A foam block is a modern material for the construction of residential buildings. Often such buildings in the cold season do not withstand low temperatures, and the house becomes cold. To maintain a comfortable temperature inside, people choose the option of warming the house from foam blocks outside. This method can significantly reduce the cost of heating the house. In today's article, we will consider in detail the issue of insulation of buildings from foam blocks.
Reason for insulation outside, not inside the house
The main advantage of external insulation is the preservation of the integrity of the areas inside the building. Thermal insulation includes a heater and a layer of vapor barrier. Added decorative wall covering. Usually this "sandwich" takes from ten to fifteen centimeters of living space. That is why it is beneficial to starthouse insulation from foam blocks outside.
It is worth paying attention to the periodic freezing of the walls, after which a dew point forms. Most often, freezing occurs by mistake of builders or designers. This problem needs to be fixed from the outside of the house. If you put a layer of insulation inside, then nothing will prevent the wall from freezing from the outside. Condensation will constantly appear between the cold outer part and the warm inner part. This causes the wall surface to deteriorate over time.
How to choose the right material for insulation?
External insulation of a house made of foam blocks is a good solution for residential buildings. The main issue that residents face concerns the choice of material.
There are several types of insulation:
- Polyfoam (expanded polystyrene) is an excellent option for insulating the walls of houses from foam blocks. This material is covered with one layer of special plaster for finishing. The only downside to using Styrofoam is the need for an additional ventilation system for the home. The desired material does not allow the evaporation of vapors.
- Mineral wool has proven itself in terms of vapor permeability. It is a good option for providing thermal insulation of the building. Additional costs will only be for finishing the house. It is possible to lay siding panels. Finishing with porcelain tiles looks advantageous. Often there is a covering of the house with glass-magnesium sheets. Warminghouses made of foam blocks outside with mineral wool is widely used in the construction of cottages.
- Low density foam block is allowed. In this case, an additional layer of mineral wool will be required. This method is considered the most costly. The result is a duplication of a wall of foam blocks, which borders on the contours of the original.
- Distinguish the insulation of houses from foam blocks with stone wool outside. This method is rarely used due to the cost of materials. Styrofoam is much more cost effective compared to it.
- Insulation of a house from foam blocks for siding is carried out in the warm season, before the rainy and frost seasons.
What are the features of thermal insulation installation?
After the owner of the house has chosen the material for insulation, you can proceed with the installation work. Warming of the facade of the house from foam blocks is carried out in stages, depending on the material.
Getting Started
Installation of polystyrene is carried out only on a cleaned surface. All possible contaminants must be removed. Each edge of the foam block is removed with a puncher (if not, then with a chisel).
The surface is primed, the adhesive adheres to the coating as strongly as possible. At the bottom of the base of the wall, it is necessary to install a profile, it is called the basement. It is made of stainless steel in the form of a plate. The function of the profile is to provide support for the thermal insulation. It becomes an additional protection of the insulation from mice and rats.
The next step is to prepare the glue,which will be applied to the foam. It is important to follow all the recommendations for the preparation of the composition, which are prescribed in the instructions. In advance, it is worth preparing a mixing nozzle for a drill. It is convenient for her to mix the adhesive composition, breaking all the lumps.
In order for the high-quality coupling of foam plastic with foam blocks to occur, it is necessary to achieve the roughness of the desired surface. It is allowed to make punctures on the back of the insulation. To do this, you can use a needle roller. If it is not at hand, then you can simply make notches with a knife on the material used.
You will need an umbrella dowel. They will need to be fixed at the corners of the plate. Additionally, the center of each surface of the plate is fixed. After that, you can start finishing work from the front side of the building.
Installation work with mineral wool is considered more difficult. To do this, you must already "fill your hand" on similar examples. The insulation of the house from the foam blocks from the outside is carried out as follows: the walls are cleaned of dirt, and then treated with an antiseptic solution.
When the substance has worked, brackets are attached to the walls. They will be required in order to install the crates. It is important not to forget to lay gaskets for thermal insulation. They fit between the wall and the bracket. A plinth profile is placed at the base of the wall. Material for thermal insulation is gradually laid in it. As a result, slabs with mineral wool are located above the brackets. A special membrane is placed on it. It reliably protects from the wind. The air inside hermust constantly change. After the facade is sheathed with selected materials.
How is the foam block installed?
Foam blocks are mounted by analogy with the main wall. First, the wall is leveled. All defects and irregularities are removed. The walls are primed. For these works, a cement-sand mortar is most often chosen. The surface must dry. Typically, this takes about two weeks. When the top layer of the wall is completely dry, glue is applied to it. It is also applied in portions to the center. The plate is fixed to the wall in several places. To get a reliable design, you need to re-fix the material with dowels. When the thermal protection work is completed, the finishing work begins.
Pros and cons of insulating the house outside with foam plastic
Insulation of the walls of houses from foam blocks is a process that has its pros and cons.
Positive points include:
- Styrofoam insulation is a simple method. The material is easy to cut yourself.
- No need to install another frame. Warming is carried out on an adhesive basis.
- Aerated concrete blocks have good waterproofing due to the water-repellent properties of the mixture.
Negative aspects of work:
- With foam, only one minus can be seen - this is low vapor permeability.
- The residents of the houses say that the temperature inside is too high.
Insulation of a house made of foam blocks from the outside is characterized by more positivemoments.
Pros of finishing with mineral wool
Mineral wool has excellent vapor permeability. The material is elastic, so it is easy to lay. Mineral wool provides good thermal insulation for the foam block.
Cons of using mineral wool
The disadvantages include that it is only suitable for siding. It is necessary to install the battens, and follow the installation plan. Drilling a foam block is difficult, you need an accurate eye gauge so as not to make a mistake in the markup. When working, you should be careful and not rush. Then you can avoid many mistakes that beginners make in this business. Moisture is very quickly absorbed into this heater. The owners of the house will have to deal with waterproofing separately.
Pros of working with polyurethane foam
The advantages of such work include the speed of fixing the insulation. Foam blocks are reliably protected from natural factors. Excellent quality material.
Cons of using polyurethane foam
The disadvantages include the base isolated as a result. This action occurs due to the deposition of the material in depth. The pores of the foam block are quickly filled with insulation. It is likely that there will be difficulty in ventilation.
These works are expensive, due to the high price of polyurethane foam. The use of material makes it difficult to repair the thermal insulation layer. Most often, you have to invite specialists to work with materials. It is usually placedunder siding, and in order to repair a small area, you have to disassemble the cladding structure from the outside.
Reviews on foam insulation
Insulation of a house from a foam block with foam plastic is the most popular method of work. It has many advantages, the main of which is ease of use. You must follow the instructions, and you can safely lay the insulation with your own hands. This product is not cheap, but penoplex has excellent quality. It does not allow cold air to enter inside and retains heat inside the building. It is thanks to these characteristics that it is in high demand in the building materials market.
Insulation of the house from the foam blocks outside helps to save the area. When insulated, residential square meters are reduced inside (for example, when building a false wall).
