How to insulate the facade of a private house

Against the backdrop of a continuous rise in the cost of energy carriers, the issue of warming the dwelling becomes more urgent. One-time costs associated with the insulation of a private home pays off very quickly, literally in one season. There will be no need to use additional radiators, the house will become warm, dry and cozy. Provides additional sound insulation, protect the house not only from the cold, but also from extraneous noise. And externally, the dwelling will significantly change.

What to look for whenthe choice of thermal insulation material

The facade, the photo of which is presented below, has acquired a well-kept modern look through the use of veneering siding material. And more recently it was an ordinary, inconspicuous house, which no one paid attention to.

The main issue solved at the stage of preparatory work - the choice of insulation. Modern industry offers the consumer a wide choice of thermal insulation materials. And here the main thing is not to get lost, analyze all the pros and cons of each and choose the best option. Particular attention in the selection process, pay attention to the following characteristics of materials for thermal insulation:

• Density. A heat insulation creates an additional load on the structure of the building. To determine if the design is able to withstand additional weight, calculate the mass of the insulation as the product of its density by the required volume.
• Water absorption coefficient. This indicator indicates the amount of moisture absorbed by the material. Absorbing moisture, the thermal insulation material partially loses its useful properties. As a result, its service life is shortened. Consequently, the lower the water absorption coefficient, the better.
• Flammability class. A very important indicator.Г1 - the least combustible materials. Without a source of open fire, they do not burn. G4 - the most combustible materials. It is safer to use heaters class G1.
• Durability of the material. The more durable the thermal insulation material, the longer it will not be necessary to repeat the work on the insulation of the facade.
• Environmentally friendly. An important characteristic for those who monitor their health. Synthetic materials are capable of releasing harmful substances when heated.
• Soundproofing capabilities. Modern materials used for insulation, protect the dwelling not only from the cold, but also from noise. The higher the soundproofing ability, the quieter and more comfortable it will be in the house.
• Steam throughput. Very important characteristic. When using materials with weak vapor transmission capacity, it is necessary to take care of the presence in the house of high-quality intake and exhaust ventilation.
• The complexity of installation. This characteristic becomes especially important when carrying out work on insulation with their own hands, without the involvement of specialists.

Of great importance for most consumers is the cost of thermal insulation material. But do not forget, the cheapest is rarely the best quality and durable. It is better to overpay for the quality of the material than after several years to re-conduct all the work on insulation.

Thermal insulation materials used for house insulation

Among the thermal insulation materials the most popular are:

1. Mineral wool. This fibrous material, which in its form resembles cotton wool. They make it from all kinds of rocks and slags. The plates are produced in slabs or rolls.
Advantages:

• is manufactured in different density;
• very high soundproofing ability;
• has increased resistance to burning;
• vapor permeable material;
• is an eco-friendly material.

Disadvantages:

• high cost;
• is not very user-friendly material;
• high degree of water absorption. Can not be used without additional external protection;
• in the mineral wool can start a rodent.

2. Polyfoam. It is a lot of small balls of plastic, inside of which is air. This material is obtained by hot forming. The shape of the material is plates.

Advantages:

• different density, from 11 to 35 kg / m3;
• low cost of thermal insulation material;
• good water resistance. Nevertheless, with direct moisture penetration, it becomes wet and loses its heat-insulating properties. It is used exclusively with external protection.

Disadvantages:

• polystyrene is a very fragile material. Work with him must be extremely cautious;
• is highly flammable;
• during the combustion of toxic substances are released;
• is susceptible to damage by exposure to sunlight;
• low vapor permeability.

3. Extruded polystyrene foam. It is a closed cell of polystyrene with air. Available in the form of plates.

Advantages:

• is easy and convenient to mount;
• increased moisture resistance;
• high strength.

Disadvantages:

• high material cost;
• low vapor permeability;
• combustible material;
• releases toxic substances during combustion.

4. "Warm" plasters. A mixture that consists of white cement, small balls of froth glass and special additives.

Advantages:

• good vapor permeability;
• high moisture resistance;
• is not subject to combustion;
• high sound insulation properties.

The drawback of this fine material is one, but rather significant. To insulate the facade of the house with "warm" plaster, it is necessary to use the services of professionals. Qualitatively do the work yourself with the beginner is unlikely to succeed.

5. Cork heaters. Natural thermal insulation material. It is made from cork crumb or cork bark. For this, the crust or crumb is ground and processed under pressure by hot steam. The resulting material is compressed, a natural resin is used as a binder and cut into slabs.

Advantages:

• good vapor permeability;
• does not form mold on cork slabs;
• does not release toxic substances during combustion.

Disadvantages:

• is highly flammable.

6. Cellulose wadding. It is obtained as a result of recycling of waste paper. In the production process is treated with special substances that reduce the inflammability.

Advantages:

• like most natural insulants, cellulose has good vapor permeability;
• is not affected by the formation of fungi and mold.

Disadvantages:

• is not a moisture resistant material;
• does not withstand mechanical influences. Therefore, in kind is used mainly in attics. The walls are warmed by a more durable modification of cellulose wool, which produces not only paper but also special binders.

7. Hemp. A wide variety of forms of release. This and individual fibers used to seal narrow slots, and slabs, and rolls. The addition of boron salts in the production process can significantly reduce the risk of fire.

Advantages:

• good vapor permeability;
• is not susceptible to the formation of fungi and mold.

Disadvantages:

• does not respond well to pressure.

8. Straw. The starting material for this type of insulation is straw of crops such as rye, wheat, oats and barley. The starting material is pressed and bandaged with cords or wire. The main advantages are natural origin, which entails good vapor permeability. Among the disadvantages of the main is the flammability.

9. Algae. Another natural thermal insulation material. It is made from dried seaweed. The basic form is plates.

Advantages:

• high vapor permeability;
• this thermal insulation material is not susceptible to the formation of fungi and mold;
• in warming from algae rodents are not planted;
• material does not rot;
• high resistance to fire.

Tip: before you finally decide on a particular thermal insulation material, try to find out how it manifested itself in a given climatic zone.

Methods for insulation of the facade of a private house

Thermal insulation of the facade is possible in three ways:

1. Insulation inside walls. Unfortunately, this method is only available during the construction phase. Its essence consists in the following: walls at building of a building erect with emptiness which are filled with a heater. This method of insulation is very effective. It is widely used in the construction of modern houses.

2. Insulation inside the building. The main disadvantage of the method is the reduction of the useful area of ​​the internal premises of the building due to the installation of a heater. Therefore, it is used only in case of impossible insulation of the facade from the outside.

3. Warming outside the building. This method is optimal for a private home. And preserving the useful area of ​​housing is not its only advantage. It is believed that the resistance to vapor permeation of the materials that make up the wall of the house should decrease with outward motion. Otherwise, the accumulation of water vapor in the layer of insulation can not be avoided. Therefore, the facade of the house, if possible, is insulated from the outside. Yes, and from an aesthetic point of view, the insulation from the outside is more effective. Using the newest finishing materials will turn even an ordinary house into an elegant modern dwelling. There are several basic ways to insulate the facade from the outside:

• ventilated hinged facades;
• "well" masonry;
• "wet" facade;
• "warm" plaster;
• consider them in more detail.

Ventilated hinged facade

The hinged facade is a structure, the main components of which are the frame, insulation and lining. Of course, it is better to entrust the care of the facade insulation to professionals. But if you have urgent need, you can manage yourself.

The following materials will be needed for work:

1. Aluminum profiles for the frame, brackets.
2. Mounting accessories. These are self-tapping screws, rivets, dowels, anchors.
3. Insulation. Any thermal insulation material can be used. But most often for hinged facades use mineral or cellulose cotton wool.
4. Facing material. It performs both decorative and protective function. Therefore, the choice of the facing material depends, in the main, on the aesthetic preferences of the consumer. And, of course, from his purchasing power. The price range for facing materials is wide, on average from $ 1.5 per 1 m2.Most commonly used:

• porcelain stoneware;
• vinyl siding;
• fibre-cement facade plates;
• is a scanner.

Workflow:

1. Clean the front of the house from the old cladding.
2. Prepare a skeleton design.
3. Make the markings on the wall according to the project.
4. Secure the brackets to the marked places. To fix the brackets to the outer wall, use a corrosion resistant anchor. Mount the device through the washer. To protect against corrosion, it is advisable to paint the anchor cap.
5. Use plastic anchors to fix the insulation on the facade.
6. Fit the frame from the guides, attaching them with rivets to the brackets. The shape of the frame and the distance between the rails depends on the selected lining material.
7. Start the installation of the liner.

Tip: between the lining and the heater must be a gap of 2 to 4 cm due to it will increase the thermal insulation properties, will ensure the removal of steam and excess moisture from the layer of insulation.

Ventilated hinged facades are an excellent method of insulation. But it is not suitable for all buildings. Houses of hollow bricks, foam concrete and other materials with low density can not be insulated in this way.

"Well" masonry

"Well" masonry is very reminiscent of its structure hinged facade. It consists of a brick wall, a heater and a facing brick. It is used mainly for brick houses. The main feature of the design is the impossibility of protecting the heater from moisture. Therefore, this method is suitable only for moisture-proof thermal insulation material. The most commonly used extruded polystyrene foam.

The algorithm for performing the work is very simple:

1. The selected thermal insulation material is attached to the brick wall.
2. The bricks are laid.
3. However, performing it yourself is not recommended. Brick cladding - work for professionals.

"Wet" facade

The method is the insulation of the outer wall of the house with a selected thermal insulation material, followed by the application of a layer of plaster performing protective and decorative functions.

For the insulation of the house, any existing building heat insulators are used. Most often, foam polystyrene or mineral wool is used for this purpose. The algorithm for carrying out the work for different heat-insulating materials is identical. Consider it on the example of the insulation of walls with foam plastic.

How to insulate the facade with polystyrene foam:

1. Treat the wall with an antifungal compound.
2. Wall the foam sheets by bandaging the sheets.
3. Cover the surface of the foam with glue and apply a reinforcing mesh. The density of the mesh is from 140 g / m2.The mesh must be overlapped.
4. Apply a layer of adhesive to the mesh.
5. Prime the surface.
6. Apply a layer of decorative plaster.

Like the "well" masonry, this method of facade insulation is better entrusted to specialists. This is a very laborious process, it is almost impossible to successfully cope with it without proper preparation.

"Warm plaster"

"Warm" plaster is applied directly to the wall. It combines both functions: a heater, and a decorative coating. Excellent material: eco-friendly, moisture resistant. At home, with the warmth of which used "warm" plaster, have a good sound insulation. The risk of ignition of the heater is minimized. But the application of "warm" plaster is a very laborious process, requiring considerable time and high professional level of the performer.