The issue of insulation of residential buildings is relevant in almost all regions of Russia. Spraying with polyurethane foam is an effective solution to the problem. This insulation is a two-component composition.
The thermal conductivity of the material is very low, it is only 0.021 W/m2K. A layer of foamed polyurethane foam with a thickness of 0.05 m in terms of thermal conductivity corresponds to brickwork of 1.6 m. In addition, the material is very light. All this explains its wide popularity among builders of different profiles.
Polyurethane foam application area
1. Construction of sandwich structures at industrial and civil facilities.
2. Creation of a noise-insulating layer in cars and planes.
3. Thermal insulation sprayed with polyurethane foam of external walls, window openings, internal roofing, doors and other structural elements.
4. Insulation of pipelines for cold and hot water supply.
Polyurethane foam is also used in automotive, electrical engineering and many other fields.
Advantages of polyurethane foam insulation
1. Shortbuilding heat loss coefficient.
2. Resistance to negative environmental factors.
3. Excellent long-term adhesion to all types of cellular concrete, brick and drywall.
4. No need to fix the thermal insulation with fasteners.
5. Polyurethane foam has excellent hydrophobicity.
6. Possibility of monolithic distribution of material, i.e. no visible seams.
7. Insulation with polyurethane foam by spraying does not require periodic restoration. This greatly saves manpower.
8. The material is made up of cells that allow it to "breathe".
Disadvantages of polyurethane foam insulation
1. The service life of the material declared by the manufacturers is 15-20 years. But already in the fifth year of operation, polyurethane foam can lose up to 30% of its thermal insulation properties. This phenomenon is not so noticeable in conditions of constant low temperatures.
2. Equipment for spraying polyurethane foam is quite expensive.
3. The material has low fire safety.
It can be concluded that the advantages of the material are much greater than the disadvantages.
Polyurethane foam spraying technology
Before insulating with polyurethane foam spraying, it is necessary to prepare the surface to be treated. To do this, clean it from dirt and dry it well. It is important to remove all rust from metals and degrease them. Aluminum requires mandatorycoating with a primer with a high degree of adhesion, this will help increase the adhesion of the insulation to the surface.
An important place in the deposition process is the temperature of the environment and components. To obtain a high-performance layer, it is necessary that the composition be from 10 to 25°C. The optimum temperature for the room is above +5 °C. Work in a colder environment can only be carried out with a solution heated to the desired state.
Polyurethane foam spraying, reviews of which are almost always positive, is carried out under pressure above 100 atmospheres. Approximately two seconds after spraying, a foaming reaction occurs, followed by solidification of the composition. The resulting layer provides excellent thermal and waterproofing.
Stages of polyurethane foam spraying
1. Mixing of all components of the composition. As a rule, mixtures of reagents, fire fighting compounds, isocyanate and fixative are combined. The last two components must be pre-mixed separately and filtered when a precipitate forms.
2. Spraying with polyurethane foam from a special spray gun using a compressor (foam generator).
3. Resurfacing (if necessary).
Average cost of spraying with polyurethane foam in Russia
As you know, prices for various goods and services may differ in the regions of the country. This also applies to spraying with polyurethane foam. Pricespraying 1 m2 depends on layer thickness and order quantity. The larger the cultivated area, the lower the price per square meter.
On average, for small volumes of work, that is, up to 200 m2, spraying with polyurethane foam costs 550-630 rubles per 1 m2. With an increase in the area for processing, the price per square meter decreases to about 500-600 rubles.
When drawing up an approximate estimate for spraying with polyurethane foam, the price will also depend on the height of the walls. Typically, such margins are expressed as a percentage of the cost of services. For example, processing walls with a height of more than 3 m will cost 10-20% more, and basements with low ceilings - 20%.
The final cost of spraying polyurethane foam is calculated by specialists of companies providing such services. Workers always see the most vulnerable places for heat to escape from the premises. Therefore, experts will definitely offer to treat these surfaces several times.
Today you can work with polyurethane foam yourself. For this, it is necessary to have special equipment and basic knowledge about the sprayed components. Work is always best done together.
DIY equipment for spraying polyurethane foam
Building stores sell disposable kits for spraying polyurethane foam on small areas. Most often, such sets consist of two cylinders. In one of them - polyol with freon 134, in the other - isocyanate.
Equipment designed for mixingcomponents after pulling the gun trigger. Hoses with compositions are connected to gearboxes. Tanks are constantly monitored for pressure and temperature. If one of the parameters is violated, the material will set worse, which will lead to an increase in its consumption.
Cost of do-it-yourself polyurethane foam spraying equipment
The spread of portable installations for independent work with polyurethane foam is explained by the fact that in private houses the area for insulation can be quite small. Brigades of professional workers with expensive equipment simply do not go to such facilities, as it is unprofitable. In other cases, small work will be very expensive due to the lengthy assembly of installations. Disposable kits are designed for safe use by amateurs. On areas less than 20 m2 they are profitable.
The average cost of a one-time installation is from 16 to 30 thousand rubles. It contains approximately 1m3 polyurethane foam. The same amount of composition, purchased from a specialized company, will cost more than 30 thousand rubles. The benefits of working independently are obvious.
Do-it-yourself polyurethane foam spraying
All work must be carried out in good weather. High humidity outdoors and indoors at this time can slightly spoil the polyurethane foam. Do-it-yourself spraying should be done in several layers. This is one of the main operating principles.
Insulation with polyurethane foam by spraying begins with complex surfaces: chimneys, ventilation hatches and pipelines. On theAt the same stage, you need to close all the joints that go outside. The first layer is preferably applied with a thickness of approximately 14 mm. After it hardens, you can proceed to further work.
The second and third layers are applied to each other with a short time interval. It is optimal to carry out all the work in one day. If this is not possible, then, starting each next layer, you need to carefully prepare the surface. With proper planning of working hours, the insulation of a medium-sized private house can be carried out in 2-3 days.
The most effective sound and heat insulation is a construction consisting of three layers.
Advantages and disadvantages of self-spraying polyurethane foam
Spraying works are carried out by specialists with professional equipment quickly enough. All work takes 1-2 days. Self-spraying may take longer, as you need to carefully study the instructions and deal with the equipment.
Polyurethane foam, self-spraying of which is beneficial only in small areas, hardens almost instantly, regardless of the design of the installation. This proves that there is no difference between professional and disposable designs.
Thus, in each case, the decision to insulate the house independently or professionally is made by the owners.
Polyurethane foam spray reviews
Most owners of private houses and apartments are satisfied with thermal insulationpolyurethane foam. This method of room insulation is especially relevant for buildings with a large number of arches and other curved elements.
Polyurethane foam spraying, reviews of which are quite numerous, is popular for balconies and loggias. After the work is done correctly, these parts of the apartments become so warm that you can go there in home clothes even in winter.
Thus, spraying with polyurethane foam is an effective way to insulate private houses and apartments.
