene balls. The foil acts as a barrier that traps heat in the winter and reflects the heat from the sun in the summer, thus maintaining optimum thermal regime in room.

Penofol is also a waterproofing material.

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

Fiberboard

Not a very common type of insulation, which is made from a mixture of liquid glass, cement powder and wood wool. Such material retains heat well and has high soundproofing characteristics. Such a heater, due to its hygroscopicity, is not suitable for laying floors on the ground, but it 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, which is able to withstand the weight of a truck.

Fiberboard slabs are used for floor insulation on a flat base, granules for backfilling between joists on subfloors. The thickness of the insulation layer in this case 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 budgetary 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 in the production of pig iron. Due to its excessive hygroscopicity, slag wool has practically not been used recently.

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

The main advantages of such heaters:

they do not conduct heat well, and, therefore, retain it well;
vapor permeability. The insulation provides good air exchange, the floor construction is "breathable", which allows you to maintain optimal temperature and humidity conditions in a wooden house. The likelihood of condensation in the insulation is small;
high density;
high soundproofing characteristics;
they are impact resistant high temperatures and fire, no smoke is emitted on contact with fire;
waterproof. Stone wool and glass wool do not absorb moisture, so you should not be afraid of dampness inside the field structure;
long service life - up to 50 years. This type of thermal insulation is not subject to rotting and damage by rodents.

The disadvantages of mineral wool insulation are ambiguous. Currently, many large manufacturers have practically reduced them to zero, and the rest are successfully working to minimize them.

Among the shortcomings, 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. Getting on the skin during the installation of insulation, they lead to itching. It is dangerous for these fibers to enter the respiratory system. Therefore, it is possible to lay such a heater only using individual means protection, such as a respirator, overalls, goggles, gloves.

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

Until now, builders argue that mineral wool releases phenol-formaldehyde resins into the air. But the data of recent studies indicate their very small amount, which cannot have a detrimental effect on human health.

Mineral wool can be produced in the form of rolls or plates. 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.

Main trade marks mineral wool - Izover, Rokvol, Knauf, Ursa, TechnoNIKOL, Ecover, Izovol, Parok and others.

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

On the modern market there is a wide choice of materials for thermal insulation. They are designed to solve various tasks. The widest range of floor heaters, each variety has its own operational features, pros and cons. For high-quality thermal insulation of the floor, it is important to choose the right insulation suitable for specific conditions of use.

The main purpose of floor insulation is to reduce heat loss. and reducing heating costs during the cold season. The task of thermal insulation of the floor is particularly acute:

In private houses
In apartments located on the first floors apartment buildings, as well as over the arches

In such premises heat leakage through the floor is up to 10-15% of the total heat loss. For apartments located above residential, heated premises, this figure is lower. But floor insulation is required not only to reduce heat leakage.

From the floor, laid on a concrete base, it pulls cold, this often causes colds
If you use electric or, and do not insulate the base, a significant part of the heat will go down
Thermal insulation materials, as a rule, also provide sound insulation, their use helps to increase acoustic comfort.

Types of floor heaters

Floor heaters can be divided into several categories:

Slab, rigid– expanded polystyrene extruded and granulated (styrofoam), mineral wool
Roll, soft– mineral wool of lower density, stitched mats based on stone fiber, isofol (foil insulation)
Bulk– expanded clay, sawdust, sand, expanded polystyrene in granules, expanded vermiculite, ecowool
mechanized application(applied with blowing machines) - ecowool, liquid polyurethane foam or polystyrene

Some modern materials are both structural and insulating. If polystyrene concrete is used instead of a conventional concrete solution in a frequent house, additional insulation of the base can be dispensed with.

Sprayed (blown) compositions are convenient in that they ideally fill all voids. Mechanized application reduces labor costs, but it requires special equipment. In addition, liquid polyurethane foam is expensive, ecowool is more affordable, but you still need to take into account the cost of work or equipment rental. So this method of floor insulation has not yet become widespread.

Let us consider in more detail the pros and cons of the most common heaters.

Styrofoam

Granulated polystyrene foam (PPS), which is often called polystyrene foam, is the cheapest insulation. It is used for floor insulation less and less, because it has a number of disadvantages:

Extruded polystyrene foam (EPS) is usually colored green, orange, pink. It is produced using a different technology and compares favorably with traditional foam in a number of technical and operational characteristics:

high density and, as a result, better resistance to mechanical stress, lower thermal conductivity
Waterproof
Resistance to biological agents– fungus, microorganisms, rodents, insects

At normal temperatures, both foam and extruded polystyrene foam are non-toxic. The main disadvantage of extruded polystyrene foam is that it is combustible, although it resists fire well. Most types of this insulation belong to the flammability class G3 or G4, more expensive products with flame retardant additives are assigned class G1 (low combustible). When burned, extruded polystyrene releases highly toxic substances!

Mineral wool

One of the most popular heaters, made from stone (basalt), slag or fiberglass. It has a number of advantages:

Low thermal conductivity
Good resistance to mechanical deformations, especially for high density boards
Vapor permeability
High fire resistance and high temperature resistance
Invulnerability to rodents and other pests
Good soundproof performance

The disadvantages of mineral or glass wool include:

High hygroscopicity and reduction thermal insulation properties when moistened. There is hydrophobized mineral wool with minimal water absorption, but it has a high cost.
Isolation in small amounts toxic substances, generation of hazardous dust during wear
High-density mineral wool with the best strength and thermal insulation characteristics is more expensive than XPS

Pierced mats based on basalt wool are reinforced with steel mesh and covered on one side with a shielding layer of aluminum foil. They differ from slabs in their lighter weight and are very easy to install. Rolled mineral wool is less dense, its thermal conductivity is higher than that of plate material. It can be used in addition to rigid insulation or in areas where the requirements for thermal insulation are not very high.

Expanded clay and other bulk insulation

Loose heaters are good because they fill all the voids and when they are used, no waste is generated..
Sawdust- a cheap and environmentally friendly product, but in its pure form they absorb moisture, are susceptible to decay and are afraid of pests, they must be mixed with clay, cement. Currently, sawdust is practically not used as a heater.
Ecowool- cellulose-based insulation with the addition of antiseptics and fire retardants - has not yet become widespread. At a price it is comparable to expanded clay and has many advantages:

Ecological cleanliness
Excellent thermal insulation characteristics(4 times better than expanded clay)
Vapor permeability
Immunity to fungi, rodents
Incombustibility

Its main disadvantage is hygroscopicity, low moisture resistance.

The most common bulk insulation, which has been used for a long time and managed to gain popularity, is expanded clay. It has the inherent advantages of ecowool, but differs from it in higher mechanical strength.

This is a versatile material, it can be used as a backfill for a screed, as well as added to a mortar for a rough screed, reducing the load on the base and increasing the thermal insulation characteristics.
Expanded clay is practically the only insulation that is suitable for floors on the ground, but under it you need a pillow of rubble and sand. It is very convenient to lay communications in the expanded clay layer.

The effect of the use of expanded clay is noticeable when it is backfilled with a layer of at least 15 cm, and this is the main drawback of this material. It is recommended to be used where an increase in floor height is not critical.

Tip: in order to increase the density of the insulation layer and its resistance to mechanical stress, it is better to use a mixture of expanded clay of different fractions for backfilling.

Due to the porous structure expanded clay absorbs moisture, while its thermal insulation characteristics are reduced like mineral wool. Therefore, when backfilling expanded clay on the ground and using it in high humidity conditions, it is imperative to perform waterproofing. Read about materials for waterproofing.

Principles for choosing a heater

Almost any insulation can be used for thermal insulation of the floor, but a number of factors must be taken into account:

What base is insulated - concrete, wood, soil
Will the insulation be exposed to moisture
What is under the floor (soil, heated room, unheated room)
Do you plan to install underfloor heating?
At what stage is the insulation work carried out

Insulation under concrete screed must have the following characteristics:

Rigidity, high density- he has to support the weight of the screed
Moisture resistance contained in solution
For slab and roll materials - no open pores, into which grains of the solution can be clogged
High resistance to heat transfer, allowing you to get by with a layer of insulation of small thickness

The best solution is extruded polystyrene foam or hydrophobized high density mineral wool. Expanded clay - too a good option, but its use will lead to a significant increase in floor height.

The main requirement for insulation for a wooden base for a prefabricated sheet screed is vapor permeability. If you lay a layer of vapor-tight insulation between the base and the floor covering made of wood, the main advantage of natural wood, the ability to "breathe", will be nullified.

Therefore, extruded polystyrene foam is not the best solution. The use of vapor-permeable foam is undesirable, since rodents and bugs successfully pass through it, which can damage the wood.

In apartments located above the first floor, the role of insulation can play. Mandatory laying of insulation under the underfloor heating system, it may have a small thickness, more important is the presence of a shielding layer that reflects heat upwards. Isofol can serve as such a heater, and on the ground floor - pierced mineral wool foil mats.

Important: under the water and cable electric floor, you can use foil insulation, under the infrared film - a metallized substrate.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to insulate the floors in a private house from the basement side in order to avoid dismantling the flooring. In this case, bulk insulation is not suitable, you can use slab or roll.

Video

The choice of polystyrene foam for floor insulation

Mineral wool for floor insulation

Outcome

For insulation of concrete bases the best choice are high-density materials - extruded polystyrene foam, mineral wool in slabs, expanded clay, for wood - mineral wool or ecowool, for insulation on the ground - expanded clay. Expanded clay must be covered with a thick layer, which limits the possibility of its use.

Vapor-permeable insulation, which goes well with wooden floors, absorbs moisture and needs high-quality waterproofing. With underfloor heating systems, heaters with a reflective layer are used. The higher the requirements for thermal insulation, the more dense the material should be used, or it will be necessary to increase the thickness of the insulation layer.