Principles of technology of foundation insulation with expanded polystyrene

The technology of foundation insulation with expanded polystyrene means the creation of reliable thermal insulation of the base of the house.

As you know, one of the main elements of any structure on which security in the operation of a house largely depends is the foundation.

To have durability and give maximum stability to the whole house, it must not only be properly designed, but also erected.

It is also recommended to additionally conduct the insulation of the foundation from the outside, which will increase the quality and strength of the building, energy-saving characteristics of the internal space.

In this case, the most optimal insulation is exactly polystyrene plates, which in comparison with other similar materials, have a large number of advantages, and besides, it is easy enough to work with them.

Expanded polystyrene can be used for both shallow belt or pile foundations, and for screw base construction.

For greater efficiency, the insulation of the base with expanded polystyrene is best carried out from outside, while the thickness of the layer of insulation is selected based on external climatic conditions and soil characteristics.

Advantages of using expanded polystyrene

Nowadays, it is polystyrene plates that are used outside of polystyrene, and this is primarily due to the fact that this material, in addition to a huge number of advantages, it also has a relatively low cost.

It is actively used, including, and if necessary, to perform the insulation of shallow pile, tape and other types of foundations, as well as their blinds.

Today you can buy two different types of expanded polystyrene, namely, foamed and extruded.

There are certain differences between them, both in terms of production technology and technical parameters.

For warming finely stripped belt, pile and other types of foundations, it is best to use extruded, as it is more resistant to various external influences.

Of course, the main advantage of expanded polystyrene plates is their relatively low price, which is an order of magnitude lower than that of similar materials.

In addition, polystyrene plates have compact dimensions. Their thickness can vary from one centimeter to ten.

In addition, polystyrene plates have a low weight, which greatly simplifies the process of laying the material.

Expanded polystyrene plates have good resistance to the effects of all sorts of aggressive factors, including chemicals.

The material has a low moisture absorption, high density and reliability, which increases its durability.

In addition, expanded polystyrene is absolutely harmless to health, as it has high environmental performance.

Due to its versatility, expanded polystyrene can be used both for thermal insulation of shallow belt, pile and other types of foundations, and for blind areas.

Preparatory work for

Before starting work on insulation with foam polystyrene sheets of the foundation, including the belt type from the outside, it is necessary to prepare a tool and also to purchase the material itself, the thickness of which is determined based on external conditions.

For insulation, it is best to use extruded polystyrene foam. Particular attention should be given to the choice of glue, which will be used directly to install the slabs themselves.

Next follows along the entire perimeter to dig to the full depth of the foundation itself. Also, all of its base must necessarily be thoroughly cleaned of debris, as well as dirt and dust.

Specialists recommend to bring the same level for its entire surface.

In addition, before starting work related to the installation of EPS board, it is necessary to thoroughly dry the entire surface of the foundation of the foundation from the outside.

The thickness of the slabs that will be used to insulate the foundation must be at least ten centimeters.

After the concrete foundation foundation is thoroughly dry, it is absolutely necessary to conduct waterproofing works.

This is especially true for the foundations of those structures that are located in close proximity to underground groundwater.

For these purposes, you can use a variety of materials, including the lubricating.

In the event that it is customary to use coating compositions as the base waterproofing, the choice should be made of mastics that have a polymeric or water basis.

It is also recommended to drain all the space near the foundation, which can then be covered with a blind area.

To do this, at the bottom of the trench, densely sand a layer of sand and gravel, on top of which is laid a perforated pipe, which is also peppered with rubble and sand.

It should be remembered that the waterproofing of the foundation is an important stage of the work, and therefore it must be approached with full responsibility.

For more details on how to properly insulate the foundation, see the video below.

Video:

Mounting insulation sheets

Expanded polystyrene plates are mounted on the base of the house from the outside with special adhesive compounds.

It is extremely undesirable to use for this purpose those mixtures that contain different types of organic solvents in their composition.

The glue is applied directly to the heater itself in a pointwise manner, after which the plate is firmly pressed against the base and fixed for a certain time.

It is best to insulate the base with expanded polystyrene with stripes starting from any lower corner of the base.

The next top layer of the heater must be staggered in order to avoid bad joints.

After the installation of the heater on the entire surface of the base of the house, it is necessary to carefully seal all joints and gaps between the plates as closely as possible.

For these purposes, you can use the mounting foam, and you can use the adhesive itself.

To make the work more convenient, it is recommended that after laying the first layer of insulation and its sealing, make a partial filling of the pit.

As practice shows, the weakest point of any foundation are its corners. When performing the warming of the house foundation, the corners should be given special attention.

So, it is recommended to lay a heater in several layers, while sealing each seam as much as possible.

After the whole base of the house has been insulated along the perimeter, it is necessary to uniformly fill the trench with a mixture of soil and sand, then carefully compact it.

It is also recommended to conduct the insulation and the entire basement of the house. This will further strengthen the base, and accordingly increase the durability of the house.

More details on how to perform the insulation of the base of the house with expanded polystyrene are described in the video, which is placed below.

Video:

Tips and tricks

All insulation is recommended from the top plaster with glue, which is designed for finishing work.

In addition, to increase the protective functions of the foundation, additional insulation should be made around the perimeter of the entire house.

As a heater for the blind area, you can use a variety of materials, including expanded polystyrene.

The chosen insulation is laid after the drainage and the pillow of the blind area have been equipped, and insulating material is laid.

On top of the heater is equipped with a concrete screed, it is also possible to lay paving slabs on top of it. Warm-up of the blind area will increase the reliability of the foundation, and in addition prevent the entry of moisture and dampness.

In the event that the house is erected on the ground with a large depth of freezing, it is recommended to additionally protect the thermal insulation from various mechanical damages.

The most optimal way to equip this protection is to do the brickwork on top of the expanded polystyrene.

If all work on the foundation warming is carried out correctly and in accordance with the generally accepted technology, the base of the house will be reliably protected from cold and moisture.

It is recommended to perform insulation for all types of bases, regardless of the ground on which it is erected.