The most effective insulation for the home. Which insulation materials are better and how to choose them correctly. In addition, this insulation has

Nowadays, everyone who is somehow faced with the construction or renovation of a house pays special attention to the insulation of building structures. Well, how could it be otherwise? Energy prices have increased so much that just throwing heat out of your home can cost a pretty penny. That’s why during construction the house is insulated from the foundation to the roof.

Some basics

As practice and calculations have shown, the most highest percentage of heat loss Houses falls on the walls. And in order to reduce this very percentage, modern builders have undertaken to insulate walls, as they say, conscientiously, and approach this issue very thoroughly. It used to be, some 20-25 years ago, when the only insulation was glass wool, private developers simply made walls with an air gap, rightly considering air to be the worst conductor of heat. Today, the situation with the insulation of building structures has improved dramatically. IN construction stores There is a huge variety of insulation materials for a variety of purposes.

These are polystyrene foam boards

insulation based on stone wool

What are the fundamental differences, advantages and disadvantages of these two types?

Expanded polystyrene – in other words, polystyrene foam. But there is a difference between polystyrene foam and foam plastic. There is simply gas-filled polystyrene made from small granules, pressed together by sintering at elevated temperatures. And there is extruded polystyrene foam (labeled XPS) in which there is no separation into granules, but the gas-filled mixture is squeezed out of the extruder into a pre-prepared form and then pressed into slabs.

Inorganic fiber insulation obtained from mineral chips (basalt, quartz sand), which is melted at high temperatures and drawn into fibers. The mineral fiber thus obtained is then processed binders and pressed into slabs. This is somewhat reminiscent of the technology of felt boots, which are felted from wool. And, please note, for a good winter no better footwear has yet been invented than woolen socks and felt boots. What does this mean? It is true that as insulation, compressed fiber behaves excellently.

The approximate price per square is 245 rubles (with a thickness of 50mm), one slab has dimensions of 600 * 1200.

Here's a short review. Which insulation to choose for thermal insulation of a house is, of course, up to you to decide.

After the introduction of a new standard for the thermal protection of buildings, insulation has become relevant even for those houses that were previously considered “safe”. Owners of older buildings don't have to do anything, but they must be prepared to pay rising energy bills. And designs for new houses will not be approved if they do not meet the requirements of SNiP 02/23/2003. There are several technologies that make it possible to ensure standard indicators for buildings made of any materials. The main thing is to choose the right insulation for the exterior walls of a house in each case.

The house must be kept warm

Why external insulation and not internal

The most understandable argument for a non-specialist sounds very convincing, although this is a secondary factor - insulation from the inside “takes away” the useful volume of residential and office premises.

Builders are guided by the standard according to which insulation must be external (SP 23-101-2004). Insulation from the inside is not directly prohibited, but it can only be carried out in exceptional cases. For example, when work on the outside cannot be carried out due to the design features or the facade “belongs” to a house that is classified as an architectural monument.

Video description

The result is correct internal insulation home on video:

Internal insulation of walls is allowed provided that a durable and continuous vapor-tight layer is created on the side of the room. But this is not easy to do, and if warm air with water vapor will enter the insulation or onto the surface cold wall, then the appearance of condensation is inevitable. And this is due to the “dew point”, which will move either inside the layer of thermal insulation material or to the border between it and the wall.

Even such protection from the inside will not provide a 100% guarantee against the wall getting wet - water vapor will find its way into the film joints and fastening points

That is, when deciding how to properly insulate a house, in the vast majority of cases, the answer will be based on clear regulatory recommendations - from the outside.

Popular thermal insulation materials

From a large list thermal insulation materials We can highlight several of the most popular ones and those that are used if the budget allows or for other reasons. Traditionally, the popularity of materials is determined by a combination of good thermal insulation characteristics and relatively low cost.

Expanded polystyrene

Better known as "foam". To be precise, in addition to slabs, this material is also used in granular form as bulk thermal insulation.

Its thermal conductivity varies with density, but on average it is one of the lowest in its class. Thermal insulation properties are provided by a cellular structure filled with air. Its popularity is explained by its availability, ease of installation, good compressive strength, and low water absorption. That is, it is cheap, quite durable (as part of the structure) and is not afraid of water.

Polystyrene foam is considered low-flammable, and those marked PSB-S are self-extinguishing (does not support combustion). But during a fire, it emits toxic gases, and this is one of the main reasons why it cannot be used for insulation from the inside. Its second drawback is low vapor permeability, which imposes restrictions on the use of “breathable” materials when insulating walls.

Insulating the outside of a house with foam plastic

Extruded polystyrene foam

It differs from polystyrene foam by a fundamentally different manufacturing technology, although the raw material is the same polystyrene granules. In some respects it is superior to its “relative”. It has the same percentage of water absorption (no more than 2%), on average, thermal conductivity is 20-30% lower (Table D.1 SP 23-101-2004), vapor permeability is several times lower and compressive strength is higher. Thanks to this set of qualities, it is best material when insulating the foundation and basement, that is, the walls of the basement and the “zero” floor. The disadvantages of EPS are the same as those of polystyrene foam, and it costs more.

Eps is usually made “colored”

Stone, also known as basalt, cotton wool

This is a subtype of mineral wool, the raw materials of which are rocks of stone (most often basalt). A completely different type of thermal insulation material, the low thermal conductivity of which is ensured due to its fibrous structure and low density. It is inferior to foam plastic and EPPS in terms of thermal conductivity (on average 1.5 times higher), but unlike them, it does not burn or smolder (flammability class NG). Refers to “breathable” materials - according to the new standard this sounds like low “breathing resistance”.

Mineral wool mats for wall insulation must be “hard”

But there are other materials for insulating a house outside, which, although used less frequently, have their own advantages.

Thermal insulation materials - new products on the market

Additionally, you can always consider new options - they are a little more expensive, but often somewhat more effective than traditional ones.

Foamed polyurethane

Common polymer material " household use" Also well known as furniture foam (in the form of “soft” mats) or as polyurethane foam for sealing cracks. When insulating, it is also used in the form of slabs or sprayed insulation.

Polyurethane foam slabs have low tear-off holding properties, so they are not used in “wet façade” systems.

But this is a common thermal insulation material for making sandwich panels. The same technology underlies the production of thermal panels for facade cladding. This panel is thermal insulation board with a decorative layer already applied at the factory (clinker tiles or stone chips). Two types of insulation: polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam. In the first case, the thermal panel is two-layer, in the second – three-layer (OSB or moisture-resistant plywood is used as the supporting base). Two mounting options: dowels/anchors ( open method) or your own hidden fastening system.

Three-layer thermal panel

Sprayed polyurethane foam is in demand if it is necessary to create a seamless layer of thermal insulation on complex surfaces. Until recently, there was only one technology for applying such a layer - using professional installations working with a two-component composition (mixing occurs during spraying).

Spraying polyurethane foam onto the base of a house

Now in Russia for household use The production of one-component polyurethane foam has been launched, which is produced in an aerosol can with a capacity of 1 liter. As manufacturers assure (there are two competing companies), insulating 1 m2 with your own hands is much cheaper than concluding an agreement with specialized enterprises that use professional equipment. And this option for insulating a house from the outside is quite attractive if literally 2-3 cm of the thermal insulation layer is missing.

Insulation using sprayed polyurethane foam "Teplis"

Ecowool

A relatively new thermal insulation material. The technology for insulating enclosing surfaces is based on cellulose fiber material, which is applied to the walls using a special installation. There are two options for insulation: filling the plane between the wall and the cladding, spraying with an adhesive binder onto the wall with installed sheathing (and subsequent installation of facade panels).

Among the traditional materials, glass wool (a subtype of mineral wool) can be mentioned, but due to its fragility and the formation of tiny “dust” with sharp edges during installation, it has been replaced stone wool, safe both during installation and operation.

The better way to insulate a house from the outside - standards for the number of layers

If you follow regulatory documents, there are two options for how to insulate a house from the outside based on the number of structural and thermal insulation layers: two-layer and three-layer. Moreover, in the second case, the external paneling or plaster is not considered an independent layer, although their thermal insulation properties are taken into account. In three-layer walls, the outer (third) layer is the structural material.

Brick cladding with insulation

In addition to this classification, there is also a division based on the presence of a ventilated and non-ventilated layer.

brickwork, reinforced concrete (with flexible connections), expanded clay concrete - all types of solutions;
wooden houses– enclosing structures with two-layer, three-layer walls and with a ventilated air gap;
frame houses with thin-sheet cladding - three-layer walls with thermal insulation in the middle, as well as with a ventilated and non-ventilated air gap;
cellular concrete blocks - two-layer walls with brick cladding, as well as with a ventilated or non-ventilated layer.

In practice, for insulation low-rise buildings such a variety of solutions comes down to the choice between a “wet” or curtained façade. Although, it is those recommended by the standard that are considered as thermal insulation materials - mineral wool or expanded polystyrene (EPS as an alternative).

But each case has its own preferences.

Video description

The video shows how to choose how to insulate a house from the outside:

The better way to insulate a house from the outside, depending on the wall material

For insulation brick house There are no restrictions when choosing technology. Various options can only be considered depending on the chosen method finishing facade:

Facing brick. This is a classic three-layer wall construction with flexible ties. Even when using polystyrene foam, a ventilated air layer is provided to ventilate water vapor and prevent the wall materials from getting wet.
Wet facade. You can use mineral wool and polystyrene foam. The first option is preferable - ceramic bricks have higher vapor permeability than foam plastic. And according to clause 8.5 of SP 23-101-2004, the arrangement of layers should facilitate the weathering of water vapor to prevent moisture accumulation.

"Wet facade" scheme

Ventilated facade. With lining wall panels or large-format porcelain tiles on the sheathing. Traditional insulation for everyone curtain facades– mineral wool.

Scheme of a ventilated facade

Wooden houses (logs or beams) are insulated exclusively with mineral wool using curtain façade technology.

For them, you can find examples of using polystyrene foam and plaster using the “wet facade” method. In this case, a ventilated gap is created between the wall and the foam boards using spacer sheathing. Although this means that the main advantage of the “wet façade” – simplicity of design and installation – disappears.

How to calculate the thickness of insulation

If you look through SP23-101-2004 or a similar but later set of rules SP 50.13330.2012, you can see that calculating the thickness of the insulation is not so easy.

Each building is “individual”. When developing a project and approving it, such thermal calculations are made by specialists. And here a whole complex of parameters is taken into account - the characteristics of the region (temperatures, duration of the heating season, average number of sunny days), type and area of glazing of the house, heat capacity flooring, thermal insulation of the roof and basement. Even the quantity metal bonds between the wall and the cladding matters.

But if the owner of a previously built house decides to insulate it (and the new standards introduced in 2003 are much stricter than the old ones), then he will have to choose between three parameters of the “standard thickness” of insulation - 50, 100 and 150 mm. And here the accuracy of calculations is not needed. There is a diagram that shows the equivalent thickness dimensions different materials(in average form), the wall of which will meet the new requirements for thermal protection.

Only a house made of aerated concrete blocks with a thickness of 45 cm does not need insulation

And then it’s simple. They take the thickness of a wall made of a certain material and see how much is missing from the standard. And then they calculate in proportion what thickness of the insulation layer of the outside wall of the house needs to be added. Taking into account that a wet facade also has a layer of plaster, and a ventilated one has an air gap, plus interior decoration facade walls, you can be sure of sufficient thermal protection.

And the question of insulation of the roof, floors and choice good windows decided separately.

It’s even easier - use one of the many online calculators. The figure here, of course, is approximate, but rounded up to the nearest standard insulation thickness, it will give the required result.

How to properly install insulation on a facade

Before installation, the façade must be prepared: cleaned of old decoration, remove dirt and dust, dismantle hanging elements engineering systems, remove ebbs and canopies (you will still have to replace them with wider ones), remove signs, plates and façade lamps. Then the surface of the wall must be strengthened - cracks and chips must be repaired, crumbling areas must be cleaned, and a deep penetration primer must be applied.

Application of primer

For reliable fastening of polystyrene foam or rigid mineral wool mats in a wet façade system, the wall surface must be as smooth as the unevenness can be smoothed out with an adhesive solution. If the height difference is up to 5 mm, the solution is applied over the entire insulation slab, with unevenness from 5 to 20 mm - along the perimeter and in the form of “cakes” on 40% of the slab surface.

The first row of slabs is mounted with emphasis on the starting bar, which also sets the horizontal level. The second and subsequent rows are installed with a vertical seam shift (at least 200 mm), leveling the surface of the insulation in the area of the joints so that the height difference is no more than 3 mm. When insulating the walls around the openings, make sure that the seams of the slabs do not intersect in their corners. Each slab is additionally secured with umbrella dowels at the rate of 5 pcs. per 1 m2.

Before applying the plaster, the surface of the slabs is reinforced with fiberglass, fixed in the middle of a layer of adhesive solution with a total thickness of 5-6 mm.

The density of polystyrene foam is chosen to be 25-35 kg/m3.

Video description

Visually about mineral wool insulation in the video:

Russian mineral wool mats brands for the “wet facade” system they must correspond to index 175, imported ones must be marked “facade” and have a density above 125 kg/m3.

Attention. In the “wet facade” system, the insulation is installed in only one (!) layer. A vertical surface made of two layers of “soft” slabs loaded with plaster behaves unpredictably, especially with changes in temperature and humidity conditions. Do not be fooled by arguments that the second layer of slabs overlaps the seams of the first and eliminates “cold bridges”.

The ventilated facade uses rigid mineral wool mats with a density of 80 kg/m3. If the surface of the mats is not laminated, then after attaching them to the sheathing, the surface is covered with either fiberglass or a vapor-permeable membrane.

The spacing of the lathing is chosen 2-3 cm less than the width of the mats. In addition to fastening to the sheathing, the insulation is additionally fixed to the wall with umbrella dowels.

The size of the air gap between the insulation and the cladding should be in the range of 60-150 mm.

Important. The size of 40 mm is standardized for non-ventilated air spaces.

To ventilate the layer in the cladding, inlet openings are installed in the base area and outlet openings are installed under the roof eaves. The total area of the holes must be at least 75 cm2 per 20 m2 of wall.

Ventilation grilles in the wall

As a result, is it worth insulating?

Insulating your home is a profitable investment even in the short term. The investment will quickly pay for itself by reducing heating and air conditioning costs.

Our website also presents companies specializing in facade and finishing materials, which are presented at the exhibition of Low-Rise Country houses.

A properly insulated house will not only make living in it comfortable and cozy, but will also save money on heating the house. It is necessary to insulate floors, external walls, interfloor ceilings and the roof. More than a third of all heat loss occurs through the roof, because warm air, according to the laws of physics, rises and tends to leak through the ceiling and roof to the outside. Therefore, special attention should be paid to roof insulation.

There are several types of roof insulation. They differ in composition, density, shape, thermal conductivity and environmental friendliness. Let's consider these types.

1. Foam-based insulation - polystyrene foam, penoizol, polyurethane foam. It is obtained from various polymers by expansion and molding. The heat-shielding properties of polystyrene foams are due to the air bubbles they contain. Air is a poor conductor of heat, so the materials containing it inside also have low thermal conductivity.

Advantages of foam insulation:

A high degree of thermal protection, the thickness of polystyrene foam of 12 cm in terms of thermal conductivity corresponds to a meter-thick brick wall or a 45 cm wooden wall.
Water resistance. Expanded polystyrene does not absorb moisture, but steam can penetrate between the particles of the material, both penetrating inside and leaving it.
Polystyrene foam is not susceptible to fungi, mold, or rot. Bacteria do not multiply on it.
Expanded polystyrene does not support combustion and self-extinguishes in the absence of a flame.
Polystyrene foam has high noise-insulating properties due to the presence of air bubbles in its structure.
Its low weight allows it to be used where high loads on structures are not allowed.
This material is not damaged by rodents, which plays an important role in insulating country houses.

Disadvantages of polystyrene foam:

its biggest disadvantage is that over time it can release harmful substances, especially at high temperatures. At temperatures above 80°C its use is unacceptable. Therefore, it cannot be used for thermal insulation of roofs that heat up in the sun.
second negative trait This material is susceptible to deformation during use. This chemical compound may change its properties even after manufacturing, especially if the production technology is not followed. Therefore, polystyrene foam slabs can gradually dry out and gaps form between them. Manufacturers claim that this will not happen if the polystyrene foam is protected from external factors, for example, with clapboard, wood boards, or other material.

2. Insulation made of mineral wool and glass wool. They can be in the form of mats or slabs. This material is produced by melting minerals, slag or glass.

Advantages of this type of insulation:

Good thermal insulation. Thermal conductivity, depending on the type, is from 0.03 to 0.05 W/(m K).
High degree of sound insulation. Some types of these materials have the highest sound insulation rates and are recommended by the manufacturer specifically for protecting rooms from noise.
The material is not subject to rotting, mold and bacteria do not settle on it.
This non-flammable material, withstands temperatures up to 700°C.

Disadvantages of mineral insulation and glass wool materials:

Although the material itself from which these insulation materials are made is harmless to humans, the binders that glue mineral fibers together are no longer so harmless. In addition, the very structure of these materials allows particles of mineral dust or fiberglass to enter the air, which, if inhaled, can harm human health. And you need to wear gloves and a respirator when working with such material.
These insulation materials can absorb moisture, thereby partially losing their thermal insulation properties. Some types are supplied with special additives that make the material water resistant. To insulate the roof, it is advisable to use these types of insulation.

3. Materials from natural fibers. These are ecowool (cellulose wool), fibreboards, mats made of coconut, cotton, hemp or flax fiber. Most of these materials are made from recycled materials (waste paper, sawdust, etc.), which improves the environment.

Positive qualities of these materials:

In terms of heat-protective and noise-protective properties, these materials are not inferior to the first two groups. Due to their fibrous structure, they retain room temperature well and do not allow noise to pass through.
These are breathable materials; they do not need to be protected with special membranes from steam penetration. Steam penetrating into them from the room is easily removed outside, while the heat-shielding properties of the material do not change.
These are environmentally friendly materials that do not harm health and create a comfortable indoor microclimate.
Ecowool is applied to insulated structures special equipment through pipes and fills all cavities, leaving no cracks or gaps through which heat could escape. This makes a house protected in this way even warmer.

Negatives:

These materials are flammable, but many of them contain fire retardants that prevent combustion.
To insulate ecowool, you need appropriate equipment. Now there are enough companies ready to insulate your house using this method or rent it out. necessary equipment and material.

4. Vermiculite, ceramic foam, foam glass, perlite and other natural expanded materials. They are obtained as a result of swelling of natural minerals such as volcanic glass, perlite, clay and others.

The advantages of this group of materials:

Fire safety. These materials do not burn, do not spontaneously ignite, and can withstand high temperatures.
Safety for humans and animals. Such insulation does not emit harmful substances at any temperature.
Light weight allows it to be used for insulating any surface.
Good heat and noise protection, the ability to tightly fill insulated structures without gaps or cracks.
Fungus does not appear on these materials and bacteria do not multiply. They do not rot or mold, and rodents do not grow in them.
long, almost unlimited service life. These materials will last as long as the house lasts.

Disadvantages of natural expanded insulation:

Perhaps the disadvantage is the form of release of these materials; not everyone is comfortable using loose insulation.

Based on this information, you can decide which insulation to choose for your roof.

The choice of insulation also depends on the roof design. This may be an unheated attic or attic for permanent residence, or maybe a flat roof, used or not. What insulation for the roof would be better suited for each of these options?

When insulating an unheated attic, it is not the roof that is insulated, but the attic floor. I usually lay several layers of material, each layer should overlap the joints of the previous layer. It is better to use two layers of thicker insulation than three layers of thin material, with the same total thickness of insulation.
If the attic is being insulated, then the insulation is laid under the roof, making sure to leave ventilation gaps between the insulation and the roof itself. It is also necessary to protect the insulation from the inside with a vapor barrier membrane, and from the outside with a moisture-proof film.
Insulation flat roof presents high demands to the strength of the insulation material. Great value It also has insulation density. Flat roof experiences high snow loads and loads during its operation. Therefore, the density of roof insulation should be at least 40 kg/m3.

It is very important to follow the technology when insulating the roof. If you don't do the right thing " roofing pie", then various problems may arise during the operation of the roof. This includes the appearance of icicles and icing of the roof, which can lead to destruction roofing. An improperly insulated attic will be hot in summer and cold in winter, and flat roofs may leak if the roof insulation is not installed correctly.

It is advisable to entrust the work of roof insulation to specialists, and if you do it yourself, carefully study the technology of this process and strictly follow the instructions. Then the roof will not cause you trouble in the future.

Insulating a house is a very important and responsible process. If thermal insulation work is carried out correctly, the rooms will be noticeably warmer in winter, and cooler in summer. This allows you to create a comfortable microclimate that has a beneficial effect on the human body.

Arriving at the market building materials, one can only be surprised by the huge variety of insulation materials produced: they are rolled up in rolls, poured into containers in the form of sand, powder and granules, they look like cotton wool from packages, etc. Moreover, each type of heat-insulating material will be most effective for insulating a particular surface.

Performance characteristics of insulation materials

It is possible to judge which is the best thermal insulation material only after considering all its main properties together. All insulation materials have almost the same set of properties, only the degree of their manifestation is different:

Thermal conductivity is one of the most important characteristics that determines the ability of a material to transmit heat. Since thermal energy spreads in space in 3 ways (convection, thermal radiation and thermal conductivity), then the thermal conductivity coefficient depends on physical properties(porosity, humidity, etc.) and the degree of heating of the insulation. The heat-protective properties of some materials used to insulate houses sharply decrease when they reach certain temperatures, which limits their scope of application. The thermal conductivity coefficient of different materials is different. The lower its value, the thinner the thermal insulation layer will be required.
Water absorption - determines the ability of a material to absorb moisture and retain it in its own pores. Due to the fact that water conducts heat well, when wet, the insulation loses its beneficial qualities.
Fire resistance is the property of a material to retain its structure when exposed to high temperatures. Not all insulating substances have this parameter. Among modern materials good indicator Only mineral wool, foam glass and airgel are fire resistant.
Air permeability is the ability of a substance to allow air and other gases to pass through. For example, during strong wind external air pressure on the insulation increases, which leads to the penetration of cold masses through protective layer. Therefore, insulation materials with high porosity require additional wind protection.
Strength is the ability of a material to withstand strong static and dynamic loads without large changes in its thermal insulation properties. Particularly durable materials include extruded polystyrene foam, foam glass, airgel and polyurethane foam.
Environmental friendliness - since the insulation is used both in external and internal internal works, it is very important that during its entire service life it does not emit harmful human body substances.

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The choice of insulation depending on the conditions of use

Each thermal insulation material has its own area of application where it will be most effective. Most experts say that high-quality thermal insulation can be achieved when every structural element in the house is insulated to the greatest extent possible. suitable material. Therefore, choosing the most best insulation, it is necessary to take into account the conditions of its use.

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External and internal wall insulation

External insulation for building walls differs from internal insulation in a different set of requirements. Usually the thermal insulation process is combined with decorative finishing facade. And this requires increased strength of the material used. That's why the best material in this case there will be a basalt slab, extruded polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam or plaster. They all have the necessary performance characteristics for outdoor work.

Basalt insulation can be used both for external and internal insulation of walls. It has low thermal conductivity, high density and increased strength. Mount this material can be done in different ways: in one case it is glued to the wall, followed by reinforcement and cladding decorative plaster, in another - they are laid behind a ventilated facade (for example, under siding).

Extruded polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are the best insulation materials for exterior finishing facade of the building. Its characteristics allow not only to produce high-quality thermal insulation of the house, but also to treat the facade with decorative plaster. Insulating walls with foam plastic is by far the cheapest option.

Among positive qualities plaster can be noted for its high strength, which is quite difficult to damage mechanically. According to its composition, the material from which it is made warm plaster, is common cement-sand mortar with the addition of various fillers that reduce the thermal conductivity of the mixture. The thermal conductivity coefficient of such a solution will directly depend on the selected fillers.

For internal wall insulation, only vapor-permeable substances can be used, which include mineral (mineral wool) and natural (cork wallpaper) insulation. Mineral wool is absolutely environmentally friendly material, having good vapor permeability, so it is best suited for internal use. Its only disadvantage is its relatively high price.

The advantage of cork wallpaper is not only its environmental friendliness, but also its versatility, since it can simultaneously be used not only as insulation, but also as a decorative material.

Are you planning to build it yourself? country house or a bathhouse, but don’t know which insulation is best to choose for construction? In this article I will describe all the advantages and disadvantages of the most common thermal insulation materials. You can compare their main properties and choose for yourself suitable option.

What should high-quality insulation be like?

Modern insulation of house walls, floors, roofs and ceilings are made from different materials, and therefore can have completely different properties. Below I will give the main qualities characteristic of thermal insulation materials:

Thermal insulating properties:

The warmest is considered a material with a heat transfer coefficient from 0.023 to 0.072 W/m*°C;
If the thermal conductivity of the material is more than 0.4 W/m*°C, then the effectiveness of such insulation will be low.

Vapor permeability:

To prevent moisture from condensing inside on the walls, the entire thermal insulation cake must freely allow water vapor with warm air to pass outside;
If the insulation is used as waterproofing, then on the contrary, it must be impermeable to steam and air.

Mechanical strength:

Due to the very low density, thermal insulation materials cannot be durable;
At the same time, floor insulation must be rigid enough to withstand significant weight loads.

Moisture resistance:

U quality materials the degree of water absorption is no more than 10%;
In case of direct contact with water, their thermal insulation properties cannot deteriorate by more than 20%, and after drying they must be completely restored.

Temperature resistance:

Materials for external and internal insulation must withstand very low and very high temperatures;
When cooled or heated, they should not ignite, burn, smolder, collapse or change their properties.

Organic matter:

Materials for outdoor use should not contain organic components;
If they are still present, you need to perform antiseptic treatment to prevent the appearance of rot, mold, rodents and insect pests.

Types of thermal insulation materials

Porous mineral insulation

The thermal insulation properties of any materials directly depend on their density: the lower the density, the lower the thermal conductivity. In mineral insulation, low thermal conductivity is ensured due to the porous structure:

Aerated concrete and foam concrete- building blocks made of light grades of concrete, which during the production process are saturated with air or gas bubbles.

Scope of application:

Construction of lightweight external walls and interior partitions;
Thermal insulation of the attic floor.

Expanded clay- round pellets with a diameter of 15-25 mm, made by firing from special grades of red clay.

Advantages:

Low water absorption. During firing, the outer surface of the pellets is covered with a dense crust, which closes the pores and protects against moisture penetration;
The loose structure allows the use of expanded clay balls to fill hidden cavities and hard-to-reach places.

Flaws:

Not very good thermal insulation properties (0.16 W/m*°C);
For effective thermal insulation, the thickness of the expanded clay layer should be no thicker than 180-200 mm.

Scope of application:

Production of lightweight expanded clay concrete building blocks;
Thermal insulating backfill of floors on the ground and attic floors.

Polymer-based porous insulation

Foamed polymer materials for insulation, they also have a porous structure, but the pores in them are absolutely sealed and do not communicate with each other.

Foam plastic- made from polystyrene foam granules, which are pressed into slabs measuring 1000x1000 mm, with a thickness of 10 to 100 mm.

Advantages:

Very low heat transfer coefficient (0.027–0.044 W/m*°C);
Small specific gravity(25-35 kg/m³);
The closed porous structure of expanded polystyrene allows it to be used without waterproofing;
It practically does not absorb moisture, does not rot or collapse in water and at low temperatures.

Flaws:

It does not allow air or water vapor to pass through, so I do not recommend using it indoors;
Has low density and strength;
At temperatures above +120 °C it begins to melt and irreversibly loses its insulating properties;
It does not burn on its own, but when melted it emits acrid, suffocating smoke;
It is destroyed by exposure to UV rays, so when used outdoors it must be protected from the sun.

Scope of application:

Insulation of wooden and concrete floors on the ground;
External thermal insulation of concrete and brick walls under plaster.

Extruded polystyrene foam (EPS)- made from the same raw materials, however, EPS boards have a uniform, non-granular structure throughout their entire thickness. The dimensions of the sheets are 1000x500 mm, and the thickness is from 20 to 100 mm.

Advantages:

It has all the advantages of polystyrene foam, but extruded polystyrene foam sheets have greater rigidity;
Due to the dense structure of extruded polystyrene foam, it can withstand significant compressive loads.

Flaws:

Thermal conductivity is slightly higher than that of foam;
In addition to higher strength, it has the same disadvantages as polystyrene foam.

Scope of application:

EPPS is the best insulation for heavy concrete floors;
Also used for thermal insulation of external walls of buildings, ground floors, basements, foundations, blind areas, caissons, cellars and other buried building structures.

Penofol- rolled material with a thickness of 3 to 12 mm. Made from foam polyethylene film, covered on one or both sides with a layer of thin aluminum foil. Roll width - 1000 mm.

Advantages:

Due to aluminum foil, it well reflects thermal radiation of the infrared spectrum;
Absolutely impermeable to air, water and water vapor;
With good flexibility and small thickness, it has good heat-insulating qualities.

Flaws:

When heated to temperatures above 120 °C, it melts and irreversibly loses its insulating properties;
Burns with the release of suffocating toxic smoke.

Scope of application:

Heat-reflecting screen for internal wall insulation;
Waterproofing and vapor barrier for thermal insulation of attic floors.

For better heat reflection, the factory instructions recommend installing Penofol with a foil layer inside the room.

Fibrous mineral insulation

From the name it is easy to guess that these materials have a fibrous structure. Accumulates between the fibers large number stationary air, which provides low thermal conductivity

Basalt wool- made from intertwined thin fibers fused rocks. Sold in the form of rigid slabs or flexible rolls with a thickness of 20-100 mm.

Advantages:

In dry form it has a low thermal conductivity coefficient (0.042–0.08 W/m*°C)
Absolutely does not burn, does not smoke, does not melt and can withstand very high temperatures (up to 1000 °C);
Low specific gravity;
Freely allows air and water vapor to pass from the room;
Rigid material in the form of plates can withstand significant loads;
Soft rolled materials after deformation they restore their shape.

Flaws:

Absorbs water strongly, and when wet it loses up to 50% of its qualities, so it is better to use such insulation with additional waterproofing;

Scope of application:

Materials based on basalt wool are considered universal, therefore these types of insulation have an almost unlimited scope of application;
Due to good vapor permeability, mineral wool insulation is the best for ceilings and walls in wooden houses;

Glass wool- is produced using the same technology, but thin fibers of molten glass are used for its production.

Advantages:

Glass wool has the same qualities as basalt wool, but has some limitations;

Flaws:

Fragile glass fibers break when deformed, so after crushing it does not restore its original shape;
Small glass fragments can penetrate the skin, causing severe irritation to the body.

Scope of application:

External insulation for walls, ceilings, metal pipelines and other building structures;
Not recommended for use inside bathhouses or residential premises.

Fiber insulation made from organic raw materials

These thermal insulation materials differ from the previous type in that they are made exclusively from natural raw materials, therefore they are considered absolutely harmless and environmentally friendly:

Ecowool- made from finely ground natural cellulose fibers. Apply a thick layer on building structures inside the building.

Advantages:

The thermal insulation properties are not inferior to mineral wool (0.038–0.052 W/m*°C);
Has very little weight;
Environmentally safe and absolutely harmless to humans;

Flaws:

Quite expensive;
Application requires special equipment.

Scope of application:

Ecowool - right choice insulation for living and sleeping areas;

Sawdust pulp- made from wood processing waste and used as a heat-insulating coating mixed with liquid clay solution.

Advantages:

Sawdust with clay is the cheapest insulation, and in some cases even free;
The mixture can be easily prepared with your own hands right at the construction site.

Flaws:

Insufficient thermal insulation qualities;
Possibility of rot and mold or being eaten by rodents.

Scope of application:

Thermal insulation of attic floors in a bathhouse or household buildings.

Conclusion

Comparing technical specifications various thermal insulation materials, you can easily select the appropriate insulation for any stage of home construction. I advise you to pay attention to the video in this article, and you can write all your questions below in the comments.