How to insulate the walls from the inside with polystyrene foam with your own hands. Wall decoration with extruded polystyrene foam boards Polystyrene boards for underfloor heating

Polystyrene plates are quite popular in construction when insulating walls, floors or ceilings. The material is characterized by many positive advantages, ease of use and relatively inexpensive price.

Description of building boards

The material in question is made from expanded polystyrene granules, which undergo special processing in several stages. The production of boards consists in the fact that the granules are first foamed and then stabilized. The latter process contributes to the restoration of pressure, and the plates acquire the necessary shape. After manufacturing, the material is allowed to rest for a day, to complete its production.

Polystyrene boards are used for finishing facades and for interior work in residential or public buildings. This material is considered harmless to the health of people and animals, on the contrary, it creates the necessary microclimate in the room. For interior decoration, it is used to insulate walls, ceilings and floors.

Material Features

The plates under consideration have many advantages, among which the following should be noted:

The thermal conductivity of the material is much lower than that of wood or brick, so it is characterized by a high energy-saving ability. Heat-insulating plates allow saving on heating during the operation of the building, in addition, they are used to protect pipelines from freezing.
The water resistance of the plates is quite high, the material does not deform, does not dissolve and does not absorb water, so it can be used to insulate the foundation of a building, especially when polystyrene contact with the ground is necessary.
Plates are resistant to chemical and biological substances. They do not dissolve or deteriorate when interacting with an alkaline environment, various acids, cleaning or bleaching agents, building materials: cement, paints, bitumen and others. Polystyrene foam plates are resistant to the development of microorganisms, their structure does not allow the appearance of mold, fungus, algae.
The strength of the material is quite high with its low density, it does not break and does not deform on bends, during compression.
Plates are characterized by a long service life, over time they do not lose their shape, thermal and mechanical properties. Resistant to temperature extremes, do not rot.
The fire resistance of the material lies in the fact that polystyrene plates can burn only in the presence of an open flame, outside it they self-extinguish. Their spontaneous combustion is possible at a temperature of +491 degrees Celsius.

The use of material for wall decoration

Plates retain heat well, so they are quite popular when facing wall surfaces. The thickness and size of the material is determined by how warm the room should be.

Before finishing, it is necessary to prepare the walls so that the plates are securely fixed and do not fall off during operation. All surfaces are recommended to be cleaned of dirt and dust, which can be done with a spatula and a brush (vacuum cleaner). In the presence of large irregularities, pits, they must be plastered. In general, heat-insulating slabs do not require perfectly even walls.

When finishing surfaces, parts of the material should fit snugly against each other. If necessary, they are easily cut with a hacksaw; holes in the plates can be made using an electric drill.

Ceiling decoration with polystyrene elements

The material in question is widely used in the decoration of ceiling surfaces. Here, the slabs perform mainly a decorative function, however, their heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties help to keep the necessary heat and hear the neighbors from above less.

Modern polystyrene plates for ceilings are distinguished by a variety of colors, textures and patterns. You can pick up white classics or material with imitation wood. In addition, there are designer tiles that have various bizarre shapes.

Before gluing the elements, it is necessary to prepare the surface of the ceiling, while it is not necessary to completely remove the old paint or whitewash, modern adhesives allow gluing tiles on the old materials. However, flaky, cracked parts are best sanded. Then the ceiling must be cleaned of dust, degreased and primed.

Polystyrene boards for underfloor heating

Due to the fact that the material in question can withstand fairly high temperatures, they began to use it for the underfloor heating system. The tiles have special channels into which the pipes of the heating system will then be laid.

Installation of the floor is quite simple, it is suitable for rooms with low ceilings, in addition, this type of floor frees you from the work associated with pouring the screed. A plastic film is laid on the base flat surface, a special damper tape is laid around the perimeter of the room. Then lay the plates, aluminum thermal reflector and floor heating pipes.

Close such a system using a dry screed. For this type of underfloor heating, any floor covering can be used: laminate, parquet, linoleum.

Adhesive for tiles

Technologies do not stand still and are constantly developing, this also applies to adhesive materials. A special adhesive for polystyrene plates has appeared on the construction market, which effectively fastens them to almost any surface.

Polyurethane adhesive suitable for outdoor and indoor use, is a foam that quickly and reliably glues various materials. This tool is able to replace liquid nails, glue for ceiling and heat-insulating elements, drywall.

Thus, polystyrene plates are a durable, reliable building material that retains heat well, is waterproof, durable, and resistant to various substances of chemical and biological origin.

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Expanded polystyrene boards for walls (extrusion)

September 17, 2016

It is possible to build a house from polystyrene foam blocks, quickly level walls, a ceiling base, make a screen for a bathtub, build a light partition, and many other such issues can be solved with the help of extruded polystyrene foam boards. You just need to know more about them.

Characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam is a high quality insulation that is produced by mixing polystyrene granules under high pressure and temperature with a special blowing agent and then extruding from the extruder. Such building boards made of polystyrene granules are reinforced on both sides with fiberglass fabric and coated with a polymer-cement agent. As a result, they have high moisture and heat resistance, which makes it possible to use them inside buildings (in residential premises, bathrooms, even in saunas), and outside.

From extruded polystyrene foam blocks, structures of various shapes can be produced. Such plates can have a thickness of 1 to 5 cm, and dimensions - 60x120, 60x260 cm. They can be easily cut with a construction knife or a hacksaw.

In addition to the plates, for ease of installation work, corner parts are made with dimensions of 15x15, 20x20 cm. For the construction of various curved surfaces, plates of 2x60x120 cm in size are produced. On the one hand, they have deep cuts arranged parallel to each other with a step of 3 cm.

Temperature range for plates "-50°С" - "+75°С". Expanded polystyrene does not allow the formation of mold, fungus.

Application area

Expanded polystyrene plates, the main purpose:

For finishing industrial, public buildings.
As a heater of walls of residential buildings.
In agriculture, railway, road sphere of activity.
Insulation of foundations, basements, roofs of houses.
in the refrigeration industry.
For installation of airfields, on other objects.

The thermal insulation characteristics of expanded polystyrene depend on the technology of its production. The cellular closed structure of the product provides a slight change in the case of thermal conductivity humidity, which can be - 0.001-0.002 W / (m K). This makes it possible to effectively use extruded polystyrene foam as thermal insulation of basements without additional waterproofing.

The increased thermal properties of expanded polystyrene make it possible to use it as a thermal insulation of fences.

It is intended for such tasks:

Foundation insulation.
Internal wall insulation.
Wall insulation of underground structures.
Thermal insulation of house facades with subsequent application of various facing materials to thermal insulation boards.
For monolithic construction of houses.
For the production of sandwich panels.

Before pouring the concrete mortar to cover the outside, one row of heat-insulating coating is laid along the concrete slab. Slabs with a rough surface provide good adhesion between concrete and plaster. Such boards are also applicable in vertical structures, where they will provide the required adhesion with materials, adhesives.

Thanks to the tests, it was revealed that polystyrene foam chips have a number of advantages, distinctive characteristics:

In the process of compression, the tensile strength depends on the density, thickness of the material. The latest types of expanded polystyrene have already been developed, for which it was possible to significantly reduce flammability due to the introduction of more effective fire retardants into it. This made it possible to achieve the parameters of slow-burning materials.
After thousands of cycles of freezing and thawing, the expanded polystyrene product retains its thermal insulation qualities. In this case, the change in technical resistance is no more than five percent.
Other brands of the product can be produced on request, for example, a special brand of the product with an embossed surface that increases adhesion. This makes it possible to effectively use plaster, adhesive materials.
Typical grades differ from each other in thermal parameters, compressive strength, and density.
To facilitate installation and prevent the formation of cold bridges, boards are produced with various edge shapes, for example, rectangular, with a selected quarter, and others.

Technoplex board is distinguished by its significant chemical resistance compared to most other building materials.

Certain types of organic matter, including those containing:

coal tar, derivatives from it, for example, creosol,
solvents, substances that protect wood,
paint thinners, commonly used solvents (acetone, white spirit, and others).

can lead to softening, subsidence, and sometimes dissolution of the plates.

Important! “The use of adhesives is recommended. They do not include the components listed above. You can store such plates outdoors in special packaging. But in this case, they must be protected from sunlight in order to prevent the destruction of the coating of the plates.

Expanded polystyrene boards lend themselves well to processing and installation. They can be easily cut, adjusted to the required parameters with a simple knife. The selection of adhesive solutions should be carried out, taking into account the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Some tips for insulating walls with extruded polystyrene foam boards

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Expanded polystyrene blocks, expanded polystyrene concrete blocks

September 17, 2016

Before understanding the uses and benefits of styrofoam blocks, you first need to understand what they are.

Features of expanded polystyrene concrete sheets

Based on the name, they are made of polystyrene concrete - this is a composite material that consists of the following components:

Expanded polystyrene.
Cement.
Water.
Various supplements.

Despite their lightness, polystyrene concrete blocks are quite durable. When loading and construction work - this is an important factor.

Due to its composition, expanded polystyrene has poor thermal conductivity and good noise insulation.

The cellular structure of the material explains its excellent sound-proofing and noise-absorbing characteristics. To ensure good sound insulation, a plate with a thickness of 3 cm will suffice. If you increase the thickness of the layer, these properties will become more impressive.

Due to the structure, the blocks are quite well processed and can be adjusted to certain sizes with improvised tools.

Expanded polystyrene blocks are obtained by sawing a massive plate or by pouring into a mold. During cutting, the plates can be obtained with a minimum error of 2 mm, which is not difficult to mount them with an adhesive mixture and with a joint thickness of 2-3 mm, taking into account the elimination of cold bridges, in this case, you can do without plastering the walls.

Additional properties that benefit this material are low flammability, as well as water resistance and durability.

With the combination of all these qualities, it is safe to say that polystyrene concrete blocks are one of the best materials on the construction market.

The use of polystyrene blocks

Having learned about the composition and main characteristics of the blocks, you can begin to directly apply them in practice.

The scope of the blocks is quite extensive:

Construction of various types of houses.
Thermal insulation.
Soundproofing.
Installation of load-bearing walls.
Creation of architectural masterpieces.

Due to their technical characteristics, polystyrene concrete blocks are used for various thermal insulation works:

Insulation of attics and roofs.
Thermal insulation of wells.
Insulation of walls and lintels.

The variation of applications does not end there, blocks are used in almost all construction work.

Polystyrene concrete wall blocks have excellent geometry and quality of the front surface. It is recommended to lay blocks on glue, in this case the thickness of the seams will be 2-3 mm.

A wall made of polystyrene concrete blocks will be warmer than a wall made of mortar bricks.

Advantages of blocks from expanded polystyrene concrete

Compared with foam concrete and gas silicate, the strength of expanded polystyrene concrete is 20% higher. The moisture content in expanded polystyrene concrete is 5 times less. This allows the material not to mold.

It is possible to build buildings up to two floors from blocks of the D400 brand using floors on wooden beams. The use of the D500 brand allows you to lay hollow-core reinforced concrete slabs directly on the block and build houses up to 4 floors inclusive.

If you wanted to build a five-story house, then you need to use blocks of the D600 brand. For comparison, it is possible to build only one-story houses from D600 foam concrete.

From this material it is possible to build not only the walls of the upper, but also the first floors. Due to the high density of the block, builders do not need to erect a reinforced concrete-transom frame between floors. This greatly reduces the time and cost of any construction.

Also, an advantageous difference is the ability to withstand the effects of a solvent, weak acids and alkalis, as well as various oils.

The price of blocks, in comparison with analogues, is 1.5 times less. Compared to other blocks, it is able to withstand bending and tensile loads.

Expanded polystyrene concrete managed to combine the advantages of various materials, such as: wood, concrete, expanded polystyrene.

Polystyrene concrete products are as durable as concrete. They are easy to work with, like wood. They have high heat and sound protective properties, like expanded polystyrene.

As a material, it offers extensive possibilities for most building applications. At the moment, blocks of expanded polystyrene concrete are one of the most technologically advanced building materials.

An amazing combination in one material makes expanded polystyrene concrete products a worthy competitor to wood, concrete and conventional expanded polystyrene.

A feature of polystyrene concrete is that its density can vary as a result of different proportions of its components. You can determine the desired material by brand.

For example, D300 has a low volumetric mass, therefore it is used just the same for thermal insulation, and the more durable D400 is used as a self-supporting material in the construction of buildings in low-rise construction.

An unscrupulous manufacturer may intentionally reduce the percentage of foamed polystyrene in concrete, but not take this into account when specifying the grade.

The plates will be too heavy; it also leads to a decrease in thermal conductivity. Another problem may be the rather low quality of the porous filler.

This can lead to adhesion, the granules can move as a result of operation, due to which the strength of polystyrene concrete slabs will decrease. Therefore, the material should be purchased only from a trusted manufacturer.

Disadvantages and their solution

So that you do not think that polystyrene concrete products are a supermaterial that has absolute invulnerability, we will analyze its shortcomings.

The low density of polystyrene concrete blocks played a cruel joke on them. Windows and doors built into it will loosen over time.

When installing fasteners, such as: dowels, self-tapping screws, anchors and others, they allow the possibility of weak installation. Fasteners are quite possible to pull out even by hand.

To avoid such incidents, you should follow some rules. During the installation of such elements into the slabs, their working part should be kept in a void filled with concrete mixture. It is also recommended to use longer anchors.

When using blocks indoors, it is necessary to plaster them with a layer of at least 20 millimeters, from the outside more than 15 mm, which increases the cost of installation. Polystyrene concrete walls have poor adhesion to plaster. Blocks will need preparatory work before finishing.

Conclusion

The manufacturing technology and technical composition of expanded polystyrene concrete are periodically updated taking into account the accumulation of experience. In this regard, this material occupies one of the leading places in modern construction markets. Due to possible changes in manufacturing technologies, always find out the news about polystyrene concrete blocks. Keeping up to date is always important, especially if you are into construction.

Polystyrene concrete blocks, due to their unique properties, have become a popular material in low-rise construction. Houses are durable, warm and at the same time with excellent air conduction.

The walls and floor will not be afraid of chemical influences, and the self-sufficiency of the material will allow not to use additional means of insulation. Insects do not start in polystyrene concrete, which means that the house will stand for a long time, delighting its owners with comfort and safety.

A new high-quality material in the world of the construction industry - polystyrene concrete - is rightfully one of the first among other heat-insulating and structural-heat-insulating materials. In a relatively short period of time, polystyrene concrete has become widely known in the construction industry as a promising building material of the future.

The Russian construction industry in many ways lags behind the capabilities of advanced countries that use the achievements of modern production.

But the most interesting proposals cannot go unnoticed and will soon be used by our compatriots. One of such achievements is polystyrene concrete blocks.

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Disadvantages of polystyrene concrete and polystyrene concrete blocks

The disadvantages of polystyrene concrete and polystyrene concrete blocks must be carefully studied, as well as the characteristics of polystyrene concrete and polystyrene concrete blocks, before choosing this material, since polystyrene concrete has its own characteristics, without taking into account which, you can be further disappointed in your choice. The quality of purchased products made of polystyrene concrete should be carefully examined both in appearance and on chips and according to the attached documentation.

The main properties of polystyrene concrete - heat-insulating are determined by polystyrene balls, structural - by the cement-sand component.

So, all the disadvantages of polystyrene concrete known to me are listed below:

- The strength of installation in polystyrene concrete products of fasteners (dowel-screws, anchors, etc.) is very small and leaves much to be desired. The self-tapping dowel screwed into the outer layer of the polystyrene concrete block can be pulled out with your fingers. Therefore, the installation of fastening materials should be carried out according to the following rule: when installing dowels and anchors in a block, their working part must be located in the void of a polystyrene concrete block filled with concrete (mortar) of a grade of at least M 150, using longer anchors and special dowels for polystyrene concrete .

- The low density of polystyrene concrete makes certain adjustments to the installation of windows and doors. Windows and doors that are not properly mounted into a wall made of polystyrene concrete block can lose their static installation over time and begin to loosen during intensive use.

- The low content of polystyrene balls in blocks leads to the fact that their properties are determined not by polystyrene, but by the concrete component, with all the ensuing consequences. If the granules have poor adhesion to concrete, then they will not stick in it, they will fall out on a chip, and the strength of such blocks will be significantly lower. For polystyrene balls, the manufacturer must have a quality certificate.

- Polystyrene concrete requires plastering inside the room with a rather thick layer of plaster - at least 20 mm, outside - at least 15 mm, which leads to an increase in the cost of construction. You should also pay special attention to the fact that the wall of polystyrene concrete has low adhesion to the plaster mixture, that is, the plaster mixture does not adhere well to the surface of the polystyrene concrete mixture. This factor requires additional preparation of the walls before plastering.

- The shrinkage of polystyrene concrete is three times greater than that of aerated concrete and foam concrete - 1 mm / meter.

– Not resistant to organic solvents: gasoline, acetone.

- Polystyrene concrete blocks belong to the G1 combustibility group, that is, they are certainly not combustible, but not fire resistant either. Under the influence of high temperature, near the source of fire, polystyrene balls are gradually destroyed, losing their heat-shielding properties, and although the remaining concrete frame does not allow the blocks to collapse to the end, their strength and resistance to heat transfer are reduced. Fires rarely occur among economic people, therefore, by adopting all kinds of fire protection methods, including lining the polystyrene concrete surface with non-combustible materials and applying a layer of plaster on them, this disadvantage can be ignored.

- The developers convince that the number of defrosting and freezing cycles is approximately 100. In fact, after two dozen such cycles, especially when the polystyrene concrete is moistened, and then frozen and thawed, the strength of the blocks is significantly reduced and they begin to break. There is a need either for insulation from the outside, or for plastering the surfaces from the outside with a thick layer of plaster with further painting.

- Low vapor permeability does not allow this material to compete with the same aerated concrete or foam concrete, which significantly affects the microclimate and humidity of a room built of polystyrene concrete. In other words, the walls don't "breathe". The vapor permeability of the walls does not replace ventilation, but smoothes out moisture differences. It is necessary to provide for the possibility of designing ventilation to remove excess air humidity to regulate the microclimate. During the construction of multi-layer walls, condensation of water vapor between layers is possible under operating conditions with changing weather conditions.

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Expanded polystyrene boards: characteristics and uses

Many are familiar with the process of insulating the walls of a built house. For this, different materials are used. The most commonly used polystyrene boards and mineral wool. These materials are inexpensive, easy to assemble, weigh little, and work very well. Even a beginner can cope with the work of warming.

Pros and cons of polystyrene boards

Expanded polystyrene is a relatively new insulation. It is very popular, has its advantages over other materials and its disadvantages. The advantages of expanded polystyrene tiles include:

very light weight;
high strength;
low cost;
ease of use;
the possibility of processing with a hand tool;
the total weight of the wall increases after insulation by only 10-15 kg;
the thermal insulation properties of the material are fully preserved when moisture gets on it.

But polystyrene foam plates have their drawbacks:

soundproofing properties are almost completely absent;
they have a low coefficient of vapor permeability;
when the ambient temperature reaches +80˚С and above, the material may begin to break down;
expanded polystyrene boards are not resistant to organic solvents;
they can only be used for private residential buildings up to 25 m high;
Styrofoam may ignite.

Knowing these properties, we can conclude that polystyrene foam boards are suitable for installing home insulation.

More about some features

If we talk about the thermal conductivity of the material, then the foam (as polystyrene foam tiles are called) is a lot of air bubbles. Each of them is enclosed in a thin shell consisting of polystyrene. The percentage is 2% polystyrene and 98% air. This state of matter can be compared to solid foam, which is an excellent heat insulator. The denser the polystyrene tile, the higher its thermal insulation properties.

Conventional foam has zero vapor permeability. He is able to absorb water up to 4%. Dense material is made by extrusion. Under the influence of moisture, it remains almost dry, since it absorbs very little - 0.4%.

The strength of extruded polystyrene foam is much higher than conventional. The output of ordinary polystyrene tiles is decreasing. The extrusion method gives a better material with excellent moisture-resistant properties and strength.

Expanded polystyrene tiles do not react at all to:

soda;
soap;
mineral fertilizers;
bitumen;
cement;
gypsum;
lime;
asphalt emulsions;
ground water.

But it dissolves in such substances:

turpentine;
acetone;
drying oil;
some varnishes;
some petroleum products;
alcohols.

Styrofoam does not like sunlight very much. Under ultraviolet irradiation, it simply decomposes.

Styrofoam tiles do not protect from external noise. But fungus and mold cannot live on it. The material is environmentally friendly and harmless to the human body. It withstands frost well without losing its qualities. But at an air temperature above +30˚С, it starts to emit harmful substances: ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, toluene, acetophenone, methyl alcohol. At temperatures above 80˚C, these emissions can be compared with a gas attack. Hydrocyanic acid, phosgene and hydrogen bromide will also be added to them.

With proper use of expanded polystyrene, it must be fixed with glue and be sure to cover it with plaster or a decorative coating. Under such conditions, its service life is about 30 years. To achieve this, insulation must be carried out without errors.

Typical mistakes when using insulation

Masters often make mistakes that lead to a decrease in the life of the foam. A typical mistake is the use of plates of the wrong size. A thick slab is sure to crack over time and go in waves. Which one can and should be used in each specific case?

To insulate the facade of the building (photo No. 1), it is better to take PSB-S foam plastic. It is a self-extinguishing material. The thickness of the plates should be 5-10 cm. Density - no more than 17 kg / m³. Before buying, you should try to break off a piece with your hand. Are balls visible on the break? This is a packaging material. It is not suitable for insulation. If regular polyhedra are visible, this is good material. The best manufacturers are:

Polimeri Europa;
BASF;
Styrochem;
Nova Chemicals;
Penoplex;
TechnoNIKOL.

On the walls you need to fix the material in this way: apply glue to the corners and in the middle of the plate and press it to the surface. Additionally, you can strengthen them with dowels-umbrellas. From above, veneer a layer of insulation with a decorative coating.

This material is also used to insulate the roof (photo No. 2). Plates from below are covered with a vapor barrier film, from above - with wind and moisture protection. To work on the roof you need:

drill with drills;
screwdriver;
hacksaw;
hammer;
pencil;
roulette;
flooring material;
hydro and vapor barrier film;
mounting foam;
slats with a thickness of 4 cm.

All gaps between the insulation boards and the rafters are filled with mounting foam. Roofing material is laid on top.

Conclusion on the topic

Polystyrene boards have long been used as insulation for houses. They are produced in different sizes: 100x50 cm, 100x100 cm, 200x100 cm. The thickness of the plates ranges from 1 to 10 cm. The most popular brands are PSB S-15, PSB S-25 and PSB S-35. Tiles on the walls are attached to the adhesive composition. Glue with a spatula is superimposed on the corners and in the middle of the plate. The material is then pressed against the wall. For strength, you can additionally plant it on special dowels in the form of umbrellas. Glue is usually purchased as a powder mixture. It is diluted with ordinary drinking water. Instructions for using the adhesive are included.

Expanded polystyrene resists some aggressive environments well. These are saline solutions, detergents, chlorine water, some acids, ammonia, lime, adhesive paints. Harmful microorganisms like mold, algae do not live on it. It is not eaten by birds and animals. The density of the material can be so high that it is used in the construction of runways at airfields, in the reconstruction of highways.

The material is used in slabs and for floor insulation in an apartment or house. In this case, they do not need to arrange additional waterproofing. The slabs are placed on the subfloor with or without glue. They coexist well with pipes and electric floor heating elements.

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photos, specifications, advantages and disadvantages, reviews, videos

Polystyrene concrete blocks are a modern generation of building materials. They are used in the construction of heat-efficient houses that meet the SNiP standard.

Description of polystyrene concrete blocks and their characteristics

The material itself is similar in structure to lightweight concrete and combines porous aggregate, modified additives and cement. On structure is a unique product in the market of building materials.

Polystyrene concrete blocks, according to the requirements of GOST R 51263-99, have the following application:

Thermal insulation boards. Material with density D150 - D250 and compressive strength: M2-M3.5;

Solid blocks (depending on the type of walls). Density D250 - D 600 and strength B0.5 - B2.5;

Hollow details. Density D250 - D350 and compressive strength M5, B0.5 - B1.0;

Monolithic construction with thermal insulation. Density from D150 to D250 and strength M2 - M5.

Scope according to GOST R 51263:

Thermal insulation (plates and monolith). Scope: thermal insulation of coatings and attics, plinths, foundations. Density brand D150 - D225;

Structural and heat-insulating (lintels, monolith, blocks). Scope: any type of external walls in the construction of low-rise buildings. Density D400 - D600.

Heat-insulating and structural (blocks, monolith, additional parts). Scope: load-bearing walls of high-rise and low-rise buildings. Density D250 - D350.

For the manufacture of foam polystyrene concrete blocks, it is better to use the pressing method, and even better vibrocompression, of the material. This significantly increases its stability, and hence the service life.

The composition of the blocks

The composition of the solution for polystyrene concrete blocks includes the following components:

Slag Portland cement or Portland cement;

Air-entraining additives and promoting rapid hardening;

Expanded polystyrene;

Quartz sand.

Polystyrene, produced in the form of granules, reduces the thermal conductivity of the final product. Manufacturing plants producing these blocks must comply with the following quality standards: GOST R 51263-99, GOST 21520-89, GOST 25820-2000 and GOST 25192-82.

This is how the cut of the finished polystyrene concrete block looks like in the photo

Block types

Blocks made of polystyrene concrete have a number of undeniable advantages, on which their wide popularity is based. In addition, they come in different types that can be used both for wall decoration and for the construction of partitions.

Blocks with cladding

The material is widely used in the construction and decoration of buildings and structures. Thanks to him, there is no need to carry out additional work on the facade.

Such blocks differ not only in high strength, but also in attractive appearance. The glossy surface can imitate a variety of facade materials and have a rich color range.

Facing blocks are popular for several reasons:

The cladding is fastened without adhesive.

The facing layer penetrates deeply into the porous structure of the material.

Facing can imitate from the structure of ordinary stone to marble.

Blocks with cladding are able to withstand any weather conditions.

Wall blocks

The popularity of houses with high energy efficiency has led to the interest of developers in polystyrene concrete blocks. Walls made of them do not need additional measures for insulation and cost up to two times cheaper than those made of brick or cellular concrete.

Heat-saving properties comply with all norms of SNiP for residential, industrial and multi-storey construction. In addition, the blocks have high strength, ease of processing and high rates of heat and sound protection.

Wall blocks have sufficient resistance to fire, and with additional brick cladding, they can be classified as the first category of fire resistance. In addition, they are resistant to negative factors: weather conditions, acids, alkalis, mold, fungus, rodents.

The absence of steel fittings does not distort radio waves and the geomagnetic field of the house.

A few more words about why consumers choose polystyrene concrete blocks:

Classification and characteristics of blocks

In the manufacture of polystyrene concrete, the manufacturing plant must produce products that comply with the parameters of the standard, GOST, which relates to the characteristics of blocks of cellular concrete.

The dimensions of the final product may vary:

Length 28.8 - 59.8 cm;

Height 8.8 - 29.8 cm;

Thickness 19.5 - 30 cm.

The most popular blocks are:

Wall 58.8 * 30 * 18.8 cm;

Partition 58.8 * 60 * 9.2 cm;

Wall 58.8 * 38 * 30 cm;

Jumpers 38*30*130 cm.

The weight of partition blocks can be in the range of 5-15 kg, and wall blocks - 5-30 kg.

Advantages:

Service life more than one hundred years.

High thermal insulation properties.

Good soundproofing.

Light weight allows the use of inexpensive foundations.

Ease of processing (blocks can be given any size and shape).

Resilience to various kinds of negative influences.

High resistance to moisture and cracks.

Flaws:

With prolonged exposure to fire (over 300 ° C), styrene begins to be released from the blocks.

The final product must fully comply with sanitary requirements, since it contains chemical components.

Warming the enclosing surfaces of the house is a guarantee that the cost of heating and air conditioning is minimal. Dozens, if not hundreds of technical solutions have been developed for roofing, wall and foundation thermal insulation, but not every one of them can be called budgetary. Therefore, polystyrene foam boards, inexpensive and at the same time characterized by low thermal conductivity, occupy a leading position among all heaters. What are the nuances of foam insulation?

Whether it is possible to insulate a house with a material containing styrene (a toxic substance belonging to the second hazard class) is still being debated. Styrofoam speaks in favor of its excellent performance, which has led to many years of use all over the world, and against it is the fact that even in the Soviet Union, after several fires that killed people, the use of foam in construction was prohibited.

Sheet thickness varies

Benefits of insulating the roof and the whole house with polystyrene foam

Styrofoam (this was the name of the product of the Finnish company, which was the first to supply a polystyrene foam plate to the Soviet market) is a mass of foamed and formed into thick sheets of polymer cells filled with gas. Due to the peculiar structure, the material is 99% air, thanks to which it effectively retains heat and does not let the cold through.

Scheme of the main heat loss at home

So, a 12 cm thick foam board is equivalent in terms of thermal insulation to a wooden wall 45 cm thick or to a brick wall 2.1 m thick. However, when choosing a material, it should be borne in mind that the heat transfer coefficient depends on its density, and the denser and stronger the foam, the more it is able to output thermal energy.

Comparison of the properties of mineral wool and polystyrene foam board

Lightweight expanded polystyrene boards are not problematic to transport and lay, in addition, installation does not exert a significant load on the roof, walls and foundation of the building. It can absorb moisture only in direct contact with water, so the material does not need vapor protection, which means that already economical insulation is even cheaper. It is also noteworthy that the foam is able not to lose its properties for 80 years or more.

Flaws of thermal insulation with foam boards

Savings that reduce initial investment, but increase current costs or other additional risks, for example, for the health of residents or the safety of property, are always doubtful. Therefore, the use of foam in a warming cake should be considered from a different point of view - its disadvantages.

The first and probably the most significant disadvantage of traditional polystyrene is combustibility. The fact is that natural gas is used to fill styrene granules in production, and polystyrene foam can easily ignite from an ordinary match. A house that is insulated with such material burns down in a matter of minutes, and people in it die from phosgene, dioxides, hydrogen cyanide and other deadly substances released during the combustion of foam.

Styrofoam without fire retardants is prohibited to use in construction

The low vapor permeability of the material can be attributed to both its advantages and disadvantages:

On the one hand, it does not need to be protected from water vapor, which is actively emitted by a person in the process of life and is a negative factor for the same mineral wool.
On the other hand, a room insulated with polystyrene foam boards from the inside, without forced ventilation, turns into a steam room, in which it is absolutely impossible to live and work.

Contrary to popular belief that polystyrene boards are a good noise barrier, this is not true. Moreover, they transmit sounds well from the outside, and when vibrated, they themselves are able to make them (creaking, rustling, friction between the plates). Therefore, you should not use them for the purpose of soundproofing from neighboring or street noise - not only will it not increase, but it may also decrease.

Owners of private houses who are thinking about insulating the roof and other building envelopes with polystyrene foam should also be warned: despite the fact that it is not a breeding ground for living organisms, rodents, insects and birds often like to settle in it. In some cases, colonies of microorganisms form on the surface, which do not affect the function and durability.

Quality material is white and uniform

Myths and truths about chemical hazards

Many potential buyers doubt the environmental safety of expanded polystyrene boards. For example, rumors are actively circulating on forums and websites, citing sources from the 80s that polystyrene foam is capable of releasing gaseous styrene, which, penetrating through the nasopharynx into the lungs, allegedly accumulates in vital human organs and causes cancer.

The toxicity of the material has not been proven by modern studies. It must be said that in the course of most experiments, not domestic, but industrial premises were studied, where various plastics and rubber were made, which means that the concentration of secretions and the degree of their effect on the body were much higher than usual. As a result, the environmental friendliness of polystyrene foam boards is confirmed by such international building associations and ratings:

ECOPSE is the French association of foam manufacturers that developed the Uni'vert PSE standard, the label of which is placed on products that have passed a strict eco-audit;
BRE is a British multidisciplinary research center that researches the so-called built environment and has awarded foam a high environmental class (A +);
IRC is an international building code that classifies expanded polystyrene as an energy efficient and environmentally friendly insulation.

Conducted tests prove harmlessness

Confirmation of the safety of the material is also a study on the presence of styrene vapors in a building constructed using foam, conducted by the Moscow Research Institute of Hygiene. F. F. Erisman: according to the results of the check, they were not detected in air samples (conclusion No. 03 / PM8). Thus, we can conclude that modern, well-made polystyrene foam boards do not have any significant effect on human health.

How to choose polystyrene foam insulation

There are several types of expanded polystyrene boards:

press (domestic brands are denoted by the letters PS) - mainly used as packaging material or insulation for refrigerators, thermoses, thermobox bodies, etc .;
pressureless (EPS, PSB, PSB-S) - due to their low cost, they are used for insulation of foundations, roofs, walls, balconies and other structures more often than other materials;
extruded (XPS, EPS) - made from the same polystyrene, but using a different technology, which allows you to get a fundamentally different insulation.

Non-pressed foam grades have different densities - from 15 to 50 kg / m3. The strength of the plate, its price, physical characteristics and scope depend on this indicator. The density is indicated in the marking - PSB-S 15 or PSB-S 50. The letter C in the designation indicates that the material contains flame retardant additives that prevent it from igniting. It is this brand of expanded polystyrene that is recommended to be used for thermal insulation of the roof.

Video: how ordinary and self-extinguishing polystyrene foam burns

Extruded foam differs from non-pressed foam in a finely cellular structure and, as a result, much greater strength, but its cost also increases significantly. Due to its strength and almost zero water absorption, it is preferred to use it in the arrangement of foundations, basements and other damp rooms, but it is undesirable to use this type of expanded polystyrene as insulation for ventilated facades and roofs, since it, like ordinary foam, belongs to combustible materials.

Check the certificate before buying

As for the quality of the production of heat-insulating boards, it is regulated by GOST 15588-86 "Polystyrene foam" and must be confirmed by appropriate certificates. It is worth purchasing products from well-known manufacturers that provide all the necessary information about their products. It also makes sense to conduct home tests of a piece of foam for flammability before installation.

Insulation of various surfaces with polystyrene foam

The opinion that polystyrene foam is not suitable for insulation, for example, roofs or walls, is unreasonable: in order to level the shortcomings and evaluate all the benefits of using polystyrene plates, the thermal insulation of them must be correctly installed. According to GOST, their scope is limited to the middle layer of building structures, so that the material cannot come into contact with air and, moreover, with open fire.

Roof insulation

The attic after insulation turns into an excellent living room. The use of foam allows this to be done at a relatively low cost. More dense grades (35 and 50) are used for arranging a flat, including an inverted roof. In this case, a film or liquid waterproofing must be laid on a polystyrene foam layer with a thickness of about 70 mm.

Pitched roofs can also be insulated with polystyrene foam boards, the joints of which are sealed with mounting foam. However, it is much more rational to use them for warming the attic floor, since cold bridges will not form in this case. The insulation is fastened with dowels (preferably), cement mortar or glue, if the surface irregularities do not exceed 1 cm.

Secrets and features of wall insulation

It is possible to sew up the walls with foam plastic both from the outside and from the inside, but, following the fire recommendations, a non-combustible heat insulator, for example, mineral wool, should be installed around the perimeter of all openings (window, door, ventilation) at a distance of 50–80 cm. Particular attention when installing foam boards as an internal heat insulator should be given to the ventilation system of the internal space.

The scheme of the heat-insulating carpet on the wall

The thickness of the plates must be calculated based on the thickness and material of the walls, as well as the normative resistance to heat transfer for a particular climatic zone. In this case, the density of the material should be different: for outdoor work it is better to use denser slabs (grades 25 or 35), and for internal work the PSB-S 15 brand is quite suitable.

External protection of the foundation

It is optimal if the base of the building is insulated during the construction process. Those who have already built a house, and the thermal protection of the foundation has not been thought out in it, will have to dig it deep into at least the width of the sheet (1 m). The prepared surface must be treated with bituminous mastic and after it has dried, glue polystyrene foam sheets.

If the foundation of the house is level with the ground, the foam must be completely closed (when backfilling, it is better to use expanded clay), and it does not need finishing. In all other cases, insulation boards must be finished with plaster, brick, siding, ceramic tiles or aluminum profiles. These materials are non-combustible and, in addition to their decorative function, create a protective barrier.

Thus, expanded polystyrene boards are quite an economical material, the insulation of which increases the energy efficiency of a building by 3–5 times. Along with this, there is no reason to fear that polystyrene is not environmentally friendly and poses a threat to human health. A sufficient condition for ensuring your own safety is to give preference to well-known brands when choosing products, and to adhere to building requirements during installation.

Styrofoam as a heater - pros and cons

Benefits of insulating the roof and the whole house with polystyrene foam

Flaws of thermal insulation with foam boards

The low vapor permeability of the material can be attributed to both its advantages and disadvantages:

On the one hand, it does not need to be protected from water vapor, which is actively emitted by a person in the process of life and is a negative factor for the same mineral wool.
On the other hand, a room insulated with polystyrene foam boards from the inside, without forced ventilation, turns into a steam room, in which it is absolutely impossible to live and work.

Myths and truths about chemical hazards

ECOPSE is the French association of foam manufacturers that developed the Uni'vert PSE standard, the label of which is placed on products that have passed a strict eco-audit;
BRE is a British multidisciplinary research center that researches the so-called built environment and has awarded foam a high environmental class (A +);
IRC is an international building code that classifies expanded polystyrene as an energy efficient and environmentally friendly insulation.

How to choose polystyrene foam insulation

There are several types of expanded polystyrene boards:

press (domestic brands are denoted by the letters PS) - mainly used as packaging material or insulation for refrigerators, thermoses, thermobox bodies, etc .;
pressureless (EPS, PSB, PSB-S) - due to their low cost, they are used for insulation of foundations, roofs, walls, balconies and other structures more often than other materials;
extruded (XPS, EPS) - made from the same polystyrene, but using a different technology, which allows you to get a fundamentally different insulation.

Video: how ordinary and self-extinguishing polystyrene foam burns

Insulation of various surfaces with polystyrene foam

Roof insulation

Secrets and features of wall insulation

External protection of the foundation

Expanded polystyrene plates: the whole truth about affordable thermal insulation for roofs and houses

Is it worth it to use expanded polystyrene plates for thermal insulation of roofs, walls and foundations. Independent analysis of chemical properties and fire hazard. Technologies

Features and technical characteristics of expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is a universal insulation, which has always been the leader of the domestic market of thermal insulation materials. The popularity of this insulation is due to the optimal ratio of cost and functional characteristics - in this parameter, expanded polystyrene surpasses all existing materials for insulation.

Polystyrene insulation boards

This article will discuss in detail the technical characteristics and features of polystyrene foam insulation, you will also learn how this material is made, and how it differs from extruded polystyrene foam. We also recommend installing insulated siding.

1 Scope of polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is widely used as the main heat-insulating material in private and industrial construction.

The main factor that determines the demand for polystyrene foam insulation is their minimum cost, which is an order of magnitude less than the same mineral wool, and other heat-insulating materials on the market.

You should not think that since expanded polystyrene is cheap, it guarantees effective insulation - quite the contrary, the thermal conductivity of all heaters used today is approximately the same - it varies from 0.03 to 0.04 W / mk.

In practice, the difference in thermal conductivity at the level of 0.03-0.05 W / mk is simply imperceptible, the difference between polystyrene foam and more expensive heaters is not in efficiency, but in some features of this material, and which we will discuss in detail in the corresponding section of the article. This is important when insulating the foundation with polystyrene foam.

In general, after analyzing the properties of this insulation, we can conclude that thermal insulation with expanded polystyrene has the following advantages:

Profitability - the cost of a cubic meter of expanded polystyrene is about 2-2.5 thousand rubles, while mineral wool is 5-6 thousand rubles. At the same time, the consumption of mineral wool for warming the same object will be approximately 50% more than polystyrene;
Ease of installation and insulation of the facade with foam plastic - expanded polystyrene plates are installed on the surface to be insulated using an adhesive composition, which greatly simplifies their installation. For example, for the installation of the same mineral wool, you will need to equip the supporting frame, which entails additional costs of both time and finances.

Facade insulation with expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene insulation is used for thermal insulation of the following objects:

Facade walls of houses and apartments from any materials - brick, concrete, expanded clay blocks, foam blocks, gas blocks (including for insulation using wet plaster technology);
Lag floors, high-density polystyrene foam can be used for thermal insulation of floors under a concrete screed;
Roofs - straight and pitched;
Ceilings and insulation of apartment facades;
Balcony, loggia, or attic;
Foundation and basement.

Expanded polystyrene has not only thermal insulation properties, but also the ability to reduce noise, which is why it is often used as a soundproofing material for insulating private houses, apartments, or soundproofing industrial premises.

2 Expanded polystyrene manufacturing technology

Expanded polystyrene heaters are manufactured using the technology of foaming and subsequent connection of polystyrene granules to each other.

Briefly, the production technology of this material can be described as follows:

The polystyrene raw material is loaded into a pre-expander - a unit in which polystyrene is heated with hot steam to a temperature (about 100 degrees), at which the granules expand in volume, and cavities are formed in them, which will subsequently be filled with air;
After the granules have expanded, they are dried from steam condensate and transported to a holding container, where they are aged for 12 hours at a temperature of 16-25 degrees. The aging of polystyrene is necessary so that the cavities inside the granules are filled with air;
The granules filled with air are loaded into a block-mould - an aggregate where individual granules are combined into a monolithic block. After loading the granules, the sealed container is closed, and hot steam is supplied inside under pressure, under the influence of which the polystyrene granules are sintered together;
After drying the block with plaster along the insulated facade, the product enters the cutting line, where automated equipment forms slabs of the required thickness and dimensions from the block. The cutting of the block is carried out with hot strings, which guarantee the cutting of maximum precision.

Upon completion of this stage, the insulation boards are packed in plastic wrap and delivered to the store shelves.

expanded polystyrene granules

3 Dimensions and thickness of polystyrene boards

Expanded polystyrene heaters are supplied to the market in the form of plates with facade plaster on foam plastic, having the following dimensions:

The thickness of the plates varies from 10 to 100 mm, the thickness step is usually 10 mm.

The above dimensions of the plates refer to common standards, if you need non-standard sizes of thermal insulation, then most manufacturers, when ordering a sufficiently large batch, can make such heaters to order.

In general, for thermal insulation of vertical and inclined surfaces - facades, walls, roofs, slabs with dimensions of 1 * 0.5 m are the best option, since it is quite difficult for one person to work with large products.

The thickness of the expanded polystyrene sheet, which provides effective thermal insulation, in most regions of the CIS countries varies from 50 to 100 mm.

Expanded polystyrene boards of various thicknesses

4 Types of expanded polystyrene and their technical characteristics

The classification of expanded polystyrene used for thermal insulation is based on the density of the insulation. The most popular materials for insulation are expanded polystyrene grades:

Its thermal insulation properties directly depend on the density of expanded polystyrene. The lower the density, and, accordingly, the more air in the insulation, and the smaller the polystyrene walls, the lower the thermal conductivity of the material will be.

And vice versa, the more expanded polystyrene is compressed, the less air is closed inside the insulation cells, and the lower its thermal conductivity will be. However, it must be borne in mind that the strength characteristics of the insulation directly depend on its density.

Let's compare the technical characteristics of the most popular types of polystyrene foam heaters PSB-15, PSB-25 and PSB-35 in thermal insulation:

Material density, kg/m³: PSB-15 – from 8 to 15; PSB-25 - from 15 to 25; PSB-35 - from 25 to 35;
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W/mk: PSB-15 – 0.037; PSB-25 - 0.039; PSB-35 - 0.043;
The coefficient of vapor permeability for all types of expanded polystyrene is not higher than 0.05 mg / mchPa;
The resistance of the material to compression at a deformation of 10% of the volume, MPa: PSB-15 - 0.04; PSB-25 - 0.07; PSB-35 - 0.16;
Material resistance to bending, MPa: PSB-15 - 0.06; PSB-25 - 0.018; PSB-35 - 0.25;
Moisture absorption percentage by volume for 24 hours: PSB-15 - 4, PSB-25 - 1, PSB-35 - 1.

Thermal insulation of the roof with polystyrene foam insulation

All classes of expanded polystyrene belong to the G3 combustibility group - normally combustible materials, the boundary temperature of their operation is 80 degrees, above which the polystyrene granules begin to sinter, as a result of which the insulation itself is deformed.

5 Comparison of conventional and extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam is made from the same polystyrene granules as the insulation considered in this article, however, using a much more complex technology, which causes the differences in price and technical characteristics of these materials.

The cost of these materials can vary by 2-2.5 times, in order to understand whether it makes sense to overpay, let's compare their main technical characteristics:

Thermal conductivity coefficient, W/mk: extruded polystyrene foam (EP) – 0.028; expanded polystyrene (P) - 0.038;
The percentage of moisture absorption by volume for 24 hours: EP - 0.2; P - 2;
The percentage of moisture absorption by volume for 30 days: EP - 0.4; P - 4;
Vapor permeability coefficient, mg / mchPa: EP - 0.018; P - 0.05;
Density, kg / m³: EP - from 28 to 45, P - from 15 to 35.

The combustibility class for materials based on polystyrene is identical - G3, or, in the case of adding refractory additives - G2.

The difference in thermal conductivity between EP and expanded polystyrene determines that for the same thermal insulation efficiency, you will need a greater thickness of expanded polystyrene insulation than EP boards.

Structure of extruded polystyrene foam

The density varies within 10 kg / m³, which is also quite significant. Expanded polystyrene, the density of which is minimal, cannot be used to insulate loadable facades, while there are no such restrictions for EP insulation, the density of which is 28 kg / m³.

Expanded polystyrene, unlike EP-plates, is eaten by mice. Despite the fact that the EP is made from the same raw materials as polystyrene foam, mice do not eat it, since the structure and density of the material does not allow them to damage the insulation.

Given the above, if you want to equip thermal insulation with polystyrene foam, all mice must be pre-etched. Do not neglect this, because otherwise, you risk money and time spent on insulating your home.

However, mice are dangerous for the most part only for houses - rodents are extremely rare in apartments. However, even if the mice wound up, it is likely that they will initially be interested in ordinary food. Rodents (mice and others) are usually rarely taken for heat-insulating materials.

When choosing between thermal insulation made of expanded polystyrene and EP, consider the conditions under which the material will be used. For example, to insulate the foundation or the basement, it is better to choose EP, since it is more stable, strong and durable, while ordinary polystyrene foam is perfect for thermal insulation of the facade.

Extruded polystyrene foam: characteristics

Technical characteristics of expanded polystyrene, insulation properties. Comparison of the technical characteristics of extruded and conventional expanded polystyrene.

Thermal insulation of the roof with expanded polystyrene plates

There are many ways and materials to perform roof insulation. This article will discuss how to properly insulate the roof with polystyrene foam.

Roof insulation plan.

Expanded polystyrene is a heat-insulating foam plastic, which is produced by swelling and welding together polystyrene granules when heated (80 - 100 ° C) with water or steam.

In construction, two types of expanded polystyrene are used: this is an expanded polystyrene plate and extruded polystyrene foam (foam plex).

Styrofoam board

Expanded polystyrene boards are produced by foaming polystyrene with further sintering of the particles. Despite the fact that the polystyrene foam plate is a polymer, it absolutely does not contain any substances harmful to the human body.

The expanded polystyrene plate does not contain any harmful substances.

The expanded polystyrene plate is not a hygroscopic material and, accordingly, under the influence of moisture, it does not lose its thermal insulation properties. The periodic appearance of water vapor condensate, which can sometimes be along the thickness of polystyrene foam, will not have serious consequences. Experts have proven that this material has water absorption, when immersed in water for 7 days, only 0.5-1.5% of the volume.

The disadvantages of this material for roof insulation include low soundproofing properties, as well as a low vapor permeability coefficient, which is only 12x106 g / (m.h.Pa). The weak resistance of expanded polystyrene to the effects of many organic solvents is another of its significant drawbacks. Temperatures above +80°C can destroy polystyrene boards.

The bonded thermal insulation system provides for the use of expanded polystyrene, which meets the requirements of the current standard (DSTU B.V.2.7894). And this means that the material must not spread fire, that is, be self-extinguishing. Styrofoam boards, which are cut from aged blocks, must have a flat shape and stable dimensions.

Expanded polystyrene extruded

This type of expanded polystyrene is also a heat-insulating foam. It is obtained by mixing polystyrene granules at high temperature, extruding (blowing) from an extruder and adding a foaming agent. In the old days, various freons were used as a blowing agent, but today manufacturers use CFC-free systems based on CO 2 .

Having zero capillarity and negligible water absorption (less than 0.2 vol.%), extruded polystyrene foam has a sufficiently high strength and stable thermal insulation characteristics (thermal conductivity is 0.038-0.041 W / m-K).

This material has a fairly high chemical resistance, however, individual organic solvents (white spirit, acetone, etc.), wood preservative, coal tars can lead to shrinkage, softening and dissolution of the material.

The essential feature of this heat-insulating foam is its very low vapor permeability. Depending on what material has a density, vapor permeability is 40-70 times less than that of mineral fiber. Based on this, to insulate the roof with this heat-insulating foam (foam) means to create a vapor barrier on the way from the inside to the outside.

In construction, extruded polystyrene foam is used to insulate not only roofs, but also walls of buildings. In this case, you should know that, based on the fact that the humidity in the living room is quite high, then when using extruded polystyrene foam, the question will immediately arise of the need for air conditioning from inside the room in order to avoid progressive dampness on the walls.

Extruded polystyrene foam is incredibly easy to install and very easy to process, it can be easily cut with a regular knife.

Why styrofoam boards?

Often, heat leakage occurs due to "cold bridges". In order to prevent their occurrence, the heat-insulating layer must be a single continuous structure. This design solution is based on the installation of insulation material on top of the truss structures. The only thing that is presented to the insulating material is that it must have high strength. Since throughout the entire period of operation, significant loads and roofing, and precipitation will constantly exert on it.

A material such as expanded polystyrene boards has a number of significant advantages and is able to fully meet the requirements for strength. They prevent the appearance of "cold bridges". Thanks to special connections, including "tongue and groove" or "stepped".

The whole house can be insulated with expanded polystyrene plates, as this material has a number of advantages over others.

Expanded polystyrene also has the highest moisture resistant characteristics. It should be noted that this material has a high resistance to water. And, as a result, there is no need to build additional protection of the roof from moisture from the inside.

In terms of strength, a board made from expanded polystyrene has excellent load-bearing capacity. She is absolutely not afraid of the loads exerted on the plate by the longitudinal wooden slats used for installation.

Upon completion of the installation of polystyrene foam plates, a single design of insulation will be obtained, which is able to cope with both stress and high temperature.

Before proceeding with the direct installation of polystyrene foam plates, you need to prepare all the tools and material necessary for this.

drill;
screwdriver (when using mounting screws);
saw;
hammer;
measuring tool;
pencil;
stationery (construction) knife.

plywood (boards) for flooring;
waterproofing material;
vapor barrier material;
mounting foam;
nails (mounting screws);
wooden slats (thickness not less than 4 cm);
finishing material (when mounted over closed rafters).

Installation of thermal insulation over open rafters

This method of performing thermal insulation of the roof assumes that the truss system remains indoors. As a result, the rafters will be an element of the interior.

Installation of expanded polystyrene plates over open rafters.

A flooring is laid on top of the rafters, which can be made of plywood, boards, etc. In the future, it will be used as a filing of the structure. This lining is covered with a waterproofing material (waterproofing membrane). As a rule, polymer-bitumen material is used for this. The waterproofing membrane performs two functions at once. The first is the underlying waterproofing litter. The second is a vapor-permeable layer. It is necessary to lay polymer-bitumen material under a warming layer.

Diffusion waterproofing membranes are often used instead of the materials mentioned above. They are laid on top of the thermal insulation. For greater tightness and reliability, vapor insulation is sometimes laid under the insulation.

When performing insulation with heat-insulating foam plastic (foam), you should know that the plates are necessarily mounted with layer dressing. The sample is an ordinary brick laying, which has a sufficient density of the connection of products.

Any gaps that appear between the heat-insulating foam and the roof structure elements must be filled with polyurethane foam (mounting foam).

Installation of expanded polystyrene boards over closed rafters.

Expanded polystyrene boards are fastened with fixing nails. You can also use another option - mounting screws. Fastening to the rafters is carried out through longitudinal wooden slats. Before proceeding with the insulation work, the slats must be drilled. Otherwise, they will split.

When performing roof insulation on open rafters with heat-insulating foam, one should not forget about the construction of a ventilation channel. There will be sufficient air circulation when the longitudinal slats are at least 4 cm thick. This indicator will ensure excellent drying from the inside of both the roof and the heat-insulating layer.

Installation of thermal insulation over closed rafters

Thermal insulation of the roof over closed rafters with expanded polystyrene plates has little difference from the method discussed above. The only difference is that the crate is mounted from the inside of the room (under the rafters).

After that, the expanded polystyrene plates themselves are laid directly on it. From the inside of the roof, a vapor barrier layer is laid on these slabs and a fine finish is performed, which can be made from sheets of drywall or plastic panels or lining. When laying the vapor barrier layer, you should pay attention to the fact that the side that is able to prevent moisture from passing through is facing the rafter system.

As a conclusion: by insulating the roof with expanded polystyrene plates, you can forget about heat leakage for a long time, since the minimum service life of these products is 25 years. And according to data obtained in the laboratory, the service life can reach 80 years or more.

Roof insulation with polystyrene foam

Roof insulation with expanded polystyrene will allow you to forget about heat leakage, since its minimum service life is 25 years.

Expanded polystyrene - characteristics and selection criteria

Heating an apartment in the winter costs us oh, how expensive, and energy prices are rising exorbitantly every year. And it's a pity when such an expensive heat is uselessly leaving the apartment outside. And these losses are simply huge. However, there is a good way to reduce them: sheathing the outer walls of the house with foam, otherwise, polystyrene, plates. This familiar polystyrene characteristics in terms of thermal insulation are very remarkable. But are its other properties really that good? Today we will talk about it.

About the properties of expanded polystyrene - in detail and accessible

First, we will consider the technical characteristics of expanded polystyrene, which really correspond to this insulation, later we will touch on those points of its properties that are controversial, but are constantly being promoted by sellers and manufacturers.

About thermal conductivity

Styrofoam is nothing more than a lot of air bubbles enclosed in thin polystyrene shells. In this case, the ratio is as follows: two percent polystyrene, the remaining ninety-eight is air. The result is a kind of hard foam, hence the name - polystyrene foam. The air is hermetically sealed inside the bubbles, thanks to which the material perfectly retains heat. After all, it is known that the air layer, which is motionless, is an excellent heat insulator.

Compared to mineral wool, the thermal conductivity of this material is lower. It can have a value from 0.028 to 0.034 watts per meter per Kelvin. The denser the foam, the greater the value of its thermal conductivity coefficient. So, for extruded polystyrene foam, having a density of 45 kilograms per cubic meter, this parameter is 0.03 watts per meter per Kelvin. This means that the ambient temperature is not higher than seventy-five and not lower than minus fifty degrees Celsius.

About vapor permeability and moisture absorption

Conventional foam has zero vapor permeability. And the characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam, which is manufactured in a special way, are different. Its vapor permeability varies from 0.019 to 0.015 kilograms per meter-hour Pascal. This seems strange, since, in theory, such a material with a foam structure is not capable of passing steam. The answer is simple - in dense extruded foam, molding is done by cutting. So steam penetrates through these cuts, climbing inside the air cells. Ordinary foam, as a rule, is not cut, so it is not available for steam.

As for water absorption, the situation is reversed. If you immerse a sheet of simple foam in water, it will absorb up to 4 percent of it. Dense expanded polystyrene, made by extrusion, will remain almost dry. It will absorb ten times less water - only 0.4 percent.

About strength

Here the palm belongs to extruded polystyrene foam, in which the bond between the molecules is very strong. In terms of static bending strength (from 0.4 to 1 kilogram per square centimeter), it significantly exceeds ordinary foam plastic (its strength ranges from 0.02 to 0.2 kilograms per square centimeter). Therefore, in recent years, less and less ordinary, not extruded, foam has been produced, since it is less in demand. The extrusion method allows you to get a more modern material for insulation, durable and moisture resistant.

What is polystyrene foam afraid of

Expanded polystyrene does not react in any way to substances such as soda, soap and mineral fertilizers. It does not interact with bitumen, cement and gypsum, lime and asphalt emulsions. Nor does he care about groundwater. But turpentine with acetone, some brands of varnishes, as well as drying oil can not only damage, but also completely dissolve this material. The foam is also soluble in most products obtained by distillation of oil, as well as in some alcohols.

It just does not like polystyrene (neither ordinary nor extruded) in direct sunlight. They destroy it - with constant ultraviolet irradiation, the material first becomes less elastic, losing strength. After that, snow, rain and wind complete the destruction.

About the ability to absorb sounds

If you need to escape from excessive noise, polystyrene foam will absolutely not help. It is able to muffle impact noise somewhat, but only on condition that it is laid in a sufficiently thick layer. But airborne noise, the waves of which propagate through the air, is too tough for foam. These are the design features and properties of expanded polystyrene - rigidly located cells with air inside are completely isolated. So for sound waves flying through the air, it is necessary to put barriers from other materials.

About biological stability

As it turned out, the mold on the foam is not able to live. This is confirmed by American scientists who conducted a series of laboratory studies in 2004. These works were ordered by the manufacturers of expanded polystyrene from the United States. The result completely satisfied them.

The whole truth about safety, incombustibility and long service life

In terms of ecology, foam plastic is absolutely safe - after all, freon is not used in its production, which makes holes in the ozone layer of the Earth. Polystyrene is able to serve for many years without losing its properties - tests have shown that it can be thawed and frozen many times, and the quality of the material does not suffer. This material is not subject to combustion, as it contains special substances - flame retardants. All this seems absolutely correct and indisputable, but only at first glance. There are several nuances. We will talk about them further.

The issue of ecology

Unfortunately, expanded polystyrene oxidizes in air. Moreover, ordinary foam plastic, which has a looser structure, is more susceptible to this process. The extruded material oxidizes more slowly, but the same fate awaits it. And you don’t even need any burning - thirty-degree heat outside is enough. In the process of oxidation, a lot of harmful substances are released. These are benzene with ethylbenzene, toluene, toxic formaldehyde, methyl alcohol and acetophenone. The newly laid foam also releases styrene, since complete polymerization of the material is not possible at the production stage. And until the polymerization is completed, the release of styrene will not stop.

Styrofoam manufacturers are trying to challenge information about the harmfulness of polystyrene foam. They say that their raw materials are less harmful than wood. This refers to the release of harmful substances by wood during combustion. This is not true - if polystyrene foam is heated to a temperature exceeding 80 degrees, then such a "bouquet" of substances will come up - where is the tree. It is just right for a gas attack to use the harmful soot with smoke formed during combustion. They contain, for example, phosgene (carbonyl dichloride), hydrocyanic acid (hydrocyanide), hydrogen bromide (hydrobromide).

Flammability issue

In fact, any polystyrene burns. Manufacturers are cunning, stating that it fades on its own, being less dangerous than a tree - alas, this is not so. Such a statement clearly contradicts the Russian GOST 30244-94, according to which foam plastics are ranked among G3 and G4 groups in terms of flammability - the most dangerous.

Speaking about the fire safety of expanded polystyrene, manufacturers are cunning, using European standards that differ from domestic ones. There, flammability is determined by three evaluation characteristics: biological, chemical and complex. According to the first of them, the most dangerous material in terms of flammability is wood. But at the same time, toxicity is determined very approximately, far from being in full. And it is impossible to completely compare the harmfulness of the products of combustion of foam plastic and wood in this way. The same is true with the chemical method.

But the complex technique, which is commonly used in Europe when testing polymers, is able to give true results. But Russian firms selling polystyrene foam from Europe, providing buyers with the technical characteristics of polystyrene foam, show only biological and chemical tests of the material. Some domestic foam plastic manufacturers do the same, revealing only part of the information to the consumer. So the truth is hidden from the masses.

Another way to distort the facts is to spectacularly hang a foam board in the air and then set it on fire. To do this, a lit burner is applied to the stove from below. The result speaks for itself - only the piece that was in contact with the burner burns out, and then the fire does not go on. But after all, this experience does not correspond to real operating conditions in any way, and can only serve as a focus. But if you put a piece of polystyrene foam on a plane of non-combustible material and set it on fire, it will not go out at all. After all, hot drops of foam plastic, formed when a small piece is heated, will transfer the fire to its entire surface. The result will not keep you waiting - the stove will burn completely.

If we take expanded polystyrene, which does not include flame retardants, then its smoke generation coefficient is 1048 square meters per kilogram. For foam with a self-extinguishing effect, this figure is greater - 1219 square meters per kilogram. For rubber, for example, it is 850 square meters per kilogram, while for wood it is even less - only 23 square meters per kilogram. To make it clearer, let's give the following figures: if the smoke in the room is more than 500 square meters per kilogram, then, by stretching out your hand, you can not see her fingers.

Flame retardants (most often hexabromocyclododexane) are added to expanded polystyrene to increase its fire safety. In our country, it is customary to designate such a foam with the letter "C". This should, in theory, mean that the material has the property of self-extinguishing. But in practice, it turns out that polystyrene foam with a flame retardant burns no worse than one that does not contain this additive. It only ignites worse, without doing it spontaneously at elevated temperatures. Its flammability class is G2, but after a few years it turns into G3 or G4 - the flame retardant properties deteriorate over time.

Service life issue

If you use expanded polystyrene correctly, covering it from above with plaster or another protective and decorative layer, then it will last 30 years, no less. True, in reality, everything turns out to be not so rosy - either the craftsmen blind the thermal insulation hastily somehow, or the customer will try to save money at the expense of materials, or an inexperienced master will make mistakes when installing polystyrene foam plates.

One of these errors is the incorrect calculation of the thickness of the insulation. It seems to many that if you take a thick thirty-centimeter foam plate, then it will last longer and it will be warmer in the house. But this is not so - a material of great thickness from temperature changes will go into cracks and waves, under which cold air will penetrate. It should be noted that in Europe the norm has been adopted - to insulate houses from the outside with polystyrene foam no more than 3.5 millimeters thick. This allows you to reduce the risk of poisoning during a fire.

How to choose the right polystyrene foam

Styrofoam is one of the most popular building materials. It is light, warm and cheap, and it is very easy to work with it. Since the demand is high, there are more and more offers from manufacturers. And each of them assures that it is his foam that is the best, and the quality is beyond praise.

1. Getting lost from countless offers, do not rush to buy material. First, carefully study its parameters. If you need to insulate the facade, take PSB-S expanded polystyrene, which is positioned as self-extinguishing. Its brand must be no lower than the fortieth. And if the brand has a number of 25 or less, then do not look in the direction of such material - it is only suitable for packaging, but not for construction work.

2. Keep in mind that PBS-S-40 foam (fortieth grade) can have different densities - from 28 to 40 kilograms per cubic meter. It is beneficial for the manufacturer to mislead the buyer in this way - less money is spent on the production of polystyrene foam of lower density. Therefore, you cannot focus only on the number in the brand name, but you must ask to show the technical characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam.

3. It will also be great if they tell you exactly how this polystyrene foam is made. After all, if its density is more than 35 kilograms per cubic meter, then it should be only extrusion. In the usual way, without using strong compression, it is possible to achieve a density no higher than 17 kilograms per cubic meter.

4. Before buying, try to break off a piece of material from the very edge. If it turns out to be low-grade packaging foam, then it will break with a jagged edge, on the sides of which round small balls will be visible. The material obtained by extrusion, in place of a neat fracture, has regular polyhedra. The fault line will pass through some of them.

4. As for the producers of expanded polystyrene, the best of them are the European companies Polimeri Europa, Nova Chemicals, Styrochem, BASF. Russian manufacturing companies, such as Penoplex and Technonikol, do not lag behind them. They have a production capacity that is quite enough for the manufacture of very high quality polystyrene foam.

Conclusion

Although the foam, as it turned out, is dangerous when burned and releases harmful substances, it remains one of the most popular heat insulators. After all, as a heater, expanded polystyrene has a lot of advantages: it is the cheapest, it is easily cut with an ordinary knife, almost does not absorb moisture and keeps heat well. It is not for nothing that four out of five European buildings have precisely expanded polystyrene insulation of the facade. Moreover, both residential buildings and offices, and industrial premises.

True, it is too early to talk about long-term studies of this material - even half a century has not passed since the beginning of its use. Therefore, those who talk about the service life of expanded polystyrene for more than 80 years can only confirm their words with laboratory tests. But they should not be 100% trusted - after all, in order to get the desired results, you can send special samples to the laboratory.

The most important thing when using expanded polystyrene in the external environment is to reliably cover it from sunlight and atmospheric influences. To do this, you need to use a plaster mixture, which includes cement. The coating should be applied tightly, there should not be a single gap. Otherwise, a tiny ray of sunlight can eventually completely destroy the thermal insulation.

But inside the foam for insulation should not be used, no matter what the manufacturers claim. Let them talk to themselves, but after all, in the event of a fire, they will not be around, but toxic combustion products can cause great harm, taking away the health, and sometimes even the lives of people. An example is the well-known tragedy in the Lame Horse club, where most of the visitors simply suffocated with the combustion products of this heater.

Expanded polystyrene - characteristics and the whole truth about insulation Photo and Video

Characteristics of expanded polystyrene, its objective positive, negative sides and controversial points, as well as the criteria for choosing this insulation.

is a truly universal heat-insulating material, which for a long time has been the undisputed leader in the market of similar products. What is the secret of its popularity? First of all, in excellent functional characteristics at a relatively low cost - in this regard, expanded polystyrene was ahead of its "competitors" by several steps.

So, today we will talk about those. characteristics and varieties of polystyrene foam boards, you will also learn how this heat insulator is made and how it is installed by hand. We will also talk about popular brands and average market prices, but first things first.

Where are polystyrene boards used?

This material is actively used as the main heat insulator in the field of industrial / private construction. The key factor determining the demand for this heat insulator is its relatively low cost (much lower than that of the popular mineral wool and other thermal insulation materials). However, do not think that if polystyrene foam is cheap, then it is less useful - on the contrary, the thermal conductivity of almost all current heaters is approximately the same and is approximately 0.03-0.04 W / mk.

In reality, the difference between the minimum / maximum indicators is almost not noticed, and the difference between polystyrene foam boards and other heat insulators is not at all in efficiency, but in a number of material features that will be discussed in this article.

In short, after analyzing the key properties of expanded polystyrene, we can conclude that it has the following undeniable advantages.

Saving money. A cubic meter of this material will cost about 2,500 rubles, while the price of the same volume of mineral wool can reach 5,000 or 6,000 rubles. Moreover, when insulating the same object, mineral wool will require twice as much as polystyrene foam.
Ease and simplicity of installation work. To install the material plates, a special adhesive solution is used, due to which the installation procedure is noticeably simplified. But, for example, to install the same mineral wool, you will need to equip a supporting frame, which is associated with additional time and financial costs.

In general, expanded polystyrene boards are used for thermal insulation:

facades of buildings (regardless of what material was used in the construction - brick, concrete, gas blocks, etc.);
ground floors;
sex lags (including under the screed, but provided that the density of the material is high enough);
foundations;
roofs of any shape;
loggias, balconies;
ceilings;
attic.

Note! The material described in the article boasts both heat-insulating and noise-absorbing properties, and therefore is often used for soundproofing industrial / residential premises.

How is Styrofoam made?

To make polystyrene boards, use the technology of foaming and further connecting polystyrene granules to each other. The production process itself looks something like this.

First stage. First, the raw material is placed in a pre-expander - a special device where the granules are heated with hot steam to about 100-degree temperature, as a result of which the volume of the granules increases and cavities form in them. The latter will later be filled with air.

Second phase. The expanded granules are dried and placed in the so-called holding container, in which they are kept at a temperature of no more than 25 degrees for 12 hours. This procedure is necessary so that the cavities formed in the granules are filled with air.

Third stage. After filling with air, the granules are transported to the block form, where, in fact, they are combined into a monolithic block. The block mold itself is hermetically sealed after loading the raw materials, then hot steam enters it under high pressure, due to which the granules “sinter” with each other.

Fourth stage. When the block dries, it is fed to the cutting line. Here, automatic equipment cuts the block into slabs of the required dimensions and thickness; at the same time, hot strings are used for cutting, guaranteeing extremely accurate cutting of the material.

When the process is completed, the finished boards are wrapped in PET film and delivered to the store shelves.

Dimensions of polystyrene boards

At the moment, plates of the material described in the article are sold in the following sizes:

100x50 centimeters;
100x100 centimeters;
200x100 centimeters.

As for the thickness, it varies between 1-10 centimeters (in this case, the change step is often 1 centimeter). Also note that all these dimensions relate to popular board standards, but if insulation of non-standard dimensions is required, the manufacturer can provide you with those on order (usually when ordering a large batch).

The optimal size for insulating vertical or sloped surfaces is 100x50 centimeters, since it is quite difficult to work alone with plates that have larger dimensions. The thickness of the material, capable of providing high-quality thermal insulation, varies between 5 and 10 centimeters.

Technical characteristics of polystyrene boards?

Let's get acquainted with the main characteristics of polystyrene foam plates. For the convenience of visitors to our site, the information below is presented in the form of a table.

Table. Comparison of the characteristics of foam and extruded polystyrene foam.

Note! As you can see, expanded polystyrene has much higher thermal insulation properties, the material is more durable for bending / compression, it practically does not let steam through, and absorbs moisture in a minimal amount.

Video - Pros and cons of polystyrene foam insulation

The main differences between extruded polystyrene foam and conventional

In the manufacture of extruded PPS, the same polystyrene granules are used as in the technology described at the beginning of the article, but the production process itself is more complex, which, in fact, explains the difference in technical parameters and cost. And the difference in price is significant - extruded polystyrene boards cost at least twice as much. As for specific technical parameters, they are described in more detail in the previous section.

Let's deal with some points in more detail. So, ordinary PPS with a minimum density cannot be used for thermal insulation of loaded facades. But XPS with a density of 28 kilograms per cubic meter has no restrictions.

Also note that regular PPP is not eaten by rodents, which cannot be said about extruded PPS. Yes, in both cases, the same raw materials are used in the manufacture, but in the first case, mice simply cannot harm the material due to its density and structure. In view of all of the above, the obvious conclusion can be drawn: if you plan to use XPS for thermal insulation, you must etch all mice in advance. In no case should you neglect this, otherwise the money and effort that you spend on warming will be in vain.

Note! In any case, rodents are dangerous mainly in houses, since they are extremely rare in city apartments. But if they still start up, they will be interested, first of all, in ordinary food. Accordingly, they will take up the heat-insulating coating at the very last turn.

When choosing a specific type of expanded polystyrene, pay attention to the conditions under which the operation of the heat insulator is planned. If you need to insulate, for example, a basement or foundation, then it is better to give preference to EPPS, since it is more durable and lasts longer, but the facade of the house can be insulated with ordinary polystyrene foam.

Fire safety of polystyrene boards

The problem of fire safety of the insulation described here has been repeatedly paid attention, since a number of unpleasant precedents have taken place. And there is nothing surprising in the fact that this question is "overgrown" with numerous myths.

And the thing is this: if we consider the unimproved (ordinary) PPS, then we can see that it, as a heat insulator, is a flammable material. Simply put, PPS can easily catch fire from electric welding, a burning match, or another source of fire.

In accordance with GOST 30244-94, in terms of flammability, this material belongs to class G4; moreover, directly during combustion, they emit a lot of toxic substances, including hydrogen cyanide. But note that the combustible material does not have any permits for use in construction!

The new GOST (more specifically, 15588-2014) allows for the use in construction only of polystyrene foam boards treated with flame retardants, which means that they do not pose a danger during a fire (subject to proper installation, of course). The flammability class of such a heat insulator is G1, although domestic manufacturers, as a rule, add the letter “C” to the marking (that is, “self-extinguishing”).

Note! What conclusions can be drawn? First of all, we can say that the fire hazard of a heater is justified only if low-quality products related to flammable materials are used. Simply put, these are polystyrene foam boards that have not been treated with flame retardants.

In addition, it is important to install this material correctly - in this case, polystyrene foam will not pose any danger.

What about resistance to biological corrosion?

This parameter of the described material is also quite often questioned. The reason, first of all, is the negative feedback from customers who complain that mice eat the material. More precisely, they use it to create their own nests. But in reality, such troubles are the result of non-compliance with the installation technology. We will not plunge into endless disputes, but instead we will announce the results of studies conducted on mice.

The polystyrene itself, from which the insulation is made, is not valuable for rodents in nutritional terms. This also applies to fungi, insects, bacteria. But it is known that mold bacteria / fungi may well settle on the plates.
EPS is very rarely spoiled by rodents, which cannot be said about ordinary EPS.
Insulation can be gnawed by rodents when it becomes an obstacle on the way to food / water, and even in those cases when it does not allow rodents to satisfy their natural needs. But any other heat insulator can be in a similar situation.
If there is another nesting material nearby (for example, burlap, paper), then the expanded polystyrene will be selected by rodents only last.

Note! The biological stability of the material is quite high! If the plates were installed correctly and in compliance with the technology, then you can not be afraid of bacteria, mice or mold. And the fact that rodents "love" polystyrene is nothing but a myth.

Facade insulation with polystyrene boards

To reduce heating bills, it is recommended to insulate the facade with polystyrene boards. Immediately make a reservation that this process is complex, but it is quite possible to cope with it on your own. It is only necessary to follow the technology, which we tried to describe in as much detail as possible below.

Popular brands of insulation, average market prices and characteristics

Let's start with perhaps the most exciting question - how much does it cost? Here are a few popular positions to give you a general idea.

Table. Popular brands of insulation, parameters and average market prices.

When you decide on what kind of material you will use, you can proceed directly to the installation.

We carry out preparation

To begin with, you must carefully prepare the walls. It is recommended to do this in warm weather, however, more importantly, the walls must be dry, not wet! If it rained, wait at least a week before you can start.

First stage. External walls

To begin, clean the exterior walls of anything that is crumbling or peeling off. If the walls have been painted, then remove the paint; if covered with lime, clean it off. Swollen areas of plaster / tile must be beaten - let only what is held firmly enough remain. So the polystyrene boards will be fixed as high as possible!

After that, align the walls (differences should be no more than 1 centimeter per square meter). If there are larger pits / protrusions - stitch them or level them with plaster. The smoother the walls, the easier it will be for you to work with them.

Second phase. Primer

Do I need to prime the walls at all? No, if after running the palm over them it remains clean. In all other cases, a primer is required so that the adhesive adheres better to the surface. It will take a little time, and the procedure itself is nothing complicated, but the benefits are really palpable!

As for the choice of composition, in this case any primer for facade work will fit. For example, Ecomis, Ceresit, Tokan. The mixture can be diluted or not diluted - it depends on the specific manufacturer and form of release. Use a sprayer or brush to apply. In the second case, the application will be of better quality.

Third stage. Insulation preparation

Take care that the surface of the styrofoam boards is not so smooth. If you use ordinary foam, the structure of which is looser, then the material does not need preliminary preparation. Make scratches on the XPS boards, otherwise they will simply fall off the adhesive.

Take a drywall spiked roller and roll it carefully in all directions. There is another option - using a metal brush to create grooves. As for softer methods, they simply do not work in this case. The procedure is easy but time consuming. It is advisable to prepare the surface of the boards before mounting on the walls. And if the heat insulator will be laid in two layers, then the plates must be processed for both layers.

Fourth stage. Ebbs, slopes, window sills

All these elements must be installed before installing the insulation material. In this case, the thickness of the heat insulator and the finishing coating must be taken into account without fail. And if window sills and everything else are already there, they should be replaced.

Note! Preparatory measures before the installation of polystyrene foam boards, as we see, will also require a lot of time from you. There is, in fact, nothing complicated here, but the benefits for the final result are very large.

Step-by-step instructions for the installation of polystyrene foam boards

To get good results, the insulation boards must first be glued and then nailed. And it is in this order, and in no other. Gluing sheets should start from the bottom (usually on the left side). If we are talking about a private house, then the plates of the first row should rest on the ebb, and if it is a city apartment, then the so-called starting bar is first nailed. Without the latter, polystyrene foam will simply slide off.

Video - Styrofoam disappears when the facade is insulated. We consider mistakes

What will be required at work?

First of all, you will need a pair of spatulas - 10 and 18-20 centimeters wide. The first will serve to set the adhesive mixture from the container, while the second will be applied to the surface of the walls. You may also need a saw with fine teeth. The glue you will use must be special - with a mark that it is suitable for expanded polystyrene boards.

As for the consumption of glue, it is approximately 4-6 kilograms per square meter. It can be reduced if the walls are sufficiently even and no depressions need to be leveled.

For the second stage of work, you will need fungi - dowels of a special shape with a long leg and a wide hat. Inside these dowels you will insert special dowel-nails made of plastic. The latter are good because they are cheap, do not rust, do not conduct heat and do not create a serious load on the facade. These fungi will be installed with a hammer and an electric drill. You will also need a third wide spatula (about 30-35 centimeters) with which you will apply the mesh and leveling layer. Finally, you will need sandpaper and a plastic grater.

How to glue the material?

First thin the glue according to the manufacturer's instructions (use a mixer attachment for this), but you can make it a little thicker to make it easier to work with. In case of an uneven wall, apply the mixture to the surface, in extreme cases, you can make a shallow recess in the foam (if the bulge on the wall is too large). But if you use polystyrene foam plates, then this number will not work.

Make a roller around the perimeter of the plate with glue, also make several small “flat cakes” (can be different). Try to keep the surface as level as possible. Then attach the slab of material to the wall, press down and lightly pat. It is recommended to remove the glue that has come out immediately, so that later there is less alignment.

There is another way - to apply glue to the entire surface and level it with a comb, using a notched trowel for this. But this technology is suitable only for flat surfaces that do not have drops.

When laying the second row, make sure that the seams are displaced (as when laying bricks), the same applies to all subsequent rows. When all surfaces are pasted over, leave the facade for three days so that the glue is completely dry. At this time, you can do another section for now.

How to fix polystyrene boards

Well, after three days, take the fungi. By the way, their length should correspond to the thickness of the insulation plus 4-5 centimeters at the entrance to the walls. For example, if the thickness of polystyrene foam plates is 4 centimeters, then the length of the fungi should be approximately 9-10 centimeters.

The consumption of fungi is approximately 5-6 pieces for each heat insulator plate. In the right places, using a centimeter drill, make holes at least 2 centimeters deeper than the length of the products. The approximate location of the holes is shown in the image below.

Insert a fungus into the hole, hammer it with a hammer. As a result, the hat should lie flat on the heat insulator.

Embed the hats into the styrofoam about 1 millimeter. In this case, you will slightly reduce the consumption of leveling adhesive.

That's all. And in conclusion, another useful video that we highly recommend watching. Good luck with your work and have a warm winter!

Video - The procedure for warming the facade of the house

In this article

Characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam

In addition to the plates, for ease of installation work, corner parts are made with dimensions of 15x15, 20x20 cm. For the construction of various curved surfaces, plates of 2x60x120 cm in size are produced. On the one hand, they have deep cuts located parallel to each other with a step of 3 cm.

Temperature range for plates "-50°С" - "+75°С". Expanded polystyrene does not allow the formation of mold, fungus.

Application area

Expanded polystyrene plates, the main purpose:

For finishing industrial, public buildings.
As a heater of walls of residential buildings.
In agriculture, railway, road sphere of activity.
Insulation of foundations, basements, roofs of houses.
in the refrigeration industry.
For installation of airfields, on other objects.

Increased thermal properties of expanded polystyrene provide the possibility of its use as thermal insulation of fences.

It is intended for such tasks:

Foundation insulation.
Internal wall insulation.
Wall insulation of underground structures.
Thermal insulation of house facades with subsequent application of various facing materials to thermal insulation boards.
For monolithic construction of houses.
For the production of sandwich panels.

Thanks to the tests, it was revealed that polystyrene foam chips have a number of advantages, distinctive characteristics:

In the process of compression, the tensile strength depends on the density, thickness of the material. The latest types of expanded polystyrene have already been developed, for which it was possible to significantly reduce flammability due to the introduction of more effective fire retardants into it. This made it possible to achieve the parameters of slow-burning materials.
After thousands of cycles of freezing and thawing, the expanded polystyrene product retains its thermal insulation qualities. In this case, the change in technical resistance is no more than five percent.
Other brands of the product can be produced on request, for example, a special brand of the product with an embossed surface that increases adhesion. This makes it possible to effectively use plaster, adhesive materials.
Typical grades differ from each other in thermal parameters, compressive strength, and density.
To facilitate installation and prevent the formation of cold bridges, boards are produced with various edge shapes, for example, rectangular, with a selected quarter, and others.

Technoplex board is distinguished by its significant chemical resistance compared to most other building materials.

Certain types of organic matter, including those containing:

coal tar, derivatives from it, for example, creosol,
solvents, substances that protect wood,
paint thinners, commonly used solvents (acetone, white spirit, and others).

can lead to softening, subsidence, and sometimes dissolution of the plates.

Important!“The use of adhesives is recommended. They do not include the components listed above. You can store such plates outdoors in special packaging. But in this case, they must be protected from sunlight in order to prevent the destruction of the coating of the plates.