Expanded clay insulation. Is it possible to insulate an old wooden house with expanded clay Houses with filled walls with expanded clay

Lightweight, durable and strong expanded clay is made from natural raw materials and has high, but at the same time it costs much cheaper than similar materials. He also has some drawbacks, but subject to all installation conditions, they are reduced to nothing. We deal with the main properties of the material and the features of house insulation with expanded clay, the nuances of its use for thermal insulation of the floor, walls, roof and foundation.

No. 1. Expanded clay: production and fractions

For the production of expanded clay is used fusible grades of clay with a quartz content of 30%. They are processed in special chambers, where they are heated to a temperature of 1050-1300 0 C for 30-40 minutes, resulting in swelling and the formation of porous granules with a melted sealed shell, which gives the material the necessary strength. The more pores in expanded clay, the better.

During the production process, as a rule, granules of different fractions:

expanded clay sand with granule size up to 5 mm;
expanded clay crushed stone- granules resembling cubes in shape;
expanded clay gravel- granules of an oblong shape.

Expanded clay of such fractions is distinguished by the size of the granules: 5-10 mm, 10-20 mm and 20-40 mm.

No. 2. Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay

Expanded clay won wide popularity not only thanks to low price but also at the expense of others benefits:

Among shortcomings:

Number 3. Physical and technical properties of expanded clay

When choosing expanded clay for home insulation, pay attention to its following properties:

Due to its properties expanded clay has a wide scope. It is used as a filler in production, as a decorative and drainage material, but still the main area is thermal insulation, and not only structures, but even soil.

No. 4. Warming the floor of the house with expanded clay

Expanded clay is one of the most suitable materials for, especially if the budget is limited. Warming can be performed by one of several existing methods.

Classic variant provides for the following sequence of actions:

You can do without the time-consuming process of preparing the mortar and pouring the screed using simplified dry technology:

a vapor barrier is laid on the surface of the main floor;
expanded clay is poured over the beacons, for reliability it can, of course, be fixed with cement milk;
dense gypsum-fiber sheets are laid on expanded clay, which are fastened with glue.

Similar to the dry method lag insulation option:

No. 5. Insulation of the walls of the house with expanded clay

For wall insulation with expanded clay is used three-layer masonry method, which is applicable only for newly built houses: the first layer is a load-bearing wall, the second layer is expanded clay with cement milk, the third layer is the exterior finish. There are three technologies:

If they are insulated walls, then expanded clay insulation must be very carefully tamped. Walls the hardest thing to insulate with expanded clay. Since its thermal insulation properties are somewhat worse than those of its closest competitor, it is necessary to leave cavities 20-40 cm thick, and this is a significant load on the load-bearing walls, so an additional foundation will have to be made outside. The complexity of the technology and the cost of all additional manipulations practically negate the efficiency of expanded clay insulation, so for wooden houses it is better to consider another option for wall insulation.

Hello, tell me, please, an old log house, the facade is terrible, there is gas in the house. heating, how to properly and efficiently insulate the house from the outside? I want, for example, expanded clay, because environmentally friendly, rodents will not crawl into the house, the house should not be fireproof and rot (if I'm not mistaken). How do you look at it?

Hello.

"How do you look at it?" - without enthusiasm. There are no categorical "contraindications" to the use of expanded clay as a heat-insulating material for external insulation of a log house, but is such a decision rational?

Warming a wooden house, especially not very strong, has its own specifics. As a rule, the entire insulation structure is hung on existing walls. The insulation should be light, its thickness should be minimal, and its heat-saving properties should be high. Vapor permeability and blowing are also of no small importance: the first parameter should be as high as possible, the second - lower.

To understand how expanded clay is suitable for your case, let's compare it with the material most often used to insulate wooden houses - semi-rigid mineral wool boards with a density of 45-70 kg / m3.

The thermal conductivity of expanded clay is 0.17 W / m * ° С, basalt wool at a density of 50 kg / m3 - 0.042 W / m * ° С. Expanded clay is 4 times "colder" than mineral wool. According to the thermal characteristics of a mineral wool slab of 5 cm, an expanded clay backfill 20 cm thick will correspond, and a slab of 10 cm will correspond to a backfill of 40 cm. For the climate of central Russia, insulation of 10 cm mineral wool / 40 cm expanded clay is preferable. As a result, saving on the thickness of the heat-insulating layer is unprofitable, because the price for the outer cladding and work will hardly change.
The weight of one square meter of basalt wool of the considered density with a mat thickness of 5 cm is 2.5 kg, 10 cm is 10 kg. Expanded clay fraction 10-20 mm with a layer thickness of 20 cm will weigh 80 kg, 40 cm - 160 kg.
Neither mineral wool nor expanded clay do not burn and prevent the spread of fire. True, if the fire is not extinguished in time, the basalt insulation will crumble into separate fibers, and the expanded clay will remain a smoky pile lying on the ashes.
Hard expanded clay is too tough for mice, but in loose mineral wool they can make moves. Unlike polystyrene, permanent mouse nests in basalt wool are not satisfactory, but still unpleasant. But who prevents you from neatly making the outer skin, leaving no gaps in it for the penetration of rodents? The expanded clay structure, by the way, should also not have large holes, otherwise small granules will spill out.
Expanded clay - well-burnt clay or shale, an ideal material from the point of view of ecology. Mineral wool cannot boast of such properties, synthetic resins serve as binders, and individual fibers should not enter the respiratory system. In order to protect yourself from the potentially harmful effects of basalt wool, you need to exclude it from entering the premises, this is not difficult to do.
"The house must not rot." Wood begins to rot in a waterlogged state. If you live in a house permanently, the humidity inside it is higher than outside, especially in winter. In the log house, there is a constant movement of moisture from the inside out through the walls. External insulation should not prevent the free exit of moisture from the logs. For this, the insulation must be vapor-permeable, and there should be no other hermetic barriers in the path of moisture (vapor barrier films, waterproofing). To ensure the release of water vapor from the wall structure, an air gap is arranged under the outer skin (ventilated facade) or its entire surface must be vapor-permeable.
Expanded clay is able to carry a much greater load than mineral wool and almost does not absorb moisture. The first in our case does not matter: there are no loads. The second is also not particularly important, because the structure must be ventilated in any case, which eliminates the wetting of the insulation.

Comparative characteristics of various types of heaters. Expanded clay is good for many, but it is heavy and excessively thermally conductive.

We found out that despite the fact that expanded clay surpasses basalt wool in some parameters, it is much heavier and has noticeably worse heat-saving properties. Mineral wool slabs can be laid between the elements of a light frame, which will be hung on the walls of the house, if it is not completely rotten yet. You can sheathe the insulation with clapboard or plastic siding, its weight is minimal. The total thickness of external insulation using mineral wool will also be small, 10-15 cm. Expanded clay will have to be poured into previously prepared voids 20-40 cm wide. In order to withstand its weight, the outer wall must be strong enough. It can be brick or thick boards. You won’t hang such a mass on the walls of a log house, and a thickness of 45-55 cm will not allow you to do this. Accordingly, an additional foundation will have to be built outside.

Expanded clay is cheaper than basalt wool, if you consider by volume, without reference to the specifics of building structures. But keep in mind that it will need 4 times more, calculate the cost of an additional foundation, the outer part of the walls. We think that as a result, expanded clay insulation will come out significantly more expensive. Are you ready for additional expenses of money, labor, time? In our opinion, the most rational option for insulating a wooden frame is a light ventilated facade that does not require widening the foundation and strengthening the structures. Along with mineral wool, ecowool is also an effective insulation. And if you look at the “naked” price list, cellulose wool is cheaper than basalt wool. However, taking into account the more complex technology of the frame device and the need to use special equipment to fill the internal cavities, savings on ecowool come to naught.

The "correct" ventilated facade for a wooden house. Unlike the frame, the vapor barrier film is not used. Under the beautiful name of the superdiffusion membrane lies the usual windproof film that allows water vapor to pass through. Recommended ventilation gap 40 mm

To summarize: we are for a ventilated facade and mineral wool as a heater. This is the most inexpensive solution, insulation can be done by hand in a fairly short time. As for expanded clay, it is an excellent material for the preparation of light, “warm” concrete, but is of little use for warming a wooden house. Also not suitable for warming the log house in which they live in winter, materials that do not allow water vapor to pass through: polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, polyethylene foam.

An integral part of the repair is floor insulation. People who started repairs often ask themselves the question: what material is better to use for installation.

The construction market has a wide range of raw materials that can be used for this task. Expanded clay is considered one of the most popular and affordable heaters. Let's try to figure out what this product is.

Peculiarities

Expanded clay has several distinctive features from other materials. It consists of natural raw materials: clay and shale rock. Therefore, it is an environmentally friendly raw material, absolutely harmless to health. It is made in a cylindrical furnace under the influence of high temperature.

The rounded shape of the material is due to the rotational movements in the oven. The material is light: it has a porous structure, so it is most convenient to use it in repair work.

Expanded clay can be used to insulate floors, walls and ceilings. It is also used in combination with other heaters (for example, with such as mineral wool).

Pros and cons

Each building material has its pros and cons. Let's upset the advantages of using expanded clay, due to which it is especially popular:

it is an environmentally friendly material, it does not emit harmful substances in the air;
excellent thermal insulation and sound insulation is formed due to the porous structure of the building material;
durability and frost resistance are characterized by high strength of clay raw materials, as well as good resistance to high and low temperatures;

the fire resistance of the material will provide you with fire safety: it will not catch fire.
the lightness of the material is a huge plus for wall and ceiling insulation;
rounded shape facilitates the construction process;
the low cost of raw materials is a nice bonus for repair costs.

Despite the large number of advantages, expanded clay has several disadvantages:

Hygroscopicity: granules absorb water well. After that, the material becomes heavy, which leads to deformation of the work done. It is not advisable to use expanded clay when repairing wet rooms.
Brittleness of the material due to its porosity. Raw materials should be carefully laid: if damaged, the number of positive properties decreases.
Requires a large layer expanded clay for high-quality thermal insulation.

Varieties

Expanded clay is produced in the form of granules, which differ from each other in their size.

Depending on the size of the initial granules involved in production, there are several varieties:

expanded clay sand– fine-grained material;
expanded clay crushed stone– medium fractional material;
expanded clay gravel- coarse material.

All of these types are made using the same technology, but they are used for different types of construction work. Expanded clay sand is made by grinding larger granules. The particle sizes range from 1 to 5 mm. It is used as a cement mortar filler. It is also used in a mixture with gravel and crushed stone to fill empty spaces.

Expanded clay crushed stone does not have a rounded shape, it is more angular. This material is formed by crushing large pieces. It does not have a specific size, rather it is medium-sized granules between sand and gravel. Use it as the main layer of backfill.

Expanded clay gravel has dimensions from 5 to 50 mm, it differs in oval and round shape, it is the most demanded material during construction work. It is mainly used for floor insulation.

Which is better?

Experienced builders recommend using a mixture of all types of expanded clay. Particles of different sizes are able to fill the empty space between the granules, which will further improve the quality of the work done. Depending on the object of work (for example, in a house or apartment), they choose which type of expanded clay is best to use.

Each faction has an advantage in a specific use case. For dry screed, it is best to use fine-grained expanded clay. The sand will create a dense layer up to 5 cm thick.

For expanded clay concrete screed, coarse-grained material (for example, crushed stone) is used.

Use cases

There are many options for the use of expanded clay, for example:

You can use this building material under the screed. The presence of a porous structure characterizes the good thermal insulation property of the floor. You can use it for floor insulation in a wooden, stone private house, in the insulation of a loggia, attic and balcony.
Expanded clay is used to fill the foundation of the house and finish the basement in order to insulate the first floor and form a blind area around the house.

With the help of expanded clay fractions, it is possible to isolate a stone basement, walls, a chimney, ceilings of buildings, a steam room.
Expanded clay mixtures are used to create concrete blocks that can hold on screw piles. And also apply it to the beam frame ceiling.
This material is used as a pillow for the subfloor.
To preserve heat, communication and water pipes are insulated with expanded clay raw materials.
In the country, the use of expanded clay is especially important. You can form paths, insulate a room built in half a block, decorate flower beds and lawns.

How to calculate?

For floor insulation, a layer of expanded clay with a thickness of 15-20 cm is often used. To calculate the amount of material needed, use the Teremok program. It helps to automatically perform accurate calculations, taking into account the rules and regulations, optimally easy to use. You only need to enter the parameters of the object of work and the material that you will use.

How to insulate?

There are several ways to insulate the floor:

dry insulation(with this method, the material is poured in its original form);
wet laying(characterized by mixing concrete and expanded clay);
combined method(The first layer is covered with dry material, after which a mixture of concrete and expanded clay is poured).

To insulate a wooden floor, it is important to use the following sequence of actions:

dismantling of the floor covering;
surface preparation;
waterproofing;
installation of rails;
expanded clay backfill;
floor covering installation.

To begin with, the top layer is dismantled to the lag level. Boards are removed and taken out of the room. After that, the logs are carefully examined and measured by their level. Rotten, bent or deformed bars are replaced with new ones.. If possible, you can install new ones.

The next step is surface preparation. Clean it of debris and inspect.

Inspect and work out the corners and joints. After that, for better adhesion to the surface of the waterproofing material, primer must be used. Next, the surface is covered with sand or treated with coated waterproofing materials (polymer waterproofing mastic, cement-bitumen composition, bitumen-polymer mixture, liquid rubber, roll materials).

To perform waterproofing, you will need a film that must be spread so that it covers the entire floor. It is important to fix the lags with a construction stapler or tape. At the same time it is important that the film fits snugly against the bars and recesses from below. If you have dismantled the bars, the next step is to install new rails. New logs are set according to the level and strengthened with the help of corners, which are screwed with screws. New rails are installed on the prepared surface.

The layer of raw materials must be even. To do this, install beacons, which are guided. After backfilling, the material is carefully compacted, leaving the particles intact.

The expanded clay layer is covered with a waterproofing film, which is reinforced with a stapler and tape. The membrane can be diffusion, super diffusion, metallized, waterproofing. To insulate the floor, experienced builders advise purchasing a waterproofing film, since it compensates for the main disadvantage of expanded clay, it looks like parchment.

A draft plywood floor is laid on the protruding insulation. After that, the installation of the finishing floor covering is carried out. To insulate the floor under a concrete base, the same algorithm is performed, but the following steps are added: reinforcement and screed.

Reinforcement - installation of a metal mesh with large cells, which is laid on a heater. It has important properties: increasing the strength of the screed, protecting against the appearance of cracks, increasing the service life, preventing subsidence. For reinforcing the screed, you can use a metal mesh, polymer, fiberglass or fiberglass. The most durable of them is a metal mesh.

With the help of a screed, the surface is compacted and leveled. The mortar consists of sifted sand, cement and water. Sand and cement are taken in a ratio of 3: 1, kneaded until a thick homogeneous mass is formed.

You can make expanded clay concrete screed. More often it is used if you need to raise the level of the floor or when the rough coating is uneven.

The mixture is prepared from sand, cement, expanded clay in a ratio of 1: 2: 4, and water is poured in until the desired consistency of the solution is formed. The screed should dry for about a month.

In order for the housing to be comfortable, it is necessary to take care of additional insulation of the walls, roof and floor. Thanks to the implementation of such work, you can not only create comfort, but also significantly save on heating the room in the future. Where is it advisable to use expanded clay? As a heater of vertical and horizontal surfaces, it is widely used in private houses and industrial buildings. This option is considered the best and financially justified.

Expanded clay: what is it?

This building material is a fairly light granules with small pores. They are obtained by It can be used both in private houses and in standard apartments located in high-rise buildings. Expanded clay is environmentally safe for human health, as it does not contain synthetic additives and harmful substances that can harm and lead to harmful consequences. It is well breathable, which prevents moisture condensation. Expanded clay insulation (reviews of people allow us to judge its quality), first of all, has good thermal insulation. It also acts as a noise absorber and has a high level of frost resistance and does not collapse with temperature fluctuations. The service life of expanded clay is quite large; according to this indicator, it has no equal among other materials. It is worth noting that this insulation is not at all afraid of long-term interaction with hot and cold water. Therefore, you do not need to be afraid that after the flood you will have to completely change the base of the floor.

Types of expanded clay

Expanded clay as a heater is used in construction quite often. However, you need to know that, depending on the scope of application, it is necessary to choose a certain type of material. Generally, there are three main varieties.

The first, sand, is most often added to dry mixes that are intended to be applied to surfaces in order to create a heat-insulating layer. The maximum size of its granules is 5 mm. Also, this type can be used to create a heat and sound insulating pillow, which is rammed under the main cover.

Please note: a 15 cm thick layer allows you to save 50% on heating.

Expanded clay, as a heater (reviews are mostly only positive), in the form of granules is used not only for floors, but is also widely used for roofing and ceilings. The owners of private houses prefer this faction when it comes to attic or attic.

Expanded clay in the form of crushed stone is a finely crushed gravel. The grain sizes are different. Thanks to this, the compacted layer is as functional as possible. Consumer reviews give the right to judge its high quality and properties. Perfectly copes with its main purpose even in the coldest rooms.

Expanded clay properties as a heater

The main indicator of this material is the natural clay composition. After high-temperature processing, it becomes quite strong and reliable. It is worth noting that, using it in garages and basements, you can forget about such a problem as rodents. With an average cost, it has a long service life. And in comparison, for example, with a tree, it wins significantly, since it does not rot, does not create a favorable environment for insects, is not at all afraid of moisture and even a long stay in water.

The properties of expanded clay, as a heater, are multifunctional both in winter and in summer. It is considered the most versatile material that has a high level of frost resistance and copes well with exposure to high temperatures.

The main property of this material can be called the complete absence of toxicity. Also, importantly, expanded clay does not create a favorable environment for mold, fungus and other pathogenic bacteria. Due to the fact that it does not enter into chemical reactions with aggressive substances, such a coating completely eliminates the possibility of the formation of harmful fumes that can adversely affect human health.

Expanded clay guarantees excellent thermal insulation for both the foundation and the roof. Thanks to its use, the house will faithfully serve for many years. Consider the advantages of insulation

Feedback from consumers who have already used expanded clay to insulate their homes allows us to highlight its main advantages.

Discuss the disadvantages

Like any other material used in construction, expanded clay has some disadvantages:

In private houses, garages and basements, the layer thickness must exceed 50 cm, otherwise there will be no benefit from such a pillow at all.
In very damp rooms, expanded clay is completely unsuitable as a floor insulation. Feedback from people allows us to draw these conclusions. However, the above drawback can be corrected with the help of a special waterproofing film.

Scope of expanded clay

The scope of this material is quite large. First of all, it is a common material for. It is in this place that it is considered the most ideal and financially acceptable. But for comparison: expanded clay as a wall insulation (reviews help to conclude that this method is unprofitable) is used quite rarely. Some may say that manufacturers have now developed special underfloor heating. And it is. However, their cost is quite high, which makes this option almost inaccessible. But expanded clay, on the contrary, is easy to install and the price is suitable for any family with an average income.

Depending on the base of the floor, the appropriate method of insulation is selected:

Wall insulation with expanded clay is also used in construction. Basically, this method is acceptable in newly erected buildings. It consists in applying a certain three-layer method, where the main layer consists of capsimet (a mixture of expanded clay with cement milk).

Due to its light weight, this material is widely used for insulation of roofs, attics, attics. This method will not lead to an increase in the load on the foundation and, as a result, will not require additional financial costs for strengthening. Expanded clay as a ceiling insulation is used in a peculiar way, that is, from the side of the attic, by floor insulation. The main advantage of this option is the absence of leaks and the formation of mold.

Warming of earthen soil is also quite relevant, it is very often used in greenhouses for growing seedlings, seedlings, etc.

Expanded clay production technology

Clay of some varieties, which melts easily, is placed in a special chamber. In it, it softens to a pasty mass. After that, with the help of exposure to high temperatures (over 1000 0 C), it is heated to boiling. It is this process that leads to the formation of porous granules. The more of them, the better the expanded clay is considered. Here the raw material remains until completely cooled. Then it is sorted and prepared for transportation. In this way, expanded clay granules are produced. However, if sand is needed, then the finished material is ground into small particles using a press. Crushed stone is produced in a similar way with the only difference: expanded clay granules are crushed into several parts. Their size is basically different, which allows you to get a better result when backfilling.

Floor insulation technology

Expanded clay as a floor insulation can only be used after special preparatory work has been carried out. There are several required steps:

Training. It is necessary to completely remove the old coating. Based on the feedback from people who have already used this method of insulation, wooden floors are dismantled down to the fastening structure. If the lags are in good condition, they can be left.
Formation of a sand cushion. It should be at least 10 cm thick. Before laying subsequent layers, the sand is carefully compacted.
After that, expanded clay is poured. It is recommended to immediately determine the thickness of its layer, since the thermal insulation effect will depend on this parameter.

All work is carried out strictly according to the lighthouses in order to maintain the evenness of the flooring. If all steps are performed with accuracy, then a good result is guaranteed.

Where to start insulating the floor with expanded clay?

Before proceeding with the insulation of the floor, you need to familiarize yourself with all the nuances. Expanded clay as a floor insulation (reviews of people confirm this information) is considered the most ideal option, but only if installed correctly.

So, let's take a closer look at what you need to know to get the desired result:

Determination of the material from which the base of the floor is made. This criterion is quite important, since its thermal conductivity fully affects the overall indicator.
Calculation of the thickness of the expanded clay layer. For clarity, the following example can be given: a concrete slab with the addition of expanded clay 60 cm thick will provide the same heat as a meter-long brickwork.
Planned load. The floor is the only surface that is constantly exposed to mechanical stress. Therefore, it is necessary to take this parameter into account at the planning stage. When calculating what the expanded clay layer should be, the main thing is not to make mistakes, therefore it is recommended to contact specialists for accurate calculations.
Do not forget about the waterproofing layer. There are several features in which expanded clay without this layer will not be effective.

You also need to remember that the expanded clay pillow acquires maximum properties with a width of at least 15 cm

If the work on floor insulation will be carried out independently, you need to take note of several important recommendations that are based on customer feedback:

Roof insulation

Expanded clay for roof insulation has been used for a long time. Of course, many competing materials have appeared in this area over such a long period, but so far it has not been possible to completely replace natural material. It is using expanded clay as a floor insulation (look at the truthful reviews on the information stands of manufacturers), you can fully judge all its advantages.

First of all, thanks to this material, it becomes possible to completely eliminate problems with condensate. The formation of steam and moisture is reduced to zero. Also, importantly, the roof will be protected from leaks for a long time. The light weight of the material will allow you not to spend money on additional strengthening of the foundation. And that's a pretty significant savings. If professionals are involved in the work, then the end result will please the owners not only with warmth and comfort, but for a long time will not require financial investments for reconstruction.

What is wall insulation with expanded clay screenings and its features, how to choose the right material, preparation for work, step-by-step masonry algorithm, finishing features.

Features of the thermal insulation of walls with expanded clay

The owner may face a dilemma: to make external insulation or give preference to internal thermal insulation with expanded clay. Experts recommend more often outdoor work, as it provides a higher level of heat preservation in the building.

You can add to this savings of up to 60% of the cost of insulation. As a result of external thermal insulation, the facade of the building receives an additional margin of safety. The level of moisture and condensation is also reduced, and soundproofing characteristics are improved.

As for internal insulation, it makes it possible to carry out work in any weather and in any season, since thermal insulation will take place within the premises. On the other hand, there is an obvious drawback - with this method, you can significantly reduce the usable internal area in the room. Often, the insulation of the walls of houses with expanded clay or other heat insulator leads to the problem of the appearance of fungus inside the insulation structure itself.

The most effective is the construction of a three-layer type using expanded clay. The load-bearing wall of the building acts as the first outer layer, in the middle there is expanded clay with cement mortar. After it is laid inside, the cement hardens, as a result of which the granules are firmly connected to each other. The last layer is a finishing (facing) brick, which will protect the insulator from the surrounding unfavorable environment.

The choice of expanded clay for wall insulation

The material is classified depending on the weight and appearance of the granules, as well as the degree of strength. The fractions of this insulation can be of various sizes, namely 5x10 mm, 10x20 mm and 20x40 mm. There is another classification: expanded clay is divided into 10 grades, the smallest of which is 25, and the largest is 800. This number indicates how many kilograms of material were used per 1 cubic meter.

Its strength requirements are set for each grade, based on its bulk density. The scope of the material depends on this indicator, while taking into account the load on the structure as a whole.

The main varieties of expanded clay in structure and size:

Granular gravel with dimensions of 5-40 mm;
Crushed stone obtained on the basis of coarse gravel by its crushing;
Fine-grained sand not larger than 0.5 cm.

Expanded clay sand is widely used in the production of dry mixes - it is used to insulate walls, foundations, and ceilings. Adding such material allows you to save up to 60-70% on heating costs. Gravel or crushed stone is most often used as thermal insulation for roofs, attics, floors, ceilings.

Expanded clay granules create a backfill for engineering communications, for example, pipelines. To fill empty cavities, they are mixed with foam chips. The result is an effective insulation option that protects communications from freezing and failure.

It is most convenient to use packaged expanded clay, which is scattered in packages. It is easy to store and deliver to the facility where the walls are thermally insulated with expanded clay. But loose material is cheaper.

Expanded clay wall insulation technology

For the construction of a solid heat-insulating structure, it is best to purchase an expanded clay mixture consisting of grains of different sizes - from small to medium and large. This mixing results in an insulation with good adhesive properties.

Preparatory work before wall insulation with expanded clay

It should be borne in mind that before installing the insulation, it is necessary to lay waterproofing, which will protect the expanded clay from moisture ingress into it. Even ordinary polyethylene film can be used as a waterproofing material. It should be laid in such a way that a solid and airtight panel is formed. It is possible that along the edges it goes to the ceiling and floor, and the joints are glued with construction tape.

The easiest way is to equip the newly erected walls of the building with expanded clay. In this case, you can resort to the method of three-layer masonry, in which each layer has its own purpose and characteristics. The carrier layer will contain blocks of expanded clay concrete, the thickness of which is from 20 to 40 cm. A mixture of granulated expanded clay and cement milk can act as the main layer. The third layer is protection, which can be wood, brick or panel slabs.

Before laying the heat insulator, it is advisable to pour the expanded clay layer with cement milk. This will lead to faster setting of individual fractions and, as a result, solidification of the entire layer.

Of the tools we need: a mason's trowel, a mortar spatula, a hammer, jointing, a chisel, levels and plumb lines, a measuring tape, as a rule, containers for mixing solutions, a pickaxe or a ledge. From materials: washed sand, cement, expanded clay screenings, reinforcing mesh.

Installation instructions for expanded clay

If you have decided on the method of laying the heat insulator, then you need to estimate the thickness of the future backfill. Experts recommend making a certain margin in order to increase the sound and heat insulation characteristics of the wall. It is advisable to make a layer of cement and expanded clay granules of at least 10 cm.

Most often, especially in private construction, well masonry is used with an insulating layer in the middle. It allows you to make the walls not so thick, but at the same time guarantees excellent thermal conductivity. This method leads to less consumption of building materials. However, it is necessary to pre-calculate and arrange vertical and horizontal diaphragms.

Since the inner surface of the finished well can become a place for condensation to accumulate, it should be covered with a vapor barrier material. The width of the well itself can vary from? to a whole brick. Wall insulation with expanded clay implies the thickness of the entire wall assembly from 30 to 60 cm.

Anyone can master such masonry, but it requires compliance with the procedure and correct calculations. Masonry is carried out with simultaneous insulation according to the following step-by-step algorithm:

First, a base is made from the two lower rows of bricks. They are laid on the horizontal waterproofing, which is already on the base of the foundation.
On the base, the installation of external parallel walls and partitions that connect them (called diaphragms) continues. The vertical distance between the brick partitions depends on the selected size of the well.
After laying 5-6 rows from the beginning of the base, the well can be covered with insulation. It is carefully compacted and poured on top of a cement-based mortar. At the same time, expanded clay gravel must be unambiguously dry, and it must be poured into the well in layers.
In order to provide protection for expanded clay insulation from below, foam sheets with any waterproofing are installed. So it will be possible to avoid suction of moisture from the surface of the earth.
As soon as the insulator is backfilled, rammed and filled with mortar, a concrete screed is installed around the perimeter. Due to the adhesion of bricks from the outer and inner rows, it will ensure the rigidity of the wall structure.
The next step is the arrangement of horizontal diaphragms, the thickness of which directly affects the thermal insulation of the entire wall. A reinforcing mesh can be placed under them to provide enhanced strength to the entire wall structure. Horizontal diaphragms also protect expanded clay insulation from shrinkage, because they divide its mass into several levels.
Further, the masonry continues in the indicated sequence until the entire wall is made.

Finishing insulated walls

The wall insulated with expanded clay dries out in a few days. But the final strength will be reached in about a month. After the actual insulation of the walls of the house with expanded clay is completed, they begin finishing and facing work. Decorative brick or wood can act as the main material that will protect the insulation from atmospheric adverse events.

But first it is necessary to plaster the wall, both from the outside and from the inside. This will provide additional vapor and waterproofing for moisture, which tends to get out of the room.

As for the external plaster, it will protect not only the wall, but also the insulation behind it from atmospheric precipitation. Plaster will give the whole structure even more rigidity. To prepare the solution, it is necessary to mix 4 parts of river sand and 1 part of cement, for example, M400.

Decorative stone is a good solution for finishing a thermally insulated wall. It can be applied not only outside the building, but also inside. It perfectly changes the interior without putting too much pressure on the structure. When choosing this material, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that it does not contain traces of visible stains or growths. It is advisable to cover such a surface with a water-repellent composition after drying.

How to insulate walls with expanded clay - look at the video:

Despite the relatively low cost, the popular expanded clay insulation is able to make the walls in the house sound and warm. The main thing is to control the load on the foundation and the design features of the foundation. And for the rest, we can unequivocally summarize that expanded clay insulation is not in vain considered a common and profitable option for thermal insulation.