Insulation of the basement of a wooden house. Interview with an expert. Rules for insulating the base Finishing and insulating the base of a panel house

During the process of building a house, it is necessary to take care of insulating not only the walls and roof, but also the base of the foundation, so that the future housing will be as warm as possible and inexpensive during the heating season. Today we will take a detailed look at the steps to insulate the basement of a building from the outside, and also find out which insulation is best suited for these purposes.

Material selection

Before you begin the process of insulating the foundation plinth, you need to select the appropriate material. There are many insulation materials, but among the most popular are polystyrene, penoplex and polystyrene foam. Let's look at how they differ and which one is better.

Did you know? Penoplex was invented in the USA in 1941, but in the post-Soviet space they began to use it as insulation only in the late 90s.

This insulation is an effective modern heat insulator. It is also called polystyrene foam or advanced foam. There are several types of polystyrene - extruded and foamed. They differ from each other in production technology and quality.

Construction specialists are inclined to use extruded polystyrene.
It costs more than foam, but has many advantages:

• low heat transfer coefficient;
• strength;
• environmental friendliness;
• resistance to moisture;
• durability.

The advantages of polystyrene, compared to other types of insulation, are:

• lower cost;
• a special structure that does not absorb or allow moisture to pass through, which preserves the integrity of the slabs at low temperatures;
• long service life;
• preservation of thermal insulation properties throughout the entire period of operation;
• “inedible” for rodents;
• ease of installation of insulating structures.

• the ability to release very dangerous toxic substances in the event of fire;
• vapor permeability, as a result of which mold and mildew can develop, destroying structures and adversely affecting the microclimate in the room.

Did you know? Polystyrene foam was invented by the German pharmacist Eduard Simon in 1839. But they began to actively use it on an industrial scale only in the middle of the 20th century.

Penoplex is a new progressive insulation material that is very effective in terms of heat retention. To produce penoplex, high pressure and temperature are used, which act on the granules of the material, they are inflated and filled with air.
The resulting material is characterized by a fine-porous structure, which has identical tiny insulated cells, which allows for good heat retention.

The advantages of penoplex include:

• long service life;
• low thermal conductivity coefficient;
• minimal moisture permeability;
• compressive strength;
• simplicity and ease of processing and installation;
• environmental friendliness;
• low chemical activity;
• maximum biostability, which implies resistance to rotting and decomposition of the material.

Despite the many advantages of penoplex, it has one serious disadvantage - the ability to melt and ignite if the recommended temperatures are not observed.

Polystyrene foam is a special foam material, the granules of which are 98% air. Polystyrene foam is characterized by good thermal insulation properties, so previously it was actively used for insulating premises.

The advantages of using polystyrene foam for insulation include:

• cheapness of the material;
• durability;
• low thermal conductivity;
• ease of processing and installation;
• high speed.

The disadvantages of polystyrene foam include:

• fragility;
• the need to provide additional ventilation;
• ability to absorb moisture;
• release of toxic substances during combustion;
• tendency to freeze during severe frosts and the possibility of damage from direct sunlight on the material.

Excavation of the foundation around the perimeter

Before you begin insulating the foundation base, you need to dig out the foundation to the ground. To do this, a trench is dug around the entire perimeter. The optimal trench width should be at least 1 meter.

If a new house is being built, the procedure is simplified, since there is no need to dig in the foundation - its insulation is carried out immediately after construction.

Surface preparation

The section of the foundation that was underground, as well as the part that was above the ground, is cleaned of dirt and pieces of concrete. You can use a spray bottle or a pressure washer to do this. If you do not have such devices, you can use a regular brush and walk it over the entire surface, thoroughly cleaning the foundation.

Important! When using water to clean the foundation, it is necessary to dry the surface; to do this, work should be suspended for several days.

Performing drainage

If there is a risk of foundation flooding and groundwater comes close to the soil surface, drainage must be done. To do this, the bottom of the trench is covered with sand, and geotextiles are laid on top, on top of which a layer of gravel is poured.

A perforated pipe is placed on the gravel, the end of which must be brought to the collector. The pipe is wrapped in geotextile and covered with a mixture of sand and gravel.

The dried walls of the foundation plinth are coated with a latex-based primer. This product will fill all the cracks and pores that are on the surface and provide better adhesion of the waterproofing to the foundation.

Laying self-adhesive waterproofing

A layer of waterproofing is necessary to prevent moisture from entering the concrete surface. Polyurea can be used as waterproofing - it is applied in liquid form, resulting in the formation of a thin and durable elastic membrane.

Provided there are no mechanical impacts on the membrane, such waterproofing protection will last more than 30 years. If the film is damaged, this place is treated with a small amount of polymer - after this, the place of damage will not affect the solidity of the layer in any way.

Liquid rubber is also very often used as waterproofing - it has a shorter service life than polyurea, but is much cheaper. This product can be purchased ready-made. To use it, simply mix it and apply it to the surface with a spatula.

Video: foundation waterproofing

As an alternative to liquid waterproofing substances, roll material based on bitumen is used; it is attached using a burner, heating the material to 50°C, and applied to the foundation. This material must be glued from bottom to top.

There are also materials (for example, TECHNONICOL) that do not require the use of high temperatures. After applying a bitumen primer to the surface and removing the protective film, the sheets of material are simply pressed against the surface and stick to it. The upper edge of the insulation is secured with a special strip.

Before you start insulating the foundation, you need to use a level to mark the bottom line to which the slabs will be attached. It is necessary to lay insulating materials starting from the corner of the foundation.

To avoid the formation of long vertical seams, you can glue the sheets in a checkerboard pattern. Initially, the insulation is laid on the lower part of the foundation, then the remaining rows are laid from bottom to top.
For fastening, a special glue is used, which is applied to the edge and in the center of the sheet. After applying the glue, you need to wait a minute and begin gluing the sheets to the foundation.

Important! The glue should not contain traces of organic solvent, which can have a destructive effect on the insulation.

To do this, they are pressed well against the surface and fixed on it for a few seconds. The glue dries gradually, so if you find any errors or have placed the insulation unevenly, you can correct it by simply turning the sheets at the required angle.

If it is necessary to attach another layer of insulation, it is placed in a checkerboard pattern so that the top layer covers the seam of the bottom layer - this will contribute to better thermal insulation. Gluing the top layer does not differ in technology from attaching the bottom layer of insulation.

The part of the foundation that will be below ground level does not require additional fastening - after installation work is completed, it is simply covered with earth. The part that will not be sprinkled must be attached with special dowels.
They are characterized by a wide plastic perforated cap, thanks to which the insulation is pressed tightly against the wall. To attach the dowels, through holes are drilled in the insulation so that they extend 4 cm into the concrete, after which the dowels are driven in.

Important! The size of the dowel is selected in accordance with the thickness and number of layers of insulation.

When the installation of insulation is completely completed, the seams should be treated for better sealing of the insulation. To do this, use a bituminous composition or ordinary polyurethane foam.

The process of sealing seams is quite simple and consists of treating the joint sections of the insulation with the selected product. If a bitumen compound is used, it is used to fill the cracks flush. When using foam, after it has completely dried, cut off all irregularities flush.

Backfilling the trench

After filling the gaps, you can begin backfilling the trench. To do this, use coarse dry sand, which is used to fill the bottom layer of the trench. After this, gravel mixed with sand is poured over the sand. A gravel cushion will be a good base for insulating the soil layer.

Plastering

To protect the insulation from the chemical effects of moisture, which is constantly present in the ground, a reinforcing fiberglass mesh is attached to the walls and plastered with a thin layer of mortar for coating waterproofing.

Video: do-it-yourself insulation of the foundation (basement)

Execution of formwork for the blind area

To perform formwork, it is necessary to determine the width of the blind area. It can be from 70 cm to 2 m and depends on the characteristics of the soil. If the trench was filled with sand and gravel, it is recommended to make the blind area 1 m wide. The formwork for the concrete blind area will prevent the concrete solution from spreading and will determine the geometry.

The mixture of gravel and sand must be leveled as much as possible with a rake, using a level, so that the formwork is level. Next, at the width you choose, around the entire perimeter of the foundation, pegs are driven into the ground. In front of them, smooth wooden boards are placed on edge and fastened together to form an empty frame.

After the frame is made, expansion joints must be made to prevent concrete from cracking at low temperatures. For this, boards 2 cm thick are suitable - they are installed on the edge perpendicular to the foundation and the formwork frame, the distance between them should be about 2 m.
In the corners, the boards are installed diagonally from the corner of the foundation to the corner of the formwork. Considering that the main purpose of the blind area is to protect the foundation from water during rains and snowfalls, it must be done with a slope; for this, the boards are installed at a slight angle from the building to the edge of the formwork.

Important! For fastening, use self-tapping screws so that it is convenient to remove them later.

It is recommended to tilt from 2% to 10%; the recommended rate is 5%. Thanks to this difference, the water will quickly move away from the wall of the building. Before attaching expansion boards to the formwork frame, check that they have the same angle of inclination using a level.

When the formwork frame is ready, it is necessary to begin laying waterproofing materials and insulation, as well as reinforcing mesh, the cell size of which should be 10 by 10 cm.

Video: do-it-yourself blind area around the house

After all steps for preparing the formwork are completed, you can begin pouring concrete. It can be purchased at a concrete plant or at any specialized store. Be sure to make sure it is of high quality.

If you plan to save money and make concrete yourself, for this you need to use cement (1 part), sand (2 parts) and crushed stone (3 parts):

1. Initially, a little water and cement are added to the concrete mixer to obtain a very liquid mass.
2. Then the crushed stone is gradually poured out.
3. All components are mixed for 3 minutes.
4. At the final stage, sand is added to the concrete mixer.

Important! For the production of concreteCan start on your own only if you have previously had such experience, since there is a clear technology and many nuances, if not followed, the concrete may crack and will not last long.

Often, compensation boards remain in the formwork, but it is worth remembering that wood can quickly absorb moisture and expand, and after drying, shrink, which leads to cracking of the blind area.

Therefore, after the concrete is poured and has not completely set, you need to remove the compensation boards and wait until the solution dries completely. After the concrete has completely dried, the cavities that remain from the compensation boards are filled with mastic or liquid rubber.

After the concrete and mastic have completely dried, tiles or other material are laid on top of the finished blind area, depending on personal preferences.

Finishing the foundation

After the plaster has completely dried, you can begin finishing the foundation. For this purpose, decorative materials in the form of artificial stone or tiles are used. You can limit yourself to painting with bitumen or regular paint.

Video: finishing the base with your own hands

Thus, insulating the foundation base with your own hands is a rather labor-intensive and difficult process. However, if you follow all the recommendations and follow the order of work, you can get a good result that will keep your home warm and cozy for a long time.

Question to the expert: what are the features of insulating the basement of a house, or more precisely, the outside of a wooden house? The base material is usually different from what is used for arranging walls, and heat loss is inevitable at the junction.

Thermal insulation of wooden houses is of high quality. With a low weight of the wall structure (if it is a one-story building) no need for a massive base. But one of the weak points is freezing of a thin layer of foundation during the cold season. This causes large heat losses and dampness in the basement. The problem is solved by insulation of the basement of a wooden house from the outside. This is not so difficult to do, and there are a number of effective methods that differ in effectiveness and final cost of work.

When installing thermal insulation inside the basement, the dew point shifts, as a result of which the humidity in the basement increases, creating conditions for the formation of mold and dampness. Insulating the foundation from the outside additionally protects its surface from external factors: water, sunlight, wind, pests and rodents.

Backfilling with soil

The method has been used and known for a long time, therefore it has been tested through the experience of several generations. The work is not difficult to complete: a layer of earth is poured around the base, including the vertical surfaces of the base. A significant drawback is that appearance of the structure. Another minus - low insulation effect. However, there are also advantages noted.

These include low cost of work – zero. You don’t have to purchase anything or invite workers. Everything is done with your own hands. This option will work as temporary way to solve the problem.

Using mineral wool or stone wool

To insulate the base of a wooden house from the outside, they also use purchased insulation.

Minvata – non-flammable material, environmentally friendly, not susceptible to rodents and insects. The material is quite heavy, so pay attention to the reliability of fastening.

Stages of work:

1. The working surface is cleaned of dirt and dust.
2. It is checked whether the foundation is solid: whether there are any cracks, chips or other defects. They must be removed before insulation work.
3. The foundation is waterproofed using a special composition or fastening of roll materials.
4. Then mineral wool is attached over the waterproofing component. For this, special adhesives are used, and for reliability, the technique is complemented by the use of dowels.
5. The surface of the thermal insulation is plastered or hidden under finishing materials.

When working with mineral wool, wear respiratory, face and hand protection.

Application of foam plastic

This product is most popular when insulating basements. Lightweight foam easy to attach, convenient to transport. It does not absorb water. The range of polystyrene foams is wide: choose the thickness you need and attach it.

The disadvantages include flammability: When heated, the foam melts. Stores sell options with a fire retardant additive. They are a little more expensive, but more resistant to fire.

The material is attached using the same technology as mineral wool. The only thing to consider is contact with flammable materials. A layer of mineral wool or other product that prevents the spread of fire is laid between the wood and the foam.

Extruded polystyrene foam

He 1.5 times better heat retention, therefore the insulation layer may be smaller than in the case of polystyrene foam. Expanded polystyrene has a high density, resistant to deformation and does not crumble . For ease of fastening, there are special grooves inside. At the same time, heat loss at the joints of the layers is reduced. The disadvantages include a higher price, which is compensated by reliability and comfort when working with the material.

The work is carried out in a similar way to the previous plan.

Insulation with expanded clay

This method is gradually losing its popularity, but it is still used today.

Work technology:

1. The soil is opened until the lower part of the foundation is exposed. You need at least 50 cm width for high-quality thermal insulation.
2. Cracks and chips are repaired. To do this, use cement mortar, and then wait until it dries completely.
3. Next, waterproofing work is carried out.
4. The trench is completely filled with expanded clay. A concrete blind area is placed on top of the layer to protect the insulation from moisture.

This method is more suitable for insulating a base that goes deep underground, rather than rising above it.

Polyurethane spraying

The newest spraying technique is increasingly popular among professional builders. There are many reasons for this.

Unlike installation of layers, when spraying no seams are formed, as a result of which heat loss through them is reduced. The surface of the layer is homogeneous, smooth. The high adhesive properties of polyurethane allow it to be used on various surfaces. At the same time she does not require preliminary cleaning, repair, waterproofing. Another plus - fire resistance of the product and its water-repellent properties. He does not rot, does not mold and is not exposed to pests. Polyurethane is environmentally friendly and can be used for insulation of residential premises.

The main disadvantage is high price , but the above advantages completely cover this disadvantage. Special equipment is required to apply the protective layer.

The material must be protected from direct sunlight, as ultraviolet radiation is harmful to it.

Ultimately, the choice of thermal insulator depends on specific initial data, capabilities and requirements for the product. These methods are suitable for insulating strip foundations.

How to insulate a pile foundation

A house on stilts is subject to even greater heat loss.

To thermally insulate the base, first a fence is installed - the open space under the floor is closed. A thin wall is erected along the perimeter of brick, foam block, foam glass, slab materials (attached to the sheathing). A brick or block wall is built on a concrete strip 20 cm wide. There is no need to ensure that the space under the floor is airtight, it is necessary that it breathes. For this purpose, ventilation vents are left holes 15 cm wide on 4 sides of the house opposite each other. The lathing for slab cladding is made of metal profiles or wood. A trench is built under the future cladding and sand (3 cm) and expanded clay are placed there in layers and sprinkled with soil.

Then the structure is insulated using a similar technology.

Attention should also be paid to insulating the subfloor using the same materials. A subfloor is laid from the bottom of the floor, on which a thermal insulator and a layer of vapor and waterproofing are laid. Wooden structural elements must be treated with an antiseptic.

It is not only the insulation of the walls or roof that is important for a home; the insulation of the basement is also of great importance. Incorrectly performed thermal insulation of the foundation leads to a loss of 40% of the heat of the entire house, subsequently losing the feasibility of insulating the roof and walls.

In order for warmth to bring comfort to your home, you need to figure out which insulation method is best to choose, as well as what material to insulate the base of the house with.

According to the laws of physics, everyone knows that warm air always rises, which means that if the roof is poorly insulated, all the warm air comes out, and the cold air begins to enter through the floor. Thus, most of the cold air enters through the foundation, and in the winter season this will lead to heat loss in the entire building.

It is possible, and even necessary, to insulate the base with your own hands, since 20% The heat loss of the building occurs precisely on the basement floors, so insulating the foundation will significantly reduce heat loss and protect against such unpleasant phenomena as condensation, dampness in the house and mold. To be effective, you need to choose the right insulation for the foundation plinth.

How to waterproof a basement

If you are building a house, then you should definitely think about reliable protection from water, dampness and insulation of the basement floor, because the service life of the constructed building depends on the correctly chosen technology and the quality of the selected materials. It is necessary to know and take into account the fact that the basement is an important part of the building, which connects the base of the building and its walls. The stability and durability of the house depends on the quality of construction of this floor.

Waterproofing and insulation of the basement play a huge role in the construction.

The next step: figure out how to make waterproofing as high quality as possible.

In order to prevent the appearance and penetration of moisture, it must be protected in two ways.

1. Vertical. This method involves applying a moisture protective substance vertically, only from the outside of the walls.
2. Horizontally. In this case, the material must be laid in the space between the foundation and the ground floor.

Horizontal waterproofing involves the use of such popular materials as roofing felt and roofing felt. The best option would be roofing felt, as it guarantees protection of the lower floor from moisture penetration for a long time.

Vertical waterproofing provides more options; you can choose a more suitable material for it. The choice is wide: bitumen mastics and their various analogues are often used. But experts strongly recommend using liquid glass.

For high-quality waterproofing, synthetic resin or liquid polymer materials are used. For the full functionality of these materials, care must be taken to ensure effective drainage.

Types of waterproofing and technology of work:

1. Penetrating waterproofing. The advantage of this water-based insulation is that it penetrates quite deeply into the concrete itself, thereby clogging all the cracks and pores through which moisture can enter. This type will not only save you from moisture, but will also increase the strength of concrete by 20-30% . The technology for carrying out the work is as follows. Penetrating insulation is a powder that is diluted in water to the desired consistency. Before application, you need to moisten the concrete, after which the resulting mixture is applied in layers using synthetic brushes.
2. Roll waterproofing involves applying waterproofing materials to the entire basement structure. Work technology: the outer part of the wall is covered with three layers of water insulation, this will ensure the required reliability. The materials must be glued in an overlapping manner, after which the joints are treated with liquid waterproofing.
3. Coating waterproofing. This waterproofing is a coating mastic with water-repellent properties. Applying waterproofing mastic to the outside of the building will prevent moisture from entering the building.

To achieve your goals, you need not only to properly perform waterproofing, but to make every effort to arrange proper drainage on the land plot. It is drainage in combination with the listed types of waterproofing that will prevent moisture from penetrating into the building and protect the most exposed floor.

The process of installing thermal insulation boards on a plinth

Today, the most popular method of thermal insulation is insulating the base with extruded polystyrene foam.

Installation process of thermal insulation boards

Today, the most popular method of insulation is insulation of the ground floor using extruded polystyrene foam.

Penoplex is a polymer whose cells have a closed structure and do not allow moisture to pass through. This is a fairly good material in the thermal insulation industry.

Insulating the base with penoplex during the cold season will help retain warm air in the house for as long as possible.

The technology of insulating the base with penoplex is available to everyone. So, let's look at it in more detail:

1. The ground floor of the building is thermally insulated along its outer side.
2. The insulation boards are glued with a solvent-free adhesive solution.
3. Please note: this type of work should only be performed at air temperatures above zero degrees. This is necessary to prevent the walls from cracking.
4. Insulating the base with polystyrene foam requires compliance with the installation technology, namely: using a minimum layer of plaster, you need to lubricate all defects existing on the surface. After the plaster has dried, you need to clean the surface.
5. You can attach the slabs to the surface of the foundation using a special adhesive solution, which is applied to the surface of the base or foundation.
6. The slabs are mounted overlapping on 12 cm, this will not only reduce heat loss, but also increase the thermal resistance of the floors. The slabs are leveled using levels and construction slats.
7. Next, the slabs are mounted using a drill and secured with a metal mesh, which subsequently requires careful plastering.
8. The last stage is facing work.

There are also many videos about this. After looking at them, you can clearly see how the installation is carried out.

Advice for those who do not know how to insulate the basement of a house with their own hands.

Thermal insulation of this floor is carried out using slabs, which are attached to the waterproofing, using glue or bitumen-polymer mastic. An important point is the composition of the glue; it should not be aggressive so as not to destroy the structure of the insulated material, otherwise it will affect the thermal insulation and durability.

Experts do not recommend insulating the base from the outside using mechanical installation, as this may affect the integrity of the waterproofing. When insulating the base of the foundation, the slabs in the bottom row are laid with emphasis on the base.

The insulation of the basement floor from the outside does not have the desired aesthetic appearance, so it is necessary to cladding the building on top of the insulation.

You can use tiles, stone, decorative plaster or paint as finishing for a more attractive appearance. Their advantage is that they are easy to attach with your own hands and do not require any special “special” knowledge.

If you have a question about how to properly insulate the basement of a house from the outside or inside, then it is better to contact a specialist who will certainly answer your questions, after which you can confidently insulate the house with your own hands.

To the question of how to insulate the basement of a house, we give a clear answer: houses insulated from the outside with polystyrene foam retain heat best.

Siding insulated panels for the plinth will certainly be suitable for external cladding and will serve you for a long time.

Plinth cladding

Cladding, as well as insulation of the basement in a private house, is an important stage in the construction of a high-quality and warm building.

High-quality finishing of the foundation not only has an aesthetic function, but also protects it from external factors and provides erosion protection.

There are a considerable number of types with which you can finish the base. The main ones are given below.

Decorative plaster. The most common type of finishing is plastering and painting. The advantage of this finish is its low cost and wide selection of materials. Disadvantages include fragility.

Finishing using natural or artificial stone. Stone is always beautiful, and besides, a house lined with stone will delight you with a long service life.

Despite many advantages, stone finishing has its drawbacks. This material is very heavy, and this significantly complicates installation, and the price is quite high. To simplify the task, artificial stone is used; it is lighter, but installation still requires additional effort and materials.

Covering the base with siding. Siding consists of small panels, 3 mm thick, made of polypropylene. In terms of their external characteristics, there are many types that imitate all different types of cladding materials. This type of cladding is quite functional and its advantage is quite good mechanical characteristics.

A lined and insulated foundation will last as long as possible and keep the house warm.

Conclusion

Having become familiar with the types and technology, now everyone knows how to insulate the basement of a house, because this is an important stage in the construction of a building that will ensure the preservation of heat all year round and protect against moisture penetration, eliminate dampness and prevent the appearance of fungus and mold.

Many owners of wooden houses are faced with the fact that in winter the floor freezes on the 1st floor. This phenomenon can only be eliminated in one way - to insulate the foundation of a wooden house from the outside. The foundation of a wooden house is built from different materials. The method of insulating the foundation of a wooden house depends on the type of supporting structure of the building. Modern thermal insulation materials are used to insulate the foundation of the house. This article presents options for insulating foundations of various designs.

Why do you need to insulate the foundation from the outside?

The foundation of a wooden house is a supporting structure that is in direct contact with the natural foundation and the structure itself. In addition to its supporting function, the foundation protects housing from the negative influences of the soil. It is important that the base of a wooden house does not cause heat leakage from the home.

The foundation of the house is constantly exposed to moisture penetration from the soil and changes in ambient temperature. In winter, moisture that gets into the body of the base of the structure freezes and destroys the supporting mass. The cold begins to penetrate into the home through cracks. As a result, the floors in the house will always be cold in winter. That is why it is necessary to insulate the base of a wooden house.

It is impossible to insulate an old foundation from below, but its walls are quite accessible for thermal insulation. Since supporting structures can be of different types, the thermal insulation of the foundation from the outside is carried out in different ways.

Materials for foundation insulation

Insulation of the foundation must be done at the stage of its construction. Although there are circumstances when careless builders did not take care of this in due time. And now the owners of the house have to re-insulate the base of the wooden house.

The time comes, and homeowners think about which insulation to choose. Among the wide variety of heat-insulating agents, it is necessary to highlight materials suitable for insulating foundations:

• expanded polystyrene;
• polyurethane foam;
• expanded clay;
• Styrofoam.

All these materials have low thermal conductivity and high resistance to temperature changes.

Expanded polystyrene

This material has high thermal insulation properties, moisture resistance and insusceptibility to low temperatures. Thanks to these qualities, extruded polystyrene foam has gained great popularity as external insulation for the foundations of wooden houses. Expanded polystyrene is convenient for insulating strip foundations and plinths.

The material has a fine-cell structure. It is produced by exposing polymer granules to high temperature and pressure in carbon dioxide. Insulation comes on sale in the form of a slab material called penoplex. The service life of polystyrene is about 40 years.

Manufacturers often call expanded polystyrene boards penoplex. Penoplex with a thickness of 50 mm corresponds in heat-shielding properties to 75 mm of foam plastic and 95 mm of mineral wool.

Video on insulating the foundation with penoplex:

Polyurethane foam

The polymer is sprayed onto the foundation walls using special equipment. Once on the treated surface, polyurethane foam greatly increases in volume. In terms of its thermal insulation properties, a 50 mm layer of polymer is similar to a 120 mm thick sheet of expanded polystyrene.

The hardened foam on the walls of the base of the building forms a seamless, dense coating. Unlike sheet insulation, the sprayed outer coating does not require additional sealing of the seams. In addition, the polymer has high adhesion and “sticks” to almost any surface.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay granules are produced by firing a foamed clay solution. Expanded clay has high thermal insulation qualities. This is one of the cheapest thermal insulation building materials.

Lining the external walls of the foundation with expanded clay prevents the base of a wooden house from freezing, even in the conditions of the Far North. The only drawback of the material is its low commercial availability.

Styrofoam

Polystyrene foam is essentially the same polystyrene foam, but has not been extruded (pressure treated at high temperatures). Foam boards are used to insulate the foundation and basement of a house. To prevent heat leakage from a wooden house from below, foam plastic with a thickness of 40 to 120 mm is used.

Polymer boards are easy to process. Most often they are attached to the foundation walls using bitumen mastic. Foam plastic is also fixed to the wall with dowels - fungi.

Polystyrene foam, along with its high thermal insulation qualities, is a very fragile material, so the outside walls of the foundation lined with foam plastic necessarily need a final protective coating.

Methods for insulating the foundation of a wooden house

Mostly wooden houses are built on strip, column and pile foundations. In each case, it is necessary to cover the base and basement of the house with insulation.

Strip foundation

This type of foundation can be made monolithic or constructed from prefabricated reinforced concrete blocks. Also, the support strip under a wooden house is made of rubble stone or flagstone.

The technology for how to insulate the foundation of a wooden house from the outside with your own hands is as follows:

1. A trench is dug along the perimeter of a wooden house to the depth of soil freezing.
2. The foundation walls are cleaned of soil residues and covered with bitumen mastic.
3. The insulation boards are installed on a vertical surface, heating the bitumen waterproofing layer with a burner.
4. A reinforcing metal or polymer mesh is fixed to the insulation.
5. All surfaces are primed, puttied and plastered.
6. Insulation is laid on the sandy cushion of the blind area.
7. The blind area is concreted, asphalted, lined with ceramics or stone.

The concrete monolith of the house support strip with a thickness of 40 - 50 cm does not need insulation. The physical characteristics of such a reinforced concrete mass have sufficient heat-insulating properties.

Columnar foundation

As a matter of fact, it makes no sense to insulate the columnar foundation itself. The main heat leakage occurs through the space between the bottom of a wooden house and the ground. The constant movement of air masses underground creates an outflow of heat from the lower floor of the building.

To prevent this negative phenomenon, the outer perimeter of the underground is covered with vertical fences. Fences can be made from a variety of materials: from wooden panels to reinforced concrete slabs. Enclose the base with siding (thin-sheet metal or polymer panels). Siding performs a purely enclosing function.

Due to the enclosed space, drafts stop and the underground air temperature stabilizes in the positive range, and this ultimately leads to effective insulation of a wooden house.

The basement fence is erected from brick, wild stone or other masonry material. It is important that the masonry of the fence is not rigidly connected to the columnar supports. Due to various geological movements, the pillars can move the masonry of the fence. In this case, the wall of the base may crack and collapse.

A hermetically sealed space inside the base can lead to increased air humidity. This in turn will create a favorable environment for the growth of fungi and mold. To prevent the air in the underground from stagnating, it is imperative to make vents in the basement enclosure - small openings that provide natural ventilation for the underground.

For greater reliability of thermal insulation of the base of the house, polyurethane foam is sprayed onto the internal surfaces of the fence.

Pile foundation

The principle of insulating the pile foundation of a wooden house is the same as in the previous case. The house, located on stilts, also has an open underground, which must be closed from the outside environment.

Wooden houses are supported on both wooden and reinforced concrete and screw piles. To insulate the basement of a house on a pile foundation, wooden panels, polymer or metal siding are most often used.

Features of foundation insulation with expanded clay

The method of insulating the foundation with expanded clay has its own characteristics. Since, unlike slab insulation, expanded clay is a bulk material, they do it this way:

• a trench around a wooden house is made 20 - 30 cm wide; the depth of the ditch is made just below the soil freezing mark;
• sand 10 cm thick is poured onto the bottom of the trench; then make a layer of crushed stone or gravel of the same thickness;
• sheets of roofing material are attached to the walls along the outer perimeter of the trench;
• the ditch is filled with expanded clay; pour the granules in layers of 30-40 cm; each layer is compacted;
• the top of the insulation is covered with a cement screed;
• a half-brick thick wall is placed along the screed; masonry is carried out to the height of the building’s base;
• a metal mesh is laid across three rows of bricks, connecting the masonry and the base of the house;
• the space between the masonry and the base is filled with expanded clay;
• a blind area made of cement mortar is installed on top of the masonry; The screed is covered with a galvanized sheet.

If the roof insulation is not done simultaneously with the thermal insulation of the supporting structures of the building, then the thermal insulation of the foundation will not bring the desired result. The heat will go up, the floors and walls in the home will remain cold.

The base of a wooden house must be insulated, since the owners try to eliminate the cold in living quarters by increasing the load on the heating system of the house, and this results in exorbitant financial costs for heating the home. In this regard, it is better to properly insulate the foundation once and live in a warm house for many winters without incurring unnecessary expenses for heating the house.

Builders claim that 20% of heat loss occurs through the foundation. Modern technologies make it possible to reduce the likelihood of this negative factor to a minimum.

Insulation is carried out using additional materials that are attached to the base. When choosing them, you need to take into account not only the price. Performance properties, installation method, service life and others are of no small importance.

The need to insulate the basement from the outside will maintain comfortable conditions not only indoors, but also in the basement. Thanks to this, it will be possible to store all vegetables and fruits for a long period of time. Before starting all actions, it is necessary to study the features of thermal insulation of the house. The right approach will save on heating costs, because resources will not go into the soil.

Base insulation

At the first stage, a person must find out how to insulate the basement of a building.

It is allowed to choose materials that fully meet the following requirements:

• do not conduct heat inside their surface;
• do not absorb moisture;
• when compressed, they are characterized by high strength;
• the surface is not a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms.

Additionally, it should be noted that the process of insulating the basement of a private house should create optimal conditions over a long period of time. Environmental safety plays an important role.

It is necessary to insulate the foundation and base from the inside and outside. The choice of option directly depends on the climatic conditions and the material from which the walls and foundation are made.

Insulation from outside

You should worry about maintaining heat in the room even before the onset of cold weather. To do this, you should insulate the house from the outside with your own hands. It is necessary to pay sufficient attention to the choice of material. It can be in the form of a slab or polymer-based. Before purchasing, you should consider the advantages, disadvantages and installation method.

Base insulation with extruded polystyrene foam

When choosing a material, you should focus on its basic properties. Insulating the basement allows you to create comfortable conditions for human life during the cold season.

This material has a number of advantages:

• does not accumulate heat in its surface;
• simple installation (easy cutting, light weight);
• acceptable price;
• high density, which allows you to withstand mechanical loads;
• the material can withstand sudden temperature changes and does not lose its properties;
• will last at least 25 years.

Extruded polystyrene foam loses its flexural strength and can be damaged by rodents. The accumulation of moisture in the top layer provokes cracking of the material.

Insulating the base with foam plastic is cheap and is rarely used today.

Main stages of installation:

• Measuring the plinth area and cutting a slab of extruded polystyrene foam. At the same time, the same amount of reinforcing mesh should be prepared.
• Gluing the sheets overlapping by 10 centimeters.
• Installation of additional fasteners using dowels, nails or self-tapping screws.
• The seams are blown in with polyurethane foam. After it dries, the remaining substance is removed.
• Insulation of the base with polystyrene foam ends with the elimination of reinforcement defects.

Foamed polyurethane foam

If you are thinking about how to insulate the basement of a house quickly and efficiently, then you should pay attention to this material.

It has the following advantages:

• quick installation;
• light weight;
• high inertness and strength of the coating;
• monolithic thermal insulation;
• long service life;
• high adhesion;
• the material does not burn and does not become moldy;
• convenience and versatility of the coating.

Among the disadvantages, it should be noted the presence of a negative reaction to ultraviolet radiation. Special equipment must be used during the installation process. It makes it possible to distribute polyurethane over the surface of the base.

It will only be high if the material covers the foundation without gaps. Additionally, it should be noted that there is no need to carry out preparatory work.

Mineral wool

- This is insulation for the base, which is sold in rolls or mats. Bars are used for fastening. They must be pre-treated with an anti-rotting compound.

Installation of insulation on the base is done using dowels:

• Installation of wooden sheathing is 2 cm smaller than the size of the material. The facing part is secured with special fasteners or brackets. To improve the decorative properties, siding or lining is placed on top.
• Applying plaster is only possible on reinforcing mesh. In this case, finishing is possible in the future using tiles or clinker.

Insulation with expanded clay

If we are insulating the base, then we should pay attention to the advantages of expanded clay:

• withstands bad weather conditions well;
• does not rot or freeze;
• does not serve as a favorable environment for the development of rodents;
• simple installation and the possibility of deep placement of material.

If it is done with expanded clay, then you will additionally need to install a thick partition.

When carrying out installation work, you need to be prepared for excess material consumption:

• formation of a trench at the foundation 1 m wide;
• roofing felt flooring coated with bitumen;
• filling the ditch with expanded clay;
• additional protection with roofing felt and sand;
• installation on the base of sheathing made of boards, which will be covered with clay on top.

Insulation with thermal panels

We can cover the bottom of the house using thermal panels. They create an excellent thermal insulation layer. Thanks to this, there will be an optimal microclimate inside the room. It will be possible to minimize the likelihood of cold air entering from outside. Finishing can be done with any building materials that completely suit the owner of the house.

Before installation, you should find out how to properly insulate the basement of a house from the outside with thermal panels:

• Creating a panel frame - a side.
• Installation of panels. The process is carried out quickly due to the groove fastening system.
• Additional fixation with self-tapping screws.
• Jointing and grouting.

Insulation with warm plaster

The insulation and finishing of the base are carried out using special adhesive mixtures. They are known in construction under the name. They contain sawdust, vermiculite or polystyrene foam.

The material has the following advantages:

• Monolithic thermal insulation.
• Easy and quick installation. Installation of reinforcing mesh is completely optional.
• Reasonable price.

If you plan to cover the base with plaster, you should also take into account its disadvantages:

• Possibility of moisture absorption.
• The layer cannot exceed 5 cm.
• Plaster cannot be used as a finishing material.

Basement insulation with soil

There are a large number of tips for insulating every part of the building. But all builders agree that sand or soil can be used as a temporary option. The method involves filling the base with a large part of the soil.

In this case, it is not possible to achieve minimal heat loss. The required amount of soil can only be obtained if assistants are involved in completing the task. One person cannot handle this. The base also contains ventilation ducts, which will need to be vented outside during the installation process.

Insulation from the inside

Modern technologies allow a person to choose the most suitable option for insulating the base between internal or external. The first option will protect the room from low temperatures. However, if there is no external part of the insulation, condensation may accumulate on the wall.

Against this background, the ability of the coating to protect a person from the cold decreases. Installation must be carried out in accordance with all norms and regulations. This will prevent freezing, cracking, deformation and crumbling.

Polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam

It is most profitable and reliable to insulate the outside of houses with polystyrene foam, but this is not always possible. In some cases, it can only be fixed to the inside of the walls.

Insulation with foam boards has the following advantages:

• noise absorption;
• low degree of steam passage;
• the surface does not deteriorate under the influence of chemicals;
• environmentally friendly and fireproof material.

Penoplex insulation has only one drawback - a high degree of fragility.

Installation is carried out in a similar way to the external version. You should first analyze all the pros and cons.

Mineral wool

The material can be used to insulate the base and is characterized by the following positive qualities:

• retains its shape at any temperature;
• counteracts chemical agents;
• simple installation process;
• low thermal conductivity;
• saving;
• the material does not burn.

Among the disadvantages, attention should be paid to the need to use a layer for hydro and vapor barrier. If the mineral wool was made on a glass basis, then dust will accumulate on its surface.

Installation is carried out by applying an adhesive composition to the insulation and surface. Thus, you can also insulate the blind areas around the house. Sheets should be placed evenly and joints should be avoided.

For additional fixation of the coating, it is possible to screw a block over the layer of mineral wool. Additionally, it acts as a softening pad. A couple of days after drying, it is recommended to screw the insulation layer with dowels or self-tapping screws.

Polyurethane foam

This material has long been used when it is necessary to decide how to cover the base of a house on screw piles. It can also be used using a similar technology to insulate the foundation from the inside.

The work does not require a lot of time and effort. To perform them, special equipment must be available. Thanks to this insulation, it will be possible to protect the base not only from the outside, but also from the inside.

Finishing the insulated base

The basement is an integral part of any building. After carrying out the insulation work, you should proceed to the cladding. In any hardware store a person can find decorative plaster for this. There is also a wide range of other materials available.

Decorative plaster

A person may be faced with the question of how to create protection and sew up houses on stilts in order to reduce heat loss. It is best to finish the base with plaster.

The material is durable, but this is not its only advantage:

• installation directly on the insulation;
• you can cook it yourself;
• the hardware store sells many ready-made versions of the product;
• does not interfere with air circulation;
• acceptable cost.

Among the disadvantages, it should be noted that they have a shorter service life than other materials. Plaster absorbs moisture and therefore cracks at low temperatures.

Brick

Additional fixation of the insulation layer can be achieved using bricks. Only the cladding is performed only as decoration. The masonry can be row or tied using a multi-row system. All work requires special skills. Otherwise, a good result is unlikely to happen. It is important to properly line the corner and window sill areas. With the help of bricks, excellent results are achieved according to external criteria.

Basement siding

The choice of proper insulation directly depends on the weather conditions of the region. Siding reduces heat loss, so it is often used when carrying out facing work. The material is light and maneuverable. In any hardware store you can find a wide range of products in this group.

Tiles, porcelain stoneware

This material is used to reliably protect the walls of the house from the negative influence of the external environment. Porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles are a popular option that is used to improve the base. It is important to properly process each node, because it is through such an element that heat can be lost.

You should opt for tiles, because they have a number of advantages:

• wide range of colors and textures;
• color does not change when exposed to sunlight;
• environmental friendliness of the material;
• will not be damaged by open fire.

We should not forget that drilling through the tiles can be very difficult later. It weighs a lot, so it is not convenient for transportation. Porcelain tiles have a high cost, so not everyone can afford it.

Artificial, natural stone

This material is environmentally friendly. It perfectly resists moisture and is not susceptible to contamination. If it is necessary to cover the foundations with piles or screw piles, then natural stone is ideal.

This design has the longest service life. The region of residence plays an important role. The climate may cause salt to periodically leak out. If there is such a risk, then it is better to give preference to another material.

Conclusion

Properly selected base insulation will create optimal conditions not only in residential premises, but also in the basement. The choice of material directly depends on the financial capabilities of the person and the region of residence. With a detailed analysis of these criteria, you can select the best option for a particular case.