Warming of the socle with extruded polystyrene foam: technology and feedback

One of the most important details of thermal insulationThe foundation of the house is the insulation of the basement and blind area. This set of measures significantly reduces the cost of paying for utilities, and also eliminates the vertical movement of the blind area due to soil freezing.

Is it necessary to insulate the basement

Some argue that enough insulationwalls of construction, but even if you use the most effective material for this, you will still form cold bridges at the floor level. The reasons for their occurrence are that the thermal conductivity of structural materials is much higher in comparison with a heater. Among other things, the basement or the basement also remain unheated, this contributes to heat loss through the floor. That's why it's necessary to insulate the foundation, the base and the blind.

Need for thermal insulation

The blind area is the footprint of the building, itis located on top of the base and protrudes beyond it. Obviously, for this reason, this part of the house is exposed to negative effects of atmospheric precipitation. Warming of the base with polystyrene foam helps to save heat in the house, which is especially true for wooden buildings. The insulation of extruded polystyrene foam, which you can read below, assumes the use of a material that has an insignificant level of thermal conductivity, it is highly resistant to compression. The quality of the insulation is determined by the structure of the homogeneity of the closed cells, they are not filled with water, and a low level of moisture absorption provides high resistance to temperatures below zero. The period of operation of high-quality material is not less than 50 years.

Recommendations for thermal insulation

Warming of the cap extrudedpolystyrene foam is carried out by technology that provides for the determination of wall thickness, geographic area and material at the base of the floors. For sale, you can find slabs of expanded polystyrene, the thickness of which varies from 3 to 12 cm. The required thickness can be determined by taking into account the weather conditions in the region where the construction is carried out. If the work is carried out in the central strip of the CIS, it is best to use extruded polystyrene foam for thermal insulation, the thickness of which is 5 cm or more.

Angles will freeze in the first place, sothey are protected with slabs, the thickness of which reaches 10 cm. If the thermal insulation is only planned at the stage of building a house, it is advisable to erect a sinking basement that will hide the layers of heat and waterproofing. Part of the socle will be located under the ground, so it is exposed to corrosive environmental factors and groundwater, as well as low temperatures. This can cause the destruction of the socle.

Technology of work

Thermal insulation must be on the outsidethe buildings. Plates are laid to the walls of the plinth using non-aggressive glue. The composition should not contain solvents that would be capable of destroying the material. The bond of the insulation with the adhesive will be higher if the work is carried out at a temperature above +5 ° C. Compliance with these recommendations will be a guarantee that when the surface is frozen, the walls are not covered with cracks. Before covering the surface of the socle with thermal insulation material, it is necessary to treat it with a thin layer of plaster, which will allow to get rid of cracks, irregularities and pits. To do this, it is necessary to prepare a cement-sand or lime mortar. In extreme cases, you can use gypsum composition.

Methods of work

Warming of the cap extrudedpolystyrene foam at the next stage provides for checking the plaster layer for moisture. As soon as the setting is completed, the substrate should be sanded and cleaned of dust and dirt. Plates of expanded polystyrene should be fixed to the plinth with the help of glue, which is intended for the material described. With the help of a brush or a roller, the composition should be applied to the surface of the socle as well as to the back side of the warming plate.

When the basement is insulatedextruded polystyrene foam, the material must be laid with overlapping on the basement overlap. The width of the overlap can vary from 10 to 12 cm, this will increase the heat resistance of the floor inside the building and reduce heat loss. When installing the plates, it is necessary to eliminate irregularities, while using a construction rail or a special level. The plates are fixed with a percussion drill, which will allow the grid to be fixed from the metal. In this case, the plate and the base are pulled together. In order to protect polystyrene from external factors, it is covered with plaster, which is supplemented with a fiberglass or metal mesh. On top you need to fix the facing materials.

Nuances of works

Thickness of insulation of the cap extrudedexpanded polystyrene was mentioned above. If you want to make thermal insulation more effective, the layer should be more massive. Plates can be fixed not only with the help of polyurethane glue, but also with the use of bituminous-polymer mastic of cold hardening. Apply the composition on the entire surface or in separate points. If you choose a mixture of ingredients containing a solvent, it can destroy the structure of expanded polystyrene. Therefore, on the heat-insulating qualities and durability, this feature of the adhesive can affect negatively.

For the reason that mechanical fastening canviolate the integrity of the layer of waterproofing and cause leakage into the walls of the basement, experts do not recommend fixing the plates, hoping only for the strength of the glue. You can independently carry out the insulation of the socle with extruded polystyrene foam, the technology is described in the article. From it you can learn that almost all the models of plates of the described insulation material from expanded polystyrene contain a recess along the perimeter, this allows you to join the canvas, forming a lock. If you purchase these canvases, you will free the surfaces from the cold bridges. When trimming, the jointing of adjacent plates should be smeared with glue or mastic.

Can I install the plates in two layers

Some experts are still solving the problem ofwhether it is possible to fix the plates of expanded polystyrene in two layers in order to achieve the desired thickness. Some say that the high adhesion of the glue and mastic makes it possible to obtain a monolithic double layer. To avoid the formation of cold bridges, care must be taken to ensure that the joints are not overlapped during installation. Others argue that with vertical soil displacements, the insulation can become delaminated. As a result, moisture penetrates between layers, which causes heat loss.

The lower row must be mounted,base. The best option will be an existing foundation ledge, which is formed at the stage of pouring. But quite often the thermal insulation is mounted on the gravel filling, where the foundation is installed. From above on a heater put wild stone, a brick, a tile or decorative plaster, and also a facade paint. Each of these materials can become a decorative finish. But you can not call the best choice of silicate brick or decorative tile, because at sub-zero temperatures on the edges of these materials may be formed chipped.

Warming of blind area

Warming of the plinth and blind area with extrudedexpanded polystyrene is increasingly being carried out today. If you decide to insulate the blind area, then first you need to prepare the territory. The site is freed, the fertile layer of soil is removed to the depth of the thermal insulation. Depth of laying insulation is determined depending on the thermal characteristics: the higher they are, the layer should be smaller. It is necessary to get rid of large roots, if this is not done, then after a while, the vegetation will appear on the place of the blind. In place, cleared from the ground, you should put the rubble, which will serve as a drainage.

Warming the house with extruded polystyrene foamIn the area of ​​the blind zone, in the next stage, the perimeter equipment is equipped with a removable formwork. From the possibility of seepage of water you need to get rid of clay, which is distributed along the trench. It should be compacted by forming a 20-centimeter layer. Then sand is laid, which will serve as the underlying layer. In order to ensure that it shrinks, you need to pour water on top. Next, the insulation is laid, the next layer will be water repellent paving slab, stone or any other material.

Reviews

Extruded polystyrene foam, in the opinion ofusers, is a good solution for the insulation of the socle and blind area. The material is easy to stack. Technology will be able to understand even a novice home master. For the work will not need to purchase additional equipment, and the resulting joints should be filled with mounting foam, which you can buy in the building materials store. As the buyers claim, the foam extruded can be used with any decorative material that fits in the final stage, which will be able to cope with any person who at least once in his life was engaged in repair work.

Conclusion

The design, which was found to be broken,ceases to perform its functions. This can affect the appearance of drafts inside the house. If you are thinking about the question of whether to insulate the socle with extruded polystyrene foam, then it should be noted that this material does not harm human health.