Insulation of walls from the outside of a panel house. How to insulate a panel house from the outside and what

The suddenly increased relevance of the insulation of the facade of the apartment, and in particular, is associated with the rapid rise in the cost of energy carriers and utility tariffs, which necessitates saving finances, and more efficient consumption of heating resources.

The problem is that most of the apartment buildings currently in use were built almost half a century ago, and their thermal insulation is not as effective as their owners would like.

Statistics show that heat loss through the walls of the house reaches 50% of the total heat loss, which, you see, is more than significant. This indicator primarily depends on the design features of the house itself, for panel houses it is maximum, for brick houses it is slightly less.

Insulation of the facades of apartments is beneficial, which side is not to look at, if you have autonomous heating, then you can save about 20% of the previously spent amount on gas consumption, and if you are connected to central heating, then the average temperature in the room will increase by at least 3-4 degrees (and if you put it on 5-6).

1 Legal features

According to federal laws, unauthorized change of the facade of an apartment building is prohibited, therefore, in order to insulate the walls of an apartment, you will need to obtain permission from the relevant authorities (housing and communal services).

Usually, obtaining a permit is not accompanied by special difficulties, for this you only need to go to the housing and communal services and talk with the people responsible for this, sometimes you may need to write a petition with your own hand, which indicates that you will take all responsibility for the safety of the work on the insulation of walls on a multi-storey building ... However, there are situations in which you can get a refusal for insulation.

As a rule, it is difficult to obtain permission to insulate the facades of new buildings, geographically located in the city center. In case of refusal, the only thing that remains for you is to do the insulation of the walls from the inside of the house, which can also provide high efficiency of the apartment's thermal insulation.

Moreover, the joint insulation of facades is much better and in purely technical terms, since the occurrence of a dew point is prevented, which is formed due to the difference in freezing temperature of the insulated and non-insulated sections of the facades, as a result of which the walls of the apartment expand and narrow in different ways, which can threaten them with accelerated destruction.

Also, with the wrong technology of wall insulation outside the apartment, moisture can get under the insulation, which expands when it freezes in the cold season, and peels off the insulation material from the wall of the house. As you understand, a monolithic insulation, mounted on several apartments, is immediately less afraid of such troubles.

1.1 Choice of performers

As a rule, all work on insulating the facades of multi-storey buildings is carried out by special firms or industrial climbers. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right contractor who has the necessary knowledge, experience and all the required permits.

Since the insulation of the walls of an apartment from the outside refers to high-rise work that is directly associated with risk, do not be surprised that the cost of the contractor's wages will exceed the total cost of materials for the work - professional industrial climbers know the price of their work and, as a rule, do not work cheaply.

It is imperative that the contractor show you documents such as "License for construction work" and "Permit for high-rise work", it will also not be superfluous to find out feedback from previous clients of this company, or a team of workers - are they satisfied with the result, for how much the walls of the apartment were insulated, how the contractor relates to the performance of his duties, and so on.

It is also recommended to check with the contractor the addresses of the houses in which they have already performed similar work with, and go to see the quality of the facade insulation. Such precautions, although they take a lot of time, will help you avoid many problems associated with unscrupulous performers in the future.

After the contractor is selected, he must draw up project documentation related to the specifics of the work, namely:

Drawings of the facades of apartments, with a detailed indication of the dimensions of window frames, cornices, and other architectural elements present outside the house;
Data on the boundary loads that can be experienced by the walls of the house;
Insulation class of the walls of the house - this point is the starting point when choosing the material used to insulate the walls of the apartment, both from the outside and from the inside.

2 Selection of thermal insulation material

Insulation of apartment facades can be done with the following materials:

Styrofoam;
Expanded polystyrene;
Mineral wool (very effective);
Foam glass.

Each of these heat insulators has its own advantages and disadvantages, which determine the relevance of their use in a particular situation.

Foam insulation is the most budgetary, and, therefore, the most common option. Foam is insulated anywhere, and anything, even when the effectiveness of this heat insulator is obviously not enough. The pursuit of cheapness is the main mistake of most people, since using low-quality heat insulators you will not get the expected effect of insulation.

In general, if the walls initially have a normal class of thermal insulation, then insulation of the building from the outside with foam plastic may be quite enough. If you decide to insulate the house with foam, then keep in mind that the higher the density of this material, the less heat-conducting properties it has, and, as a result, is better suited for insulation.

Expanded polystyrene is also a fairly inexpensive material, and, at the same time, its thermal insulation properties are an order of magnitude better than that of conventional foam.

The advantages of this material include minimal weight, ease of installation (it is great for facing a corner apartment), and hydrophobicity - expanded polystyrene does not actually absorb water, which has a positive effect on its service life.

The disadvantages of expanded polystyrene are as follows - instability to fire (requires the installation of special fire-prevention jumpers), and the lack of sound insulation. Expanded polystyrene, in general, is excellent both for thermal insulation of walls from the outside, as well as from the inside of the house.

Mineral wool is one of the most effective insulation materials, however, the cost of this material significantly exceeds the cost of analogues, therefore, it is rarely used for thermal insulation of facades.

The advantages of mineral wool include fire safety (the material does not burn), hydrophobicity, and good sound insulation properties. There is only one significant drawback of mineral wool - a relatively large weight, as a result of which its installation on the facade of a building is carried out with a large number of fasteners (dowels).

Foam glass is the most expensive material used to insulate apartment facades. If you are not limited in funds, then preference should be given to him, since this insulation has excellent thermal insulation properties, durability, and hydrophobicity. Foam glass does not burn, fungus, mold, and other microorganisms do not start in it.

In addition to the insulation itself, you will need to purchase a large number of related materials, such as:

Construction glue, liquid foam, dowels - for fastening;
Plaster mix - for leveling the surface;
Primer - for additional waterproofing insulation, and for better adhesion of plaster with paint;
Reinforcement mesh - to strengthen the plaster layer;
Facade paints for - as a rule, housing and communal services require that the insulation be painted with paint that matches the main color of the building.

Payment to the contractor is made upon completion of all work, according to the act drawn up by the foreman, which indicates the entire range of work performed, and the separate cost of each element.

They are used to insulate pipelines.

Insulation of walls inside an apartment of a panel house is a set of actions aimed at isolating a room from extraneous noise and retaining heat inside. In this case, internal thermal insulation is used. Although it has its drawbacks, it is more rational. It is only important to choose the right insulation material, knowing its advantages and disadvantages.

Materials used to insulate the walls of a panel house

There are special requirements for such materials. The construction market is full of insulation, but not all of them will work. After all, we are talking about finding him inside the apartment. Here is a list of heat insulators used for panel houses:

PPU (polyurethane foam);
EPS and other polystyrenes;
Mineral wool;
Reflective insulation materials.

Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Polyurethane foam

Representative of spray-type heaters. Two-component raw material, which is mixed in special equipment before application and applied from a gun. It is somewhat reminiscent of polyurethane foam. After spraying, it increases tenfold, creating a monolithic layer.

Advantages:

Can be applied to any surface without preliminary preparation.
Penetrates into the most inaccessible places, closes cracks and recesses.
A monolithic layer is created without cold bridges, which allows you to make high-quality insulation of a panel house.
It has good sound and heat insulation characteristics.
Not afraid of moisture.
Withstands loads.
Light.
Long lasting.

But, there are also disadvantages. For example, you will not be able to insulate the corner room of a panel house on your own. After all, this requires a special compressor, a hose system and the correct mixing ratio of the components. This is done only by professionals. Therefore, you will have to look for specialized firms. Also, PU foam does not allow air to pass through and can emit harmful substances.

Mineral wool

One of the most popular materials for insulating a panel house from the inside. It's about the composition. Mineral wool is a product of rock processing. This means that cotton wool is absolutely safe and does not harm your health. It comes in the form of rigid mats or rolls. The cost is high, but the user knows what he is paying for.

The benefits of cotton wool:

100% ecological product, does not emit harmful substances.
It is vapor-permeable, which means that the walls will breathe, condensation and high humidity will not accumulate in the building.
Protected from fire.
Some of the best sound and heat insulation characteristics.
Long operational period.
The material will not be spoiled by rodents and insects.

The main disadvantage is vulnerability to moisture. When wet, mineral wool loses its characteristics. Therefore, in order to properly insulate the wall, it is important to take care of the presence of a waterproofing layer. Basalt wool is one of the best representatives of cotton wool insulation. It is protected from moisture and can withstand colossal temperature changes. If you buy basalt wool, then you don't need to use protective membranes.

The main disadvantage of warming a corner room and the house as a whole from the inside is the presence of a dew point inside the walls. The dew point is the boundary where cold and warm air collide. Condensation forms in this place, dampness and mold appear. With internal insulation, the dew point shifts into the interior of the house. Therefore, you need to take care of high-quality ventilation inside so that moisture comes out. It is good that the mineral wool allows moisture to pass through and it will not accumulate on the insulation.

The simplest and most effective heat insulator used to insulate a panel house. Not to say that it is the best for these purposes. After all, foam is made of synthetic materials, which means that when heated, it can emit harmful substances. The second disadvantage is that the foam does not allow moisture to pass through. This means that dew will begin to accumulate on its surface. The microclimate is disturbed, the wall will get wet and mold.

However, the material also has its positive aspects:

Low weight.
Affordable price.
Protection from moisture.
Ease of use.
Long service life.

One of the varieties of expanded polystyrene is extruded polystyrene foam (EPS). It resembles polystyrene, but has improved characteristics, more durable and dense. It is not so spoiled by rodents. The cost of production is higher, but with it the insulation of walls in a panel house will be of better quality. In addition, EPS is slightly better protected from fire.

Foil insulation

It is a type of reflective insulation. The material consists of several layers: insulation and foil on one or both sides. Thanks to the foil layer, the insulation is reliably protected. And 90% of the heat is reflected from this aluminum surface. However, of the above options for thermal insulation, this one is less effective as an independent layer.

Advantages of foil-clad heat insulators:

Reflects infrared rays.
Does not allow moisture to pass through.
Reduces noise and vibration.

Otherwise, it is irrational to use thin penofol for a corner room, which is strongly exposed to wind load and freezes.

It remains to weigh the pros and cons, compare these materials and choose the best option for yourself. Since the panel house does not have good thermal insulation, it is not worth saving on heaters. Better to pay a little more, but enjoy the warmth and comfort inside for a long time.

How walls are insulated indoors

Insulation in a panel house from the inside has another drawback - a decrease in living space. After all, the insulation has its own thickness, at least 5 cm, plus additional layers. This is important to consider. The best option for insulating an apartment from the inside is to create a frame. Insulation fits into it and communications can be hidden there.

How to insulate walls in a panel house:

To begin with, a wall is being prepared. If mineral wool or polystyrene is used as a heater, cracks and other defects are closed.
Next, a metal or wood frame is mounted on the wall. These are vertical slats equidistant from each other. A space is formed between them for laying insulation. The step of fastening the slats is equal to the width of the selected insulation. So that it fits tightly and does not dangle, you can reduce the distance by a few centimeters. When working with mineral wool (which is soft and pliable), you can make a gap of 5 cm.
Laying insulation in the created cells. This can be done with glue, and for reliability, fix the plates with plastic dowels. Precisely plastic, so that there are no cold bridges. Joints are processed with polyurethane foam for the same reasons.
It remains to sheathe the created frame with plasterboard and make decorative trim.

According to this scheme, walls and partitions are insulated. Finishing depends on the desire and financial capabilities. These are tiles, and plaster, and wallpaper, and painting, decorative panels. After that, the panel house can be considered insulated. The main thing is to choose the right insulation and follow the installation instructions.

Living in a panel house is not always comfortable, since in winter the facade can freeze through, moisture can accumulate on it, and mold can form. This leads to peeling of the wallpaper and an uncomfortable microclimate in the room - the temperature in the room is below a comfortable level. This is due to the properties of the walls of the panel structure, which are not characterized by resistance to changes in temperature and high humidity. To solve this problem, you will have to insulate the walls, and this must be done outside.

Photo of the insulated facade of a panel house

Warming options

Insulation of a panel house from the outside allows you to stop the outflow of heat through the concrete. An additional layer of thermal insulation will protect against the destructive effects of external factors. On the market today you can find many that can be used for insulation inside or outside.

Insulation inside

For a panel house, insulation from the inside will only make the situation worse. This is due to the movement of the dew point, which will move closer to the inner side of the wall. In practice, this means that moisture will accumulate in the walls with even greater force - both the wall and the insulation will get wet, so the life of the facade will be significantly reduced. To avoid such a situation, and at the same time to reduce the useful area of the apartment and destroy the design, it is worth giving preference to the insulation of a panel house.

Insulation outside

The difficulty lies in the fact that the insulation of a panel house with a large number of floors is possible only with the help of climbing equipment. It is clear that it is almost impossible to get money to pay specialists and buy building materials from public utilities. Moreover, an attempt to insulate a house at the expense of residents also does not always meet with understanding among all project participants. Therefore, you can follow the path of least resistance and insulate a separate apartment.

The main advantages of outdoor insulation:

There is no need to disturb the interior decoration of the premises;
The internal usable area of the apartment is preserved;
The supporting structure of the "panel" is being strengthened, that is, the building is being strengthened, which has a positive effect on the service life;
Insulation is an additional sound insulator;
The indoor temperature rises at the same heating costs, since the walls are protected from freezing - heat loss through the panel box is reduced.

How to choose insulation

When choosing insulation for outdoor use, the following factors should be considered:

The climate of the region in which the panel house is located
Wind rose and rainfall
Available budget
Local features, such as the design of the facade of a building.

To calculate the estimate and create a project, you need to contact the management company or the HOA, while a team of industrial climbers will be directly involved in the insulation

Thermal conductivity diagram for building insulation

Types of insulation for panel houses

The following materials can be used for thermal insulation of a panel house:

· mineral wool

It is one of the most popular outdoor insulation materials. This is due to good performance characteristics, in particular, low thermal conductivity. At the same time, mineral wool is hygroscopic, so it is important to isolate it from moisture. Otherwise, the thermal insulation properties are leveled. For this purpose, it is necessary to lay a vapor-permeable membrane under the layer of insulation - it will protect the mineral wool from moisture. It is also possible to arrange an air gap in the ventilated façade - in this case, the membrane is not needed.

Extruded polystyrene foam and foam

And extruded polystyrene foam or, as it is also called, penoplex also have low thermal conductivity, therefore, they can well be used as insulation for a panel house. Moreover, if you choose from these materials, then foam is most often used as a heat insulator.

This material attracts with its lightness, moreover, such plates are easily attached to the wall. In addition to thermal insulation, they provide additional insulation from sounds from the street. At the same time, when choosing a material, it is important to note the marking - the foam must be G1, which means “does not support self-combustion. If the foam is flammable, it cannot be used. It is worth considering that the marking does not always correspond to the real state of affairs. Therefore, when purchasing heat-insulating material, it is necessary to request a certificate for the product - it must comply with GOST 30244-94.

External insulation

Carrying out works on insulation of the facade of a multi-storey building

Insulation of the facade of a panel house is carried out in the following stages:

Preparatory stage

Preparation of the facade surface is necessary - the end walls of the panel house are leveled, the plates are cleaned of plaque. It is also important to close up voids, cracks, and the joints of the panels are sealed. If necessary, it is worth laying a seal between the joints, while a special mastic is used to seal the cracks. The unevenness of the surface of the walls within two centimeters is allowed - such a deviation can not be repaired. When all materials are dry, the wall is impregnated with a multipurpose primer applied with a spray gun or roller.

Insulation installation

Since in the overwhelming majority of cases, foam is used for thermal insulation of panel houses, it is worth considering the technology for installing this insulation. You can fix the foam using the following methods: put the plates on glue, fix or connect these two options, this is the most reliable choice. The direction of pasting is from bottom to top. In this case, pasting begins with the installation of the starting plate.

After that, we begin to apply glue to the surface of the panel house - the technologies used directly depend on the quality of the walls. If they are even, you can apply the glue with a comb. If, as is often the case, the walls are uneven, then the glue is simply poured onto the surface. It is important to carefully fill the seams with glue. All this allows you to get rid of voids under the heat insulator. There is no need to apply glue to the foam.

Installation of foam on the wall

The option when the glue is applied to the foam, and not to the house, is not suitable in this case, since the voids under the insulation will become natural bridges of cold, which will reduce the effectiveness of the entire event as a whole.

Apply the foam to the glue layer and press it well. After gluing all the plates, you must leave them alone for a few days. During this period, the glue solution will dry out and shrink, after which it will be possible to perform the next stage of work. As for fixing the plates with dowels, you can choose plastic mushrooms. This is due to the lightness and low strength of the foam - such fasteners will save the facade from unnecessary heat loss.

It is worth paying attention to the gaps - they must be filled with polyurethane foam, cutting off the excess after the material has solidified.

As for the caps of the dowels, they must be covered with an adhesive mixture. All irregularities left after the glue dries can be removed with ordinary sandpaper.

Preparation for reinforcement

The fragility of the foam is a serious drawback, therefore, the insulation needs reinforcement - it is enough to glue a thin mesh. Such protection should prevent the destruction of the foam due to atmospheric phenomena and other adverse factors.

Preparation for reinforcement is as follows: first, the corners are pasted over, after which you can proceed to pasting the walls themselves. To simplify the process, meshes with ready-made corners are used, which minimizes the time required. If there are no such nets, then you will have to make corners from a regular mesh. It is enough to cut off a long strip 30 centimeters wide and bend it at an angle - such a structure is pressed against the corner of the house greased with glue. In general, cutting the mesh into fragments greatly simplifies the installation itself, which allows you to consistently close the areas smeared with glue with fragments. In this case, at the junction, the mesh should be overlapped.

People living in panel houses are often faced with the accumulation of moisture in the walls and freezing of the facade in winter, mold formation, peeling wallpaper and other unpleasant phenomena, not to mention a decrease in the level of heat in living quarters.

And this is not surprising, because, unlike brick buildings, panel houses are less resistant to high humidity and temperature extremes. To cope with this problem, the insulation of the walls of the panel house, made from the outside, helps. Why should it be done outside? Let's try to figure it out.

Inside or outside?

Insulation is designed to prevent heat leakage through the walls, and at the same time to protect the facade from premature destruction. The modern market offers many different materials for outdoor and indoor insulation. Since only professionals can insulate the facade of a panel house from the outside, residents may have a desire to decorate the room with insulation from the inside. However, it is best not to do this.

In this case, the dew point will move inward, which will lead to an even greater accumulation of moisture in the walls. As a result, not only they will get wet, but also the insulation, which will significantly reduce the life of the facade. Therefore, it is more advisable to insulate the walls from the outside. This will not reduce the useful area of the apartment and will not disturb the interior decoration.

At the same time, it is not so easy to insulate a multi-storey building from the outside. Only industrial climbers can do this. And it is very difficult to make public utilities pay for their labor and purchase of building materials. And not all tenants of the house agree to chip in and hire a construction team. Fortunately, today it is quite possible to carry out external insulation of a separate apartment.

If you don't have building and climbing skills, don't try it yourself! However, if you live on the first floor of a panel house, then it is quite possible to do this with your own hands, using the stairs.

Types of heaters

A variety of materials can be used to insulate the walls of the house outside, but the most popular over the years are:

stone or glass wool;
Styrofoam;
extruded polystyrene foam.

The main property that these heaters have in common is their low thermal conductivity. Most often, foam is used as a heat-insulating material.

Insulation installation technology

Preparing the walls

Immediately before the walls are insulated, the work surface is prepared. All irregularities are smoothed out and sealed with a primer. Seams and facade finishing require special attention.

All peeling paint should be cleaned as well as peeling finishes. To check its quality, it is enough to move your hand along the wall. If the palm is clean, no primer is needed. If there are any problems, it is better to play it safe.

Insulation installation

For insulation of a panel house, foam is more often used, therefore, we will consider the technology of its fastening.

If you live on the ground floor and decide to carry out the insulation yourself, then for work you will need a large and small spatula to apply glue to the wall.

It should be noted that there are three methods of fixing it: on glue, on dowels, or both together. It is most effective to use glue and dowels together.

The walls are pasted from bottom to top. A starter bar is nailed into the lower part of the facade. If the walls are uneven, then the glue can be “thrown” on, on flat surfaces it can be applied with a comb.

Fill seams meticulously. It makes no sense to apply glue to the insulation sheet. So that there are no cavities under the foam, fill all the cavities and irregularities of the walls with an adhesive solution. Otherwise, voids will create additional "cold bridges" through which heat will leave the apartment.

When the surface is glue-coated, you can attach a sheet of styrofoam and press it well against the wall. Before the next stage of work, it is better to wait a few days so that the glue solution is completely dry and the insulation shrinks, and then continue working.

To fasten the insulation, dowels are used - fasteners consisting of a circle, a plastic sleeve and a galvanized nail, which is hammered into the sleeve. Since styrofoam is lightweight, plastic nails can also be used. They will save the facade from unnecessary heat loss.

To reliably insulate the building, holes are drilled around the perimeter and in the center of the foam glued to the wall. The depth of the hole must be two centimeters greater than the length of the dowel, otherwise the fastener will stick out from the outside. To guarantee reliable insulation, the foam sheets must fit snugly against the wall and against each other.

Watch out for clearances. In some cases, it is useful to fill them with polyurethane foam, the excess of which is cut off after drying, and the seams are rubbed and corrected. At the final stage, the dowel caps and seams are puttyed with an adhesive mixture. Small defects that have arisen after the mixture has dried are removed with emery and a plastic float.

Pasting walls with mesh

Since foam is a brittle material, its reinforcement is required, which is done by gluing a thin mesh. For installation outside the building, a special mesh is used that can withstand all atmospheric phenomena and retain its properties under the influence of adverse external factors.

At the first stage, the corners are pasted over with a mesh, and only then - the main surface of the walls finished with insulation. Special nets with corners will help to facilitate the task - they will help you insulate the house without additional hassle. Otherwise, long strips of thirty centimeters wide are cut from the mesh and bent at an angle. Then, using a spatula, the corner of the house is covered with glue on all sides, on top of which a mesh is placed and smoothed away from the corner.

To make the work easier, the mesh can be cut into meter-by-meter pieces and then attached in small sections. The mesh is glued with an overlap. After the glue is completely dry, the walls are treated with plastic floats, excess dried mortar and irregularities are cleaned up. After making sure that the mixture is completely dry, a leveling layer is applied to the walls of the panel house and proceeds to the final finishing.

This is all you need to know about finishing a panel house. Installation of insulation from the outside allows you to reliably protect apartments from the cold. Today, many construction firms offer insulation services for multi-storey buildings. But if you live on the ground floor and have the necessary skills and tools, then you can try to make the insulation yourself.