What is mineral wool?
Today mineral wool is one of the most effective and widely distributed thermal insulation materials. It is produced in the factory due to the melting of basalt fiber and metallurgical slags under the influence of high temperatures. Accordingly, this material is natural, which attracts most of the developers. Basaltic rocks and limestone stones used in production give it the necessary operational properties.
This mineral fiber is widely used for insulation of interfloor, attic, attic floor;floor on the first floor, in the garage;ceiling and, of course, internal and external walls. It is caused by such application by a large range of necessary properties of mineral wool, which are preserved for many years. Thermal insulation of facades is one of the main directions of using this material. It is in this sphere that he actively competes with polystyrene foam. So, how to make the right choice?
Warming of the facade with a wool or foam?
Specialists say that the insulation of the facade of a residential house with mineral wool is similar to that of a foam plastic, but there are a number of fundamental differences. Firstly, special glue is used for its installation. Its composition is not too different from the composition of the glue for fixing the foam sheets, however, they are not allowed to be replaced by each other. Secondly, the foam plastic is inferior to the mineral fiber for a number of properties that determine the degree of safety and efficiency of the insulation.
The main difference of cotton wool from foam is its incombustibility! Under the influence of fire it does not burn, but melts.
In addition, the insulation of the facade with mineral wool allows to obtain a long-lasting result without loss of efficiency, while foam plastic serves as a 3-fold lower insulation. The life of the mineral fiber is 30-60 years, and the foam plastic is only 10-20 years old .Particular attention should be paid to the fact that cotton wool is not gnawed by mice. Even in a modern city, these rodents are not uncommon in residential buildings, which is why it is necessary to take care of not too pleasant for the taste of insulation for them.
You can rid yourself of the device for additional ventilation at home if you prefer mineral fiber. The fact is that it allows the facade to "breathe".This contributes to a quality air circulation and eliminates the accumulation of condensate under the finish. So, having made a choice in favor of this or that material for warming your facade, you can safely proceed with its installation.
Warming of facades with mineral wool - installation technology
Competent insulation of facades with mineral wool requires step-by-step execution of works. The entire process of installing the insulation can be divided into 3 main stages:
- Preparation of the facade and fixing the heater.
- Reinforcement of mineral fiber.
- Decorative coating of the laid mineral wool.
To prepare the surface of the facade, it is necessary to remove dust and other visible dirt from it. After that, with the help of special glue, you can proceed to fixing the insulation. The glue is applied directly to the cotton wool, which is then tightly pressed against the facade. Additional dowels can serve as additional fasteners. They prevent the flaking of mineral mats from the surface of the facade.
When working with mineral wool, do not forget to protect the respiratory tract from dust and its small particles!
The next step is the reinforcement of the insulation. It allows to make the entire structure more reliable and to protect the minvat directly. Moreover, the high-quality reinforcement contributes to the extinction of the linear expansion of the facade, caused by heating and cooling.
Without it, the insulated facade can be covered with cracks, which will significantly worsen heat savings. For proper protection, a layer of special glue is applied to the surface of the cotton wool, into which the alkali resistant mesh is heated. After that, it is covered with another layer of glue.
At the last stage of work, a decorative coating is applied to the insulation. It gives the whole structure a complete and aesthetic appearance, additionally protecting it from the impact of negative external factors. As a rule, various facade plasters are used for this purpose: mineral, silicate or polymeric plasters.
Thus, the advantages of mineral wool as a facade insulation are obvious, but it should be noted that it is somewhat more expensive than traditional foam. The choice of material is yours! A competent approach to the installation of the chosen insulation will make it possible to obtain a high-quality and durable facade of the residential building.