When building a house, it is necessary to provide conditions to maintain a certain microclimate, in which the air temperature is kept within 20–25°C and the humidity does not exceed 50–60%. At the same time, you need to take care of the energy efficiency of the building, which will significantly reduce heating costs. Thus, you should choose the right heat-insulating material for the walls, ceiling and floor of a wooden house, which can maintain a comfortable microclimate both in harsh winters and in the summer heat. To do this, you need to know well the features of each type of seal and the rules for optimal selection. To do this, we have compiled a rating of the best materials based on reviews from experts and users.
5 best insulation for home 2018-2019
When choosing a particular heat-insulating material, the buyer should pay attention to the following characteristics:
- thermal conductivity― the most important indicator of insulation. The lower its value, the higher the ability of the material to retain heat indoors;
- water absorption- the ability of insulation to absorb moisture. This leads to a decrease in heat-shielding properties, so this value should be as low as possible;
- soundproofing(many materials, along with thermal insulation, also provide protection against penetration into the house extraneous sounds, which will save on the purchase and installation of an additional layer of sound insulation);
- environmental friendliness and biological safety― the insulation should not emit toxic and harmful substances, promote the formation of rot and mold, or create conditions for attracting rodents and insects;
- fire resistance― the most important characteristic that increases the fire safety of your home;
- strength And durability;
- convenience when performing installation work.
Video: 10 popular mistakes when insulating a house
TOP 5 best insulation for home
Let's consider best options thermal insulation materials, as well as their positive and negative properties, which must be taken into account when choosing. To do this, we analyzed expert opinions and user reviews.
1 Mineral wool
Is the most universal material, since it can be used with equal success for both external and internal insulation. Using mineral wool, you can insulate almost any surface: walls, floors and roofs. Its advantages also include:
- extremely low thermal conductivity coefficient;
- environmental friendliness;
- fire resistance;
- affordable price.
The fibrous structure of mineral wool, filled with air, is the best barrier to heat loss and the penetration of cold air masses into the house.
However, this material is not without some disadvantages - in particular, it has high level of hygroscopicity, therefore, to protect mineral wool from moisture, you need to carefully consider the water and steam removal system, using special insulating materials for this.
2 Foam
Affordable, lightweight, waterproof material with excellent thermal insulation properties. The undoubted advantage of this material is its high resistance to the formation of rot or fungus. Foam plastic is one of the most convenient insulation materials that does not create problems during installation and further finishing. Equally good for insulation:
- brick walls;
- wood;
- aerated concrete;
- installation under siding is possible.
And the waterproof properties of polystyrene foam allow it to be used in rooms with high humidity, for example, sauna or bath.
But when choosing this popular thermal insulation material its significant disadvantages must be taken into account: poor sound insulation, fragility And flammability.
3 Extruded polystyrene foam (sandwich panel)
This material is indispensable for insulating window blocks, through which, as a rule, large heat losses occur. In addition to excellent thermal insulation properties, the sandwich panel improves the aesthetic characteristics of window openings, giving them a complete appearance. The panel design consists of two thin PVC plates, between which a polystyrene sheet about 10 mm thick is laid. The advantages of this insulation:
- absolutely not afraid of moisture;
- not susceptible to rotting and mold.
- installation of sandwich panels takes little time;
- is distinguished by the simplicity of its operations;
- environmental friendliness and durability.
The only significant disadvantage of polystyrene foam is high cost, which does not allow them to take first or even second place in the ranking.
4 Ecowool
This material is made from environmentally friendly raw materials - paper waste. However, the degree of environmental friendliness different manufacturers may differ significantly, since the technological process often involves the introduction of various chemical additives such as fungicides and antiseptics (prevent the development of microorganisms). When performing work on insulating a house, it is necessary to use special equipment, with the help of which a mixture of a paper base and an adhesive composition is applied to the walls. This creates a homogeneous coating without cold bridges that adheres reliably to brick or wooden walls.
Thus, the disadvantages of using ecowool include only the need to use special devices.
5 Foam glass
It is a durable solid panel with a cellular structure. In some countries, foam glass is used as the main building material for the construction of walls, but in our country it is more often used for thermal insulation of brick or concrete walls. This material has a whole range of attractive characteristics, such as:
- heat and sound insulation;
- environmental friendliness;
- fire resistance;
- moisture resistance;
- durability;
- immunity to chemical and biological influences.
Many experts consider this material to be one of the most effective heat insulators, but the main obstacle to the widespread use of foam glass is its high cost.
What insulation is best to buy for a home in 2018-2019?
When choosing a heat-insulating material, you should understand that there are no universal insulation materials. Each element of the building requires a completely different set of characteristics, most fully corresponding to certain requirements. For example, it is better to insulate the roof using basalt and fiberglass slabs, and for the foundation it is better to use materials with increased moisture resistance such as extruded polystyrene foam.
The choice of insulation for walls also depends on which side, internal or external, the thermal insulation layer will be located, what building material the walls are made of, what subsequent finishing is provided for by the project, what weather and climatic conditions prevail in the area. In addition, you should take into account your financial capabilities, since the purchase of insulation is a fairly significant cost item for building a house. The best way out if you have difficulties choosing insulation is to consult with a specialist who can take into account all the nuances that affect the provision of thermal protection for your home.
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After the introduction of a new standard for the thermal protection of buildings, insulation has become relevant even for those houses that were previously considered “safe”. Owners of older buildings don't have to do anything, but they must be prepared to pay rising energy bills. And designs for new houses will not be approved if they do not meet the requirements of SNiP 02/23/2003. There are several technologies that make it possible to ensure standard indicators for buildings made of any materials. The main thing is to choose the right insulation for the exterior walls of a house in each case.
The house must be kept warm Source prolesa.com.ua
Why external insulation and not internal
The most understandable argument for a non-specialist sounds very convincing, although this is a secondary factor - insulation from the inside “takes away” the useful volume of residential and office premises.
Builders are guided by the standard according to which insulation must be external (SP 23-101-2004). Insulation from the inside is not directly prohibited, but it can only be carried out in exceptional cases. For example, when work on the outside cannot be carried out due to the design features or the facade “belongs” to a house that is classified as an architectural monument.
Video description
The result is correct internal insulation home on video:
Internal insulation of walls is allowed provided that a durable and continuous vapor-tight layer is created on the side of the room. But this is not easy to do, and if warm air with water vapor gets into the insulation or onto the surface of a cold wall, then the appearance of condensation is inevitable. And this is due to the “dew point”, which will move either inside the layer of thermal insulation material or to the border between it and the wall.
Even such protection from the inside will not provide a 100% guarantee against the wall getting wet - water vapor will find its way into the film joints and fastening points Source domvpavlino.ru
That is, when deciding how to properly insulate a house, in the vast majority of cases, the answer will be based on clear regulatory recommendations - from the outside.
Popular thermal insulation materials
From a large list of thermal insulation materials, we can highlight several of the most popular ones and those that are used if the budget allows or for other reasons. Traditionally, the popularity of materials is determined by a combination of good thermal insulation characteristics and relatively low cost.
- Expanded polystyrene
Better known as "foam". To be precise, in addition to slabs, this material is also used in granular form as bulk thermal insulation.
Its thermal conductivity varies with density, but on average it is one of the lowest in its class. Thermal insulation properties are provided by a cellular structure filled with air. Its popularity is explained by its availability, ease of installation, good compressive strength, and low water absorption. That is, it is cheap, quite durable (as part of the structure) and is not afraid of water.
Polystyrene foam is considered low-flammable, and those marked PSB-S are self-extinguishing (does not support combustion). But during a fire, it emits toxic gases, and this is one of the main reasons why it cannot be used for insulation from the inside. Its second drawback is low vapor permeability, which imposes restrictions on the use of “breathable” materials when insulating walls.
Insulating the outside of a house with polystyrene foam Source makemone.ru
- Extruded polystyrene foam
It differs from polystyrene foam by a fundamentally different manufacturing technology, although the raw material is the same polystyrene granules. In some respects it is superior to its “relative”. It has the same percentage of water absorption (no more than 2%), on average, thermal conductivity is 20-30% lower (Table D.1 SP 23-101-2004), vapor permeability is several times lower and compressive strength is higher. Thanks to this set of qualities, it is best material when insulating the foundation and basement, that is, the walls of the basement and the “zero” floor. The disadvantages of EPS are the same as those of polystyrene foam, and it costs more.
EPPS is usually made “colored” Source footing.ru
- Stone, also known as basalt, cotton wool
This is a subtype of mineral wool, the raw materials of which are rocks of stone (most often basalt). A completely different type of thermal insulation material, the low thermal conductivity of which is ensured due to its fibrous structure and low density. It is inferior to foam plastic and EPPS in terms of thermal conductivity (on average 1.5 times higher), but unlike them, it does not burn or smolder (flammability class NG). Refers to “breathable” materials - according to the new standard this sounds like low “breathing resistance”.
Mineral wool mats for wall insulation must be “hard” Source konveyt.ru
But there are other materials for insulating a house outside, which, although used less frequently, have their own advantages.
Thermal insulation materials - new products on the market
Additionally, you can always consider new options - they are a little more expensive, but often somewhat more effective than traditional ones.
- Foamed polyurethane
A common polymer material for “household use”. Also well known as furniture foam (in the form of “soft” mats) or as polyurethane foam for sealing cracks. When insulating, it is also used in the form of slabs or sprayed insulation.
Polyurethane foam slabs have low tear-off holding properties, so they are not used in “wet façade” systems.
But this is a common thermal insulation material for making sandwich panels. The same technology underlies the production of thermal panels for facade cladding. Such a panel is a heat-insulating board with a decorative layer (clinker tiles or stone chips) already applied at the factory. Two types of insulation: polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam. In the first case, the thermal panel is two-layer, in the second – three-layer (OSB or moisture-resistant plywood is used as the supporting base). Two mounting options: on dowels/anchors (open method) or on your own hidden fastening system.
Three-layer thermal panel Source zafasad.ru
Sprayed polyurethane foam is in demand if it is necessary to create a seamless layer of thermal insulation on complex surfaces. Until recently, there was only one technology for applying such a layer - using professional installations working with a two-component composition (mixing occurs during spraying).
Spraying polyurethane foam onto the base of a house Source nauka-i-religia.ru
Now in Russia for household use The production of one-component polyurethane foam has been launched, which is produced in an aerosol can with a capacity of 1 liter. As the manufacturers assure (there are two competing companies), insulating 1 m2 with your own hands is much cheaper than concluding an agreement with specialized enterprises that use professional equipment. And this option for insulating a house from the outside is quite attractive if literally 2-3 cm of the thermal insulation layer is missing.
Insulation using sprayed polyurethane foam "Teplis" Source m.2gis.kz
- Ecowool
A relatively new thermal insulation material. The technology for insulating enclosing surfaces is based on cellulose fiber material, which is applied to the walls using a special installation. There are two options for insulation: filling the plane between the wall and the cladding, spraying with an adhesive binder onto the wall with installed sheathing (and subsequent installation of facade panels).
Among the traditional materials, we can mention glass wool (a subtype of mineral wool), but due to its fragility and the formation of tiny “dust” with sharp edges during installation, it has been replaced by stone wool, which is safe both during installation and during operation.
The better way to insulate a house from the outside - standards for the number of layers
If you follow the regulatory documents, there are two options for how to insulate a house from the outside in terms of the number of structural and thermal insulation layers: two-layer and three-layer. Moreover, in the second case, the external paneling or plaster is not considered an independent layer, although their thermal insulation properties are taken into account. In three-layer walls, the outer (third) layer is the structural material.
Brick cladding with insulation Source pinterest.ru
In addition to this classification, there is also a division based on the presence of a ventilated and non-ventilated layer.
- brickwork, reinforced concrete (with flexible connections), expanded clay concrete - all types of solutions;
- wooden houses– enclosing structures with two-layer, three-layer walls and with a ventilated air gap;
- frame houses with thin-sheet cladding - three-layer walls with thermal insulation in the middle, as well as with a ventilated and unventilated air gap;
- cellular concrete blocks - two-layer walls with brick cladding, as well as with a ventilated or non-ventilated layer.
In practice, for insulating low-rise buildings, such a variety of solutions comes down to the choice between a “wet” or a curtain wall. Although, it is those recommended by the standard that are considered as thermal insulation materials - mineral wool or expanded polystyrene (EPS as an alternative).
But each case has its own preferences.
Video description
The video shows how to choose how to insulate a house from the outside:
The better way to insulate a house from the outside, depending on the wall material
For insulating a brick house, there are no restrictions when choosing technology. Various options can only be considered depending on the chosen method finishing facade:
- Facing brick. This is a classic three-layer wall construction with flexible ties. Even when using polystyrene foam, a ventilated air layer is provided to ventilate water vapor and prevent the wall materials from getting wet.
- Wet facade. You can use mineral wool and polystyrene foam. The first option is preferable - ceramic bricks vapor permeability is higher than that of foam. And according to clause 8.5 of SP 23-101-2004, the arrangement of layers should facilitate the weathering of water vapor to prevent moisture accumulation.
Scheme of a “wet facade” Source deskgram.net
- Ventilated facade. With lining wall panels or large-format porcelain tiles on the sheathing. The insulation is traditional for all suspended facades - mineral wool.
Scheme of a ventilated facade Source sk-optimus.com.ua
Wooden houses (logs or beams) are insulated exclusively with mineral wool using curtain façade technology.
For them, you can find examples of using polystyrene foam and plaster using the “wet facade” method. In this case, a ventilated gap is created between the wall and the foam boards using spacer sheathing. Although in this case the main advantage of the “wet facade” is lost - simplicity of design and installation.
How to calculate the thickness of insulation
If you look through SP23-101-2004 or a similar but later set of rules SP 50.13330.2012, you can see that calculating the thickness of the insulation is not so easy.
Each building is “individual”. When developing a project and approving it, such thermal calculations are made by specialists. And here a whole range of parameters are taken into account - the characteristics of the region (temperatures, duration of the heating season, average number of sunny days), type and area of glazing of the house, heat capacity flooring, thermal insulation of the roof and basement. Even the number of metal connections between the wall and the cladding matters.
But if the owner of a previously built house decides to insulate it (and the new standards introduced in 2003 are much stricter than the old ones), then he will have to choose between three parameters of the “standard thickness” of insulation - 50, 100 and 150 mm. And here the accuracy of calculations is not needed. There is a diagram that shows the equivalent dimensions of the thickness of different materials (in average form), the wall of which will meet the new requirements for thermal protection.
Only a house made of aerated concrete blocks with a thickness of 45 cm does not need insulation Source legkovmeste.ru
And then it’s simple. They take the thickness of a wall made of a certain material and see how much is missing from the standard. And then they calculate in proportion what thickness of the insulation layer of the outside wall of the house needs to be added. Taking into account that a wet facade also has a layer of plaster, and a ventilated one has an air gap, plus interior decoration facade walls, you can be sure of sufficient thermal protection.
And the question of insulation of the roof, floors and choice good windows decided separately.
It’s even easier - use one of the many online calculators. The figure here, of course, is approximate, but rounded up to the nearest standard insulation thickness, it will give the required result.
How to properly install insulation on a facade
Before installation, the facade must be prepared: cleaned of old finishes, removed dirt and dust, dismantled hanging elements of engineering systems, removed ebbs and canopies (you will still have to replace them with wider ones), remove signs, plates and façade lamps. Then the surface of the wall must be strengthened - cracks and chips must be repaired, crumbling areas must be cleaned, and a deep penetration primer must be applied.
Application of primer composition Source rmnt.ru
For reliable fastening of polystyrene foam or rigid mineral wool mats in a wet façade system, the wall surface must be as smooth as the unevenness can be smoothed out with an adhesive solution. If the height difference is up to 5 mm, the solution is applied over the entire insulation slab, with unevenness from 5 to 20 mm - along the perimeter and in the form of “cakes” on 40% of the slab surface.
The first row of slabs is mounted with emphasis on the starting bar, which also sets the horizontal level. The second and subsequent rows are placed with a vertical seam shift (at least 200 mm), leveling the surface of the insulation in the area of the joints so that the height difference is no more than 3 mm. When insulating the walls around the openings, make sure that the seams of the slabs do not intersect in their corners. Each slab is additionally secured with umbrella dowels at the rate of 5 pcs. per 1 m2.
Before applying the plaster, the surface of the slabs is reinforced with fiberglass, fixed in the middle of a layer of adhesive solution with a total thickness of 5-6 mm.
The density of polystyrene foam is chosen to be 25-35 kg/m3.
Video description
Visually about mineral wool insulation in the video:
Mineral wool mats of Russian brands for the “wet facade” system must correspond to index 175, imported ones must be marked “facade” and have a density above 125 kg/m3.
Attention. In the “wet facade” system, the insulation is installed in only one (!) layer. A vertical surface made of two layers of “soft” slabs loaded with plaster behaves unpredictably, especially with changes in temperature and humidity conditions. Do not be fooled by arguments that the second layer of slabs overlaps the seams of the first and eliminates “cold bridges”.
The ventilated facade uses rigid mineral wool mats with a density of 80 kg/m3. If the surface of the mats is not laminated, then after attaching them to the sheathing, the surface is covered with either fiberglass or a vapor-permeable membrane.
The spacing of the lathing is chosen 2-3 cm less than the width of the mats. In addition to fastening to the sheathing, the insulation is additionally fixed to the wall with umbrella dowels.
The size of the air gap between the insulation and the cladding should be in the range of 60-150 mm.
Important. The size of 40 mm is standardized for non-ventilated air spaces.
To ventilate the layer in the cladding, inlet openings are installed in the base area and outlet openings are installed under the roof eaves. The total area of the holes must be at least 75 cm2 per 20 m2 of wall.
Ventilation grilles in the wall Source tproekt.com
As a result, is it worth insulating?
Insulating your home is a profitable investment even in the short term. The investment will quickly pay for itself by reducing heating and air conditioning costs.
Our website also presents companies specializing in facade and finishing materials, which are presented at the exhibition of Low-Rise Country houses.
To keep the house warm, it is necessary not only to provide proper heating, but also to insulate the house. The main thing is roof insulation. In our article we will present the TOP 10 rating the best insulation materials for the roof! Read reviews, addresses of companies, comparison of the basics about everything below.
What types of roof insulation are there?
The modern market provides huge selection various roof insulation materials. Let's consider the main ones:
- Basalt wool– a fairly new, high-tech, reliable and durable material for roof insulation. The insulation is made from basalt rocks. Cotton wool consists of the finest fibers up to 5 millimeters thick, which are intertwined with each other. Such fibers have water-repellent properties, so the cotton wool will not get wet. This kind of insulation is designed for temperatures up to + 750 degrees Celsius, it is not subject to destruction and retains its shape. Basalt wool allows you to maintain a comfortable room temperature at any time of the year.
- Fiberglass Today it is the most affordable roofing insulation. Its structure is similar to the structure of basalt wool, only this insulation consists not of basalt fibers, but of sand, which melts at a certain temperature and is formed into fibers. When purchasing such insulation, you need to pay attention to thermal conductivity, water-repellent properties and density.
- Expanded polystyrene(foam plastic). Lightweight and easy to install, polystyrene foam is used to insulate all types of roofs. Expanded polystyrene does not get wet, does not rot and does not weigh down the roof structure, however, there is a significant drawback - the flammability of the material. When working with this material, care must be taken to comply with fire safety regulations.
- Extruded polystyrene foam. The complete absence of water absorption allows the material to be used for all types of roofs, including inversion roofs. This material is easy to install and does not weigh down the roof structure.
- Polyester fiber differs from all modern insulation materials in its environmentally friendly composition. The manufacturing technology of such insulation is identical to the manufacturing technology of clothing and similar products with which humans come into contact. Polyester fiber insulation is a non-woven insulating material with good performance properties, which allows significant savings.
Basics Comparison Chart
When choosing insulation, the question immediately arises: which insulation for the roof is better? The price is different for everyone, as are the indicators. Let's compare the main types of insulation in comparative table below.
2 best basalt insulation
Basalt insulation providing heat and sound insulation. Ideal for insulating any type of roof of frame houses. The insulation is sold in a package in the form of slabs of 8 pieces per package and is absolutely safe and non-flammable.
Price: 225 rubles.
Hotrock Smart insulation
- easy to install;
- has excellent sound insulation.
- harmful to breathing (additional use of vapor barrier is required).
I used this insulation on my mansard roof. Excellent sound insulation, the house is warm and cozy. Laying the material was easy and simple and we didn’t even have to hire people for this purpose; we did it on our own.
