Features of foam insulation of walls, ceilings and building facades

Due to its relative cheapness and good characteristics, polystyrene foam remains a fairly popular thermal insulation material. Let's look at how to properly insulate with foam plastic, what you need to know about synthetic boards and granules. Let's get acquainted with the features of installation technologies and subsequent finishing works. Read to the end and you will know what questions to ask specialists when discussing work for your home.

Expanded polystyrene granules - the same foam Source tsmos.ru

Overview of the material

Before insulating a house with polystyrene foam, you need to find out which material is suitable for which structures. EPS is supplied to the trading floors of the construction market in the form of slabs of different densities and in bulk. Each option belongs to the group of polymers with a foamed structure.

The table presents a number of basic technical characteristics characteristic of the group of foam materials for home insulation.

Parameter	Meaning	What is important for a builder
Density	15-40 kg/cub.m	The low weight of a cubic meter of insulation is considered one of the main advantages. This is justified by the relatively insignificant load of the material on the load-bearing structures of the building, which practically does not limit the scope of application of PPS.
Thermal conductivity	0.038-0.042 W/m*K	The values ​​are close to the average compared to thermal insulation products, which are often used in construction.
Water absorption	0,02	Extruded polystyrene foam has an indicator as close as possible to zero. This justifies the use of the material as an independent and additional waterproofing layer.
Vapor permeability	0,05	A low coefficient indicates poor breathability of PPP. This property is important to take into account especially during interior work, as it affects the microclimate in the room.
Working temperature	-50-+75 degrees Celsius	Foams are synthetic in nature, so when heated they can release toxic substances. Therefore, insulation is rarely used indoors with high thermometer readings.
Operational period	60 years (outside 20 to 40 years)	The time period can be reduced if the rules for installation and operation of materials are not followed.

Extruded foam Source myremontnow.ru

Experts recommend paying attention to the chemical composition before purchasing polystyrene foam for insulation. It is desirable that it contains fire retardant additives and non-flammable carbon dioxide. This is justified by the fact that PPS is unstable to open fire. When purposefully igniting foam plastic, the effect of fire retardants may not be noticed, but in general, thanks to them, the fire takes longer.

The advantages of the material, in addition to good thermal insulation properties and water resistance, include noise absorption and inertness to corrosion and biological activity. Foam boards and granules are often used to improve the acoustic environment in a building. The material is also easy to cut, which is important for installation work. But it is worth considering that foamed polystyrene can crumble and cannot withstand mechanical load and is deformed.

PPP and dew point

Insulation tends to shift the dew point outward. Let's consider three design options without insulation and with insulation with polystyrene foam. In the absence of finishing, the walls are the only material that is located between spaces of different temperatures. Due to changes in thermometer readings, the following occurs:

• heat loss;
• condensation indoors;
• the operational life of the monolith or log house is reduced.

If the dew point in a log house without finishing is poorly calculated, then there is a possibility of condensation Source remontnik.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in insulating houses

When insulating walls internally, the dew point shifts towards the contact between the base and the PPS. Heat leakage is significantly reduced, but the issue of dampness remains. Because of this, there is an increased risk of the appearance and spread of mold, mildew, and bacteria.

The optimal solution is to insulate external walls with polystyrene foam. In this case, the dew point is closer to the surface on the front side of the structures. As a result, the risks of heat loss and condensation accumulation are minimized.

We attach the starting profile

Having studied the project, we calculate the location of the lower border of the walls, which should be insulated with foam plastic. Now we take a hydraulic level, measuring this boundary at all external and internal corners of the house. We pull the cord along these points. It is along this line that we have to install the starting profile on which the bottom row of slabs of heat-insulating material will be supported. Otherwise, until the glue dries, the slabs may move.

We select the size of the starting strip according to the width of our heat insulator. We fasten it with six-millimeter dowel nails, placing them every 30 or 35 centimeters. The expansion element for the dowels is driven nails, onto which washers should be placed. The joints of the starting strip at the corners of the house are made either with an oblique cut or using a corner connector.

To prevent temperature fluctuations from deforming the structure, we place plastic connecting elements at the ends between the base profiles. Overlapping profiles are not permitted.

To be on the safe side, check the level of fastening of the starting profile.

External insulation technology

You can insulate walls with foam plastic on your own, since the technology for installing lightweight insulation is simple and does not require special skills or tools. However, before starting work, it is important to learn about the features that are associated with facades, internal walls and openings for windows and doors. There are also some nuances in subsequent finishing.

Preparatory stage

Any installation and repair work begins with preparing the base. It must be clean, “healthy” and, in the case of slab foam, even. The procedure at this stage looks like this:

• removal of old decorative coating;
• removing weak elements;

Peeling pieces of plaster must be removed Source krysha-expert.ru

• bridging cracks;
• “treatment” of affected areas (mold, mildew, rust) followed by prevention;
• priming of defects and repairs;
• treating the working surface with a primer;
• leveling the walls (differences of up to 1 cm per linear meter are acceptable) and forming corners.

Before insulating the facade with polystyrene foam, it is recommended to impregnate the dry and even base twice with a primer. In this case, for the second layer it is permissible to dilute the primer with water. The main thing is not to exceed 10%, so as not to reduce the quality of the original product.

Installation work

As a rule, to insulate vertical structures, craftsmen use a slab version of PPS. There is no need for lathing here, but the fastening must be combined. That is, first a special adhesive solution is applied and the position of the canvases is adjusted to create an even plane. To prevent the insulation from slipping, you must first secure a support strip under the first row. This can be a beam or a metal profile. If you lay the first row unevenly, then subsequently all the joints will turn out to be uneven.

Then, after the composition has hardened (after about three days), additional fixation is carried out with plastic dowels (“umbrellas” or “fungi”) with a wide cap.

Special dowels for insulation Source allegroimg.com

Preparing the wall surface

In order for the thermal insulation to be of high quality and last a long time, the surface to be insulated must be well prepared. This process is quite lengthy, and you will have to put in a lot of effort. But the result is worth the effort and time spent.

If you are insulating a new house, then you do not need to do some things.

#1. The first step is to remove everything from the external walls that could interfere with the work. These are drainpipes, ventilation grilles, air conditioners, spotlights and wires. If the brick house is old enough, then on its facade there may be decorations framing the cornices and windows. They will have to be sacrificed by carefully knocking them down.

#2. If there is plaster on the walls, we will check its strength by tapping the surface. We check all unevenness and slopes using a plumb line, rule or cord of sufficient length. We will mark all errors with chalk so as not to miss a single flaw. As a rule, upon inspection it turns out that the walls are far from ideal. Not only are they not very even, but in some places the plaster is held to its word of honor.

Do not undertake insulation if you discover these shortcomings. First, remove these pieces of plaster, and then work with a chisel, knocking down the concrete beads and excess mortar between the bricks.

#3. If the façade has been painted with oil paint, it cannot remain on it. In this case, you will have to peel off the paint. Because of this, the adhesive properties of the surface are reduced. Well, perhaps everyone knows that it is necessary to remove mold, grease and rust, as well as salt deposits.

#4. If there are large enough unevenness and cracks on the walls (more than 2 millimeters), then they must be primed. To do this, use a deep penetration primer using a special brush called a paint brush. It will allow you to do this work faster and more accurately. When the primer has dried well, you can apply cement putty for exterior use and fill the cracks.

#5. In the case where the unevenness is very large - more than 1.5 centimeters - we also prime them first. And then we put up beacons along which we apply the plaster composition.

#6. The walls are covered with a brick primer once, with cellular concrete 2 times. You can apply it with a large brush or roller.

Sometimes part of the communications is left on the surface of the wall, covering them with insulation. In order not to damage them when driving in dowels for fastening polystyrene foam, you need to draw up a detailed plan for their location.

PPS or EPPS

The starting raw material for the materials is polystyrene. The final product can vary greatly in density, hardness and structure. This is explained by the plate production technology:

1. Foaming . Expanded polystyrene is characterized by lower weight due to the high air content in the pores and granules. The advantage is the low price, the disadvantage is that it retains heat worse with the same thickness of the slab.
2. Extrusion . EPPS has less moisture-absorbing ability and higher density, strength and hardness. With identical sheet thickness, the thermal conductivity is lower. Against the background of the advantages, only one disadvantage stands out in the group of materials - high cost.

Craftsmen also note the low adhesion of extruded insulation due to the dense and smooth surface. To improve the situation, the boards are passed with a float or a needle roller (with metal spikes) to bend the drywall. Also, such products are characterized by a stepped shape of the mounting edges. This is a practical approach from manufacturers, thanks to which there are no cold bridges and the joints between individual sheets are strengthened.

Production line for extruded polystyrene foam Source ros-tenders.ru

Types of decorative finishes

When finishing the facade with foam plastic is finished, it’s time to start decorative cladding of the building. It is recommended to decide on the material before you start insulating the facade, but if you haven’t done this yet, then it’s time to start.

Preparing the decorative layer

Primer of walls

The most popular options:

• A simple option is facade plaster (huge selection of colors, water resistance, vapor permeability, simplicity, durability). It happens: mineral, acrylic, silicate, silicone.
• Vinyl siding is inexpensive, easy to install, and one of the most popular coatings.
• Facade panels with patterns. They are made of plastic, metal, wood, aluminum, stone, brick, tile. Installed on the façade sheathing.
• Decorative ceramic tiles - durable, fire-resistant, large selection of colors and sizes.
• Concrete tiles - durability and strength at low cost.
• Facing bricks (ceramics, clinker, hyper-pressed, silicate).
• Artificial or natural stone (marble, sandstone, dolomite, limestone, quartzite).
• Sandwich panels – aluminum, plastic, steel, magnesite sheets. Filling: cotton wool, polystyrene foam.
• Porcelain tiles (high frost resistance, water resistance).
• Facade cassettes are galvanized steel coated with polymer of various shapes.

• 
  Applying facade plaster

You can also distinguish wooden (the more common name is lining), foam, metal (it weighs a lot, you need to take into account the load), and cement siding.

Before installing any type of siding, you must first install a ventilation structure into the walls.

Which material to choose depends on personal preference and cost.

Formation of invoice

Issues of vapor barrier and waterproofing

An important requirement during the construction and improvement of a house is the correct implementation of all work to ensure ventilation and waterproofing, since it is the incorrect installation of these components that significantly reduces the performance of the structure.

When insulating walls with polystyrene, waterproofing is not needed . It should be taken into account that if there is a high passage of groundwater under the building, it is necessary to waterproof the basement and foundation.

Since polystyrene foam does not allow air and water to pass through, there is no need to lay a vapor barrier layer when insulating walls from the outside.

Wall insulation cake under siding

Where can I use it?

A universal material that can be used to insulate any surface:

1. Roofs and walls.
2. Floor and plinth.
3. Industrial buildings and residential buildings.

This is one of the simplest methods of insulation, which is why many people use foam plastic. The house will become comfortable and warm, and the insulation itself is very reliable. The installation work itself and the material are inexpensive, so if you wish, you can hire a team of workers for these purposes.

To insulate walls, foam sheets are more often used, and crumbs or balls are used for the roof. The floor and base are often insulated with extruded polystyrene foam.

What do you need for work?

Before proceeding with the installation of foam plastic, the necessary materials and tools are purchased and prepared.

Materials:

• Styrofoam;
• Adhesive composition suitable for the material;
• Polyurethane foam;
• Dowels;
• Primer and plaster;
• Construction mesh for reinforcement;
• Starting bar.

Tools:

• Drill (it’s good if you have a mixer attachment);
• Notched trowel for applying adhesive;
• Regular spatulas;
• Construction knife;
• Container for diluting glue;
• Roulette;
• Level;
• Drill;
• Graters with teeth of various sizes.

It is important to purchase the “correct” polystyrene foam to insulate walls. To do this, its density should be about 25 kg per cubic meter

The thickness of the slabs should be at least 8 cm, most often 10 is used.

You can attach the foam with glue or dowels. But as practice shows, both are better. The pasted sheets are fixed in several places with nails for greater strength.

If desired, a starting profile profile is installed at the bottom of the wall, which serves to secure the position of the sheets and prevents them from sliding during installation. It also prevents damage to the foam by rodents, so if there is a problem with uninvited guests visiting, then it is better to use it.

Wall pie device

When insulated with foam plastic, the classic version of the wall pie looks like this:

• bearing wall;
• adhesive base;
• base profile;
• insulation;
• reinforcing mesh;
• adhesive base;
• primer;
• finishing layer.

The finishing layer can be facade plaster, paint or other facing material chosen when determining the design of the wall.

Wet facade

Attaching to wood

Polystyrene foam is attached to wood in different ways.

1. It has long been known that wood must “breathe”, otherwise rot will appear. Only thanks to the air flow, the tree retains its characteristics for many years.

To protect the wooden wall from rotting, foam plastic is laid with a ventilation gap. For insulation, a lathing is made from wooden blocks. The slabs are inserted between the bars. A vapor barrier layer made of foil film protects the insulation from condensation.

1. Special metal nails can securely hold slabs on wooden surfaces. Unfortunately, cold bridges appear at the fastening points, so high-quality putty is required.

   
   When plastic nails , the thermal insulation of the slabs is improved.

1. Fastening with adhesives is simple and reliable. The main thing is to choose the right glue that is resistant to changes in ambient humidity and temperature. A solution containing cement and glue has worked well.

Advantages of polystyrene foam

There are quite a lot of thermal insulation materials, but polystyrene foam has been steadily in demand for more than one year due to its properties:

• does not absorb water;
• not exposed to mold and other microorganisms;
• weighs little;
• easy to cut and install;
• environmentally friendly;
• has low thermal conductivity.

  
  Comparative characteristics and advantages of using polystyrene foam

Polystyrene foam also has its disadvantages: it is damaged by mice, is highly flammable, and emits acrid smoke when burned. To minimize the burnout of the thermal insulation layer in a fire, you should choose insulation with a high content of fire retardants and high density, and use only non-combustible materials as exterior finishing.

Characteristics of foam plastic

Decorating a house with polystyrene foam: covering the ceiling and corners, using the material as a decorative element

Construction foam is a universal material. It is used as insulation, cladding, and products made from it play the role of decorative elements. At the same time, the price of such products is low, and any of us can purchase them.

Foamed plastic is an inexpensive and versatile material.

Ceiling tiles

Foam tiles on the ceiling.

Foam boards will be a good solution for inexpensive and aesthetically pleasing ceiling finishing. If they are glued without seams, the coating will look like a tension analogue.

Finishing the ceiling with foam tiles has a number of advantages.

1. The coating is not afraid of prolonged exposure to moisture. Based on this, it can be installed in damp areas - in the kitchen, toilet, bathroom.
2. Possibility of spot replacement or repair. If one or more slabs come off, you can always glue them back.
3. This type of cladding is usually done on your own, because... its installation is simple, and the slabs are easy to process and cut.
4. The cost of the material is low.
5. The coating is easy to care for - it only needs to be wiped with a damp cloth from time to time.

Gluing the material is very simple.

Note! The instructions prohibit cleaning the finish with compounds containing solvents or gasoline. Polystyrene foam is not resistant to such substances.

1. Ceiling tiles made of this material weigh almost nothing. Therefore, they do not create loads on the floors.

However, polystyrene foam also has some disadvantages.

1. It is not resistant to thermal influences. Therefore, it is not recommended to install tiles close to incandescent lamps or lighting fixtures in which the bulbs point upward. The distance between them and the coating should be at least 20 cm.
2. Foam cladding is easy to damage. However, in the case of a ceiling this is unlikely to happen.
3. When exposed to direct sunlight, the material fades and turns yellow over time.