Mineral floor insulation. What is the best floor insulation? Types of materials suitable for insulation of concrete floors

For many of our fellow citizens, the question remains how to properly insulate the floor in a private house. In our article, we will get acquainted with the need to use insulation works, the advantages and disadvantages of various thermal insulation materials, we will pay special attention to the technology of insulation.

When you need to insulate the floor

Many people know that flooring occupies a significant usable area not only of a specific room, but of the entire building. In this regard, with systemic heat exchange a large number of heat is released into the surrounding space through the floors. Take, for example, not insulated concrete base... Many people know that such a material has high strength and durability, but by itself it is dense, which means it is cold. High-quality floor insulation will help to increase the efficiency of the structure under consideration.

According to experts, the cold coating creates uncomfortable living conditions for people. This is especially true for apartments located on the 1st floor. In this case, an unheated basement is located at the bottom of the living quarters. The temperature difference leads to the formation of dampness on the walls of the house, and this is a direct path to the appearance of fungus and mold. So that such phenomena do not occur, it is necessary to install high-quality thermal insulation. Such works are not particularly difficult and labor-intensive, since most of the heaters can be laid with your own hands.

Floor insulation

When you go to a hardware store, you can find a huge assortment of various materials for insulation work. When insulating the floor in a private house, it is necessary to select products that meet the following requirements:

long service life;
high strength;
minimum coefficient of thermal conductivity;
sufficient density of the product (this is especially true when insulating the floor);
minimal moisture absorption;
high level of environmental safety;
resistance to high temperatures;
ease of installation.

When choosing one or another type of insulation, it is necessary to focus not only on the technical characteristics, but also on the advantages or disadvantages in operation. Next, we will consider the most popular floor insulation, their strengths and weaknesses.

Penoplex

Such insulation as penoplex on appearance is very similar to the polystyrene familiar to many. Both of these products are quite lightweight, they consist of balls interconnected. If, in the manufacture of foam, the raw components are exposed to water vapor, then the extrusion method is used for the production of foam (first, the raw components melt, then the granules are foamed, as a result of which the final products acquire additional strength indicators. Penoplex can be used to insulate floors, building facades and other structures that give in to moisture.

Material advantages:

good thermal insulation properties;
the surface of the products does not absorb moisture;
Penoplex can be operated in the temperature range of -50 ... + 75 degrees;
high strength indicators;
the material is easy to lay and handle, it can be cut into pieces with an ordinary knife;
the service life of such products reaches 50 years.

Disadvantages:

The main disadvantage of using penoplex for floor insulation in a private house is the relatively high cost.
The products in question can be destroyed under the influence of direct sunlight, therefore, the surface must be protected from such influence with a finishing layer.
The insulation can be attacked by mice and other rodents.
Another disadvantage is the fact that penoplex supports combustion.

Mineral wool

Insulating material such as mineral wool made by melting some rocks under the influence of high temperatures. The products under consideration consist of thin threads that are connected to each other using special glue. The products in question are delivered to hardware stores in the form of individual rolls or mats. Mineral wool is used to insulate the outer walls of buildings, roofs and attics. In addition, the material in question can be used as insulation under the floor covering, and especially in wooden house.

Benefits of using mineral wool:

Reliable and high-quality insulation of premises, protection of residential buildings from cold and wind.
Basalt wool does not support combustion processes, but its structure can melt when exposed to high temperatures.
The facade of the house, finished with mineral wool, has good vapor permeability. Fungus and mold will not appear on the surface of such products, but they must be protected from moisture.
In addition to high thermal insulation qualities, the material absorbs extraneous noise, so the mats can be laid in dividing walls or entrance doors.
The products in question have high durability rates.
Mineral wool is too tough for various rodents and other pests. Mold does not appear in the structure of such products.

The main disadvantages of insulation include:

Protect exposed areas of the body when working with stone wool respiratory organs and eyes with special protective equipment. The fact is that such products, during mechanical stress, emit tiny particles into the air that can be harmful to humans.
The products under consideration contain toxic substances, formaldehydes, which are harmful to human health.
Thermal insulation loses its basic properties when wet.

Expanded clay

Concrete floors or other types of substrates can be insulated with expanded clay. This material consists of sintered clay particles, in the form of balls with air bubbles trapped inside. Expanded clay is strong enough and lightweight, can be used not only for floor insulation, but also for filling into voids in brick walls... In addition, such products can be used for roof insulation, with their participation they are made reinforced concrete slabs floors and other building structures.

Advantages of expanded clay:

The main raw material for the manufacture of expanded clay is natural clay. That is why the considered insulation has the maximum indicators of environmental safety.
Granules have a porous structure, which affects high heat and sound insulation performance.
The material can be laid using the granule filling method or the floor can be leveled using concrete mortar laid between the beacons.
The considered insulation is characterized by increased resistance to temperature extremes.
Expanded clay is quite light, it does not exert a significant load on the foundation of the building.
The material is resistant to moisture, is not damaged by rodents, fungus and mold.

The disadvantages of using expanded clay are as follows:

Insufficient indicators of the strength of the granules. This must be borne in mind when compacting a leveled surface;
Expanded clay can absorb a certain amount of moisture, which is not released into the atmosphere immediately, but as the surface dries.

How to insulate the floor in a wooden house

Many owners of suburban real estate do not know how to insulate a wooden floor, nevertheless, the technology for performing such work is quite simple, even a novice builder can do it. On preparatory stage you should stock up on such construction tools as a level, pencil, tape measure, stapler with staples, nails, hammer, plane and hacksaw. As additional.

One of the most popular methods of insulation is the use of a double floor system. This structure consists of two wooden limiting elements between which a waterproofing and vapor barrier film and insulation are placed. In practice, two types of heat-insulating pies are used.

Method number 1:

base;
expanded clay granules;
a sheet of cardboard;
3 centimeters per air gap;
finishing floor covering.

Method number 2 (used mainly for apartments on the first floor of a residential building):

plank base;
plastic wrap or other waterproofing material;
wooden logs;
mineral wool slabs or other insulation;
vapor barrier;
finishing floor covering.

For the manufacture of the subfloor, select wooden plank up to 2 centimeters thick, while the width of the products should be within 20 centimeters. It is not recommended to nail the elements of the base to the lags, they hold on wooden blocks lathing with a cross section of 5 * 5 centimeters. The boards are fixed with nails, the presence of small gaps is allowed, the gaps are compensated after installing the thermal insulation.

Next, we will consider how to insulate the floor with penoplex. At the preparatory stage of work, it is necessary to buy products of sufficient density in a hardware store that can withstand a load of at least 35 kilograms per square meter... First you need to dismantle the old flooring to the level of the subfloor. After that, the lag is installed in accordance with the dimensions of the insulation, for example, after 70 centimeters.

At the next stage of work, we fix a vapor barrier film to the base. This product is attached to the surface with a stapler and staples. Scotch tape is glued at the joints of the panels. Next, the sheets of insulation are cut (1 centimeter more from the distance between the lags). This is necessary for a better fit of the thermal insulation. After that, you need to lay the plastic wrap and you can start laying the finishing flooring.

How to insulate a concrete floor

One of the methods to reduce energy consumption in a private house is the insulation of the concrete floor along the logs. As a finishing leveling layer, a sheet base made of plywood or chipboard is used. In such a case, wet processes are absent, in addition, the load on the heat-insulating material is reduced. In this case, dense mineral wool is used as a heater, as well as expanded clay (if you need to slightly raise the level of the clean floor).

If there is an unheated room under the living room, then the minimum thickness of mineral wool should be 5 centimeters or 3 centimeters above the heated one. In the latter case, the thermal insulation is covered on both sides with waterproofing and a vapor-permeable film. It is not recommended to use a vapor barrier for this purpose, and especially if the floor is between the living room and the cold basement. In this case, the temperature difference will lead to the formation of condensation, which will negatively affect the properties of the insulation.

At the initial stage of work, wooden logs are fixed to the prepared base with the help of anchor bolts. The distance between these elements is chosen 1 centimeter less from one of the overall dimensions of the insulation. Strips of roofing material are laid under the lags, and the products themselves are treated with an antiseptic. Now we lay the insulation and the vapor-permeable film, fix the sheet screed and the finishing layer of the floor covering.

About the flammability of heaters

one of the most important characteristics of any insulation is considered flammability, which is directly related to the release of smoke and some harmful substances. Of all the types of thermal insulation materials considered, Penoplex has the maximum flammability. Such products support the combustion process, which is accompanied by the release of smoke and various harmful substances.

Expanded clay granules, as well as mineral wool, are well resistant to open fire. The maximum harm from the use of these products can be associated with a change in their structure. As a result of the melting of materials, the deformation of the insulation occurs. In mineral wool, this is associated with the release of harmful substances, but expanded clay granules do not emit such components.

Insulation for the floor prevents rapid cooling of the room, since heat-insulating materials have low thermal conductivity. Some of them are used for external insulation of the foundation, others for direct finishing of floor coverings inside the house. In this article, we will consider the main types of insulation, as well as methods of thermal insulation of concrete and wooden bases.

Features of heat-insulating materials

How to insulate the floor in the house? To prevent serious heat loss indoors, two main types of insulators are used:

Reflective heat radiation. These types of heat insulators contain a metallized layer with reflective properties. Due to this, it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of heating the room;
Preventing heat exchange with the external environment. Insulation of the floor with insulators of this type occurs due to the low thermal conductivity of materials, which impede the exchange of heat in the room with the environment.

To make sense of technical characteristics and the advantages of modern thermal insulators, consider the most popular of them in more detail.

Organic heat insulators

Organic floor insulation contains components of natural origin, as well as synthetic binders and cement. Raw materials processed by polymer compositions acquire excellent heat-insulating qualities, resistance to fire and high humidity.

What options for organic-based thermal insulators are offered by modern manufacturers?

Arbolit. Pressed blocks are obtained from wood-shaving materials, sawdust, straw and chopped reeds. Also, the composition of raw materials includes cement, soluble glass and calcium chloride. The thickness of the blocks can vary from 10 to 100 mm, while they have a high bending strength and a low coefficient of thermal conductivity - no more than 0.10 W / m * K;
Polyvinyl chloride foam. The composition of PPVC boards includes organic resins with low thermal conductivity. Dense and frost-resistant material is used to insulate the subfloor, building facades and roofs;
Chipboard plates. Chipboards contain an antiseptic and synthetic resins, which provide the coating with a sufficient level of thermal insulation and moisture resistance;
Polyurethane foam. Insulation for the floor is made from polyester, which is supplemented with emulsifiers and synthetic substances that have heat-reflecting characteristics. A chemically neutral heat insulator is used to insulate floors over basements and ground;
Penoizol. The thermal insulator is produced in the form of blocks or granules. It is made from urea-formaldehyde resins mixed with glycerin. The thickness of the plastic and fire-resistant insulation is at least 10 mm. Penoizol can be used for finishing floor coverings and wall panels;
Expanded polystyrene. Expanded polystyrene is approximately 95% air. Thermal insulation of the floor with a cellular material made from petroleum products allows to increase the efficiency of the heating system by 40%. The coating has good waterproofing properties and corrosion resistance;
Foamed polyethylene. Insulation is obtained by synthesizing conventional polyethylene with a foaming component - hydrocarbon. Such an insulator not only prevents heat loss in the room, but also has excellent vapor barrier properties. It practically does not absorb moisture and contributes to additional noise insulation in the room;
Ecowool. The heat insulator is made from cardboard production waste. Environmentally friendly bulk material has a high level of thermal and noise insulation. At the same time, ecowool is hygroscopic, therefore it cannot be used without additional waterproofing.

Inorganic heat insulators

Insulation of the floor with inorganic insulators allows you to achieve a minimum level of heat exchange with the environment. Synthetic materials are practically not afraid of moisture and strong temperature changes, so many of them can be used to insulate the basement. As a rule, the following components are included in the composition of inorganic insulation:

Asbestos;
Plasticizers;
Fiberglass;
Slags;
Rocks.

What types of thermal insulators are in the greatest demand?

Mineral wool. Roll material is made from waste obtained in the casting process of non-ferrous and ferrous metals. The binding component is phenol, which gives the insulation the necessary properties. Mineral wool practically does not burn, has good noise and heat insulation and has high vapor permeability;
Ceramic wool. The composition of raw materials for the manufacture of cotton wool includes oxides of metals, silicon and zirconium. She endures temperature load at 900 degrees or more. The thickness of the thermal insulator layer varies from 5 to 50 mm, which significantly expands the scope of the cotton wool. It can be used to insulate concrete and wooden bases, roofs and walls;
Glass wool. A heat insulator is produced from glass waste. Unlike mineral wool, the thickness of glass wool is much larger and can reach 60-80 mm. The coating is chemically neutral and resistant to high temperatures.

Foil heat insulators

Insulation of the floor with foil insulators allows not only to prevent serious heat loss in the room, but also to carry out additional noise and waterproofing. The thickness of the materials is relatively small and ranges from 4 to 100 mm. Such insulation consists of two or three layers, one of which is made of aluminum foil.

What are the most effective thermal insulators with a metallized layer?

Izolon. The coating is made of gas-foamed polyethylene and a foil layer. Some types of insulators have a self-adhesive base, which greatly simplifies the installation procedure. The small thickness and weight of the isolon make it possible to use it for thermal insulation of the floor and ceiling;
Penofol. The combined type heat insulator is made of metallized film and polyethylene foam. The coating reflects up to 97% percent of thermal energy, and due to its good waterproofing properties, it can be used to insulate rooms with high humidity - saunas, swimming pools;
Foamed polyethylene. Thermal insulation of the floor with foamed polyethylene allows you to achieve good sound and heat insulation of concrete and wooden bases. The synthetic material has high microbiological resistance and chemical neutrality. It is produced in the form of a roll, the layer thickness can reach 15-30 mm;
IPE. Polyethylene foam made from a foamed composition has a cellular structure. Thanks to the air gap inside the coating, heat loss in the room is significantly reduced. The heat insulator is not subject to decay, therefore it can be used to insulate floors in rooms with a harsh microclimate.

Insulation of the foundation outside

Is it possible to insulate the walls of the foundation? According to most masters, it is not only possible, but necessary to insulate the walls of the foundation. In the process of soil freezing, heat loss increases significantly, which contributes to an increase in heating costs in winter period... How to properly insulate the floor outside the house?

It is better to choose polystyrene foam plates as a heat-insulating material, since they are not afraid of frost and do not lose their thermal-insulating properties when wet;
Fix the slabs outside the house along the perimeter of the entire foundation using dowels or frost-resistant glue;
It is desirable that the insulation is located a few centimeters below the level of soil freezing;
The thickness of the boards must be at least 10 mm;
After fixing the expanded polystyrene, it is advisable to sand the basement part of the material and revet it with frost-resistant plaster.

Floor insulation on the ground

As a rule, this technology is used to insulate floor coverings in private wooden mansions and baths. In the process of work, the following nuances should be taken into account:

The soil is well leveled and tamped;
After that, gravel and sand are laid as a substrate;
The thickness of the backing must be at least 10 cm;
If it is necessary to lay hydrophobic heat-insulating materials, first perform waterproofing using roofing material;
Then the thermal and vapor insulator is laid;
At the final stage of warming, the rough base is poured cement mortar, after which the topcoat is applied.

Thermal insulation of the floor along the logs

This method of thermal insulation is no less effective than the previous one, but it will cost significantly more. So, how to insulate a rough base along the logs?

The soil is leveled and compacted;
Along the perimeter are laid out brick pillars under wooden logs with a step of 0.6 m;
Then on brickwork mount the beams and spread the roofing material;
In the section between the lags, a light insulation (ecowool, mineral wool, granular foam) is poured;
Next, a layer of vapor-permeable insulation is laid;
At the final stage, a screed is made.

High-quality floor insulation can be done using organic, synthetic and foil-clad thermal insulators. Each of them has special technical properties and application features, which we described in this article.

Now the walls and the roof are up wooden house, windows and doors are inserted. It's time to move on to the inner finishing works... And they usually start with the device of floors. This is one of the most important and crucial stages of work, because the overall microclimate in the rooms of the wooden structure and the level of heating costs will depend on how correctly and efficiently the floor cake is made. At the same time, close attention should be paid to the choice of insulation for floors, because up to 20% of the heat in the house is lost through the flooring.

How to choose a heater?

The most important thing that determines the choice of insulation for processing the finished floor from below is the type of foundation and, accordingly, the floor structure:

If the foundation is strip, then the floor can be laid directly on the ground or on the floor, arranged along the beams.
A low grillage foundation assumes the same flooring options as with a strip type of foundation.
With a high grillage foundation, the floor is arranged along the ceilings laid along the beams.
If there is a floating slab (this is often done during construction wooden houses on wet soils), then the floor can be arranged on logs or on a screed.

So, it becomes clear that there are three options for flooring floors in a wooden house, on which the choice of material for their insulation directly depends. This is the device of floors on the ground, on a slab and on wooden floors with logs.

Therefore, when choosing a heater, it is imperative to take into account the mutual influence of the materials of the floor pie construction.

Wooden floors

Since the floors of a wooden house are also made of wood, when using vapor-tight thermal insulation, all the moisture that will be inside the floor structure will be absorbed into the wood and, due to tight contact with the insulation, will not be able to get out. The result of this will be the appearance within a year and a half of fungus, insects and the spread of decay processes.

A completely different result is given by heaters that have the property of hygroscopicity.(sawdust, ecowool, cork granules, mineral wool, expanded clay) and due to this they absorb moisture in the same way as wood, but at the same time give it out.

Therefore, with this type of floor device, it is categorically impossible to use various heaters based on expanded polystyrene and polystyrene.

Wood and similar materials are incompatible things.

Ground and slab floors

In this kind of flooring structures, the insulation is covered from above with a screed.

Loose and wadded materials will not be able to provide the required level of strength, although now they also produce mineral wool with a fairly high density.

In addition, these types of thermal insulation are hygroscopic and there is a possibility of getting wet. And, having got wet, they will not be able to give moisture out through the screed.

Therefore, for this type of floor, polystyrene foam insulation is most suitable - it is dense and does not absorb moisture.

In addition, when choosing thermal insulation for floors in a wooden house, one should proceed from the following factors:

maximum weight of the floor structure;
required thickness;
humidity temperature regime inside the house, the presence of temperature changes;
calculated loads on the floor structure and conditions of its operation.

Separately, you should dwell on the thickness of the heat-insulating layer.

This indicator determines how warm it will be in a wooden house. It is calculated individually and depends on climatic conditions, in which the house is built, and the thermal conductivity of the insulation itself. To determine the thickness of the insulation, it is necessary to multiply the thermal conductivity coefficient specified in the technical description for a specific insulation by the thermal resistance of the structure (determined according to SNiP "Thermal protection of buildings"). This formula helps to accurately calculate what should be the thermal insulation layer in the floor structure in order to ensure the optimal temperature regime in the house.

When choosing thermal insulation for the floor, you should also pay attention to:

ease of installation material;
environmental friendliness;
efficiency, that is, maintaining its characteristics throughout the entire service life;
fire safety;
density and reliability;
the price.

How to insulate?

You can insulate floors in wooden houses different materials... Today the market building materials abounds in a wide variety of thermal insulation from the simplest to the most modern types.

Insulation materials

Sawdust

The simplest and cheapest insulation. It is easy to apply - just sprinkle it on the rough subfloor. This material is environmentally friendly and safe. But it has a serious drawback - a high degree of fire hazard. And also when using sawdust as a heater, they will have to be laid in a layer as much as 0.3 m. Sawdust, in addition, like any wood product, can rot, rodents can start in them. Therefore, sawdust is most often used to insulate the floor of unused attic rooms.

However, sawdust in recent times increasingly act as a raw material in the production of other more modern and efficient thermal insulation.

Ecowool

Thermal insulation material made of cellulose with the addition of fire retardants and antiseptic compounds. This product has good thermal insulation and vapor permeability. It is environmentally friendly, non-flammable, resistant to rodents and fungi. But ecowool strongly absorbs moisture. This is its main drawback.

Expanded clay

Material with high strength and thermal insulation characteristics. Expanded clay is suitable for flooring on flat surfaces. To ensure optimal performance of thermal insulation, expanded clay must be laid with a layer of at least 15 cm. The convenience of this material also lies in the fact that all the necessary communications can be laid in it. Expanded clay is quite hygroscopic, therefore, before using it on the ground, it is imperative to perform waterproofing measures.

The main advantage of bulk floor insulation is their wastelessness and the ability to fill all kinds of (even the most difficult to access) voids.

Expanded polystyrene, polystyrene, polyethylene

These materials are vapor-tight thermal insulation that can be used to build the floor cake on a flat base. For floors on ceilings with a log device (in wooden houses on piles, posts, strip and grillage foundations), such material will not work due to the laws of building heat engineering.

The thickness of the insulation layer will be 5-10 cm for expanded polystyrene and 5-13 cm for polystyrene.

These types of thermal insulation materials have the following characteristics:

low thermal conductivity;
strength;
resistance to rodents and decay;
resistance to temperature extremes.

Expanded polystyrene insulation in our country is presented under the names "Penoplex", "Technoplex", "Knauf".

Insulation based on polyethylene foam is also used for thermal insulation of floors. One of the varieties of such insulation is the rolled foil material penofol, which has high operational and thermal insulation properties. Penofol is a polyethylene foam covered with foil on one or both sides.

High levels of thermal insulation of this material are provided by retaining heat in air bubbles sealed in polyethylene balls. The foil acts as a barrier that traps heat in winter and reflects the sun's heat in summer, thereby maintaining an optimal thermal regime in the room.

Penofol is also a waterproofing material.

It is lightweight, non-hygroscopic, safe for health and has a long service life (up to 25 years).

Fibrolite

Not a very common type of insulation, which is made from a mixture liquid glass, cement powder and wood wool. Such material retains heat well and has high sound insulation characteristics. Such insulation, due to its hygroscopicity, is not suitable for flooring on the ground, but ideal for floors on beams. To insulate the floor of the first floor, it is laid with a layer of 15 cm, the second - 10 cm.

Foam glass

Foam glass is obtained by foaming quartz sand. It is a durable slab or granular material with high vapor and noise insulation characteristics, which is able to withstand the weight of a truck.

Fiberboard slabs are used for warming floors on a flat base, granules for backfilling between logs on subfloors. The thickness of the insulation layer is 18 cm for the first floor and 15 cm for the second.

Mineral wool

This type of insulation is by far the most popular. Mineral wool insulation is made from slag fiber, fiberglass or basalt.

The most budgetary mineral wool insulation is glass wool, which is made from broken glass, sand, borax, dolomite, limestone and soda.

The raw material for slag wool is blast furnace slag, which is a waste in the production of pig iron. Due to its excessive hygroscopicity, slag wool has practically not been used recently.

Stone wool is produced from basalt rocks such as gabbro, basalt. Diabase with the addition of carbonate rocks (limestone and dolomite).

The main advantages of such heaters:

they conduct heat poorly, which means they retain it well;
vapor permeability. The insulation provides good air exchange, the floor structure is breathable, which allows you to maintain an optimal temperature and humidity regime in a wooden house. The probability of condensation in the insulation is small;
high density;
high noise insulation characteristics;
they are resistant to high temperatures and fire; when in contact with fire, no smoke is emitted;
waterproofness. Stone wool and glass wool do not absorb moisture, so you should not be afraid of dampness inside the structure of the field;
long period of operation - up to 50 years. This type of insulation is not susceptible to rotting and damage by rodents.

The disadvantages of mineral wool thermal insulation are ambiguous. Currently, many large manufacturers have practically reduced them to zero, and the rest are successfully working to minimize them.

Of the shortcomings, it is noted that when working with mineral wool, especially with glass wool, a lot of dust arises, since the insulation consists of fragile fibers, which, if damaged, form very thin and sharp fragments. Getting on the skin during the installation of insulation, they lead to itching. It is dangerous to get these fibers into the respiratory system. Therefore, such insulation can only be laid using individual funds protection such as respirator, overalls, goggles, gloves.

When wet, mineral wool loses its high thermal performance. Therefore, such heaters are specially treated with hydrophobes. To reduce the likelihood of mineral wool getting wet, it is recommended to install waterproofing from the side of the room, and from the side of the street - vapor barrier during installation.

Until now, builders argue that mineral wool releases phenol-formaldehyde resins into the air. But the data of recent studies indicate their very small amount, which cannot have a detrimental effect on human health.

Mineral wool can be produced in rolls or slabs. Mineral wool material in rolls has a lower density than thermal insulation in slabs. It is used more often as an addition to board material or where a low level of thermal insulation is required.

The main trade marks mineral wool - "Isover", "Rokvol", "Knauf", "Ursa", "Technonikol", "Ecover", "Izovol", "Park" and others.

Professionals cannot give an unambiguous answer to the question about floor insulation for a wooden house - which choice is the best.

The question "What insulation is better for the floor?" are asked by everyone who loves comfort. It's always nice to walk barefoot without fear that your limbs will freeze. And this is especially true in the off-season, when central heating is not yet turned on (if any) and in winter, when outside the window subzero temperature... It was then that people often turn their eyes to floor insulation. We will tell you how to choose the material and how to lay it correctly. After all, a well-insulated floor is one of the components of the preservation of heat in a living room.

When choosing heaters, it is important to take into account the climatic zone (how cold it can be in winter), the characteristics of the room and its purpose, the type of existing or planned floor covering. For example, floor insulation in an apartment and in a wooden house will differ significantly.

Option # 1 - expanded polystyrene

Among the materials that do not require communications or connection to the network, the most common insulation for a warm floor is expanded polystyrene, well known to everyone as polystyrene.

Its thermal insulation properties are 25 times better than that of expanded clay concrete. And walking on a floor insulated with expanded polystyrene is much warmer and more pleasant, because such a floor absorbs heat very slowly.

Polyfoam as a floor insulation is used when installing a floating screed. Then it is poured with a layer of cement or concrete. It is possible to lay slabs between the logs when constructing wooden floors. Another way - the slabs are laid on a concrete floor, and on top of them - sheets of plywood.

Expanded polystyrene is not afraid of moisture, therefore it can be widely used for insulating floors on the balcony and in rooms with elevated level humidity

Option # 2 - expanded clay

Expanded clay is one of the most affordable inexpensive materials. It is used both when falling asleep under gypsum fiber boards and added to concrete. Using expanded clay, a floating floor screed is also constructed, when concrete or cement mortar is poured over it.

It is better to insulate the floor with expanded clay from different fractions

The porous structure of this material, made from clay, allows for thermal insulation of the floor, even in areas with very cold and frosty winters. But for this, the expanded clay layer should be about 10-15 cm, which is not always convenient, because it reduces the existing living space.

Option # 3 - polystyrene concrete

In comparison with expanded clay and a conventional screed, the thickness of the floor insulation based on polystyrene concrete is much thinner. Enough 5 cm of material to provide both heat and sound insulation of the room. And the pressure on the floor in this case will be less, and the floor can be leveled and the floor will be insulated.

Almost all materials, including tiles, can be lined on top of the polystyrene concrete layer. In addition, it will create a perfectly flat surface for self-leveling floors.

Option # 4 - glass wool and mineral wool

These types of insulation are widely used for insulating roofs, walls and floors due to their low cost. There are such materials in the form of slabs or in rolls. They are most often used to insulate wooden floors due to the vapor permeability of the material.

Lay mineral wool and glass wool between the logs. But the composition of these materials makes you think: the release, although in safe standards, is still present with hazardous chemicals.

Laying mineral wool between the logs of the wooden floor

Glass wool must be carefully insulated so that dust does not enter the room when it wears out. When laying such materials, it is important to leave a ventilation gap. The disadvantages of these materials include their weight and moisture absorption.

Option # 5 - cork material

To insulate the floor with a light, safe and thin material, cork fiber is used. it the best insulation for a floor under linoleum. The best, but also one of the most expensive. In addition to thermal insulation qualities, it has durability and moisture resistance.

This material can be installed either as a substrate under floor coverings or used as a stand-alone floor covering. In the latter case, cork slabs are additionally polished and varnished. You will get a natural beautiful warm floor.

Option # 6 - sawdust heaters

By themselves, sawdust for insulation is no longer used. They do not meet fire safety requirements. But from them with the addition of fire retardants, antiseptics and glue, sawdust pellets, wood concrete, ecowool are produced.

Option # 7 - ecowool

This loose cellulose-based material is used to insulate even hard-to-reach places. It is poured automatically or manually with a layer of 15-20 cm, which in terms of thermal characteristics corresponds to a layer of expanded clay 80 cm.

Ecowool has soundproof and heat-insulating properties, it is completely safe. But such material is afraid of moisture. Therefore, it is laid only in those places where there is no likelihood of an increase in the level of humidity. It is used most often when laying wooden floors.

Option # 8 - penoizol

Simply put, penoizol is a liquid foam, about everyone positive aspects which we have already said. Penoizol is good because, due to its consistency, it can be poured into hard-to-reach places, cracks and seams are sealed with it.

It is good to use it in the early stages of building and equipping a house. It fills all air voids, thereby preventing further heat outflow.

Option # 9 - foil insulation

The action of the material is based on the fact that it reflects heat back into the room, but does not transfer it to the outside. Therefore, it is correct to lay it with the reflective side up. This material is durable, waterproof, so it can be used in all types of premises, including baths and saunas.

As you can see, there are plenty of materials for insulating your floor, in whatever room it is located. It is important to take into account all the nuances and choose the most effective and safe insulation.

Such insulation can consist of a layer of mineral wool or foam and a layer of foil. It is made in the form of plates and in rolls. They are sheathed wooden floors or laid under warm floors

Additional option - "warm floor" system

Increasingly, people choose a warm floor system. In the case of a water system, under the floor surface, through which it will circulate hot water... The method is effective, but troublesome. Indeed, in addition to the pipes themselves, you will need risers, collectors, shut-off valves, an automatic control device (shutdown).

For mounting modern systems Underfloor heating uses, as a rule, polymer pipes. Such pipes are very strong, resistant to thermal aging, have ductility and flexibility, and are not afraid of corrosion.

You can also do electrical system: In this case, a cable is laid under the floor covering, which converts the current into heat. A layer of 3-7 cm of concrete is laid on top of the heating elements or cement-sand mortar, and only then the flooring. Those. if a breakdown occurs, you will need to completely dismantle the floor.

There are and. Such floors are much easier to install and operate. The film underfloor heating does not require a screed, it is very quickly mounted and connected. On top of such a floor, you can lay linoleum, tiles, parquet, laminate. This system can be easily removed and moved to another room.

The convenience and efficiency of underfloor heating makes them the most popular for residential and public premises (kindergartens, schools, sports complexes).

Almost everyone who loves comfort and warmth prefers to additionally insulate their floor. Today this is extremely important, since you can find insulation for every taste in hardware stores. This applies to both the insulating properties and the cost of the material. Nevertheless, only at first glance, the choice may seem obvious, but in reality it is not. Let's figure out what it is, high-quality thermal insulation for the floor and how to choose it.

Some general information

Before proceeding with the choice of material, you need to answer yourself one simple question: do I need it? The fact is that today in many houses and apartments there are no exceptions, only those rooms where "warm floor" systems are installed, since in this case they must install thermal insulation. After all, the main goal we need to achieve is warmth and comfort. But we must not forget that if we can direct the heat in the right direction, we will also save a significant part of the money. It would seem that everything is simple, but it is not entirely true. Firstly, there are a large number of bases, for each of which it is necessary to use a certain material. Secondly, there are systems such as "warm" or "water" floor. Everywhere has its own nuances, therefore, thermal insulation for the floor should be carried out taking into account even the smallest details.

About the choice of material

Before proceeding with the installation, it is necessary to select a good material that will satisfy all the requirements. Of course, you must consider your financial capabilities as well. The most popular and at the same time relatively inexpensive thermal insulation material is, In fact, this is an ordinary roll-on seal, the main advantage of which is that it is completely environmentally friendly and clean. But using cork backing limited by several factors: firstly, the floor will rise by about 3-4 cm, and secondly, it is necessary to use reflective material in the kit. If we take into account the last nuance, it turns out that such thermal insulation for the floor becomes quite expensive. But there are several other, more economical options.

Heat insulation for underfloor heating

One of the most popular materials is polypropylene. It is usually used in the form of extruded boards. This is due to the fact that they lend themselves well to processing, and this allows you to correctly install with a complex configuration of the room. What is also important is the non-hygroscopicity and closed cellular structure of polypropylene. Polypropylene can be used when high temperatures(up to 130 degrees).

Often, thermal insulation for a warm floor is made of a material such as expanded polystyrene. Sometimes a patch is used on top, which is a polypropylene film. Extruded polystyrene foam is produced with a thickness of 50-100 mm. By the way, many believe that this is one of the best materials under the water floor. It has mechanical properties such as strength, lightness and hardness. In addition, it can withstand both high and low temperatures and serves for many years, which is facilitated by the cellular structure.

Thermal insulation for water floor

Let's look at what is the best material to choose for such a popular water floor today. As noted above, expanded polystyrene is well suited for these purposes, and we will talk about it. The fact is that in our case it is extremely important to save heat from the coolant as long as possible. Due to the preservation of its operational properties at temperatures from -180 to 180 degrees Celsius, expanded polystyrene is excellent for solving this problem. In principle, it makes sense to note that air itself is a very poor conductor of heat. Therefore, we can safely count on a low coefficient of thermal conductivity.

In detail about expanded polystyrene

We have already figured out that substrates made of this material are very effective. In addition to thermal insulation, polystyrene foam shows excellent sound insulation properties. Again, all of this can be achieved due to the presence of air bubbles, which prevent the conversion of sound energy into heat. Many can say that the sound insulation properties are superfluous. In principle, in a private house this is so, but the tenants of high-rise buildings will definitely not agree with you.

Another feature is resistance to salt solutions and acids. Such thermal insulation for a water-heated floor will not be eaten by insects and rotted. By the way, polystyrene is also good because it can serve for tens of years, and during this time nothing will happen to it. Therefore, the underfloor heating device will not be disturbed. Unlike some other insulating materials, this one does not emit harmful and toxic substances when heated.

What is the best fit for a wood floor?

Usually, they try to choose an environmentally friendly material for completely wooden houses. In principle, mineral wool, polystyrene and fiberglass are best suited for these purposes. These materials are not only environmentally friendly, but also good insulators. For example, fiberglass is well suited for wooden houses and structures, and polystyrene can be used for other buildings as well. The first option is more preferable, but the price "bites". The second method is less expensive. Mineral wool, as thermal insulation for a wooden floor, has the following significant advantages:

low thermal conductivity;
environmental friendliness;
incombustibility;
chemical resistance.

Expanded polystyrene is good in its own way, it is worth noting its following strengths:

excellent thermal insulation;
ease of installation;
lends itself well to processing;
durable and resistant to mechanical damage.

A little about the durability of materials

When choosing, it always makes sense to look not only at the initial quality of the insulating properties, but also at how long it will all work. Agree, I don't really want to buy an expensive material that will rot in three years or simply lose its technological qualities. For this simple reason, it always makes sense to pay attention to durability. Any floor insulation materials must last at least 10 years. For example, floor heating systems work for 15-20 years. After this period, a partial replacement of the system will be required. It is recommended to change the thermal insulation during such maintenance. Some materials do not regain their original shape after a slight load. This contributes to the fact that insulating properties are lost and appear. Because of this, the overall efficiency of insulation is reduced.

Something about correct installation

It is necessary to understand that depending on the surface, not only the material differs, but also the method of its installation. For example, mineral wool for a wooden floor should be light color... This will indicate a minimum amount of laying. rough floor... It must be understood that an air gap must be left between the rough, finished floor and the heat-insulating layer, which is needed for effective moisture removal.

Izolon is much easier to fit. A roll is rolled out on a pre-treated surface, then it is glued with tape. It is important to keep an eye on the absence of visible mechanical defects and bumps. In the same way, the technical plug is laid. By the way, the latter material is almost ideal thermal insulation for the floor. The fact is that the thickness of the layer does not exceed 1.5 cm, so you can try to lay 2 layers with minimal floor elevation.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a large number of thermal insulation materials. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages. The same goes for cost. By the way, it is not at all necessary to buy too expensive insulation. Sometimes the same foam is more effective than mineral wool. For example, thermal insulation for an electric heated floor requires a thick material that will not absorb moisture under the concrete base. At the end of the day, the key is knowing what floors you have in your home. Experts will tell you what to choose. Remember that much depends on correct installation... You can lay the insulation on your own, but this should be done very carefully and slowly so as not to damage the insulation.

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