The choice of insulation for the floor. What insulation for the floor is better: characteristics of expanded clay, mineral wool, glass wool, expanded polystyrene, polystyrene What kind of insulation is needed for the floor

Heating efficiency starts with closing off all energy leaks - through windows, doors and floors. The first two tasks are solved by seals and the installation of double-glazed windows. To eliminate the last problem, it is necessary to choose the right insulation. It is important to do this so that in the future the floor temperature differs by no more than 2 C °, otherwise the residents will suffer from frequent colds.

It has been proven that heat loss through floors is 20%. This is how much you will have to pay for heating in the presence of an autonomous system. Insulation is especially necessary in a private house (especially in old wooden houses), on the 1st floor, as well as in the bathroom, kitchen, loggia and wherever the concrete floor is covered with tiles.

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All heaters intended for thermal insulation of the floor can be roughly divided into four types:

• wadded;
• foam;
• concrete (expanded clay);
• natural (flax, jute).

Many factors affect their quality and wear - stress, moisture, fungi, insects, rodents. They themselves can have a positive, negative or neutral effect on the health of people living in the house. There is no ideal type of insulation - each has a set of certain characteristics and its own disadvantages due to the lack of certain qualities. Therefore, when choosing floor insulation, pay attention to the following characteristics:

• safety for health and the environment;
• resistance to temperature influences and high humidity;
• thermal insulation and vapor permeability;
• resistance to rotting, decay and aging;
• ease of installation and durability.

What is the best insulation to choose?

1. Mineral wool. It is also made of stone, made from alloys of rocks, as well as from slags. It can be sold both in rolls and mats. It has good sound insulation, is low flammable, but is afraid of excess moisture. Therefore, it must be additionally waterproofed or monitored for the integrity of the protective film. Depending on the amount of slag content, it can have an acceptable (but undesirable) radioactive background.

2. Glass wool. Made from fiberglass - waste from the glass industry. In terms of properties, it is similar to the previous material, only it does not have a radioactive background. However, it has less thermal conductivity (this is a plus), but also a lower density (this is a minus). Suitable for wood floors. Unfortunately, it can ignite in case of fire.

3. Ecowool. It consists of 80% recycled paper, 8% borax, and 12% antiseptic. It is environmentally friendly, has good thermal conductivity, heat resistance, durability.

4. Polyurethane foam, polystyrene, polystyrene foam (polystyrene). The most popular, widely used in country buildings, in summer cottages. It is very convenient to use - it is simply placed on the bottom and connected with foam or construction tape. Moisture resistant, but flammable. Thermal insulation of floors using foam is not only convenient, but also affordable.

However, it is believed that floor insulation with styrene foam is not very environmentally friendly - when heated, it exudes substances that, over time, harm human health.

5. Isolon. Refers to foamed polyethylene, rodents, insects and fungi do not start in it. 1 cm of izolona replaces 4.5 cm of mineral wool, has high rates of not only heat, but also sound insulation. Resistant to a wide variety of harsh environments, including chemical and oil solvents.

True, due to its small thickness, it cannot provide sufficiently reliable sound insulation, so it makes no sense to use it in a multi-storey building, for example, on the bathroom floor, where such a need often arises.

6. Flax. Natural insulation: durable, moisture and environmental resistant. Does not rot over time and does not lend itself to mold. Effectively resists frost, protecting from cold. Those who are prone to allergies or take good care of their health can choose this option for floor insulation, as the most environmentally friendly of all.

7. Jute. Natural fiber that is produced from plants of the linden family. It is often used for the manufacture of carpets, furniture pads and as insulation. In this case, it is made in the form of rolls like gray carpet.

8. Expanded clay. Porous crushed stone of fine fraction, which is obtained by firing clay shale, has either a smooth oval or pointed shape. It is often used as a cushioning and drainage material.

Insulation of floors on logs

This insulation method is applicable for floors built both on the ground and on concrete slabs. It is also suitable for installation in brick and timber houses. For the soil, you must first compact the soil and cover it with rubble. Brick pillars should be installed on the prepared pillow at a distance of 2 × 0.5 m. Then they need to be waterproofed, after which you can put logs made of wood. The insulation is overlapped between them. It can also be placed on the joists to prevent the boards from squeaking.

Under the screed on the ground, expanded clay is most often used if the house does not have a basement. First, sand 100 mm thick is poured onto the bottom of the base, and then insulation up to 300 mm. To make the base strong, it is tamped and covered with a reinforcing mesh, then a concrete screed is poured.

Insulation for linoleum

By itself, it has low thermal conductivity. For linoleum, you can use any material, preferably not rotting and not amenable to mold. It is inadmissible to get moisture under the floor during work. If they are carried out in compliance with these measures, then the structure will serve for many years.

Manufacturers and prices

The experience of companies has a great influence on the quality of insulation. The longer a company has been on the market, the generally better insulation it offers. Rockwool has been in business for over 70 years. During this time, by trial and error, good quality mineral and stone wool was obtained with reliable sound insulation, vapor permeability, resistance to fire and moisture.

Slabs "Penoplex" are suitable for ground floors, foundations, loggias and laying "warm" floors. They have zero water absorption, high compressive strength, are resistant to decay and are easy to install.

PAROC produces stone wool floor mats. Operates in 15 European countries, successfully helping customers reduce energy consumption. Due to the promoted brand, its products are distinguished not only by high quality, but also by a price that is less affordable for an ordinary consumer.

The Zhivoizol company offers products made of flax and jute: they are environmentally friendly, durable, do not cause allergies and do not emit harmful substances. Insects do not start in them, mice do not eat them.

Izolon is engaged in the production of a unique flooring material, suitable as a substrate for parquet. The company's products are distinguished by high impact resistance, low thermal conductivity, vapor barrier with a minimum width of only 10 mm.

In order for the home to be cozy and comfortable, and you and your children can walk around the house barefoot without the risk of catching a cold, you need a warm floor.

In apartment buildings, the reason for cold floors is concrete floors, which are a good heat conductor. But wooden floors, despite the good thermal insulation qualities of wood, need insulation. Let's try to figure out how to insulate the floor, namely, what materials exist for this, what are their advantages and disadvantages.

Varieties of heaters

On the construction market there is a wide variety of materials for thermal insulation, the use of which allows you to insulate a wooden or concrete floor. They can be divided into three groups:

• wood-shaving;
• mineral;
• polymer;
• Cork.

Let's consider each type in more detail, the pros and cons of each material.

Wood-shaving

This is the simplest and highest quality thermal insulation. It includes:

• sawdust;
• plywood;
• ecowool.

Sawdust

It is a safe natural material. On their basis, various mixtures are prepared with sand, cement, lime, and other components.

Sawdust should be dry, mold-free, medium-sized, aged for at least one year.

It is an eco-friendly, cheap and reliable insulation that retains heat well.

Chipboard

Chipboard - wood shavings pressed into boards with a binder and special additives. It insulates sound, heat well. Despite its strength, chipboard is easy to cut and cut.

Perfect for working with concrete, but since it has the property of absorbing moisture, you need to start work with waterproofing.

Plywood

Plywood is simple and easy to use. It can be easily covered with linoleum, carpet or any kind of paint.

For the floor, it is necessary to choose a waterproof grade of plywood made from environmentally friendly materials.

Ecowool

On the basis of sawdust, a modern eco-friendly material is produced - ecowool. It is made from newspaper waste paper with the addition of antiseptics and fire retardants. Does not deform during long-term use, perfectly retains heat, excellent sound insulator.

Ecowool is easy to use, it can be easily filled by hand between the logs. It has one drawback - high cost.

Mineral

The use of such materials does not require special construction skills.

Mineral wool

One of the most popular floor insulation materials is mineral wool. It is a natural, eco-friendly product with fire retardant properties.

Mineral wool is durable, does not shrink, does not deform with temperature drops. Provides excellent sound and heat insulation. It is produced in different sizes of slabs, rolls and mats, which makes it easy to install on a concrete floor. The disadvantages include a rather large layer thickness.

Expanded clay

A type of heat-treated clay - expanded clay - is not bad for the floor. Durable, resistant to dynamic loads and temperature drops, provides good noise insulation, perfectly retains heat.

It is produced in the form of granules, which are simply distributed between the lags by hand. Expanded clay is relatively inexpensive. It is fragile, absorbs moisture well, which, of course, is a disadvantage.

Polymer

All polymer heaters are produced using similar technologies, have a porous structure and low weight.

Styrofoam

It is one of the most popular polymers used to insulate walls (both inside and outside) and floors in private houses. He has undeniable advantages:

• very easy to use, easy to cut, fit;
• does not absorb moisture, is resistant to decay;
• does not deform during the entire service life;
• keeps warm well;
• has a low cost.

The disadvantages of foam include low fire resistance. In addition, an unpleasant odor may occur when heated.

Styrofoam is well mounted on any surface, but it is most effective for insulating a concrete floor.

Penoplex

The innovative building material penoplex has a cellular structure and good heat-saving qualities. Like polystyrene, it is simple and easy to install, cannot be deformed, and does not absorb moisture.

Penoplex has a long service life. Its disadvantages include rapid flammability and the release of hazardous substances during combustion. It can be easily mounted on concrete and wooden floors under a screed or laid on the joists after the frame has been installed.

Expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is gaining more and more popularity. It is one of the inexpensive polymers, lightweight, durable, solid. Resistant to high and low temperatures, wear-resistant. The material does not absorb moisture, it is not subject to damage by fungus and mold.

With long-term operation, the properties of expanded polystyrene are preserved, which is facilitated by its cellular structure. Like all polymers, it has little fire resistance. Easy to work with, easy to assemble.

Izolon

An excellent insulation is izolon - foamed polyethylene. Izolon has zero water absorption, which makes it impossible for mold or mildew to appear.

Keeps warm well, lightweight, elastic material. It is produced in rolls, which are easily laid on the surface and secured with adhesive tape. Self-adhesive isolon can be purchased.

Polyurethane foam

By spraying, polyurethane foam is applied to the floor, which creates an even layer of insulation. It is a lightweight and durable polymer that is resistant to decay and mildew.

Has good fire retardant properties. It is absolutely safe for human health.

Dye

A special polymer paint, which is the thinnest insulation, copes very effectively with thermal insulation. This is a new development in the building materials market. Possesses water-repellent and fireproof qualities, the paint is easy to apply and dries quickly.

Cork

In an age of environmental concern, it's no surprise that many are opting for natural materials. The bark of the cork tree has excellent thermal insulation properties. Cork differs from other natural materials in its honeycomb structure, which includes large and small cells filled with air.

Technical plug absorbs sound and vibration well, it is strong and durable. It is produced in the form of rolls, has a small thickness and good density. The small thickness of the product allows you to insulate floors in rooms with a maximum height. Differs in ease of installation on any surface. Like any natural material, it has a high cost.

The advantages of an insulated floor

Taking into account the characteristics of insulating materials, we can conclude about the advantage of a floor with insulation:

• reduced heat loss to the outside or into the ground through the coldest surface in the room;
• reduced energy consumption, thereby saving the family budget;
• the formation of condensation on the floor surface is prevented, making it impossible for the occurrence of mold and mildew;
• additional sound insulation is created.

How to choose a material?

In search of an answer to the question of what is the best way to insulate the floor, do not forget about the norms of building heating technology, which are different for each region of Russia. Thermal insulation will be more effective if you choose the best option for your particular flooring.

Payment

First of all, it is necessary to calculate the thickness of the material. For this, resistances are taken into account:

• air acceptance by the floor - R1;
• passing through the floor of heat - R2;
• heat transfer - R3.

All layers are taken into account, including the air gap. The density of the material is divided by the coefficient of its thermal conductivity. The result of the calculation is the value of the coefficient of heat transmission through the floor.

A product with a thickness equal to the sum of all resistances should be equal to the heat resistance rate for a specific region, determined according to SNiP II - 3 - 1979 "Construction thermal equipment".

The microclimate in your home, warmth and comfort in winter cold weather and autumn bad weather will depend on the accuracy of the calculation.

Concrete floor

For a concrete floor, wood chip insulation, which is mounted on a polyethylene film for waterproofing, is perfect. Mineral wool is also convenient for installation. Thermal insulating paint and foam work effectively.

Inspect the concrete base before starting work. If you find cracks, then be sure to remove them with polyurethane foam.

Wooden floor

For the wooden floor of a private house, mineral wool is perfect, which is convenient to lay under the boards. If you plan to replace the floor after insulation, then use polystyrene or polystyrene foam. It is not always possible to put a dense insulation, in this case, use a cork or chipboard.

Floors play a huge role in keeping the room warm. Heat loss through cold floors reaches 20% of the total volume. By insulating floors in an apartment or a private house, you not only create an optimal microclimate for your family, but also save energy and money resources.

Homeowners, no matter a private building or an apartment in a high-rise building, sooner or later face the need to insulate walls, floors, windows, loggias or balconies. Thinking about the best way to insulate the floor, they involuntarily have to study information from manufacturers, ask neighbors or seek advice from specialists.

We tried to collect in the article information about the most common heaters and give some practical recommendations on how to warm a room with our own hands.

Choosing floor insulation

Warm floor - warm home. This statement does not require proof. But you can insulate the floor for mere pennies, and by investing a lot of money and effort in a complex system of electric or water heating.

Which insulation is better for the floor, everyone decides for himself, based on the design features of the room and the estimated budget.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay is one of the cheapest and most affordable heaters.

Its advantages are obvious:

• Excellent thermal insulation and sound absorption characteristics;
• Fire resistance and resistance to temperature extremes;
• Light weight - expanded clay only slightly makes the structure heavier;
• Rodents do not start in fired clay granules of expanded clay.

Note!
In order for expanded clay to retain heat, its layer must be 10-15 cm thick.
This is perhaps the only serious disadvantage of the insulation - raising the floor level and reducing the ceiling height (especially important for standard apartments).

Falling asleep under the sheets of gypsum fiber board, concrete or cement mortar is poured onto it, constructing a floating screed.

Mineral wool and glass wool

Similar in fibrous texture and form of release in the form of plates or rolls, glass and, and for noise insulation of premises. The attractive price and ease of installation have made these materials in demand for many years.

However, these heaters also have disadvantages. Glass wool is hygroscopic - the ingress of moisture on it inevitably leads to deformation and shrinkage of the heat-insulating layer. Mineral wool contains a minimum amount of formaldehyde within the permissible limits.

Styrofoam or Styrofoam

Perhaps not a single insulation of a loggia or balcony occurs without the participation of this universal insulation.

Among the valuable properties of expanded polystyrene are:

• Moisture resistance;
• Biostability;
• Low thermal conductivity;
• High strength, including compressive strength.

A conditional disadvantage of expanded polystyrene can be called its flammability, although the material is difficult to ignite and goes out in the absence of an open fire.

Above, we examined the most budgetary and popular heaters. But construction technologies do not stand still, and every year newer and more advanced materials appear on the market: polystyrene concrete, ecowool, penoizol, foil insulation.

Naturally, their price is significantly different. Therefore, what is the best insulation for the floor is up to you!

Floor insulation technologists on their own

Making your home warm is a feasible task for skilled owners. Detailed instructions will tell you how to properly insulate the floor in an apartment.

If you have glass or mineral wool, expanded clay in your apartment. When leaning towards expanded clay, remember the possibility of the need to raise the floor surface.

Do you have a cement screed or tiles on your floor? It is better, without touching them, to use sheets of expanded polystyrene (polystyrene) as insulation. A layer of thermal insulation and an additional screed will also slightly raise the floor level.

The sequence of floor insulation with glass or mineral wool

1. Dismantle the floorboards.

Advice!
If you plan to reuse them in the same quality, number them with school chalk - this will greatly facilitate installation in the future.

1. Cover the waterproofing layer. Remember that glass wool is afraid of moisture!
2. Lay the insulation between the logs. Slabs of glass or mineral wool should be tightly pressed against each other, against walls and joists.

1. The vapor barrier film is stretched over the insulation. Joints and gaps are glued with construction tape.
2. The finishing touch is the laying of the floorboards.

The sequence of floor insulation with expanded clay

The sequence of actions for warming the floor with expanded clay is the same as with cotton wool, if you plan to mount a wooden floor. It is also possible to pour concrete or cement screed directly onto the expanded clay layer.

The sequence of floor insulation with expanded polystyrene (foam)

Summary

It is quite difficult for a person who is far from construction to understand the whole variety of materials used in the thermal insulation of a house. In the video presented in this article, you will find additional information on this topic. We hope that we helped you make a choice in favor of this or that material, and also told you about the stages of work on floor insulation in your apartment.

You can choose insulation for the floor in a wooden house by comparing the performance properties. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the construction of the floor and the compatibility of the thermal insulation with the elements of the construction pie.

In low-rise individual buildings, a wooden one means a house built using one of the technologies:

• felling - a sanded or rounded log;
• a log cottage - a good analogue of a log house, but without locks in the corners;
• wireframe - assembling walls using the Platform or Balun method;
• panel board - prefabricated kits;
• panel - self-supporting self-supporting insulated wire panels with pre-installed PSB insulation;
• half-timbered - a powerful power frame, filling the space between it with translucent and decorative materials.

All buildings are lightweight, for them a budget columnar or pile grillage is enough. However, due to soil conditions, terrain, features of projects and the preferences of the developer, floating and insulated slabs, strip foundations of various depths are often used. What influences the choice of floor construction and dwelling floors.

Varieties of floor in a wooden house

Depending on the design of the foundation, the floor and floor of the cottage can have several options:

• floating or warm USHP slab - often used for log cabins on wet soils, a wooden floor on logs or a leveling screed for any other coatings or installation of a warm floor is possible;
• strip foundation - floor on the ground or overlapping on beams;
• the grillage is low - on a flat area, options are possible by analogy with a strip foundation;
• hanging grillage - only overlapping on beams.

There is wood in the structure of floor slabs along the beams, there is no wood in the floors along the ground and slab foundations.

The choice of insulation

When designing insulation for floor or floor structures, it is not enough to calculate the thickness of the layer. It is necessary to take into account the mutual influence of the materials of these pies on each other:

Overlapping by beams:

• the heat insulator fits between the timber;
• even when using the most reliable vapor barrier membranes, humid air inevitably penetrates into the structure;
• if the thermal insulation is absolutely vapor-tight (EPS or PSB), all moisture will be absorbed into the timber, and will not be able to go outside due to close contact with the insulation;
• problems (rot, fungus, insects) are possible after 1 - 1.5 years of operation;
• but they will not occur when using hygroscopic thermal insulation materials (ecowool, mineral wool, sawdust, expanded clay, cork granules), which will absorb some of the water along with the beams, and then give it out through the waterproofing (membrane).

Floor on the ground

• in this design, the heat insulator is laid on a footing or membrane under the screed;
• cotton and bulk materials do not have sufficient strength to withstand operational loads (some manufacturers have exceptions in the form of high-density mineral wool);
• these heaters are hygroscopic, the probability of their getting wet is always preserved, even due to capillary absorption of concrete;
• moisture will not be able to get out through the screed in any case without dismantling the structure, besides, moisture is not terrible for concrete;
• therefore, in floors on the ground, it is better to use expanded polystyrene, which does not absorb water at all, and has a high density.

Advice! Styrofoam and polystyrene foam are considered incompatible materials for wood structures and wood-containing boards. Therefore, it is better not to use the technology of housing construction from self-supporting insulated wire panels for an individual developer.

Styrofoam and expanded polystyrene

Due to the above laws of building heating technology, vapor-proof materials are only suitable for floors on the ground. The layer thickness is usually:

• from 5 to 10 cm for EPS;
• up to 5 to 13 cm for PSB.

Important! With a slight decrease in this characteristic, the user will not feel a significant deterioration in the comfort of living, but will overpay 10-20% of the family budget to the energy supplier monthly.

Mineral wool

In contrast to the previous materials, mineral wool is not recommended for floor screeds on the ground, but sharply increase the resource of sawn timber in wooden floors. Depending on the heat loss inside the structure, the layer thickness will be:

• 20 - 30 cm for basement floors;
• 10 - 15 cm for all subsequent floors.

Important! Interfloor ceilings without thermal insulation sharply increase heat loss in the roof, and the sound insulation of the building's load-bearing structures decreases.

Shredded waste paper and cardboard packaging impregnated with a protective fire retardant - brown and antiseptic - boric acid are called ecowool. The material has features:

• not suitable for flooring on the ground, since it does not have the necessary density to withstand loads;
• the only insulation in which rodents do not settle and do not make moves;
• it is considered the best thermal insulation for overlapping beams;
• the layer thickness is 25 cm and 20 cm for the basement and the next floor levels, respectively.

Advice! Without changing the thermal conductivity of 0.04 W / m * K and 20% hydrophobicity, the density of ecowool can be independently adjusted at the facility. For slabs a maximum value of 40 kg / m³ is used.

In comparison with popular mineral wool and polystyrene foam polymers are more expensive. These materials are created to save working space, which is not relevant in floors on floors and ceilings on beams.

When pouring foil modifications into concrete, the gap between the heat source and the reflective insulation disappears, and it stops working. Foamed polymers are best used in thin-layer structures under floor coverings, but not in floor pies and screeds.

Foam glass

After foaming of quartz raw materials, foam glass is obtained, the weight of which is 5 times less than that of dry wood. By analogy with expanded polystyrene, this material is a vapor barrier that can withstand high loads without destruction from 40 t / m² and reduces sounds by 50 dBa.

It is produced in slabs, on which loaded trucks move quietly, or in granules for filling into wooden floors. With a density of 150 kg / m³, the layer thickness for the basement and all subsequent floors is 18 cm and 15 cm, respectively.

Expanded clay

With the emergence of highly efficient heat insulators, expanded clay is used selectively. With its characteristics - thermal conductivity of 0.01 W / m * K, it will be necessary to increase the layer thickness by 4 times in comparison with basalt wool or 6 times relative to Ecowool. Such a volume in the ceiling on the beams will not fit, and when added to concrete, the thermal conductivity increases even more. Therefore, for floors on the ground, expanded clay is rarely used in its pure form.

Fiberboard heat-insulating material is obtained by mixing wood wool with water glass and cement. Plates are considered universal, as they dampen structural and airborne noises, reduce heat loss in the supporting structures of the building after pasting with this material.

Fiberboard is produced in Satka near Chelyabinsk, in Bulgaria it is known under the Zidarit brand, in Austria it is called Heraclitus. Since the material is hygroscopic, it should not be embedded in floors along the ground. On the other hand, Fibrolite is ideal for overlapping beams and for pies of other sawn timber structures. The recommended layer thickness is 10 cm for the upper floors and 15 cm for the basement.

Sawdust

To reduce heat loss in the basement over the beams, you will have to lay at least 30 cm of sawdust on it. Therefore, in its pure form, the material is used only for backfilling slabs of unused attics. Most often, sawdust is used as a raw material for more efficient heat-insulating and structural materials with similar properties.

Considering the above, if there are wooden elements in the floor structure, it is necessary to use vapor-permeable insulation - mineral and ecowool. Foam glass or high-density extruded polystyrene foam should be laid in the concrete floor on the ground.

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There is a wide selection of materials for thermal insulation on the modern market. They are designed for a variety of tasks. The widest assortment of floor heaters, each type has its own operational features, pros and cons. For high-quality thermal insulation of the floor, it is important to choose the right insulation that is suitable for the 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 floor insulation is especially acute:

• In private houses
• In apartments located on the ground floors of apartment buildings, as well as above 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.

• It pulls cold from the floor laid on a concrete base, 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 usually also provide sound insulation, their use contributes to increased acoustic comfort

Types of floor insulation

Floor insulation can be divided into several categories:

• Plated, hard- extruded and granulated expanded polystyrene (foam), mineral wool
• Roll, soft- mineral wool of lower density, stitched mats based on stone fiber, isofol (foil insulation)
• Loose- expanded clay, sawdust, sand, expanded polystyrene granules, expanded vermiculite, ecowool
• Mechanized application(applied using blow molding machines) - ecowool, liquid polyurethane foam or foam

Some modern materials are both structural and insulating. If you use polystyrene concrete instead of the usual concrete solution in a private house, you can do without additional insulation of the base.

Sprayed (blown) compositions are convenient in that they ideally fill all the voids. Mechanized application reduces labor costs, but requires specialized equipment. In addition, liquid polyurethane foam has a high cost, 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's take a closer look at the pros and cons of the most common heaters.

Expanded polystyrene

Granular polystyrene foam (PPS), which is more often called polystyrene foam, is the cheapest insulation... It is used less and less for floor insulation, since 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
• Water tightness
• 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 flammable, 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 the class g1 (low-flammable). When burning, extruded polystyrene releases highly toxic substances!

Mineral wool

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

• Low thermal conductivity
• Good resistance to mechanical deformation, especially with high density boards
• Vapor permeability
• High fire resistance and high temperature resistance
• Immunity to rodents and other pests
• Good sound insulation performance

The disadvantages of mineral or glass wool include:

• High hygroscopicity and a decrease in thermal insulation properties when moistened. There is water-repellent mineral wool with minimal water absorption, but it has a high cost.
• Release of toxic substances in small amounts, formation of hazardous dust during wear
• High-density mineral wool with the best strength and thermal insulation characteristics is more expensive than EPS

Wired basalt wool mats are reinforced with steel mesh and covered on one side with a shielding layer of aluminum foil. They differ from slabs in 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 facilities 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 prone to decay and are afraid of pests, they must be mixed with clay, cement. At present, sawdust is practically not used as a heater.
Ecowool- cellulose-based insulation with additives 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 loose 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 a higher mechanical strength.

It is a versatile material, it can be used as a screed backfill, and can also be added to the rough screed mortar, 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 cushion of rubble and sand. It is very convenient to lay communications in the expanded clay layer.

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

Advice: 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 filling.

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.

The principles of choosing a heater

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

• Which base is insulated - concrete, wood, soil
• Will the insulation be exposed to moisture
• What is under the floor (ground, heated room, unheated room)
• Is it planned to install a warm floor system
• At what stage is the insulation work carried out

Insulation for concrete screed must have the following characteristics:

• Rigidity, high density- he has to withstand the weight of the screed
• Resistant to moisture contained in the solution
• For board and roll materials - lack of open pores, into which grains of 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 high density hydrophobized mineral wool. Expanded clay is also a good option, but using it will lead to a significant increase in floor height.

The main requirement for insulation for a wooden base under a prefabricated sheet screed is vapor permeability. If you put a layer of vapor-proof insulation between the base and the flooring 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. It is obligatory to lay insulation under the underfloor heating system, it can have a small thickness, more important is the presence of a shielding layer that reflects heat upward. Isofol can serve as such a heater, and on the ground floor - stitched 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 floor covering. In this case, bulk insulation is not suitable, you can use slab or roll.

Video

The choice of expanded polystyrene for floor insulation

Mineral wool for floor insulation

Outcome

For the insulation of concrete bases, the best choice is 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 possibilities of its use.

Vapor-permeable insulation, which goes well with wood floors, absorb moisture and need high-quality waterproofing. With underfloor heating systems, insulation materials with a reflective layer are used. The higher the requirements for thermal insulation, the denser the material should be used, or the thickness of the insulation layer will have to be increased.