How to insulate the foundation with polystyrene - practical advice
Before you can insulate the foundation of the house with polystyrene, you need to know why it is done. The bearing structure of any structure, especially a private house, is subject to low temperatures, which in turn cause the soil to heave and damage the integrity of the foundation.
A heat sink helps to save not only about 20 percent of the thermal energy inside the underground space, but also prevents the structure from breaking due to punching in the winter season.
Important! The insulation must be located along the entire perimeter of the structure so that its integrity is the guarantee of the durability of the entire house.
Material selection as a basis for quality work
The final quality of the construction process depends on which material is selected for this type of work. Polyfoam is considered an ideal option for underground work, because it perfectly resists moisture and does not lend itself to direct exposure to destructive sun rays.
There are several basic types of this material that can be used to warm the foundation structure of a house:
- Plates of foam plastic having a size of 100x100x5 cm;
- Extruded polystyrene, the thickness of which does not exceed 2 cm;
- Penoplex, which has a different color gamut.
Application of each individual type of material is relevant for the required work, but most often it is penoplex. The thickness of this insulation is 20 millimeters, which positively affects the process of installation and finishing.
Important! The layer of insulation must be complete to prevent the possibility of loss of thermal energy.
The order of installation works, in which the result will be the most effective
Before proceeding with the installation of insulation on the foundation of the house, it is worth making sure of its dry condition. If the surface of the supporting structure is wet, then after its plating the moisture can not evaporate, which will lead to inhibition and the formation of fungus. Mounted plates insulation with self-tapping screws or nails with wide washers. After installation of the consumable material, all hats must be treated with bitumen or similar material to avoid moisture penetration through possible openings.
Important! Do not leave large gaps between the elements of the material, this will lead to poor tightness of the entire structure.
To avoid poor integrity of the heating layer, all joints between the material elements must be treated with a mounting foam. Only after the foam has dried, it will be possible to fill the foundation ditch. Foam for the foundation should not be below the ground level. This will lead to a permanent moisture impact on the joint of the material and foundation. As a rule, the heater must support the ground level no less than 150 millimeters.
Ideally, it is necessary to lay the material in such a way that it covers the basement, which is to be finished with any material. It is worth remembering the fact that all elements of the insulation should not have cracks and holes, which will have to be covered with auxiliary materials.
