Insulation of a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside. Insulation of walls made of expanded clay concrete How to insulate a house outside from expanded clay concrete blocks

Insulating a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside worries many developers, since this material is increasingly popular in low-rise construction. In this article we will consider whether it is necessary to insulate expanded clay block walls 40 cm thick during construction or when the house has already been built. With an additional layer of thermal insulation, less money will be spent on heating the home, but insulating walls made of expanded clay concrete will require costs for the purchase of building materials.

Low-rise construction from expanded clay blocks has long been very popular. This material differs from foam block in greater strength and frost resistance, but expanded clay concrete also has a low thermal conductivity coefficient. But with insufficient thickness of external walls and lack of insulation strip foundation, heating such a house in winter will be very expensive.

Is it necessary to insulate a house made of expanded clay blocks?

Even before the construction of the house begins and during the laying of 40 cm expanded clay block walls, many decide to add additional insulation a private house to save on heating costs. Expanded clay concrete is a very durable material, but it is not the warmest, unlike wood concrete and foam concrete blocks. Let's consider how and with what to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks with your own hands.

Comparison of insulation materials by thermal conductivity

To protect the facade and external walls of the house from freezing, a layer of thermal insulation of at least 10 cm is required. For these tasks, you can use expanded polystyrene or mineral wool, which are attached to the facade from the outside of the house. In the next chapter we will tell you how to independently insulate a house made of expanded clay blocks from the outside and inside, and what kind of thermal insulation is best to use in your work.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks

Builders recommend insulating the facade of a house in a certain sequence - the lower the vapor permeability of the material, the closer it should be to the street in the insulation “pie”. Material with greater vapor permeability should be located closer to the heated room. But the most perfect option– build walls without insulation, using a thermal insulation calculator to calculate the thickness of the walls.

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay block mineral wool

Many developers believe that when insulating brick house or walls made of expanded clay block, it is better to give preference stone wool. The advantage of mineral wool over polystyrene foam is fire resistance and safety for human health. But the use of glass wool and basalt wool requires the use of a vapor barrier film to protect against moisture when laying fiber insulation on the facade.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay block with polystyrene foam

When externally insulating an expanded clay block with polystyrene foam, it should be remembered that polystyrene foam should be protected from mechanical damage siding or facade plaster. The main advantage of expanded polystyrene boards is the low cost of the material and ease of installation. Foam boards are attached to the expanded clay block façade using polystyrene foam glue and dowel mushrooms.

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay block with penoplex

Extruded polystyrene foam is a dense and durable insulation material that is not afraid of moisture. Due to its characteristics, extrusion is ideal for foundations and insulation of the blind area of a house. Expanded polystyrene thermal insulation is best used from the street, since the material is fire hazardous, and high temperature releases substances harmful to humans - styrene.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks with foam plastic

Do-it-yourself insulation of a house made of expanded clay blocks

Let's consider several options for protecting expanded clay concrete blocks from freezing from the outside and inside. To insulate a house from the inside, do not use polystyrene foam; it is always better to insulate it from the outside. No matter what manufacturer mineral wool you have not chosen, you should remember that the insulation must be protected with a vapor barrier film on the side of the warm room.

How to do it

If the house is laid out walls made of expanded clay block 40 centimeters without cladding, then you can insulate the house by laying insulation between the blocks and bricks. Despite the effectiveness of this method, it is characterized by the complexity of the work and the high costs associated with paying professional masons. Let's consider a thermal insulation option that you can do yourself.

Insulation of expanded clay block walls from the outside can be done by cladding the house with slab thermal insulation and siding. Expanded polystyrene is attached to the facade using glue and is additionally secured in the corners with dowel mushrooms. A painting mesh is glued over the foam and the facade is puttied. When covering a facade with siding, you should first make guides from bars.

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay blocks from the outside

If expanded clay concrete walls are laid out at 40 centimeters with cladding, then there is only one way out - to insulate the expanded clay block wall from the inside of the room. The disadvantage of this solution is the reduction of living space and freezing of external walls. Expanded clay concrete will be exposed to frost, as a result of which condensation and mold may form between the insulation and the wall.

At the stage of building a house, you can fill the space between the walls with polyurethane foam or ecowool. brickwork and expanded clay block. The disadvantage of using sprayed thermal insulation is the high cost of the material and the presence of special equipment. Therefore, when constructing walls, you can use inexpensive insulation - polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam Technoplex.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the inside

Do not use thermal insulation inside a living space The best decision. In this case, the dew point will be between the insulation and the wall, which will certainly cause condensation. When designing, the dew point should always be avoided or set as close as possible to external wall. All this can be avoided if you independently insulate the house from expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside.

An online dew point calculator will help you calculate the thickness of thermal insulation and see where condensation occurs.

To reduce the thermal conductivity of expanded clay block walls, you can get by with facade plaster, which has an almost identical composition to expanded clay concrete. At the same time, the plaster levels the façade and closes all cracks and micropores in the masonry. You can also use thermal panels made of extruded polystyrene foam to insulate the facade.

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay blocks from the outside and inside

Insulating a house made of expanded clay blocks from the outside worries many developers, since the material is popular in low-rise construction.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks

Preface. Most often, when building houses from expanded clay blocks, the walls are 40 cm thick, i.e. in two blocks. Even before the start of construction, many people ask themselves the question: is it worth insulating walls made of expanded clay block? The second option, when the house has already been built and a lot of money is spent on heating, the owners ask themselves the question - what is the best way to insulate a house made of expanded clay block? We will analyze these two options in this article and show a video lesson on how to insulate expanded clay concrete walls yourself.

Is it necessary to insulate walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks?

Most often during construction country house The walls are made of expanded clay block at 40 cm, i.e. in two blocks. Even before construction begins, many people ask the question: is it worth insulating walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks? The second option, when the house has already been built and a lot of money is spent on heating, the owners are already asking the question - what is the best way to insulate a house made of expanded clay block? how to insulate a house made of expanded clay block?

Options for laying walls from expanded clay concrete blocks

Alas, these blocks, although durable, are not the most warm material. The most important thing is that without insulation, heating a house will be much more expensive. In this case, the insulation must be at least 10 cm, for example, the most inexpensive option is polystyrene foam on the outside of the house, but everything must be airtight - the seams between the sheets of insulation should be carefully foamed polyurethane foam.

How and how to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside

Comparison of thermal conductivity of wall materials

Modern construction material in the form of expanded clay concrete blocks, it is reliable and durable.

Additional advantages include frost resistance and water resistance. It is due to these characteristics that it is in great demand among developers.

Let's consider several options for wall insulation.

In any option, it should be remembered that the insulation must be covered from the outside with a vapor barrier film. This rule especially applies to insulation materials that can absorb moisture from environment, at the same time their thermal conductivity characteristics increase, which is not at all to our advantage.

1. house walls 40 centimeters without external brickwork

You can insulate a house from the outside using facing masonry, laying insulation between the expanded clay block and the brick. This is a more expensive insulation option. Despite its effectiveness, this method is not used very often. The problem is the high cost of the facing material and the complexity construction work, namely facing brickwork. Not everyone can do it efficiently, and the work of masons is quite expensive, so let’s consider the following option, which you can do yourself.

External insulation of expanded clay block house

The second method involves cladding the walls from expanded clay block on the outside PVC panels or siding, under which insulation is placed. Alternatively, you can lay 5cm foam sheets in two rows so that the second row overlaps the seams of the first row (in a checkerboard pattern). The siding is attached to pre-installed vertical rails on the walls. You can also use basalt, roll insulation, protecting them with a vapor barrier from moisture.

And another option for insulating walls made of expanded clay blocks from the outside with your own hands is to line the house with slab insulation (expanded polystyrene or penoplex) and then apply decorative plaster on top of the insulation. The insulation on the walls is attached to adhesive composition, and additionally attached to the fungi. A mesh is glued on top and puttied decorative plaster. You can do this insulation option yourself.

2. house walls 40 centimeters thick with facing masonry

This problem can arise when you bought an unfinished house made of expanded clay blocks, where there is no insulation between the wall and the facing masonry, but only an air gap of 5 cm. Also, perhaps you built such a house yourself, but noticed that more money is spent on heating the house, than you expected, or more than your neighbors. In this case, you will need to think about how to insulate the facade of a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the inside with your own hands, or rather between the wall and the facing masonry..

Insulation of a house with facing masonry

If you bought an unfinished house where there is no insulation between the expanded clay block and the facing brick, then you can insulate the wall from the inside using polyurethane foam, which is poured between the walls in drilled holes. This insulation, after pouring, expands, like polyurethane foam, without forming gaps or cracks.

In addition, polyurethane foam is not afraid of moisture and rodents, which means your home is not afraid of rustling rodents between the walls; insulation will ensure the preservation of heat and protect the walls of the house from dampness, moisture and mold. The only disadvantage of such insulation is its high cost, and you won’t be able to insulate the walls this way on your own - you need special equipment.

Everything is much simpler if you are building a house yourself, then when building walls you need to put insulation between the walls. But what is the best way to insulate a house in this case? - you ask. Most often, mineral wool, polystyrene foam or penoplex are used for these purposes. Let's take a closer look at these types of insulation for thermal insulation of expanded clay block walls with our own hands.

Insulation for expanded clay concrete facade of a house

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay block with mineral wool

According to professionals, of all the options for insulating a house made of expanded clay blocks, it is better to give preference to mineral wool. The main advantage of this insulation is safety for health due to environmentally friendly components. In addition, the material does not burn and retains heat well. When insulating expanded clay block walls with mineral wool, the insulation must be covered with a vapor barrier, protecting it from getting wet and moisture.

Insulation of the facade of a house made of expanded clay block with polystyrene foam

When insulating walls with polystyrene foam, you should remember that rodents can live in it; in addition, polystyrene foam absorbs moisture and is a fire hazard. The ventilated façade must be covered with a grille to prevent the possibility of small animals and birds getting into the insulation. An additional advantage of polystyrene foam is the low cost of the material, ease of installation, and light weight.

Insulation of the facade of a house made of expanded clay blocks with penoplex

Penoplex more modern material, it is denser and more durable than polystyrene foam. In addition, penoplex is not afraid of moisture, is environmentally friendly and rodents do not live in it. The slabs have locks that minimize the formation of gaps, it is lightweight and easy to install. In our opinion, this is the best option for insulating the walls of a house built from expanded clay block.

How and how to insulate houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the inside

Use insulation for interior walls at home is not the best solution. Since in this case the dew point (the junction of cold and warm air with the formation of condensation) will be located between the insulation and the wall. Thus, the expanded clay block wall will freeze completely, which will not happen if you independently insulate the wall from the outside.

Insulation of expanded clay block walls from the inside

Today, builders advise insulating walls with materials in the following sequence - the higher the material’s thermal insulation properties, the closer it should be to the street, i.e. more cold material should be located closer to the heated room. To insulate walls made of expanded clay blocks with your own hands, you should make do with plaster. Wall mortar can be gypsum or cement.

Gypsum plaster is lighter and warmer. Before applying it to the walls, the surface is treated with concrete contact, which increases adhesion. Cement-sand plaster has the same composition as the wall material. This is why high adhesion is ensured. Both cement plaster and gypsum mortar provide the walls of the house equally effective thermal insulation from the inside. They close the micropores of the blocks, seal cracks and crevices.

How and how to insulate walls made of expanded clay block - video, instructions, Do-it-yourself insulation

Many people ask the question: is it worth insulating walls made of expanded clay concrete block? What is the best way to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete block yourself? Let's answer this question in detail.

How important is insulation?

How is insulation carried out?

Expanded clay concrete blocks are frost-resistant and moisture-repellent. Based on this they use various options insulation. But in order for the thermal insulation layer to be installed efficiently and serve for many years, it is important to put a vapor barrier on top of it. This is how the vapor barrier absorbs moisture, retaining its properties completely.

Possible situations

More budget-friendly insulation options are made using panels. For example, lining, metal or plastic siding. Insulation in such situations is often polystyrene foam. This material is laid in two layers, provided that it is 5 cm thick. Place the panels on expanded clay concrete so that the seams of the first layer do not converge with the second. Next, siding is laid, and a vertical profile is placed under it, which forms the frame.

Facade with facing bricks

How to insulate?

Insulating the house from the inside

Therefore, for internal insulation in houses, dense materials that have a vapor barrier are used. Gypsum or cement plaster will help protect and insulate the wall from the inside. The mass of the gypsum solution is less, and the heat saving capabilities are higher. The only negative is that gypsum does not adhere well to expanded clay concrete blocks. To eliminate this drawback, you need to prepare the wall before work.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside?

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay concrete. The importance of the procedure, insulation technology. The most popular materials for insulation: mineral wool, polystyrene foam, penoplex. Features of internal insulation.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside

Insulation of the walls of an expanded clay concrete house

Expanded clay concrete is laid in two rows, which corresponds to 40 cm. This thickness is not enough for the house to have thermal insulation properties. Without insulation, residents will have to intensively heat the house or endure unfavorable living conditions. To solve this problem, insulation is used. They come from different materials and install them different ways. Therefore, before starting at this stage, it is worth familiarizing yourself with all the variety of options.

How important is insulation?

Expanded clay concrete blocks have many advantages and are an alternative solution when looking for a budget-friendly and durable material. But they have their drawbacks - poor thermal insulation. With the help of insulation, this problem is solved, and heating costs are also reduced. For this procedure to be successful, you need to use at least 10 cm of insulation. And also make sure that there are no seams or gaps between the insulation sheets; if there are any, then you should foam them with polyurethane foam.

How is insulation carried out?

Expanded clay concrete blocks are frost-resistant and moisture-repellent. Based on this, various insulation options are used. But in order for the thermal insulation layer to be installed efficiently and serve for many years, it is important to put a vapor barrier on top of it. This is how the vapor barrier absorbs moisture, retaining its properties completely.

Possible situations

It is easy to insulate a house from the outside using expanded clay concrete if you know the two main options for laying an expanded clay concrete block. It is important to study each one to choose the best one for your home.

There is no external façade cladding

This means that there is nothing except two rows of expanded clay concrete blocks. Facade materials completely absent from the outside. In such a situation, when cladding a building with brick, it is possible to place insulation between the cladding and expanded clay concrete.

This is an effective thermal insulation measure, but it is used quite rarely. And all because the material for cladding the entire house will not be cheap. In addition, it is difficult to carry out such a volume of work on insulation with this material yourself. Because of this, you have to resort to outside help, which also costs additional costs.

More budget-friendly insulation options are made using panels. For example, lining, metal or plastic siding. Insulation in such situations is often polystyrene foam. This material is laid in two layers, provided that it is 5 cm thick. The panels are placed on expanded clay concrete so that the seams of the first layer do not meet the second. Next, siding is laid, and a vertical profile is placed under it, which forms the frame.

In addition to foam panels, mineral or basalt wool is used. But such materials require protection in the form of a vapor barrier. A glued slab heat-insulating layer is also used, and then covered with plaster. Slab insulation– polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam or penoplex. Easily attached to expanded clay concrete and then secured with dowels.

Facade with facing bricks

A fairly common situation when purchasing an unfinished building. Such a house already has a brick cladding, but there is no insulating layer between it and the kerazito-concrete one. To correct the situation, the walls are treated with polyurethane foam. This action is performed using holes in the wall through which the mixture is supplied. The polyurethane in these holes expands and fills the gaps.

With such insulation expanded clay concrete house protected from moisture, rodents, mold. The only disadvantage of this procedure is the price. In addition, specialists are needed to lay down this material, which also entails additional costs.

How to insulate?

You can insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete various materials, the most effective and affordable:

Mineral wool. It has high thermal insulation characteristics and is a budget material. Provides protection for expanded clay blocks from moisture, dampness, and temperature changes. They are laid in two layers, between which a waterproofing and windproof layer is placed. Aluminum foil provides a vapor barrier.
Glass wool. Provides good thermal insulation in the house. This is an environmentally friendly material that is used to insulate both the outside and inside of the house. In the first situation, the insulation is placed between foam plastic and expanded clay concrete, and in the second - between the wall and gypsum construction. Plastering over insulating materials will enhance their properties.
Styrofoam. A budget option, but it is flammable and can be deteriorated by rodents. It is advisable to place a reinforced mesh on top of the foam so that birds and small rodents do not have access to it.
Penoplex. This material is similar to polystyrene foam, but it is not interesting to rodents, is more durable and repels water well. It is believed that penoplex - best material for insulating houses.

Insulating the house from the inside

Experts say insulating your home from the inside is not a prudent decision. Condensation may occur on the walls due to a shift in the dew point; in addition, the walls freeze.

Therefore, for internal insulation in houses, dense materials that have a vapor barrier are used. Gypsum or cement plaster will help protect and insulate the wall from the inside. The mass of the gypsum solution is less, and the heat saving capabilities are higher. The only negative is that gypsum does not adhere well to expanded clay concrete blocks. To eliminate this drawback, you need to prepare the wall before work.

Cement plaster is ideal for expanded clay concrete, as they have a similar composition. This plaster adheres well to the wall and seals all existing cracks.

We insulate the walls of a house made of expanded clay concrete from the outside

The construction of houses from expanded clay concrete blocks is becoming quite popular. The material allows you to create a structure with excellent characteristics and at the same time spend little money (when compared with other materials).

The next issue after construction, which needs to be considered at the design stage, is insulation of the house; it will significantly help reduce heating costs. Next, we will consider the need to insulate walls built from expanded clay concrete, and also list the materials that can be used for thermal insulation of walls from the outside.

Is it necessary to insulate expanded clay structures?

The popularity of the material is due to its excellent strength and durability characteristics. It has thermal conductivity, which is almost 3 times lower than that of brick. But you should not neglect the insulation process of the walls of a house made of such material. There are 2 reasons for this:

Expanded clay is aimed at ensuring high structural strength. To do this, when making blocks, they try to make their structure as dense as possible, which facilitates the easier passage of heat through the walls. That is why the exterior finishing of the structure insulation material will help compensate for this deficiency.
Also, external atmospheric influences negatively affect this material. Of course, if you compare it with the same cinder block, then the resistance of expanded clay to frost is much higher. But this does not mean at all that frost does not destroy the material at all - this process occurs more slowly.

Insulating a house made of expanded clay will not only increase its energy efficiency, but will also significantly extend the service life of the structure.

From the above words, it becomes clear that insulation of a structure made of expanded clay concrete blocks should not be abandoned.

Which thermal insulation materials use?

The first thing you need to do is plaster the walls on both sides, even if you plan to add additional insulation! This will significantly affect heat retention.

Let's look at the three main insulation materials that are most often used to insulate the walls of an expanded clay concrete house:

Minvata. It is preferred, in most cases, for several reasons: the exterior decoration will be made of environmentally friendly, non-flammable and heat-resistant material. But it is worth remembering the need for waterproofing - mineral wool must be reliably protected from exposure to a humid environment.
Styrofoam. It is loved by many builders because of its ease, availability, simplicity and speed of installation. But it is also worth remembering its disadvantages: it is easily gnawed by pests, is fire hazardous and susceptible to moisture.
Penoplex. When insulating walls constructed from expanded clay blocks, it is worth paying attention to this material. It is easy to install, more resistant to moisture and rodents than its predecessor, and is environmentally friendly. The disadvantages include cost and high density, which does not allow the walls to “breathe”.

We insulate an expanded clay concrete house ourselves

Let's assume that the opinion of experts has been taken into account, and insulation will be carried out with dense mineral wool. The operating algorithm is approximately as follows:

Installation of polystyrene foam is carried out according to an absolutely similar principle: preparing the wall, priming, installing insulation, strengthening it, reinforcing it, painting or covering it with decorative panels.

The insulation of expanded clay concrete walls should be considered very important. To calculate the width of the insulation layer, use the thermal conductivity value of a particular structure based on the thickness of its external elements.

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay concrete

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay blocks from the outside

Expanded clay concrete blocks are becoming increasingly popular, especially for the construction of private houses. This building material, in fact, differs little from the well-known cinder blocks, the only difference is in the structural filler. Here, the latter is used as a porous material, expanded clay, which itself is often used for insulation. Therefore, expanded clay concrete has a fairly low thermal conductivity. Compared to ceramic clay bricks, expanded clay blocks retain heat 3 times better.

But, despite the fact that walls built from expanded clay concrete are quite warm, thermal insulation measures on the outside will not interfere with them for two reasons:

additional insulation (it hasn’t hurt anyone yet);
protection of expanded clay concrete walls from external influences.

Which method of external thermal insulation is better for expanded clay concrete walls?

Today, three main methods of thermal insulation of houses outside are used:

ventilated facade;
in-wall insulation;
“wet” thermal insulation.

Now let's consider which of these methods is preferable for walls made of the described building material. It is worth immediately noting that expanded clay concrete is quite fragile and, at the same time, a hygroscopic material.

A ventilated facade, which involves the construction of a frame with some kind of cladding facing material, is a structure that carries a significant additional load on the wall. Considering that expanded clay concrete blocks are not particularly strong, it is better to exclude this method of insulating the outside.

The second method involves installing a layer of insulation on the outside of the wall (usually dense slabs of mineral wool), which is then covered with decorative facing bricks. This method of insulation in itself is good, however, it is too expensive, both in terms of purchasing building materials and in paying qualified masons.

The third method of so-called “wet” insulation is perfectly suitable in our case, because:

protects expanded clay concrete blocks from weathering;
does not create large loads on the insulated surface;
allows you to create a unique color design facade;
least expensive in every sense.

Therefore, let's look at how to do such insulation on the outside of a wall made of expanded clay concrete.

Technology of “wet” facade using expanded clay concrete blocks

First, let's decide on the insulation. Expanded clay concrete is a porous, and therefore “breathable” material, so the heat-insulating agent must have the same qualities. According to this criterion, mineral wool, produced in the form of dense and durable slabs, is the best fit.

Sometimes polystyrene foam is used here, but it is not very good in this case, since, being a material with water-repellent properties, it is not capable of passing steam. Therefore, condensation formed from steam that passes through the wall from the side of the room will destroy the expanded clay concrete wall from the outside. Foam plastic, of course, is used for thermal insulation of such walls when guided by considerations of cost savings, because this insulation is the most affordable.

So, let's look at how to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside:

Prepare the surface of the wall, for which it needs to be cleaned of dust and treated with a high-quality primer for external use.
Now we prepare the glue, focusing on the recommendations written on its packaging. For mixing you will need construction mixer or a drill with an appropriate attachment. A properly prepared mixture should stick to work surface spatula.
The adhesive mixture is applied to a sheet of mineral wool like this. First, the entire surface on the glued side is covered with a thin layer, after which a continuous mound of glue is formed around the perimeter. Two slides need to be made in the middle of the slab.
We begin gluing the mineral wool sheets from below from one of the corners. During installation, you should constantly monitor correct position each stove using a spirit level ( building level). It is better to install mineral wool sheets in a circle so that the glue in the underlying rows has time to stick. Adjacent horizontal rows should be positioned so that the vertical seams do not coincide (like bricks in masonry).
After 24 hours, the glued mineral wool slabs are secured with umbrella-shaped dowels. To fix mineral wool, you should use “umbrellas” with a metal core resembling a nail.
Now it’s time to reinforce the insulation surface. For this purpose, a special facade fiberglass mesh is used, which is sold in rolls of 50 meters. Its width is 1 m. It is installed vertically. To do this, the surface is first covered with a layer of plaster glue approximately the width of the mesh. Then, cut to size in advance, a piece of mesh must be pressed into the layer of applied mortar using a wide (50-60 cm) façade spatula. At the same time, the surface is leveled.
Next, the dried reinforcing layer is covered with another thin layer of a special adhesive mass, primed, and covered with some kind of facade decorative plaster. After all of the above layers have dried, painting is done.

It should be noted that if you decide to use foam insulation on the outside, the workflow is exactly the same. The only difference is the glue used for this.

The process of insulating a wall made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside does not present any major difficulties, but it is still better to entrust it to professionals who have done this more than once, since there are plenty of nuances in this work, especially when insulating with mineral wool.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside: do it wisely

Expanded clay concrete blocks, having appeared relatively recently on the construction market, have occupied their niche. However, they did not become mega-popular.

In this article we will try to draw attention to their positive and negative qualities, their use in housing construction and, most importantly, how and how to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside for comfortable living.

Description of material

Blocks, depending on strength and density, are: heat-insulating, partition, wall and facing.

Based on calculations, the recommended thickness of the walls of a building made of expanded clay concrete blocks is 40-60 cm. This is data for designing construction in the central region Russian Federation, including for the Moscow and Leningrad regions. The building material has numerous advantages.

non-flammable;
durable;
not subject to climatic fluctuations;
have a fairly low thermal conductivity coefficient;
environmentally friendly;
do not rot;
not susceptible to rodent infestations;
have high corrosion resistance;
convenient to use, easy to process;
are a good sound insulator.

Compared to other materials, buildings made from expanded clay concrete blocks are more budget-friendly, since their price is lower than that of foam and aerated concrete analogues. A wall built from expanded clay concrete blocks weighs three times less than a brick one. Therefore, there is no need for a strong foundation.

The production of these blocks is not difficult. The standard composition is expanded clay, cement, sand and water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and compacted into molds using a vibrating machine.

When choosing a manufacturer, you should pay attention Special attention on the technology used to produce blocks. Since, in addition to the main components (which must also be of certain fractions and types, such as: cement grade not lower than M400, expanded clay no larger than 100 mm, fine sand), it is necessary to add components to the mixture that increase frost resistance, plasticity, binding capacity (resins , lignosulfonate).

Drying the blocks takes at least a month.

Production of expanded clay concrete blocks

In principle, you can make blocks at home; many people add washing powder. But the quality of these products will remain on the conscience of the manufacturers, since only high-quality equipment can produce good material, having no extra voids.

Important! Expanded clay concrete blocks are available in different densities. You should definitely take this into account when choosing a material, especially for load-bearing walls.

During construction, it should be taken into account that the material is quite fragile and work on installing dowels should be carried out with extreme care. Block walls do not shrink. However, buildings from this material should not be built above two floors.

Insulation of the building

The question often arises: is it necessary to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks? Due to its porous structure, the material has relatively low frost resistance. Therefore, buildings made from such blocks require additional thermal insulation.

In addition, in addition to creating a comfortable microclimate in the house, with the help of insulation it creates additional protection from the influence of the external environment, as a result of which the durability of the structure increases significantly.
In this article we will look at how to properly insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside.
To insulate walls, you can use three types of thermal insulation: mineral wool, polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam (penoplex).
Experts do not recommend using the last two materials based on the following considerations. Polystyrene foam has poor vapor permeability. Vapors penetrating through walls turn into condensation and have a destructive effect on the structure. In addition, it is susceptible to rodents.
Penoplex, due to its density, does not allow walls to breathe and is quite expensive, but does not require additional waterproofing.
Mineral wool (both rolls and mats) is the best option for insulating walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks. It has numerous advantages: it is non-flammable, does not rot, is characterized by good sound and heat insulation, and does not suffer from rodents.

It is more correct to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside, since in this case the dew point will be on the surface of the building and the service life of the structure will increase.

How to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside

Insulation of the walls of an expanded clay concrete house Expanded clay concrete is laid in two rows, which corresponds to 40 cm. This thickness is not enough for the house to have thermal insulation properties. Without insulation, residents will have to…

Is it necessary to insulate expanded clay structures?

Expanded clay is aimed at ensuring high structural strength. To do this, when making blocks, they try to make their structure as dense as possible, which facilitates the easier passage of heat through the walls. That is why finishing the outside of the structure with insulating material will help compensate for this shortcoming.
Also, external atmospheric influences negatively affect this material. Of course, if you compare it with the same cinder block, then the resistance of expanded clay to frost is much higher. But this does not mean at all that frost does not destroy the material at all - this process occurs more slowly.

Insulating a house made of expanded clay will not only increase its energy efficiency, but will also significantly extend the service life of the structure.

From the above words, it becomes clear that insulation of a structure made of expanded clay concrete blocks should not be abandoned.

What thermal insulation materials should I use?

The first thing you need to do is plaster the walls on both sides, even if you plan to add additional insulation! This will significantly affect heat retention.

Let's look at the three main insulation materials that are most often used to insulate the walls of an expanded clay concrete house:

Minvata. It is preferred, in most cases, for several reasons: the exterior decoration will be made of environmentally friendly, non-flammable and heat-resistant material. But it is worth remembering the need for waterproofing - mineral wool must be reliably protected from exposure to a humid environment.
Styrofoam. It is loved by many builders because of its ease, availability, simplicity and speed of installation. But it is also worth remembering its disadvantages: it is easily gnawed by pests, is fire hazardous and susceptible to moisture.
Penoplex. When insulating walls constructed from expanded clay blocks, it is worth paying attention to this material. It is easy to install, more resistant to moisture and rodents than its predecessor, and is environmentally friendly. The disadvantages include cost and high density, which does not allow the walls to “breathe”.

We insulate an expanded clay concrete house ourselves

Let's assume that the opinion of experts has been taken into account, and insulation will be carried out with dense mineral wool. The operating algorithm is approximately as follows:

Very often, construction country houses made from expanded clay concrete, while the walls are laid in 2 blocks with a total thickness of 400 mm. On initial stage Many people are puzzled by the problem of whether insulation should be done, how exactly - from the outside or from the inside? If you miss this moment, then in the future it will be much more expensive to carry out the corresponding work, and, probably, the question will already be raised about how to do this as affordably as possible.

A special feature of expanded clay concrete blocks is their reliability and strength. At the same time, the material is quite “cold”. Without insulating your home, you will have to pay hefty heating bills. It is best to choose thermal insulation of at least 100mm, for which polystyrene foam is ideal. They are allowed to process walls both outside and inside. It is imperative to ensure the tightness of the finish by treating the joints with polyurethane foam.

https://youtu.be/q1SFNmlFkOg

Video No. 1. Insulation of expanded clay concrete

What is the best way to insulate a house?

The choice in favor of expanded clay concrete blocks justifies itself in operation, since a more affordable, durable and reliable material, perhaps, cannot be found. Let us add that in terms of water resistance and frost resistance it has no equal components. Actually, due to this, it enjoys great interest from construction companies.

Next let's look at different variants insulation of walls from the outside, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of the choice, the outer part of the insulator is always covered with a vapor barrier film, which prevents the absorption of moisture by the insulation and allows you to retain heat in the house.

Choosing cladding

Consider the case where the thickness of the walls of the house is 400mm, without external brickwork. Great option Insulation on the outside can be provided by cladding when the insulation is located between expanded clay and brick. The method is not particularly popular due to its high cost, high price of materials, and complexity of the work, although it is considered effective. For those who plan to do everything with their own hands, we immediately warn that without experience and the necessary knowledge, it will not be possible to carry out high-quality work.

An alternative would be to cover the outside of the expanded clay concrete wall with siding or PVC panels that protect the insulation. A worthy option would be to lay 50mm polystyrene foam in 2 rows, and you should try to lay them in a checkerboard pattern, with overlapping joints. The fixation of the sanding is done on prepared vertical guides mounted in the walls. It is allowed to use rolled basalt insulation with vapor barrier protection.

A good choice is insulation in the form of slabs, be it penoplex or expanded polystyrene (more about them below), which is subjected to decorative processing plaster on the outside of the insulator. The corresponding components are fixed with glue or fungi. On the outside, a reinforcing mesh is installed and puttied.

We use polyurethane foam

Now let’s look at the differences between insulating a house wall with a thickness of 400 mm and facing masonry. Very often, people who bought an unfinished home made of expanded clay concrete blocks face a problem. Usually in the space between the wall and the cladding there is only a 50mm layer of air. The main task the insulation of the interior of the building façade becomes insulation.

The simplest and fastest way out of this situation can be polyurethane foam, which in a liquid state can easily fill the entire internal space. The component is supplied through pre-prepared holes in the walls. It is in some way similar to polyurethane foam, which expands after hardening, filling all joints, cracks and gaps as efficiently and tightly as possible.

Insulation of block walls

It is noteworthy that the completed insulation does not attract the attention of rodents and is absolutely not afraid of precipitation. This means that the house will always be warm and cozy, and the service life of the materials will be as long as possible.

The only downside here is the relatively high price of the method, and besides, it will most likely not be possible to do the work correctly on your own.

Other insulation materials

The problem is greatly simplified by the timely installation of a heat insulator between the walls, even at the construction stage of the building, with mineral wool, penoplex or expanded polystyrene being the ideal choice.

One effective option is to use foam plastic. It is worth understanding that it is attractive to rodents, burns easily and quickly deteriorates when it gets wet. In the case of a ventilated facade, it is always recommended to install a grille at the extreme points to prevent birds and animals from entering the space. The price of the material and the ease of its installation also look interesting.

Processing expanded clay concrete blocks will be a more reliable and expensive method. mineral wool, which is a reliable, environmentally friendly and harmless material to human health. In addition, it burns poorly and retains heat well. A prerequisite for installing mineral wool is its vapor barrier, since moisture ingress on it significantly reduces its positive properties.

Insulation will be an innovative method penoplex– a stronger, more durable and dense component. It is not interesting to rodents, does not require protection from moisture, and does not pose a danger to the environment. Due to the locking system, the possibility of cracks and loose fit of the insulator plates is eliminated.

Conclusion

As you can see, the methods and materials for insulating houses built from expanded clay concrete slabs are more than enough to create a comfortable and optimal internal atmosphere.

Currently, expanded clay concrete blocks are often used to build houses. They contain sand, cement and expanded clay in a ratio of 1:2:3, respectively. All components are mixed in water and then harden naturally.

Expanded clay concrete is popular due to its light weight, which eliminates the need to build a massive foundation and also increases the speed of construction work.

Wall cladding with brick and mineral wool

Before putting a building into operation, the walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks must be insulated - and this can be done both from the outside and from the inside.

Brick facade panels

If you use expanded clay concrete for cladding walls outside for insulation purposes façade panels under a brick, this method will be very effective. This material has excellent insulating properties and is considered good insulation, as it perfectly maintains the temperature inside the building.

The disadvantage of this method is the high cost of the facing material - which is why brick facades are very rarely used for these purposes.

Mineral wool

There is another material for insulating a house or bathhouse made of expanded clay concrete blocks - mineral wool. Its use for finishing walls both outside and inside is more justified.

The material is different affordable price, has excellent thermal insulation properties. In the process of insulating expanded clay concrete walls, mineral wool is laid in two layers, and between them there must be wind protection and waterproofing.

If it is not enough to simply insulate the wall, and you need to additionally equip it with vapor-tight insulation, you can use a layer aluminum foil. In this case, the insulation of a building constructed from expanded clay concrete blocks will be of higher quality and more efficient.

Features of use

In order for sheets of material to be securely held on a vertical surface, it is imperative to install a sheathing made of wooden beam and a special frame system.
According to the standards, the width of the installed sheathing should be 2-3 centimeters less than the width of the sheet of cotton wool. You also need to install anchors into the wall - sheets of mineral wool will subsequently be placed on them.

If you are insulating a building with uneven expanded clay concrete walls, it is advisable to use mineral wool, which has two layers of different densities. In this case, the material is attached to the wall with a soft layer so that it adheres better to the surface.

When additional wind protection for the walls is required, install it on top of the mineral wool sheets. horizontal lathing. A dense polyethylene film, and on top - the necessary facing materials.

To insulate the walls of a house or bathhouse at a certain level, it is better to use fiberglass. It can be equally effective for installation on both external and external internal surfaces from expanded clay concrete blocks.

To insulate the wall from the outside, glass wool is placed between its surface and a sheet of foam plastic. The latter retains heat well and has excellent insulating properties. When insulating the internal expanded clay concrete wall of a house, fiberglass is placed under drywall.

Before insulation is laid on expanded clay concrete blocks, the following work must be done:

remove dust and dirt from the wall;
dry the surface;
plaster the walls.

Next, you will need to make holes in the base with a depth of 5-7 cm and a diameter of no more than 20 mm. Wooden plugs will be attached there, which will subsequently be additionally fixed. cement mortar. For this purpose
You can also use gypsum mortar.

At the next stage, metal slats, pre-impregnated with an antiseptic composition, are attached to the wooden plugs. The thickness of the slats should be equal to the thickness of the glass wool slabs.

The slats are placed on the surface at intervals equal to the width of the insulating boards. After installation is completed, slabs are installed to insulate the expanded clay concrete wall of the house.

Insulation of a house made of expanded clay blocks from the outside

But, despite the fact that walls built from expanded clay concrete are quite warm, thermal insulation measures on the outside will not interfere with them for two reasons:

additional insulation (it hasn’t hurt anyone yet);
protection of expanded clay concrete walls from external influences.

Which method of external thermal insulation is better for expanded clay concrete walls?

Today, three main methods of thermal insulation of houses outside are used:

ventilated facade;
in-wall insulation;
“wet” thermal insulation.

Ventilated facade, which involves constructing a frame and covering it with some kind of facing material, is a structure that carries a significant additional load on the wall. Considering that expanded clay concrete blocks are not particularly strong, it is better to exclude this method of insulating the outside.

Second method involves installing a layer of insulation on the outside of the wall (usually dense slabs of mineral wool), which is then covered with decorative facing bricks. This method of insulation in itself is good, however, it is too expensive, both in terms of purchasing building materials and in paying qualified masons.

Third method The so-called “wet” insulation is perfectly suitable in our case, because:

protects expanded clay concrete blocks from weathering;
does not create large loads on the insulated surface;
allows you to create a unique color design of the facade;
least expensive in every sense.

Therefore, let's look at how to do such insulation on the outside of a wall made of expanded clay concrete.

Technology of “wet” facade using expanded clay concrete blocks

So, let's look at how to insulate a house made of expanded clay concrete blocks from the outside:

Prepare the surface of the wall, for which it needs to be cleaned of dust and treated with a high-quality primer for external use.
Now we prepare the glue, focusing on the recommendations written on its packaging. To mix, you will need a construction mixer or drill with an appropriate attachment. A properly prepared mixture should stick to the working surface of the spatula.
The adhesive mixture is applied to a sheet of mineral wool like this. First, the entire surface on the glued side is covered with a thin layer, after which a continuous mound of glue is formed around the perimeter. Two slides need to be made in the middle of the slab.
We begin gluing the mineral wool sheets from below from one of the corners. During installation, you should constantly monitor the correct position of each plate using a spirit level (building level). It is better to install mineral wool sheets in a circle so that the glue in the underlying rows has time to stick. Adjacent horizontal rows should be positioned so that the vertical seams do not coincide (like bricks in masonry).
After 24 hours, the glued mineral wool slabs are secured with umbrella-shaped dowels. To fix mineral wool, you should use “umbrellas” with a metal core resembling a nail.
Now it’s time to reinforce the insulation surface. For this purpose, a special facade fiberglass mesh is used, which is sold in rolls of 50 meters. Its width is 1 m. It is installed vertically. To do this, the surface is first covered with a layer of plaster glue approximately the width of the mesh. Then, cut to size in advance, a piece of mesh must be pressed into the layer of applied mortar using a wide (50-60 cm) façade spatula. At the same time, the surface is leveled.
Next, the dried reinforcing layer is covered with another thin layer of a special adhesive mass, primed, and covered with some kind of facade decorative plaster. After all of the above layers have dried, painting is done.

It should be noted that if you decide to use foam insulation on the outside, the workflow is exactly the same. The only difference is the glue used for this.