Modern material for wall insulation outside. How to choose a material for thermal insulation of walls outside for a brick, wood and foam concrete house. Installation of metal lathing

High-quality insulation for the outer walls of the house will help to ensure the maintenance of the optimal air temperature and humidity level in the living room. External wall insulation is carried out using the most modern thermal insulation materials, each of which has its own characteristic features, advantages and disadvantages: mineral wool and foam, warm plaster and polyurethane foam, foam and technoplex. In each individual case, the most suitable insulation can be selected in accordance with specific requirements, its technical characteristics and features of the operating conditions.

Features of outdoor insulation

Installation of external wall insulation is the most effective way to protect a building from negative impacts:

moisture;
high temperature;
frost.

That is why the correct choice of insulation for the outside walls of the house is so important. For each locality and each region, there is a certain calculated indicator of the total resistance of the supporting structures of buildings to heat transfer. This value can be achieved by creating thermal insulation of external walls in accordance with all the requirements of SNiP and GOST.

Among the many methods of insulating building facades in modern private construction, the following are especially popular:

Application of plaster over materials for external insulation. With this method, several layers of a building cake are created, the first of which is assembly glue, which ensures the most tight fit of the thermal insulation plates, the next is the insulation for the outer walls itself, then the reinforcing nylon mesh, due to which the strength of the structure is created, the decorative coating. The role of such a layer is siding or decorative plastic panels used to decorate the facade of the building.
Creation of thermal insulation for walls from the outside according to the principle of a ventilated structure. In the course of these works, various materials are used for insulation, including slabs or rolled sheets of mineral wool. Such a cake is more complex and requires the assembly of a frame and lathing from metal profiles or wooden bars. Plates or blocks are placed in the cells of the assembled structure, in the form of which manufacturers produce modern insulation. To protect against wind and moisture, a waterproofing diffuse vapor-permeable membrane is attached. The next important step is the fastening of the counter-lattice rail, which is necessary to create a ventilated gap. The final layer is plastic panels or siding.

All materials for wall insulation outside have many positive qualities, but when performing work to create high-quality thermal insulation with their own hands, they choose the method that requires minimal material and physical costs.

The creation of a high-quality thermal fur coat requires certain knowledge and skills in performing plastering work. It is easier to work with the level, but high accuracy is required when installing the frame and lathing. Few ordinary people or novice craftsmen are capable of making the plaster so as to give greater aesthetics to the facade of the building. For them, complex methods have been developed for insulating the outer walls of the building.

Decorative materials for thermal insulation

Modern types of insulation for facade walls are so numerous and varied that it is not so easy for the consumer to make a choice. Decorative panels made of expanded polystyrene are very popular. If their thickness reaches 6 cm, then this guarantees a high level of protection of the walls from freezing in the winter season. Decorative panels for wall thermal insulation make it possible to refuse to carry out work on applying decorative facade plaster to the surface.

An important condition for performing work for the insulation of external load-bearing structures using expanded polystyrene panels is surface preparation. Of course, a particularly careful plastering is not required, but the walls must be absolutely even:

The presence of bumps, mortar flows or large voids is unacceptable.
After complete drying of the plaster mortar, an adhesive composition such as "Foam Cement" is applied to a clean, dry surface. The panels are applied to the wall and pressed firmly, achieving a snug fit.
Excess glue protruding from under each panel fills the seams, strengthening them and protecting them from moisture penetration.

The advantage of external wall insulation with decorative panels is not only the absence of the need for so-called "wet" works. Heat-insulating panels are the insulation of the walls of the house, for the creation of which an environmentally friendly material is used, quite resistant to negative influences, characterized by high water-repellency. This is not an easy decoration of the facade, it is a means of protecting walls and preserving comfortable living conditions inside the premises. When deciding which outdoor insulation is better, you need to take into account all the nuances, including the features:

climatic conditions;
materials that served as the basis for the construction of walls;
creation of a heat-insulating structure.

In some situations, such heat-insulating materials are not the optimal solution and are able to provide effective protection of the building from freezing. In this case, to insulate the outer walls, they equip hinged thermal insulation by erecting a frame and crate.

Mineral wool

External thermal insulation of walls using mineral wool provides for "dry method" work. To achieve a positive result, it is necessary to install the frame, the constituent elements of which are metal profiles or wooden bars. They are installed strictly vertically. The vertical is checked with a laser level or a building level with a spirit level.

The distance between the guides of the frame should be 2-3 cm less than the width of the slab or strip of the roll. This will ensure that the insulation fits tightly into the crate cells.

The laid slabs or mats are covered with a waterproofing material, fixing it with a construction stapler. The next stage is the assembly of the lathing from the crossbeams. To do this, you need slats, the thickness of which is half the height of the bar. This counter-lattice provides an effective air barrier that prevents the penetration of cold and moisture. When choosing which insulation for the outer walls of the house is better, many consumers prefer mineral wool. This choice is based on the properties of this material:

light weight;
ease of installation;
affordability;
ecological cleanliness;
high quality sound insulation.

The main advantage of mineral wool is fire resistance. Further performance of work on insulation and decorative design of the facade is associated with the installation of decorative plastic panels or siding. The outer finishing layer improves the aesthetic appeal of the building and provides high-quality, reliable and effective protection of the heat-insulating material from the destructive effects of various negative factors.

Polyurethane foam

A special type of plastic with a cellular structure, which has become widespread when used as a heat-insulating material for external walls of buildings, is polyurethane foam. With its help, you can create an especially durable high-quality and, most importantly, seamless coating, which will guarantee good sound and thermal insulation when arranging the protection of the facade walls of country private houses.

Such work requires the participation of qualified specialists and the use of special equipment. Insulation in liquid form under high pressure is supplied through a hose for application to the insulated surface. The ability to change the pressure in the system allows you to adjust the thickness of the applied layer, increasing it in those places where the layer of insulation is too thin.

When creating thermal insulation with polyurethane foam, the location of the dew point remains unchanged.

Polyurethane foam is used not only for application directly to the outer surface of the walls, it is poured between the elements during the construction of the supporting structure, which guarantees a high level of protection of the walls from freezing. When creating a building facade insulation system, some features and advantages of this insulation are taken into account, including:

The ability to completely repeat the shape of the wall, even when insulating buildings with complex geometry.
Creates a seamless coating that eliminates the penetration of cold air or moisture.
The correct calculation of the thickness of the insulation layer allows you to protect the building from displacement of the dew point and protect the building from the appearance of condensation, the development and growth of mold and mildew.
The closed-cell structure does not allow the insulation to collapse under the influence of moisture.

Carrying out work on warming the facade of a house using other materials does not guarantee the exclusion of the appearance of cold bridges, thermal seams, a large number of joints that require additional strengthening and protection. All this is excluded when applied to the surface of polyurethane foam. The composition is used to fill the space between the frame guides or completely cover the surface of the outer walls along the entire perimeter of the house.

In order to make the only correct decision when choosing a heater for the external walls of a private building, you should carefully study the characteristics of the currently existing thermal insulation materials and the features of each of them. The video will help you understand the nuances and get reliable information about all the methods of insulation and the substances used in the course of work.

When deciding which wall insulation can be used in each individual case, it is worthwhile to carefully study the features and advantages of each of the materials offered by modern manufacturers.

Nowadays, buildings are insulated from the outside more and more often. This also applies to private houses and high-rise buildings. By insulating the walls from the outside, it is possible to save up to 50% of energy resources on heating and air conditioning of premises, so that the cost of thermal insulation sometimes pays off in less than five years.

However, before proceeding with thermal insulation measures, you need to decide on the choice of insulation that is better suited in a particular case. It is also important to choose which of the outside insulation methods will be more suitable. It is these questions that we will consider further.

Why is insulation outside is better

External wall insulation is used more often than internal insulation for several reasons.

Does not deal with the thermal insulation of the living space. This is especially true in small apartments and small houses, because the stand of the insulation with cladding reaches 7-8 cm, which significantly reduces the already small living space.
Outside, you can put a much larger layer of insulation, which will, as a result, give a much better thermal insulation effect.
Exterior wall insulation is combined with some type of modern finish, such as siding, so that a dilapidated façade can be refurbished
Seams between the slabs are closed in the case of insulation outside multi-storey block houses.
The building material from which the walls are built is protected, thereby extending its service life.
A house that is insulated from the outside, clad with siding or plastered with a modern decorative mixture rises sharply in price, so thermal insulation is a good investment.

What technologies are used for outdoor insulation

External thermal insulation provides for several methods, among which three main methods are most common.

Wet insulation technology when the sheet heat-insulating material is glued to the wall, followed by additional fastening using dowels with a mushroom-like perforated head. Further, the surface is reinforced with a special fiberglass mesh, which is mounted on a layer of plaster glue. After a full cycle of surface preparation, one of the types of decorative plaster coating is applied to it, which, after drying, is painted with tinted water-based paint.
Curtain facade method, which is somewhat reminiscent of in-wall insulation. In this case, the heat insulator is fixed to the existing surface, as in the above method. Further, the external masonry is erected, which is then plastered and painted. Exterior masonry can be made of decorative bricks to avoid the need for finishing. A ventilation gap is left between the wall surface and the thermal insulation layer.
The most popular, especially for external insulation of private houses, is ventilated facade technology... If this option is implemented, a crate is constructed, which is intended for sheathing with thermal panels or siding. Between the guides of such a frame, a heat-insulating material is laid, which is either fastened between the lathing elements, or with the help of mushroom-like dowels. A windproof film is fixed outside, which protects against moisture, including if a hygroscopic heat insulator is used. The last step here is siding or some similar finish cladding.

The choice of one of the methods described above depends on the type of building, its number of storeys, the material from which the walls are erected. So, for external thermal insulation of the walls of high-rise buildings, it is better to use the "wet" method. When insulating private houses, it is preferable to build a ventilated facade with siding. Depending on the technology used, preferences for one or another thermal insulation material change.

What types of insulation are there

All the most common thermal insulation materials used outside are divided into natural and polymer... The first are:

mineral insulation (mineral wool, glass wool);
cellulose heat insulators (ecowool).

Polymeric are:

Styrofoam;
penoplex;
polyurethane foam.

Now let's take a closer look at each type.

Mineral wool insulation materials

Minvata is used both for installation on walls with subsequent finishing with decorative plaster, and for arranging a ventilated siding facade cladding system.

In the first case, mineral wool mats with a size of 100x60 cm are used, which are attached to the wall with glue and dowels, reinforced with a fiberglass mesh, which sits on plaster glue.

The second option provides for the construction of a frame, on which siding is sewn as the final cladding. It is better to use mineral wool of medium density here. Considering that the insulation is capable of absorbing moisture, while deteriorating its thermal insulation qualities, it is necessary, both from the side of the wall and from the outside, to make waterproofing protection with a special perforated film. Before installing the siding, it is better to make a counter-lattice to ensure there is a ventilation gap.

Insulation from the outside with ecowool

For insulation with ecowool, it is also necessary to equip the frame for siding.

First, the crate is made. Then a heater is applied to the wall, which is a cellulose mass mixed in certain proportions with water. Ecowool sticks to the wall, forming a continuous, seamless heat-insulating layer. After drying, the excess is removed, which is outside the outer plane of the crate. Then a layer of wind protection is laid, a counter-lattice is made and siding or a material similar in function is sewn on.

Thermal insulation with polystyrene and polystyrene foam

These insulating sheets are mainly used for the arrangement of a "wet" facade. They are very easy to use and finish. Due to the fact that penoplex is much stronger than polystyrene, it is better to use it at the bottom of a building, where there is a high probability of mechanical damage.

Above the level of one and a half to two meters from the surface of the earth, it is more expedient to use foam, since it is much cheaper than foam and this will help to make thermal insulation more economical.

How walls are insulated outside with polyurethane foam

The method of thermal insulation using polyurethane foam spraying is in many ways similar to the method of applying ecowool. The scheme is the same - lathing, spraying of insulation, sheathing with finishing cladding. The difference is that, unlike "breathing" ecowool, polyurethane foam does not allow moisture or steam to pass through, therefore, it is not suitable for, say, thermal insulation of wooden walls. But they can be much better than sheet materials to insulate walls made of brick, concrete or cinder block.

In this article, we briefly told you about the materials for insulating walls from the outside, so that you can decide which one is best suited in a particular case.

Content

Not only comfort, but also people's health depends on the microclimate in the house. The optimum temperature for living quarters is 20–25 ° C, and the humidity level is 50–60%. If winters are harsh, a significant portion of the heat energy escapes through walls, roofs, doorways and windows. To retain heat as much as possible, wall structures must be insulated.

Choosing insulation for the walls of the house outside

It is recommended to insulate a private house from the outside, since internal insulation has many disadvantages. Insulation for exterior walls of a house is not uncommon on the market. Therefore, in order to select a high-quality material, it is enough to take into account the technical parameters and installation features when choosing. This allows you to select the ideal thermal insulation.

The principles of insulating the outer walls of the house

It is important to understand why the insulation of the facade is a priority over the thermal insulation of living quarters from the inside. There are situations when it is not possible to mount heat-insulating material and external finishing of the building outside, in these cases, internal insulation is the only possible option.

The problem lies in the location of the "dew point" - the place where heat meets cold, which provokes condensation. And in a living room, moisture in the air is always present due to the vapors of bodies, respiration, and the use of water for domestic needs.

The dew point in a non-insulated wall is located approximately in the middle of the building envelope. This means that the wall is picking up moisture from the side of the room. If you mount the insulation on the inner surface of the walls, the structure will freeze through and the slightest access of warm humid air behind the insulating layer will lead to condensation - the wall will get wet under the insulation.

Experts say that it is better to insulate the house from the outside. In this case, the wall structures will be isolated from contact with cold air, as a result of which the walls will not freeze. Depending on the insulation technology used from the outside, moist warm air that passes through the wall:

will not come into contact with the cold one, since the insulating layer is mounted directly on the wall structure;
gets into the ventilation gap between the wall and the heat insulator, the moisture will quickly evaporate, so there will be no conditions for the wall to get wet - with external insulation, the dew point is located outside the structure.

To choose the best option for external insulation, you need to take into account the characteristics of the materials from which the house is built, as well as the technical characteristics of heat insulators.

Heat insulator properties

Thermal insulation with mineral glass wool

Insulation for a house, regardless of the type of building, is characterized by a low thermal conductivity. But heat insulators are compared not only in this parameter. It is equally important to evaluate other characteristics that affect the durability, safety and functional properties of the material for external insulation:

vapor permeability and water absorption indicators;
impact on the microclimate of the room;
resistance to aggressive environments;
fire resistance;
environmental friendliness and safety for health;
resistance to biological damage (mold, rodents, insects);
physical and mechanical parameters (including tendency to shrinkage, resistance to mechanical stress, elasticity, etc.);
noise-absorbing properties;
installation technology and convenience during work;
the ability to create a seamless thermal insulation coating;
the ability to use on surfaces of complex configuration with a large number of hard-to-reach places;
strength and durability of the service life.

When designing wall insulation, it is necessary to calculate the thickness of the thermal insulation layer using the value of the thermal conductivity of the selected material. Pay attention to the indicators of water absorption and vapor permeability of the insulation, because they affect the technology of installation work.

Types of heat insulators

Examples of different heat insulators

There are various types of wall insulation on the market, each of which has its own advantages. Thermal insulation of the facade is most often carried out using:

foam (expanded polystyrene);
extruded polystyrene foam (polystyrene foam, EPS, extruded expanded polystyrene);
sprayed polyurethane foam;
mineral wool (basalt);
liquid thermal insulation.

Good thermal insulation should be chosen taking into account the material from which the wall was erected, as well as the planned version of the external finish.

Styrofoam

Thermal insulation of external walls with foam

Expanded polystyrene plates are actively used for external thermal insulation of building structures. Advantages of polymer material: light weight, easy installation, moisture resistance, affordable price. In addition, the heat insulator does not become a shelter for fungus and is not damaged by pests. If you prevent UV light from getting on the insulation, the material will last more than 50 years.

At the same time, the material also has a number of serious drawbacks - it is flammable, it is easily damaged by rodents. At a density of less than 35 kg / m3, the foam has a loose structure, and it is vapor-permeable due to the pores between the interconnected foamed polymer granules. The denser the material, the higher its thermal insulation properties.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Warming with expanded polystyrene

EPPS, penoplex is a foamed polymer material with a closed-cell structure. Polymeric heaters for thermal insulation of a house have the same advantages, but extruded polystyrene foam differs from polystyrene for the better:

low flammability (combustion is supported only with constant contact with the flame, in the absence of a fire source, the material self-extinguishes);
vapor tightness;
resistance to damage by rodents.

EPPS is widely used as external insulation, if graphite nanoparticles are used in its production, the material has higher energy-saving properties and strength.

Sprayed polyurethane foam

An example of thermal insulation with sprayed polyurethane foam

PPU is a heat-insulating material with a closed-cell structure. Due to the fact that 90% of the weight is air enclosed in cells, modern insulation is characterized by low thermal conductivity.

PPU is resistant to biological damage, does not spread combustion, due to its low weight, such wall insulation does not load structures and the foundation base. The material is moisture and gas tight, provides a hermetically sealed coating.

The spraying method allows the use of polyurethane foam to create seamless elastic thermal insulation on surfaces of any configuration. Polyurethane foam has high adhesion and reliably adheres to all types of substrates - wood, brick and block structures.

The disadvantages of PPU include the high cost and the need to use professional equipment during installation.

Mineral wool

Thermal insulation of walls with mineral wool

Fibrous materials for wall insulation outside are stone wool, slag wool, glass wool. The type of mineral wool depends on the raw materials used. They can be waste glass production and metallurgical industry, melt of stone (basalt) rocks.

In order to choose the right mineral wool heat insulator, it should be borne in mind that slag wool is not environmentally friendly, it is better for it to insulate non-residential buildings. Glass wool tends to cake over time, losing its thermal insulation properties. The ideal option is basalt wool, which holds its shape well, does not burn, is easy to assemble, dampens sound waves, is not afraid of biological damage and is durable.

Basalt wool can be used to insulate walls from building blocks, bricks, timber. Facade insulation works are carried out at any temperature.

The fibrous material is vapor-permeable and capable of absorbing moisture, which requires its reliable vapor barrier when installing internal insulation and external thermal insulation under the cladding. Moisture condensation reduces the thermal insulation properties of the material.

However, vapor permeability is a useful property if the thermal insulation of external walls made of "breathing" materials is performed using the "under plaster" technology. In such a situation, moist warm air from the room passes through the mineral wool and is discharged outside, and a favorable microclimate remains in the house.

Liquid insulation

Applying liquid thermal insulation

Liquid insulation is an innovative material for insulating wall structures from the outside. It is used for processing metal structural elements (prevents the emergence of cold bridges), as well as for insulation of walls made of foam blocks, bricks, wood.

Ceramic multicomponent composition visually looks like paint, but has a porous structure with vacuum voids. The total volume of voids reaches 80% of the material, due to which thermal insulation properties are provided.

The list of material advantages includes:

integrity of the coating, no seams;
an easy way to apply to the walls from the outside (using a roller, brush or vacuum spray);
the ability to use on surfaces of any configuration;
resistance of the heat-protective layer to external influences (high and low temperatures, moisture, ultraviolet light, mechanical damage);
decorative appearance (the building does not need finishing on top of the insulating layer);
protection of structures (protects metal from corrosion, wood - from UV radiation and moisture);
resistance to biological damage.

With the help of liquid thermal insulation, you can successfully insulate the facade of a residential private house, an outbuilding, an industrial facility.

External insulation methods

The materials used to insulate a house from the outside are mostly universal and suitable for wall structures built from any materials. But it is important to understand how the insulation will affect the ability of the wall to "breathe" with a particular installation technology. Pay attention to the exterior finish on the outside of the insulation. As a rule, plaster, facade panels, siding, facing bricks are used.

There are three main ways to insulate a building from the outside:

fastening the heat insulator under the plaster;
arrangement of an unventilated three-layer system;
installation of a ventilated facade.

The application of a liquid heat-insulating composition has not yet become widespread.

Insulation of walls for plastering

"Pie" of the wall with mineral wool insulation

For installation under plaster, plate heaters are used for the outer walls of the house. The material is attached with special glue and "umbrella" fasteners to the aligned walls (wooden structures are pre-treated with an antiseptic). Sheathing elements are mounted “at a distance” so that there are no long joining seams.

Then plaster is applied with the obligatory use of mesh for reinforcement. To prevent the plaster layer from falling off the polymer insulation over time, it is recommended to abrade its smooth surface with an abrasive for better adhesion and use a plaster material with high adhesion.

When choosing a heat insulator, it is important to consider:

If foam or extruded polystyrene foam is used as an insulation material, the house turns into a thermos, since these materials are vapor-proof. To prevent the walls from getting damp from the inside, the house must be provided with effective exhaust ventilation.
By using mineral wool, you will maintain the vapor permeability of the wall, but provided that the plaster is not painted with acrylic paint, as it creates a film.

Non-ventilated three-layer system

Wall section when installing a non-ventilated three-layer system

It is used if the wall material is brick or blocks. The procedure for wall insulation when installing a three-layer non-ventilated system:

any type of heat insulator is attached to the wall using glue or spray;
with an indent for the air gap, the outer cladding of the house is mounted from decorative bricks.

If you insulate a house using this technology with foamed polymer, you need to take care of good ventilation, as the walls stop "breathing". The advantages of the technology include the ability to create a beautiful brick facade of the house. It is also possible to mount facade panels.

Ventilated facade

Wall insulation with a ventilated facade

The most common option provides for the possibility of cladding the house with siding, decorative panels, clapboard. The material for thermal insulation of the facade can be mineral wool, EPS boards, polystyrene.

The construction of the "pie" is as follows:

lathing of boards to create a ventilation gap;
fastening of waterproofing and vapor barrier;
lathing (on boards) for laying a heat insulator;
insulation in the resulting sections;
windproof film;
counter grill to create an air gap;
finishing cladding with the selected material.

Note! A common mistake is to install waterproofing directly on the wall of the house. In this case, the vapor permeability of the structure is lost.

Conclusion

To prevent the wall to be insulated from the outside damp and not covered with mold, it is required to use technology that does not violate its vapor permeability, or it is necessary to mount a high-quality ventilation system.

For owners of country houses and especially country houses with year-round living, ensuring a constant comfortable temperature in all rooms is always very important. No matter how effective various heating systems are, the main factor is always the ability of house structures to retain heat inside the building. First of all, this applies to walls that have the largest surface area of the house and, accordingly, give out the maximum heat loss of the building. The simplest and most effective method of execution is the insulation of the walls from the outside. What materials are the most effective for insulating the walls of the house, as well as learn about the technology for performing such work, you can by studying this article.

Heat loss through the wall

The purpose of any insulation is to minimize heat transfer with the environment.

Based on this, we can safely say that the external insulation of the walls of the house is a very important stage of construction work:

Reduced heating costs in winter and air conditioning in summer.
Comfort and coziness in the house, not only at the peak of frost and heat, but also in the off-season with minimal use of household heating appliances.

Even high-quality construction of houses from any building materials cannot completely solve the problem of saving heat inside them. There are always invisible gaps between rows of logs or wooden beams, heterogeneity and voids in brick or block masonry, lack of insulation, air cavities, expansion joints in panel and monolithic housing construction.

All the flaws of the walls can be clearly identified only with the use of thermal imaging technology. This service is provided by some specialized and construction organizations to assess heat loss during heating of buildings and develop solutions for their elimination.

The traditional solution to eliminate heat loss is various methods of external insulation of the walls of a private house:

Plaster using various fillers.
Wall cladding with lumber.
External single-row brick or stone masonry for wooden buildings with the filling of the formed gap with heat-insulating materials.
Facing with sheet materials () using insulation.
The use of modern curtain walls.

Sometimes the insulation of the walls of a private house with their own hands is also performed from the inside of the premises using sheet or roll thermal insulation materials, cladding, sheathing with gypsum fiber sheet,.

The materials and substances used to reduce heat loss are characterized by both their own low thermal conductivity and additional heat retention during their use due to the multilayer structure (hydro, sound and thermal insulation) of wall insulation. After all, such a structure contains air layers that do not conduct heat well.

Advantages of outdoor insulation

Structurally, there are three possibilities for insulating the external load-bearing walls of any building:

Placement of insulation elements inside the wall. Possibly at the stage of construction or reconstruction of the building. Most often, it requires design solutions to ensure the bearing capacity, structural and thermal calculations.
From inside the premises... This type of insulation reduces the area and volume of the premises, and also creates certain difficulties in carrying out work in cramped conditions in a populated residential building.
Outside the wall... This method is usually not limited by space for work, delivery and storage of necessary materials, scaffolding and use of lifting mechanisms. Depending on the materials used for insulation and decoration, it is possible to perform work almost at any time of the year.

Important! With external insulation of the walls of the house, moisture condensation due to the temperature difference outside and inside the building does not occur inside the room or wall structure, but outside. This not only solves the problem of sweating and the inevitable formation of fungus when the walls freeze, but also significantly slows down the process of wall destruction due to the cessation of the regular formation of moisture and ice crystals inside the structures. To reliably protect the walls outside the house from external factors, it will not be superfluous to use a hinged ventilated facade.

In addition, by insulating the walls from the outside, along the way you will solve at least two more problems - improving the sound insulation and appearance of the building, which is often just as important for the owner and family members. Thermal insulation perfectly absorbs background noise and harsh sounds, and many facing materials of different texture and color can protect walls from external influences and radically change the appearance of the house.

This method of insulation with optimal investment will help to significantly reduce heating costs, which is important taking into account heating costs with constantly growing prices for any energy sources: firewood, coal, gas and electricity.

You can qualitatively insulate the walls of the house with the help of liquid polyurethane foam. To do this, using special equipment, through the external holes it is pumped into the air gap between the wall of the house and the inner lining of the room.

Wall materials and methods of insulating them

For the construction of load-bearing walls of buildings, various materials and ready-made structures will be used, as well as various methods and methods of masonry, assembly and fastening, binders and fastening elements. The physical properties of these substances and materials directly shape the dynamics of temperature changes inside the house under the influence of external and internal factors.

Brick and wood, foam and reinforced concrete, blocks of cement mixture with various fillers, prefabricated layered wall structures have different thermal conductivity, thermal inertia, density and strength. The worst heat-insulating properties are possessed by factory building structures made of reinforced concrete, which is most often aggravated by shortcomings and violations of the technological process at all stages of the construction of buildings from it. This also applies to monolithic reinforced concrete buildings. All this is important for the correct choice of material and method of external wall insulation.

Materials used for the construction and insulation of the walls of the house

Material name	Density	*Thermal conductivity coefficient (W / m K)**
Concrete block	2100-2200	0,8-1,74
Brick (red)	1700-1900	0,55-0,96
Wood (pine, spruce)	450-550	0,10-0,18
Polystyrene concrete	900-1100	0,25-0,39
Minvata	50-100-200	0.045-0.055-0.06 (respectively)
Styrofoam	30	0,04
Expanded polystyrene	100-125-150	0.039-0.051-0.055 (respectively)
Polyurethane foam (PPU)	50	0,033

The main task of the external insulation of the house is to protect the building structures of the wall from contact with too hot or cold outside air and precipitation. In practice, this range ranges from traditional cladding with planed boards, clapboard to the installation of ventilated facade systems.

Facade of walls

Sheathing and cladding of external walls of buildings for wind protection and insulation using sawn timber, roofing felt, technical cardboard, profiled metal sheet, various types of siding with mineral wool mats or foam sheets is the most common method of external insulation.

Decorative plaster with various mixtures with subsequent surface painting is no less widespread and is also used today. The disadvantages of this type of insulation have always been the high labor intensity and fragility of work without constant supervision, current repair of the coating, which is quickly destroyed by temperature extremes and precipitation. The effectiveness of insulation with this method also leaves much to be desired.

The lower the density of the heat-insulating material (there are more closed air cells in it), the better properties for insulation it has.

The most popular and used types of wall insulation today are various mineral wool in rolls or ready-made mats of different sizes, expanded polystyrene sheets, more often called polystyrene, fiberglass materials.

Rarer are foil-clad polyethylene foam, wood fiberboard, various liquid polymer compositions foaming in the filled volume, heat-resistant organosilicon paints, cellulose insulation called ecowool, sprayed polyurethane foam.

On top of the layers of insulation and waterproofing, wall cladding is performed with sheet and tile materials:

Professional sheet;
Siding;
Suspended facades.

Good to know! Profiled sheet and siding are the best selling and used facing materials. In addition to their excellent appearance, they qualitatively protect the insulation located between them and the wall of the building from all external influences.

Outside wall insulation technology

To insulate the surface of the walls of buildings outside, several methods and technological methods are used:

Fastening of heat-insulating materials to the facade using glue or mechanical fixation. This is followed by a reinforcing mesh, a layer of plaster and finishing paint. This method is called a wet façade.
Thermal insulation is attached to the wall in the same way as in the first method. Then a wall is erected with an air gap in one brick of facing or ordinary brick, followed by painting.
Fastening alternately a waterproofing layer, insulation, wind protection. Decorative cladding made of profiled sheet, siding, ceramic tiles is attached to a frame made of a mounting metal profile or a wooden bar.

The choice of wall insulation method depends on many factors:

The type and height of the building;
Material and wall area;
The degree of freezing and heat loss;
The finance allocated for this work.

It is possible for the owner with family members and friends to insulate the walls of a country or country house with his own hands, but it is worth entrusting the performance of insulation work to a multi-storey building to a specialized construction organization.

The best option for performing work on external insulation:

It is better to carry out the whole range of works when there are design solutions, thermal and structural calculations, as well as specifications of building materials and fasteners. You can make them yourself or order documentation from specialists construction organization, engaged in the insulation of buildings.

This approach will save you from a lot of problems: the choice of a suitable certified material, its delivery, installation work, especially at height, which requires mandatory qualifications and permits for such work.

If the owner of a private house is confident in his strengths and building skills, then you can choose the most acceptable way from his point of view, buy materials available everywhere today and insulate the walls outside the house yourself. So you can not only save money, but also enjoy the result.

How to choose the best insulation for the outside walls of the house. The most comfortable for living quarters are temperatures in the range of 20-25 ° C and humidity from 50 to 60%. To provide such a microclimate in the house, it is necessary to take care of the thermal insulation of the walls. The optimal one on the outside is selected taking into account the material of construction and must meet a number of requirements. The main criterion for any heat-insulating material is the coefficient of its thermal conductivity. The lower this value, the better the material prevents heat leakage into the environment.

Fact! The dwelling loses up to 30% of its heat through the walls.

How best to insulate the walls of the house

There are two ways to insulate a building - to use internal insulation of premises or to insulate the walls of the house from the outside. What kind of insulation is better to use? The answer is hidden in a short expression - "dew point".

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

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

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

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

The better to insulate the walls from the outside

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

low coefficient of thermal conductivity;
minimum values of water absorption and vapor permeability;
the ability to regulate the indoor climate;
high rates of sound absorption;
ecological cleanliness;
fire resistance and fire safety;
chemical resistance;

Comparative table of thermal conductivity of building materials

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

It is also important to take into account the way in which the consumer prefers to mount insulation outside the walls of the house. Videos showing the possibility of independent work (as well as other manuals) can be found in our time enough.

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

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

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

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

Expanded polystyrene (styrofoam)

Polyfoam (expanded polystyrene) is one of the modern polymer insulation for walls of houses and is used as such in almost all areas of the construction industry: civil and industrial. First of all, this material is distinguished by low thermal conductivity (from 0.037 to 0.052 W / m * K, depending on density) and water absorption, resistance to biological and chemical influences, and high sound insulation and windproof properties. It belongs to the group of environmentally friendly substances and is quite durable: its operational life exceeds 50 years.

Fact! A 50 mm thick foam layer is equivalent to one and a half brick wall in terms of heat retention.

Expanded polystyrene - easy to install and lightweight

Its other advantages include flexibility and low weight. This helps to reduce the cost of delivery and installation, ease of work, reduce the load on the walls, which, in turn, eliminates the need for additional strengthening of the foundation. The disadvantage of expanded polystyrene is its flammability, however, the low price makes it possible to insulate all the walls of the house with foam from the outside.

Extruded polystyrene foam (eps, penoplex)

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

Insulation of walls with penoplex followed by cladding with siding

The thermal conductivity coefficient of Penoplex insulation ranges from 0.029 to 0.031 W / m * K. It is resistant to mold, chemicals, insects and rodents and is an excellent sound insulator. Thanks to this, it is possible to use foam as insulation outside: for the walls of wooden houses and other buildings, and inside: thermal insulation of ceilings (especially when installing "warm" floors), basements, balconies and loggias.

Polyurethane foam

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

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

Polyurethane foam is distinguished by a high level of adhesion to all types of surfaces: concrete, brick, wood, metal - due to which an airtight coating is created with a guarantee of excellent vapor and waterproofing. The seamless method of application (using a compressor and a hose) and high elasticity make polyurethane foam an indispensable material for blown thermal insulation when insulating walls outside buildings of complex shapes and frame houses. Insulation for walls outside by blowing can be applied at temperatures up to 100 ° C, operational life - up to 30 years.

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

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

Mineral wool (basalt insulation, stone wool, glass wool)

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

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

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

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

Expanded polystyrene plates can have docking grooves for ease of installation

Basalt insulation is used in buildings of any purpose, in particular - for insulation in the country, wooden houses and buildings made of timber, bricks or foam blocks. It is possible to work with this material at temperatures ranging from -60 ° C to + 220 ° C, which is definitely convenient when mounting on walls from the outside. Insulation in the country, houses made of wood, bricks or foam blocks, garages, warehouses and other buildings - this is an incomplete list of possibilities for using mineral thermal insulation.

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

It is most preferable to use mineral wool or basalt slabs when installing insulation for the walls of the house outside under siding. Also popular is the use of mineral wool (along with polyurethane foam) to create a blown insulation. With this method, with the help of a compressor unit, the material is blown between the wall of the house and the finishing facade, which also serves as a formwork.

Liquid insulation

Liquid thermal insulation materials can be called new generation heaters. They can be used for thermal insulation of metal parts (pipes or frames), and as a heater for houses from foam blocks. From the outside, on the walls, these multicomponent ceramic substances look like acrylic paint. However, they differ from paint in the content of vacuumized voids (up to 80%), due to which they acquire the properties of a heat insulator.

Liquid insulation is like acrylic paint

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

With a liquid consistency, these materials do not require professional skills and sophisticated equipment for application to any surface: concrete, brick, metal, wood. They are applied using painting tools - brushes, rollers, airless spray guns - and fill all voids and crevices. After 6 hours of drying, a solid, highly resistant to mechanical stress coating is formed.

Fixation of sheets of polystyrene or expanded polystyrene is carried out with special fasteners of the "fungus" type

Due to their low thermal conductivity, liquid insulation for walls of the house helps to reduce heat losses, even if applied from the outside in a thin layer. They protect the surface from weather influences (operating temperature range - from -60 to + 260 ° С), solar radiation and precipitation, and metal parts from corrosion.

Interesting! The water absorption of most liquid heaters within 24 hours does not exceed 0.4% by weight.

Coating with a liquid insulation is one of the most effective ways to prevent the formation of condensation and to protect an industrial or residential building from freezing and the development of all types of mold fungi.

Ways to insulate the walls of the house outside

Most modern heaters are universal and can be mounted outside the house on any walls: wood, timber, foam blocks, red or white brick; as well as for various types of exterior finishes: plaster, vinyl siding, decorative bricks, stone facade slabs. Having familiarized yourself with all the characteristics, you can choose the appropriate type of wall insulation. Outside, houses from a bar are insulated in the same way as buildings from other materials. Based on the variety of existing thermal insulation materials, the best installation option is selected for each type of wall in combination with its decoration:

Installation of insulation under plaster.
Three-layer non-ventilated wall.
Ventilated facade.

Examples of wall insulation followed by brick cladding

Installation of insulation under plaster

When installing insulation under plaster, for the walls of houses outside, polystyrene foam, basalt insulation plates, sheets of mineral wool or Penoplex insulation are most often used as a heat insulator. The insulation is fixed on the walls of the house from the outside with an adhesive solution and reinforced with a fiberglass reinforcing mesh. Special fasteners of the "fungus" type perform additional fixation of foam sheets or basalt insulation plates. For the walls of the house outside, plaster (the "wet facade" method) or facing materials are used as a finishing finish.

Insulation system "wet facade"

Three-layer non-ventilated wall

A three-layer non-ventilated wall is formed by the walls of the house from the outside, insulation and facade decoration, laid out taking into account the air gap. This method is used for installation with decoration for the walls of the house from the outside under the brick. Heaters of various types are used with this option, including thermal insulation materials for blown installation. This method is used to insulate various buildings, both brick or foam concrete, and wood or timber.

Non-ventilated facade with blown-in insulation

Facade finishing is carried out with facing slabs, decorative or building bricks.

Ventilated facade

Insulation for a ventilated facade is assembled from the following layers:

waterproofing;
insulation;
wind protection;
finishing facade cladding (lining, siding, panels).

The principle of arranging a ventilated facade

Installation of insulation as part of a ventilated facade is the most preferable option, since heat losses are minimized due to wind protection. Also, waterproofing provides additional protection of the wall surface from moisture. The use of a ventilated facade is possible with most types of buildings, materials and configurations of external walls and varieties of facade finishes. This option is most common when installing insulation for the walls of the house outside under siding. Also, this installation method is the best for insulation outside the walls of wooden houses: from a log or from a bar.

Insulated walls can be clad with material for every taste

Regardless of the type and type of material used as a heat insulator, any of the mentioned installation options must cope with the main tasks - insulation of the room, waterproofing of walls, protection from wind and drafts, as well as heat preservation. The undoubted advantage of most of the materials mentioned in the article is the ability to independently install them as heaters for the walls of the house outside. Photos and videos, as well as other instructions, will be very useful in this case.