Shower      08.03.2020

Exterior wall insulation. Materials for insulation of walls outside. Materials and tools - reference information

Owners of private houses often ask themselves the question of what kind of wall insulation from the outside is the most effective. Which is better to choose a heater so that the load-bearing wall structures do not conduct cold in winter and repel heat in hot summers. Many modern thermal insulation materials not only prevent heat loss in the cold season, but also protect the room from the penetration of thermal radiation in summer. The issue of thermal insulation of your home must be approached with all seriousness. It depends on how high-quality you make the thermal insulation system for your home, how comfortable and cozy house will be for its residents.

External wall insulation

Thermal insulation materials, types and characteristics

Previously, organic insulation in the form of sawdust, peat, etc. was used to insulate the building structure. A significant drawback of these materials was combustibility, high moisture absorption, susceptibility to decay and mold.

At the moment, organic heaters for thermal insulation of the house are practically not used. Now the construction market offers a wide range of synthetic thermal insulation materials with the best technical characteristics.

Expanded polystyrene, its advantages and disadvantages

Most people, when deciding how to insulate the house from the outside, prefer polystyrene foam. Such popularity of this heater is due to its low cost and excellent performance.

Of particular note are the following advantages of polystyrene foam:

  • lower, in comparison with mineral wool heaters, thermal conductivity (this allows the thickness of the insulation layer to be made smaller);
  • affordable cost (polystyrene foam is cheaper than mineral wool);
  • ease of installation (this material lends itself well to processing).

The disadvantages of expanded polystyrene can be called: lower vapor permeability, in comparison with mineral wool insulation, and higher flammability.

Expanded polystyrene, despite some of its shortcomings, is widely used for facade insulation. The use of this material for thermal insulation of a building is three to four times cheaper than the use of other insulation, in particular mineral wool.

Important! Due to the low vapor permeability, expanded polystyrene is not recommended for insulation. wooden houses. The only area of ​​its application is the insulation of stone facades.

Expanded polystyrene is very effective for insulation brick houses. Styrofoam thermal insulation with a thickness of only 80 mm makes it possible to four times reduce fuel consumption during the cold season.

Polyfoil insulation material

Quite an interesting modern insulation is pnofolgirovannyy insulation. It is a layer of polyethylene foam, which is clamped on both sides with aluminum foil. The features of this material are low weight and low thermal conductivity (the thermal conductivity of this insulation is 1.5 times less than that of basalt insulation).

The advantages of this material include ease of installation, insulation is attached to the walls construction stapler. Of the shortcomings, it is worth noting the absolute vapor and gas impermeability.

Pressed cork insulation

Such a rather exotic insulation, like pressed cork, is made from the bark of a cork oak growing in the Mediterranean. This insulation is produced in rolls and plates, has a very attractive appearance, is an environmentally friendly material. Pressed cork is used for internal wall insulation, this material, due to its excellent appearance performs and functions decorative finishes. Cork boards can also be used for external insulation of facades.

Mineral wool on a stone basis

A distinctive feature of mineral wool fibers is their ability to withstand temperatures above 1000° without melting. Thanks to this, mineral wool prevents the spread of fire and protects the structures of houses built from combustible materials (for example, wooden houses) from fire. Heaters with high water absorption rates lose their thermal insulation properties, since water, getting into the heat-insulating material, fills the air pores, and increases the thermal conductivity of the insulation. Mineral wool practically does not absorb moisture, therefore it remains dry and retains its properties of low thermal conductivity, even if moisture gets on its surface.

The numerous advantages of mineral wool also include high resistance to mechanical stress.

Fiberglass thermal insulation materials

Fiberglass materials can be used to insulate the house from the outside. The main components used to make fiberglass are cullet, sand, dolomite, limestone, soda, etibor, etc. The fiberglass raw material is melted in a melting furnace at 1400°C and fed into the front hearth where it goes through the fiberization stage. On centrifuges, molten glass breaks up into fibers 6 microns thick. After that, the resulting products are impregnated with polymer resin and fed to the conveyor, where they are formed into mats. The remaining water is evaporated from the mats and a high-quality insulation is obtained.

Fiberglass materials have the best qualities for thermal insulation of building facades, which include:

  • Fire safety.
  • Economy in transportation.
  • Ease of installation.
  • Low coefficient of thermal conductivity (from 0.035 to 0.044 W / mK), due to the ability of fiberglass to firmly retain air, and, as a result, excellent thermal insulation properties. Fiberglass insulation can reliably protect against cold in winter and heat in summer.
  • Moisture resistant. Due to its non-hygroscopicity (glass wool does not absorb water), the heat-insulating properties do not deteriorate when moisture enters the material.
  • Environmental friendliness. Fiberglass insulation does not emit harmful substances and safe for health, it does not form mold and rot.

Glass wool is an effective insulation

What is better for thermal insulation of walls from the outside: mineral wool or expanded polystyrene

Mineral wool and expanded polystyrene are the most requested insulation for thermal insulation of walls from the outside. The installation of mineral wool slabs is similar to the technology of laying polystyrene foam, in addition, these two heaters have similar specifications, so when they decide what is better to insulate the house from the outside, first of all, these two heaters are compared.

When they want to cheaply insulate walls from the outside, in most cases polystyrene boards are chosen. This material is not only cheaper than mineral wool, but its installation does not require special skills or complex tools, almost every owner can carry out the installation of thermal insulation with the help of foam plates with their own hands. But when installing cheap foam insulation of walls from the outside, you should not discount that this material has low mechanical strength. In addition, rats and mice love to gnaw on polystyrene.

For facade insulation, manufacturers produce special types vapor-permeable foam with a compacted outer layer. But the cost of such material is not less than the cost of mineral wool.

Insulation such as extruded polystyrene foam is not suitable for insulating walls from the outside, as it has zero vapor permeability. Using it to insulate facades leads to dampness of the material from which the walls are erected. From moisture on the surface of the walls, mold and fungi appear. On the market, you can buy vapor-permeable perforated extruded polystyrene foam intended for external insulation of facades. But their price is not less than the cost of mineral wool insulation.

When using expanded polystyrene for external wall insulation, it is better to purchase material with atipirenes, these are special substances that prevent the material from burning. Styrofoam with flame retardant acquires fire-fighting properties.

Mineral wool is not combustible, it resists mechanical stress well, it has sufficient vapor permeability, therefore, it is more preferable for external wall insulation, but with the correct design of the thermal insulation system, foam boards will also cope well with their functions.

Many are faced with such a problem, heat is not stored in a heated room, the reason for this may be the dissipation of thermal energy through the walls. How to deal with it? How to keep warm inside the house? How to insulate a house? What is the best way to insulate a house from the outside? For this, the house is insulated. Most right decision will, insulate the walls of the room, their outer part, you can use any heat insulator for this.

He will be able to create protection for warm indoor air from the outside cold and will effectively maintain the necessary microclimate of the room. Also, the advantages of insulating external walls include their protection from water vapor and light radiation, which will significantly extend their service life.

What is the best way to insulate the walls of the house from the outside? What is the best way to insulate a house? How to insulate a stone house, brick or wooden? High-quality thermal insulation is the key to comfort and coziness of a private or country house.

How to insulate a house with your own hands? How to spend good thermal insulation and do it in the best way?

In total, there are three main types of thermal insulation work in a private house:

  • The insulation is fixed directly to the wall using special glue or other devices. Then it is covered with a construction mesh and plastered for finishing materials.
  • In this case, the heat insulator is also mounted on the wall of the room, but then an additional brick wall is installed on the foundation. A small air space or gap is left between the insulation and the wall. With this method, the heat insulator is not plastered.
  • This insulation option consists of several phased work. First of all, the walls of the house are covered with a special waterproofing film, then the material selected as a heater is mounted, after which it is necessary to install protection against water vapor and wind. And only after that, with the help of special frame from wooden beams or metal guides, materials are installed for outer skin premises such as various siding, lining, ceramic tiles and much more. The use of this variant, the so-called ventilated facade, can be carried out at any time of the year, since there is no need to use any mortar.

The considered options represent a general direction, in each of them there may be certain changes associated with the use of certain materials as a heater. The modern market for thermal insulation materials is quite wide and some of them may require a different installation method.

Also, the choice of a heat insulator, its parameters depend on the material from which the walls of the house are made. As an example, consider the principles of installing insulation for wooden, brick and concrete walls.

Installation of heaters

What to insulate? Any heat insulator has certain properties, but in any case, it will be able to keep your home warm. They differ in price, in the material from which they are made and in such parameters as moisture resistance, vapor permeability and thermal conductivity. Heaters that are presented on the construction market: expanded polystyrene, mineral wool, polyurethane foam, basalt slab and cellulose insulation.

The use of one or another insulating material is associated with climatic conditions, the method of installation work and the coefficient of thermal conductivity. The calculation takes into account the width bearing wall, the thermal conductivity of the insulator, the internal temperature of the room. Then you can start installing the heater. How to prepare a wall for the installation of insulation?

Consider the instruction:

  • First of all, it is necessary to clean the wall from old plaster and other materials up to the material from which it is made.
  • After that, it is necessary to level the wall surfaces, repair cracks and pits and chop off protrusions, clean dust and dirt, and carefully apply a primer, without missing a single centimeter of area.

A primer should be used that has the property of deep penetration into the wall, choosing one or another type depending on the material from which the primed surface is made.

  • Installation of insulation should be done in an even layer without surface curvature, depressions and protrusions, using the tools provided for this: beacons, plumb lines, levels, corners and others. Otherwise, you may encounter problems with further plastering of the wall or installation of facing material, that is, applying different thicknesses of plaster material and installing additional guides. What does the beacon system look like? Screws are screwed on the upper edge of the surface, several pieces depending on the length of the wall, on which a dense thread with a metal plumb line is hung at the bottom.
  • After that, horizontal threads are installed that connect all the vertical ones. Thus, a network is formed that will determine the level during the installation of a heater or frame system. After such preparatory work you can start installing a heat insulator.

Can be performed different materials. How to insulate the walls of the house from the outside? How do materials differ from each other?

Use of Styrofoam

Use of expanded polystyrene as a heater. How to insulate a house from the outside with polystyrene foam? You need to properly insulate according to the instructions.

Installation instructions for this thermal insulation product:

  • At the beginning, it is necessary to install a corner along the bottom edge of the wall, in compliance with right level- the first layer of heat insulator will be aligned on it. It is installed using special glue, glue for ceramic tiles is also suitable.
  • The sheets are pressed tightly against the wall and leveled with plumb lines and a level. The second layer of material is applied after the final drying of the first, so as not to knock it off the level.

It should be noted that the sheets of each subsequent level are mounted in a brick order, that is, the seam of the lower level is located in the middle of the sheet of the next row. This is done so that the sheets of the bottom row hold the top ones.

  • From the second row, expanded polystyrene is attached using special anchors, "umbrellas", as they are called differently. They are driven into each of the four corners and into the center of the sheet.
  • Vertical and horizontal seams are glued with construction tape with reinforcing properties. IN window openings and at the corners of the walls of the heaters it is additionally fastened with corners made of metal.
  • After the wall is completely covered with insulation, a building mesh is mounted on it, then plaster can be applied.

Expanded polystyrene is best suited for insulating walls made of brick and concrete. This installation of insulation has its negative sides. So, for example, this material has a low permeability to water vapor, as a result of which the condensate that will accumulate in the wall can eventually lead to it getting wet.

To avoid this, before installation work to establish a heater, the walls must be dried qualitatively. It is also important to keep them dry during operation. If all this cannot be achieved, then in this case it is better to use the method of installing insulation, which provides for its ventilation.

Remember that in the end there should not be a place where there will be access to polystyrene foam, otherwise small rodents can damage it, and it will also be affected by the environment, which will lead to damage and loss of properties.

Do-it-yourself thermal insulation of the house can be carried out using polystyrene foam.

The use of mineral wool

Many are inclined to believe that it is better to insulate the walls with mineral wool. Mineral wool is another popular insulation. How to insulate a private house using mineral wool? The installation of this insulation is similar in its technological procedures to thermal insulation made using basalt or cellulose slabs.

Installation instructions for mineral wool:

  • In the beginning, wall preparation is always required. We will clean the walls of old plaster and try to level the surface.
  • Then you should proceed with the installation of the frame. It is made of wooden beams, by creating a vertical and horizontal lathing. At the same time, the width and length of the empty space should be less than the insulation sheet by about thirty millimeters - this the necessary conditions so that the mineral wool sheet enters it easily and does not form a large gap.
  • As a fastening of mineral wool sheets, anchor bolts are mounted, on which the material is hung. Since most often the walls remain uneven, it is better to use mineral wool, consisting of two layers. At the same time, a softer layer is installed directly on the wall, thanks to its structure, the most excellent connection of sheets with a heat-insulated surface occurs.

On some versions of mineral wool, plaster can be applied after installing the building mesh or a special vapor-permeable insulating film can be installed. Then you need to strengthen it and the heat insulator with additional wooden beams, after which the facing material is installed. Suitable lining, various siding, tiles and facing bricks.

This type of home insulation, three-layer ventilated, has proven itself in all climatic zones. It is especially suitable for walls made of wood, as it allows this product to breathe and not get damp.

Use of polyurethane foam

How to properly insulate a house with polyurethane foam? When mounting this heater, you must adhere to the same frame structure, as with mineral wool insulation with the installation of wind protection. At the same time, polyurethane foam is foamed onto the wall in a place free from the frame under the film, forming with the wall a very strong connection, thanks to this, an excellent result is achieved in preserving heat indoors.

But there is one drawback - when using this type of insulation, when mounted on vertical walls, it is difficult to form a layer of the same thickness, so it is most often used on horizontal surfaces such as ceilings or roof slopes at a slight angle. Insulating walls with polyurethane is not difficult. It is necessary to insulate the house (booth) using additional products.

The use of basalt slabs

The insulation of the walls of the house from the outside can be carried out using basalt slabs. During the installation of this thermal insulation product, it is necessary to additionally apply a vapor barrier film.

Laying this protective film carried out on the bars, which have a horizontal position, and between the rafters. Then it is necessary to seal the formed joints. Sealing is carried out using a specially designed tape. The layer should be 200 millimeters. Next, a layer of wind protection is laid, and a coating of purlins is made thanks to the beams. This is done in order to provide ventilation.

Before warming up external walls With this material, it is necessary to make a coating of purlins - this is different from the thermal insulation of the internal walls of the building. Leave a gap for ventilation. Attachment of basalt slabs is carried out thanks to self-tapping screws. The final stage of installation includes finishing the surface with siding or some other coating.

To insulate walls from the outside with basalt slabs, you must strictly follow the rules. Warming of a private house is often carried out using basalt slabs.

Cellulose use

How to insulate walls with cellulose? Cellulose can be mounted using three methods: mechanical, dry, wet.

The first method of mounting involves the use of dedicated hardware. Do-it-yourself wall insulation mechanically from the outside is quite expensive. mechanical method It has high performance. This method allows the walls to "breathe". Therefore, it is not necessary to apply a vapor barrier layer.

The dry mounting method is used only for thermal insulation of horizontal surfaces. How are walls insulated from the outside using this method? The insulation product is applied to the walls manually without the use of special equipment. First, the pulp must be fluffed, this is done with a drill.

Then it must be poured out of the container to the surface. Next is its tamping. If, nevertheless, the insulation needs to be applied to a vertical surface, then the work will take place in two stages. First you need to build a wall from the frame, the height of which should be 50 centimeters. Then you need to pour in a heat-insulating product and tamp it. So other parts of the walls are also insulated.

Wet method - it is used for thermal insulation of vertical structures. First, the cellulose must be moistened with water. Thanks to this procedure, the cellulose will seize without problems.

All methods of insulation can be used to insulate a private house from the outside. Or it will be the insulation of a country house.

What is the best way to insulate a house from the outside? There are various materials for insulating walls outside. Each thermal insulation material has its own advantages and disadvantages. The main thing is to be cheap, inexpensive, but of high quality. Use the material for warming the house outside, which has high technical characteristics.

We hope the description of each of them will help you to make right choice. Wall insulation from the outside is an important element in achieving overall comfort. You can insulate the house from the outside with your own hands without anyone's help. You will achieve maximum comfort and coziness in the house.

The reason for the external insulation is that the thermal insulation for the walls, made inside the room, does not allow the internal air to warm up the building. As a result, in the cold season, on a cooled wall, with inside, condensation forms. Thermal insulation does not allow it to evaporate, which entails not only the formation of mold and fungus between the insulation and the wall.

A completely opposite result is obtained when the walls are insulated from the outside. In this case, the walls warm up normally even in severe frosts - thermal insulation does not allow them to cool down and at the same time they remain completely dry - after all, the insulation does not allow cold air to penetrate inside. It is for this reason that the facades are insulated, and not the walls from the inside.

But in this case, the question arises, what about the finish? Modern thermal insulation materials are great for plastering or pasting them. decorative tiles. It only requires some preparation, which was already mentioned in one of our articles. Well, what thermal insulator should be used for insulation - decide for yourself home master. We, in turn, will try to facilitate this choice and talk about various materials used for these purposes.


There are two ways to insulate a building - apply internal insulation rooms or make insulation for the walls of the house outside. What is the best heater to use? The answer is hidden in a short expression - "dew point".

Thermal insulation of the room from the outside will ensure the correct location of the dew point

The dew point is the temperature at which condensation occurs. A point with this temperature can be located in the thickness of the wall, inside it or outside. Its coordinates depend on physical properties wall materials, the thickness of their layers, as well as the external and internal temperature and humidity.

Important! The position of the dew point will be more optimal even in a completely uninsulated wall than in one that is only insulated from the inside.

The correct location of the dew point (outside the wall) can only be obtained by installing the insulation of the walls of the house from the outside, selected taking into account the properties of the material and the thermal calculation of the thickness.

Each of the types of modern insulation for the walls of the house outside has its own characteristics and price range. But their main differences are:

  • low coefficient of thermal conductivity;
  • minimum values ​​of water absorption and vapor permeability;
  • the ability to regulate the microclimate in the room;
  • high sound absorption rates;
  • ecological cleanliness;
  • fire resistance and fire safety;
  • resistance to chemical attack;

Comparative table of thermal conductivity of building materials

  • resistance to biological and mechanical influences (molds, insects, rodents);
  • strength and durability;
  • elasticity and lack of shrinkage;
  • low weight;
  • the possibility of installation without seams, joints, voids;
  • ability to fill complex and hard-to-reach areas;
  • ease of installation.

It is also important to take into account the way in which the consumer prefers to mount insulation for the walls of the house outside. Video showing the opportunity self-fulfillment Works (as well as other manuals) in our time can be found enough.

The optimal insulation for walls is selected taking into account the material of construction

Water absorption and vapor permeability are taken into account to ensure maximum protection of the premises from moisture and are selected taking into account the characteristics of the climate and depending on the method of installation. Thermal conductivity is used to calculate the required thickness of the thermal insulation material.

The most commonly used types of heaters are:

  • expanded polystyrene (polystyrene);
  • extruded polystyrene foam (epps, penoplex);
  • polyurethane foam;
  • mineral wool;
  • basalt heaters;
  • liquid insulation.

Styrofoam is a popular material for insulating the walls of a house from the outside.

Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) is one of the modern polymeric insulation for house walls and is used as such in almost all areas of the construction industry: civil and industrial.

First of all, this material is distinguished by low coefficients of thermal conductivity (from 0.037 to 0.052 W/m*K, depending on the density) and water absorption, resistance to biological and chemical influences, and high soundproofing and windproof properties. It belongs to the group of environmentally friendly substances and is quite durable: its service life exceeds 50 years.

Fact! A layer of foam plastic with a thickness of 50 mm is equivalent to a wall of one and a half bricks in terms of the degree of heat retention.

Expanded polystyrene - easy to install and has a small weight

Other advantages include flexibility and light weight. This helps to reduce the cost of delivery and installation, ease of work, reduce the load on the walls, which, in turn, eliminates the need for additional strengthening of the foundation.

The disadvantage of expanded polystyrene is its combustibility, however, the low price makes it possible to insulate all the walls of the house from the outside with polystyrene foam.

Extruded polystyrene foam (penoplex) is one of the latest generation of thermal insulation materials. In its manufacture, graphite is used in the form of nanoparticles, which increases the strength and energy saving of the product.

Insulation of walls with foam plastic, followed by cladding with siding

The coefficient of thermal conductivity of the penoplex insulation ranges from 0.029 - 0.031 W / m * K. It is mildew resistant chemical substances, insects and rodents, and is an excellent sound insulator.

Due to this, it is possible to use penoplex as a heater outside: for the walls of wooden houses and other buildings, and inside: thermal insulation of ceilings (especially when installing "warm" floors), basements, balconies and loggias.

polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is a type of plastic with a cellular foam structure. The mass of cells filled with air is 90% of the total weight of the product. Due to this, the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient of polyurethane foam is one of the lowest - from 0.023 to 0.041 W / m * K.

Liquid polyurethane foam creates an airtight coating with excellent vapor and waterproofing

Polyurethane foam is different high level adhesion with all types of surfaces: concrete, brick, wood, metal - due to which an airtight coating is created with a guarantee of excellent vapor and waterproofing.

The seamless method of application (using a compressor and a hose) and high elasticity make polyurethane foam an indispensable material for blown thermal insulation when insulating walls outside buildings of complex shapes and frame houses. Insulation for walls outside by blowing can be applied at temperatures up to 100ºС, the service life is up to 30 years.

Liquid polyurethane foam can be used as a blown insulation between the wall of the building and the cladding

The only disadvantage of the material is its high cost and the need to use expensive equipment for installation.

Mineral wool is a product of processing slag (waste from the metallurgical industry) or rocks: basalt and dolomite. Differs in durability, incombustibility, durability, environmental friendliness, elasticity, high degree of sound absorption, ease of installation and low cost. The thermal conductivity of this material is in the range of 0.034 - 0.037 W / m * K.

Mineral wool is characterized by fire resistance, environmental friendliness, high degree of sound absorption and low cost.

For insulation works, mineral wool is used in the form of basalt slabs or in rolls with a wide range of sizes. Mineral wool is used as a heater for the walls of the house outside. The dimensions of the boards produced can be as follows:

  • 1000 x 600 x 50 mm;
  • 7000 x 1200 x 50 mm;
  • 9000 x 1200 x 50 mm;
  • 10000 x 1200 x 50 mm;
  • 10000 x 1200 x 100 mm.

Expanded polystyrene plates can have docking grooves for ease of installation

Basalt insulation is used in buildings of any purpose, in particular - for insulation in the country, wooden houses and buildings made of timber. bricks or foam blocks. It is possible to carry out work with this material at a temperature in the range from -60ºС to 220ºС, which is definitely convenient when mounted on walls from the outside.

What insulation is best for the roof different designs. Types of insulation for roofs and ceilings. Mineral and synthetic roof insulation. Mansard roof insulation.

It is most preferable to use mineral wool or basalt slabs when installing insulation for the walls of the house outside under the siding.

It is most preferable to use mineral wool to insulate the house from the outside, followed by siding.

It is also popular to use mineral wool (along with polyurethane foam) to create blown insulation. With this method, using a compressor unit, the material is blown between the wall of the house and finishing facade. which also serves as a formwork.

Liquid heat-insulating materials can be called heaters of a new generation. It is possible to use them both for thermal insulation of metal parts (pipes or frames), and as a heater for houses made of foam blocks. Outside, on the walls, these ceramic multi-component substances look like acrylic paint.

However, they differ from paint in the content of vacuumized voids (up to 80%), due to which they acquire the properties of a heat insulator.

Liquid heaters are similar to acrylic paint

Interesting! Liquid heaters have a record low coefficient of thermal conductivity (from 0.0011 to 0.0015 W / m * K). For comparison, the thermal conductivity of vacuum is 0.

With a liquid consistency, these materials do not require professional skills and sophisticated equipment for application to any surface: concrete, brick, metal, wood. They are applied using paint tools: brushes, rollers, airless spray guns - and fill all voids and crevices.

The choice of insulation for external walls. 3 options for wall insulation from the outside

Wall insulation from the outside can be carried out with different materials. There is a wide range on the market. But what is the best way to insulate the facade of the house? The answer to the question depends on several factors. And you should not always believe the manufacturer's advertising.

Warming the facade of the house with modern materials will be useless without observing the technology. This should also be taken into account when preparing for work. Before insulating the house from the outside, you need to understand the nuances of the process.


It is important not only to choose the right heat insulator, but also to comply with the insulation technology

Wall insulation can be divided into two large groups:

  • inorganic;
  • organic.

The second group has more representatives. This includes products of the chemical industry: expanded polystyrenes (foam plastic, foam plastic), natural ecowool. When choosing how to insulate the facade of the house from the outside, first of all, you need to pay attention to the physical properties.

Styrofoam

Such thermal insulation belongs to the class of foamed polymers. Styrofoam is highly efficient, easy to install, and isolates noise quite well. Another advantage - affordable price. But the disadvantages of such material are significantly greater. To choose the best way to insulate the walls of the house from the outside, it is important to consider that polystyrene has such qualities as:

  • combustibility;
  • fragility (service life rarely exceeds 10-20 years);
  • poor vapor permeability (additional ventilation of the premises will be required);
  • instability to the simultaneous effects of cold and moisture (the material crumbles into separate balls);
  • low strength.

Styrofoam is affordable, excellent thermal insulation, but flammable and short-lived

There is a possibility that during the aging process the material will release toxic styrene. The concentration is small, and when insulated from the outside, the substance practically does not penetrate into the room, but this property casts doubt on the manufacturer's statements about environmental friendliness.

Read more about the insulation of the facade with foam plastic.

To insulate the house from the outside with your own hands, you can use extruded polystyrene foam or, more simply, foam plastic. This material is a close relative of foam. It has all its advantages and some disadvantages. But compared to the previous version, it is devoid of such important disadvantages as:

  • instability to moisture and cold;
  • low strength;
  • fragility.

Flammability and low vapor permeability remain. Although some manufacturers increase the fire resistance class by introducing special additives, it is not possible to obtain a completely non-combustible material.


Penoplex is a strong durable material, but it has a low fire resistance class.

Facade insulation wooden house do-it-yourself is not recommended to be carried out using foam or polystyrene foam. Such buildings are valued by the owners for the naturalness of the materials and the ability of the walls to “breathe”. External insulation with polystyrene will completely block the movement of air. In this case, additional forced ventilation because natural will not be enough. Polystyrenes can easily turn a building into a greenhouse, it is worth remembering this when deciding how to insulate a house from the outside.

Read more about facade insulation with extruded polystyrene foam.

Ecowool

Such a material deserves the title of environmentally friendly insulation, since it is completely made from cellulose fibers. External wall insulation with such material is not subject to decay and is unattractive to rodents. This can be achieved by adding minerals to the composition: boric acid and storms.

In order to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors even in the most frosty winter, it is necessary to properly insulate the house. If a new building is being erected, then the insulation is carried out after the walls and roof of the building are installed.

If a private house is already many years old, then perhaps wall material has already lost strength and in some places cracks of various sizes have appeared, which contribute to heat loss, in this case it is necessary to first seal all cracks and irregularities, and only then proceed to work on warming the house.

Materials for insulation

There are a huge number of materials with which you can carry out the insulation of the walls of the house.
Most popular:

Styrofoam

This material is the most inexpensive among heaters for outdoor work. This is not the only merit. Expanded polystyrene has a very low thermal conductivity, which allows the use of a smaller layer of insulation, has a low weight, and is easily cut into pieces of the required size.

The disadvantages of this insulation include low vapor permeability and high flammability. It is not advisable to use expanded polystyrene for warming wooden houses, due to insufficient good air exchange, as a result of which the tree will be subject to decay processes.

This material is most often used for insulation of brick and stone houses. A layer of insulation 100 mm thick will reduce the cost of space heating by 5 times.


Expanded polystyrene has a very low thermal conductivity, which allows the use of a smaller layer of insulation, has a low weight, and is easily cut into pieces of the required size.

glass wool

This material has a large number of advantages, among which one can single out a small weight, thanks to which this insulation can be used to insulate old buildings. Glass wool is not subject to rotting, mice are not able to gnaw through this material.

Glass wool bends easily, so the insulation of walls that have various roundings in their design is not a problem. This material is made from quartz sand and cullet, which cannot but positively affect the final cost of this product.

Glass wool is not without drawbacks, among which the most unpleasant is the hygroscopicity of the material. Absorbing moisture, the insulation loses to a large extent its thermal insulation properties, therefore it is undesirable to use this material for external insulation, in places where the groundwater level comes too close to the surface of the earth.

If the climate in this region is too humid, then it is better to abandon the use of this insulation, or to carry out high-quality waterproofing of glass wool. Over time, glass wool fibers can stick together and decrease in volume, which also contributes to a decrease in thermal insulation properties.

When working with this material, you must adhere to strict safety requirements, use rubberized gloves, a respirator and goggles. If the smallest particles of glass enter the lungs and eyes, it can lead to undesirable consequences. If you work with this insulation without gloves, then the glass fibers can penetrate the skin, causing prolonged irritation and tingling.


Glass wool is not subject to decay, mice cannot gnaw through this material

stone wool

This material resembles glass wool in many characteristics, but there are several fundamental differences that make this material more attractive for use in outdoor home insulation. The manufacturing process of this material consists in drawing thin threads from the melt of rocks of the basalt group.

The threads are randomly placed in forms in which the material is pressed under certain temperature conditions. Stone wool is a denser material in comparison with glass wool, but it surpasses this material in terms of its thermal insulation characteristics. Stone wool can be easily cut into blocks of any shape, which makes the process of installing the slabs easy and not time consuming.

This material has a very high vapor permeability with almost no hygroscopicity. If technological errors were not made during the insulation, then the wall will remain “breathing”. Due to the fact that this heat-insulating material has a high density, it can be easily installed on glue, which also speeds up the installation process.

Stone wool has disadvantages, among which the most unpleasant is the high cost.


Stone wool is a denser material compared to glass wool, but surpasses this material in terms of its thermal insulation characteristics.

Foil insulation

It is mainly used for floor insulation, but can also be used for thermal insulation of walls. The insulation consists of a layer of polyethylene foam and a thin aluminum foil. Due to its high heat reflecting characteristics, this material is 2 times higher than the insulating properties of stone wool.

Foil insulation is easily mounted on the wall due to its very low weight, which significantly reduces the time of work.

The disadvantage of this material is almost 100% vapor tightness.


Due to its high heat reflecting characteristics, this material is 2 times higher than the insulating properties of stone wool

For implementation correct installation pre-alignment of the walls is necessary in order for the cork slabs to be installed on outer wall houses without gaps. Unlike the materials listed above, no synthetic substances are used for the production of cork insulation, which makes cork slabs one of the most environmentally friendly materials for insulating residential premises.

This material can be used for interior decoration and for wall insulation. Unlike glass wool, cork does not absorb moisture, which allows it to be used even in conditions of high humidity and high groundwater.

Even after a long period of operation, there is no shrinkage of the material, so the plastered surface does not deform and does not form cracks. The material does not impede the passage of steam, which allows it to be used for insulating the exterior facades of wooden houses. When insulating brick and stone walls, steam exchange also occurs through the pores of the walls and the insulation layer.

Cork insulation is fireproof; when exposed to high temperatures, it does not emit substances hazardous to humans. The disadvantage of cork is its high cost, which significantly exceeds stone and glass wool slabs of similar size.


Unlike glass wool, cork does not absorb moisture, which allows it to be used even in conditions of high humidity and high groundwater.

Making a choice

In order to determine which material to use for external wall insulation, the following questions should be answered:

  1. What material are the walls made of?
  2. What is the humidity in the area where the house is located.
  3. How high are ground water.
  4. What is the financial possibility of acquiring 1 m2.
  5. How many people will be involved in the work.

If the walls of the house are made of wood, then materials such as polystyrene foam, foil insulation and glass wool are not used.

Styrofoam is combustible, which increases the fire hazard of a wooden structure.

Foil insulation almost completely seals the structure resulting in wood decay and mold formation.

With high humidity and close proximity to groundwater, glass wool is not used to insulate wooden houses.

The most suitable material for insulation wooden walls is cork insulation, but its cost is quite high, so before you go to the store to purchase this product, you should make correct calculations full cost.

You can insulate a wooden house with cork slabs yourself. Cork - has a low weight and is attached to wooden base using nails or screws.

If you want to insulate the outside stone or brick house, then expanded polystyrene is the most suitable material for this purpose.

Even if groundwater is close to the construction site, this fact does not negative impact on the quality of the insulation layer.

In terms of financial costs, expanded polystyrene is the most inexpensive of the known materials for thermal insulation of walls.

For insulation of brick and stone walls, basalt slabs are used, which do not absorb moisture and have high thermal insulation properties. Price this material quite high, but the cost of heating a house insulated stone wool, will drop significantly.

Features of insulation

Foam insulation

Due to the high flammability and low vapor permeability, it is practically not used for thermal insulation works of wooden structures.

Insulation of concrete and brick walls carried out in the following sequence:

  1. The surface of the wall must be perfectly flat. Cracks, sags and other irregularities must be sealed with sand-cement mortar.
  2. After the wall is leveled, the surface should be primed to improve adhesion. For this purpose, primers with deep penetration are used. This work can be done with a roller, brush or spray gun.
  3. Installation of plates is made after complete drying of the primer layer. Styrofoam gluing to the wall is carried out special glue for expanded polystyrene or using dry mixes. The foam installation starts from the bottom, the rows are set in a checkerboard pattern with a half-sheet step. If dry mixes are used to install polystyrene foam, then immediately before starting work, prepare a working solution using construction mixer or a special nozzle that is installed on a drill. The mortar is applied with a comb trowel to the wall, while it is possible to level the wall a little, applying more mortar where the wall has slight inward curvature.
  4. After applying the adhesive, the foam sheets are installed manually. When pressing each slab against the wall, it is necessary to ensure that there is no adhesive solution in the joints between the slabs. If a gap has formed between the plates, then it must be repaired with pieces of polystyrene or polyurethane foam.
  5. After completion of work on the installation of boards on an adhesive base, and exposure of the solution for at least 3 days, polystyrene boards additionally fixed with plastic dowels. For this purpose, 5 holes are drilled for each sheet with a depth slightly greater than the length of the plastic dowel. One hole is drilled exactly in the middle of the sheet, four others are drilled in the corners. Then a plastic “fungus” is installed in each hole, the cap of which should be in the same plane with the surface of the foam sheet. After installing the “fungus”, a plastic nail is hammered in, which is inserted in such a way that the cap of the “fungus” is immersed 2-3 mm inside the foam. After the foam is fixed, reinforcement is performed with plastic dowels outer surface using a plastic facade mesh and special adhesive mixtures for reinforcement. Adhesive composition it is applied with a spatula on the installed foam plates in an even layer, after which a reinforcing mesh is installed in the adhesive layer, and the solution layer protruding beyond its surface is leveled. Thus, the insulation of the outer walls of the house with foam is carried out.


Wall insulation with mineral wool

Insulation of the outer walls of a building with mineral wool can be done in three different ways:

  1. ventilated way- a hinged frame structure is used.
  2. The "well" method- when implementing this method of installation, a layer of heat insulator is laid between two layers of brickwork.
  3. wet way- a layer of plaster is applied to the insulation.

When using a ventilated laying method, insulation can be carried out as wooden, concrete or brick walls. The installation process is carried out in the following sequence:

  1. An adhesive base is applied to the wall.
  2. A mineral wool slab is pressed against the wall.
  3. After the glue has dried, the plates are additionally fixed with plastic dowels.
  4. Then, with a small gap from the insulation layer, facing plates are installed on the frame.

Thus, between the layer of mineral wool and the facing slabs, constant air circulation will be carried out, which will prevent the formation of increased air humidity between these layers.

When erecting brick walls, the method of laying mineral wool of the “well” type is the most preferable. In this way, old buildings can also be insulated.

This method of insulation is very simple, and is carried out in the following sequence:

  1. Heat insulator plates are fixed to the main layer of the wall.
  2. The wall is faced with silicate or ceramic bricks.

Using this method of insulation of the outer walls of the building, it is possible to obtain a high degree of thermal insulation, while the wall will be absolutely vapor-permeable.

The wet method involves applying a plaster layer over the insulation.

First, mineral wool slabs are laid on the wall in the manner described above. Then, a reinforcing plastic mesh is laid on the heat-insulating layer, using an adhesive solution. Are being completed thermal insulation works applying a plaster layer to the reinforcing mesh.

Insulation with polyurethane foam

The modern method of wall insulation is spraying a layer of polyurethane. In terms of time costs, this method takes less time than the installation of various heat-insulating boards.

Spraying can be done under siding and under plaster:

  1. Under the siding, brackets are first installed on the wall, on which the profile will be installed. Then the calculated layer of insulation is sprayed.
  2. Under plaster, a layer of polyurethane foam is applied to the wall in an even layer. After the foam has completely dried, the most protruding tubercles of the hardened substance are cut off. After that, a layer of a special primer is applied to increase adhesion between the layer of insulation and plaster. Then a uniform layer of plaster is applied to the insulation, into which a reinforcing plastic mesh is embedded. After the first layer of plaster is completely dry, the final, decorative layer of plaster is applied.

  1. Walls insulated on the outside allow not only to keep warm, but also significantly increase the mechanical strength of the walls from the effects of negative environmental factors.
  2. When using polyurethane foam for home insulation and glass wool must use personal protective equipment.
  3. When carrying out insulation of external walls at a considerable height, it is necessary to equip special scaffolding.
  4. To purchase materials for external wall insulation, please contact only in specialized outlets.

We will send the material to you by e-mail

Home insulation is one of the critical factors affecting the savings of the family budget. After all, if the house is blown from all sides, heating costs increase many times over. Experienced craftsmen do not advise warming the premises from the inside - this leads not only to a decrease in usable area, but also to the destruction of the walls due to the formation of condensate between the walls and thermal insulation, which means that such work should be done outside the buildings. Types of insulation for walls outside, the price and materials for the manufacture of thermal insulation - this is the topic of our conversation today.

Wall insulation is very important for saving the family budget.

The reason for the external insulation is that the thermal insulation for the walls, made inside the room, does not allow the internal air to warm up the building. As a result, in the cold season, on the cooled wall, from the inside, condensation forms. Thermal insulation does not allow it to evaporate, which entails not only the formation of mold and fungus between the insulation and the wall. This leads to a rather rapid destruction of the wall. In addition, literally after a year or two, a persistent smell of dampness begins to appear in the home, which is quite difficult to get rid of.

Extruded polystyrene - what is it

This material has a higher cost, but at the same time its technical characteristics are much better. The most famous of these heaters for walls outside can be safely called penoplex. It is strong enough, although it has a porous structure. It is also very convenient in plastering. Installation is carried out on special mastics, adhesive bases without the use of acetone, but the best option at exterior finish can be called special plastic anchors.

For rodents and various pests, such a heater is of no interest. In addition, in its manufacture, substances are used that are not susceptible to the formation of fungus. In fact, there is only one minus - high flammability. The weight of the plates is small, which, coupled with its strength, makes it possible to carry out work on the insulation of the house from the outside with foam plastic to one person without any help.

Polyurethane foam - what are its disadvantages and advantages

Such material has been known for a long time and has found application not only as a thermal insulator. It is used as a filler in armchairs and sofas, car and bus seats. To put it simply, this is foam rubber, which is probably known to every person.

As a heater, it can only be used under panels. Its soft structure does not allow plastering. Although some home craftsmen, using foam rubber as a heat insulator, then close it or, which allows subsequent plastering of the wall.

It is important to know! Its major disadvantage is its instability high temperatures. Moreover, thanks to chemical composition this thermal insulator, when ignited, emits very toxic substances, which is quite easy to poison, unlike extruded polystyrene foam, which is not subject to combustion.

Many are now talking about the harm that the phenol allegedly emitted by this material causes. However, scholars are divided on this. Some say that it is absolutely neutral, while others, on the contrary, argue that it causes colossal harm to the body. We will not take sides, limiting ourselves to stating facts - this material is now used in almost all furniture, in cars, and even as a filler for pillows. And if its harm had been proven, then a self-respecting manufacturer would hardly have dared to poison people.

Mineral wool, its varieties and the possibility of using it for thermal insulation

This heat insulator can be used inside or outside thermal insulation of walls followed by siding or wall panels. It is most widely used in the construction of ventilated facades and insulation. Most often, for these purposes, its variety is used - plates of a certain size of basalt insulation, the price of which is relatively low.

Mineral wool has a higher thermal conductivity and vapor permeability than previous options. It is due to this that it is the cheapest insulation. However, when using it, the heat in the house becomes quite enough. A rather unpleasant moment can be called the fact that when working with it, the body begins to itch. Of course, not as strong as it was with its predecessor - glassy, ​​but still sensitive. In addition, it is quite brittle and fragile material. But still, for such a type of insulation as a ventilated facade, such a thermal insulator is practically indispensable.

Liquid insulation for walls - how to use it and how it performs its functions

In appearance, such a heat insulator resembles thick paint. There is no doubt about the quality of his performance of his functions. However, its popularity is reduced by its high cost - not everyone can afford it. It is for this reason that professionals advise applying it only in the corners of the house and at the joints of the foundation and walls. It is better to cover the rest of the area with a more affordable heater. It will be very wasteful to choose it to insulate all wall surfaces.

Such material can be divided into 2 groups - this is thermal paint and liquid foam. Both of them do an excellent job not only with warming, but also with. Fits well on them, which means their compatibility with any material. High adhesion allows the use of this heat insulator on any surface, be it stone, concrete, brick or wood.

The main manufacturers of thermal insulation materials - a brief overview

There are a lot of manufacturers of thermal insulation in Russia. And each of them is good in its own way, and therefore it makes no sense to make any kind of rating, it makes no sense. So today we will just say a few words about each of them.

  • "Ecover"– manufacturer of basalt slabs good quality. In addition to wall products, it produces roofing heat-insulating materials and sandwich panels.

  • "Knauf"- the same mineral wool, however, the peculiarity of the manufacturer is that he produces it not in slabs, but in rolls. The layer thickness can be different.
  • "Isover"- glass wool and its varieties. Such a thermal insulator has a very big drawback - the organization of moisture removal is required
  • "Penofol"- basalt slabs are quite high quality, but the heat-insulating material made of extruded polystyrene foam brought great popularity to this brand.
  • "TechnoNIKOL"- a brand known throughout Russia and having factories in many regions. In addition to roofing material and others roofing materials manufactures XPS boards and basalt insulation.
  • "URSA"– mainly basalt and fiberglass boards of excellent quality
  • "Penoplex"- the name has become a household name. "Penoplex" is now called all the plates of their XPS, regardless of the manufacturer
  • Ecoteplin- unique and absolutely natural tile materials, which include flax fibers, borax and starch.

  • "Astratek"liquid heaters, which have no analogues in Russia. High-quality thermal insulation is achieved already when applying a layer of only 3 mm.

Related article:

By choosing plates of suitable thickness, you can ensure a sufficient level of thermal insulation of walls, floors, ceilings. Let's talk about this heater in more detail in our review.

The list of manufacturers is endless, we have named only a few of the most famous.

Features of wall insulation outside the house - ventilated facade

Mineral wool is used for the ventilated facade. In simple terms, without the use of building terms, a frame is assembled on the wall from metal profile with cells according to the size of mineral, fiberglass or basalt slabs, or the same profiles are attached in a line from the bottom to the top of the building, between which insulation is laid. After it closes with a special hydro and. Facing is made with ceramic-granite tiles (usually 50 × 50 cm), which are fixed to the same guides using special metal clips called "crabs".

Thus, the developer achieves a solution to several problems at once - insulation, vapor barrier and finishing.

Three-layer wall construction - installation features

Thus, the walls of low-rise buildings from or are often insulated. The technology is pretty simple. A building made of rough bricks is insulated from the outside with the help of any polymer thermal insulator, and then lined with facing bricks. But although the quality of such thermal insulation is not bad, this method has its drawbacks. The main of them can be called the low durability of the insulation in comparison with the construction and facing material. Despite this, the popularity of such insulation is quite high.

Calculation of insulation for the walls of the house: convenient online calculators

It is not difficult to calculate the required dimensions of the plates along the length and width of the wall. Much big problem here represents the calculation of the required thickness, which depends on many different parameters, including the region in which the residential building is located. That is why we suggest you use our online calculators, which will perform all the calculations themselves.

Online calculator for calculating the thickness of the insulation of the walls of a wooden house

natural board glued plywood sheets OSB clapboard or MDF panels natural cork chipboard boards or fiberboard sheets

board or natural lining plywood OSB sheets lining or MDF panels natural cork chipboard boards or fiberboard sheets drywall

Do not fill in if you do not need to send results

Send the result to my email

Online calculator for calculating the thickness of wall insulation with foam foam