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Frame insulation. What materials are better to insulate a frame house

Frame houses are especially popular today: they are easily and quickly assembled, do not require the arrangement of a reinforced and expensive foundation, are inexpensive, and therefore accessible to all segments of the population.

Nevertheless, many do not dare to build houses according to frame technology, as they consider them not warm enough, intended exclusively for summer living. However, this opinion is erroneous, because if you approach the insulation of a panel house wisely, you can feel comfortable in it at any time of the year. "But how to insulate frame house for winter living?" - you ask. The answer to all questions related to the process of warming such buildings will be our today's article.

Insulation options

First of all, you need to decide where you will install thermal insulation - outside the building or from the inside. To make the right decision, you should consider the features of each method of insulation.

The following facts speak in favor of the external location of thermal insulation:

In the process, the interior of the house does not suffer at all.

Wooden walls accumulate inside the heat that is in the room, and when the temperature drops, they give it back to the room, allowing you to save on heating.

It should also be noted that the insulation material installed outside the house, in addition to its main function, reliably protects the facade from the harmful effects of moisture, ultraviolet radiation and temperature fluctuations. As a result, the service life of the building is noticeably increased.

If you are thinking about how to insulate the walls in a frame house from the inside, pay attention to several disadvantages of this method:

For the interior, it will be necessary to dismantle all the decorative trim of the room, which, after the installation of thermal insulation, will have to be restored again. This leads to an increase in the timing of the work and to additional costs.

With internal insulation, flows of warm and cold air meet inside the wall, which leads to the accumulation of moisture in the room, as a result, the service life of wooden piers is significantly reduced.

The insulation layer located inside the building does not protect the facade from external factors. The wall goes through many cycles of freezing and thawing, as a result of which its structure is destroyed.

The choice of insulation material

When wondering how to insulate a frame house for winter living, it should be understood that when it comes to walls made of wood-shaving materials, the insulation must have the following qualities:

1. Environmental friendliness. The heat insulator must not release substances hazardous to humans into the air (even when heated).

2. Fire safety. Materials should be chosen that prevent the spread of fire along the walls of the building and do not emit much smoke in the event of a fire.

3. Low thermal conductivity.

4. Strength. must fit tightly between the walls and retain its original shape over time.

5. Low cost. The price of insulation should not exceed the cost of the building itself.

Expanded polystyrene and mineral wool are considered closest to the above requirements.

Styrofoam

The main advantages of polystyrene include its low weight, which is very important when it comes to frame structures. The material perfectly tolerates sudden changes in temperature, is not afraid of moisture and does not freeze.

The durability and low cost of foam plastic attract many homeowners, however, along with the positive qualities, this insulation also has disadvantages.

These include:

Rapid flammability;

Susceptibility to mechanical and chemical damage;

Poor breathability (due to which the effect of a thermos is created in the house).

As an alternative, many use an improved type of foam - foam plastic, which is resistant to different kind damage, but has a higher price tag.

Most often, this insulation is installed on the outside of the house.

Mineral wool

The most popular material used as thermal insulation in frame houses is Isover mineral wool (insulation, the price of which, in comparison with similar materials, is quite low). On sale it is found in the form of rolls, mats and durable plates.

It is characterized by environmental friendliness, light weight, excellent heat and sound insulation performance, the ability to go around any irregularities, as well as a long service life.

The fire safety of a material depends entirely on its density. Products in the form of plates do not burn at all.

Choosing this heater for frame walls, it should be borne in mind that after a while the cotton wool can cake and sag, which leads to a violation of the integrity of the heat-insulating layer. Also, due attention must be paid to waterproofing, because, when wet, glass wool loses its original properties and becomes a favorable environment for mold.

Facade insulation

Let's take a closer look at how to insulate a frame house for winter living from the outside.

For these purposes, you can use the technology. It involves the installation of insulation between outer wall and decorative cladding. In this case, the thickness of the heat-insulating layer directly depends on the climatic conditions in the region of residence (20 cm or more).

This method can also be used for internal wall insulation, and lining or drywall can be used as a finish.

Styrofoam insulation technology for external walls

1. The wall is cleaned of dirt and dust, all protrusions are smoothed out. The base is completely treated with a primer, and if cracks are found, they are covered with special adhesives.

2. Next, install vertical hangers. Nylon twine with loads is placed at a distance of 0.5 m from each other in order to identify and eliminate all irregularities (if the walls of the panel house are as smooth as possible, this stage can be skipped).

3. With the help of special glue, the foam boards are fixed on the walls. It is very important that the material fits as tightly as possible to the base.

4. A finishing material is installed over the heat-insulating layer.

Insulation of internal walls

Now let's figure out how to insulate a frame house with mineral wool.

The installation of insulation should be started only after the wall has been treated with antiseptic compounds.

Installation of thermal insulation includes the following works:

1. Vapor-permeable is placed on the walls so that it smooth side looked inside the room.

2. Guide rails made of wood or metal are installed on top of the membrane using self-tapping screws. The distance between the rails must correspond to the width of the insulation material.

3. Mounting mineral wool can start both above and below the wall. If you use a rolled "Isover" (insulation, the price of which varies between 1500-2000 rubles per pack), installation should start from the ceiling. Mineral wool in mats is mounted starting from the floor. Fastening is carried out using dowels with a wide cap.

4. On top of the insulation is located For these purposes, you should choose vapor-permeable products that will contribute to the natural ventilation of the room. The film is fixed with wooden slats so that it is not strongly stretched and does not sag. Next, the cladding is installed.

Conclusion

Now you know how to insulate a frame house for winter living. At the end of the topic, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that thermal insulation will not make the building suitable for living in the cold season - it is designed to keep warm air inside the room. Therefore, if you want your home to be warm and comfortable even in severe frosts, take care of its heating.

Insulation for the walls of a frame house is selected depending on the structure of the walls, the frame material and its thickness. These three indicators are necessary for high-quality thermal insulation.

Today we will talk about how to insulate walls in a frame house and what is better to use for this. Also in the video in this article you can see different variants finishes and select the desired option from the photo.

Types of frame houses

Insulation will be selected depending on the material of the frame house. Therefore, before making a decision and such a construction, you should choose the right material for manufacturing.

There are several options for such buildings:

Rules for warming frame houses

Insulation for frame walls is determined from the building itself. There are two options here, and how to insulate the walls of a frame house is determined precisely by them.

Let's look at these two options:

Thermal insulation of the walls of the frame house from the inside

Only lightweight materials are suitable for this. The method itself is not effective enough, but if you have a small foundation, then it will do.
Thermal insulation for the walls of a frame house outside

This method is the most efficient.
  • It is possible to use almost any insulation (if the width of the foundation allows).
  • You do not take away the usable area, so you do not have to save on the thickness of the material.

Attention: How to insulate the walls of a frame house should not forget about the parameters of insulation. Their thickness affects not only thermal insulation, but also requires additional space. In the photo below you can see the necessary parameters.

Choosing the material of thermal insulation

In principle, all work can be done by hand. Instructions for performing insulation work are available for all types of material on our website.

Now we will choose the right heater. First of all, we make a thermotechnical calculation of the frame wall with the materials used. The structure of the insulation and its thermal conductivity are important here. In the photo you can see these indicators.

Now let's look at which insulation is best for the walls of a frame house, depending on the type of material.

Feature of stone wool slab

The most common and in demand among developers are the products of companies such as TechnoNIKOL and Rokwool. When choosing a warming material for the purpose of finishing a house, stone wool slabs are most often used.

Due to the great popularity of their use, several points can be noted that explain this:

  • For their use and application, no additional devices are required at all. During installation, you will need a regular knife and a hacksaw with fine teeth;
  • On the initial stage warming the frame of the house will require a large amount of insulating material and in this case you can certainly use the services of paid delivery. Usually, rarely anyone can accurately calculate the right amount of material, but you can always buy the right amount of material and deliver it yourself or order delivery. And if the structure is small, then you will undoubtedly bring all the materials that are needed on your own;
  • When working with this type of material, you must always be aware that stone wool slabs must tightly fill the gaps between the posts. frame houses, while you need to remember that compressing and tamping them is completely prohibited!
  • Further, the insulation materials laid in the place between the racks must be fenced off from moisture, which comes with outside, and from the outside, and this can be done with the help of a waterproofing film from the outside and a vapor barrier inside. It is important to take into account the prices of these films when calculating the total cost of insulation work with such plates.

Ecowool

Material such as cellulose fibers, in other words, "ecowool", has also become in great demand for insulation. This product is completely natural and does not require additional use of films, which will help you make your home as environmentally friendly as possible.

We will also consider a few points that characterize this material: Ecowool is attached quite simply and this makes it stand out in comparison with other materials.

  • In order to insulate the walls in a dry way, you will need to open what the package contains and beat. Further, the already whipped material is ready for use, which means you can tamp it into the walls to obtain the desired density. You can also use a special machine and blow the material, which will create the desired density;
  • This material has inherent shrinkage, which means that the dry method of laying will not always give you exactly the results that you want. After shrinkage of the fiber, heat loss occurs, which is a big disadvantage. But it should be noted that when purchasing ecowool, a guarantee is always given for 15-20 years that this material will not shrink;
  • The wet method implies that it is necessary to use certain equipment, thanks to which the fiber is sprayed onto the walls, thereby gluing it to the frame. In this case, fiber shrinkage does not occur. This method of insulation should be applied outside the walls before they are sheathed, but this is not always possible, and this is a minus.

Styrofoam

Looking for information on the forums, you will notice that there is a lot of discussion about the pros and cons of Styrofoam as an insulating material (see How to properly insulate a wall with Styrofoam tiles). Some believe that this material is not environmentally friendly, when ignited, it releases hazardous substances into the air, and the possibility of the appearance of rodents is not ruled out.

But first things first:

  • There are also cases when people insulated their house with polystyrene foam (see How to insulate walls with polystyrene foam) and having lived in it for about 5 years were more than satisfied with the quality of the material they chose. Having chosen this material, they did not find any difficulties with well-being, and also noted the absence of rodents.
  • However, there are episodes when the developer changed the foam plastic completely a year later due to its destruction by rodents. This material should not be written off, because, like all heaters, it has its pros and cons.
  • The value of this material is that it does not absorb moisture at all, which means that additional methods of protection will not be needed. It is important when choosing foam to take not pressed. This method of insulation is the cheapest in comparison with the rest.
  • But he needs the most precision and skill. The specifics of this insulation were mentioned in the article "The step of the racks in a frame house."

Attention: Rodents start in the foam, so it is better not to use it for a private house.

Sprayed heaters

This type of home insulation is not yet widespread enough, and polyurethane foam is one of the most famous materials. Polyurethane foam - these are two special liquid elements, when mixed in all proportions and exposed to air under pressure, they foam.

When using this material, they fill all the spaces between the racks, and when an excess appears, they are cut off. Working with such a heater is a bit similar to working with mounting foam (see Liquid thermal insulation for walls: features of use).

This material has its advantages.

Let's consider each of them:

  • Polyurethane foam is able to interact with absolutely all surfaces that are used in the construction of houses. This material has a special quality that allows it to take various forms, making it easier to use. It is also important that it is not necessary to treat the surface before using the material;
  • The insulation material itself is created directly on site. Transportation costs are also reduced, and material consumption is minimal;
  • Due to its structure, polyurethane foam is light and airy, which means that they can easily insulate roofs;
  • By creating coatings with this material, not only wall insulation is created, but their strength also increases;
  • This material is able to withstand high temperatures, which makes it completely versatile;
  • The use of polyurethane foam provides a single design of insulation without any joints and seams.

It should also be noted all the disadvantages of this insulation material.

There are only two downsides:

  • It wears out quickly if it is constantly exposed to ultraviolet radiation. For normal functioning for this insulation system, it is necessary to create high-quality protection. Such protection can serve as plaster or paint, which can protect the material from the sun, as well as make appearance insulation more attractive;
  • It has already been noted in the text that this material for insulation is practically non-combustible, but it begins to smolder when exposed to high temperatures. This process is not at all difficult to stop, because for this you only need to cool the material. But in places of strong heating of polyurethane foam, it is better to replace the insulation material with another one.

Differences in the insulation of a frame house according to materials

Basically, insulation is done when installing the frame. Let's look at how to make a frame for wall insulation in different versions.

Warming of wooden frame houses

The main feature of such houses is that the corners between the logs form cracks that allow wind and frost to enter the house. It is important, upon the arrival of winter, to correctly and qualitatively check the walls on your own from the inside to identify blowing.

Attention: When making a frame for insulation, it is necessary to take into account the air gap. After all, ventilation is required here. Otherwise, the material of the walls will quickly become unusable.

  • First you need to find all the places that the wind blows. You also need to find areas of the house that get wet. All found areas must be examined for the presence of crevices and cracks.
  • Further, all crevices and cracks found must be properly caulked or filled with foam. If necessary, you can clean the inside of the house from the finish.
  • It is much more difficult to insulate the ceiling, because it is not always possible to find all the places where heat loss occurs. To eliminate such problems, a variety of sawdust, mineral or ecowool is usually used. The use of loose insulation is simple and for this you only need to crush them yourself.

Attention: It is important to note that the insulation layer must be no more than 15 cm! Most experts in this field do not recommend covering insulated surfaces with roofing material and other similar products.

Such insulation materials are best placed from below. When insulating walls, laps should be made in the corners, along the edges, creating best insulation. When insulating the walls, the laps are caulked on each side.

Features of insulation of metal frames

The instructions for insulating the wall of a metal frame house are quite simple. Indeed, in this option, you yourself choose the insulation that is placed inside the wall, and here it is important to take everything into account at the initial stage of installation.

  • First of all, we look at what the heating system will be, about which we calculate the thickness of the insulation;
  • We also pay attention to the foundation of the structure. After all, it should be more than the material of the entire finish;
  • We also take into account the ventilation gap, because condensate should not accumulate and the channel itself cannot be less than two cm.

Feature insulation of frame-panel houses

There are a number of types of frame panel houses:

What do we pay attention to when insulating?

Consider the features of insulation:

  • For proper insulation, it is necessary that the thickness of the walls of the structure be accurately calculated, in compliance with all orders and parameters. When insulating such a house, it is necessary to lay insulating materials directly into the wall;
  • To start the insulation of such a building as a frame-panel house, you need to carefully process each joint with foam or mastic. To improve the insulation of the walls, as well as to make the house durable and reliable during cold periods, the installation of airtight membranes will help;
  • Before starting the insulation of a frame-panel house, it is necessary to install horizontal profiles, which are fixed with dowels. Further, the walls on each side are sheathed with clapboard. At the same time, it should be noted that the lining must be dry inside, and wet - directly from the outside. Insulation should be laid inside each side;
  • In such houses, insulation is necessary for both the walls and the floor. Often, penoizol is used to insulate floors;
  • After all the work on the insulation of such a house, each wall should be sheathed with siding or a panel for the facade. The easiest method of insulation is considered to be filling all the gaps between the shields with insulation material. On top of all this, it is necessary to apply mastic, which will protect the insulation from moisture and ultraviolet radiation.

The technology for insulating metal frame walls is somewhat different; here it is quite possible to fasten with simple glue. And the rest of the instructions for choosing the material and installation rules are the same as in other buildings. If you think about everything and do it using only high-quality materials, then the energy saving of the premises will be on top.

The main criterion for the quality of a house is its heat capacity, the ability to retain heat in winter temperatures. What is the best way to insulate a frame house - polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, mineral wool, or maybe expanded clay?

Types of heaters

The modern construction market offers so many insulating materials that it can be difficult for an inexperienced buyer to make right choice. Each manufacturer says that his material is the best and suggests using it in various buildings. Let's see what are the features of various heaters. And which one is the best?

Foam insulation

Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene is the cheapest option for insulation. This explains its popularity in various construction. In relation to the frame, the foam is not always convenient. Its slabs do not compress or fit tightly between frame posts. After installation, it is necessary to blow out the slots with mounting foam. However, these shortcomings are compensated by the affordability of the heat-insulating material.

Styrofoam between racks.

The thermal conductivity of the foam is 0.041 - 0.051 W / (m * K), depending on the density. This means that 10 cm of foam insulation replaces 20 cm of wood and 70 cm brickwork. So high performance provides the structure of the material. Styrofoam is 98% air and only 2% polystyrene.

On a note

In terms of thermal conductivity, foam plastics overtook even mineral wool. This means that for the same winter temperatures, a smaller foam thickness is needed than mineral wool.

The structure of the foam plastic consists of separate cells, the walls of which are made of polystyrene (the same 2% of the material), and the inner cavity is filled with air. By the nature of the relative position of the cells, foam plastics can have an open cellular structure (when adjacent cells are connected to each other) and a closed structure (when the cavity of each cell is limited and does not connect to anything).


Foam insulation.

Foam plastics with an open-cell structure have some air conductivity, are able to absorb moisture, get wet. Such foam is called ordinary, it absorbs 4% moisture. It can be used for wall insulation and cannot be used for thermal insulation of the foundation and those building elements that often get wet.

On a note

Closed cell foams are considered waterproof. An example of such a material is penoplex, the so-called extruded type of polystyrene (made by extrusion, extrusion). It is used for insulation of foundations, floors, lower sections of vertical walls.

Which insulation for a frame house is better suited - simple or extrusion, moisture resistant? Both types of expanded polystyrene can be installed in the walls of a frame house. In this case, for ordinary polystyrene you will need. And for extruded foam - constant work of exhaust and supply ventilation.


The walls are insulated with foam.

In addition to the main advantage - affordable price and low weight (polystyrene plates are easy to lift, mount on walls), insulation with expanded polystyrene has a number of disadvantages that prevent their widespread use in frame construction:

  • Contain unhelpful and frankly harmful chemical reagents, therefore, foam insulation is recommended to be performed from the outside bearing walls. With internal and frame insulation, it is necessary to qualitatively isolate polystyrene foam boards from the space inside the room. And when outdoor - protect from heating by sunlight. Styrene heated to +30°C begins to actively evaporate the reagents contained in it.
  • Even with an open cellular structure, the material does not conduct air well enough, does not "breathe" and does not provide. Therefore, in buildings insulated with foam, ventilation should function frequently.
  • Styrofoam melts quite easily. Already at +50°C, it begins to lose its structure. This limits its use in the construction of premises with a high internal temperature (in the walls of steam rooms, saunas, baths).

Insulation with polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is one of the expensive heaters, which is a type of foam rubber. Differs in a method of drawing and rigidity. PPU is sprayed onto insulated surfaces from a special spray gun. At the same time, the application process is so toxic that the worker puts on special means protection - clothing, gloves, goggles, respirator. What is the know-how of this method?


Application of polyurethane foam on the walls.

Traditional expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) is a rigid plate. When they are installed between the racks of the frame or when they are applied to the brickwork, small gaps are formed. They are cold bridges. In order to prevent heat leakage through the slotted "bridges", they are blown out with special mounting foam, without the expansion effect.

Polyurethane foam is applied to the insulated surface in liquid form. It is sprayed, forming flat surface interior wall for further finishing. So, he:

  1. Qualitatively isolates all joints and cracks.
  2. Evens out uneven interior walls.

We insulate the attic with polyurethane foam.

In addition, polyurethanes have the following advantages over polystyrenes:

  • They have a lower thermal conductivity of 0.023 - 0.043 W / (m * K) and better thermal insulation, which is 1.5 times better than the insulating properties of foam.
  • Higher operating temperatures, up to +110°C.
  • Less harmful fumes, which makes it possible to apply an insulator with inside walls, its use in frame construction.

On a note

The only important disadvantage of polyurethane foam is its high price, which is due to the need for special expensive equipment and professional work.

Warming with mineral wool

Wool insulation - is one of the old proven materials that are used for various thermal insulation. Mineral building wool can be made from fibers of various raw materials (glass, stone, slag), while obtaining glass wool, basalt wool, slag wool. Thin filamentous fibers are placed in the structure of the insulation in a chaotic manner. They are glued together with synthetic glue, leaving spaces with air between the fibers. In this way, the structure of the wool is formed into slabs or rolls, which can be compressed and reduced in size.


Basalt wool insulation Izover

The compressibility of the material is in demand when installing the insulation between the racks of the frame. Therefore, building wool is most suitable for frame mounting and is often used in frame construction.

The most popular in modern insulation is the basalt version of construction wool. It is she who is often called the general designation - "mineral wool". It is made from basalt by melting the stone at high temperatures (from 1300°C) and dispersing the melt in a centrifuge. As a result of processing, thin stone threads are formed, which are pressed into slabs, rolls, mats.


We lay mineral wool in the frame of the house.

The thermal conductivity of basalt wool is 0.048 - 0.056 W / (m * K). This means that to replace 70 cm of brick, 12-15 cm of mineral wool will be needed. In addition to high thermal insulation properties, stone wool has a number of other advantages:

  • Vapor permeability and the ability to conduct air, "breathe", provide natural ventilation through the wall.
  • More than 80% - natural composition and a small amount of synthetic fumes.
  • High operating temperatures (up to +300°C).

On a note

stone wool is the "weakest" among other building watts in terms of maintaining high temperatures. It retains properties up to +300°C. While glass wool can withstand up to +500°C, and slag wool up to +600°C.

Stone wool insulation is considered a good thermal insulation of the walls of the house. However, the following fact must be taken into account. For insulation of vertical walls, it is necessary to use cotton wool with a density of at least 50 kgm 3. Wool less density will quickly settle, which will negate the insulation. A density above 50 guarantees the long-term functioning of a cotton wool insulation for several decades.


Insulation of internal walls with stone wool.

In order to prevent the subsidence of the insulation and the decrease in the heat capacity of the walls, it is better to use cotton wool in the form of mats for the frame house. It has a certain degree of compressibility, does not form cracks and joints, does not settle and does not lose its thermal insulation properties. Basalt wool slabs are considered the best insulation for a frame house, with an optimal price / quality ratio.

Ecowool insulation

Ecowool is made from fibers of paper, cardboard, which are obtained from pulp production waste or from waste paper. This insulation is also called natural, although in its composition 20% falls on synthetic glue and fire retardant substances - fire retardants.


Applying ecowool to exterior walls.

Ecowool is one of the most inexpensive construction wool. It is used to insulate those surfaces that are not in contact with interior spaces. In addition, ecowool is a bulk insulation. It is produced not in the form of plates, but in the form of a bulk substance. Therefore, it is convenient to insulate floors under a rough screed, and it is expensive to insulate vertical walls(it is necessary to build a wall formwork).

The limitation to the internal and frame insulation of residential buildings is the content of harmful substances-borates in the material. Each kilogram of ecowool contains 200 g of borax and boric acid, which are odorless, but can cause severe poisoning when inhaled.

Expanded clay for skeleton

This is another option for bulk insulation. It is a clay rounded particles of small size, fired at a temperature of more than 1000 degrees.


Expanded clay is made of different fractions.

Expanded clay is often used for floor insulation.

Advantages of expanded clay

  • 100% natural material, without synthetic glue, flame retardants, toxic components.
  • Relatively low price.
  • The highest durability among other heaters.

Expanded clay disadvantages

  • Average thermal insulation characteristics, 0.12-0.15 W / (m * K), make it necessary to use a sufficiently large thickness of insulation (not less than 50 cm for floor insulation).
  • Expanded clay absorbs moisture, therefore it is not used for floor insulation inside wet and damp rooms.

wall insulation

To determine which insulation, it is necessary to compare their performance characteristics and features of installation, installation.

Sectional diagram of insulation.

The choice of insulation for the walls of a frame house

  • Thermal conductivity of the insulating material - the lower this indicator, the better thermal insulation walls. The thinner the insulation. When deciding what thickness of insulation is needed in a frame house, it is necessary to build on its thermal conductivity. For example, 10 cm of foam plastic, 12 cm of stone wool and 70 cm of brick have the same thermal insulation properties.
  • The density of the insulation for a frame house - the smaller this characteristic, the more we blow through the material. The higher the density, the more rigid the forms of the insulation boards. For wall wool insulation, the density also determines the durability of the wall insulation.
  • The price of insulation for a frame house.
  • Availability of do-it-yourself installation.

Comparing the indicators of heat-insulating materials, the customer or the owner of the construction makes the choice of one or another insulation. With limited funds, foam is often chosen, although this is not the best insulation. If the quality criterion is at the forefront of the choice, then the most optimal filler material for the frame wall is chosen - mineral basalt wool.














Over the past half century frame housing construction spread and became a common technology in Western Europe and America. Such a rapid (on a historical scale) success was achieved by the technology due to the properties of buildings - economy in construction and practicality in operation.

World frame construction has not gone unnoticed in the Russian expanses. An increasing number of owners of suburban areas are choosing a frame option for construction. The choice of thermal insulation material is critical for such a building. A well-chosen insulation for the walls of a frame house will allow you to get comfortable and warm housing without going beyond the budget. In our article we will tell you which insulation is best for a frame house, and which one should not be used.

Work on external insulation of the wall of a frame house Source iobogrev.ru

Varieties of frame houses and the principle of their insulation

Houses that fall under the definition of frame houses are built using several similar technologies that do not have fundamental differences. In addition to the traditional fachwerk and high-tech frame-panel technology (which includes buildings using German and SIP panels), other methods are actively used. The most popular frame options include the following varieties:

    Frame-panel houses. They are often referred to as shield houses, Canadian houses, or Finnish houses. In factory conditions, panels (shields) of a given size are manufactured. This preparation saves time construction site. Shields are quickly fixed on the frame, and then insulated.

    Frame-rack houses. The space between the racks is distributed with insulation for the walls of the frame house, the crate is stuffed on top. Then wind and waterproofing is arranged, the walls are sewn up, internal and external decorative finishing is carried out.

One of the technologies for insulating the roof of a frame house Source iobogrev.ru

Which insulation is better for the walls of a frame house in each individual case is thought out at the planning stage, and the issue must be approached competently; a house in which not only the walls are insulated, but also the roof and foundation will be truly warm. In doing so, it should be taken into account that for different surfaces thermal insulation materials with different properties will be required.

The best way to insulate the frame is to use cross technology, when the wall is formed by two frames - the main one (power, acting as a supporting structure) with uprights, and cross (external), with horizontal. With such an organization of the walls, the probability of the formation of cold bridges (in case of shrinkage) becomes vanishingly small, and the energy efficiency of the building increases significantly. Work on the insulation of a frame house is carried out in the following order:

    External insulation. It is carried out only under favorable weather conditions. Work will have to be postponed if it rains or snows.

    Internal insulation. It is carried out using the cross method. Its disadvantages are the displacement of the dew point inside the room (with errors in the construction of the wall) and the reduction of precious living space.

    Thermal insulation of floors, ceilings, windows and doors.

Double cross frame; the main circuit is not insulated source seattlehelpers.org

Insulation for a frame house: selection criteria

Aiming to pick the best option for insulation, you should decide on the selection criteria, as well as familiarize yourself with the offers available on the market. After comparing these two categories, you can determine which insulation is best for a frame house. The thermal insulation of the walls of the frame is selected according to the following parameters:

    Life time. The operating time of the structure and insulation must match.

    Thermal conductivity. The lower that indicator (expressed in terms of the coefficient of thermal conductivity), the more reliably the building saves heat. The thermal conductivity coefficient is used to calculate the necessary and sufficient thickness of thermal insulation; the value of the coefficient is specified by the manufacturer.

    Water absorption. The lower the better, since a wet (moisture-absorbed) insulation can significantly increase the thermal conductivity of the walls. With the thermal efficiency of housing, in the walls of which there is a damp insulation, you can say goodbye.

Classic frame pie Source palacestroy.ru

    Shrinkage. Frequent problem do-it-yourself frame dwellings. Some types of insulation are subject to sealing, which is sometimes forgotten to be taken into account when choosing and installing. As a result of subsidence of the material, cold bridges appear and heating costs increase.

    fire safety. Construction Materials divided into groups according to combustibility (ability to resist flame). For the insulation of frame houses, materials of the NG group (non-combustible) are often chosen.

    Environmental friendliness. Since the insulation occupies the bulk of the walls and surrounds the inhabitants of the house from all sides, the question of its harmlessness concerns any adequate owner. The main problem is that not all materials can boast of naturalness, and the best technical indicators belong to synthetics. But even here everything is not so bad: certified products do not have a dangerous effect on the health of the inhabitants of the house.

    bioneutrality. Insulation for a frame house should not become a haven for rodents, insects, mold fungi and microorganisms.

Insulation of the inner surface with rolled material Source obustroeno.com

Knowing about the strong and weaknesses of each heater, when choosing, not only the price is taken into account, but also additional criteria:

    The climate of the region. Weather conditions (winter temperatures, duration of autumn rains) at the construction site country house influence the choice not only of the thermal conductivity coefficient, but also on the dimensions of the insulation for the frame house.

    Location of the heater. For different surfaces use a material with different densities. For thermal insulation of the floor, a denser (and, accordingly, more durable) insulation is chosen. This parameter can be ignored when insulating walls and roofs, where the use of a denser (and more expensive) material will only increase the cost of construction.

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer home insulation services. You can directly communicate with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".

Heaters: varieties and characteristics

Before choosing a heater for a frame house, you should familiarize yourself with its varieties. The materials used in construction are usually classified according to the method of application:

    zasypnye. Backfill method - insulation with ecowool, expanded clay, foam glass or sawdust.

    sprayed. "Wet" technology is suitable for ecowool and polyurethane foam.

    Plate (roll). The thermal insulation layer is fixed between the posts or in the ceilings of the frame structure.

Proper floor insulation in a frame house is a guarantee of comfort Source strojdvor.ru

Also, heaters are divided into two large groups by origin:

    natural. This includes materials of natural origin that have long been used in construction: moss, sawdust, peat, straw. They are available, cheap and environmentally friendly. The main disadvantages of natural insulators are flammability and high hygroscopicity, leading to the appearance of mold fungi. Do not discount insects and rodents, which also highly value naturalness and environmental friendliness.

    Synthetic. Materials that have appeared thanks to progress and human ingenuity. They are often non-combustible, easy to transport and use, and biologically stable. And, although synthetics are not without drawbacks (they are more expensive, and they emit dangerous toxic compounds during combustion), they are valued in construction for their convenience and valuable properties.

Synthetic insulation for frame walls is conventionally divided into soft and hard. Soft insulation is sewn up with sheathing on both sides; then you can equip steam and waterproofing, then decorative cladding.

floor insulation scheme synthetic material Source patter.ru

Mineral wool materials

Mineral wool is the common name for a universal and professional group of thermal insulation materials, the use of which in insulation reaches 70%. This distribution of mineral wool is due to its advantages: low weight, incombustibility, heat efficiency and sufficient vapor permeability. The basis of the material are fibers obtained from the melt of the feedstock; cotton wool is produced in the form of mats and rolls.

One of the quality indicators of mineral wool is the acidity module. The higher this value, the more waterproof and durable the wool is. Also, the quality of cotton wool is affected by the binder - a component that holds the fibers together. Binders of several types are used in production:

    Based bitumen.

    Based bentonite clays.

    Synthetic. Based on phenol alcohol, phenol-formaldehyde or carbamide resin

    Composite(most common). The composition includes synthetic resins (up to 2% by weight) and additives with hydrophobic (water-repellent) properties.

Video description

About mineral wool in the following video:

There are several varieties of this fibrous material in structure, differing in the method of preparation and properties:

    stone wool. The raw materials are rocks(basalite, diarite, porphyrite), but more often basalt. In construction, the second name has taken root - basalt wool, although it is this variety that is more often used for thermal insulation. industrial equipment and pipelines. Stone wool is a durable, non-flammable and environmentally friendly material with a high heat retention capacity. The low shrinkage of this board material during operation prevents the formation of cold bridges.

    glass wool. It is made from glass melt, produced in slabs and rolls, has characteristics similar to mineral wool. Glass wool has increased strength, elasticity and vibration resistance. However, glass wool fibers are brittle and fragments are a health hazard. Working with the material requires the use of a respirator and overalls, as well as installation using a special technology. Glass wool is cheaper than mineral wool, but its service life is shorter.

Glass wool requires careful handling Source pinterest.fr

    slag wool. The raw material is a melt of blast-furnace slag. This type of filler is similar in properties to glass wool; it is recommended to use it only for dry rooms. The main advantage of slag wool is its low cost.

Cotton wool insulates walls, ceilings and roofs; layer thickness in country house year-round living should be 200-250 mm. Feature of cotton wool - hygroscopicity is neutralized by the use of steam and waterproofing membranes. The density and thickness of the material affects not only the cost, weight and resistance to stress, but also the way it is used:

    Roll web(often laminated, foil-coated). Effective heat retaining material. It is used for thermal insulation of horizontal surfaces, has a density of 35 kg / m 3.

    Plates. Material with a density of 75 kg / m 3 is used to insulate the floor, ceiling and interior partitions, with a density of 125 kg / m 3 - for facade insulation. More rigid plates (200 kg / m 3) are used for floors, devices of a roof and floors under a coupler.

Roofing cake element - foil-coated mineral wool Source pinterest.cl

Ecowool

Cellulose wool (known to the general public as ecowool) is an example of an environmentally friendly product. It consists of 80% newspaper waste and cardboard and paper industry waste, and 20% of additives that perform a flame-extinguishing function (boric acid and sodium tetraborate). It looks like a loose material of various shades of gray.

Ecowool has proven itself well as sound and heat insulation; it insulates all parts of the frame structure. The disadvantages of ecowool are its high cost and the use of special equipment during installation. Insulation of the frame structure with ecowool is carried out in one of four ways:

    Dry backfill. Manual labor-intensive method, limited in application. Suitable for insulation and soundproofing of small interfloor floors, the floor of the first floor, attic floor.

    dry blow. The most preferred (fast and high-quality) method, suitable for isolating any cavities. It is carried out with the help of blowing equipment.

Video description

About the insulation of ecowool on the second floor of a frame house in the following video:

    Wet glue method. It is used if it is necessary to insulate a large surface area or if the project does not provide for cladding. In this case, water is added to the ecowool if the untreated tree is to be protected; or PVA glue, which increases the adhesive (adhesive) ability of the mixture. It can also be applied using a blow molding machine.

    Liquid plaster (liquid wallpaper). A variation of the wet method, applied by troweling. If the layer will serve not only as a heater, but also as a lining, it is possible to add dyes.

Penoizol

Urea-formaldehyde foam, better known under the brand name Penoizol (aka Mettemplast or Poroplast), is a universal heat insulator with low density and thermal conductivity. It is produced and poured in the form of foam; after hardening, penoizol resembles foam plastic with its white fine-meshed structure.

Penoizol has an impressive service life (up to 80 years); The composition of the material is based on nitrogen, therefore it is classified as a low-combustible substance. For thermal insulation, not only foam is used, but also a slab version, as well as crumb (thermowool), which allows you to create a seamless layer with excellent insulating and soundproofing qualities.

Insulation of the ceiling with penoizol Source barberosalon.ru

Polyurethane foam (PPU)

There is a large group of polyurethane foam, with different properties and a variety of applications, from the filler of car seats and toys, to bumpers and shoe elements. In construction, polyurethane foam is used in the form of finished sheets or self-foaming composition for pouring with a density of 5-40 kg/m 3 .

PPU is considered a universal material that allows you to effectively insulate a house from the basement to the roof. It is cheap, has low thermal conductivity and excellent adhesion, which allows it to be applied (sprayed) on any quality surface, from brick and metal to wood and roofing material. Solid varieties of polyurethane foam are produced in a slab way. Unlike soft insulation, they serve as the basis for waterproofing and facade cladding.

Styrofoam

White material with a fine mesh structure, fragile and short-lived. Despite this, it is considered a proven and convenient sound and heat insulating material due to its availability, low weight (15-35 kg / m 3) and ease of installation (using glue). It is beneficial to use polystyrene for external insulation - it does not need additional vapor and waterproofing.

Elastic and resilient polyurethane foam is easy to use Source zemkadastr45.ru

The foam used in construction (and for packaging) is not toxic, but when burned, it releases extremely harmful chemical compounds, knowledge of this feature makes many customers choose another insulation.

Video description

We will dwell in more detail on the insulation of the house with foam plastic. Find out how safe polystyrene foam is in our video:

Expanded polystyrene (penoplex)

Expanded polystyrene is a popular heat-insulating material due to its long service life, low cost and excellent sound and heat-saving properties. The material demonstrates high hydrophobicity (absorbency is not more than 3% by weight), compressive and bending strength, fire resistance and non-toxicity.

Penoplex plates are attached to the frame racks with glue. Experts advise protecting the material from solar ultraviolet radiation.

Expanded clay

The material is the most common and proven bulk type insulation; it is used in the thermal insulation of floors, interfloor ceilings and walls. The basis of expanded clay are refractory clays, which are subjected to heat treatment during the production process. The result is granules, crushed stone or sand with a characteristic porous structure and with attractive parameters, which include good thermal insulation and low weight, environmental friendliness, chemical inertness and vapor permeability.

Various fractions of expanded clay Source stroyfora.ru

Expanded clay is not combustible, does not lose its thermal insulation properties with temperature fluctuations. The only drawback of expanded clay is that its heat-shielding performance is inferior to synthetic materials.

Foam glass

In the form of granules, not only expanded clay is produced, but also foam glass - a material with more high level thermal protection. For its manufacture, sand and glass cullet are used, which automatically turns the material into the safest and purest product. Granulated foam glass is indifferent to bio- and chemical agents, moisture-resistant, and its only (and tangible) drawback can be considered high cost.

Video description

About the insulation of the American frame house in the following video:

The importance of high-quality vapor barrier and wind protection of heaters

In order for mineral wool heaters to do their job perfectly, they need well-arranged steam, hydro and wind insulation:

    vapor barrier. Serves as a barrier to moisture coming from the room. In the absence of such a protective layer, mineral wool absorbs moisture, and its ability to retain heat drops sharply.

    Hydro wind protection. Both a windbreaker worn over a sweater and a protective membrane on the outside of the wall help to retain heat. Such a protective material has a complex multi-layer structure - it not only retains heat, but also allows water vapor to pass out, while simultaneously preventing atmospheric moisture from penetrating inside.

Modern protective membranes are able to isolate the insulation (and, therefore, the wall structure) as much as possible, which cannot be said about the plastic film, which economical (or not familiar with physics) builders strive to use. Polyethylene will inevitably create the effect of a thermos inside the wall without the possibility of ventilation, which leads to damage to the insulation layer throughout the walls.

Wind protection of a frame house is a mandatory component of construction source seattlehelpers.org

Conclusion

The final decision on the best way to insulate a frame house remains with the owner of the future housing. So that the wrong choice of material and technology does not lead to disappointment in the frame house, you should carefully consider the features of heaters. Properly selected heat-insulating material and its installation, carried out taking into account technological requirements, will make the house truly warm and energy efficient.

Frame houses are prefabricated structures and are the main type of residential buildings in the USA, Canada, Finland, Germany and Sweden. With the advent of the new millennium, the technology of frame construction finds more and more supporters among our compatriots. However, the climate of the above countries is still milder, therefore, in most of Russia, the construction of a frame house requires the use additional insulation. This short article will tell about some of its types.


A number of requirements are imposed on the insulation, as, indeed, on any other material that is used when. The most important among them are:

  • Lightness, since most residential frame buildings are built on light types of foundations (piled, columnar, etc.). However, if used, then this requirement can be neglected;
  • Resistance to flame and high temperatures is one of the main requirements in a wooden house;
  • Wet environment resistance, especially if interior decoration natural "breathable" materials are used;
  • The ability to provide tightness, i.e. the minimum number of seams, and their complete absence is better;
  • Elasticity, since frame houses tend to “move” during the entire period of operation, this happens due to alternating drying and moisture gain by wood;
  • Long service life without loss of heat-insulating qualities. Truth, this requirement not so critical, since it is quite easy to open the wall of a frame house and replace the old insulation, but it is still better to do without it;
  • Ecological harmlessness and safety for human health and pets. This requirement probably does not need additional comments.

The main types of heaters

Progress in all areas of human life does not stand still, including in the construction industry, so every year new types of insulation for walls, floors and ceilings, foundations, etc. appear on the building materials market. If only a couple of decades ago, only mineral wool, sawdust (shavings), and expanded clay with slag were available to an ordinary layman, today it is much richer. In addition to the above, these include:

  • Ecowool;
  • Sprayed polyurethane foam.


Mineral or basalt wool is one of the most popular heaters for. This material is flame retardant and high temperatures, environmentally friendly, has good sound insulation. The latter property is very important in frame structures. To understand what thermal insulation characteristics mineral wool has, it will be enough to say that a layer of this material 50 mm thick is equal in properties to a brickwork thickness of 580 mm.

With regards to the insulation technology itself, the construction of the frame is carried out initially with the expectation that mineral (basalt) wool slabs will be used. Between racks wooden frame leave a distance of 60 cm, which is equal to the standard width of the thermal insulation material.

Basalt slabs should be laid tightly so that there is not too much free space between them and the outer and inner walls, but they should not be pressed too hard, as over time this can lead to damage to the material and the formation of “cold bridges”.


Expanded polystyrene (EPS) in plates is a foamed thermoplastic, which consists of fused granules. It may seem surprising, but the insulation boards themselves are 98% air, which fills both the granules themselves and the space between them, and only 2% polystyrene. Of all types of insulation for frame structures, polystyrene foam boards are the lightest.

With prolonged exposure to expanded polystyrene, vegetable, animal and paraffin oils, fats, diesel fuel and petroleum jelly are affected. PPS is unstable to various kinds of organic solvents, but it does not dissolve and does not swell in water, practically does not pick up moisture, is durable and resistant to decay. This material is not digested by animals and microorganisms, therefore it is not used by them as feed and does not provide a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.


Ecowool, which consists of 80% cellulose and 20% of various components (binders and flame retardants), has recently been used in our country as a heater for frame houses, although, for example, in the States this material has found wide application back in the 70s of the last century. For comparison, it must be said that a layer of ecowool 130 mm thick in terms of its thermal insulation characteristics is equivalent to a wall thickness of 600 mm made of aerated concrete.

In fact, ecowool is a waste of paper production, which is treated with borax or ammonium sulfate (prevent burning) and boric acid (prevents decay). It is resistant to burning, harmless to the health of people and animals, does not rot and is not very favored by rodents.

However, when choosing this material, one must take into account the following feature: ammonium sulfates and phosphates, when interacting with boric acid, lose their flame retardant properties over time. In addition, these connections can become a source bad smell. Therefore, you should purchase ecowool, in which only borax (borax) is used as a flame retardant, which does not lose its properties and has no smell.


Another loose insulation is the waste of woodworking enterprises - sawdust. Perhaps this is the most cheap way insulate the house. Some workshops for the production of furniture give sawdust free of charge if a person independently removes waste from the territory.

True, it should be remembered that for insulation, only sawdust of a sufficiently large fraction can be used, and those remaining after sawing the primary wood.

Thus, sawdust from chipboard, fiberboard, MDF panels and other materials, in the production of which various binders are used, will not be suitable not only for reasons environmental safety, but also because they are too small and are, in fact, fine dust.

Wood sawdust, in addition to being cheap, also has a number of other advantages:

  • Absolute harmlessness to others;
  • Excellent thermal insulation characteristics;
  • Excellent sound absorbing properties.

However, there are also a number of disadvantages. So, for example, cheapness can be leveled by the need to use manual labor in the formation of a heat-insulating layer. Over time, sawdust tends to caking, which after a while will force you to carry out work to open the walls and replace them.

If lime is not added during backfilling, then the sawdust will quickly begin to rot. Also, mice and rats have a rather strange love for this material, so the outer parts of the walls must be well protected from their penetration. The figure below shows a possible scheme for insulating the walls of a frame house using sawdust.



Expanded clay has been used as a heater for almost a century. A huge advantage of expanded clay is its almost one hundred percent resistance to fire, as well as environmental friendliness, because it is made from light-alloy clay or shale rock by swelling and firing. The method of production of expanded clay determines the porosity of its structure, which, in turn, makes it light and soundproof. Also expanded clay granules are not subject to rotting and small rodents do not like them very much. Over time, it does not lose its properties.

True, this material also has a full set of shortcomings.

Firstly, the relative fragility of the granules does not allow applying great efforts during tamping during backfilling into the walls, due to which significant voids and “cold bridges” can form.

Secondly, expanded clay is hygroscopic, and the absorbed moisture is not given off, but dries out gradually, that is, when used in rooms or climates with high humidity, the walls will constantly absorb water.

According to the shape and size of the fractions, expanded clay is divided into three varieties:

  1. Rubble. The granules of this fraction are large, acute-angled, the size varies from 20 to 40 mm.
  2. Gravel. Granules are oval in shape, the size is about 10–20 mm.
  3. Sand. The smallest fraction, the size of the granules does not exceed 10 mm in diameter.

To insulate frame houses, you need to use a mixture of all three fractions, where 60–70% should be gravel, 20% sand and 10% crushed stone. Instead of expanded clay, slag is sometimes used, but this material is quite unhealthy and does not provide proper thermal insulation.


By itself, polyurethane foam (PPU) is included in the group of gas-filled plastics, which are based on polyurethane. Just like expanded polystyrene, this insulation is 90% air. For insulation of frame houses, sprayed polyurethane foam is used.

The use of this material allows not only to get rid of the need to install vapor barrier and wind and moisture protection from membrane materials, but also to significantly reduce the cost and time spent on the construction of the supporting frame of the structure. But the thickness of the PPU layer in this case should be at least 120–200 mm (200–300 mm when using extruded polystyrene). Only a house with such a layer of polyurethane foam insulation can be considered truly energy efficient. A layer of polyurethane foam with a thickness of 70–80 mm corresponds to SNiP for enclosing wall structures, while a layer of 100–120 mm corresponds to SNiP for enclosing roof structures.

PPU spraying perfectly solves the problem of "cold bridges", and also simultaneously copes with quite challenging task fixing such building structures, like doors and windows, which can only be installed using this material. Polyurethane foam eliminates possible problems with distortions and shrinkage, which is very important in a frame house. Another pretty significant advantage this type of insulation: it performs a protective function for the frame elements.

All wooden racks, beams, logs and are completely protected from decay (although they must dry completely before installation), since PPU has an extremely low vapor permeability and is practically impermeable to oxygen.

However, the last of these properties makes it necessary to equip frame houses with high-quality ventilation.


The thickness of the thermal insulation layer depends on several factors. The first and main one is the type of insulation. The second is the climate of the area where the construction of frame housing is carried out. For example, if in the Krasnodar Territory 100 mm (2 layers of standard slabs) of basalt wool will be enough, then in the Arkhangelsk region 200 mm will be needed, and 150 mm (3 layers) should be located between the frame posts, and 50 mm (1 layer) must be fixed outside to cover all frame beams and prevent the formation of "cold bridges".

Of course, when calculating the required amount of thermal insulation material, one can be guided by life observations by asking neighbors, friends and familiar self-taught builders who have already dealt with frame houses, but it is better to use a scientific approach and apply a simple formula: δut = R x λut, where λut - thermal conductivity of the insulation, and R is the thermal resistance of the walls. You can consider the application of the formula on a specific example: during the construction of a frame house, where internal walls from plywood with a thickness of 6 mm, and the outer ones - from OSB-boards with a thickness of 9 mm, it is necessary to calculate the thickness of the basalt wool layer.

The heat resistance of the walls of any residential building located in the Moscow region should, on average, be R = 3.20 m2 * 0C / W. This value varies by region. Information about the thermal conductivity of a particular material can be found in the certificate for the product, its presence in it is mandatory, but the absence of such should alert the buyer, as this may be evidence of poor-quality and even unhealthy material.

The thickness of the thermal insulation layer for the frame structure is determined by the same formula: δut = R x λut. For basalt wool, the thermal conductivity is 0.045 W / m * 0С, therefore, in this case, the thickness of the insulation layer should be δut \u003d R x λut \u003d 3.20 x 0.045 \u003d 0.14 m. That is, 2 layers of plates are needed, as already mentioned higher when comparing the construction of a frame house in the Arkhangelsk region and the Krasnodar region.

Video

Watch the selection video the best insulation for a frame house.