Types of insulation, their characteristics and application. The best insulation: reviews, tips

Modern insulation materials, developed using the latest technologies, are used in construction to insulate the interior of a house. The material “saves” from winter cold, keeping the room warm, and from summer heat, holding in the coolness.

Each type of new material has its own application technology. You need to familiarize yourself with it when purchasing. Depending on the composition, there are three groups of surface insulation materials.

Organic. They are used to insulate houses with moderate humidity and, most often, only from the inside of the room.

This group is represented by the following types:

• Woody;
• Linen;
• Cork;
• Sea grass.

Inorganic. Suitable for insulating the walls of a house from the outside and inside:

• Mineral insulation (the most popular are mineral wool and slabs);
• Basalt fiber;
• Fiberglass;
• Cellular concrete;
• Expanded polystyrene;
• Polyethylene foam.

Mixed. These insulation materials are composed of organic and inorganic elements. Representatives of the group - materials from rocks:

• Perlite;
• Asbestos;
• Vermiculite, etc.

Perlite insulation

Note! Thanks to the use of new technologies, the developed insulation materials are ergonomic and environmentally friendly.

A wide variety of new insulation materials are used in construction. What parameters you need to pay attention to when choosing are discussed below.

Modern thermal insulation materials are characterized by the following properties:

1. Thermal conductivity;
2. Degree of porosity;
3. Strength level;
4. Vapor permeability indicator;
5. Degree of water absorption;
6. Resistance to biological processes;
7. Fire resistance;
8. Resistance to temperature changes;
9. Heat capacity indicator.

The thermal conductivity parameter of an insulating material depends on other properties - the amount of moisture, the degree of strength and porosity, temperature and structure. It indicates how much total heat will pass through the surface. The heat conductivity indicator is calculated taking into account a certain footage and time (heating through 1 m2 of material per hour).

In construction, the porosity parameter of the insulation is important, since the further functionality of the material depends on its degree.

The following types of pores are distinguished:

• Open;
• Closed;
• Large;
• Small ones.

When choosing insulation, you need to pay attention to the strength parameter. Its minimum and maximum limits are 0.2 and 2.5 MPa. This is especially necessary when transporting material. A high strength index will protect the surface from various kinds damage.

Measuring the degree of vapor permeability will indicate the amount of its penetration - through 1 m2 of insulation per hour. Correct calculation assumes the same temperature indicator from the internal and outside walls (despite the fact that they differ).

In rainy areas, a high moisture absorption rate of the insulation is required. In this case, preference should be given to new materials with moisture-repellent elements in their composition, for example, mineral wool. The following parameter depends on the degree of moisture absorption.

The higher the degree of protection against moisture a material has, the stronger its resistance to biological processes. Mold, microorganisms, insects, etc. destroy the structure of the coating. Therefore, the insulation must have the property of protection against these processes.

Resistance to fire is an important safety parameter of insulation, developed using modern technology. You need to choose a material with a high degree of fire protection.

In this case, you need to pay attention to generally accepted fire safety indicators:

• Flammability of the material;
• Flammability;
• Smoke generation;
• Toxicity level.

Resistance to temperature changes is important in all climates. This parameter is represented by a limit value. Under its influence, the structure of the thermal coating will begin to collapse.

The heat capacity parameter indicates the ability of the insulation to withstand the influence low temperatures. This is especially important for cold areas. Good new insulation freezes and defrosts without disturbing the structure.

9 popular materials: advantages and disadvantages of the best insulation materials

The market for insulation materials is represented by a huge variety of assortments. The most commonly used types are discussed below.

It is a fibrous material. Of all types of insulation, it is the most popular, since the technology of its application is simple and the price is low.

Advantages:

• Fire resistance;
• Good noise insulation;
• Frost resistance;
• High porosity.

Flaws:

• When in contact with moisture, heat retention properties are reduced;
• Low strength;
• Application requires availability additional material- films.

The manufacturing technology implies a similar composition to glass. Hence the name of the material. Advantages:

• Great sound insulation;
• High strength;
• Moisture protection;
• High temperature resistance.

Flaws:

• Short service life;
• Less thermal insulation;
• Formaldehyde in the composition (not for all).

To produce this material, glass powder and gas-forming elements are used in production. Pros:

• Waterproof;
• Frost resistance;
• High fire resistance.

• High price;
• Air impermeability.

Cellulose wool

This material is also called ecowool, it has a granular structure, and the cost is low. Advantages:

• Good heat insulation;
• Spread of material in cracks;
• Exchange of moisture without disruption of structure and properties.

Flaws:

• Combustible;
• Low level of strength;
• Labor-intensive application.

Cork

Its high prevalence is due to environmental pure composition. The material has significant drawback- high cost. Advantages:

• Light weight;
• Resistance to biological processes;
• The level of strength is high;
• Incombustibility.

The material is produced in two ways - with or without a press. The structure is medium-grained. Pros:

• Great thermal insulation;
• Waterproof;
• Low price.

• Flammable;
• Air impermeability;
• Structure damage during freezing.

The structure of this material is small capsules with air inside them. Advantages:

• Elastic;
• Gets into bumps well;
• Resistant to biological processes;
• Large temperature range.

Flaws:

• Air does not pass through;
• It burns, releasing hazardous elements;
• Application requires special equipment.

When producing the material, the pressing method is used. The structure is homogeneous, consisting of small cells with gas inside. Advantages:

• Highest strength;
• Long service life;
• Repels moisture.

Flaws:

• Combustible;
• Air tightness.

It is considered the best liquid modern insulation material. It consists of empty small ceramic balls. Special substances serve as adhesion for them. Pros:

• Ease of application (sprayed or applied with a brush);
• Thinness of the applied layer;
• Fire resistance;
• Withstand temperature fluctuations;
• Economical (500 g per 1 m2).

Note! There is no material available for use in all cases. To choose a good insulation, you need to take into account many individual room factors.

When purchasing a thermal insulation material, you should take into account the basic parameters of the surface on which it will be applied, the conditions of use and the climatic conditions.

At any temperature, thermal insulation will not hurt. If implemented correctly, the rooms will become noticeably warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Insulating walls allows you to create a comfortable microclimate, which applies not only to residential apartments and houses, but also to work spaces. By visiting the store, you can see that modern manufacturers offer a wide range of thermal insulation for sale. It comes in the form of strands, rolls, granules, powders, and perlite sand. In addition, thermal insulation can be represented by slabs, blocks, bricks and cylinders.

If you understand the characteristics, you can choose the insulation option that is necessary. The main property of thermal insulation is its thermal conductivity; it indicates how much heat passes through a given material. Today, two types of thermal insulation are known:

The first type allows you to reduce heat consumption, which is ensured by a decrease in infrared radiation. Preventative thermal insulation is used in most cases and involves the use of insulation with low thermal conductivity. The following materials can be used in this capacity:

Organic based thermal insulation

When considering the types of insulation, you should pay attention to those that are made on an organic basis. They are widely represented on the modern market, and for their production natural raw materials are used, such as waste from wood processing and agricultural industries. The composition of such insulation includes cement and plastic.

The material is highly resistant to fire, it does not react to biological influences and does not get wet. It is used where the surface does not heat above 150 °C. Organic insulation is used as an inner layer in the construction of multilayer structures. This includes plastered facades or triple panels.

Characteristics of arbolite insulation

Organic-based thermal insulation is precisely arbolite insulation, which is a new building material made from:

The base contains chemical elements and cement. The additives are:

• soluble glass;
• alumina sulfate;
• calcium chloride.

At the final stage of manufacturing arbolite thermal insulation, the material is treated with a mineralizer. This type of insulation has a density ranging from 500 to 700 kg/m3. The compressive strength reaches 3.5 MPa. The thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.12 W/(m K) maximum. It is also important to know the bending strength, it reaches 1 MPa.

Purpose and use of wood concrete

When considering the type of insulation described above, you should become more familiar with its purpose. It is used for the construction of partitions and walls in private low-rise construction. Products can be presented:

• floor slabs;
• panels;
• blocks.

The former are used to insulate floors and roofs. As for the floor slabs, they are reinforced reinforced concrete structures. For monolithic construction used arbolite mortar. Today, another type of this insulation is known - bone concrete, the filler of which is hemp fire.

Arbolite blocks for thermal insulation are laid after applying a layer of the mixture for installation. Next, the block is installed, which should first be moistened with water. The product is pressed against the previous one, its position can be adjusted relative to the main masonry using a hammer with a rubber attachment. Excess mixture will need to be removed with a trowel. Work can only be carried out at an air temperature of at least +6 °C. The solution should be quite thick, because if its consistency turns out to be liquid, the material will shrink.

Characteristics of chipboard insulation

When considering the types of insulation, it is worth paying attention to thermal insulation made from chipboard, which is based on small shavings. It makes up 9/10 of the volume of the material, but the rest is an antiseptic substance, synthetic resins, a water repellent and antiprene. The density of this material is 1000 kg/m3 maximum. Minimum value is 500.

You may also be interested in humidity; for this thermal insulation it varies from 5 to 12%. The tensile strength reaches 0.5 MPa. Material absorption reaches 30% of the volume. The minimum value is 5%. You may also be interested in the tensile strength, it reaches 0.5 MPa.

Characteristics of polyurethane foam

Before choosing one solution or another, you should consider the types and characteristics of insulation. Among other options, polyurethane foam thermal insulation, which is based on polyester, should be highlighted. Added ingredients:

The components, under the influence of the catalyst, enter into a chemical reaction, and a new substance appears. It's different high level noise absorption, not afraid of moisture and chemically inert. Polyurethane foam thermal insulation is an excellent insulation material, because it is applied by spraying, so the craftsman has the opportunity to process ceilings and walls with complex configurations. Cold bridges are excluded.

This sprayed insulation has a density that reaches 80 kg/m3. When this figure reaches 50 kg/m3, polyurethane foam becomes moisture resistant. You may also be interested in the thermal conductivity coefficient, it reaches 0.028 W/(m K). This parameter is the best among modern thermal insulation materials.

Purpose of polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam has unique properties due to which it is widely used in different areas human activity. This thermal insulation is used for insulation of internal and external walls, window openings etc. This material can be found on construction sites of permanent residential buildings, cottages, individual houses, warehouse hangars, potato storages and vegetable storages.

This sprayed insulation has quite important advantages, which are expressed in load-bearing and heat-insulating abilities. Efficiency increases when polyurethane foam forms the basis of sandwich panels used in the construction of prefabricated civil structures. The latter may also have industrial purposes. The cold resistance of the material is quite high, as is its waterproofing ability.

Characteristics of fiberboard

When choosing insulation for your home, you should pay attention to fiberboard, which is thin and narrow wood shavings called wood wool. Cement or a magnesite component is added to them, which ultimately makes it possible to obtain fiberboard. It is offered for sale in the form of slabs.

The material is not afraid of biological and chemical influences, perfectly protects against noise and can be used in wet conditions, for example in swimming pools. This home insulation has a density reaching 500 kg/m3. The fire resistance of thermal insulation is quite high. The thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.1 W/(m K).

Purpose and use of fiberboard

Fiberboard is used for thermal insulation of coatings and walls, and structural - for frame walls, partitions and ceilings, but only in dry conditions. Today, the main use of fiberboard is expressed in the installation permanent formwork during construction.

The slabs are not removed, according to the principle of some other types of formwork, they perform a constructive function and become a component of the wall or ceiling. As for the features of use, the slabs are installed parallel at a certain distance, which will determine the thickness of the wall. After fastening, the foundation is filled with mortar, most often concrete. Then the system of liquid mixture and formwork is left until it hardens.

Characteristics of ecowool

Ecowool is made from waste from paper and cardboard production. If you use waste paper for this, the material will not be of such high quality. It will become dirty faster, and will also be heterogeneous. Among other important characteristics, sound insulation should be highlighted, which in this case is very high. A layer 1.5 cm thick will absorb 9 dB of extraneous noise.

The thermal insulation ability is also impressive, but the downside is that it decreases during operation. Over time, ecowool loses up to 1/5 of its volume. It absorbs moisture well, this parameter can reach 15% of the volume. When laying using the continuous spraying method, there are no seams, which is a definite advantage.

Purpose and use of ecowool

The coating is widely used for sound and thermal insulation different rooms, which can have industrial, residential and public purposes. The material can be used for thermal insulation of facades, insulation of walls, roofs and attics. Mostly the work is carried out using the dry blowing method, but the material can be applied over existing insulation.

This roof insulation provides a seamless coating that solves the problem of icicles. Blowing involves the use of a special installation in which the cotton wool is loosened in a hopper and then fed through a hose with a nozzle. This method of application allows the material to penetrate into hard-to-reach areas, closing all cracks and gaps.

Cellulose roof insulation can be used when repair work operating facilities and during the construction of new ones. Open blowing is used to insulate horizontal and inclined surfaces, among them the following should be highlighted:

Inorganic heat insulators: mineral wool

Mineral wool can be stone or slag. To produce the latter, slags formed during the casting of non-ferrous and ferrous metals are used. Stone wool is based on rocks, and a component based on phenol or urea is used to bind them. The first one is most suitable, because mineral wool in this case is less afraid of water than the one containing urea. Flammability of this material zero.

It is able to resist the spread of fire, so it can be used as a means of fire protection. Chemical passivity is high, but hygroscopicity is low. The material is characterized by excellent sound absorption, so mineral wool is used very often as a sound insulator.

Some characteristics and purpose of insulation from the manufacturer "Rockwool"

When choosing Rockwool insulation, you will need to understand its varieties. Among others, LIGHT BUTTS SCANDIC should be highlighted. This material is best product in your class. It has a new level of quality and is used for private housing construction.

The price per square meter ranges from 81.59 to 244.72 rubles. The cost varies depending on the size of the slabs. In the first case, the product parameters are 800 x 600 x 50 mm, while in the second they are 1200 x 600 x 150 mm. Basalt insulation is lightweight hydrophobized stone wool slabs based on basalt rocks.

The product is unique, and its compression reaches 70%. Rockwool insulation has excellent recoverability. It retains its original characteristics in all respects. Another advantage of basalt insulation is the use unique technology, which provides for the ability of the plates to be pressed on one side, providing springiness. Thanks to this, it is much easier to install the material on a metal or wooden frame.

Thermal insulation with foil coating: purpose and application

Foil insulation can be based on different materials. The use of this insulation depends on the properties of the place where the work will be carried out; The characteristics of the material itself also matter. When laying such a layer on the floor, it is possible to increase heat transfer from radiators and insulate air ducts and pipelines. An excellent effect can be achieved if you install foil insulation on entrance doors, balconies, verandas and in the canopy. Before installing such material, you should prepare small nails, a nail puller, a hammer and a construction stapler. Among other things, you will also need foil construction tape. The foil should be located inside. It is a reflector and will return thermal radiation inside. Sometimes thermal insulation is laid on the other side, but this effect can no longer be achieved.

Purpose of insulation brand "Izover"

Izover insulation is a material made of mineral wool. It is sold in slabs and rolls, and is also made from high-quality stone fiber. Thermal insulation is made from natural materials, including:

Using Izover insulation, you can achieve excellent thermal and sound insulation of buildings. This solution is used to insulate house facades, roofs and walls, and also acts as excellent thermal insulation for floors. Insulation roll insulation allows you to obtain a low coefficient of thermal conductivity of the surface. The material has a special fiber structure, which provides excellent acoustic properties and reduces noise levels.

Thermal insulation for pipes

Many materials are used for pipes today, among which foamed polyethylene should be highlighted. This solution is highly resistant to aggressive environments and has impressive strength. This type of insulation for pipes is produced in the form of tubes of different diameters. The pores have a closed structure, which ensures that there is no absorption of moisture from the external environment.

Some brands of such insulation are foil-coated and are used to minimize heat loss. Insulation for pipes can also be represented by foamed polyurethane foam. This insulation is one of the most common today and is installed by spraying onto the surface, which ensures a tight fit to the surface. Polyurethane foam can withstand extremely high and low temperatures, while the properties are not reduced, and each cell remains sealed.

Thermal insulation from the manufacturer Technonikol

TechnoNIKOL insulation is represented by a material based on rocks of the gabbro-basalt group. By purchasing this thermal insulation, you are buying stone wool, which is a non-flammable material, and the fibers melt only at a temperature of 1000 °C and above. This thermal insulation provides sound-absorbing and acoustic properties of surfaces. TO mineral thermal insulation can be attributed:

This TechnoNIKOL insulation in different types differs in the raw materials that are used in the production process.

The use of siding with thermal insulation

Siding with a layer of thermal insulation is installed in several stages. First, it is necessary to strengthen corner and side planks to the surface. Before starting this work, you need to make markings, draw lines that you will be guided by during the work process. After this, you can begin installing siding with insulation.

For this you need to use self-tapping screws, which will be located along the entire perimeter of the window and doorways. As for the latter, they are framed with planks so that installation of the cladding is not accompanied by difficulties. Afterwards you can start attaching the panels. You need to start from the bottom corner of the load-bearing wall.

Thermal insulation under plaster

Under plaster you can use a variety of different materials for thermal insulation of walls. Mineral wool, which has been popular for many years, is suitable for this. Foam plastic also acts as insulation for walls under plaster. However, it has a number of restrictions on use. This is expressed in low resistance to high temperatures. This applies even to the most modern types of foam, which contain special fire retardants.

Conclusion

On the modern market of building materials for thermal insulation of various surfaces, a huge variety of solutions are presented. Before making a choice, you must evaluate several factors, among others and the most important, you need to highlight the technical characteristics. The purpose and operating features of thermal insulation depend on them. If you do not comply with the requirements for the external environment when installing insulation, you may encounter low efficiency and the need to replace the thermal insulation layer.

Insulation: types, characteristics, purpose and application

At any temperature, thermal insulation will not hurt. If implemented correctly, the rooms will become noticeably warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Insulating walls allows you to create a comfortable microclimate, which applies not only to residential apartments and houses, but also to work spaces.

Review of types and characteristics of insulation materials, their areas of application

Today the market offers consumers different kinds insulation materials that differ in cost, installation and thermal conductivity. In addition to these indicators, it is necessary to pay attention to other characteristics in order to have an idea correct application thermal insulation during house construction.

A comprehensive assessment of the material will help you choose the right insulation for your home. Application different types thermal insulation depends not only on their properties, but also on the architectural features of the building, the thermal conductivity of individual structural elements, as well as the expected cold bridges. The insulation of each component of the house is carried out with different materials.

External insulation of a loggia, balcony, basement is made with penoplex. Due to the fact that it can withstand loads of up to 0.5 MPa and is resistant to moisture, the insulation is optimally suited for exterior finishing basements Penoplex, being under the ground, is protected from fire and retains all its properties.

Thermal insulators for exterior finishing The walls of the house are chosen depending on the material from which the structural element is built. Wooden houses It is best to blow it with penoizol. Applied under high pressure the foam fills all the cracks, and its structure allows the wood to breathe. The high price does not always allow the use of penoizol. As a replacement option, you can lay mineral wool. Walls made of concrete, gas blocks and other similar materials are insulated with penoplex or glass wool. Although, in state building, are more inclined to use glass wool due to its fire resistance.

Inside the house, the walls and ceiling are insulated with non-combustible materials. Usually these are mineral wool mats laid in a frame. They are covered with a vapor barrier on top, which prevents moisture from penetrating the mats and fleecy fibers into the room. If there are lags, the ceiling is covered with ecowool. To insulate the floor, a 100 mm layer of expanded clay is filled, plus foam boards are laid. Flooded from above concrete screed prevents the insulation from burning, and the reinforcing mesh gives strength to the floors.

A modern and very practical insulation for roofing is polyurethane foam. It is applied by spraying. But its high price is not affordable for everyone. Most often, traditional insulation - mineral wool - is used for roofing. It is produced different sizes in the form of mats and rolls.

Correctly selected insulation according to its characteristics will create comfortable living conditions inside the room.

Review of thermal insulation materials

Preventive types of insulation are most often used to finish various structural elements of a house. They have a low thermal conductivity.

Organic-based insulation materials are made from wood and agricultural waste. To improve properties, cement and plastic are added to natural raw materials. The result is insulation that is resistant to fire and moisture. It can withstand heat up to 150 degrees. The scope of application is wide, but is mainly used as internal insulation of a multi-layer roof or facade structure.

Another name for the material is wood concrete. It is made from sawdust, chopped straw or reeds with the addition of cement, as well as chemical hardeners. It has a density of up to 800 kg/m3 and a thermal conductivity coefficient of up to 0.12 W/m/K. Arbolite is divided into two types:

• Structural - contains most of the cement, which is reflected in the high density - 800 kg/m3. Designed for wall construction.
• Thermal insulation - has a lower density of 500 kg/m3 and a higher proportion of wood filler. It is used as a heat insulator for load-bearing walls, as well as for the construction of partitions.

According to the release form:

• Ready-made blocks of different sizes.
• Monolithic production takes place directly on the construction site. The material is immediately used to insulate walls or floors.

Speaking of form finished product, then it is represented by smooth blocks of different sizes, blocks with recesses and slabs combined with concrete. average cost wood concrete from different manufacturers ranges from 4 to 6 thousand rubles/m3.

Another name for the material is cellulose insulation. Made from recycled paper or wood waste. The addition of antiseptics protects ecowool from being eaten by rodents and insects. Antipyrines create a self-extinguishing effect, which increases resistance to heating up to +232 °C. Ecowool has a high moisture absorption rate of up to 15%, and a 1.5 cm layer absorbs up to 9 dB of extraneous noise.

The approximate cost is about 30 rubles/kg.

This material is considered the best insulation for the floor, as well as the inner surface of the walls of the house. It is made only from natural raw materials without chemical additives in the form of rolls or slabs. The basis of the insulation is cork oak bark. The natural glue suberin contained in it allows you to abandon artificial adhesives. Cork is not edible by insects and is rot resistant. The material is divided into two types:

• white agglomerate is made from the bark of oak branches;
• black agglomerate is made from bark removed from a tree trunk.

Cork can be used as a base for wallpaper or as a finish. Thin roll material has found its application as a substrate for laminate flooring. The price of this natural material quite high. Depending on the modifications, the cost ranges from 800 to 4 thousand. rub./m2.

Honeycomb plastic heat insulator

The structure of the material consists of hexagonal cells like a honeycomb. Inside they are filled with fabric or paper filler held together with epoxy resin. Phenolic resins can be used as a fixative. In appearance, honeycomb panels resemble plastic. The characteristics of the material depend on the raw materials used in the production of the base. For example, the sheet density can be from 230 to 500 kg/m2.

Foam-polyvinyl chloride

PPVC heat insulator is made from foamed resins. The porousization method gives them this structure. The material is produced soft and hard, which gives it versatility. PVC is suitable for insulating roofs, floors and walls. Its density is 0.1 kg/m3.

Many people believe that chipboard is just a building material. But as insulation, the slabs have proven themselves to be good. Their base is small sawdust bonded with synthetic resin. The density of the slabs ranges from 500 to 1 thousand kg/m3, and water absorption is 5–30%.

The use of chipboard as insulation is justified for floors, walls and ceilings. The cost of the sheets is quite low and is affordable for every developer. Depending on the size, the sheet can be purchased for 400–900 rubles. The slabs are used as a base for installing soft roofs.

Fiberboard

The fiberboard board looks like chipboard. Its base consists of fibers of straw, corn or any wood. It is even possible to use waste paper. Synthetic resins are added as an adhesive. The density of fiberboard compared to chipboard is small, only up to 250 kg/m3, and the thermal conductivity is 0.07 W/m/K, plus low strength.

The scope of application is similar to that for chipboard. Low cost ranges up to 800 rubles. per sheet.

Polyurethane foam

Lightweight thermal insulation has a unique closed-cell structure, which creates the lowest thermal conductivity compared to other insulation materials. PUF is formed from the interaction of liquid components, polyester and MDI. Exposure to catalysts creates a chemical reaction that results in the formation of a new substance. The density of the insulation is 40–80 kg/m3, and the thermal conductivity of polyurethane foam is about 0.028 W/m/K.

Polyurethane foam is applied to the insulated surface using the spraying method, which allows you to treat any difficult areas. Optimal application PPU is the insulation of the roof and wooden walls of a house. The cost of the material along with the spraying work is quite high and can reach $200/m3.

Another name for insulation is mipora. It is obtained on the basis of a whipped water emulsion of urea-formaldehyde resin. Glycerin and sulfonic acid are used as additives. Mipore is delivered to the consumer in blocks or crumbs. It is used in liquid form at construction sites. Mipora poured into prepared cavities hardens at a positive temperature.

Low density up to 20 kg/m3 promotes strong water absorption. The thermal conductivity index is 0.03 W/m/K. Not afraid of fire.

Polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam

These two insulation materials consist of 2% polystyrene and 98% air. The thermal conductivity index is 0.037–0.042 W/m/K. They differ from each other in structure. Polystyrene foam consists of small balls, and expanded polystyrene, when broken, resembles foam rubber.

Polystyrene is flammable and emits toxic smoke. Polystyrene foam is afraid of moisture, so it is more often used for insulating facades. Extruded polystyrene foam can remain in wet soil for a long time, so it is more suitable for external insulation of basements. The cost of the material is low.

A common insulation material for walls and roofs is mineral wool. It comes in two types:

• slag wool is made from dissimilar metal casting waste;
• stone wool is made from rocks, for example, basalt, limestone, etc.

The material is non-flammable, resistant to chemical attack, and has a low cost. Produced in slabs and rolls.

Glass wool

The material differs from mineral wool in fibers bigger size. The basis of production is the raw materials used to make glass. The thermal conductivity index is from 0.03 to 0.052 W/m/K, and the density is no more than 130 kg/m3. Glass wool is also popular for insulating roofs and walls.

Ceramic wool

Produced by blowing zirconium, silicon or aluminum oxide. Cotton wool is resistant to high temperatures and does not deform. The thermal conductivity index at +600°C is from 0.13 to 0.16 W/m/K, and the density is no more than 350 kg/m3. It is used for insulation of facades and roofs of buildings.

Mixed type insulation

Materials are produced from asbestos mixtures with the addition of perlite, dolomite and other components. The initial state of the material resembles dough. They cover the surface prepared for insulation and leave it until completely dry.

An example of a mixed type material is vulcanite and sovelite. Their thermal conductivity is 0.2 W/m/K. The cost of insulation is low, but it is dangerous to human health.

Reflective materials

Foil is used as a reflector, and foamed polyethylene creates a thermal barrier. The material has a thin structure up to 25 mm thick, but its effectiveness is equivalent to 100 mm thick fiber insulation. One popular example is penofol.

Reflective thermal insulation simultaneously acts as a vapor barrier, so it is convenient to use in baths and saunas. The cost of the material is low and accessible to everyone.

The main types of insulation materials discussed today and their characteristics will help you make the right choice of material for specific construction needs.

Insulation - types and characteristics, application, price of materials

Review of insulation materials used for thermal insulation of buildings. Their characteristics, types, application features and prices.

Types of insulation for houses and walls of wooden and frame houses

There is a wide choice of insulation materials for wooden houses; they can be used to insulate a house outside, and some even inside the house. What types are suitable for a frame house? Which is the best, let's look at their characteristics in this article! Properly carried out thermal insulation will not be superfluous in any climatic conditions.

• What types of insulation and what to use?

When it is done correctly, then under its “protection” the house will not only be warmer in winter, but also noticeably cooler in summer.

In addition, saving heat means obvious financial savings. It is completely unreasonable to heat the street, given that the technologies used today provide an opportunity to save energy resources already at the initial stage of construction work. Most of all, those parts of the building that are most adjacent to the external environment - the floor, walls and roof - need to use insulation.

What types of insulation and what to use?

Main types of insulation

Today there is a division of materials of this group directly at their destination. They also differ in appearance and shape.

On sale there are quite rigid piece insulation materials (plates, segments, cylinders, etc.), flexible products (cords, wide and narrow mats, strands), as well as bulk ( perlite sand, vermiculite and cotton wool).

Based on their structure, they can be divided into fibrous, granular and cellular.

Based on the nature of the main raw materials, materials for thermal insulation are traditionally divided into organic and inorganic.

How to choose insulation?

Floor insulation

The decision to insulate the floor is sometimes driven by the desire to have more constant temperature. When choosing insulation for the floor, comparing the characteristics of various materials, preference is given to the one that can withstand the considerable pressure exerted on it. In this case, its compression performance will be important.

Well, an indispensable requirement is the ability to maintain insulating qualities, even when exposed to heavy loads and moisture.

Types of wall insulation

Insulation for house walls

Thermal insulation for this category is completely different, moreover, its type depends on the specific place of application - outside or inside the house.

For outdoor use, it is considered ideal to use basalt mineral wool, which is characterized by its ability to hold its shape and durability. Even during long-term use, it does not thin out, does not cake or become compacted.

Insulation from the inside of the structure is carried out based on the possible insulating layer: the layout features do not always allow it to be made sufficiently voluminous.

More modern way – use of paint with a ceramic base. Its layer can be small, and the tightness conditions are much easier to maintain.

Ceiling and its insulation

Mineral wool for ceiling insulation

Mineral wool is in constant high demand for ceiling insulation..

This is not at all surprising: it can be easily posted in interfloor ceilings or in rafter frame, in the quantity required for this. During operation there, nothing threatens it, thereby ensuring the initially high quality of insulation.

If we neglect the unique qualities of wool and the ease of its installation, then others by suitable means For thermal insulation, sawdust with clay or ordinary slag could be used. However, these substances have not found widespread use due to their considerable cost and quite complex process installations.

Mineral wool

This name combines several different subtypes of thermal insulation materials of this type. These are slag, stone and glass wool. This insulator is made by processing metallurgical alloys or melts of various rocks: a special synthetic binder is introduced into the resulting glassy fiber.

The material produced in this way has excellent sound and heat insulation qualities, moreover, it is not flammable and therefore does not pose a fire hazard. But a huge part of the wonderful qualities of insulation can be irretrievably lost when it gets wet. This should be taken into account.

Stone wool

This is a fibrous material that is sold in the form of rolls and portioned slabs, and has an extremely low thermal conductivity.

The highest quality product is made from rocks called gabbro-basalt. This non-flammable material is used with equal success in the construction of private facilities and the construction of various industrial facilities. The wide range of uses is also explained by the possibility of its use at extremely high temperatures, reaching one thousand degrees.

The insulation's complete immunity to fire is complemented by its excellent resistance to moisture. This is a hydrophobic material, the peculiarity of which is that it does not absorb water, but repels it.

This ensures that the insulation remains dry even after a long period of time. This, in turn, will allow her to maintain her high performance qualities. Unique properties basalt wool allow it to be used even in boiler rooms, baths and saunas, where high humidity and heat. Strength in this case is not directly dependent on the density of the material.

It's pretty soft material, having at the same time a sufficient margin of safety. Its structural stability is determined by the special arrangement of the individual component fibers - chaotic and vertical. The material has high anti-corrosion properties.

It can coexist quite peacefully with concrete and metal, without the occurrence of all sorts of chemical reactions. High biological stability provides it with immunity to various biological pests: damage by insects and rodents, the occurrence of fungal diseases, the development of rot and mold.

The basalt insulation passed the combustion test, but the organic insulation burned out

Basalt rock is the main raw material for production of this type cotton wool. Treatment with formaldehyde resins gives the material a sufficient level of strength, and the materials used modern technologies guarantee the complete elimination of harmful phenols at the production stage of the material.

The final product reaching the consumer is a harmless and environmentally friendly material with high insulating qualities.

It is actively used for insulating floors of residential and production premises, for thermal insulation of roofs and facades, including as external insulation.

Glass wool

This fibrous material is made from a mass of molten glass. Based on it, two types of insulation can be found on sale - soft mats rolled into rolls and hard slabs.

Product is different high strength and excellent elasticity. As in the previous case, recycled formaldehyde resins are used as a coupling or binding agent.

Although not all the wonderful properties of basalt wool are inherent in its glass counterpart, it has its own special qualities. It has high plasticity, which significantly facilitates the stages of working with it, and allows you to significantly compress the material when laying it. But during operation, glass wool can cake and lose its original shape. Glass fiber is highly hygroscopic and can accumulate moisture from the external environment, accumulating it in its thickness.

We insulate frame house foam plastic

Polystyrene foam is a fairly hard, shape-holding board material widely used for thermal insulation of roofs, walls, floors and ceilings: both outside and inside. It is based on foamed polystyrene foam granules.

Goes on sale in slabs of 1 by 2 meters, with different thickness: from two centimeters to half a meter. Its characteristics can vary noticeably, which is why the material is selected strictly individually in each specific case.

Depending on the manufacturing process, two different types of foam can be obtained using virtually the same raw materials:

• A porous plastic is a porous substance whose individual cavities communicate with each other. They are further divided into mipore, polyvinyl chloride foam, polyurethane foam and polystyrene foam;
• foam directly - the contents of individual granules in it do not come into contact with environment and neighboring cavities.

Expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene in the form of bricks

Expanded polystyrene is a material related to plastics with a cellular structure, it has almost all the qualities necessary for thermal insulation, it:

• easy;
• hard;
• not afraid of water;
• biological infections.
• But due to its low fire resistance, it is recommended to use it at temperatures no higher than 150 degrees.

To improve this quality, special flame retardants are added to the insulation at the production stage. The name of such material is appended symbol"C" and it is called self-extinguishing. The performance qualities of polystyrene foam have made it a fairly popular material.

Sprayed polyurethane foam

Spray on the wall

It is a foam material that can be applied by spraying through a special apparatus. It contains polyisocyanate, polyester polyol and various additives.

The adhesive properties of the material allow it to be safely applied even to vertical surfaces. It has excellent adhesion to concrete, plaster, roofing felt, metal, and gas silicate blocks.

The material is quite successfully used for insulation:

1. internal;
2. external walls;
3. flat and pitched roofs;
4. ground floors;
5. foundations;
6. basements;
7. joints between structures.

This cellulose insulation is made from cardboard and paper waste. Its properties are actually determined by the substances included in its composition. In addition to the usual recycled cellulose, some foreign manufacturers also use hay, cotton waste, and sawdust. 81% of the material consists of carefully processed cellulose, while 12% is a mandatory antiseptic.

The missing 7% comes from specially added flame retardants. Insulation fibers contain lignin, which becomes sticky when humidity increases. All elements included in the insulation are non-toxic, absolutely non-volatile and harmless to health. Cellulose insulation is resistant to combustion and rotting, and has excellent sound and heat insulation properties.

Ecowool can retain approximately 20% moisture while maintaining its performance properties. The material releases moisture to the outside and dries quickly, maintaining all its performance qualities. The disadvantage of ecowool is the difficulty of manually applying it to the surface, as well as the impossibility of arranging a “floating floor” due to its inherent softness.

Another name for the material is urea foam. This modern material with high sound and heat insulating characteristics, which is a cheap insulation material. This is a cellular organic foam with particularly low density and low thermal conductivity. The material has high fire resistance, resistance to microorganisms, low price. It is easy to process, its air content reaches 90%.

Insulating the attic with foam insulation

The tests carried out demonstrated the capabilities of the material. It turned out that the time of its operation, as the middle layer of a frame structure, is actually unlimited. Tests of its fire resistance showed that the material can be safely classified as low-flammable.

This is the only thermal insulation material of a polymer nature that is not at all suitable for self-combustion. Its fire resistance index places it in the G2 flammability subgroup.

This is a special foil material (on both sides or only one). It is made of polyethylene foam fabric, covered on the outside with highly polished aluminum foil. This is a multilayer vapor-sound- and heat-insulating material that combines completely different qualities.

Isocom insulation with foil

With a minimum thickness of the insulating layer, it provides excellent properties for reflecting heat flow, successfully combined with the highest (almost maximum) thermal resistance indicators. For right installed material characteristic exclusively effective thermal insulation buildings along its entire contour.

This is a harmless, environmentally friendly material that does not pose a threat to the ozone layer. It does not contain glass or other fibers that are unsafe for the health of people and animals.

Without changing its exceptional properties, it serves for about 50 years, without deforming or being damaged during all this time.

Installation is quite simple and very convenient: it does not require special equipment. Excellent protection against steam and moisture. It is used almost everywhere.

What types of insulation are there and which one to choose for your home?

How to choose insulation? Review of all types of insulation for walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, attics. Wooden and frame house. Let's consider cheap options, find out!

Uninsulated walls are easy great amount heat losses! And in this situation, expect comfortable conditions Living in a house is simply naive, especially in regions with harsh winters. No matter what power the boiler equipment operates at, or no matter how often and hot the stove is heated - “ lion's share» thermal energy will simply “heat the street”. Naturally, at the expense of the careless owners of the house. So, effective thermal insulation of your home should always be among the issues of primary importance during construction or renovation.

In this publication, according to the general plan, the reader is offered information about what types of insulation for the walls of a house from the inside can be used, and with what success. But we cannot help but touch upon the problem that thermal insulation of walls on the premises side is far from the best option. He has a lot of negative qualities, and you should think carefully before making such a decision. This is probably where we should start the article.

Is it worth getting involved with internal wall insulation?

Let's first slowly go through the advantages and disadvantages of such technology.

« Pro &Contra" internal wall insulation

It would seem that insulating walls from the inside wins in all respects: let’s name just a few obvious ones advantages :

• Work can be carried out at any time of the year, and even without regard to the current weather.
• Even if the work is carried out in multi-storey building, then this still does not affect their complexity. That is - not required scaffolding, there is no need to resort to the services of specialists in the field of industrial mountaineering. And in general, almost everything can be done independently.

• A layer of thermal insulation on the inside will well muffle the spread of noise, including shock.
• There is no need to do everything at once - the work can be done sequentially, from room to room.
• Thermal insulation materials are guaranteed to be protected from all external influences - ultraviolet rays, any precipitation, wind, sudden temperature changes, etc.

Indeed, a very impressive list of “pluses”. And, nevertheless, any competent specialist in construction matters will still advise finding opportunities to perform thermal insulation on the outside of the wall. By the way, he will be supported by other “specialists”, including a doctor and a fire inspector.

And why? Because there are disadvantages, and their importance outweighs the listed pros.

• Whatever one may say, a layer of thermal insulation, and even with subsequent finishing, “eat up” the space of the room.

This seems to many to be a “ridiculous loss” that does not deserve attention. And completely in vain. For high-quality insulation walls sometimes require a layer of about 100 mm, and in some regions even more. Plus to this - add at least 15 millimeters for finishing (plasterboard in one layer with putty, wallpaper or painting).

Doubts are easily dispelled by demonstration simple example. Let's say there is a corner room measuring 3.5 × 4.3 meters. That is, its area is 15.05 m².

Two walls are insulated - calculations show that a layer of 100 mm is needed, and with finishing this results in an additional thickness of 115 mm.

What nonsense, it seems, these 115 mm, at first glance. Let’s translate into area what these losses resulted in:

3.385 × 4.185 = 14.166 m².

15.05 – 14.166 = 0.88 m²

So, in an already not particularly spacious room, the loss amounted to about one “square”!

Moreover, this is only a “geometric” loss for now. Add to this the need to replace window sills with wider ones and move heating radiators - not a very “rosy” prospect...

• Carrying out insulation inevitably leads to a subsequent update of the room’s decoration, that is, it smoothly flows into a fairly large-scale renovation. And at the same time this room becomes practically uninhabitable. Such repairs also affect the overall level of comfort of living in an apartment or house - moving furniture, relocating household members, dirt being pulled apart and flying into dust, etc. The end result is quite long, expensive and tedious.

• The close proximity of a person to some thermal insulation materials, if not strictly prohibited, is at least not encouraged.
• Internal insulation very often requires fundamental changes in the ventilation system of the premises.
• This is not the most important thing. The very location of the insulation on the inside of the wall is extremely unfavorable for, so to speak, the overall thermal picture, for the distribution of temperature zones in load-bearing structures. All this may be accompanied by the appearance of areas high humidity, which has a negative effect on the environmental situation (the appearance of fungus, mold, damp spots), and on the durability of wall materials and their finishing, both inside and outside.

It’s probably worth starting with the main drawback, since it probably outweighs all the others. But first, you still need to understand the basics of building heating engineering.

Useful information from the field of construction heating engineering

How does insulation actually work?

To understand the essence of the problem, it is necessary to “immerse” somewhat into the issues of building heating engineering. By the way, at the same time it will be calculated required thickness thermal insulation for complete wall insulation.

Any building material has certain thermal conductivity properties. Some transmit (and, by the way, also take away) heat very quickly and almost without loss (metals), others, as is often said, have “natural heat,” that is, heat loss through them is not so great (for example, wood), while others can talk about a markedly high resistance to thermal transfer - these materials are precisely used as thermal insulation.

For each material, a special coefficient of its thermal conductivity is calculated and experimentally tested. It is usually denoted by the letter λ and is calculated in W/(m×℃).

So, the thermal transfer resistance of a layer of some material is determined by the following formula:

Rt =h/λ

h- the thickness of this layer.

λ - coefficient of thermal conductivity of the material.

The wall can be a multilayer structure, one of the layers of which becomes insulation material. That is, the total thermal resistance of the wall is formed from the sum of the resistances of all layers.

From here we come to the following conclusion - it is quite possible to calculate what thickness of insulation will be required to create comfortable living conditions in the room. To do this, you need to have information about the structure of the wall - what materials it is made of, and what the thickness of the layers is. And, of course, what total resistance to heat transfer of the wall should one strive for.

Well, the owner should know the design of his wall, and the thickness can be measured simply. The values ​​of the thermal conductivity coefficient are also not a problem: there are as many tables with similar information on the network as you like.

And the total resistance to heat transfer depends on the climate of the region, more precisely, on the lowest temperatures in the coldest decade of winter. There are quite cumbersome formulas that allow you to calculate this parameter. But doing this is not necessary. You can find tables with normalized values ​​for all regions of the Russian Federation - specialists have already done everything for us. We offer an even simpler option - based on the mentioned tables, a diagram map has been compiled, according to which, without worrying about some loss of accuracy (it is insignificant), we can find the value of the normalized heat transfer resistance that interests us. Moreover, please note that it differs for different types building structures: walls, ceilings and coverings. In our case, naturally, the value “for walls” is taken.

All that remains is to enter everything into the formula known values– and calculate what thickness of the selected insulation will completely ensure “covering the deficit” up to the normalized value.

Below, the reader is offered an online calculator that allows you to quickly and accurately calculate the required thermal insulation thickness for internal insulation. A few explanations on working with it.

• The first step is to select the thermal insulation material that will be used for internal insulation. The presented list shows those insulation materials that are most often used in such cases. Which of them are better or worse for a given insulation scheme – we’ll talk about this a little below.

The values ​​of thermal conductivity coefficients, of course, have already been entered into the calculation program.

• The second step is to use the diagram map to clarify the normalized value of heat transfer resistance for walls (these are purple numbers), and indicate it in the calculator field (on the slider).
• Next, enter the parameters of the main, load-bearing wall. The two adjacent fields indicate its thickness (on the slider) and the material (from the drop-down list) from which it is constructed.
• Often, internal thermal insulation is installed because the existing external insulation, in the opinion of the owners, does not fully cope with its task. In this case, of course, the existing insulation material should be taken into account.

When you select this calculation path, two additional fields will appear in which, according to the already familiar principle (slider + drop-down list), the thickness and type of material are indicated.

• External and interior decoration walls also sometimes influence its overall thermal characteristics. If desired, they can also be included in the calculation - this possibility is implemented separately for external and internal. The scheme is the same - after selecting this path, additional fields open to indicate the material and thickness.

If, in the user’s opinion, this can be neglected, everything is simply left as is. And these sections of the calculator will be ignored by the program.

The result is shown in millimeters - this is the thickness of the selected insulation, which will ensure a total value of heat transfer resistance equal to the normalized one. It is, of course, rounded up, usually resulting in standard thicknesses insulation materials.

By the way, if there is external insulation, the calculation can also give a negative value. This suggests that additional thermal insulation is simply not required. And the reasons for uncomfortable temperatures should be looked for elsewhere - insufficient insulation of the ceiling or floor, leaky windows or doors, improperly organized ventilation, etc. That is, an additional layer of insulation on the walls will have absolutely no effect.

Thermal insulation is an integral part of any house or apartment, in any climate and in any latitude. Even in very hot climates, when building a house, thermal insulation allows you to curb the heat from the street, making indoor conditions more comfortable. There are plenty of types of thermal insulation to please everyone.

The main criterion when choosing this type of material should be thermal conductivity. Such products are available in various forms, but this is more likely to be needed for specific situations and should not play a decisive role in the purchase.

Conventionally, thermal insulation materials can be divided into two categories: reflective (reflect heat and IR radiation, preventing most of it from entering the premises) and preventing.

Prevention type thermal insulation

This type of insulation is made from various components. It is impossible to say for sure which insulation will consistently be better than others - it depends on the application. He can be the following types: from organic materials and from inorganic.

Made from organic materials

The main component is made from natural raw materials, mainly slag, but it can also be sawdust or shavings.

There are also variations with cement additions to organic raw materials. This insulation is very resistant to fire, more moisture resistant, and also weakly reacts with chemical and biologically active substances. The maximum temperature threshold of such insulation is 140 degrees.

There are several types of such insulation:

• arbolite (wood - sawdust, straw, shavings with chemical components)
• PPVC (foam type, main raw material – special resins)
• Chipboard (the same wood shavings, but with synthetic resins and additional pesticides)
• DVIP (similar to chipboard, only the base is wood waste made of paper, straw. They also add chemical reagents by type of septic tank)
• foam insulation (the second name is mipora, it consists of an aqueous emulsion of a certain resin, glycerin, as well as petroleum products)
• EPS (foam plastic, the main component is polystyrene (a petroleum product), the sheets themselves consist of only 2-3% of it, the rest is air)
• ecowool (recycled paper, cardboard and other waste paper). The release form can be either in the form of mats or in the form of sprayed insulation.

From inorganic materials

The main materials in the manufacture of this type of insulation are different breeds minerals, asbestos, slag, and in some cases glass. Glass-based insulation is probably known to everyone - glass wool. From mountain minerals - mineral wool (from slag or stone).

Often materials are combined that were previously used in other compositions, which is how foam glass turned out (asbestos and ceramics, sometimes asbestos and glass, and it is better to look at photos of these types of insulation separately).

There are also types of concrete (cellular and lightweight). The form of release of such insulation can be either slabs (mats) or rolls.

Reflective type thermal insulation

This type of insulation is also called reflex. It works by slowing down the movement of warm waves. Any material is capable of absorbing and radiating heat, but the main loss is the exit of IR rays from the premises (as well as their entry).

Some materials can reflect heat almost completely, namely about 98-99%. We are talking about materials such as aluminum (pure), gold and silver. Of course, the last two are not cheap, but aluminum is used quite often; it can most often be found in saunas or baths.

Also distinctive feature is that reflective material is also an excellent vapor barrier, which cannot be said about classic insulating materials.

Now such insulation is produced in the form of polished aluminum in several layers. Of course, visually this is thin insulation, about 1.5-3 cm. As for its functions, with such a thickness in terms of thermal insulation, it is comparable to the same mineral wool, 30 cm thick. The main manufacturers on the insulation market are Penofol, Ecofol.

Conclusion

In addition to their usual properties, thermal insulation materials also insulate from steam, noise, excess dust and dirt. It is best not to settle on any particular type, but to make complex insulation, using all the best properties under desired type premises.

Sometimes you can find ordinary thermal insulation material, but with a layer or coating of aluminum. It is also called foil insulation.

Photos of insulation

When arranging residential premises and buildings for domestic purposes, it becomes necessary to insulate wall structures. Due to the wide variety of types of insulation that are offered for sale, it can sometimes be difficult to decide in favor of a specific type. But if you understand the characteristics and properties of such products, the upcoming purchase will be faster and more successful.

Before buying insulation, you should take a closer look at their specifics.

general information

Properly chosen building insulation is the key to protection from the cold in winter, as well as providing coolness in the summer. This material guarantees a comfortable microclimate inside the building, regardless of its purpose and time of year. But the ability to retain heat also significantly reduces heating costs. WITH good insulation can be achieved maximum savings energy resources, as well as making the room protected from environmental influences.

In most cases, builders insulate those parts of the house that are constantly in contact with the outside world. This is about: