How to glue extruded polystyrene foam? How and how to properly glue extruded polystyrene foam Bitumen adhesive Bitumast.

So light universal material, like polystyrene foam, has recently become popular as a room insulation material. As it turned out, it can be used both as a design element and for the manufacture of small decorative items. Both craftsmen who insulate their home and those who make their own may be faced with the question of how to glue foam to foam.

To be warm and more

Many citizens in the post-Soviet space have to live in “Khrushchev” or “Brezhnevka” type apartments. What is good about houses built in those distant times, besides the fact that they exist, the small area of ​​​​the apartments and their dense population? That's right - wonderful sound permeability of the walls! Unfortunately, not everyone likes to hear the latest neighborhood news coming through the walls at night. These citizens try to separate themselves from the house collective by insulating their premises by any means.

The method of insulation with foam plastic sheets has sufficient quantity benefits. Among them are the following facts:

  • light, almost weightless material;
  • has a small thickness;
  • has excellent sound and heat insulation properties;
  • quite easy to install;
  • can be used both inside rooms and on the facade of houses.

Only one thing can cause controversy and doubt. This is the question of how to glue the foam to the wall.

On concrete, on brick and on wood

You can attach polystyrene foam panels to almost any base. Not always used only adhesive compositions. Most often, both adhesives and mechanical fastenings. It depends on which side of the room the work will be carried out. If the sheets are mounted on the facade, then double fasteners are used: an adhesive mixture and “umbrella” dowels.

How can you glue foam to brick or concrete base With outside Houses? The mixture must be resistant to wind and precipitation. In addition, the composition should not contain gasoline, acetone and other solvents, which will simply “eat” the foam panel to holes.

How to glue foam to foam? Not recommended for this type of work polyurethane foam. By swelling and expanding during the solidification process, it can deform the slabs.

When working with wood, plywood or drywall, use the same mixtures as in other cases. How can I glue foam? Typically, masters use the following means:

  • liquid foam;
  • liquid nails (especially for this material);
  • concrete contact anhydrous mixtures;
  • silicone sealants;
  • compositions for tiles;
  • special adhesive foam.

How to properly glue foam to a ceiling or wall

When working, glue is applied only to polystyrene foam tiles. The surface of the ceiling or wall must be dry and clean. The composition is placed on the sheet in stripes (to allow air to escape) if the area to be finished has an uneven texture. If the base surface is ideal, foam or foam is applied along the perimeter of the tile with a slight indentation from the edge. A small amount of the mixture is applied to the center of the panel. When securing foam sheets large sizes Apply glue to the perimeter in a spiral, gradually approaching the center of the sheet. The glue is applied to the sides in a zigzag thin layer.

After applying the composition, the panel should be set aside for a few minutes. After a short exposure, the slab or panel is applied to the desired location on the wall or ceiling and carefully pressed against the base and adjacent tiles, fixing it for a while. If work is being done on the ceiling, it is convenient to use a regular rolling pin for dough. Excess adhesive is immediately removed with a spatula or other device.

When insulating the outer surface of the house, additional fastening of the panels is carried out using mushroom dowels. The seams between the tiles must be carefully filled with the same composition that was used to glue the panels.

How to prepare the main surface

In order for the result to be high-quality, there is little knowledge about how to glue foam to foam. If the wall is crooked or dusty, all the work may be in vain.

First, all potholes and bulges must be removed or sealed.

Secondly, the surface is cleaned of paint residues, various peelings and glue or plaster residues.

Thirdly, large and small cracks are sealed.

Only after thorough cleaning of any deposits, dust and dirt can you begin the main work.

When making different designer stuff? The same compositions as when renovating your home.


Extruded polystyrene foam is a synthetic slab thermal insulation material. It is produced by foaming a polymer composition during the extrusion process.

Expanded polystyrene boards are approximately 95% air, which makes the material is light and easily amenable to cutting and other machining.

Expanded polystyrene boards have excellent soundproofing properties and excellent thermal insulation characteristics.

The scope of application of extruded polystyrene foam is extensive: it is widely used for interior and external thermal insulation buildings, insulation of floors and roofs, expanded polystyrene slabs are the main element of modern sandwich panels used in frame construction.

The material is laid glue method, while performing the work, a special assembly adhesive for extruded polystyrene foam, which allows you to get reliable connection insulation slabs with wood, brick, concrete, metal and other surfaces.

What are the types of polystyrene foam adhesives for interior and exterior use?

To install extruded polystyrene foam outside buildings, a special cement-mineral adhesive mixture is used (for greater reliability, the slabs are additionally secured with special umbrella dowels).

For interior work For insulation of ceilings and walls, in most cases, compositions based on polymers and polyurethane are used.

Let's look at the characteristics of the most popular brands glue for polystyrene foam boards .

The glue is sold in 750 ml metal containers (like professional polyurethane foam).

The composition has high adhesion to most building materials, A convenient form release allows you to use a quick and convenient application method using a special mounting gun.

Complete hardening of the adhesive occurs after 24 hours, but the adhesive layer sets within just a few minutes.

Penoplex glue can be used for installing thermal insulation on external walls, foundations and basements of buildings, but more often glue of this format is used for internal thermal insulation premises, insulation of balconies of city apartments.

One 750 ml bottle is enough to glue 6-10 square meters slabs

  • TechnoNIKOL adhesive foam for polystyrene foam- a modern adhesive composition based on polyurethane, intended for the installation of thermal insulation boards in the process of insulating facades and interior walls buildings.

The glue is sold in 750 ml metal containers. The foam is also suitable for sealing gaps between installed insulation boards. The composition is resistant to moisture, mold, and aging.

Has high adhesion to concrete surfaces, cement and gypsum plasters, wood, OSB boards, etc.

One 750 ml cylinder is enough to glue 10-12 square meters of slabs.

  • Adhesive for polystyrene foam Ceresit CT 83 (Ceresit 83)- universal cement-mineral adhesive mixture for installation of expanded polystyrene boards to various reasons when performing external work on wall insulation.

It can work at temperatures from zero degrees, has high adhesion to concrete, brick, aerated concrete, ceramic and expanded clay concrete blocks.

To prepare the glue, just pour the mixture into water and mix thoroughly. The average consumption of dry mixture is 5 kg per square meter.

  • Adhesive for expanded polystyrene boards Bitumast based on modified bitumen - a ready-to-use adhesive composition intended for installation of insulation boards to bases made of brick, concrete, metal, wood and other building materials.

Using bitumen you can glue insulation boards together. The absence of toxic components allows it to be used for not only external, but also internal work.

The average glue consumption is about 0.5 liters per square meter. Operating temperature - not lower than +5 degrees.

How to glue polystyrene foam boards to the ceiling

Let's look at the process of installing extruded polystyrene insulation boards on a ceiling using the specialized Penoplex FASTFIX adhesive as an example.

The order of work is as follows:

  1. Surface preparation. The working surface should be cleaned of any contamination. To improve adhesion, slight moistening of the base is allowed;
  2. Preparing the glue. The cylinder should be positioned with the valve up and screwed onto it mounting gun. This must be done by holding the pistol handle with one hand and screwing the cylinder with the other. During the screwing process, you should make sure that there are no people or animals in the direction where the gun barrel is pointing. After the cylinder is securely secured in the gun, it should be shaken vigorously and placed upside down;
  3. Applying glue. Penoplex FASTFIX glue is applied directly to the insulation board in thin strips parallel to the edges, 2-3 centimeters away from each edge. One strip of glue is applied in the middle of the slab, parallel to its long side. The amount of foam coming out of the cylinder and the intensity of its release should be regulated by the trigger of the gun;
  4. Gluing the insulation board to the ceiling. After applying the foam to the insulating panel, wait a technological pause (about 2-3 minutes), then press the slab to the ceiling surface and fix it for 15-20 seconds. During the first 5 minutes, the position of the attached polystyrene foam boards can be adjusted.
  5. The slabs must be mounted close to one another with the seams spaced apart. The gap between the panels should not exceed two millimeters. For greater installation reliability, it is recommended to use additional fastening accessories (dowels). Excess foam after it has completely dried is cut off with a sharp knife.

The glue sets within 5-10 minutes, but complete drying occurs only after 24 hours.

In the cold season, before applying the glue, it is recommended to warm the container in a bucket with warm water(25-30 degrees) or by keeping it indoors at room temperature for several hours.

VIDEO REVIEW

Concerning glue consumption for polystyrene foam, then one Penoplex FASTFIX cylinder (costs about 350 rubles) is enough to insulate 6-10 square meters of walls.

Before figuring out what kind of glue to glue foam plastic with, let’s look at its properties. Polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene) is a material obtained by foaming polymers. It consists of 98% gas, enclosed in microscopic cells with thin walls.

Material in the form of plates various thicknesses used for insulation of house facades, as well as for pre-finishing ceilings, walls, floors, window slopes in residential premises, basements, loggias, balconies. It can be glued to foam concrete, brick, gas silicate, concrete, metal, plywood, wood, plasterboard, OSB boards.

Main characteristics and advantages of polystyrene foam:

  • rigidity with low weight;
  • durability;
  • high thermal insulation properties at different temperatures;
  • moisture resistance;
  • protection of premises from wind when used outdoors;
  • resistance to temperature changes - the foam does not change in size throughout its entire service life (does not shrink, does not dry out);
  • fire safety - the material does not burn (true for expanded polystyrene with fire retardants);
  • harmless to humans - polystyrene foam does not emit toxic substances, it can be worked with without individual funds protection,
  • environmental friendliness - after the end of its service life, the material can be disposed of without harm to the environment;
  • resistance to mold growth;
  • ease of installation - it is easy to cut and fix using available tools;
  • low price of slabs.

Using expanded polystyrene instead of the listed materials saves free space, cash and the time required for installation work.

The disadvantages of polystyrene foam include low mechanical strength(fragility), inability to pass air, as well as a tendency to destruction under the influence of paints and varnishes based on nitro varnish, as well as various solvents and ultraviolet rays.

Fixation methods and types of glue

When figuring out how to glue foam to a wall, you should know that there are three main ways to fix the material:

  • using glue;
  • using dowels;
  • with the simultaneous use of glue and dowels.

The first option is practiced more often for interior work, the third - for exterior work. Fixing heat-insulating boards only with dowels is rarely done, as it does not provide proper level reliability. When insulating the roof, foam plastic can simply be inserted into the sheathing.


For gluing foam plastic it is permissible to use various means. They can all be roughly divided into two groups - dry compounds and ready-made adhesives.

Dry products

If you have a question about how to glue foam plastic to concrete during façade thermal insulation works, you should opt for dry mixes. They contain cement, sand and polymer fillers. Well-known products are Ceresit CT 83, T-Avangard-K, Armierungs-Gewebekleber.

For internal finishing works dry gypsum-based compounds are used. Their main purpose is installation of drywall. Popular mixtures are Knauf Perlfix, Volma.

To prepare the glue, the powder must be diluted with water according to the instructions. After drying, the mixture hardens, forming a strong, rigid connection between the foam and the main surface.

Advantages of powdered products:

  • high degree of adhesion (adhesion), ensuring durable fastening of foam plastic to various surfaces - concrete, brick, cement, plaster;
  • resistance to temperature changes and precipitation;
  • the ability to compensate for minor unevenness of the base;
  • relatively low price.

Flaws:

  • time required to prepare the glue - it should be properly combined with water and mixed thoroughly, achieving a uniform consistency;
  • the need for additional equipment and tools - mixing containers, construction mixer;
  • release of cement or gypsum dust during work.

Ready-made adhesives

When solving the problem of how to quickly glue foam plastic, it is recommended to pay attention to ready-made adhesive compositions. The main option is an aerosol product based on polyurethane foam in cylinders.


This foam adhesive for polystyrene foam is very convenient to use. One cylinder is enough to fix about 10 m2 of slabs. The mixture hardens in an average of 30 minutes, providing reliable fixation that is resistant to moisture and temperature changes. The only negative is the relatively high price. Popular products are Penosil, Titan Stiro 753, Ceresit ST 84 Express.

Foam based on polyurethane foam can be used if there is a problem with how to glue foam to polystyrene foam, concrete, brick, cellular blocks, OSB panels. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Other ready-made adhesives:

  1. Silicone sealant. It is advisable to use it if you need to fix small elements made of thin foam plastic on a flat surface.
  2. Universal construction polymer adhesive or “liquid nails” (Dragon, “Montazh Moment”). It is indispensable when solving the problem of gluing foam plastic to metal. To improve adhesion, the surface should be cleaned of rust, paint and grease. In addition, using " liquid nails» it is convenient to fix the insulation to the ceiling.

Important: To attach foam plastic, do not use products containing acetone, toluene or alcohol. These substances can disrupt the structure of the material.

Required Tools

Set of tools and auxiliary materials required for gluing foam depends on the fixation agent used. In any case, you should prepare:

  • polystyrene foam of the selected thickness, its quantity should be equal to the area that needs to be covered plus 10% for waste;
  • a small spatula and a rag to remove excess adhesive mass; if they are not removed, hard lumps will form;
  • a primer for treating the main surface to which the foam will be attached;
  • wide primer brush;
  • knife for cutting foam.

If you plan to additionally secure the slabs with dowels, then you need:

  • hammer drill with 10 mm drill;
  • hammer;
  • special dowels shaped like umbrellas (fungi).

When using a dry mixture, the following are additionally required:

  • tap water;
  • plastic mixing container;
  • construction mixer (drill attachment);
  • spatula-comb for applying the composition to the foam.

If aerosol glue is used, then a special mounting gun is required into which the can is inserted.

Stages and features of work

Let's look at how to glue foam to the ceiling. Main stages:


When insulating walls, foam plastic is glued according to the same pattern. Typically, laying sheets begins from one of the corners. After applying the glue, you need to press the slabs against the wall using building regulations, align – by level. If additional fasteners are used, then you need to wait until the glue has completely dried, and then drill holes and drive in umbrella dowels.

Foam plastic is an inexpensive and high-quality thermal insulation material that is used in domestic construction in residential and utility rooms. To fix it, dry compounds, aerosol adhesives and “liquid nails” are used. Powdered mixtures are cheaper, but ready-made products are more convenient to use. When working externally, foam plastic slabs must be additionally secured with dowels.

Polystyrene foam is a universal material that was first produced in the middle of the 20th century and rapidly gained high coefficient using it all over the world. Its versatility is due to its multifunctionality, because it is used in the most different areas life activity – starting from insulation material in construction and ending with raw materials for crafts. Therefore, it often becomes necessary to connect it with various surfaces, including among themselves. Will be reviewed today best ways gluing this material, how to do it correctly and what is the best product to use. Enjoy reading!

Solutions: how to glue foam plastic

Before wondering what is the best way to glue your foam, you first need to understand the basic criteria for your choice. Yes, polystyrene foam, as a universal and specific material, can be glued with the simplest and most popular stabilizers, but the quality and durability of this method depends on subsequent use. So, for example, if you are making a complex and large craft using polystyrene foam, or insulating attic floor– temperature, humidity and other factors will play a big role, which can easily neutralize all your efforts and abilities of the product you used to glue.

What to consider when choosing an adhesive:

  • Your goals regarding the subsequent use of bonded foam and its features, for example, durability;
  • Loads to which the foam will be subjected;
  • The temperatures it will endure;
  • Room humidity.


In most cases it is optimal to use regular glue PVA, but if we are not talking about a simple structure that has serious construction or decorative purposes, it may not justify itself.

You can glue foam plastic using a wide variety of methods and materials. Many of them can be purchased at regular office supply stores, which can be used to process and connect simple designs.

But if you need serious fixation on long time– your path lies in special construction stores, where you will need to carefully analyze the entire product range and choose the adhesive that suits your intentions.

The most common and in a simple way To create a full-fledged fixation, it is precisely glue of varying strengths and purposes, although people can sometimes use other means, such as polyurethane foam.

Foam gluing can be done using the following tools:

  1. Regular PVA Glue – for simple designs and crafts, with characteristic short-lived use.
  2. Special glue for foam plastic for gluing together. You can find one in special construction stores at a fairly low cost under the Styroglue configuration, but it is quite rare on the shelves, which makes it difficult to purchase.
  3. When insulating beam structures, it is quite possible to use polyurethane foam, but you need to take everything into account individual characteristics operation.
  4. Hot glue. It must be used with extreme caution and only with the help of a special glue gun.
  5. Spray adhesive, which can be used for gluing as different materials between each other and foam elements.

Of course, this is not the entire list of possible means for gluing, because in the commercial aisle you can often find special adhesives for gluing foam plastic to other surfaces - wood, metal, and so on. But for the purpose of gluing together they are absolutely not suitable.

What kind of glue to glue foam plastic together?

So, let’s determine a specific list of the most suitable adhesives for processing and joining polystyrene foam. Of course, they will be specialized substances for such a specific material as polystyrene foam, or its closest relatives - extruded polystyrene foam, which is also quite common in household use.

Main qualities and features of special glueStyrogluefor working with foam plastic:

  1. It is produced taking into account all the features of the non-standard constitution of the foam - its porosity and foam-like properties.
  2. The best option would be to use spray adhesive, because it penetrates even better into the complex structure of the foam and forms a kind of sticky film. But here we can highlight a feature - the mandatory use of gloves, because it easily gets on everything that is nearby and is not easy to wash.
  3. It is more durable and dries faster than many other adhesives when used as intended.


It is quite appropriate to use glue aerosols or guns, but when using them there are several features that are extremely important to take into account in order not to harm the structure of the foam (more details below).

How to glue foam plastic correctly

The basic instructions for gluing foam plastic are simple, and the results often do not take long to arrive. However, there are some peculiarities that depend on your goals, the specifics of the glue and the raw materials themselves.

Instructions for gluing foam plastic:

  1. Prepare everything you need for work - gluing material, glue, preferably rubber gloves. If work occurs with large structures– small weights to press and better fix the raw materials.
  2. Depending on the glue used, apply it with a brush (if we are talking about ordinary liquid glue), with a gun in several stripes, or spray it onto the surface. If the goal is not a strong and clear fixation, you can apply it pointwise, along the edges and several points in the center.
  3. Attach the polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene) to each other and, if the situation requires it, press it with weights. Leave everything for the time determined by the glue and the size of the material (From 20 minutes to several hours).
  4. Use the result for its intended purpose, removing weights and checking the quality of the work done.

Features are the use of specific tools and methods. For example, some adhesives foam when they are left on foam or polystyrene foam for a long time - to do this, you will have to remove the residue from time to time with a sponge or rag.

There are also rules for gluing large or slightly damaged areas - before the procedure they must be thoroughly cleaned of dust and, if possible, treated sandpaper, to make the surface smoother, less porous and thereby increase the level of stabilization and fixation.

It is important to monitor the temperature level when using hot glue. If the temperature is too high, the glue easily corrodes the entire surface, making subsequent gluing almost impossible.

Deciding how to glue the foam together (video)

Specific elements such as polystyrene foam can be glued using a variety of adhesives and means. But you can achieve better fixation only with special adhesives for foam plastic.

Extruded polystyrene foam has deservedly gained fame as a very popular thermal insulation material. Expanded polystyrene can be used for interior and exterior work. Successfully extruded polystyrene foam is used for insulation of building facades, basements, basements, balconies, and insulation of premises from the inside. This foam material has a number of advantages when compared with other insulation materials. It does not absorb moisture, does not deform (do not become compacted) over time, is lightweight and very durable, has a long service life, and is not a favorable environment for the life and reproduction of colonies of microorganisms.

For more reliable fastening of polystyrene foam, use two methods at once: glue mounting and fastening with dowels.

Getting ready to glue polystyrene foam

To fasten expanded polystyrene, the method of gluing with glue or special mastic is used, as well as fastening slabs of foam insulation to the insulated surface with dowels. Most reliable option- combine these two methods. In this case, the extruded insulation board is first glued to the surface, and only then secured with dowels. This means that for work you will need:

  • tape measure (for taking measurements);
  • drill and hammer (for fastening with dowels);
  • roller (for preliminary priming of the surface);
  • spatulas (including serrated ones for applying mastic or glue);
  • electric mixer (for mixing glue).

When starting to choose an adhesive, you need to determine what properties this material should have. Glue that is ideal for gluing extruded polystyrene foam:

  • suitable for outdoor use (note low temperature resistance);
  • sets quickly;
  • provides reliable adhesion of glued surfaces;
  • convenient to use.

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Not suitable for working with polystyrene foam adhesive mixtures based on aggressive solvents, as they destroy polystyrene foam (dissolve it).

To install expanded polystyrene, do not use glue with aggressive components - they can destroy this material.

When choosing adhesive for polystyrene foam, make sure that it contains not only gasoline and
acetone, but also all kinds of ethers and other similar substances. Therefore, you need to choose adhesives or mastics based on plasticizers, bitumen, or a composite mixture.

Craftsmen and simply experienced builders Such means as liquid nails, sealant (meaning silicone), frost-resistant glue for finishing facade works, adhesive compositions for ceiling tiles, frost-resistant and water-resistant adhesive mixtures for working with tiles. The listed adhesive mixtures cope perfectly with the task. They can be successfully used, especially if they are available (that is, you do not have to incur additional financial costs), and additional fastening with special dowels is planned. But there are adhesive mixtures designed specifically for working with polystyrene foam. Advice from professionals focuses on these compositions.

Such adhesives are divided into two types. The first is specialized, its purpose is to glue the designated insulation. The second type is universal, which not only secures polystyrene foam, but also creates a reinforcing layer.

By insulating your home with polystyrene foam, you will receive a durable insulating coating, since this material does not rot and does not harbor bacteria.

Based on their composition, adhesives are divided into bitumen and cement-polymer. Bitumen mastics
create a waterproofing layer (due to the bitumen content in the mastic). But for this, the mastic must be applied to the surface to be glued without any gaps. Such compositions are plastic and do not require preliminary thermal treatment before starting work (due to the presence of plasticizers among the ingredients, the mass retains plasticity even without heating).

Cement-polymer-based compositions are used for both interior and exterior work. They are equally well suited for gluing polystyrene foam to concrete, brick wall, foam concrete, plasterboard surfaces, and can also be used to secure the specified material on heated surfaces (warm floors, for example). Cement-polymer adhesive compositions require deep primer surfaces. When choosing, be careful: for external and internal work you should choose different brands. It is hardly justified to use it for interior decoration frost-resistant adhesive.

Compositions intended specifically for gluing extruded (as it is also called) polystyrene foam require careful pre-treatment of the surfaces to be joined (even plastering is possible in some cases). But the result is a reliable and durable grip. Moreover, such adhesive compositions make it possible to fasten slabs of extruded polystyrene foam to surfaces made of brick, concrete, steel, plasterboard, and wood. And this is not an exhaustive list.