What thermal insulation material to choose. We choose an inexpensive, but effective insulation for the house. The best insulation in the form of plates and rolls

A well-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, floors and roofs. More than a third of all heat loss occurs through the roof, because according to the laws of physics, warm air rises and tends to leak out through the ceiling and roof. 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 take a look at 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 foam plastics are due to the air bubbles contained in them. Air is a poor conductor of heat, so the materials containing it inside also have a low thermal conductivity.

Advantages of foam insulation:

• A high degree of thermal protection, the thickness of expanded polystyrene of 12 cm in terms of thermal conductivity corresponds to a brick wall of a meter thickness or 45 cm of wood.
• Water resistance. Expanded polystyrene does not absorb moisture, but steam can penetrate between the particles of the material both penetrating in and out of it.
• Polyfoam is not affected by fungi, mold, rot. Bacteria do not grow on it.
• Expanded polystyrene does not support combustion and self-extinguishes in the absence of a flame.
• Polyfoam has high soundproofing properties due to the presence of air bubbles in its structure.
• Its light 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 the insulation of country houses.

Cons of 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 are heated by the sun.
• the second negative feature of this material is the possibility of its deformation during use. This chemical compound can change its properties even after production, especially if the production technology is not followed. Therefore, gradually the expanded polystyrene plates can dry out and gaps form between them. Manufacturers claim that this will not happen if the expanded polystyrene is closed from external factors, for example, clapboard, wood boards, or other material.

2. Mineral wool and glass wool insulation. 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 heater:

• Good thermal insulation. Thermal conductivity, depending on the type, 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 to protect rooms from noise.
• The material is not subject to decay, mold and bacteria do not settle on it.
• It is a non-combustible material that can withstand temperatures up to 700°C.

Cons of mineral insulation and glass wool materials:

• Although the material itself, from which these heaters are made, is harmless to humans, but the binders with which mineral fibers are glued 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 work with such material in gloves and a respirator.
• These heaters can absorb moisture, while partially losing their thermal insulation properties. Some types are supplied with special additives that give the material water resistance. For roof insulation, it is desirable to use just such types of insulation.

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

The positive qualities of these materials:

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

Negative sides:

• These materials are combustible, but many of them contain flame retardants that prevent combustion.
• To insulate with ecowool, you need the appropriate equipment. Now there are enough companies that are ready to insulate your home in this way or rent the 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 self-ignite, withstand high temperatures.
• Safety for humans and animals. Such heaters do not emit harmful substances at any temperature.
• Light weight allows you to use for insulation of any surfaces.
• Good thermal protection and noise protection, the ability to tightly fill insulated structures without gaps and cracks.
• Fungus does not appear on these materials and bacteria do not multiply. They do not rot and do not grow moldy, rodents do not start in them.
• long, almost unlimited service life. These materials will last as long as the house will stand.

Cons of natural expanded heaters:

• Perhaps the disadvantage is the form of release of these materials, it is not convenient for everyone to use loose insulation.

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

The choice of insulation depends on the design of the roof. This may be an unheated attic or attic for permanent residence, or it may be a flat roof, exploited or not. Which roof insulation is best for each of these options?

• When insulating an unheated attic, it is not the roof that is insulated, but the attic floor. Usually I 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 for the same total thickness of insulation.
• If the attic is insulated, then the insulation is placed under the roof, be 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.
• Flat roof insulation places high demands on the strength of the insulation material. Of great importance is the density of the insulation. A flat roof experiences high snow loads and loads during its operation. Therefore, the density of the insulation for the roof should not be lower than 40 kg/m3.

It is very important to follow the technology when insulating the roof. If you do not make the correct "roofing cake", then various problems may arise during the operation of the roof. This is the occurrence of icicles, and icing of the roof, which can lead to the destruction of the roofing. In an improperly insulated attic, it will be hot in summer and cold in winter, and flat roofs can leak if the installation of roof insulation is illiterate.

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 give you trouble in the future.

Previously, in Russia, houses were built mainly from logs, and nails were not used in construction. Qualitatively made wooden houses were not only warm, but also durable, they served their owners for several decades. But in the modern world you will not surprise anyone with a private house made of wood, made of solid logs. But what to do if heat is very poorly preserved in such a house? Of course, such a house needs to be insulated, but what to choose as the main insulation?

Today, there is a huge variety of different heaters on the market, and it is impossible to say unequivocally which one is bad and which is good. Each of them has its pros and cons, and you need to choose based on some decisive factors.

Heat is lost due to too much air exchange. All heaters are located at the bottom, because warm air always rises, where it meets the cold ceiling and, having given up part of the heat, falls lower, gradually continuing to lose heat due to cold walls. As a result, it may turn out that the house practically does not warm up from below, all the warm air is located only under the ceiling, and it never reaches the bottom.

Features of wall insulation from timber outside

Increased heat loss in a wooden house occurs due to design features. To a greater extent, this is influenced by the thickness of the walls.

Before proceeding to the choice of a specific insulation, first of all, you need to decide what kind of house design we are dealing with. The usual size of the beam is 20 by 20 centimeters, it may be less, but it is not allowed to use a beam less than 15 by 15 centimeters. In general, houses from glued beams began to be built in countries that are located closer to the equator, i.e. in warm countries. Naturally, in Russia this construction technology should be a little different, the house should be designed for a harsh climate. First of all, the peculiarity lies in the presence of a heater, because only in this case it will be possible to stay in the house with comfort.

The technology of warming the walls of a wooden house from the outside: 1. The wall of the house; 2. Vapor barrier; 3. Insulation; 4. Hydro-windproofing; 5. Facade cladding.

A house made of timber is relatively cheap for the owner, in addition, if you correctly make external insulation, you can save a lot on heating. The work on warming the walls of a house from a bar outside consists of four main stages:

• choice of insulation;
• calculation of thermal efficiency, price, other qualities of insulation;
• installation of a heater;
• decorative decoration of the house.

The efficiency of warming a house from a bar with an incorrectly selected and installed facade is significantly reduced. This is due to the fact that moisture will be concentrated inside the house and in its walls. As a result of this, condensation will form, which adversely affects almost all material, including the insulation. The efficiency of wet insulation is very low, moreover, in this state it will quickly become unusable. Based on the foregoing, you need to remember once and for all that the insulation of the walls of a house made of timber from the outside requires the mandatory presence of a ventilated facade, which will not allow moisture to concentrate in the walls.

Various materials can be used to insulate the ceiling: sawdust, expanded clay, mineral wool, etc.

Do not forget about the insulation of the floor and ceiling. Up to half of all the heat in the house can go through the ceiling alone, so it needs to be insulated first. It is useless to look for specific cracks through which heat escapes, it is much easier and more efficient to insulate the entire ceiling as a whole. In this case, you can use any insulation, up to ordinary sawdust, the most important thing is to make a layer of insulation at least 15 centimeters. Whatever insulation you choose, it must be evenly distributed over the entire attic area, avoiding “bald spots”.

As for the floor, it can be made simpler here, it will be enough to lay a carpet on the floor, then it will be clearly seen whether the cold actually comes from the floor, or the problem is not in it. But ideally, floor insulation should also be approached thoroughly, laying insulation and waterproofing.

What is the best way to insulate a wooden house?

Mineral wool is a heat-insulating fibrous material made from rock melts, metallurgical slags and their mixtures.

Today, there is a huge selection of various insulation on sale, thanks to which you can effectively insulate the walls of a house from a bar from the outside. Let's start with the most popular and inexpensive options:

1. Jute. Practical material, used in many cases. It is produced from the "jute" plant, which is grown in a special way;
2. Linen fiber;
3. Tape glue;
4. New generation materials: expanded polystyrene, mineral wool, polystyrene.

You should not choose the warmest and cheapest, you need to navigate based on the characteristics of the house itself: the condition of the walls, the climate, the purpose of insulation, etc.

Styrofoam is a gas-filled heat-insulating material with low vapor and air permeability.

Today, people are increasingly giving their preference to one of these two materials:

• mineral wool;

But, it is worth noting that most professionals do not recommend using polystyrene foam for insulation from the outside, because. in this case, it will not be effective enough to perform its function of preserving heat in the house. The fact is that the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the foam is on average 0.082 W / m², and the coefficient for mineral wool is 0.036 W / m². It turns out that polystyrene conducts heat through itself much better, and therefore conducts cold more. It is much better to use mineral wool as a heater for the outside of a house made of timber.

Calculation of heat-insulating materials for the insulation of walls from a bar from the outside

Mineral wool on the market is presented both in rolls and in sheet form.

Above, we have already decided on the choice of insulation, we will insulate with mineral wool. But what should be the thickness of the insulation, how to calculate it correctly? In what format should I buy mineral wool, because it is sold in the form of mats, slabs and in rolls? Consider the features of each of the formats. Mineral wool in slabs is very convenient to use, it is a little more expensive, but it retains its shape well even in a vertical state. Rolled is softer, more suitable for warming the house from the inside, because it is easy for them to fill all the bumps and corners. The mats are only suitable for the floor, because they are quite large and heavy.

If the air temperature outside in winter does not fall below -20 degrees, and the thickness of the wooden walls is 20 centimeters, then you will need only one layer of insulation with a standard thickness of 5 centimeters.

In the case when the thermometer drops below 20 degrees in winter, and the thickness of the house is the same 20 centimeters, then you will need to make 2 or even 3 layers of insulation with mineral wool.

The waterproofing film serves to protect the interior from moisture.

For insulation, you will also need a beam with a cross section, which will depend on the layers of insulation. So, for one layer of mineral wool, you will need a bar with a section of 5x5 centimeters, and for two layers you will need a bar with a section of 5x10 centimeters.

To work, you will need the following set of tools and materials:

• waterproofing film;
• antifungal composition;
• self-tapping screws;
• anchor;
• level;
• construction stapler;
• plumb.

The procedure for installing insulation

Installation of insulation on a house from a bar from the outside is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Surface preparation;
2. Installation of the first layer of waterproofing;
3. A wooden crate is installed from a bar with the required section;
4. Mineral wool is laid;
5. Closed with another waterproofing layer.

The result is this cake: wall, waterproofing, mineral wool, again waterproofing, decorative finishes.

The installation of the crate of wooden beams is carried out vertically at intervals of 1.5-2 cm less than the width of the mineral wool slabs.

Most importantly, when processing a wall for insulation, treat it with an antiseptic antifungal compound. It will not be superfluous to treat the walls also with a pesticide. After all treatments, it is necessary to wait for the walls to dry completely, therefore, it is more expedient to do this procedure in warm and dry weather.

After the walls are completely dry, you can proceed with the installation of the first layer of waterproofing. This is a very important step, and it should be remembered that the film must be laid on one side only. If you look closely at the film, you can see that on the one hand it is smooth, and on the other a little rough. Due to this structure, the film is able to pass moisture on the rough side, but not on the smooth side.

The film must be attached to the wall with a construction stapler, making an overlap of 10-15 centimeters. Joints must be sealed with tape. After that, you can proceed to the installation of the crate. The first beam is attached to the corner of the building end-to-end with self-tapping screws. Further, the beams are mounted at the same distance from each other, it is important to strictly observe the vertical.

How to properly fix the mineral wool?

Mineral wool slabs are quite easily cut with a knife. The plates are fixed to the wall with anchors, both plastic and metal can be used. To install the anchor, first of all, you need to drill a through hole in the wall through the mineral wool. Next, a core with a cap is clogged, reliably pressing down the insulation.

As soon as all the insulation is installed, it is necessary to cover it with a second layer of waterproofing on top. The rough side should be in contact with the mineral wool, while the protective smooth side should be on the outside. After that, a beam of 40x50 mm is mounted for further finishing of the facade.

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When building houses, our ancestors paid little attention to thermal insulation. Because of this, a lot of energy had to be spent on maintaining heat in the rooms. Yes, and it was not easy to find a suitable material with good thermal insulation qualities before. Today, all homeowners understand the need to insulate their homes, as energy prices are constantly rising. Thanks to the development of the chemical industry, many affordable and effective heat insulators have appeared on the construction market. They differ in price, installation method, technical parameters. Therefore, the choice has become richer and more difficult. What properties should the consumer pay attention to first of all?

1. To create a cozy microclimate inside the building, you can insulate the outer or inner part of the building. For a private house, insulation from the outside looks optimal, and apartment owners are often forced to install thermal insulation inside the premises.
2. The main criterion for a good insulation is low thermal conductivity. The lower the coefficient, the better the material retains heat inside the house. However, few people want to live in a warm but humid room. Therefore, the heat insulator is selected with good air permeability, but at the same time it should not let moisture in.
3. Do not forget when choosing a material and safety. The insulation must be fire-resistant, resistant to biodestruction and environmentally friendly.
4. The price factor often plays a decisive role. Sometimes you have to sacrifice some qualities due to a limited budget.

Our review includes the best heaters for the home. When compiling the rating, the following criteria were taken into account:

• affordability;
• specifications;
• scope;
• expert opinion;
• user reviews.

The best insulation in the form of plates and rolls

The most popular heaters are still traditional plates and rolls. They allow you to independently create a heat-insulating layer outside the house and inside, saving on the work of builders. At the same time, one should remember about the joints and cold bridges through which cold can penetrate into the house.

5 Foam glass

The highest thermal insulation properties
Average price: 985 rub. (0.27 sq. m., 0.027 cubic meters)
Rating (2019): 4.6

Foam glass is one of the most modern and effective heat insulators. Solid honeycomb panels are suitable for insulation of foundations, walls and roofs. In some Western countries, foam glass blocks are becoming the main building material used to build walls. In our country, the panels are usually attached from the outside to brick or concrete bases. Thanks to a set of useful properties, foam glass not only protects the house from the cold, but also from noise. The level of noise absorption reaches 56 dB. The material does not absorb moisture, is not subject to biodamage, and is resistant to large temperature changes.

Builders note such positive properties of foam glass as excellent thermal insulation qualities, environmental friendliness, strength, fire resistance, chemical and biological resistance, and durability. However, due to the high price, the material is not often used in private housing construction.

4 glass wool

The most famous heater
Average price: 795 rub. (15 sq. m., 0.75 cubic meters)
Rating (2019): 4.7

Glass wool has been used in construction for a very long time. This heat-insulating material is obtained by melting minerals such as sand, dolomites, soda, limestone, as well as waste from the glass industry. Glass wool was especially popular in the construction of wooden houses. This is due to the reliable protection against rodents. And now wooden or frame buildings are insulated with glass wool. The material is supplied for sale in the form of plates and rolls. When working with these heat insulators, it is important to observe safety precautions, using goggles, a respirator and gloves.

Despite some archaism of glass wool, professional builders use it because of several advantages. It is fire resistance, excellent insulating ability, versatility, low price and ease of installation. The disadvantages of the material are the fragility of sharp fibers, strong shrinkage and danger to the body.

3 Extruded polystyrene foam (sandwich panel)

Modern insulation for slopes
Average price: 573 rub. (1.25 sq. m., 0.0125 cubic meters)
Rating (2019): 4.8

A lot of heat loss in the house occurs through window blocks. Therefore, when installing windows, builders insulate the slopes. A very effective heat insulator is a sandwich panel made of extruded polystyrene foam. It not only prevents heat loss, but also gives the window block a finished look. The panel consists of two thin layers of PVC, between which there is a 10 mm thick polystyrene foam. Slopes from such sandwich panels are not afraid of moisture, fungus or mold does not appear on them. For builders, the use of sandwich panels is the best option in terms of window installation speed. It is possible to hand over turnkey windows with slopes within one day.

Extruded polystyrene foam in the form of sandwich panels has become a popular heat insulator. Installers note such advantages as the speed of registration of window blocks, moisture resistance, environmental friendliness and durability. The disadvantages include the high price.

2 Styrofoam

The most popular and affordable insulation
Average price: 300 rub. (2 sq. m., 0.2 cubic meters)
Rating (2019): 4.8

Styrofoam is very popular in private housing construction. This is explained by the availability of the material and good insulating qualities. White and light panels are obtained by steam foaming of polystyrene. Experts consider water resistance to be one of the important advantages of polystyrene. Therefore, over the years, mold or fungus will not appear in the insulator. In addition, thermal insulation does not shrink over time, it is convenient and simple to mount panels, and it is quite easy to finish in the future. When choosing a foam, it is necessary to take into account the density of the proposed product. The material can be used for insulating wooden, brick, gas silicate walls, as well as laying it under siding.

The advantages of foam builders include moisture resistance, light weight, low thermal conductivity and ease of installation. Flammability, fragility and poor sound insulation become obvious disadvantages.

1 Mineral wool

Best all purpose insulation
Average price: 480 rub. (3 sq. m., 0.15 cubic meters)
Rating (2019): 4.9

The most versatile heat-insulating material, according to professional builders, is mineral wool. The insulation can be used both for external insulation and for internal insulation. With the help of this heat insulator, walls, partitions, floors and roofs are finished. Mineral wool is made from metallurgical slag or basalt by pressing and heat treatment. Therefore, often the material is called stone or basalt wool. Due to the fibrous structure, which is filled with air, a reliable protection against the penetration of cold masses into the house is obtained. Mineral wool is produced in the form of rolls or plates.

For a long time of existence, mineral wool has found many adherents. They note such advantages of the material as affordable price, low thermal conductivity, durability, environmental friendliness and fire resistance. Of the shortcomings of the insulation, it is worth highlighting hygroscopicity.

best spray insulation

Continuous thermal insulation is gaining popularity. It can be created using sprayed materials. This type of insulation does not have joints and cold bridges. Only for applying a heat insulator requires special equipment.

3 Penoizol

Vapor permeability, no expansion
Average price: 1500 rubles. (1 cubic meters)
Rating (2019): 4.7

Penoizol has become one of the most popular liquid heaters. It is a urea-formaldehyde foam, which is sold in cylinders. When applied to building structures, it hardens at temperatures above +15°C. Experts consider vapor permeability to be one of the most valuable qualities of penoizol. In addition, unlike polyurethane foam, this heat insulator does not expand when it solidifies. Therefore, the material is often poured into brick walls, frame structures or under siding. Experts highly appreciate the fire safety of penoizol, it does not burn, but melts without releasing toxic substances.

Builders consider the main advantages of a liquid heat insulator to be a good coefficient of thermal conductivity, high vapor permeability, and fire safety. However, the porous structure must be protected from moisture penetration, over time, the heat insulator shrinks, and a special apparatus is required for application.

2 Polyurethane foam

Ease of application, reliable installation
Average price: 450 rubles. (1 l)
Rating (2019): 4.8

The two-component liquid compound is polyurethane foam. It is easy to apply and is reliable installation. The heat insulator is produced in two modifications. Closed-cell polyurethane foam has a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity and water absorption. And the open-cell variety has a high vapor permeability. Therefore, depending on the type of thermal insulation, you should choose the most suitable sprayed insulation. The material can be applied both on a brick wall and on a wooden beam due to excellent adhesion. It is important to take into account the expansion coefficient, which is 1 to 30 for closed type and 1 to 90 for open-cell polyurethane foam.

The advantages of the material experts include good adhesion to different surfaces, low heat and sound conductivity, environmental friendliness and durability. But unlike penoizol, the cost of this insulation option is much higher.

1 Ecowool

The most environmentally friendly insulation
Average price: 535 rubles. (15 kg)
Rating (2019): 4.8

Ecowool has now become the most environmentally friendly and fashionable heat insulator. It can be used for insulation of floors, walls and ceilings. Ecowool is produced from waste paper and paper waste, which makes the material absolutely harmless. Although it should be noted that some manufacturers add antiseptics and fungicides to protect against microorganisms. Therefore, the environmental friendliness of products may differ. When insulating the floor, ecowool can simply be scattered in an even layer, and special equipment is used to apply it to the walls. A paste is added to the paper base, and when sprayed onto a brick or wooden wall, the heat insulator sticks securely.

Ecowool has a number of important advantages. These are environmental friendliness, breathability, vapor permeability, the formation of a homogeneous coating without cold bridges. The disadvantages include caking, the need for special equipment.

• November 6, 2007
• Published: Construction of a cottage

With the advent of cold weather, a person seeks to insulate himself and insulate his home. If personal insulation is inherited from parents and a person has his own independent experience from birth, in which it will be warm in winter, then everyone does not have practical experience for warming a home. An ordinary person who cannot turn to specialists for help cannot make the right decision about what is more reasonable to use. If it is unsuccessful to choose a jacket, then it is not a problem, having slightly frozen in it, put on something warmer underneath. It is more difficult with housing, internal insulation is strongly not recommended, and outside, with an unsuccessful choice of insulation in winter, it is not very comfortable to redo, and the “issue price” of a mistake is expensive.

There is a real expanse for various “vaporizers” of the “warmest in the world” materials. What to choose for your home, the better to insulate the walls?

Consider the main requirements for thermal insulation materials, and why they are needed:

1. High thermal insulation performance- in fact, the better the material isolates from low temperatures in winter and high temperatures in summer, the better.
2. Low weight insulation- cheapening of fastening, low cost of transportation, ease of work, there is no need to strengthen walls, foundations, etc.
3. High vapor permeability- allows you to remove excess moisture from the premises and dry the building structure, the wetter the structure, the lower its heat resistance (compare which jacket is warmer in dry or damp after rain?) And the faster fungus and mold will appear. In case of poor steam output (it always leaves the room to the street through the walls), it is necessary to make improved ventilation, often already forced, which leads to an increase in the cost of insulation due to the purchase of forced automatic supply and exhaust systems and additional heat losses through forced ventilation of the interior.
4. Choice of finishes- the material must lend itself to decorative finishing, the more different finishes you can use, the better. The cheaper the use of these options directly on the insulation without additional base devices, the cheaper the application will be.
5. Durability- a necessary condition for the long service life of the material.
6. Eco-friendly– safe for human health use.
7. Combustibility- an indicator of the combustibility of the material.
8. Price- for many, this is the main indicator of applicability in their home, whether they can afford it or not. I would still recommend carefully assessing other indicators.

The required thickness of the heat-insulating material is calculated according to modern standards for Moscow without taking into account other structures - only the thickness of the heat-insulation is taken into account.
All data are taken from the Test Reports, SNiPs and, in their absence, based on the official data of manufacturers. The presented materials are used outside.
Managerial chatter "about the best in the world" material I do not take into account. In this regard, I ask those who are dissatisfied with this fact or who believe the tales of sellers about the better indicators that you remember, do not raise a fuss, do not prove that this is not so, but much better, they say, they told me that ... I'm sorry for your wasted time and money, but there are laws of physics, there are standards, so don't spit and don't try to prove anything else.

So,
In the table, the following materials are indicated by numbers:

1. Foamed polystyrene foam (facade brand with a density of 16-17 kg / m3)
2. Extruded polystyrene grade 35
3. Basalt mineral wool type Rockwool Facade Batts D
4. Aerated concrete masonry with a density of 400 kg/cu.m.
5. Penofol foil on both sides type B
6. Polyurethane foam (sprayed)
7. Ecowool
8. Penoizol
9. Foam glass

characteristics:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Required thickness, mm
Insulation weight, kg/cu.m.
Vapor permeability, mg/(m*h*Pa)	0,06	0,015		0,23	0,001	0,05		0,25	0,003
Possibility of finishing - *1
Material durability (years)
Harmless to health - *2
Flammability, combustibility group			NG	NG					NG
Price per 1 cubic meter of material (thousand rubles)					10,5
Price/thickness ratio - *3				2573	1292	1512	431	104	1110

Prices as of this writing November 2007

The color in the table highlights the characteristics of the material:

*1 - marks are given in points for the maximum choice in the application of various types of exterior wall finishes, such as:
- installation in a frame (such as siding, cladding with a ventilated facade, upholstery with clapboard, block-house)
- creation of an adhesive paint coating on the insulation layer
- sewing with sheet trim without frame
- cladding with front brickwork ("well")
- sticker of decorative tiles or stone
but, one point is deducted if additional preparation of the installed insulation is necessary before finishing.

*3 - thickness/price ratio, where the spent price is obtained for the resulting normative thermal resistance of the selected thermal insulation material.

Summary:

1. Styrofoam
Excellent price for insulation with a small thickness. Suitable for any further finishing without any special preparation. The guaranteed service life is more than 25 years. The only drawback is the low-combustible material. It is not recommended to sheathe wooden houses and roofs, but at the same time there are no fire restrictions for use on single-family cottages up to 2 floors high. For use in multi-storey buildings, additional fire protection measures are provided. Must be protected from UV radiation.

2. Extruded polystyrene foam.
Good, reasonable cost. Guaranteed service life of more than 25 years, tests show a life of up to 50 years. The material is combustible, very poorly vapor permeable, so there will be a need for investment costs, because. it is necessary to arrange additional ventilation up to automatic supply and exhaust, which increases the cost of insulation with this material and increased operating energy costs for additional ventilation of the premises. Any materials are suitable for finishing, but when applying paint adhesive layers to the surface, it is necessary to additionally prepare - roughen. Must be protected from UV radiation.

3. Mineral wool type Rockwool Facade Batts D
The price of insulation starts to bite a little, although the material is well vapor-permeable and does not burn at all. Please do not confuse with combustible glass wool, which, due to its properties, is not used for external insulation in principle. This basalt fiber material is high-density yet lightweight, providing a durability of more than 25 years with all finishes.

4. Aerated concrete masonry with a density of 400 kg/cu.m.
Disgusting indicators of the spent price for insulation, heavy material. It is practically impossible to attribute aerated concrete of density D400 to an effective insulation, because the thickness of the insulation exceeds reasonable limits, but the good vapor permeability and incombustibility of the material, as well as the fact that it is also structural, will still allow in the complex to reduce the relative cost of the share of insulation in the building structure. On aerated concrete, any exterior finish can be used.

5. Penofol foil on both sides type B
Non-vapor-permeable material (polyethylene foam, with foil glued on both sides, analogues, without foil - Izolon, etc.), with good heat resistance and weight. But very expensive compared to other heaters. Thermal insulation of the building walls with penofol will further increase the cost, because there will be additional investment costs for supply and exhaust ventilation, additional operating costs for heating the ventilated air. The properties of this material (lack of adhesion of polymer and cement materials) greatly limits the choice of finishes and narrows it down to use only in frame systems. The presence of foil on both sides does not affect the thermal resistance of the walls in any way, a slight improvement in thermal resistance is observed only in a closed air gap (SNiP II-3-79 * Appendix 4), the effect of which is measured within the limits of mathematical error, and such layers in building structures are practically missing. Well, if anyone likes a thickness of 12.3 cm, then warm yourself! :) The sold material in rolls with a thickness of 5.10 mm is not suitable even for 2 and 3 layers for insulation.

6. Polyurethane foam (sprayed)
Expensive pleasure from warming, which must be protected from ultraviolet radiation. There is no rich choice of finishes: it is brick cladding (with some difficulties) or only a hinged frame with finishing slabs and only on single-family cottages up to two floors high, since due to flammability it is forbidden to use on buildings for other purposes. It turns out that this is an expensive and impractical material for housing. Eliminates the possibility of independent work, since expensive equipment is required for applying to the base.

7. Ecowool
A good price for insulation made on the basis of cellulose, a natural material. Due to the friability and weak bearing capacity, there is practically no choice of finish, as is the case with polyurethane foam - you can pour it into the brick facing masonry (“well”) or spray it into the frame using special equipment. The combustibility of the material prohibits its use in mass construction, the service life is normal.

8. Penoizol
The most favorable low cost of insulation from the presented heaters is immediately crossed out by a number of significant shortcomings, such as a narrow choice of finishing materials (well masonry or in a frame), the need for UV protection, otherwise the material begins to decompose into formaldehyde and concentrated chemical fertilizers, after production it also for a long time it emits harmful substances, the material is combustible and not very durable (durability has not been studied enough), it is afraid of dampness. In the case of use by spraying (pouring), special equipment is required.

9. Foam glass
Good indicators of the use of any finish, durability and incombustibility of the material are very pleasing, but the high price of the material itself is frustrating, which is even more frustrating, since when insulating with foam glass, there is a need for additional investment costs for supply and exhaust ventilation and subsequent operating costs for unreasonable heat losses from forced excessive ventilation of the premises.

You can compare the characteristics of materials more carefully in numbers in the table below.