Insulation elements for an apartment on the first floor. How to insulate floors on the first floor of a panel house - video instructions for do-it-yourself installation, how to insulate a wooden floor, in a private house, price, photo. Chipboard, plywood and polystyrene as insulation options

A cold floor in an apartment is problem number one. Residents of the first floors suffer from constant blowing from below. Even by insulating the ceiling and walls, you will not improve the situation, since the main contact area is the floor covering. There is only one way out. High-quality floor insulation will not only create comfort in the rooms, but will also reduce material costs for heating.

Types of insulation, which one is better to choose

The types of existing insulation materials allow you to make the choice that is most suitable for each individual case. Bulk materials, slabs, roll version, and liquid composition, each is suitable for insulating the floor on the first floor.

Bulk materials Varieties of bulk insulating materials include expanded clay, foam chips, slag and some others. Their advantage is the ability to fill the space between the existing sheathing as much as possible. Expanded clay also has low thermal conductivity, high strength and durability.

Board materials This type of insulation is also divided depending on their main component. This mineral wool, expanded polystyrene, polystyrene foam, basalt fiber, vermiculite and others. They are lightweight and have low thermal conductivity. To increase thermal insulation, they are used in combination with roll insulation.

Polystyrene foam is an environmentally friendly finishing material that is affordable, but is fragile and melts when heated. More good option- this is expanded polystyrene, which has a high density, and besides, it is not flammable.

Vermiculite is also an environmentally friendly material, but expensive in slab form. An alternative may be its granular form, which is much cheaper.

Rolled materials In this form they produce mineral wool, cork mats, foil insulation with different amounts layers.

Some species from this category are thin, so to preserve floor heat, it is better to combine them with thick varieties. As for mineral wool, which is an excellent thermal insulator, it copes with the task as independent option. Add its low cost and you get an excellent solution to the problem.

Liquid insulation materials This insulation is a mixture of cement mortar with expanded clay, foam chips or wood shavings.

Popular liquid insulation- penoizol. This is a polymer with a foamed structure. The entire space is filled with it using specialized equipment.

There is also an environmentally friendly material, but rejected by many. Plant fiber made from straw, pressed into mats, is an excellent alternative to modern materials. The only negative point is that over time it decomposes, like any organic matter.

One of the factors influencing the choice of insulation is the type of floor base - concrete or wood. Also on design features The insulation process is affected by the presence of a basement or its absence.

how to get rid of squeaky floors

Insulation of concrete floor

On the one hand, the concrete base is durable, which is why it is the main material for flooring in apartment buildings. But it holds the cold firmly. This is especially noticeable on the ground floor, regardless of whether there is a basement or the floors are located near the ground. In any case, a thermal insulation device is required.

If you have a basement, you must also provide waterproofing, since the dampness that forms below will be deposited on the walls in the form of mold.

You need to start insulating the floor with preparatory work. Remove the clean coating, check the concrete base for cracks, crevices and other deformations. Eliminate existing defects by filling with cement mortar and leaving until completely dry. Then treat the surface with an impregnation specifically designed to strengthen cement and concrete.
Next, a waterproofing layer is laid, for which polyethylene film is successfully used. Its edges should be placed 15 cm on the walls.
Construction of a frame for insulating material. The logs are placed on the pre-laid bars, and the structure itself is attached to the concrete base.
The next stage is laying insulation. The first layer can be loose. On top of it, the space between the structural elements is filled with any other type of insulating product.
To ensure moisture resistance, the structure is covered with a waterproofing film, fixing it to the joists using staples.

At this point the insulation process can be completed. But if the height of the room and the family budget allow, you can enhance the thermal insulation properties of the floor base. Plywood or boards are suitable as a subfloor, it depends on the type of clean coating.

how to get rid of excess moisture in the house

Insulation of a wooden floor

A wooden floor is practical, aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly, and warmer than concrete. But this type of coating on the ground floor also needs to be insulated. The technological process follows a certain sequence.

Dismantle the existing covering, checking its integrity.
Fill the space between the joists with sheets of mineral wool or polystyrene foam. If expanded clay is used as insulation, choose fine granulation. Pour out the bulk and compact it so that the backfill is uniform and dense. But before you deal with expanded clay, lay waterproofing in the form of plastic film.
The next layer is gypsum fiber sheets, which differ from plasterboard in their increased strength. The seams are filled with putty and the finished floor can be laid.

Expanded clay insulation is the most reliable option for heat preservation. It can also be laid on a concrete base. It has minimal thermal conductivity, low density, and is very lightweight.

how to get rid of fungus on the walls in an apartment

External insulation options

External insulation, that is, a series of activities carried out in the basement, will play a huge role in insulating the floor on the first floor. This is not always realistic, and not every material is suitable for these purposes, but when conditions allow, this opportunity is worth using.

It is impossible not to take into account the presence of existing communications that interfere with the work. The use of mineral wool is unacceptable if the basement humidity is high. While complying with fire safety standards, foam insulation also has a certain risk, but in some cases it is possible. Glue sheets of insulation to the ceiling of the basement using a ready-made compound sold in specialized stores. Fill the joints with polyurethane foam.

The most optimal solution is to insulate the door to the basement. Even if it’s a little, you can keep the heat in this way. The access of cold air will stop if the basement is closed. winter period ventilation hole.

Warm floor

Insulated floors of the new type, in addition to maintaining the thermal regime of the floor covering, also increase the air temperature. Their varieties differ in the principle of operation and cost, both during installation and during operation.

Infrared floors are a film special purpose. Placed directly under the finishing coating.
Electric ones are mounted in the screed or on top of the rough flooring. Installation of such a floor is quite simple, but the negative point is its high energy consumption.
Water pumps are a tube with circulating water. They are buried in the screed. This is the most economical option for installation and operation. First, one of the classic insulation materials is laid on the floor to reduce heat loss. A reinforcing mesh is laid on top, intended for fastening pipes using clamps. The tubes themselves are arranged in a spiral, and water is poured into them. And only after special testing is carried out, the screed is performed. When it dries, you can begin installing a clean floor. The effect obtained from insulation in this way will meet all expectations.

Every person tends to strive for savings and comfortable conditions. To get both at the same time, it is enough to use one of the methods of insulating the floor in an apartment on the first floor. You will feel comfort instantly, but the economic effect will be your companion throughout the entire time you live in a warm room.

Video: insulating the floor above a cold basement

howtogetrid.ru

How to insulate the floor on the first floor - choice of material

Using reinforced concrete floor slabs, floor insulation in an apartment on the ground floor can be done using dry or wet screed technology, or thermal insulation can be laid between the wooden floor joists. After eliminating heat loss in the floors, you can significantly improve the quality of living by adding heated floor contours to the design.

Selection of thermal insulation material

When designing the insulation of a concrete floor on the first floor in an apartment or country house, you should take into account the features of existing thermal insulation materials:

Vapor barrier;
Thermal conductivity;
Density;
Price.

For the same conditions in construction, there are always several technical solutions. An option is selected with a rational combination of the construction budget, safety margin and operational life, taking into account the requirements of the developer and the actual conditions of the project.

Compatible with concrete and wood

Before insulating a concrete floor in an apartment on your own, you need to consider the following nuances:

the necessary increase in the level of the finishing floor covering;
the presence of underfloor heating circuits and its design (electric, water, film);
characteristics of the construction materials used.

To eliminate heat loss from the lower floor, foamed polymers are not considered in principle. The materials most in demand for these purposes are:

Important! Specific insulation materials should be considered only in conjunction with their installation technology. Since for some finishing floor coverings only screeds are suitable, for others - a wooden subfloor.

Layer thickness

Insulation materials do not have the same thermal conductivity, which affects the thickness of the layer to eliminate the same heat loss. For the materials under consideration, this characteristic is:

The thermal conductivity of all of these insulation materials, with the exception of expanded clay, is approximately the same, operational properties are different. For example, ecowool is considered the only effective remedy against mice; in all other thermal insulators, these rodents either make passages or settle in families.

When choosing expanded clay, you will need a much larger layer to insulate the floor in your apartment with your own hands to the level of other materials. However, it is this bulk product that is used in dry screeds, which is why it is considered on an equal basis with the others.

Technology selection

Before insulating the floor on the first floor of an apartment, you need to consider several technologies depending on factors:

room humidity - in bathrooms and kitchens there are hot water supply, cold water and sewage pipes, there is a high probability of leaks, so it is better not to use dry screeds and wooden floors on joists with your own hands, preference should be given concrete screed or self-leveling floor;
type of flooring - porcelain tiles and tiles have the maximum service life exclusively on screeds; for parquet and tongue-and-groove boards, logs or a wooden subfloor are more convenient; for other coverings (laminate, carpet, linoleum, PVC tiles) there is not much difference.

However performance characteristics insulation materials limit their use in certain technologies:

it is impossible to lay ecowool in the screed;
expanded clay will mix with concrete and float to the surface, the thermal conductivity of the material will change and grinding or leveling with a self-leveling floor will be required;
foam glass and expanded polystyrene EPS will withstand any operational loads under a layer of concrete, will not get wet over time, and will retain their initial characteristics;
mineral wool will drain away from wooden logs excess moisture that penetrates inside the cake, despite the presence of vapor barrier membranes;
Ecowool is also hydrophobic and does not shrink, but it is more difficult to work with and it is almost impossible to install heated floor contours into the material.

Advice! Dry screed is chosen for residential premises to reduce repair time. In this technology, expanded clay is poured under the GVL slabs, finishing is possible on the same day.

Concrete screed

If there are slab reinforced concrete floors, the floor of the first floor is easiest to make using wet screed technology. Design features are:

minimum layer thickness – 3 cm;
construction material – sand concrete (proportion 1/3, cement, sand, respectively) or ready-mixed concrete with a fine filler fraction (crushed stone 5/20 mm);
waterproofing - applied on top of the floor slab, extending onto the walls by 15 - 20 cm, carried out using coating or pasting technology in a continuous layer;
insulation – foam glass or extruded high-density polystyrene foam.

Wet screed with a layer of insulation.

The main advantage of a wet screed is the ability to add heated floor contours and acoustic material to the design.

Important! The thickness of the screed is calculated from the last (upper) layer located inside it, that is, from the insulation or water-heated floor pipes.

The technology has been thoroughly developed by generations of developers and does not have complex operations:

finding the top point - in all rooms at an arbitrary height, a laser plane builder creates marks of a single horizontal level, the distance from the line to the ceiling is measured, the smallest value will be at the top point of the structure;
waterproofing - two layers of bitumen or polymer mastic or a waterproofing membrane;
laying insulation - a 5-10 cm thick layer of EPS with a continuous layer, filling the cracks with polyurethane foam;
installation of a damper - the walls at the junction points with the slab are covered with rubber tape or strips of insulation 2 cm thick are installed;
reinforcement - wire mesh is laid with an overlap of at least 5 cm on polymer spacers that provide a protective layer of concrete;
heated floor - used as needed, pipes are attached to the wire mesh with clamps or twisted wires;
beacons - the profile is installed on a quick-hardening starting putty in a single horizontal level to ensure a screed thickness of at least 3 cm at the top point;
pouring - concrete is placed between the beacons, the excess is removed using a rule or a vibrating lath;
grinding - in order to reduce the thickness of the layer and level out possible unevenness of hardened concrete, the surface is processed with a grinder.

Screed on a warm floor.

Instead of sanding, you can use a thin layer (5 - 10 mm) of self-leveling floor, which can also serve as a finishing coating.

Dry screed

The main nuances in the manufacture and implementation of a dry screed project are:

thermal conductivity of the structure, even in panel house will be 0.25 - 0.35 W/m*K;
structural noise will decrease by 20 dBa, airborne noise by 3 dBa;
thermal insulation of the floor is ensured by a 2–8 cm layer of expanded clay sand, on top of which two layers of gypsum plasterboard are laid;
the compressive strength of the structure is 22 MPa; porcelain stoneware can be glued or laminate installed.

Dry screed.

You can walk on gypsum fiber boards during the installation process and cover them on the same day.

Advice! Despite the presence of moisture-resistant gypsum fiber board, it is better not to use this technology in kitchens, bathrooms, and other wet rooms. Even before laying the tiles, the surface of the gypsum fiber boards will have to be additionally treated with waterproofing, which will increase the repair budget.

Wooden floor with joists

In budget or, conversely, luxury interiors Wood flooring is often used. Therefore, instead of a screed, you can immediately make a plank flooring or subfloor from wood-containing chipboard/OSB boards and plywood. Despite the fact that wooden coverings have high thermal insulation properties, additional insulation may be required, for example, if the 1st floor is located above the subfloor.

In this case, a leveling screed is not necessary; load-bearing structural elements - logs - are mounted level. The insulation is laid between them, it is protected from below by waterproofing, and from above by vapor barrier. There are no absolutely impermeable materials; a certain amount of moisture penetrates into the structure. Therefore, in this case, you should choose mineral or ecowool, which will partially absorb moisture and release it back when the microclimate in the room changes.

The best solution for this technology is the adjustable floor:

logs are placed on floor slabs on studs;
after adjusting the horizontal level, the protruding part of the studs is cut off by an angle grinder;
the space is filled with ecowool, basalt slabs or glass wool;
the insulation is sewn with a vapor barrier membrane;
a subfloor made of plywood, edged boards or chipboard is installed.

Important! If the lag pitch is within 40 cm, you can do without a subfloor if you choose a tongue and groove board as the floor covering.

Thus, the concrete floor of the lower floor in an apartment can be insulated in several ways. The main task of the developer is to select a thermal insulation material suitable for a specific technology and comply with minimum thickness layer of construction.

Advice! If you need repairmen for repairs, there is a very convenient service for selecting them. Just submit in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and you will receive offers with prices from private craftsmen, repair teams and companies by email. You can see reviews about each of them and photographs with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.

masterskayapola.ru

Cold floors in apartments located on the first floors are a fairly common phenomenon. The floor in any apartment is the coldest place - due to the fact that warm air rises up to the ceiling. And the first floor aggravates this situation by the fact that under the apartment there is an unheated space (basement, subfloor) or ground. In this case, additional efforts must be made to insulate the floor.

You will need

A set of construction tools, polyurethane foam, insulation (mineral wool, expanded polystyrene, etc.), vapor barrier, dry mixture for screed.

Instructions

Insulation of the basement space One of the most common causes of a cold floor is insufficient tightness of the basement space. Check the base around the perimeter from the inside of the basement or subfloor for cracks. If found, seal them with foam. Do the same work for the basement floor.

When it gets cold, don't forget to close ventilation holes in the basement of the house.

Choosing a method of floor insulation Decide on a method of floor insulation.

The choice of a specific insulation method depends on the type of floor covering and the distance from the concrete base to the maximum possible floor level (the level of the lower edge of entrance and interior doors).

If the floor is covered with a floorboard and you are quite satisfied with its quality, the most economical and fastest way would be to insulate the floor with mineral wool. If, at the same time as insulation, you are going to replace the floorboard with something else, you can insulate the floor with one of the types of polystyrene foam. This material provides high level thermal insulation.

If your floor is a cement screed with laid linoleum or ceramic tiles and at the same time there is sufficient space for laying insulation and additional screed, good option is floor insulation with polystyrene foam.

If there is not enough space for thick insulation, you should choose thinner materials, for example, soft fiberboard or gypsum plasterboard.

Floor insulation with mineral wool Dismantle the floorboards, marking them with chalk to maintain the same order during subsequent installation. Check the tightness of the base and vapor barrier (if any). Seal any cracks found in the base with foam. If the quality of the existing vapor barrier is good, you don’t have to change it. If the vapor barrier seal is broken, replace it with a new one.

Place mineral wool slabs between the joists, making sure that they fit snugly against the joists and walls. Lay the floorboards, maintaining the same installation order.

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam

Remove the existing floor (wood planks, linoleum, laminate, parquet, etc.) down to the concrete base. If the floor is covered with ceramic tiles, there is no need to touch them.

Place a vapor barrier on the concrete base. Lay down a layer of polystyrene foam. Cover it with plastic wrap. Lay a reinforced screed made of cement or a mortar prepared from a special dry mixture on top of the film.

The further procedure depends on the selected type of flooring.

Insulating the floor with plasterboard.

Remove the floor covering. Level the concrete base if necessary - fill the depressions with putty, grind off the protrusions. Lay a layer of vapor barrier with a bend on the walls.

Lay 12 mm thick gypsum plasterboard sheets. Place edge strip along the perimeter (between the wall and the ends of the sheets) to compensate for temperature and humidity fluctuations in the size of the drywall. Coat the surface of the drywall with adhesive mastic and lay the second layer of drywall, paying attention that the joints of the top sheets do not coincide with the joints of the lower sheets. When the mastic hardens, putty and prime the surface of the drywall.

Install new flooring. It can be anything - laminate, parquet, linoleum, tile.

Video on the topic

Helpful advice

If there is not enough free height for laying insulation, the problem of cold floors can be solved with the help of electric heating. The smallest option in terms of thickness is a floor with a film heating element made of polyester film with graphite, on top of which a laminate is laid.

Sources:

how to insulate a cold apartment

How to insulate the floor in an apartment on the first floor

www.kakprosto.ru

How to properly insulate the first floor floor

Many city apartment owners prefer to live no lower than the ninth floor. And it's their choice. But this option is not suitable for elderly people and young families with children if the elevator in the house is not always working. For the former, it is a big problem to go up and down the stairs, while for the latter, it is difficult to carry strollers up and down. Therefore, the first floor is optimal for this category of residents. But this option has its drawbacks. They concern heat loss through the floor in the rooms. Experts say that the temperature difference between the floor and the interior space should be a couple of degrees. If this figure is higher, then you will have to insulate the floor of the first floor.

Some technical points

Let's start by making one very important note. Any thermal insulation process is best carried out outside residential premises. It is important to take into account here that the point of condensation of moist air vapor will be at the border of the concrete base and insulation, which usually leads to a loss of quality of the latter. To prevent this from happening, the insulation must be laid outside the concrete slab, that is, on the side of low temperatures.

How can this be done in relation to the floor of the first floor? Much will depend on what kind of basement is located in the house. Most often this is a technical room with general building communication networks. The temperature inside can be higher than outside, but it is not enough to be considered normal. To insulate the ground floor floor from the basement, you need to coordinate your actions with the service company, that is, obtain permission to carry out thermal insulation work. Usually there are no problems with this.

Now you need to determine the location of your apartment based on the house plan. Be sure to mark the floors with chalk or paint so you don't have to search for them again. The rest of the process is quite simple. To do this, you need to take, for example, polystyrene foam and stick it with a special adhesive composition on the floor plane from the basement side. Install the panels tightly to each other, and if there are gaps, fill them with foam. Polystyrene foam quickly absorbs moisture. And if the humidity in the basement is high enough, which happens often, cover the insulation with plastic film, which is attached to the ceiling with the same glue.

But it is not always possible to carry out the process of thermal insulation of the floor on the 1st floor from the basement side. This means that it will have to be moved to the apartment.

How to insulate the floor from inside an apartment

There are many insulation options. They all differ from each other in the thermal insulation materials used and the technology of their installation. But in all processes there is one operation, the quality of which will largely determine the final result. This is a vapor barrier for the floor on the first floor. What is this layer for?

Scheme for laying insulation on a concrete floor

Again, we return to the humid air, which always exists and will be in the basement. Let us recall that the place of condensation of moist vapors is the boundary of concrete and insulation. And since the process has moved into the rooms, this place also moves to the surface of the concrete base. If you do not carry out preliminary work to protect the floor, moisture will accumulate on the floor, which will affect the quality of the thermal insulators.

This problem can be solved in another way, using moisture-resistant types of insulation. For example, extruded polystyrene foam boards. This excellent material, which is more dense and durable compared to polystyrene foam. But it's still not worth the risk. Lay down plastic film, because the cost of it is low.

And one more point that experts pay special attention to. Different materials differ in the degree of heat absorption. For example, concrete slab has a high heat absorption coefficient, and wood, on the contrary, is low. To make a warm floor in your apartment on the ground floor, you need to take into account exactly this coefficient. That is why finishing materials such as parquet, polymer tiles, linoleum and floorboards are optimal solution issue of floor insulation.

Insulation technology

So, insulating the floor of the first floor from inside the apartment should begin with laying a vapor barrier. For this you can use ordinary polyethylene film 200 microns thick. It is laid out over the entire area, and if the floor is not covered with one strip, then the vapor barrier strips are overlapped by 10–15 centimeters. The edges of the material must be connected with construction tape.

Attention! The polyethylene film is laid in such a way that its edges lie on the wall surfaces, covering them 20 centimeters above the level of the finished floor base. In fact, you should get a kind of pit in the shape of a room.

Laying mineral wool

Now you need to choose insulation. If the base of the floor in your apartment is a concrete floor slab, then when carrying out insulation, you will be faced with the problem of reducing the height of the ceilings. Whether you like it or not, the thickness of the thermal insulation layer, as well as the finishing, will reduce this size. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at the height of your ceilings and determining how much they can be reduced. After which you can choose a heat insulator.

The easiest way to insulate a floor is to fill it with expanded clay and then fill it with screed. If the room is small, then you can fill the insulation over its entire area. If the room is of decent size, then it is necessary to divide the floor into several sections and backfill the expanded clay over them. After which you can pour the screed over the heat-insulating material itself or over the waterproofing and reinforcing frame. Again, everything will depend on the size of the room. The larger they are, the more additional materials will have to be used to increase the strength of the poured surface.

It is this insulation option that is most often used today. Yes, it is not as simple as it seems. The screed will take longer to dry before finishing works. But anyone can insulate a floor in this way with their own hands, since the technology is very simple. The same cannot be said about insulation using a joist structure and a finished floor made of boards. Here too big problems does not arise, but not everyone will be able to cope with the installation processes required with this technology. And the height of the ceilings during the construction of a log structure is significantly reduced, which is not permissible in all apartment buildings, especially of the old type.

However, this technology is often used, and the work time is reduced due to the fact that there is no need to wait for something to dry. You installed the joists, filled the plank floor and continue finishing with flooring materials. Therefore, let's consider this insulation option.

Insulation using a joist structure

Expanded polystyrene in joists

Where does it all begin? As usual, starting with laying a vapor barrier, the technology of which is described in the previous section. After that, logs are installed, which are attached to the concrete base with self-tapping screws. Please note that the thicker the floorboards, the less often you can install logs.

Now you need to insulate the floor. For this, insulation is selected, for example, mineral wool or polystyrene foam, which is tightly placed in the space between the joists. Try to leave no gaps, cracks or gaps. If any are found, fill them with polyurethane foam. Pay special attention to the space between the walls and the insulation. And one moment. Leave a small gap between the heat insulator and the floorboards, which will act as ventilation. This will increase the service life of the floor structure in general and thermal insulation in particular several times.

And the last stage - a waterproofing layer, for example, polyethylene film, is laid, and floorboards or plywood are filled. Why is waterproofing necessary? You will still be doing wet cleaning, which means that water will penetrate under the boards, which threatens to reduce the quality characteristics of the insulation. In addition, you are not insured against spilling liquids from cups, glasses, glasses, vases and other vessels. Waterproofing will stand guard and prevent liquid from entering the thermal insulation materials.

Installation of heated floors

Wooden floor

Warm floors as an alternative to the listed options are also used quite widely. It can be mounted on both the first and second floors, regardless of the requirements:

Firstly, it will be an insulated surface.
Secondly, with its help you can change the microclimate in the apartment by reducing the humidity coming from the basement.
Thirdly, this way you can create more comfortable living conditions.

Some useful tips:

The easiest way to install a heated floor is to lay it in a leveling screed. Here you can use both electric and water system.
Water heated floors can also be laid on wooden base. True, you will have to tinker here. After all polymer pipes must be placed in specially made grooves and covered with foil at the bottom. After which a finishing coating should be installed on such a floor.

Modern methods

The modern building materials market is annually replenished with new products that are superior to traditional products in many respects. The same can be said for insulation materials. For example, extruded polystyrene foam. This is essentially polystyrene foam, but denser. It is made in the form of sheets that can be laid on the floor without any frames.

Old classic technology

The only thing that is required is a flat plane without large differences. You don't even need a vapor barrier. Sheets of expanded polystyrene are laid staggered on the floor and attached to the base using glue and mushroom-shaped screws. Why at random? This achieves uniform distribution loads over the entire floor area. This material is so dense that it is highly durable, and you can walk on it in shoes without any fear that it will deteriorate or break.

The most amazing thing is that you can pour a screed onto sheets of expanded polystyrene, install a plank floor, lay ceramic tiles, install a “warm floor” system, etc. That is, in many respects, this is an ideal option for floor insulation in apartments on the ground floor. It is not as cheap as polystyrene foam, although it is its modified counterpart, but it has excellent qualities. So your expenses will pay off very quickly.

Conclusion on the topic

Insulating the floor of the first floor in many houses is necessary. There are options, as you can see. Which one to choose, you decide for yourself. But if it is possible to use the first option from the basement, then choose it. If this is not possible, then look at the circumstances. After all, not everyone can, for example, erect a frame system or pour a screed and wait several days for it to dry. So everyone should approach construction operations based on their capabilities and the design of the house.

Frosts are rapidly approaching, and the temperature in many apartments is far from the most comfortable. We are forced to wear warm clothes, buy heaters, and sleep under several blankets, which causes discomfort. What to do if it’s cold in the apartment? It is quite possible to solve this problem yourself.

What to do if the apartment is cold

Cold batteries in the apartment: what to do?

High-quality radiators are the key to warmth and comfort in the house. If the radiators are many years old and the apartment is cold in winter, it may be worth replacing them. But before you run out for an expensive purchase, do a survey: sometimes the batteries do not heat up due to air jams or due to the negligence of utility companies. We told you where to complain if it’s cold in your apartment.

Many modern models radiators are made with , so you can set the appropriate temperature. High-quality heating appliances can last faithfully for decades, so after spending just once, you will forget about cold radiators in the house for a long time.

There are several types of radiators:

Cast iron is the most classic option, which has been used for heat supply for more than a hundred years. Cast iron batteries are durable, resistant to corrosion and have high heat transfer. They are not afraid of tough poor quality water and pressure changes. To the disadvantages cast iron radiators include bulkiness and unaesthetic appearance. Nevertheless, modern design These batteries with monograms and original coloring will fit well into a classic-style interior.
Aluminum - durable, lightweight and elegant heating devices. Simplicity of installation, optimal price and high heat transfer make aluminum batteries perfect choice for many. However this type Radiators are susceptible to corrosion due to high alkali content in water.
Steel radiators are often used to supply heat to private homes and offices. They have excellent heat dissipation and corrosion resistance. Their disadvantage is their sensitivity to water hammer - sudden changes in pressure in the pipe.
Bimetallic radiator, in other words in simple language, consists of a steel core and an outer aluminum layer. This design is optimal for city apartments: the steel pipeline is not subject to corrosion, and aluminum, which has good thermal conductivity, perfectly supplies heat to the room. However, all these advantages are overshadowed high price products.
Copper batteries provide effective heating of the room due to their thermal conductivity - it is much higher than that of aluminum and even more so than that of steel and cast iron. But the price of copper radiators, as well as bimetallic ones, will not please everyone.

The choice of radiator depends not only on your tastes and financial condition, but also on compatibility with your heating system. Therefore, before purchasing, you should determine whether the characteristics of the heating device (pressure, permissible temperature, heat transfer, etc.) correspond to the characteristics of the heating system.

Insulating the floor of the first floor worries many owners of private houses, because a room can lose a significant amount of heat through the floor. To minimize heat loss, and at the same time reduce the cost of heating a house, you need to perform high-quality and proper insulation of the surface.

There are several ways to implement the task under consideration. At the same time, to create a reliable thermal insulation layer, you can use different insulation materials. Familiarize yourself with the features of the most popular materials, choose the most suitable method and begin installing thermal insulation.

Popular thermal insulation materials and their features

Present on the modern construction market big choice materials whose characteristics and properties make it possible to use them for insulating the floor of the first floor. Each insulator has both a number of advantages and a certain list of weak qualities.

Mineral wool

Those. characteristics of mineral wool	Indicators
Density	115 kg/m3
Water absorption at full immersion, no more	1%
Average fiber diameter, no more	0.2 µm
Content of non-fibrous inclusions in the mass, no more	4,5%
Thermal conductivity at 283+1 K, no more	0.044 W/m*K
Shear strength, not less	50 kPa
Compressive strength, not less	100 kPa
Tensile strength, not less	150 kPa

The most popular material for insulating various structures is mineral wool. Among its main advantages are:

Main disadvantage– poor resistance to moisture, against the background of which there is a need to install a high-quality waterproofing layer, otherwise the insulation will collapse very quickly.

Mineral wool is produced in the form of slabs and mats, which makes it possible to choose the most convenient option for a specific situation.

Find out detailed information from our new article.

Styrofoam

No less popular thermal insulation material. Advantages:

low thermal conductivity;
small thickness and relatively light weight;
strength;
durability;
resistance to mechanical damage.

Unlike mineral wool, polystyrene foam does not require such serious moisture protection.

If you have a sufficient budget, you can even buy foamed polyethylene. During the production process of this material, its surface is coated aluminum foil, eliminating the need for additional waterproofing.

It is a cellulose-based insulation with various additives that help improve its fire-resistant and environmentally friendly characteristics. The structure is a bulk material. Ecowool is very easy to install - just pour it into a pre-assembled sheathing and cover it with flooring.

A significant disadvantage of ecowool is its low resistance to moisture. Under its influence, the material very quickly loses its performance properties and collapses.

This insulation is rapidly gaining popularity. The basic performance characteristics of fiberglass are beyond praise. The material is excellent for insulating the floors of rooms located on the ground floor. Also among the advantages of fiberglass is its affordable price.

Choosing a method for arranging a thermal insulation layer

Before starting thermal insulation measures, you need to study not only the properties of the most popular insulation materials, but also become familiar with the features of their arrangement. Depending on the structure, materials are classified into:

bulk;
solid. This category includes roll insulation, as well as thermal insulation materials in the form of mats and slabs;
liquid.

It is performed using the already mentioned ecowool, as well as the following materials:

slag;
crushed foam;
sawdust

Bulk materials are convenient because they can be used to insulate even the most inaccessible places. The method is equally effective both in private houses and in apartments on the ground floor.

However, despite its effectiveness, bulk thermal insulation is not widely used, because more modern and easy-to-use insulation materials are available on the market.

Solid thermal insulation

Rolls, slabs and mats are most often used for insulation. Such materials have a relatively small thickness - on average up to 100 mm, so the living space when using them is reduced insignificantly.

Typical representatives of the category are mineral wool and polystyrene foam. Mats made from natural plant fibers are also gaining wide popularity.

Liquid thermal insulation

Not a very common, but very effective method. The following materials are used:

In terms of quality, this type is in no way inferior to slabs, mats and roll materials. However, to spray the compositions it is necessary to use special equipment, which does not have the best effect on the cost of the work.

Prices for thermal insulation materials

Thermal insulation materials

Options for floor insulation and instructions for their implementation

The procedure for insulating the floor of the first floor will vary depending on whether there is a basement or basement below.

If there is a basement

If there is a house or basement, thermal insulation work should begin there. First, you must insulate the walls and ceiling of the basement. Secondly, before insulation, surfaces must be properly waterproofed. Otherwise, groundwater will seep through the walls and destroy the insulation.

If you do not want to dismantle the floor or intend to create the highest quality thermal insulation, use a method whose essence boils down to insulating the basement ceiling.

First step. Lay out and secure the moisture-proof film. Lay strips of film with a 10-15 cm overlap. Be sure to seal the joints with tape.

Second step. Nail the sheathing strips to the waterproofed surface. Select the width of the slats and the spacing of their placement in accordance with the parameters of the insulation used.

Third step. Place slab or roll insulation in the space between the slats. To fix the thermal insulation, use wire or stuff cross slats.

Fourth step. Nail the flooring elements (boards or OSB) to the slats.

After insulating the basement, you can proceed directly to insulating the floor.

First step. Lay and attach the skull blocks to them.

Place on fixed bars wooden boards or OSB. The flooring should be such that there are no even minor gaps at the joints of the elements.

Second step. Cover the flooring with waterproofing film.

Third step. Place the selected insulation on top of the film. Nail the support joists to the base.

Fourth step. Make another deck from OSB or boards. The gap between the flooring and the insulation should be about 10 mm.

If there is no basement

If there is no basement or plinth, the work of insulating the floor will be easier and faster. If there are no mentioned premises, then the floor, as a rule, is located directly on the ground or on the foundation.

In such a situation, the insulation sequence will be as follows.

First step. Remove flooring, if present, to gain access to the foundation or soil. If the floor is made on the ground, carefully level the ground.

Second step. Spread a 10-15 cm layer on the base. This backfill will provide additional thermal insulation.

Third step. We lay the reinforcing layer. An ordinary chain-link mesh will provide the necessary rigidity. Place it on the base.

Fourth step. Make a new tie.

Fifth step. Cover the hardened screed with moisture-proofing film.

Sixth step. Nail the sheathing battens to the base.

Seventh step. Place the selected thermal insulation material in the space between the slats.

Eighth step. Install the deck boards and carry out finishing at your own discretion.

Insulation option using a floor heating system

This technique is not insulation in literally words, but allows you to make the room much warmer. The system can be (film, cable) and water.

The easiest to install is a film infrared heated floor. To install it, you simply need to level the base, lay out the film in the required places and connect the system to electricity. The screed is not poured. The key advantages of such a system are the ability to install it under any finishing coating and ease of installation. The disadvantage is the relatively high cost.

It is also relatively easy to install and can be combined with most varieties of existing floor coverings. There is no need to make a screed. The main disadvantage is the high cost of operation.

This system is the most economical and is the most popular. It requires preliminary arrangement of waterproofing of the base, laying special mats (it is best to use slabs with so-called bosses, since in this case you will not have to use additional fasteners) and subsequent pouring of the screed.

Thus, a wide variety of materials and techniques can be used to insulate the floor of the first floor. Now you are aware of the features of each available option and can make the best choice.

Good luck!

Prices for heating cable and components

Heating cable and accessories

Video - insulating the floor above a cold basement

Video - Insulating the floor of the first floor

The apartment on the ground floor is practical for families with small children, the elderly and the disabled. Residents feel increased humidity in the rooms from the floor. For a comfortable state in winter time The floors have been insulated for years.

What options are used?

Waterproofing is done on the basement side.
They insulate the inside of the rooms.

Concrete plates the bases serve as the ceiling in the basement, which has a complex communication system. They absorb moisture vapor from them. In agreement with management company action plan, insulation and waterproofing of concrete are carried out. This will partially protect the first floor from fumes and drafts coming from below.

The process of work in the apartment begins with waterproofing the concrete base. The list of further actions depends on the type of finishing floor covering.

Step-by-step insulation of the basement ceiling

Clean the ceiling base to reinforced concrete.
Rub the cracks with a solution of cement and sand in a 1:1 ratio. By adding liquid glass to the composition, this effect is enhanced.
Plaster with a solution of cement and sand in a ratio of 3:1. The amount of binder component (water) depends on their viscosity and temperature conditions. The solution is mixed in small portions, avoiding rapid hardening. To enhance adhesion, apply the first layer with a trowel, adding mixture to it and leveling it.
Using liquid rubber , as waterproofing, they receive a reliable primer and plaster at the same time.
Provided that the room is cold, foam sheets are glued to the ceiling. The seams are filled with polyurethane foam.
Finish the work with film. It is attached to the walls.

Electric wire heaters.
Warm floors from hot water.
Mats and slabs made of environmentally friendly material.

Preparing the subfloor in an apartment

Floor insulation work is carried out directly on a cleaned reinforced concrete slab. Bulges and dust are removed from it.
Before screeding, the surface is moistened with a solution of cement and sand, in a ratio of 1:1. This will ensure rapid adhesion of the mixture to concrete.
Rub the cracks around the perimeter and cracks throughout the entire area. This is done before applying primers that ensure contact of the leveling mixtures with the floor.

Base primer

Polyurethane

The second name of the composition is epoxy primer, which has the ability to penetrate deeply into concrete. Apply the component to the screed with a roller. Work along the perimeter of the base with a brush. No spaces allowed. This type of primer effective for adhesion to self-leveling floors (self-leveling), prevent the formation of fungus and moisture penetration.

Concrete contact

This is an acrylic composition with quartz sand. Apply with roller and brush. After priming, a rough surface is formed on the base, ensuring tight contact with the subsequent layer. Acrylic in the composition makes the film resistant, preventing moisture from entering the concrete. After 4 hours, from the moment the composition is applied, the next stage of insulation begins.

Sequence of filling and leveling

To carry out work efficiently and with less time, use ready-made compositions. The most practical are self-leveling self-leveling floors. Before applying them, the height of the beacons is determined by level, they are attached every 60 centimeters over the entire area and perimeter. The reinforced mesh is stretched along the established marks. A film is attached to the points of contact with the wall, protecting it from moisture from the filling composition.

They begin to level the floor from a blank wall, moving towards the door. The surface of the composition is compacted with a needle roller. This method achieves complete removal air bubbles. Having finished the work, the base is closed cellophane film until completely frozen. In its absence, the floor is periodically sprayed with water. After 3 days, you can move on to the next stage.

Useful video on pouring floors in an apartment

Warm floors from hot water

Installation of water heating is a step-by-step observance of the entire cycle from the beginning to the launch of the system into operation. The length of the pipe is determined by calculation, depending on the area of the room.

Advantage

Provides uniform heating of the entire floor.
The pipes are hidden and do not change the aesthetic perception of the interior.
A closed cycle of hot water from central heating does not affect overall utility costs.
Properly selected materials will not rust, which guarantees the system a long service life without leakage.

Equipment

Metal-polymer or polymer pipes (preferably corrugated, bendable).
Thermal insulation.
Fastening elements.
Manifold with fitting for connection to the battery.
Damper tape attached to the wall along the perimeter, within the height of the structure.
Reinforcement mesh.
Aluminum plates.

The number of pipes required is calculated on the basis that 5 meters are laid per square meter, in increments of 20 centimeters.

Sequence of work

Polyethylene is laid in two layers on the screed.
The foil insulation is laid out overlapping with the metal surface towards the room. It will create a reflective effect from the heat, increasing its power.
When placing materials without foil, such as penoplex, polystyrene, chipboard (chipboard), then aluminum plates with grooves for pipes are laid out over the entire area, keeping a distance between them of 20 to 40 centimeters.
A pipe evenly distributed over the entire area (the graphics are arbitrary) is attached to the base.
Its ends are connected to a water supply source.
The entire structure is poured cement-sand screed, layer thickness from 5 to 15 centimeters.

Note:

Grooves are made in chipboard for metal plates and pipes. The entire structure is covered with a two-layer film, on which the flooring is formed.
Checking the tightness of the connection of the pipe to the central heating battery is done before pouring concrete. To do this, cold water is supplied under pressure exceeding the working pressure by one and a half or two times.

Useful video on installing a water floor

Infrared film electric floor

This type of heating is combined with such floor coverings as:

Parquet.
Laminate.
Tile.
Carpet.

Characteristic

IR – available in rolls. The polyester or polypropylene film contains carbon paste. Material divided into separate independent stripes, having a pronounced dividing line. Along the edge of each section is laid copper wire with silver coating. When current passes through it, it heats up and transmits thermal energy carbon filler. Reduce the width of the IR film along the edge between sections. Its thickness is up to 2 millimeters, with a width from 50 to 100 centimeters.

To connect to a power source, the following equipment and materials are required:

Thermostat that controls the specified heating level.
Thermostat that regulates the temperature.
The remote control with which the program is set.
Contact clamps and cable for connecting to a power source.
Bitumen insulation.
Pliers and screwdriver.
Construction tape.

Technical safety requirements

The film is protected by hydro- and vapor barrier on both sides, top and bottom.
Do not connect the cable to the power source using the plug/socket principle.
IR film does not overlap.

Stationary electrical connection is provided (residual current device with a power of 10 to 30 mA), this will protect against possible exit failure of infrared heating elements.

The flooring should not fit tightly against heating elements. The plinth is attached only to the base covering, allowing it to move due to heating.

Note:

Lifetime heating film 20 years or more.
IR is not filled with solution, it is covered with polyethylene when forming a hard floor covering. Before laying linoleum, plywood is laid on top.
Having an even covering of wood, it is used as a base for IR, having previously been covered with foil material.

Installation sequence

The infrared film is laid out in planned areas and attached to the floor using a stapler or tape along transparent edges that do not have a built-in wire.
Recesses are made in the wall. Place the cable going from the thermostat to the thermostat.
The places on the film in the connection area are thickened; for them it is necessary to create technological recesses artificially.
The starting point of installation is located on the opposite side from the power connection points. Leave a free space of 20 centimeters from the walls.
Connect the copper ends to the thermostat using the cable and contact clamps included in the kit. Secure with pliers and isolate.
The clamp is placed between the film and the wire. The IR strips are connected near the wall. When extending them, wires of the same color are connected to each other, followed by insulation, and additional fastening with tape.
The cable is routed inside the corrugation. It is sealed with a film, protecting it from moisture.
After completing installation, check the functionality of the entire structure using a portable sensor.

Useful video on installing electric floors

Insulation with electric cable

30% of the area is heated, this is enough for an apartment with a centralized supply hot water. Composing cable layout, excludes places under the closet, wardrobe, bed and similar items. More often, this type of floor heating is done in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen, with a floor covering made of tiled material.

For dry rooms, energy consumption per square meter per hour is 120 W/, with high humidity - 140 W. For example, for a room of 6 m2 you need 720 W/hour.

The thermostat is placed at a distance of 30 centimeters from the flooring. If it is electronic, then you need to install it higher.

The cable is distributed evenly on the foil-insulating material over the entire area of the site, observing a step of 20 to 40 centimeters. Withdrawn the ends are connected to the power source. The maximum cable length should not exceed 6 meters.

After checking the functionality of the entire system, it is filled with concrete mixture. Bubbles from the inside are removed using the rules for leveling the solution (needle roller).

Note: You can use an electric floor in mats, which will significantly reduce the installation time.

Useful installation video

Stone wool mats

This method is the simplest and most economical. It is used more often than others.

Installation sequence

A two-layer polyethylene film is placed on the screed. The joints overlap and are secured with construction tape. The film should extend onto the wall along the entire perimeter, with a height no less than the thickness of the mat.
A frame is laid out from beams, 50 cm high (equal to the width of the mineral wool layer).
Mats are laid in the formed cells. The seams are taped with construction tape.
The finished structure is closed reinforced mesh and filled with cement screed.

Expanded clay

Cover the concrete floor with two-layer polyethylene.
A frame is formed from beams.
The cells of the frame are filled with its crumbs, and filled with a solution of cement and sand, a layer thickness of at least 5 centimeters.

Polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam

The slabs are evenly distributed over the entire area onto a layer of waterproofing film.
The joints are taped with construction tape.
Cover with a vapor barrier film. Using foil material, the metal surface is directed towards the room.
Cover the top with plywood 5 or 10 cm thick.

Izolon

Under hard floor coverings, it is recommended to lay foil material on the screed. It could be isolon. It is thin, but creates a fairly high level of reflection of heat coming from the side of the room.

Conclusion

All proposed types of floor insulation are recommended for residential premises. The proposed materials are environmentally friendly and do not harm health. Guided by the instructions for step-by-step work, and observing all the rules for hermetic seam connection c, the floor insulation on the first floor will be done correctly.