What kind of foil is needed for a sauna. Foil for a bath: technical characteristics and installation features

An ideal sauna building should warm up as quickly as possible and retain thermal energy for a long time. For this, the walls and ceiling are insulated in it. A heat insulator such as aluminum foil for a bath is one of the most demanded materials, as it is resistant to high temperatures and humidity.

Foil properties

Among the characteristics that foil for baths and saunas has, the most important is the ability to reflect about 97% of infrared rays. If this material is used for continuous sheathing of the steam room, the thermal energy will be retained as much as possible. The fact is that the IR rays are not absorbed by the walls, but are reflected towards the room.

Foil for a steam room is ideal because:

• the material is able to withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees and even higher - this property depends on its type;
• does not emit substances harmful to the human body;
• has a low specific gravity.

In addition, aluminum foil has the following advantages:

• moisture resistance;
• plasticity;
• durability;
• vapor tightness;
• resistance to corrosive processes.

When using this material, almost all the heat remains in the steam room, while the insulation for the bath with foil on the walls will be reliably protected from condensation. The fastening process is simple, the main thing in the work is not to allow deformation, and not to leave gaps between the canvases.

To achieve a greater effect, foil heaters for a bath are sheathed not only on the walls, but also on the ceiling surface, since steam and hot air first of all rise up.

Roll aluminum foil

Foil is produced both in rolls and in sheets. Roll material can have a thickness of 0.007 to 0.2 millimeters, a width of 10-1500 millimeters. The percentage of aluminum in it is up to 99.5%.

Depending on the type of surface, foil is:

• smooth, without additional finishing;
• for finishing;
• finishing.

According to the scope of application, the material is divided into a canvas:

• food;
• technical;
• tape.

Depending on the manufacturing method, foil is distinguished:

• soft (annealed), marked "M";
• hard (unannealed) - the letter "T" is assigned to it.

A quality product is called a canvas that does not have folds, spots, tears and other inclusions on the surface. When viewed through the light of a thin canvas, it should be free of gaps and the smallest holes. Thick foil is allowed to have a small number of holes, which is regulated by the technical parameters of the equipment used.

A thin web is wound on sleeves of different diameters. Thick foil is produced in sheets.

Before starting work on insulation, developers are interested in how much foil for a bath costs. Domestic rolled products will be cheaper than imported material. With a roll length of 25-30 meters, the price will be approximately $ 20-30.

The use of foil for warming baths

To determine which foil to use for a bath is better, you need to take into account what material the structure was built from and the conditions for its operation. If the building is a log building with carefully poured walls, then a foil heat insulator is not required for it.

In the case when the bath is built of natural wood, but is large in area and does not warm up well, experts recommend sheathe the ceiling and walls from the inside with thin foil, and then close it with clapboard. You can use a foil cloth for the surface behind the heating unit, as a result of which the steam room will warm up faster.

Despite the fact that a foam concrete bath building is considered warm, it requires high-quality vapor barrier, so the use of foil will be justified, but it is better to opt for laminated products.

Frame and brick buildings must be insulated. For this, heaters for a bath with foil based on expanded polystyrene and mineral wool are ideal (read: ""). The type of this material is chosen for ceilings, taking into account the thickness of the floor and the absence / presence of thermal insulation in the attic.

In addition, the operating conditions matter. If the bath is used infrequently and the procedures are taken for a short time, there is no need to insulate it with foil. When the steam room is used often and are in it for a long time, high-quality thermal insulation will save fuel, and the room will quickly warm up and cool down for a long time.

Performing a simple planking of a bath

When cladding the walls of bath buildings, the foil sheet is attached to the surface or over a layer of thermal insulation. Such work will take little time and will not require much effort.

The process looks like this:

1. Before sheathing the bath with foil, a frame made of wooden planks is fixed on the wall.
2. Insulation is placed between the slats.
3. The top of the insulating material is covered with an overlap foil, the joints between the strips are glued using aluminum tape.
4. The foil is sheathed with clapboard and a 15-20 cm air gap is made between it and the surface of the foil. This is a prerequisite for efficient heat transfer.

The air gap will reduce the thermal conductivity of aluminum, and since the hot lining will not come into contact with the foil, due to the insulating qualities of the air, direct heat transfer will become impossible. At the same time, infrared rays falling on the surface of the foil sheet will be reflected towards the steam room.

Types of heaters with foil for a bath

In the process of work, a thin soft sheet of foil is easily crushed and torn, therefore, new technologies for its application have appeared.

Now on sale there are:

• foil paper;
• the cloth;
• insulation.

Foil paper

Its other name is paper-based laminated foil for a bath. It is an elastic and dense material and has excellent vapor barrier characteristics. It is produced in two types: foil plus kraft paper and foil plus paper plus polyethylene.

Foil paper is able to withstand 130 degree heat. Resists compressive loads. It holds its shape and is easy to cut. The standard strip width is 120 centimeters. Self-tapping screws, construction staples and nails are used for its fastening. The material is used for cladding baths from the inside. It is not recommended to use laminated foil for the surface of the walls adjacent to the oven.

Foil fabric (foil fabric)

This soft two-layer material is made from fiberglass and foil. The thickness of the foil fabric is in the range of 0.12 –3 millimeters. The canvases must be fastened end-to-end. Foil fabric is used to insulate bath rooms, it can be used to sheathe the walls near the heating unit.

Its main characteristics:

• the ability to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees;
• resistance to mold and other harmful microorganisms;
• good moisture resistance.

Foil polystyrene foam

Insulation is made on the basis of expanded polystyrene and covered with the thinnest layer of aluminum foil. The material is produced in sheets 1.2x0.6 meters in thickness 2-10 centimeters. They are used for the purpose of warming the premises of a bath building from the inside. The sheets are equipped with stepped locks that prevent the formation of cold bridges.

Foil polystyrene foam has the following qualities:

• does not absorb moisture;
• reflects about 98% of thermal energy;
• differs in vapor barrier properties;
• resistant to chemical attack;
• safe for health;
• has a long service life.

Foil polyethylene foam

This insulation roll with a thickness of 2 to 10 centimeters has a one-sided or double-sided foil coating. It is used in the arrangement of thermal insulation of the internal premises of baths.

This material is able to withstand temperatures of no more than 100 degrees. It is not used for cladding surfaces near the furnace.

Foil mineral wool

It is produced in rolls or in the form of mats of various thicknesses. Possesses excellent thermal insulation properties. Ideal for insulating frame sauna buildings. Using rolls or mats with foil makes finishing work easier and more convenient.

The best material for bath insulation

Since the cost of energy is constantly growing, the owners of baths and saunas are forced to look for ways to save costs for operating a steam room. When erecting a new building, it is necessary to use materials that have heat-saving characteristics. Baths built of bricks, foam concrete, cinder block and other building materials, except natural wood, need additional protection from heat loss.

When arranging a steam room, you should be especially careful when deciding which foil is best for a bath, since the material must be environmentally friendly and reflect heat well. All these requirements are met by heaters with aluminum foil coating.

Advantages of foil insulation:

1. The material is versatile, since it is used for walls, ceiling and bath floor.
2. Foil-coated heaters have good light reflection.
3. Products are produced in a wide range.
4. They are used in humid rooms, while they do not need to be treated with fungicidal compounds.
5. They have high hygienic properties. The inherent properties of aluminum do not create a breeding ground for the growth of fungi and mold.
6. They do not deform or melt in the steam room at elevated temperatures.
7. The material is easy to use. It is easy to mount and fix on different planes: vertical, horizontal and inclined.

Baths insulation tips:

1. If the bath building does not have a commercial purpose, wall decoration with 3 mm foil in rolls will be sufficient.
2. For commercial enterprises, the solution to the problem of which foil is better for a bath will be the use of laminated products based on basalt mineral base.

When insulating a bathhouse located inside a capital building, it is necessary to take into account the functioning of the central heating, since it heats the air additionally.

Among the many types of thermal insulation materials for arranging baths, consumers increasingly prefer aluminum foil. This simple and affordable coating retains heat well inside the building, preventing rapid cooling of the building, thereby reducing energy costs and ensuring a comfortable stay inside the bath.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the operation and microclimate of the bath room, a number of requirements are imposed on the used foil:

• good moisture, steam and water resistance;
• high refractory qualities;
• good anti-corrosion properties;
• high reflectivity (within 95-98%), achieved through special polishing of the top layer;
• significant thermal conductivity.

Self-adhesive insulation with foil

Excellent vapor barrier properties help prevent hot steam from escaping from the room, which will not accumulate in the coating. In addition, aluminum foil has the following advantages:

• complete absence of deformation and loss of original consumer properties;
• high ductility of the coating upon prolonged exposure to high temperatures;
• lack of emission of substances and vapors harmful to humans;
• UV resistance;
• protection against excessive condensation, mold and pathogenic microorganisms;
• ease of installation;
• durability;
• hygiene;
• resistance to chemicals;
• protection of adjoining or adjoining rooms, if the bath is located inside the house.

With careful installation, even thin paper-backed sheets will not tear or deform. But it should be remembered that such material should be bought with a small margin of 5-7%.

Aluminum foil can withstand temperatures up to 145 ° C, which, combined with its high reflectivity, helps to keep the heat inside the steam room in comparison with other heaters for 2-2.5 hours longer, providing the so-called thermos effect. It is a universal insulation material suitable for walls, floors and ceilings of steam rooms, baths and saunas and does not require special treatment of premises with fungicidal substances.

Bath foil prices

bath foil

Foil types and coating features

The building materials market offers customers several types of foil with different properties and characteristics.

To obtain a high-quality coating during laying work, it is recommended to strictly adhere to the thickness of the foil insulation.

Experts remind that aluminum foil or foil coatings are not able to reflect back inside the premises all the heat that has left, therefore they work best in steam rooms, insulated according to the "pie" principle, while basalt or glass wool, as well as similar ones, should be used as an additional heat-insulating material mineral heat insulators. This is especially true in baths and saunas built of brick or concrete and other frame structures. With a sufficient thickness of the external walls of wooden log cabins, additional thermal insulation can be neglected, but thin sheets of kraft foil should not be preferred as foil-clad material.

Coating installation

For the most effective and high-quality coating and to ensure a comfortable stay in the steam room, when laying the material, you should adhere to a number of tips.

1. When laying foil-clad materials in steam rooms of non-commercial baths and saunas, it is sufficient to use roll or craft foil with a thickness of at least 3 mm.
2. Foil on a mineral or basalt base is suitable for large steam rooms.
3. When placing a sauna inside a house or in a basement, it is important to take into account the central heating and the location of its sources, if possible using it for additional heating of the steam room air.
4. Before starting work, it is necessary to provide for condensate drainage by making a small withdrawal of the canvas from the ceiling to the walls, as well as from the walls to the floor. For this, the foil material is laid with an overlap of 15-20 cm and glued with foil tape.

Important! To create a "thermos" effect, a gap of 13-18 mm must be left between the foil coating layer and the finish to ensure ventilation and maintain a healthy microclimate.

Foil mounting process occurs in several stages, the most convenient to use are rolls or sheets 60 cm or 1.2 m wide.

1. On the walls of the steam room, you need to make a crate with beams with a section of 5x5 cm. The distance between adjacent strips depends on the width of the material. For rolls of 600 and 1200 mm, this is 60 cm, for foil materials with a width of 1000 mm and 1500 mm - 50 cm. The bars are fastened with self-tapping screws of a suitable length.

   
   
   
   

2. A layer of mineral insulation is laid between the planks so that it does not protrude beyond the level of the beams.

   
   Fastening insulation plates to the ceiling. In the photo - the use of foil insulation
   
   
   
   

3. On top of the insulation layer, foil-clad material is fixed with the obligatory placement of a reflective layer inside the steam room. The joints of adjacent canvases or sheets can be glued with metal tape, but it should be remembered that the glue can soften under the influence of high temperatures, and the panels will disperse, breaking the tightness.

   

   It is best to fix the foil with staples or nails, nailing them directly onto the beams. With a large width, the foil material is fixed not only at the edges, but also in the middle.

4. The laid foil is sewn up with clapboard, leaving a one and a half centimeter air pocket, the main function of which is to reduce the heat-conducting properties of the foil layer and to maximize the reflection of all rays that hit the foil back into the steam room. An air pocket will allow you to create a lathing under the lining. Choose strips with a thickness of 10-20 mm and fix them with self-tapping screws.

   
   
   
   

Sometimes the order of the arrangement of materials can be changed - a layer of foil is stuffed onto a layer of insulation placed between the battens of the lathing, staples or nails, which is fixed on top with thin slats, placed strictly on top of the lathing with self-tapping screws of sufficient length.

In some cases, it is allowed to stuff a wooden crate over a layer of insulation, laying foil over the entire area of ​​the walls, incl. and on the uneven bars. Then it is impractical to leave air pockets, and the lining is fixed directly on the crate. But, as practice shows, the purchase of combined heat-insulating materials with a foil layer is not only economically more profitable, but also greatly simplifies the entire installation process.

Ideally, the bath should heat up quickly and retain the resulting heat for a long time. For this, the walls and ceiling are trying to insulate with high quality, blocking all exits outside the steam room with heat flows. The traditional insulating layer has a complex structure, but aluminum foil is almost always its constant component. This component is as popular as it is controversial. Philosophical battles, backed up by the theory from physics textbooks, have been fought on the forums of bath lovers for more than one year. Some argue that foil is a wonderful insulation for a bath, others that it is practically useless as a heat insulator. Where is the truth? Let's try to figure it out.

Aluminum foil: another "scam" of manufacturers?

Aluminum foil for bath insulation is a thin (on average 30-300 microns) layer of aluminum, which is used unchanged or in combination with kraft paper, fiberglass, roll insulation. The main argument of opponents of using foil in a bath is that aluminum has a high thermal conductivity.

Based on this, thermal energy can freely pass through the metal layer and be outside the steam room. In fact, this is not entirely true. Firstly, high thermal conductivity will "work" against us only in the case of direct contact of the foil with a heated body (for example, with a wooden clapboard or a blockhouse). Secondly, besides thermal conductivity, there are other ways of transferring heat.

Three ways to transfer heat

Heat transfer can be done in three inherently different ways:

• thermal conductivity;
• convection;
• infrared radiation.

In the case of foil, only the last method should be considered - radiation. The stove in the steam room, when fired up, begins to intensely emit infrared rays, which a person perceives as heat. Now the fun begins. Infrared rays, falling on the aluminum foil layer, are not absorbed by it, but are reflected in the opposite direction, that is, back to the steam room. Reminiscent of a mirror effect. Therefore, we can say that foil for baths is not a heater in the literal sense of the word; it would be more correct to call it a heat reflector. Moreover, it reflects up to 97% of all infrared rays.

In addition, the foil is a vapor barrier - a sealed material that does not allow water or steam to pass through. Accordingly, it prevents the heated steam from escaping and thus also contributes to the retention of heat.

Due to all this, the steam room, sheathed with foil, heats up much faster and does not cool down longer.

The foil can be mounted directly on the walls of the bath or on a layer of insulation (basalt wool, glass wool, etc.). The latter option is more effective and is most often used as a traditional insulating "cake" in steam rooms.

The fact is that the foil is not able to reflect all the heat. Part of it, due to the high thermal conductivity of aluminum, passes further. In order for it not to go beyond the steam room, a heat-insulating material is fixed behind the foil layer. High-quality thermal insulation "catches" what the foil missed and sends it back.

This is especially true in frame, brick, concrete baths and saunas. Without good thermal insulation, it is problematic to bring such a bath to "condition", especially in winter, - the lion's share of the heat flows emanating from the stove will immediately be carried away through the walls to the street. But good Russian log baths with a real brick oven do not need special thermal insulation, except for caulking.

Plating a bath with foil: how to do it correctly?

In order for aluminum foil to perform all its functions assigned to it by the manufacturer, you should know how to fix it correctly. In this case, there are some nuances, failure to comply with which nullifies its heat-reflecting and vapor barrier properties.

The plating process is simplified like this:

1. A frame made of wooden planks is attached to the walls of the bath, between which insulation (roll or slab) is laid.
2. Foil is attached to the strips on top of the insulation. All joints are carefully glued with special tape - for tightness.
3. The foil is sewn up with clapboard. It is very important that an air gap of 15-20 mm is maintained between the aluminum surface and the lining. This will not allow the high thermal conductivity of aluminum to fully manifest itself. The heated lining and foil will not touch, which means that there will be no direct heat transfer (air is a good heat insulator). At the same time, infrared rays reaching the foil will be reflected back almost completely.

Such a warming "pie" using foil is arranged according to the principle of a thermos. Simplified, a thermos is a double-walled flask with a vacuum interlayer between the walls. A mirror layer is applied to the inner surface of the smaller flask (the one with which the heated liquid is in contact). The vacuum prevents heat from spreading through conduction, and the mirror layer through infrared radiation. The same processes, only with a lesser degree of intensity, take place in a foil-clad insulation layer. In this case, the role of a mirror reflective surface is played by the foil, and the role of a vacuum with a very low thermal conductivity is played by the material of the heat insulator located behind the foil.

Thus, using foil as part of the insulating layer of the walls and ceiling of the steam room, you can significantly reduce the heating time of the bath, enjoy concentrated steam and heat longer, save the amount of firewood or electricity.

The dispute about the effectiveness of the use of foil for decorating a bath began from the first moment the material appeared on the market. On the one hand, aluminum foil acts as an excellent vapor barrier and reflector of infrared radiation. It helps to quickly heat up and retain heat in the steam room. On the other hand, foil is a metal product with a thermal conductivity several times higher than the material of bath walls. Consequently, there will be no benefit from the foil, because in the bath the heated walls are the main source of heat. On the third hand, the high vapor barrier properties of the foil and its usefulness for protecting coatings from dampness are noted. The review offers to obtain information on existing materials with the inclusion of foil, a list of manufacturers of this material and the rationality of use for cladding baths, saunas, and swimming pools.

Rolled aluminum foil. General characteristics of the material

Roll foil is produced in accordance with GOST 618-73. Standard dimensions are 0.007 mm - 0.2 mm thick, 10 mm wide - 1500 mm. For the manufacture of the material used aluminum of the following grades AD, AD 1, AD 0, AMTs, A 5, A 6, A 0. The percentage of aluminum is maintained up to 99.5.

By the type of surface, the following types of foil are distinguished:

• Smooth without additional finishing. It is used as an insulator, in the production of radiators, for the manufacture of rolled household foil and containers for storing food.
• Converter foil - for finishing. High-tech foil. For this type, the characteristics and properties of the surface are extremely important: degrease, wettability, absence of sagging and folds, porosity. Compliance with these characteristics facilitates the subsequent application of covering layers to the foil.
• Finishing. The surface of the foil is printed, primed, thermal varnish, paper, plastic film, glue or embossing.

According to the scope of application, foil is divided into the following groups:

• Food web. It is used as a protective packaging material in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and tobacco industries.
• Technical canvas. It is used to insulate and protect parts in the electrical, construction, aviation and automotive industries.
• Tape web. Used in the construction industry for the production of wall panels.

According to the state of the material, the foil is divided into two types:

• Solid or unannealed. Foil released without annealing. Used in pharmaceuticals for the manufacture of blisters.
• Soft or annealed. The material goes through all stages of production, including annealing. Multifunctional material for a wide range of applications.

Foil marking is carried out according to its properties; the letter "M" is assigned to annealed soft foil. Not annealed - assigned the letter "T". A high-quality canvas has a uniform surface without spots, folds, tears and other inclusions. When viewed through the light of a thin sheet, there are no small holes and gaps. For thick foil, a small number of holes is allowed, regulated by the technical characteristics of the manufacturing process equipment. A thin fabric is wound on bushings of different diameters, up to 5 breaks per meter are allowed. Thick web is produced in sheets, the permissible number of breaks is 3. Easy unwinding of the web is obligatory provided.

Quality control is monitored in each released batch, several rolls are selected, an external visual inspection is carried out on the torn off 5 meters of web. Chemical and spectral analyzes of the composition of the material are carried out, the correspondence of the percentage of aluminum is determined. If discrepancies are found for each of the verification stages, a complete withdrawal of the batch is performed.

Aluminum foil for baths. Thermal insulation characteristics

To carry out high-quality thermal insulation of the steam room means to properly equip a thermos. Aluminum foil for a bath is perceived by many as an ordinary shiny non-woven film, thin and unsuitable for work. Users prefer to use polyethylene foam with polyethylene reflector and are unaware that foil can provide a perfect reflective coating.

The nature of heat transfer by a foil surface is radiation. When fired up, the stove actively emits infrared rays, which are perceived by the body as heat. The infrared rays hit the aluminum foil layer, but are not absorbed, but reflected back into the steam room. The process is similar to the mirror effect. Conclusion foil for a bath does not act as a heater, it serves as a heat reflector. The reflectivity of the foil is 97%.

Aluminum foil has a high vapor barrier performance. It is considered a good sealant, retaining water and steam on the surface, preventing heated steam from escaping outside, and helping to retain heat. All these qualities have a positive effect on the rate of room heating and ensure long-term preservation of high-temperature air conditions.

It is profitable to buy rolled aluminum foil from domestic manufacturers. The average price for a 25 m roll is $ 23. Roll of 30 m - $ 27. Imported manufacturers expose these products more expensive - a roll of 25 m - $ 30, a roll of 30 m - $ 42.

How to make a simple planking of a bath

For cladding bath walls, foil is attached to the surfaces themselves or to a layer of "cake" made of insulation.

Simplified foil thermostat creation process:

• A frame made of wooden planks is attached to the surface of the walls.
• Insulation is laid between the slats.
• From above, the insulation is covered with foil. The joints are glued with special tape for tightness.
• Sheathed foil with clapboard, leaving an air gap between the surface of the material and the clapboard 15-20 mm. The air gap will reduce the heat-conducting properties of aluminum; the hot lining will not come into contact with the foil, and direct heat transfer will not occur due to the insulating properties of the air. At the same time, all IR rays hitting the surface of the foil will be reflected back into the steam room.

The device of the insulating "pie" with the presence of foil is similar to the principle of operation of insulation in a thermos, only instead of a vacuum there will be an air gap between the walls. The user will have more time to enjoy the concentrated steam and heat of the air in the steam room, while simultaneously saving the consumption of wood fuel or electric energy.

Aluminum laminated foil

Laminated foil is made by combining foil, paper and polyethylene. Characterized by high barrier properties

• Has the highest surface impermeability to gases and steam. For example, a 9 micron film has a water vapor transmission capacity of 0.1 gm2 day.
• High hygienic performance. In humid rooms, the surface does not create a nutrient medium for the development of microflora and mitoxins.
• Elasticity. Capable of resisting compressive loads. Retains its shape.

The main types of laminated foil for a bath:

• Kraft paper with foil. Three-layer laminating material
  • The first layer is kraft paper. It is made from long-fiber cellulose by digestion and application of chemical salts. It is characterized by density, mechanical strength and wear resistance.
  • The second layer is thin polyethylene. Possesses high thermoplastic, water-repellent, vapor barrier properties.
  • The third layer is aluminum foil. Thin aluminum material with high thermal reflective performance.

The cost of Chinese-made kraft paper is $ 26 per sheet. Laminated aluminum foil - prices from European manufacturers from $ 25 to $ 45 per sheet. Domestic manufacturers offer kraft paper from $ 20 per sheet.

The density of the kraft paper creates a solid base for the foil. The laminated structure is sometimes held together by a polyethylene thread reinforcement mesh. Interlocking the mesh between the polyethylene layer and the foil prevents delamination. Kraft paper with foil has high tensile and tear strength characteristics.

Laminated aluminum foil is used for cladding baths from the inside. The material lends itself well to cutting, drilling, allows you to cut parts of a complex configuration. The temperature range of application is from - 600 to + 1200. At high temperatures the adhesive softens, therefore the sheets are attached to the surface with self-tapping screws and staples to enhance their strength.

• Expanded polystyrene with a foil surface. Combined material consisting of closed cell polyethylene foam and aluminum foil. It is used for noise protection, as a thermal protective material for external and internal work. The combination of two heat insulators in one building material allows you to efficiently and economically produce high-quality finishing of saunas and baths. The main qualities of the material:
  • Does not absorb moisture.
  • Has vapor barrier properties.
  • Reflects 98% of heat.
  • Has shock-absorbing qualities.
  • Chemically stable.
  • Safe for health.
  • Has a long working life.

Industrial sheets have a thickness of 20 mm to 100 mm, a length of 1200 mm, a width of 60 mm. The sheets are supplied with stepped locks to exclude cold bridges. The cost of material for 1 m is from $ 0.2.

• Polyethylene foam with foil. They are available in two types, one-sided and two-sided. Available in rolls. Material thickness 20-100 mm, width 1000 mm or 1200 mm. The roll footage is 25 m and 30 m. The cost of material for 1 m is from 0.6 to 32 $.
• Mineral or glass wool with foil. It is produced in two modifications, soft in the form of rolls and hard reinforced in the form of mats. The cost of the material for 1 m is from $ 1 to $ 34.

Carrying out finishing work with cotton rolls or mats with foil is more practical and convenient. Conventional foil roll without backing tears, deforms and is difficult to flatten. Laminated foil has high strength, but it does not tolerate heat worse than roll material without a base.

What material is better for warming a bath

The constant rise in energy prices is forcing the owners of baths and saunas to take measures for the economical operation of the steam room. In the case of new construction, the use of materials with heat-saving properties is being considered. For wooden baths, it is enough to pick up natural wood and not finish. Additional protection against heat loss is performed for baths made of bricks, cinder blocks, foam concrete and other mineral building materials.

Special attention and strict selection of finishing materials is made for the equipment of the steam room. First of all, requirements are imposed on the environmental friendliness of the material and its heat-reflecting properties. Aluminum foil meets all the requirements.

Advantages of foil insulation

• Universal insulation, used for walls, ceilings and floors of baths and saunas. Has good reflective characteristics.
• A wide range of products. Thin film foils are available, laminated on various substrates, with a mirrored surface to improve the reflectivity of infrared rays.
• It is used in damp rooms without additional treatment with fungicidal substances.
• High hygienic qualities. The unique properties of aluminum do not create a breeding ground for the development of mold and mildew.
• Does not deform or melt at high temperatures in the steam room.
• Convenient to work with. Easily assembled and secured to horizontal, vertical and inclined surfaces.

• For a non-commercial bath, it is enough to finish the walls with roll foil 3 mm.
• For commercial saunas, with a steam condensation temperature of 1200 or more, laminated foil on a basalt mineral base is considered an ideal material.
• To insulate a bath located inside a building, take into account the presence of central heating for additional heating of the air.

One of the most important stages in the construction of a bath is heat and vapor barrier for the bath. The use of foil for warming the bath will help to complete this stage at a sufficiently high quality level. Modern technologies have led to the emergence of a huge range of materials in the construction markets, however, their use, together with foil, will make the final result more highly effective.

When buying foil for a bath, you should thoroughly make a decision on the question: which one is better to choose. The purchase must be made based on the compliance of the product with a number of important criteria, among which ease of installation and durability in operation can be distinguished. In this regard, special attention should be paid to the following nuances.

Aluminum sheet, due to its technical features, is a raw material very sensitive to mechanical damage, therefore, it should be purchased on a substrate and, preferably, in a reinforced form. This solution will significantly reduce labor costs during installation due to the absence of time wasted on unnecessary sealing of damaged areas.

Among the most common types of substrates are:

• kraft paper,
• foamed polyethylene,
• mineral wool.

A very important detail that makes foil insulation for a bath an irreplaceable product is its reflectivity. 95% for this characteristic will be sufficient for the product to perform its function. The higher the reflectivity, the less heat the room will lose.

Thermal insulation must necessarily have significant resistance to high temperature and humidity. If we talk about temperature, then the insulation must be kept at least 100 C.

Separately, attention should be paid to the environmental friendliness of thermal insulation. During operation, foil-clad insulating substances will be repeatedly heat treated. These processes should not become a catalyst for the release of harmful, toxic substances into the air.

Foil insulation must have certain vapor barrier properties. So, vapor permeability during the day should not be higher than 0.01 g / m2.

Durability and reliability are also important criteria. Before making a purchase, you should read reviews of thermal insulation products on information sites, as well as inquire about the warranty periods of operation from manufacturers or distributors.

Product range of possible foil-clad insulation products

Knowing the basic requirements for foil-clad materials, you should consider in detail the varieties of thermal insulation products. Finishing the bath with foil will take less time if you study the whole variety of the insulation market in advance. Below is a list of the most common ones:

• Aluminum foil for a bath. This thermal insulation product is sold in rolls. Rolls on the markets are presented in a wide range. Rolls can be of different widths and lengths. The layer thickness can also vary.

Foil rolls have no base. It is used for mounting on top of an existing mineral insulator. You can use aluminum foil for a bath up to 650 degrees. At the same time, the owner himself can choose the thickness of the insulation, it is important to remember that the final strength depends on this. The reflectivity of an aluminum sheet is usually at least 95%.

Installation is carried out with an overlap with the obligatory gluing of the joints with metallized tape. The use of foil for insulation is absolutely safe for human health, since it does not emit toxic substances when heated.

• Kraft foil. This thermal insulation material is made on the basis of cellulose, and it can also be found in a three-layer version, consisting of foil, polyethylene and kraft paper.

The main properties include high strength, environmental friendliness, tightness. Kraft foil has a small thickness, which may not exceed 1mm. The surface of the foil has a reflectivity of 95%. Despite the fact that the operating temperature of kraft foil is noticeably lower than that of a rolled aluminum sheet, and is only 100 degrees, it is much more convenient in installation, since it is less susceptible to mechanical damage, and has greater flexibility.

• Folgoizolon. Baths, the walls of which are sheathed with this material, do not require additional insulation measures, subject to all technology requirements. In addition to all the basic functions, "Folgoizolon" has soundproofing properties. This product is usually sold in rolls, but sheet packaging can also be found with its large thickness. Its basis is polyethylene foam.

In sheets, "Folgoizolon" has standard dimensions of 600 * 1200mm with a thickness of 20 to 110 mm. In rolls, the thickness does not exceed 10 mm with a width of 1000 to 1200 mm.

"Folgoizolon" is easily processed during installation, it is not subject to deformation, in operation it can withstand temperatures up to 125 degrees.

• The most popular thermal insulation product on the Russian market is foil mineral wool. Products based on mineral raw materials have traditionally been used in the insulation of any premises for many years. In the markets, it can be purchased both in rolls and in sheets, with a thickness of 30 mm to 100 mm. One of the main disadvantages is the presence of an unpleasant installation procedure. Cheap thermal insulation causes irritating reactions of human mucous membranes.

• Penofol. For a bath, this foil thermal insulation can become an excellent product with vapor barrier properties. Being a canvas based on vapor barrier, "Penofol" not only does not release heat outside, but also helps the walls "breathe". The reflectivity of the material is about 97%. With such indicators, we can safely say that the thermal insulation of the bath walls when using "Penofol" will be better. The thickness of the main heat-insulating layer, as a rule, does not exceed 10 mm. The vapor barrier material is able to withstand temperatures up to 300 degrees.

This foil for a bath has higher quality parameters in comparison with competitors. Megaflex can be used at temperatures above 300 degrees. Bath foil is highly reflective. Subject to the installation technology, this product will help create a sufficiently sealed system that prevents steam from spreading outside the bath room.

Which thermal insulation product is better

Heaters for a bath, due to their characteristics, have different properties, with foil they will cost more, but these are justified costs. It is difficult for an average person to find out from the first time which product is better, more reliable, what are the properties of thermal insulation foil, how much is 1 sq. M. goods for isolation. The table below will help you save time when choosing a foil for a bath.

Installation of foil-clad thermal insulation cannot be called too laborious. If the premises of the steam room are made of a log house or wooden blocks, then the foil can be fixed directly to the wall in the bath. The whole process is carried out in several stages: Installation rules for foil insulation

• The thermal insulation is attached to the wall with special construction brackets. It is important to monitor the integrity of the canvas, to avoid breaks. If you could not do without damage, then the situation will help to fix the metallized tape.
• The insulation is fastened with an overlap, the width of which must be at least 20 cm. Each joint is glued with a special tape. The better this work is done, the less heat loss will be in the future.
• A frame for finishing is mounted on top of the insulation. It is important to pay attention to one point: it is necessary to maintain a gap between the finishing panels and the insulation to ensure air circulation.

If the walls are made of bricks, then, as a rule, installation is carried out on top of mineral wool. To complete this process, the order of the steps is slightly changed. Then, first of all, it will be necessary to assemble the frame of the future partition, and already inside this frame, mineral wool is laid, on top of which the foil is mounted in the usual manner.

Outcome

The process of warming any room, including the baths, is an important stage in the work. Not only the consumption of energy sources depends on how well the work is done, how effective materials are selected, but also on the safety of the building structures, as well as the comfort inside the building. Now materials for thermal insulation can be chosen from a huge number of products on the market. It is important to know that bath insulation foil is an integral part of the process to create optimal operating conditions in the future.