Floor insulation in a frame house on stilts should be carried out, taking into account the design features of such housing. Only in this case you will not face the problem of lack of comfort indoors. When the house is installed on supporting piles, it usually has a basement or basement. This can be considered an advantage, which slowly flows into a disadvantage, which consists in blowing through the lower part of the house from all sides.
Features of insulation
Such buildings are erected on swampy soils, so the space under them is characterized by a high level of humidity. In order for the house not to be exposed to the negative effects of natural factors, its flooring must be equipped in several layers.
Insulation cake
Floor insulation in a frame house assumes the presence of a supporting skeleton, which is combined with the subfloor. Next comes the wind protection, which is characterized by vapor permeability. It is required to protect the appliedinsulating material from weathering. The next layer is a heat insulator, covered with moisture and vapor barrier layers. The final floor will be finished, which is covered with boards.
How to avoid mistakes
When choosing an insulating material for such a "pie", you must be guided by the fact that it must be of high quality. It is recommended to use good steam and waterproofing products that will reliably protect the premises from moisture. If the floor insulation in a frame house installed on piles is not carried out according to all the rules, then you may face an increase in heating costs, the presence of condensation above the underground and the appearance of fungus and mold.
Recommendations for material selection
It is possible to insulate pile structures using several technologies, the main requirement in this matter is the need to use materials that could be used in wet conditions. Insulation of the floor in a frame house with foam is one of the best and most rational approaches. But at low temperature and high humidity, this material is destroyed into separate elements. If you want to use this thermal insulation, then you should take care that it is reliably protected from moisture.
Mineral wool is also quite common to solve the described problem. It is inert to biological influences, differshigh heat-shielding characteristics and is not afraid of fire. But when water penetrates inside, the protective properties of the insulation are lost. With appropriate measures, any type of mineral wool can be used, among them:
- stone;
- glass;
- slag.
This heat insulator is sold in rolls and slabs, but experts recommend using the latter option, as it has a higher density than its roll counterpart.
Insulation of the floor with foam plastic in a frame house is also carried out quite often. This material is polystyrene foam, manufactured using extrusion technology. It has low moisture absorption and high strength. These features give the material many advantages over cheap counterparts. If we compare it with polystyrene foam, then foam plastic will be more reliable.
Alternative solutions
Warming the floor of a frame house with expanded clay is also quite common. Using this material is simple, and there is no need to resort to outside help. Expanded clay differs in fire safety and low cost. But when compared with the materials mentioned above, expanded clay is inferior in terms of heat-shielding properties.
Vapour-permeable moisture and wind-insulating membranes that are easy to install should be used as hydro- and wind-proof materials for floors on a pile foundation. However, you must be prepared thatthe cost of such substrates is quite high. As a vapor barrier, you can use a simple polyethylene film, which is laid directly on the insulation layer.
Features of expanded clay floor insulation
First, when the floor is insulated with expanded clay, there is a layer of waterproofing. In this case, it is especially relevant, because the insulation absorbs moisture well, which can cause unpleasant consequences. To achieve uniformity, before backfilling with expanded clay, it is necessary to set guide beacons that will determine the level of the future floor.
For reliable fixation of the insulation, a layer of screed is used, as well as upper waterproofing. Before applying the final top layer of the screed, the intermediate fixation layer must be poured. To do this, the cement is mixed with water to obtain a homogeneous suspension. It should be filled with a layer of expanded clay. After drying such a layer, you will be able to get a monolithic expanded clay floor, which will not be afraid of exposure to moisture and high loads. This design is able to withstand even a small earthquake. The final layer will be a screed, with which you can finally level the floor.
Step by step instructions for floor insulation
At the first stage, a subfloor is set up; for this, a wooden beam, also called cranial, is attached to the logs. It will act as a support for the finishing boards. used woodenthe elements must be treated with an antiseptic, at the next stage, you can proceed with the installation of the boards.
If you decide to use expanded polystyrene or polystyrene, it is recommended to lay the grid instead of the subfloor. It is fixed to the lags so that it is able to withstand the weight of the heat insulator used. Overloading piles with excess weight is not recommended. After the completion of the arrangement of the subfloor, a vapor barrier is laid on its surface. All moisture from the outside will remain outside, and it will not affect the insulation layer. This area can be vapor-insulated with plastic wrap, which is quite often replaced with roofing felt.
Insulation of the floor in a frame house at the next stage involves the installation of thermal insulation. A layer of vapor barrier should be placed on top of it, which prevents the penetration of condensate and internal moisture into the "pie". When laying the vapor barrier, you should get rid of the gaps that may remain between the sheets of materials. Otherwise, cold bridges may occur, which are dangerous for thermal insulation, because they will soon destroy the structure of the material.
The next step is to move on to laying the finished floor, using chipboard, floorboard, plywood sheets or other products. Floor insulation in a frame house should be accompanied by the protection of piles with a stationary base. In this case, snow will not fall under it. But if you do not intend to build a warm space or you do not have the opportunity to do this, then the supporting elements should be closed with a decorative plinth, which is characterized by fast installation and lowvalue.
Insulation of the floor through the plinth
When the floor is insulated in a frame house, you can close the base with your own hands using one of the existing methods. What is used for brick or rubble masonry, frame imitation of the basement, the last of which allows you to equip an analogue of a ventilated facade. If you decide to use masonry, then the fence must be built using brick halves. The first row should be laid on a pre-arranged sand bed that is well compacted.
The pick-up must be waterproofed using roofing material. Proper insulation of the floor of a frame house necessarily involves thermal insulation of the basement. For this, its imitation can be used. This technique allows you to complete the work in the shortest possible time, saving money. The frame is made by installing a crate from wooden beams or a galvanized profile. They must be installed directly on piles. This design at the next stage is sheathed with roofing material, PVC sheets are installed on top, which imitate stone or brick. Polyvinyl chloride products are strengthened with nails or universal self-tapping screws. The first option is suitable for a wooden crate, while the second is suitable for a metal profile.
Double thermal insulation
Double floor insulation of a frame house involves the use of double floor technology. From the name it is clear that the flooring from the boards will have to be done twice, but the boards will be different. The draft floor will be equipped with unhewn boards,which fit well with each other. A layer of roofing material is laid on top, which will protect the wooden floor.
The next layer will be sand, the height of which should be between 3 and 5 cm. Next, the sand is covered with plastic wrap, reinforced with nails or a construction stapler. The next layer will be thermal insulation, which is pre-cut into pieces. Chipboard boards should be laid on top, on which the finishing floor will be laid.
Features of cross thermal insulation
Cross floor insulation in a frame house is also used quite often. When the basement is equipped with beams with the following dimensions: 200 x 500 mm, the thickness of the insulation should be 200 mm. The upper layer of thermal insulation should be perpendicular to the lower layers, which gives the name of the technology.
Conclusion
Floor insulation in a house with a foundation on stilts can be carried out thoroughly, but if you want to experiment, then thermal insulation can be done even with the help of carpet. This method is great for those owners who have not yet decided to open the floor.
To do this, use a material that is similar in characteristics to ordinary carpets. The carpet will be laid over the entire floor area of the room, affecting the perimeter. This approach will close the gaps in the concrete and wooden floor through which cold air enters from the basement.
