If we compare a pile foundation with a strip foundation, the first one does not have a continuous surface, therefore, for beginners, the process of thermal insulation of this design is accompanied by a number of questions. There is nothing complicated in this procedure, you just need to follow the technology.
If you carry out such work, you will make the floor warmer, the rooms will become comfortable, and the materials will not deteriorate from moisture and temperature changes. Some believe that there is no need to insulate such a foundation, since it is possible to carry out thermal insulation of the floor without affecting the base.
In fact, such works are carried out for many reasons. Firstly, communications usually pass under the house, and the measures described allow you to protect them from freezing in winter. However, you should additionally take care of the insulation of the communications themselves. Secondly, the insulation of the pile foundation of a wooden house is accompanied by the arrangement of a basement, thanks to which the house becomesmore attractive and has a finished look. Thirdly, the presence of a plinth can prevent the accumulation of water and snow under the house, which is very important for the preservation of materials.
Choice of insulation
The process of warming will consist of several stages. First you will need to prepare the materials, equip the blind area and install the crate. Then you can do the thermal insulation and cladding of the basement. At the first stage, you will need to choose a heater. Extruded polystyrene foam, which is a modified foam, is suitable for this. It has a higher durability and strength, so it is often used specifically for basement insulation. The cost of such material is 4500 rubles. per square meter.
If you are thinking about how to insulate the pile foundation of a wooden house, you can also choose polyurethane foam, which is applied to the surface in the form of foam. The disadvantage here is the need for special equipment. The material dries quickly after application. The advantage of thermal insulation is that it forms a continuous coating on the surface without cold bridges. But it is not possible to perform such work on your own. The cost of insulation together with work starts from 350 rubles. per square meter.
Before you insulate the pile foundation of a wooden house, you should think about what material to choose for this. Thermal panels are also suitable, which combine insulation and finishing material. Panels cost 1000rub. per square meter. In addition to the above materials, you should prepare the bars and boards for the crate. You will also need finishing material, it can be:
- aceid;
- plinth panels;
- siding.
Do not limit yourself to the above list. You can choose the cladding for yourself, taking into account your own preferences. When using thermal panels, finishing material is no longer required.
Technology of work: blind area performance
If you are faced with the question of how to insulate the pile foundation of a wooden house, then you should familiarize yourself with the technology. It provides for work on the blind area. Many perform it after carrying out work on insulation, but experts recommend starting manipulations with the blind area. In this case, you will be able to lay the insulation, which will be adjacent to the blind area insulation, and not to the ground.
The blind area is performed according to the following technology. Along the perimeter of the house, you will have to dig a trench, the width of which is a meter. It is necessary to go deep by 40 cm. Sand is poured into the bottom of the trench, the layer thickness should be 20 cm. The sand is well compacted. After that, a 5-centimeter layer of rubble is poured, which is well leveled and compacted. Next, you need to lay a waterproofing film, the sheets of which are laid with an overlap.
The next layer will be heat-insulating material. Extruded polystyrene foam is excellent for these purposes. Along the edge of the blind area, it is necessary to lay a drainagepipe. On this work, the blind area is completed. If the foundation is insulated from the outside, and there is heaving soil on the territory, then at the junction of the basement and the blind area, the trench must be covered with expanded clay. So you can eliminate the breakage of the base when heaving the soil.
Installing the crate
If you, like many home craftsmen, are faced with the question of how to insulate the pile foundation of a wooden house, you must decide how the crate is installed. It is necessary, because insulation will be attached to it, as well as finishing. The frame consists of several belts of boards, which are installed around the perimeter of the base. The boards are attached to the extreme piles. If they are metal, then horizontal strips can be welded to them and holes can be drilled. This way you can fix the boards with bolts.
If there is no desire to mess with welding, you can fix the crate with clamps. Another option is fixing to the walls of the house. In order to make the structure more rigid, vertical jumpers are located between the boards, which are fastened with self-tapping screws.
Insulation
When the pile foundation of a wooden house is insulated from the outside, different materials can be used. If it is extruded polystyrene foam, it is attached to the crate with dowel umbrellas. In this case, cold bridges must be excluded by filling the space with mounting foam. It is better to mount the insulation from the inside so that there are no problems with the lining of the basement.
Styrofoam as a heater is also used quite often. It is less durable, but similar in characteristics to extruded polystyrene foam. If the budget allows, you can use spray foam. When installing the crate, the boards should be located as close to each other as possible. Thermal panels are attached to the crate with dowels or special fasteners, which are supplied in the kit.
If the house has a wooden grillage, then before insulating the foundation, it should be treated with a protective impregnation. The rest of the wooden elements, including the crate, are also covered with this composition. As soon as the insulation is in place, it is necessary to fill the blind area with concrete. After that, work stops until the concrete hardens.
Tiling
At the final stage, it will be necessary to carry out the lining of the basement. This is usually done with siding. Installation instructions are as follows. Along the perimeter of the house to the crate, it is necessary to fix the starting profile. It is located vertically, so it must be installed using a building level.
The panels are inserted into the starting profile with their lower part, and the upper part is attached to the crate. It is necessary to use self-tapping screws for this. At the final stage, additional elements are installed, namely corners and ebbs. When facing the crate, it is necessary to provide for the ventilation that will be needed to ventilate the underground space.
Plinth insulation
Insulation of the base of the pile foundation allows you to make the interior of the premises more comfortable. First you need to build a base, and then proceed with the insulation by any of the existing methods. The device of the base is allowed in certain ways. You can lay a wall that will cover a row of screw piles. The height of the wall should be equal to the length of the line from the blind area to the lower belt of the house strapping.
You can arrange a pickup, which is a fake plinth. It will be arranged on a frame base and will have an external cladding. If you chose the first method, then the laying must be done in half a brick. Products will be red ceramic, as they are the most resistant to high humidity.
To begin with, you must prepare the foundation, for which a trench is dug around the perimeter of the building. Depth and width will be 0.3 and 0.25 m, respectively. The bottom is well leveled and filled with coarse sand. The layer thickness should be 10 cm. After that, the sand mixture is compacted and moistened.
On such a base, a reinforcing cage of longitudinal and transverse rods is laid, after which the concrete mixture is poured. After the concrete mortar has hardened and gained strength, you can proceed to the construction of a brick wall.
Internal floor insulation on a pile foundation
Floor insulation on the basis described is carried out in several stages. Vapor barrier for the floor is laid withouter side throughout the area. A polystyrene foam insulation is installed on top, which is sheathed with boards. This floor can be used as a finished basement ceiling.
For hydro and wind protection, you can use modern moisture-proof membranes. They are quick and easy to install, but the cost of multifunctional products can put you off.
All elements of a wooden house on stilts are treated with a composition with antiseptic properties. It is important not to forget about the vapor barrier for the floor. It can be a polyethylene film, which is laid on a layer of heat-insulating material.
When installing steam and heat insulation, do not leave gaps between individual elements. This can lead to the formation of cold bridges. Insulation under the floor in this case can quickly collapse during operation. For additional protection of the interior from the cold, you can use chipboard, flooring or plywood sheets, which do not conduct heat well.
Additional advice on choosing insulation
Beginning home craftsmen often wonder what kind of insulation to choose - mineral wool or polystyrene. The first option has pros and cons. Among the advantages, it is worth highlighting incombustibility, resistance to chemicals, the convenience of the material when bending corners, resistance to temperature extremes, high sound and heat insulation.
But this solution has its downsides. Among others, it should be noted:
- sagging;
- moisture absorption;
- carcinogenicity of formaldehyde resins;
- Inconvenience of installation;
- Reducing the effectiveness of thermal insulation over time.
Thinking about which insulation to choose - mineral wool or polystyrene, you should remember that the first solution is possible, but requires care during installation, protection of the material from contact with the room and proper waterproofing.
Should I choose Styrofoam
Styrofoam is today one of the most common insulation. It has high rates of hydro and thermal insulation, is durable, insensitive to temperature changes, has light weight, is easy to install and low cost.
But it also has its drawbacks. They are expressed in combustibility, ease of mechanical damage and instability to ultraviolet radiation. Among other things, foam has low air permeability.
Penoplex features
This material is close to foam in terms of chemical composition. It combines the advantages with the absence of most of the disadvantages. Pros include:
- flammable;
- durable;
- chemical resistant.
Cons of penoplex
The only downside is the high price. If you want to buy 30 mm foam, then it is great for the foundation and costs 127 rubles. per square meter. Its compressive strength is 270 kPa and its density is 31 kg/m3. Penoplex 30 mm is supplied in panels, the dimensions of which are 1200 x 600 mm.
