The main stage of construction is insulating the house. If you make mistakes in technology or in the choice of material, you can deprive your home of the necessary heat. Expanded polystyrene boards will help keep your home cozy even when it’s frosty outside. They are famous for their low price and good thermal insulation.
Characteristics and properties
Expanded polystyrene is designed to retain heat. This happens due to compressed small balls containing air. They form a solid air cushion, similar to foam, which is why the material has a similar name.
The density of the material ranges from 0.028 to 0.034 watt meter per Kelvin. The indicator depends on weather conditions. Scientists proved in 2014 that mold fungi are not able to live on this insulation.
Each type has its own vapor conductivity. For example, extruded does not allow steam to pass through at all, but foamed - from 0.019 to 0.015 kg per m/h/Pascal. The difference appears due to the fact that the second type is obtained by cutting from a whole block into slabs of the required thickness. Therefore, air penetrates through the broken structure of the balls.
Moisture absorption works on the same principle as vapor barrier. Solid polystyrene foam will absorb a maximum of 0.4 percent of water, thinner ones can absorb ten times more - 4%. Due to its dense structure, extruded is considered strong, approximately 0.4 to 1 kg per square cm.
Due to the presence of anti-friction agents, polystyrene foam will last for many years without losing its advantages. Based on all of the listed properties, solid polystyrene foam is significantly better than foamed polystyrene. He almost ousted his competitor from the market and became the most popular.
Main disadvantages
Now let's look at the problems that we encounter when using this insulation. It is easily exposed to direct sunlight, under their pressure its density weakens and becomes unstable to weather conditions.
Selection rules
Polystyrene insulation is a popular and modern building material. Therefore, manufacturers do not miss the opportunity to make money on it. There are dozens of types of insulation sold on the market. . How to choose the best polystyrene foam insulation?
Despite all the shortcomings and the difficult choice of insulation, expanded polystyrene is used in the construction of four out of five houses. Trusted by most construction companies. If you take all precautions and follow technology, your home will be provided with heat for 30 years or more.
Today, when choosing insulation for a home, every person faces ample opportunities. Among all the variety, products such as polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are in great demand. Many people think that these are identical materials, because polystyrene is used to produce them. But this is far from true, since each of the presented heat insulators has its own area of application and properties.
Pros and cons of Extruded Polystyrene Foam
Extruded polystyrene foam is thermal insulation material, which is characterized by a uniform structure. It consists of small cells closed type. To obtain an EPP board, polystyrene granules are mixed under high pressure. In this case, a foaming agent is gradually introduced.
In the photo - extruded polystyrene foam
The advantages of the material include:
- High heat retention rates. The thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.031-0.042. Since it is high, it is possible to reduce the consumption of polystyrene foam several times.
- Not exposed to moisture. The material is based on a component such as polystyrene. During processing, cells are formed that are filled with air. Thanks to this, the insulation does not absorb water. Thus, extruded polystyrene foam can be used when arranging foundations, swimming pools and flat roof. Due to its water resistance, the material is characterized by high heat-saving properties that remain unchanged throughout its entire service life.
- Thermal insulation material is not affected by rot, mold and fungi. Thus, its structure remains unchanged.
- High compressive strength. When mechanical or temperature factors influence polystyrene foam, it remains in the same state.
- High noise insulation. Since during the production of polystyrene foam its cells are filled with air, this increases its sound insulation. By using material for thermal insulation of a house, it is possible to improve its sound insulation by 35 dB.
- High fire safety. The insulation in question does not contribute to the spread and maintenance of a fire. In addition, polystyrene foam is a self-extinguishing heat insulator. Thus, it can even be used to put out a fire.
- Affordable price. Due to its low cost, such insulation will be available to many people.
- Does not enter into a chemical reaction. The insulation is not influenced by lime, salt, gypsum, roofing felt, cement, concrete, soda, alcohol. In addition, it will be able to withstand short-term contact with food and machine waste.
- Ecological cleanliness. By using extruded polystyrene foam, you don’t have to worry about your health.
- Long service life. Since the extrusion method was used to produce polystyrene, this guarantees the material high performance characteristics. Its properties remain unchanged for 50 years. Therefore, it is not necessary to often replace the old insulation with a new one.
In the video - extruded polystyrene foam:
Extruded foam is not without its disadvantages. When it comes into contact with complex carbons, it begins to crumble. It is negatively affected by UV rays upon direct contact. When heated to 25 degrees, 1 m3 of insulation will contain 104 micrograms of styrene. Use it for thermal insulation of facades with high degree there will be no need for exploitation, since a denser material will be needed here.
This information will help you understand how penoplex plastering occurs on the outside and with what material:
Here's how it happens facade plaster on polystyrene foam and how difficult it is to do this is described in detail in this
Pros and cons of foam plastic
Polystyrene foam is a thermal insulation material characterized by its white color and rigid foam structure. It contains 98% air and 2% polystyrene.
In the photo - polystyrene foam for insulation
The advantages of polystyrene foam include:
- Inertness relative to materials such as lime, sand.
- Light weight. Thus, foam plastic can be used even when insulating those structures that should not be subjected to serious loads.
- Easy to install. Even a person who does not have proper experience in this matter can do all the work.
- Ecological cleanliness. Polystyrene foam is a safe insulation material. Thanks to this, it does not emit environment toxic components.
- Processable. To get the desired shape and size of the material, you can use a regular knife.
- Low price. Now almost anyone who has decided to insulate their home can buy polystyrene foam.
On video foam plastic for insulation:
The installation process of such lightweight and inexpensive insulation does not cause any difficulties. It can be safely used for agricultural buildings, warehouses, and technical premises. Even thermal insulation in the attic will not be a tedious procedure. Polystyrene foam has a number of disadvantages, which include toxicity during combustion and the formation of mold if installed incorrectly.
What is the difference
If you spend comparative analysis between polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam, then at first glance there is not much difference between them. They are made from the same material, but the production technology and density are different. And the main difference between them is the scope of application. Polystyrene is allowed to be used for thermal insulation of a base with a width of 20-30 mm, but the thickness of the foam should be 50 mm. And you can read about what the pros and cons are in the article.article.
What's better
Based on the above information, we can draw a conclusion as to which insulation is better - polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam. Professional builders most often choose expanded polystyrene for insulating houses and other buildings, many prefer.
This is due to the fact that it has many more advantages, therefore, the difference in application will be noticeable. Thanks to him you can get high-quality insulation a home that will remain that way for a long time.
Today, when choosing the best insulation, certain difficulties arise. And the reason for this is a wide range of products. Considering polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam, you might think that they are identical. But it’s worth familiarizing yourself in more detail with the characteristics of each individual insulation, and you can immediately determine the best and suitable material for thermal insulation in one case or another. So everyone can determine the best insulation for themselves, based on installation conditions, operation and personal wishes.
Advantages and disadvantages. All large quantity homeowners, frightened by heating bills, decide to insulate their homes and choose polystyrene foam as a thermal insulator.
– pros and cons, how not to make a mistake in choosing, the article is devoted to these issues.
Let us stipulate right away: polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are produced from the same raw materials, but this different materials. Polystyrene foam is a fragile, flammable material that decomposes in light and cannot withstand mechanical loads and is intended for packaging. For insulation, polystyrene foam is used - a denser material with completely different characteristics, but in common parlance both materials are called the same, which often leads to confusion.
The production process of foamed organic substance styrene is a technical development of the American concern BASF in 1951. The insulation, called “styrofoam,” consisted of 98% air filling a cellular foam base. The material was characterized by low thermal conductivity, low water absorption and vapor permeability.
As a result of improvements in technology, extruded polystyrene foam appeared - self-extinguishing foam. Their main difference is in the structure of the cells: expanded polystyrene has an open structure, while extruded material has a closed structure, which reduces water absorption and increases fire resistance.
Quality and specifications foam plastics in Russia is declared by GOST 15588-2014 “Heat-insulating polystyrene foam boards. Specifications" To insulate walls in a system with an external plaster layer, in accordance with this document, it is necessary to use polystyrene foam marked F - facade.
The letter G in the marking of the plates indicates the content of graphite, which gives lower thermal conductivity and colors the material in the mass in a silver-black color.
We are for it"!
This is what people say who have recently insulated their home with polystyrene foam. Indeed, the material has mass positive qualities:
- Low weight.
- Low thermal conductivity.
- Excellent noise absorption performance.
- Self-extinguishing property.
- Ease of use.
- Low cost.
Yes, indeed, polystyrene foam is second only to polyurethane foam in thermal conductivity, volume weight slabs from 10 to 50 kg per 1 m3, while the best materials from mineral wool it starts at 30-35kg/m3, has excellent noise reduction and fades out in 1 second, and can be used by any homeowner.
And we are “against”
This is what people say who have insulated a house without taking into account the specifics of the material. Let us list the negative qualities of the material:
- Low vapor permeability.
- High water absorption.
- Low resistance to mechanical damage.
- Instability to light.
- Rodents love it.
Due to low vapor permeability, it is undesirable to use this material to insulate the outside of a wooden house - without installing two ventilated gaps, which is difficult and time-consuming. A moisture absorption of 4% with low quality work will ensure that the material gets wet and loses its heat-insulating qualities after 2 seasons.
When insulating as part of a light plaster system, any accidental impact can lead to destruction of the protective layer, and the exposed foam plastic under the influence of sunlight just crumble. And finally, the last thing: mice prefer this material for making nests in the thickness of the insulation - it’s warm, it’s easy to gnaw through passages.
In wet plaster systems, a metal perforated corner saves from the invasion of rodents - starting profile, but when installing a ventilated façade they can easily overcome this obstacle.
Where to use polystyrene foam?
So why, despite everything negative qualities Is polystyrene foam popular? How to use best qualities material to make your home comfortable and reduce negativity to a minimum?
Let's consider. A little bit of thermal engineering in the tape: for the insulation system to work, it is necessary that the vapor permeability of the materials increases from the inside out, and the thermal conductivity of the materials, on the contrary, decreases.
That is, the material on the street side should have greater internal material, vapor permeability and lower heat transfer resistance coefficient.
Comparing heat transfer resistance building materials and polystyrene foam, we see that this indicator satisfies the requirement, but when comparing vapor permeability, it turns out that in the case of wood, the indicator of polystyrene foam is lower than that of wood, which means that the dew point will be at wooden structure, which will lead to condensation settling on it, getting wet and rotting.
When insulating a wooden house with polystyrene foam from the inside, the requirement is also not met, since the heat transfer resistance coefficient of wood is greater than that of insulation.
conclusions
Polystyrene foam is not suitable for insulation wooden houses, but will cope perfectly with the task of retaining heat with walls made of brick or light cellular concrete. When choosing an insulation system, it is better to choose a wet (plaster) system if the house is located near crop areas where voles are a common occurrence.
Taking into account everything said above and strictly following the manufacturers’ instructions when performing work, the use of polystyrene foam for insulation is justified and will last longer than the guaranteed 50 years.
Using polystyrene foam you can insulate a house, an extension, a bathhouse, a garage and various outbuildings. It has a number of advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into account when choosing this material and working with it.
In this article we will look at the main pros and cons of foam insulation, as well as the main features of this material.
One of the thinnest insulation materials
The benefits of insulation using expanded polystyrene are difficult to overestimate. However, one of the most significant of them is its thickness. This means that the product has practically the lowest thermal conductivity coefficient.
The only material that foam plastic is inferior to is penoizol, which is a multicomponent liquid material. However, it can only be used for insulating non-residential structures. 
The reason for this is the high toxicity of the material. In addition, only professional builders can work with foam insulation, but with the help of polystyrene foam, anyone can complete the finishing independently.
Light weight and low price
Another significant advantage of expanded polystyrene is its low weight. It can have a density of 15, 25 and 35 kg per m³. All types can be used for insulation. However, when purchasing insulation, you should check the weight of the package in order to obtain the appropriate density and quality. 
To properly insulate a house or other building, you should use polystyrene foam of maximum density. This is not only due to thermal insulation properties, but also with ease of operation. The fact is that the low density means that during operation it will easily crumble and break.
Polystyrene foam is one of the most available materials for insulation of residential and industrial buildings. In construction, expanded polystyrene sheets are most often used, but crumbs or balls can be used. 
The price for both types is practically the same. This is due to the increased popularity of balls and crumbs. They are used for wall decoration. To do this, cement is mixed with sand and balls and poured. The result is very cheap, simple and warm.
If we consider the pros and cons of foam insulation, then the versatility of its use must be mentioned as advantages.
Polystyrene foam is used for insulation:
- Stan;
- Roofs;
- Paul;
- Base;
- Residential and industrial buildings.
The use of this material is in the classic way insulation. Therefore, this material will help make the house warm and comfortable. In addition, if the main stages of work are carried out correctly, the result is quite durable and reliable, and the materials and work are inexpensive. 
At correct operation expanded polystyrene under plaster will last quite a long time without changing its qualities. Sheets are used to insulate walls, crumbs or balls are used for the roof, and extruded polystyrene foam is used for the floor or base.
Video instructions:
Other benefits:
- Polystyrene foam is one of the easiest materials to work with;
- It is very pliable, so it can be cut with a hacksaw or knife;
- In addition, you can easily make a hole in it of any size and depth. This property is useful when it is necessary to insulate surfaces with protruding cornices, windows or decorative elements;
- Lightweight foam can be glued to any surface, and after the glue has dried, it can be further processed.
But do not forget that there are also disadvantages of such insulation, which should be taken into account when making a decision.
Flammability and release of hazardous substances
The main disadvantage of expanded polystyrene is its flammability. Therefore, it cannot be used to insulate rooms in which there is a high probability of a fire.
That is why it is not recommended to insulate a ventilated façade with polystyrene foam. The voids between the material and the surface of the facade create optimal conditions for combustion. In addition, the voids additionally act as air draft. 
Over time, polystyrene foam begins to release bad smell. This is due to the natural aging process of the material. Toxic substance, which causes the unpleasant odor, is styrene monomer. That is why polystyrene foam can only be used for external insulation.
Detailed information in the video:
In addition, when insulating a bathhouse, it is also necessary to ensure that toxic fumes do not enter the room. When heating polystyrene foam above 90 degrees, the amount dangerous compounds, which are released from the material, increases tenfold.
Hygroscopicity and poor ventilation properties
Expanded polystyrene absorbs moisture. Therefore, when insulating damp surfaces you need to be careful. In this case, it is recommended to use extruded polystyrene foam, which does not absorb moisture.
Another significant drawback is its moisture-repellent properties. Thus, if the house is built from polystyrene foam blocks, it will be impossible to maintain an optimal microclimate in the room.
When breathing indoors, water vapor enters. And if this steam does not leave the room naturally, the room will be very humid. IN ideal conditions moisture leaves the room through the walls and ceiling.
If you insulate the walls with foam plastic, then natural ventilation will be broken. Therefore, in this case it is necessary to consider high-quality forced ventilation.
Styrofoam harbors mice
And one more fact that needs to be pointed out when assessing the pros and cons of foam insulation is that mice breed in the material. 
Expanded polystyrene is an ideal habitat for them, because it is warm and soft. Therefore, when insulating with polystyrene foam, block the access of mice. To do this, you can finish the places where rodents can enter with mineral wool, which mice do not like.
Therefore, although polystyrene foam has a number of positive qualities, we should not forget about its disadvantages. Therefore, it should be used thoughtfully and in accordance with all the technological features of the material.