The popularity of wooden houses is increasing every year. Such buildings are distinguished by a high degree of environmental friendliness, comfort and the ability to provide the premises with the right amount of fresh air. If the house is properly insulated, then the cost of heating it will be minimized. In addition, the exterior finish will protect the facade from external factors and extend the life of the entire building.
Knowing how to insulate a wooden house, you can do it yourself. But it should be remembered that working with natural material has important nuances. What you need to consider and how to install thermal insulation with your own hands, read in our article.
Where to start?
Before starting work, determine on which side you will insulate the facade. Builders recommend installing material outside the house. So the walls are completely protected from temperature fluctuations, the interior space remains unchanged. In addition, the exterior cladding allows you to completely modify the structure, make it more attractive.
Pay attention to the fact that the best thermal insulation of the walls will not be able to provide your home with heat ifcold comes from under the floorboards. Thinking about how to insulate a wooden house, include measures to insulate the floor of the first floor in the work plan.
As for the façade, the outer insulation cake should consist of the following layers:
- Vapor barrier material.
- Heat insulation.
- Waterproofing layer.
- Decorative trim.
As an insulating material, use those options that will not destroy the breathable properties of wood. Most often, foam plastic, foam plastic and mineral wool are used for these purposes. Consider the properties and installation technology of each of them.
Foam insulation: pros and cons
Styrofoam is often used to insulate the walls of buildings for two reasons - low cost and light weight. The material can be transported and installed independently. It does not create additional load on the foundation of the house.
The plates are resistant to moisture, are not afraid of fungus and have high thermal insulation performance. They are not afraid of sudden changes in temperature and can last more than 50 years. However, if you decide to insulate a wooden house with your own hands using foam, consider its shortcomings.
The most significant disadvantage of the material is the inability to pass air through itself. This leads to the formation of condensation on the walls. The tree becomes moldy and begins to rot. Atwhen using foam as insulation, take the time to equip a quality ventilation system.
Features of using foam plastic
To insulate a wooden house as best as possible, follow a number of rules for using foam boards. First of all, you need to install the material as tightly as possible. There should be no gaps between the plates.
Under the insulation should not penetrate cold air. This is achieved by the following actions:
- The seams between the plates are covered with a diffusion membrane. Its fixation is carried out using a construction stapler. The membrane sheets are overlapped.
- The joints of different parts of the membrane are glued with masking tape.
- The top layer is necessarily covered with waterproofing material.
If you don't keep the styrofoam dry, it will absorb moisture, expand, and begin to crumble. At the same time, all its insulating qualities will come to naught. Leave a 20 mm ventilation gap between the tiles and the finish cladding. It will prevent condensation from accumulating.
Insulation "Penoplex" and its properties
Penoplex insulation is an improved type of foam plastic. It has improved specifications, so it costs a little more than its predecessor.
Considering the question of how to insulate a wooden houseoutside, many prefer this option. "Penoplex" has the following positive properties:
- high strength;
- high density;
- high thermal insulation performance;
- resistance to mechanical stress;
- resistance to moisture, temperature extremes;
- long service life;
- flammability.
As for the negative qualities, it is the fear of ultraviolet light, chemicals and rodents. Topping the list is the same poor breathability.
Installation of foam plastic is no different from the method of fixing foam plastic.
Mineral insulation and their features
Mineral wool is considered an ideal material for insulating the facades of wooden buildings. It reliably protects the building from temperature extremes and does not interfere with the natural air exchange of the walls.
There are three types of mineral insulation:
- stone;
- glass;
- slag.
The first option is presented in the form of rigid plates. They are completely safe for humans, easy to install and cut to the desired size. If you have to insulate an old wooden house, stone wool is the best fit for this purpose.
Glass fiber material is sold in rolls. From also has high heat saving rates, but its installation is slightly complicated. In the process of work, small particles fall off the canvases, causing skin itching andburning. You can install the material on the walls only in a protective suit, mask and goggles.
Slag insulation is the most affordable variety, as it is made from waste. The material is sold in rolls. Poor quality products can be dangerous to humans, so it is better to purchase slag wool from trusted suppliers.
Positive and negative properties of mineral insulation
Mineral wool is an environmentally friendly material that belongs to the products of the middle price category. It does not react to temperature changes and is not subject to wear. The fibrous structure of the insulation allows the walls to breathe, prevents the accumulation of condensate and the formation of mold.
A significant advantage of mineral wool is that it can withstand high temperatures. The material flares up for a long time, therefore it belongs to the group of fireproof heaters.
Before you insulate a wooden house with a natural heat insulator, take into account that it is afraid of moisture. When wet, cotton wool goes astray, loses its original properties. It also does not accept mechanical stress and has poor strength.
A few words about the installation of steam and waterproofing
Any novice master is interested in the question of whether it is possible to insulate a wooden house without making mistakes? In fact, this process is not considered difficult, but it requires some knowledge.
Observe the followingrules:
- The vapor barrier material is installed from the inside of the insulation layer. It should work where warm air prevails.
- The glossy side of the canvas is located to the insulation plate, and the porous side "looks" at the wall.
- The waterproofing layer must ensure the dryness of the insulation, so it is mounted on the outside (before facing).
Before starting work, evaluate the condition of all surfaces. Replace or restore rotten and moldy areas. Treat all walls with an antiseptic compound.
Wall insulation technology
Not every owner knows how to properly insulate a wooden house. To prevent irreparable errors, perform work in accordance with the instructions. It involves work in the following order:
- Fix wooden slats on the base. Their thickness is 2.5 cm. The distance between the boards is 0.5 meters.
- Use a stapler and staples to secure the vapor barrier to the wall.
- Install the crate of wooden slats. The size of the timber used should be equal to the thickness of the insulation material. If this indicator is 10 cm, then a 10x10 beam is selected. The pitch of the crate is determined depending on the width of the insulation: if it is 50 cm, then the pitch of the crate is 48 cm (2 cm less). This will allow you to install the material as tightly as possible.
- Place the insulation between the vertical bars. If it is weak, use anchor bolts to secure it to the base.
- On topthermal insulation, stretch the waterproofing film (the vapor permeability of the film is more than 1300g/sq.m). Glue the edges of the canvases with tape.
- Make a ventilation gap. To do this, assemble the frame, which will be 5 cm away from the insulation. To assemble it, wooden bars or a metal profile are used.
- Fix the decorative material on the lattice base.
Use clapboard, block house or siding as a finishing cladding. Treat wooden materials with an antiseptic and cover with a protective layer.
Floor insulation
You can insulate the floor in a wooden house (with your own hands) both at the construction stage and at the repair stage. The work is reduced to laying thermal insulation in the space between the rough and finishing floorboards.
For these purposes, you can use:
- expanded clay;
- slag;
- bas alt wool;
- glass wool;
- foam;
- "Penoplex".
First, waterproofing is laid on the base. A heater is installed on top of it. If it is bulk material, it is poured into the space between the lags, the plates are inserted between the beams. Next, a vapor barrier membrane is laid. A finishing board is laid on top.
Door insulation
Cold air currents can seep not only through walls and floors, but also through doors. In such a situation, there is nothing left but to insulate the doors. In a wooden house, there are usually canvases made of wood. They need to be removed fromloops.
If there are gaps between the door boards, fill them with silicone sealant. Fix the batting on the inside of the canvas. Lay a layer of foam on top of the batting. Place the finishing material on top of the insulation. Fix it to the canvas with decorative nails. Two layers of insulation and a dense finish will prevent the penetration of cold into the room.
Summing up
We examined how to insulate a wooden house from below, from the side of the facade and doors. These works are not difficult, but require attention. The violation of the sequence of layers, weak fixation of the insulation and the gaps left will lead to the fact that the insulating materials will not perform their functions.
Therefore, before starting work, evaluate all the properties of materials, purchase quality products, carefully study the technology. With this approach, you are guaranteed warmth and comfort inside your home.
