Service life of insulation table, characteristics, description of advantages and disadvantages

How often we hear the word “foam plastic” and how little we know about it. First created in Berlin in 1839 by Edward Simpson, it quickly earned a reputation as an ideal building material. Simply unique thermal insulation properties, at a very low cost, have made polystyrene foam the number one product among insulation materials. So what is polystyrene foam?

Foamed plastics are commonly called foamed or cellular gas-filled polymers. The basis, which are polymer films, which actually serve as the walls of the above-mentioned cells. The volume ratio of gas to polymer in foams ranges from 1:10 to 1:30. Foam plastics are classified according to the substance that is used as a basis in the manufacture of the material. Such bases are: polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyurethane, phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde resins, as well as synthetic rubbers.

The most popular of them are expanded polystyrene.

What is foam plastic

There are many types of polystyrene foam made from different materials. In total, it is a foamed mass, which is additionally filled with air or a certain type of gas (depending on the purpose).

As already mentioned, polystyrene foam is made from various components, which in turn affect its performance characteristics. By controlling the gas level inside the material, its strength and resistance to various loads change.

Advantages of the material

To begin with, it is worth considering all the advantages of polystyrene foam as insulation, among them the following are noted:

1. Insensitive to moisture. Along with the fact that humidity does not affect the structure of the material and does not contribute to corrosion, foam plastic practically does not absorb it.
2. Has a high level of thermal insulation properties.
3. Not susceptible to corrosion, mold or mildew.
4. Has a small mass.
5. It is easy to process and install, which makes it easy to do the insulation with your own hands.
6. Quite a long service life.
7. It is not affected by temperatures, and also easily withstands large differences and changes in climatic conditions.
8. Along with thermal insulation, it provides good sound insulation of the room.
9. During installation, no additional waterproofing compounds are required.
10. Using high-density material, additional protection from mechanical stress can be provided without first creating a frame.

Note that these are not all the advantages of foam plastic as a material, but the main ones, which are most useful for thermal insulation.

Disadvantages of insulation

It is also worth considering the disadvantages, among which are:

1. Low level of air permeability, which becomes a contraindication for use in combination with wooden structures. Accordingly, wooden houses cannot be insulated with it.
2. Since it has limited strength and resistance to mechanical stress, additional protection against damage is required, which is provided after installation.
3. The material is easily destroyed when exposed to nitro paints or other compositions based on nitro varnish.
4. The insulation is flammable; in addition, when burned, it emits harmful gases (phosgene, carbon monoxide).
5. It is not recommended to use it for internal wall insulation (allowed only with the right approach and numerous calculations).

Features of the use of foam plastic

As an insulation material, this material has found its application in the following areas:

1. External wall insulation.
2. Internal wall insulation.
3. Installation of thermal insulation of ceilings and attics.
4. Thermal insulation of basements and foundations.

It is worth noting right away that using material to insulate walls from the inside can be considered incorrect. This is due to the fact that the wall must be warmed up by heating. As a result, the following occurs during internal insulation:

1. Complete thermal insulation of the wall from heating, resulting in a shift in the dew point.
2. The displacement will cause a change in the thermal insulation qualities of the wall itself. Moisture will accumulate in it and gradually destroy the wall from the inside.
3. This also contributes to the appearance of mold and mildew and their further spread not only along external walls, but also internal ones.

Because of these factors, experts recommend using polystyrene foam only for external insulation.

It is also important to note the features of insulation of basements and foundations. When arranging it, it will be necessary to create additional protection, since in winter the soil tends to heave during frost, which creates pressure on the insulation

Therefore, you will have to additionally build formwork or provide brickwork.

Now it’s worth considering the features of insulating vertical and horizontal surfaces using polystyrene foam. Namely, technologies for fastening to walls and foundations, as well as to the floor, ceiling and attic.

Specifications

Standard sizes of polystyrene foam - thickness varies from 20 to 100 mm, length and width: 1000*1000, 1000*1200, 1200*1200. How much foam plastic costs depends on the dimensions.

Price and manufacturers of foam plastic

• Technoplex
  . A Russian manufacturer that produces foam sheets of different sizes, thicknesses and densities. The company's product range also includes material in balls. Environmentally friendly and relatively fire-resistant insulation.
• TechnoNIKOL Carbon Eco
  . A Russian company that produces various thermal insulators, including polystyrene foam. It has high density and strength. Suitable for insulating various objects and surfaces.
• Styrofoam
  . Another domestic manufacturer specializing in the production of polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam. There are many brands of material in the line.

Structure and scope of application

Foam plastic acquires its characteristics due to its special structure. This is a granular material based on polystyrene. It contains up to 98% air, while the volume of the dense structure does not exceed 2%. The use of dry steam to process granules provides the main properties: low foam density and low weight.

The sheets are formed after thoroughly drying the base material. This production technology gives other qualities to foam plastic: low thermal conductivity, which makes it a popular insulation material; low degree of sheet strength. The last factor can affect the service life of the product. This type of insulation is used in different areas: construction industry; food industry (packaging), radio electronics, shipbuilding.

Insulation of walls and ceilings

To keep the house warm and comfortable, it is necessary to insulate the external walls. For this purpose, foam glass, a granulated environmentally friendly material obtained from raw fractions by foaming, can be used. This wall insulation is chemically resistant and can form the basis of heat-insulating plaster. Foam glass is ideal for insulating basement walls and foundations, since it is not afraid of groundwater.

A granule of foamed polymers is the basis of penoplex, a lightweight and moisture-resistant thermal insulation material. This heat insulator does not have a very wide operating temperature range, so it is not recommended to use it for insulating baths. Penoplex can be quite easily filled with frame walls. The granules fill the smallest voids.

Mineral wool for wall insulation can be used not only in the form of conventional slabs or rolls, but also in the form of granules larger than 10 mm in size. Such bulk insulation is vapor-permeable and fire-resistant, and is not afraid of high temperatures. In addition to thermal insulation properties, granulated mineral wool has good sound insulation properties. When laying mineral wool, it is necessary to provide protection for the skin and respiratory tract.

To preserve heat in rooms, ceilings are often insulated. Recently, penoizol, which looks like foam chips, has gained popularity. This lightweight, low-density material is characterized by increased biological resistance. Rodents and mold will not grow in such a thermal insulation layer.

When choosing heat-insulating bulk materials, you should pay attention to such characteristics as thermal conductivity, density, moisture absorption, weight and particle size. Most of the bulk insulation can be delivered and installed independently, which will significantly reduce the cost of insulation work, which is especially important for owners of dachas and small country houses

What is foam made from?

Polystyrene foam can be made from any polymers (plastics). The most well-known raw materials are polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, phenol-formaldehyde, polystyrene and others. But no matter what plastic the material is made of, it contains only 2% of it, the rest is atmospheric air. Domestic building materials are produced in accordance with GOST 15588-2014 and are designated by the general marking PSB, to which are added numbers and letters that indicate additional properties: low density, self-extinguishing, universal and others. The raw material for expanded polystyrene looks like translucent beads with a diameter of 0.2 to 3.7 mm. The material is produced in several stages:

• Foaming.
• Drying.
• Stabilization.
• Cutting.
• Maturation.
• Baking.

One of the methods involves, after stabilization, moving on to baking, bypassing the 2 previous stages. Not so long ago, a modern version of the material appeared on the market - extruded foam. It differs from the classic one in the smaller size of the cells and their complete closure. This material was considered more technologically advanced, but ordinary polystyrene foam is still the most in demand; it can be used as insulation for walls made of any materials: wall blocks, concrete monolith, wood, brick and much more.

Comparative characteristics of the service life of insulation materials table

There are many types of insulation, but today we will take a closer look at the most budget-friendly and reliable options. These include:

1. Mineral wool.
2. Basal wool.
3. Styrofoam.

The first type is called stone. It has a fairly high level of quality, as it is made from basalt stone. Its cost is much higher, but both the quality and the period of suitability meet expectations. According to statistics, mineral wool is used most often in construction. Duration of operation is about 50 years. But this figure is still disputed, and it has several nuances. At the moment there are two types of mineral wool.

The second is slag. This means that water practically cannot penetrate into it, and the material itself is quite dense. Accordingly, it is made from slag from the metallurgical industry. It is significantly inferior to the previous one in price, quality, and service life. In addition, it is not resistant to sudden temperature changes and may become deformed after a certain time. But despite this, it is often used as the best option if the construction is temporary or less significant.

Of course, for larger structures it is recommended to use stone wool. It may be more expensive, but when it comes to safety and quality, savings are out of the question.

It is worth noting that this substance has two important advantages:

Non-flammability. You don’t have to worry that the material is not susceptible to fire from metal tiles, which can heat up to high levels in extreme heat. And also other effects of high temperatures will not pose a threat to the insulation, and therefore to you.

Vapor permeability

Izover has the ability to “breathe,” which is also important. The material easily passes all vapors through itself, but at the same time they do not accumulate inside

This property makes mineral wool environmentally friendly, and in combination with thermal insulation it is a huge plus. In addition, no additional treatment is required for condensate.

Basal cotton wool is not inferior in the duration of the action of the previous substance. Manufacturers provide a warranty of over 50 years. A very long time ago, construction began to use insulation made from fibrous material. But the peak of its exploitation has occurred in the last couple of decades. This happened due to the intensive construction of country houses, as well as increased heating prices. This is where the material is very popular.

Over time, the quality of basal wool has improved significantly. Now it is an environmentally friendly and safe product. The main advantages include several aspects:

1. Fire safety. The material can easily withstand high temperatures without losing its properties.
2. Low hydrophobicity. The substance repels moisture, which significantly increases the service life of the insulation.
3. Compressibility. Basal wool is very resistant and does not undergo deformation.
4. Chemical resistance. Rotting, fungus, rodents, mold and harmful microorganisms will no longer become a threat to your home.

Despite the coincidence, the materials are of excellent quality, do not deform or crumble. The substances are used everywhere and have many positive reviews. With such insulation, your walls can last for more than 100 years.

Release forms

The density of the material is the determining factor when dividing foam into grades. It directly affects strength and thermal conductivity. The technical characteristics of individual brands will help determine the scope of use of the material:

• The PSB-S 15 marking belongs to slabs with the lowest density, which is 15 kg per m3. Such expanded polystyrene boards are extremely lightweight and are used for insulating cabins and construction trailers, i.e. in places of temporary residence of people.
• The most popular brand is PSB-S 25, where the density, accordingly, is 25 kg/m3. Scope of application: insulation of building facades, floors, and as roof insulation.
• Polystyrene foam PSB-S 35 has a density of 35 kg per cubic meter. The high technical characteristics of expanded polystyrene with marking 35 are in demand in the production of reinforced concrete structures and sandwich panels.
• Polystyrene foam 50 has an extremely dense structure. Due to this, the slabs are actively used in arranging flooring in refrigerated warehouses and road construction.

Analyzing the tables with technical characteristics, we can conclude that it is advisable to purchase polystyrene foam boards for the purpose of insulating walls with a density of 25 and 35 kg/m3. Moreover, for internal insulation a density of 25 will be sufficient, and for finishing the outside it is better to use foam plastic 35.

When choosing a material for wall insulation, the thickness of the foam matters. It is impossible to give exact recommendations. The choice depends on a number of related factors, which include:

• Climatic conditions of the region where the building is located.
• Material used to construct walls. Often the walls of a building consist of several layers, differing in their technical characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the total indicator.
• The density of the polystyrene foam board, which is determined by the marking.

Usually, due to a combination of factors, if it is necessary to insulate internal walls, 50 mm foam plastic is used; the use of 100 mm foam plastic is more in demand for external work.

Brief instructions for installing foam plastic

If installation is carried out on walls or ceilings, then this must be done according to the following instructions:

1. Prepare the surface: clean it of paint, loose plaster, and level it using putty.
2. Apply primer to the wall or ceiling.
3. To improve the adhesion of the foam boards to the surface, we go over one side of the insulation with a needle roller.
4. We apply special mounting adhesive to the surface of the foam sheet.
5. Without waiting for the adhesive to dry, press the slab tightly against the wall.
6. We start installing the foam from the bottom and move upward in horizontal rows.
7. Make sure that the joints are not at the same level. The masonry of the heat insulator should resemble brick.
8. If you need to trim the material, use a regular hacksaw.
9. After the insulation has been attached, wait until the glue has completely dried.
10. We fill the joints and cracks between the foam sheets with polyurethane foam. After drying, remove excess.
11. If you are insulating a facade, external walls or ceiling, it is recommended to secure the slabs with additional fasteners. We use special dowels with an umbrella-shaped cap.
12. We reinforce the finished surface using a special mesh and corners.

Foundation thermal insulation

Insulating the foundation with polystyrene foam requires enhanced protection, since not only does soil pressure occur, but also the load on the foam plastic increases in winter during soil heaving, and this occurs during freezing. Strong reinforcement is required; for this, brickwork is done or concrete is poured.

Insulation of the foundation with polystyrene foam. Photo – plaforamaconstruye.com

Physical properties of foam plastic

The main characteristics of porous polystyrene include:

• strength – polystyrene foam does not have outstanding strength characteristics and is capable of crumbling and breaking even under weak mechanical stress. It can be easily damaged using sharp objects or simply hitting the surface. To reduce the likelihood of destruction, the foam is covered with layers of harder material that evenly distributes external loads;
• flexibility - expanded polystyrene is weakly susceptible to bending influences and can break under them at any time. For the same reason, foam plastic boards are installed only permanently, avoiding any torsional loads;
• thermal conductivity - the presence of gases (natural heat insulators) in hollow capsules provides the material with a low heat transfer coefficient. This is also facilitated by the lack of convection inside the pores due to their small diameter. It will take a long time to completely heat a piece of polystyrene foam to a given temperature;
• tendency to shrinkage - free-standing polystyrene foam slabs are susceptible to slight shrinkage caused by gravity. The shrinkage amount is 1.5-3 mm over six months. At the end of this period, the natural compaction of the material stops;
• thermal expansion - with increasing temperature, the linear dimensions of the slab increase (the process is reversible). Numerical expansion indicators correspond to approximately 1 mm per 1 m of foam board when the temperature changes by 15-20 ° C;
• vapor absorption - polystyrene foam is less resistant to diffusion penetration of moisture than to the effects of liquid water, therefore in particularly humid rooms its surface is additionally covered with a layer of metal foil. In its absence, some water vapor can penetrate through the layer of material and condense when the temperature drops, which negatively affects the entire thermal insulation system.

Roof insulation

When thermally insulating roofs in houses and buildings for various purposes, two methods are used: unventilated (warm roof) and ventilated (cold) roof. In the first case, when creating a non-ventilated (warm) roof, the entire roof is covered with 70 mm thick foam plastic slabs, and a bitumen layer is poured on top. P

When using the second method, foam boards are installed on the back of the roof, leaving a ventilated surface to prevent the formation of water vapor. It is very important to properly insulate attic roofs.

Differences between polystyrene foam and manufacturing methods

Before we begin to consider the types of polystyrene foam, it is necessary to clarify the terminology. Many people call polystyrene foam a lightweight white material consisting of a huge number of white compressed balls, in general this is true, but one point needs to be clarified.

Foam plastic is a general name for a whole group of materials obtained by foaming plastics. Since various plastics can be foamed, there are a huge number of foams. For example, if polystyrene is used as a raw material, the material obtained is polystyrene foam; if polyurethane is used as a raw material, the material is polyurethane foam (one type is polyurethane foam); polyvinyl chloride foam is obtained from polyvinyl chloride.

The production technology for all foam plastics consists of three main stages:

1. Mixing the components used.
2. Foaming.
3. Structuring.

The main technological link is foaming; at this stage, polymers are filled with gas, which determines the technical characteristics of the material.

The ratio between open and closed cells with air plays an important role in the physical and mechanical properties of polystyrene foam. Closed cells guarantee low hygroscopicity. The less the foam absorbs water, the better its thermal characteristics, the longer the material lasts.

The structure of the foam depends on the manufacturing technology and the raw materials used. Polystyrene foam, polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride have a large number of closed cells.

According to production technology, there are two main types of polystyrene foam:

• expanded polystyrene foam - (EPS)
• extruded polystyrene foam - (XPS).

Expanded polystyrene foam - (EPS)

Foamed polystyrene foam is most often used in everyday life. It is used as thermal insulation, material for packaging equipment and furniture. During its manufacture, polymers are filled with gas using foaming components.

Foamed polystyrene foam.

The technological chain consists of several stages:

• Mixing polystyrene, which is sometimes replaced by polymonochlorostyrene or polydichlorostyrene.
• Adding foaming components, which are low-boiling hydrocarbons - dichloromethane, pentane or isopentane.
• Adding additives that improve the properties of the finished material - plasticizers, fire retardants and dyes.
• Formation of granules with uniform distribution of low-boiling liquids in polystyrene.
• Treatment with steam or hot air.
• An increase in granule size as a result of sudden evaporation of low-boiling liquids.
• Structuring foam cells, giving it shape.

As a result of boiling of the foaming components, the granules increase in size by more than 50 times. The walls of the forming cells harden and merge, trapping air inside - an ideal heat insulator. The material turns out to be light, homogeneous, and retains its given shape well.

Enlarged expanded polystyrene foam granules.

Extruded Polystyrene Foam - (XPS)

The main differences in the production technology of extruded polystyrene foam are the absence of steam treatment and structuring by extrusion from a flat-slot extrusion head. Freons were used as a foaming agent in the first decades of material production; today carbon dioxide is used.

This expanded polystyrene has a continuous structure with closed-porous cells with a diameter of 0.1 - 0.2 mm.

Extruded polystyrene foam.

Extruded polystyrene foam has good thermal insulation properties and is more dense than expanded polystyrene foam. This allows the use of extruded polystyrene foam to insulate those objects for which expanded polystyrene foam is too soft. It is possible to produce extruded polystyrene foam, which will withstand loads of up to 35 tons per 1 m2.

What foam sizes should you choose?

It all depends on your needs.

For example, if you decide to insulate the walls of your house with polystyrene foam, then sheets measuring 1000×1000 mm and 1000×500 mm are suitable for solving this problem. The optimal thickness is mm.

Usually they buy sheets of 1000x1000 mm. And to fill the remaining areas, the existing sheets are cut into two parts:

You can also buy the required number of sheets measuring 1000x500 mm for these purposes. But this is in cases where the walls are smooth, without numerous elements that will prevent the laying of entire sheets. Otherwise, you will still have to frequently adjust the width of the sheets.

That is why many people buy polystyrene foam with dimensions of 1000×1000 mm to insulate the walls of their houses. And during the installation process, they are adjusted to the required dimensions (the sheets are cut into pieces). This material is easy to cut, so everything is simple here.

Also, when choosing, consider the cost of the sheets. For example, it may turn out that buying 1 sheet of 1000x1000 mm in size will be more profitable than two sheets of 1000x500 mm.

If you decide to buy expanded polystyrene 2000×1000 mm, then keep in mind that such sheets may be more difficult to install. It is often easier to install two 1000x1000mm sheets than one 2000x1000mm sheet. Of course, a lot depends on what purposes you need this material for.

In general, now you know what sizes of foam there are. We hope that you have already made your choice.

Application area

Extruded gray polystyrene foam has a wide range of applications. Mainly used for insulation work. The scope of use is limited only by temperature indicators (not higher than 75°C). The material can be laid in damp places, in the ground.

Typically, the scope of use is limited only by financial capabilities. The high cost makes it impractical for use in many places. In places where there is no need for high technical characteristics, ordinary polystyrene foam is used instead of PPS, reviews of which are also positive, in order to save money.

Used for insulation:

• concrete or wooden floors;
• walls indoors or outside the building. Compatible with any material;
• wells. Often concrete rings are coated with material for additional protection;
• blind areas;
• surface of the earth. To prevent destruction of the structure, paint is applied. Even a thin layer will not allow the composition to deteriorate.

In addition to the listed areas, the material is used in road construction. Included in many refrigeration units as extruded insulation. Used in agriculture. Roofs and underground floors are insulated with expanded polystyrene. One of the promising areas is the production of sandwich panels.

Technical characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam

The material has some of the highest technical characteristics on the market of insulation products. Any gas has a much lower thermal conductivity than solids. For air, the figure is 0.026 W/m*oC. Extruded polystyrene foam is an air mixture of approximately 90%. It has a thermal conductivity of 0.03 W/m*oC. Almost like air, which means heat is retained perfectly.

The material is produced with different densities. Manufacturers offer from 25 to 47 kg/m3. The higher the number, the greater the strength. As the density increases, the strength increases from 20,000 to 50,000 kg/m2.

Water is poorly absorbed by polystyrene foam. In about a month, one tile can absorb about 0.4% of its own volume if it is completely immersed in water. Further, the percentage of absorbed liquid does not increase, but stops. Vapor permeability is minimal. It is 0.0128 Mg/(m*h*Pa). Often companies specializing in repair work suggest not using vapor barriers, limiting themselves to using only polystyrene.

The insulation is able to withstand temperatures ranging from -50 to +75°C. Its use is possible in almost any climate. The flammability is high, the class varies depending on the addition of additional substances, from G1 to G4.

Some models have a special recess along the edges. Made to increase the tightness of the slabs by insulating the seams. This innovation prevents cold layers from forming between the elements, ensuring complete heat retention.

Low vapor permeability - good or evil?

As you know, the same property of a material can be considered a plus in one situation and a minus in another. This is exactly the case with the low vapor conductivity that extruded polystyrene foam is characterized by. Moreover, it does not conduct steam in any direction. Moisture does not penetrate from one side or the other. This distinguishes it from vapor barrier membranes, which may have one-way conductivity.

It is ideal on flat roofs

Where is vapor non-conductivity needed?

If installed correctly (without gaps and cracks) with joints taped, EPPS does not require the use of vapor barrier membranes. It hardly lets through steam. Neither in liquid nor in gaseous state. So the use of membranes and waterproofing is unnecessary. When using floors in a cake, this is excellent, because moisture usually comes from the ground. When using polystyrene foam, it does not penetrate either by capillary action or in the form of steam. In this case, this is definitely a plus.

Excellent for laying under screed

These properties are also a plus when using extruded polystyrene foam in blind areas, under paths, etc. In addition to protecting against freezing, it does not get wet. This allows, with a competent approach, to get rid of frost heaving and make, for example, not a deep strip foundation, but a shallow strip or Swedish slab.

The use of EPS in the roofing pie of a flat roof is also optimal - leaks are minimized, and almost no heat is lost. When using on pitched roofs, it’s already worth thinking about. The fact that Penoplex Roofing does not allow moisture into the attic space is good. But it will be possible to remove excess moisture from the attic only with the help of very good ventilation, which includes not only dormer windows. Additional elements will be needed on the ridge, in the roof plane. In general, given the cost of Penoplex, this is not always reasonable.

On the walls: yes or no?

Insulating walls with Penoplex is permissible only if you agree to make an effective ventilation system that will regulate the humidity in the house. In this case there are two options:

Insulate the walls with EPS from the inside. With this solution, moisture practically does not enter the enclosing structures (the material from which the walls are made) due to the low vapor permeability of the material. In this case, the Penoplex layer for walls can be of small thickness. Specifically, it is necessary to count, since it depends on the material and thickness of the walls, and the region of residence. But, with such insulation, it is necessary to select the external finishing of the facade so that moisture is not trapped inside the wall. Ventilated facades are most suitable for this purpose.

Installation on walls is possible, but with a lot of conditions. And this is not the best choice

Stick the EPS on the outside. But at the same time, it is necessary to make an effective vapor barrier inside the room. It is needed to prevent moisture from entering the walls. Since there is EPS on the outside, it will not come out. To prevent moisture from accumulating in the wall, a vapor barrier is required. In this case, the thickness of Penoplex will be large. So large that the dew point is not in the wall, but in the thickness of the insulation. That is, in this case it will be necessary to insulate EPS walls with a thickness of 100 mm or more.

As you can see, there are options for using extruded polystyrene foam for wall insulation, but they are far from the best. Despite the fact that the material itself is good, it is poorly suited for this purpose.

When used on a pitched roof

And we must also take into account that the second option is only for non-hygroscopic materials. Such a scheme is very undesirable for wooden, frame buildings; it is poorly suited for foam blocks. The fact is that no matter how good the vapor barrier is, some of the moisture will still get into the walls. If the material is non-hygroscopic, moisture will gradually be removed from the wall during the dry season. With hygroscopic materials this process is more complicated. As a result, the wood rots and the foam block walls “bloom.”

Insulation technology

Any novice craftsman who is familiar with the basics of thermal insulation work can insulate a house with polystyrene foam. To work, you will need to purchase materials and assemble a set of tools.

Tools and materials

Consumables you need to buy:

• Styrofoam;
• cement or synthetic based adhesive;
• special mushrooms for attaching foam plastic, the length exceeding the thickness of the slabs by 4-5 cm - needed when insulating vertical and inclined surfaces;
• reinforcing mesh;
• polyurethane foam.

The toolkit includes:

• level;
• plumb line;
• roulette;
• a knife with a replaceable blade or a hacksaw;
• electric drill;
• glue container;
• mixer attachment for mixing glue.

A universal set of tools for all structural elements of the house. Technologies for insulating roofs, floors and walls from the outside and inside have their own nuances. Therefore, we will consider separately.

façade

Insulation of the wall outside the building is carried out in several steps.

Step 1. The wall is dust-free.

Step 2: Apply a layer of penetrating primer;

Step 3. At the junction of the wall with the foundation or at a height of 50 cm from the ground along the perimeter of the building, a profile for insulation is attached - it serves as a support for the bottom sheets of foam plastic.

Scheme of fastening the profile to the wall and in the corners of the building.

Step 4. Mix the glue with a drill and mixer.

Step 5. The adhesive mixture is applied to the insulation boards. There are several methods of application: in a continuous layer, in 5 points (in the corners and in the middle), in stripes around the perimeter and in the center, in stripes or dots.

Glue is applied.

Step 6. The foam sheet is placed on the profile and then pressed against the wall surface. In the pressed position, you need to fix the insulation for a few seconds for the glue to set. Excess glue that appears is removed with a spatula.

Step 7. 2 rows of insulation are attached.

The next row is attached.

Step 8. Holes for fungi are drilled in the wall using a drill (perforator). There are five for each sheet: in the corners and in the center.

Step 9. Additional fastening of foam sheets to the wall is carried out. First, fungi are inserted into the holes, then they are fixed with plastic dowels.

Fungi are inserted into the holes.

The fungus is fixed with a dowel.

Step 10. Reinforcing mesh is glued.

The surface of the heat-insulating layer is reinforced with reinforcing mesh.

The further progress of work is determined by the type of finishing. Decorative plaster is applied to the reinforcing mesh. The sheathing is placed under the siding.

Paula

Floor insulation is carried out under the screed and along the joists. Thermal insulation under the screed is carried out in several stages:

• the base of the floor is being prepared. Full information about the technology for preparing the subfloor is given in the work “Preparing the floor for pouring screed”;
• waterproofing work is being carried out;
• Foam boards are laid tightly next to each other. Adjacent rows are mounted staggered, “staggered” - the transverse seams should not coincide. Here you need to pay attention to several points: the sheets are fixed with glue, there should be a technological gap of 1-2 cm between the wall and the insulation, the joints between the plates are glued with tape, the cracks are sealed with adhesive putty;

Floor insulation.

• the insulating layer is reinforced;
• the screed is poured.

The algorithm for floor insulation on joists is as follows:

1. the floor base is being prepared;
2. The subfloor is being waterproofed - details can be found in the material “Waterproofing a wooden floor”;
3. logs are attached;
4. foam is laid;
5. the gaps between the joists and the insulation are foamed with polyurethane foam;
6. the thermal insulation layer is covered with a vapor barrier film;
7. plywood or OSB sheets are attached to the joists;
8. finishing floor is installed.

Walls from the inside

You can insulate walls from the inside using 2 technologies:

• for glue for decorative plaster, painting or “liquid” wallpaper;
• using lathing, if the finishing is ceramic tiles or PVC panels.

Attention: builders have recently abandoned lathing altogether, replacing gypsum plaster with gypsum plaster for wallpaper and paint.

In the second case, the foam is glued to the wall between the vertical posts. The gaps between the insulation boards and the frame are foamed. On top of the insulation, sheets of plasterboard are attached under ceramic tiles or a counter-lattice is placed under PVC panels.

Roofs

The roof is insulated with foam plastic in 2 ways, depending on the type of roof.

• A horizontal (flat) roof is covered with insulation boards 7-10 cm thick on top, after which it is filled with bitumen and glued with two layers of roofing felt.
• The pitched roof is insulated from the rear side, in relation to the attic space. The slabs, 10 cm thick, are attached to the lathing, mounted on the flooring under the foam. Here it is important to properly perform a vapor barrier and create a ventilation gap between the roof and the insulation to avoid the formation of condensation.

What it is?

Penoizol is a modified polystyrene foam. Its consistency resembles marshmallow. The material is foamed plastic with a cellular structure. Modified polystyrene foam is a modern heat insulator for insulating building structures.

Often the material is prepared directly on the construction site. Using specialized equipment, the liquid mixture is used to fill voids in walls, ceilings, roofs and attics. Thanks to the production of insulation at a construction site, money, time and effort are saved on the delivery of conventional insulation and its loading and unloading operations. No additional space is required for storing thermal insulation products.

Types of polystyrene foam for home insulation

Any material used to insulate a building from the outside can deteriorate its thermal insulation performance when in contact with moisture. Unlike materials with a fibrous texture, such as mineral wool, foam plastic has low hygroscopicity. The moisture absorption rate is no more than 4% of the total volume of the material. Expanded polystyrene produced by extrusion has such a high density that it does not absorb moisture at all. This quality makes it an optimal heat insulator for homes.

Expert opinion

Konstantin Alexandrovich

Polystyrene foam with a density of 15 to 30 kg*m3 has such low hygroscopicity that it does not require laying a vapor barrier layer when installing slabs. This means that this material can also be successfully used for thermal insulation of floor and wall surfaces. An important parameter is the thickness of the foam plates. This figure can be 5 or 10 centimeters, with a slab length of 1 or 2 meters.

Polystyrene foam has proven itself well when working on the outside of a building. To carry out insulation from the inside, it is recommended to use a modified material under the trade name “Penoplex”. This insulation is used to insulate the surfaces of ceilings, walls, floors, tanks for storing water or wastewater, as well as utility networks. Penoplex blocks can be produced under various brands. In residential premises where heating is provided, Penoplex 31C is used. In unheated buildings, such as garages, warehouses and industrial premises and objects with increased fire hazard, the use of Penoplex 35 insulator will be optimal. The material is fire resistant and retains heat well. There is a brand with the number “45”; this type of Penoplex is advisable to use for conditions of increased loads, both dynamic and mechanical. It is able to resist pressure up to 0.5 MPa.

In order to verify the presence of the declared thermal insulation qualities of Penoplex insulation, it is enough to conduct a small practical experiment. You will need an insulator plate, the thickness of which is 5 centimeters. A heated iron is leaned against one of its sides, and a hand is placed on the other. The thermal effect will be neutralized by the insulation within a few minutes, and the heating of the stove will not be noticeable to humans.

Polyvinyl chloride

Polyvinyl chloride is a thermoplastic polymer component containing up to 56% combined chlorine. This composition makes it resistant to fire. The material is produced by pressing and non-pressing methods. Its technical characteristics are similar to extruded polystyrene foam.

Polyvinyl chloride panels do not contain toxic compounds. When open burning, they go out on their own. They have increased flexibility and elasticity, but can cause corrosion of adjacent metal structures.

Criterias of choice

In order to decide which of the materials under consideration is best suited for specific conditions, it is necessary to take into account the following criteria:

1. What types of work will be carried out with it.
2. Characteristics of the material according to GOST and other standards.
3. Resistance to destructive factors arising at the site of application.
4. Features of products of specific brands.

Note! When choosing a thermal insulation material, it is necessary to take into account that the main difference between polystyrene and foam plastic is that the first is not afraid of moisture, fire, is more durable and accurate in size, and in most cases has a locking system at the edges that prevents the formation of cold bridges.

Video review on how to properly insulate with polystyrene foam and expanded polystyrene: