When constructing residential houses and country houses, as well as garages and outbuildings with your own hands, they often give preference to the construction of columnar foundations with a wide base, which are built from wood, stone or reinforced concrete. Columnar foundations are installed only on homogeneous, stable soils. To reduce heat losses and reduce building heating costs, a set of special works is carried out - insulation of the columnar foundation.
Positive aspects of foundation insulation
Insulation has a beneficial effect on retaining heat in the room, and also ensures reliable waterproofing of the foundation belt.
When performing insulation work with your own hands, you can save significant funds allocated for heating the building (usually the reduction in consumption is from 30 to 50%).
Foundation insulation design There is a decrease or complete elimination the impact on the structure of soil heaving forces that develop during frosty, severe winters.
The internal temperature in a building with insulated foundations is significantly stabilized - night and day changes are eliminated, which also has a beneficial effect on the safety of the foundation and the entire structure of the house.
Insulation prevents the formation of condensation on buried structures and ceilings, which is guaranteed to reduce the possibility of the spread of rot and mold. The insulation layer performs the function of protecting the waterproofing from mechanical damage.
When insulating foundations, their strength increases and the service life of the structure increases without the need for repair work.
Materials for performing work on insulation of columnar foundations
Concrete foundation structures, or those lined with rubble stone, are insulated during construction - when removing the formwork, all outer walls of the grillage (banding beams) are coated and waterproofed 2 times with bituminous compounds.
For insulation works The following materials are used for insulation:
- Foam plastic – has no high strength, therefore it is used only for insulating the internal surfaces of foundations.
- Mineral wool - an insulating material available in rolls and slabs (mats), wool has a high degree of water absorption. When using mineral wool for insulation work, especially in wet soils, it is necessary to provide an additional layer of insulation from film materials.
- Expanded clay - the use of the material is a cost-effective option for performing insulation, but requires production additional work(installation of a box of boards on the inside of the foundations, followed by backfilling with a layer of expanded clay - up to 40 cm).
- Penoplex is a modern insulation material with high technical and economic indicators. The material has high strength, durability and reliability, and is not damaged in conditions of high humidity and low temperatures in winter. Penoplex is not damaged by rodents, and insects do not breed in it. Currently, penoplex is the most suitable material for insulating buried structures. The material is produced in slabs, the thickness of which varies from 20 to 100 mm.
Penoplex: technology for insulating columnar foundations
How to insulate columnar foundation using penoplex yourself? Let's consider the stages of work on insulating columnar foundation structures with penoplex.
Penoplex (extruded polystyrene foam) consists of air bubbles and foamed polystyrene; thanks to the air gap in the insulating material, its thermal insulation qualities are significantly increased.
Insulation of the foundation with penoplex is carried out according to the following scheme, which is common to all types of foundation:
First, you should dig a trench around the perimeter of the building; the bottom of the trench is sloping away from the house, which will help drain groundwater away from the foundation structures.
The surface of the foundation should be cleaned of dirt, uneven surfaces should be smoothed out and existing chips should be repaired. It is necessary to dry the foundation in the open air so that the absorbed moisture can evaporate as much as possible.
All structural parts of the foundation should be covered with bitumen mastic 2 times. This work can be easily done with your own hands using brushes or a roller.
Penoplex insulation process A waterproofing layer of bitumen mastic will provide reliable protection of structures from soil moisture.
Polystyrene slabs are glued over a dried layer of coating bitumen waterproofing with a special glue, which is applied to the sheets pointwise. Insulation of a columnar foundation with foam sheets begins from the bottom tier, gradually rising upward. The gap between adjacent slabs should be minimal; the resulting gaps should be sealed with polyurethane foam.
When performing penoplex insulation work, the question often arises: “How many layers of insulation should be done?” The opinion of experienced builders is unanimous - the most reliable insulation can be achieved by laying penoplex with your own hands in 2 layers.
For reliability, the plates are secured with special dowels along the edge of each.
The laid out insulation sheets are treated with an adhesive composition, then a reinforcing mesh is laid and a fixing layer of glue is reapplied.
Dried extruded polystyrene foam insulation is finished with decorative plaster or covered with ceramic tiles.
Blind area device
The top of the trench is covered coarse sand, maintaining a slope from the walls of the house, then lay a layer of expanded clay, compact it and cover it with earth. In the video you can see how the blind area is insulated with penoplex.
For additional insulation of structures, you can arrange a warm blind area. This operation will provide reliable protection of the building from the cold at sub-zero temperatures.
Features of insulation columnar base is the need to carry out work on grillages, which are first isolated with roofing felt. It is especially important to provide reliable waterproofing in the areas where the grillage meets the piles. After completing the work on waterproofing the grillage, work on fixing the penoplex is carried out using the technology described above.
The columns of a columnar foundation are insulated in special cases; usually it is enough to insulate the grillage.
Country houses are in fashion today. Some are the happy owners of a summer house, and many even prefer to live away from the bustle of the city. Of course, everyone strives to make their homes more comfortable and beautiful, so they decorate them with verandas and terraces. These extensions need to be distinguished. Without going into details, a terrace is an open area without walls, and a veranda is part of the house, but, as a rule, without heating.
How to insulate the floor on the veranda
In summer, such premises are good for various gatherings, but with the onset of the cold season they cease to be used. However, you don’t have to deny yourself and your loved ones the usual pastime. Insulating the veranda will help maintain its comfort at any time of the year. Of course, it is best to think about this at the construction stage, but even in a finished house purchased or in a veranda added later, you can correct the situation.
How to insulate the floor on the veranda
So, there is no point in insulating the terrace, but you can take care of comfort on the veranda. As a rule, insulation is a set of measures aimed at improving the heat-saving properties of walls, windows, ceilings, but you need to start from the floor, because the cold rises from below.
The procedure will depend on how the floor is made, which can be concrete, laid on a solid foundation, or wooden on supports.
Insulation from below
Insulation of floors on a concrete base
- Doing concrete foundation for the future veranda, it is necessary to begin work by filling the sand and gravel cushion. River sand (or other sand, the main thing is that it is not fine and without clay impurities) is poured into the foundation pit and compacted. Then comes a layer of crushed stone or gravel, which also needs to be compacted.
Such a pillow will not allow the cold coming from below to concrete slab, and will protect it from capillary moisture, which can rise through channels less than 0.5 mm wide. The thickness of the layers of sand and stone depends on the type of soil and the structures being built. - For greater reliability, a reinforcing mesh of rods with a cross-section of 10-12 mm is laid on top of the stone and the foundation is filled with a solution based on frost-resistant concrete.
- The concrete is covered with a layer of waterproofing: roofing felt or similar material, and a layer of insulation is laid on top. For example, you can take mineral wool slabs.
- The insulation, in turn, is also covered with a layer of waterproofing film, and on top of this whole “pie” they are laid reinforced concrete slabs or a reinforced screed is made.
Such a foundation will be a good barrier to the cold rising from the ground, and will also protect the veranda from dampness. In addition, a concrete floor allows you to take additional insulation measures.
Floor insulation on supports or piles
With this type of foundation, the floor is usually made of wood. Air circulates underneath it, so it will be very cold on the veranda in winter.
- Insulation begins with measures to block access to cold air under the veranda. To do this, you need to build formwork along the perimeter of the floor, marked by the supports.
- The second step is filling the resulting underground with expanded clay. On top of it you can lay a film for vapor barrier and additionally lay insulation. Of course, before such actions you will need to remove the existing floor.
Base insulation
External insulation of the foundation is another way to save the warmth of the veranda. In addition, the soil, expanding or decreasing in volume under the influence of air temperature, can deform the foundation. This problem can be solved quite simply by covering the entire perimeter of the base with insulation. Usually these are polystyrene foam boards, which will serve as a barrier to the cold and also prevent contact with the ground.
Expanded polystyrene foam
A less budgetary, but more reliable option would be to use extruded polystyrene foam, which has the necessary strength, is not afraid of moisture and cold, and its service life is more than 50 years. Before gluing the insulation boards, the foundation is coated with bitumen or bitumen-polymer mastic, which is not afraid of low temperatures.
Bitumen-polymer mastic
There is another option to insulate the base, the newest, expensive, but also reliable. This is sprayed polyurethane foam. The liquid base is sprayed onto the walls using special equipment, and after drying the foam becomes solid, monolithic, without a single seam.
Spraying polyurethane foam
Spraying polystyrene foam
Insulation from above
Such methods are good when you can’t get to the foundation, but you still want to make the floor warm. However, even with an insulated foundation, thermal insulation measures will also not be superfluous. The main feature of all work with a finished floor is raising its level, which occurs due to the laying of various heat-insulating materials.
Insulation of concrete floor
Warm floor system
Since the veranda is not heated, this solution will be ideal for maintaining a comfortable room temperature. Moreover, it is recommended electrical system, and not water, since the cable is not afraid of frost, which cannot be said about pipes with water.
Insulation under the screed
A rather labor-intensive, but reliable option, which requires the use of durable insulating material in the form of slabs or mats. This can be expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene foam, mineral wool.
- The floor needs to be dismantled before concrete base, clean from dust and debris, wipe out cracks, knock down obvious protrusions.
- A vapor barrier is laid on the base prepared in this way, even in the form of a thick film. All joints must be taped with tape so that there are no gaps left.
- The insulation boards are laid tightly on the floor. Often there are even special grooves on their sides to prevent gaps.
- It is necessary to stick a damper tape around the perimeter of the veranda, which will compensate for possible expansion of the screed.
- Another layer of film is laid on top of the insulation, and a reinforcing mesh is placed on top of it.
- Beacons are installed throughout this structure, and then a screed with a thickness of at least 3 cm is poured and leveled. When it dries, any finishing coating can be laid on it.
Insulation under the screed
Insulation under plank floors
Wooden floors can be very beautiful, and country houses are often decorated with just such coverings. Wooden floors can be laid on any base, while taking care of insulation.
- Preparing the base: removing the old coating, if any, cleaning, sealing cracks.
- The finished base is covered with a vapor barrier film with an overlap of 15-20 cm and individual pieces are secured with tape.
- Logs made of wood treated with an antiseptic and compounds that reduce flammability are laid on the film. The pitch depends on the thickness of the floor board, for example, a 40 mm board will fit perfectly on beams laid 70 cm from each other. Transverse ones are fixed between the long longitudinal beams so that the finished structure resembles a lattice. The center of each joist must be marked on the wall, then this mark will serve as a guide for attaching the boards.
- Insulation is placed in the grid cells: slabs cut to size, fibrous materials, you can even fill in expanded clay. The filler should densely fill the entire cell, without leaving cold bridges, but not reaching the upper level of the log. This gap will provide the floor with the necessary ventilation.
Insulation under plank floors
One of the insulation options is sprayed materials. This is quite expensive and requires that the work be carried out by specialists using special equipment. The use of such insulation will require cleaning the floor from debris, bitumen drips, greasy stains and solvents. There is no need to lay cross beams between the joists - future spraying will form a fairly dense heat-insulating layer. The foam is applied with a special device that mixes a special liquid composition with carbon dioxide and sprays it under pressure.
One of the insulation options is sprayed materials
The sheathing filled with insulation must be covered with another layer of film or penofol, a relatively new material, which is foamed polyethylene on an aluminized backing. It is laid with the backing up and pressed down a little into the cells to leave space for floor ventilation.
Now you can lay boards treated with antiseptic on top, attaching them with self-tapping screws. The boards are positioned perpendicular to the joists, but instead of them, if desired, plywood or gypsum fiber board sheets are laid, and only then the finishing coating.
Insulation of a wooden floor
There is an opinion that it is easier to insulate a wooden floor than a concrete one, but this is not entirely true. Of course, you won’t have to do the screed, but you still need to work hard.
Infrared heated floor
Infrared heated floor
This is an alternative to electrical cables, which are laid in a screed layer and are therefore not suitable for wooden floors. The only requirement that must be met for installing such a system is that the floor materials are non-toxic when heated, but otherwise this is a good option for maintaining heat on the veranda.
Floor on joists
This method is the main one for insulating wooden floors. In terms of the sequence of actions, it is similar to that previously described, only the base is prepared differently.
Floor on joists
- Removing the old floor. You need to get to the rough floor. Since the floor repair has already begun, at the same time there will be an opportunity to make sure that everything is in order with it. Those boards that have begun to rot and collapse must be replaced with new ones, pre-treated with antiprene.
- Membrane waterproofing flooring. What is needed is a membrane one, as it will allow moisture to escape from the inside, while keeping it out from the outside. This material is laid, like any other, with an overlap of 15-20 cm, followed by gluing with tape.
PVC membrane
- Installation of lag. Their cross-section in this case can be 50x150 mm, but if you plan to install heavy furniture on the veranda, then you can take thicker beams, for example 75x150. A gap of 2-3 cm should be left between the joists and the walls; it will subsequently be filled with a heat-insulating gasket and will protect the beams from temperature deformations. Of course, all joists must be treated with antiprene.
- Filling the space between the joists with insulation. This can be any suitable material: mineral wool, penoplex, polystyrene foam, felt and others, since the choice is now huge. It is possible to use different types of insulation, for example, you can lay down a membrane vapor barrier roll material, and lay mineral wool on top. The insulation is laid tightly, but not to the top, to leave space for ventilation.
Mineral wool for floor insulation
- The logs filled with insulation are covered with another layer of film or foam foam with the aluminum side up with a margin for ventilation, and the top covering can be laid: floorboard, plywood or similar materials.
In addition to all the previously described methods, you can use flooring special types linoleum or laminate, which can retain heat, as well as carpet.
Insulating the floor on the veranda is a task that is best done during the construction of this extension, but if you really want to, you can start work at any time. It cannot be said that the set of actions is extremely simple and accessible to anyone. The ability to hold a hammer alone will not be enough to get the job done, but those who are confident in their abilities and have, albeit small, construction experience, they can do everything on their own.
The main thing is to choose the most suitable materials in terms of price and quality, because the success of any repair consists of two components: the skill of the workers and the quality of the means and tools used.
Many owners have thoughts about how to insulate the floor on a veranda in a private house. At the same time, not all of them have an accurate idea of why it is being done, what typical mistakes are committed in this case, and how they can be avoided. It should be understood that the main question should not be “how and what,” but “why,” then the owner of the house will be able to correctly and independently resolve some of the issues that arise along the way.
What is floor insulation and why is it done?
Floor insulation in a private house is an event to install a cutoff made of heat-insulating material (insulation) between the subfloor and the underlying materials or space. Simply put, do-it-yourself installation of insulation under the subfloor. The main task of the entire procedure is not at all to increase the temperature of the floor, as many believe. The floor temperature will, of course, increase, but the main task is to eliminate the possibility of condensation. A cold floor is unpleasant and uncomfortable, but condensation threatens the integrity of the floor, which is truly dangerous and unacceptable. Water vapor, which is necessarily present in the air of rooms where there are people, condenses on colder surfaces. This could be walls, window glass, ceilings or floors. Moisture is absorbed into the wood, starts rotting processes and quickly destroys the floors, which means the need for repair work and significant costs.
It makes no sense to hold this event on an open veranda.
Expert opinion
Sergey Yurievich
Ask a question to an expert
Floor insulation has an effect only on closed verandas.
In this case, the need for the procedure increases, since the rough
veranda floors
rarely made sufficiently dense and thermally insulated. The cold surface of the floor takes moisture from the air, and this process is invisible and becomes visible only when the final stage is reached, when the floors begin to collapse.
In order to insulate the floor of the veranda, it is necessary to install a sufficiently thick layer of heat insulation between the cold air coming from outside and the subfloor. It will absorb the cold outside, preventing the subfloor from cooling, which will raise its temperature and push the dew point outside.
What materials can be used to insulate the floor on the veranda
The specificity of floor insulation is its horizontal location. This is convenient and allows the use of many effective but underutilized materials. We are talking about loose heat insulators that perform well on horizontal surfaces, but are unsuitable for use on vertical ones. Such materials include:
- Expanded clay.
- Perlite.
- Vermiculite.
- Sawdust.
Of these materials, expanded clay is the undisputed leader. It has an inorganic base, which eliminates the appearance of insects, mold or mildew in the layer of material. In addition, the flowability of the material eliminates the possibility of rodents.
In addition to bulk types, the following are often used:
- Minvata.
- Foam plastic, EPS.
- Polyurethane foam, etc.
The choice of one or another insulating material is based on the capabilities of the owner and the design of the floor itself, since it largely determines the need to use one or another material.
Insulation of the floor on the veranda in a wooden house
A veranda in a wooden house, most often, has a subfloor laid on logs hanging freely between the base frame. It is possible to insulate such a structure from the outside, but this will require the creation of an additional layer that supports the insulation, since there is almost never access to the flooring from below. You can do it much simpler: the subfloor, cleaned and treated with an antiseptic, is covered with penofol (foamed polyethylene with a foil layer), on top of which linoleum or other covering is laid. In this case, the so-called internal insulation, in which the subfloor is deliberately left in a cold zone, but contact of warm air with it is excluded. As a result, the room becomes warmer, the foil layer of insulation reflects infrared rays, thereby returning heat inside, water vapor is completely isolated from the wooden flooring by an impenetrable material.
How to insulate the floor of a veranda using joists
This option is quite labor-intensive, but has a high effect. To complete the work you will need:
- Temporarily remove the subfloor to gain access to the joists.
- Hem additional flooring from thin boards to the joists from below.
- If it is not possible to hem the bottom, then you need to make a side hem. Level with the lower edges of the logs, small bars are installed along the entire length of the logs on both sides. Boards are laid on top of them, filling the entire space between the joists to create additional flooring.
- The space between the joists is filled with insulation. You can use any material, but it is better to give preference to “breathable” types - expanded clay, mineral wool, sawdust, etc. The most successful choice would be expanded clay, but a large layer thickness is optimal for it - about 20 cm. If the layer thickness is relatively small, then you can use mineral wool or polystyrene foam.
- After installing the insulation, which has completely filled the space between the joists, it is imperative to install a vapor barrier layer. As an insulator, ordinary polyethylene film is used, which must be laid as a continuous sheet, overlapping stripes, with the joints taped.
- After this, you can lay the subfloor and flooring.
Insulation of the veranda in half a brick
Half-brick verandas are quite common. They need to be insulated because to warm them up brick walls not easy, and their thickness does not allow accumulation thermal energy, they cool down very quickly.
At the same time, the floor design may be different:
- Concrete screed.
- Log system and boardwalk.
The design of the subfloor determines which insulation option will be used. Concrete subfloors have their own insulation options:
- Installing a layer of insulation made of rigid materials (EPS, penoplex, etc.) followed by pouring a protective screed.
- Installation of a heated floor system.
- For regions with warm winters you can limit yourself to laying a layer of penofol and underlying linoleum.
Expert opinion
Sergey Yurievich
Construction of houses, extensions, terraces and verandas.
Ask a question to an expert
Wooden floors are insulated either using the method already described above, or a water or electric heated floor is installed.
Insulating the floor in a veranda without a foundation
Verandas without a foundation (for example, on stilts) are located at some distance from the ground, and the wind moves freely in this gap. Before starting measures to insulate the floor, you should sheathe the outside of the lower part and close this gap from the wind. Then you can begin insulation work. If there is a regular log system, then you can insulate it in the standard way. A concrete screed will require the installation of a cut-off and pouring an additional screed, or the installation of a heated floor.
There is another way to quickly and cheaply insulate floors - installing a floating floor. To do this, you will need to pour and compact an even layer of insulation (expanded clay, granulated foam glass, etc.), on top of which a subfloor made of hard sheet materials - chipboard, MDF, etc. - is laid. The subfloor simply lies on a flat layer of insulation; no fastening is required. The good thing about this option is that you can always raise the subfloor, add or trim the insulation and put it back.
Insulation of the floor on the veranda, under the living room
If you need to insulate the floor under a living room, it’s impossible to think of anything better than making a warm floor on the veranda. In this case, you need to choose the right design option. The fact is that there are water and electric heated floors. The difference between them is that electric floors generate heat on their own, while water floors require a hot coolant. Electric heated floors on the veranda are quite simple, quick and cost-effective.
Water will require complex installation, a control system, and configuration, but after that the costs will be very low. If frequent power outages occur, the water heated floor will work as before, and the electric one will turn off. The choice of design is a complex issue that depends on the conditions and capabilities of the home owner, but if you have your own boiler, the water option will be the most successful solution.
Insulation of a columnar foundation
Most houses built on stilts or columnar foundations are warmer due to the large air cushion between the foundation slabs and the ground. The open space is well ventilated, which ensures a minimum level of moisture. But in cold weather, concrete, stone or steel supports find themselves in an extremely unfavorable position, so it is better to insulate them.
Why is it necessary to insulate a columnar foundation?
Insulating the floor on a columnar foundation and, as a consequence, reducing the heating of the pile material due to heat loss from the basement floor slab structures, and at the same time the strong cooling of parts protruding above the ground by frosty air can contribute to the emergence of a critical situation for the stability of the entire building. Reinforced concrete, and even more so steel screw piles They remove heat from the soil very well, thereby promoting soil heaving. You can avoid such problems if you take a few additional measures and insulate the columnar foundation:
- Isolate the space under the house from any drafts and external frosty air;
- Install thermal insulation coatings on the surface of the columnar foundation supports;
- Insulate the soil adjacent to the buried part of the piles or pillars.
Important! It would be most rational to insulate the supports of a columnar foundation at the stage of installing piles in the ground.
How to insulate a columnar foundation with your own hands
The supports of a pile or column system are in unequal conditions. It is clear that the outer row of columns located along the perimeter of the building “suffers” from frost much more than the internal supporting elements, so it is necessary to insulate these parts of the foundation most effectively.
Soil insulation of columnar foundation
The first and main way to preserve the load-bearing capacity of the foundation system is to protect the external supporting elements. They are the ones that need to be insulated first. This must be done in all available ways:
- Pouring a heat-insulating layer into the upper parts of the pit sinuses during installation support pillars. It is best to use a backfill made from the smallest grains of foam glass with a binding material. The layer of soil insulation should be at least 20-25 cm;
- Provide proper soil drainage around the supports. High-quality drainage of rainwater flowing from the walls of the house and the grillage onto the ground will help insulate the supports of the columnar foundation;
- Lay surface thermal insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam around the supports;
- Cover the outer parts of the piles or support pillars with insulating material.
Advice! When making columnar foundation supports by pouring concrete into the frame, use polystyrene foam boards as formwork.
Increasingly, in the manufacture of strip foundations, disposable formwork systems in the form of polystyrene foam slabs are used. They hold poured concrete well and, after the solution has set, remain in the ground as waterproofing and insulation.
After arrangement drainage system We begin to insulate the foundation supports with penoplex. The easiest way to insulate the soil surface is according to the scheme provided for laying thermal insulation under the blind area. To do this, you will need to dig a rectangular mini-pit on the ground surface and fill it with a layer of sand and expanded clay, at least 5-7 cm thick. The size of the pit can be taken 60x60 cm, to fit the standard width of the penoplex slab. A hole is cut in the center of the foam sheet to the size of the pile or pillar.
For areas with a freezing depth of 1.20-1.30 m, a sheet with a thickness of at least 8 cm, or several thinner slabs, will be required. The sand cushion must be carefully leveled and compacted. Be sure to place a sheet of roofing material under the heat insulation slab and wrap the edges of the material so that moisture from the ground does not fall on the insulation and under it, but goes into the sand or fill.
If possible, the foam sheet should be placed uncut in the prepared mini-pit. Otherwise, use several sheets of polystyrene foam, which are laid so that the cut line overlaps the whole material on top. All that remains is to cover the insulation layer with a concrete screed.
It is easier to insulate the vertical surface of the pillars using polyurethane foam. Experts recommend insulating the lower and middle parts of the supports of a columnar foundation; the last 10-15 cm of the pile head adjacent to the grillage need not be insulated. This method allows you to insulate the entire structure of a columnar foundation, especially if the height of the supports is very small. As an option, you can insulate the surface of the piles by coating them in several layers with a mixture of bitumen and foam glass granules.
The layer of soil in the space under the floor slabs must be covered with a layer of expanded clay or vermiculite. In some cases, backfill made from these materials is used as universal thermal insulation, raising the insulation layer around the pillars in a slide to the maximum height, as in the figure. The material laid in this way makes it possible to quite effectively insulate most of the structure of a columnar foundation, without even resorting to sealing the fences and inter-pile windows along the perimeter of the building.
How to insulate a columnar foundation by insulating the space under the house
Most recommendations for insulating pile foundation structures suggest covering the “windows” or barriers formed by external pillars with a material with high heat-insulating properties. A small amount of heat from the floor slabs will be enough to warm the air space and the inner rows of piles.
You can insulate the fence in two ways:
- A suspended structure suspended from the outside of the grillage along the entire perimeter of the foundation;
- By brickwork, timber or installation of prefabricated panel structures, stationary or removable, on the opening of inter-pile windows.
In a suspended scheme, as a rule, a structure made of basement siding with insulation is used. The siding panels are installed on two supporting rails made of metal profiles, fixed to external supports and a grillage. The hanging option is used to insulate the space under the house in especially heaving soils. An apron made of several layers of rubberized fabric is sewn onto the inside of the canopy, covering the gap between the shield and the ground.
Almost always, they try to complete the sealing of the fence in unison with appearance the entire building. If the house is made of wood or logs, you can use basement siding made of plastic, imitating rubble stone or brickwork.
For country house you can carry out the simplest and most affordable scheme for constructing thermal insulation - insulate the building with thermal insulation made of foam plastic, covered with boards. In this case, two horizontal beams are sewn on the inside of the grillage beam and supports, onto which short vertical sections of wooden lining are attached end-to-end. Next, a layer of foam plastic is glued onto the sheathing, waterproofing is laid from polyethylene film or roofing felt, after which the outer surface is covered with flat slate sheets or plastic panels.
If the level of rise of the surface layers of the soil is small, you can insulate and insulate the space under the house using ordinary brickwork. To do this, you will need to dig a small ditch along the perimeter of the building, 20 cm wide and 10-15 cm deep, into which you need to fill a layer of crushed stone and sand. Next, you can make half-brick brickwork with the obligatory connection of the wall to the supports of the columnar foundation. The thermal insulation qualities of brick are 7 times worse than expanded polystyrene, so it is recommended to insulate the inside of the masonry with an expanded polystyrene board.
Conclusion
It is easier to insulate the frame and supports of a columnar foundation than a strip or shallow version. But mistakes cannot be made when working with a columnar or pile foundation due to the unpredictable behavior of piles on heavy water-saturated soils. Therefore, the owners of such houses prefer to use all available means and methods of thermal insulation of the foundation and insulate it to the maximum.
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Verandas (terraces) of private dachas and country houses, as a rule, are not heated. For this reason, it is impossible to use them as living quarters in winter. This situation can be easily changed if you insulate the veranda.
1 Thermal insulation of the terrace from the outside and inside - choose the appropriate option
If desired, any owner of a private house can turn a veranda that is not used in winter into a warm room, hallway or corridor, or greenhouse. Additional room for year-round use will not hurt anyone. To do this, you just need to properly insulate the veranda in compliance with certain requirements to make it suitable for winter accommodation. Thermal insulation of terraces is carried out from the outside or from the inside. External insulation is characterized by the following advantages:
- work is carried out outside the home, all garbage remains outside;
- repair measures do not make serious changes to the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the house;
- the area of the terrace is not reduced;
- walls finished with special materials accumulate heat well and do not become damp, which increases the service life of the veranda.
Internal insulation can be carried out in any weather outside
Internal insulation can be carried out in any weather outside.
In one approach, it is quite possible to protect all surfaces of the veranda (floor, ceiling, wall) from heat loss. At the same time, the home craftsman has free access to these bases at any height. But when executing interior work you need to immediately prepare for changes in everyday life (especially when insulation is delayed for a long time) and the existing interior. Thermal insulation of the terrace from the inside requires the mandatory dismantling of old coverings. Not every home owner is ready to tackle such large-scale tasks.
2 How to insulate – let’s look at the materials offered
The choice of thermal insulators is currently huge. There are both time-tested materials and completely new products on sale that provide high-quality protection for verandas from the cold. The choice of a specific insulation depends on the financial capabilities of the owner of the cottage or house, the complexity of working with the material, and the features of the exterior and interior of the home. In this case, any heat insulator must have the following properties:
- non-toxic;
- fire resistance;
- resistance to mechanical wear and exposure to natural factors.
Most often, terraces are insulated with polystyrene foam, penofol, expanded polystyrene, basalt and mineral wool, polyurethane foam, expanded clay, cork sheet products, special vacuum panels, tow, and moss. Finding the right material will not be difficult.
Most often, terraces are insulated with polystyrene foam.
Mineral wool has been used to preserve heat for a very long time. It is non-flammable, has low thermal conductivity, is resistant to deformation caused by temperature changes, biological and chemical influences, guarantees a high level of noise protection, and is known for its tensile and compressive strength. The cost of mineral wool is affordable. Its installation is easy to perform without the help of specialists. But over time, this material loses its thermal insulation potential (its density decreases). Basalt wool has similar pros and cons. Its main advantage is its absolute environmental cleanliness.
An excellent alternative to mineral wool is polystyrene foam. Durable and easy to use insulation at an affordable price. It is advisable to use extruded polystyrene foam. It more effectively protects buildings from heat loss. The disadvantage of the described material is its high flammability. When ignited, it releases unsafe toxic compounds into the atmosphere.
Foam plastic is also characterized by an increased fire hazard. It also attracts the attention of rodents. Polystyrene foam can be installed using frameless and frame methods. The heat-protective properties of the material remain unchanged throughout its entire service life. An important advantage of polystyrene foam is low vapor permeability and hygroscopicity. This means that there is no need to additionally cover it with hydrofilm.
Penofol is used in combination with other heat insulators or alone. Its vapor permeability is minimal, but its environmental friendliness is high. An important advantage of penofol is its non-flammability. Cork sheets are described as environmentally friendly. They perfectly protect the veranda from heat loss. But the cost of such products is objectively high. Expanded clay, produced from baked clay in the form of porous granules, is used exclusively for insulating ceilings and floors.
Having decided on suitable thermal insulation materials, you can begin insulating the terrace from the outside. It is best to carry out such activities with your own hands at above-zero temperatures outside. Professionals recommend thermal insulation of the ceiling using mineral wool slabs. It is important to take care of high-quality protection of this material from steam (for example, with roofing felt or special vapor-proof membranes). It’s even better to insulate the ceiling with penofol with an additional layer of foil. Then there is no need to install additional moisture protection.
Exterior wall surfaces are most often lined with polyurethane foam boards
Exterior wall surfaces are most often lined with polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam or mineral wool boards. They can subsequently be closed with almost any finishing material, ranging from polyvinyl chloride panels, log products and ending with metal cladding. Installation of heat-insulating boards on walls made of concrete or brick is carried out according to the following scheme:
- install the selected insulation (usually glue is used to fix it);
- on thermal insulation material install the reinforcing mesh;
- paint, plaster the heat-insulating panels or install the selected cladding on them (siding, lining, etc.).
After such work, the terrace will not be afraid of winter cold. You will have a complete room at your disposal. There you can arrange a hallway or a chic winter garden.
On wooden walls, heat-insulating products are installed on a pre-prepared sheathing - slats, to which the insulation is attached with dowel umbrellas, then the structure is covered with a waterproofing membrane. The latter is fixed with staples (a construction stapler is required).
Note! If you are planning to really insulate the terrace with high quality and make a living room there, you definitely need to insulate the window and door openings. The doors are protected from the penetration of cold by foam rubber. It is attached to the structure and then covered with dermantine. The windows from the outside are insulated with a simple polyethylene film. You need to stuff wooden slats onto the frames, and then attach a heat insulator to them.
4 Internal thermal protection of the veranda - it's simple!
The insulation on the terrace ceiling is installed on a frame made of wooden or metal slats. The thermal insulation material mounted on it must be covered with a film that protects from steam, and the structure is covered with sheets of plasterboard on top. This technique reduces the height of the room. Not everyone likes it. It is not difficult to solve the problem if you insulate the terrace or veranda from the inside using special vacuum panels. They are mounted using a frameless method and do not eat up the space of the room.
The easiest way to insulate the inside of the walls is with mineral wool or expanded polystyrene. The heat insulator is mounted on the frame (it is created from metal guides). A vapor barrier membrane must be installed on top. It is covered with plasterboard, which is then puttied and processed in a suitable manner. You can also insulate the walls with penoplex. This technique is quite popular now.
Many people build country houses and bathhouses on columnar and screw foundations because of high level groundwater. Why insulate a columnar foundation? Proper thermal insulation will help conserve heat in winter and save on heating costs country house. Let's look at a scheme for insulating a foundation made of pillars, materials for insulation, and at the end of the article we will show a video on how to insulate the columnar foundation of a bathhouse or private house on your own.
Pillars for this type of foundation are made of logs, bricks, concrete or rubble. The pillars are located below the freezing depth of the soil so that the structure is not affected by possible heaving of the soil in winter. Poles must be installed in the corners of the house, at the intersections of walls, as well as around the entire perimeter external walls at home every 1.5 - 2 meters. Let's look at all the stages in detail.
Unlike , pillar foundation not greatly affected by soil heaving. If shallow foundation may be damaged when the soil freezes, then the columnar one, if properly constructed, is located below the depth of soil freezing. But, nevertheless, it is necessary to insulate the foundation in order to reduce heat loss in the house through the floor of the first floor.
Heat losses in winter through the floors of the first floor can reach 20% if the foundation is not properly insulated.
Thermal insulation of the columnar foundation of a bathhouse or house is done using polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam, or polyurethane foam (PPU) is sprayed onto the structure. To select insulation, you need to consider the main types modern insulation materials, their purpose and specifications. But, when choosing, preference should be given to moisture-resistant and durable materials.
How to insulate a columnar foundation of a house
Mineral wool It is used more often to insulate the floor in a house on a columnar foundation from the inside. Mineral wool is supplied in slabs and rolls; for horizontal surfaces it is better to purchase rolled thermal insulation. Mineral wool and URSA fiberglass have high water absorption, so the insulation must be protected from moisture with rolled hydro- and vapor barrier.
Styrofoam would be better suited for insulating the columnar foundation of a bathhouse from the inside, since the material has a low density and cannot withstand strong mechanical loads. But many builders use polystyrene foam for external insulation due to the low cost of the material. When choosing polystyrene foam, use denser and more durable PPS boards.
Extruded polystyrene foam It is characterized by high strength and low water absorption, and is produced in slabs with a thickness of 20 to 100 mm. Extrusion insulation retains its characteristics even in wet soil. Penoplex, like Technoplex, should be used not only for thermal insulation of the foundation, but also for independent insulation of the perimeter blind area of the house.
Expanded clay is an inexpensive natural insulation material. This material developers use Knauf to insulate attic floors and install heated floors. To protect the foundation from freezing, formwork is made from boards 30–40 cm wide on the inside of the structure and filled with mm. In addition to expanded clay, you can use sawdust mixed with soil.
Insulation scheme for a columnar foundation
The foundation pillars are left at an elevation of 0.25 - 1 meter from the ground level. The ends of the pillars are tied with beams for rigidity or a shallow strip foundation is poured. If the pillars are made of rubble or concrete, then the surface of the pillars is treated with mastic or bitumen. It is also necessary to waterproof the foundation, including the grillage and façade of the building.
If the structure is made of concrete, then use the penetrating composition Penetron, made in Russia, for waterproofing.
Thermal insulation is carried out immediately upon completion. If you only insulate the floor on the first floor, and there is no thermal insulation between the pillars, then only the grillage is treated with thermal insulation. It is worth remembering that with this method, the basement of the house will be cold. If you plan to make the underground warm, then you need to insulate the basement of the house, watch the video at the end of the article on this topic.
How to insulate a columnar foundation of a house
The foundation pillars are sheathed around the perimeter wooden blocks, boards or profile at full height (see photo above). A load-bearing base is necessary when insulating a columnar foundation with mineral wool and expanded polystyrene. We recommend using polystyrene foam, since the structure borders the ground and will be constantly exposed to moisture from the ground and precipitation.
When self-insulating a columnar foundation with polystyrene foam, insulation sheets are attached to a base made of bars or a profile on the base of the house. , like extrusion from other manufacturers, is frost-resistant, has high mechanical strength and moisture resistance. Seams and gaps between sheets of extruded polystyrene foam are carefully sealed with polyurethane foam.
On the outside, sheets of expanded polystyrene are protected from solar ultraviolet radiation and precipitation by base siding or PVC panels. To prevent moisture from the soil from rising into the house, the underground of the house is covered with a layer roll waterproofing and fill the foundation.
A foundation, like a pile foundation, is most often used when building a wooden house or bathhouse on areas with uneven terrain or poor conditions.
The service life of the building primarily depends on the foundation, so it is important to adhere to certain technologies during construction.
An important factor is insulation.
A columnar foundation has a number of advantages over others: it is easy to create, the price is many times less than a monolith, it can be easily repaired and lasts up to 100 years. It must be insulated for the same purpose as the monolith - to minimize heat loss.
By performing insulation correctly, heat loss in the house will be reduced by 20-25%.
Insulation process
How to insulate?
The following can be used as thermal insulation material:
Penoplex (expanded polystyrene boards) – best material For . It is very durable, and its ability to transmit steam is close to zero. The characteristics of penoplex are unchanged even in water, since it does not absorb moisture.- – its strength is not as high as that of penoplex. It is easy for them to insulate the inside and outside to protect against moisture. Foam plastic is often preferred because it is cheap and easy to install.
- Expanded clay is a fairly cheap bulk material. Produced by firing clay.
- Mineral wool - easily absorbs moisture, it is better not to use it for external insulation. During installation, the cotton wool is covered with film. If you choose mineral wool as a material, first create, lay and cover everything with a slab for protection.
Important. Rodents can grow in any room; during installation, take care to protect it from external damage.
External insulation
Advantages of external insulation:
- Concrete remains consistently strong.
- During cold months, the house remains warm, regardless of the foundation material and.
- Protects against moisture.
- Concrete is less susceptible to temperature changes.
Important. No disadvantages have been identified in the use of this type, including for shallow columnar ones.
Internal insulation
! Important. The use of this type of insulation has serious disadvantages, so it is rare in practice.
Advantages of insulating the foundation from the inside:
- The basement is protected from.
- Pleasant microclimate in the house.
Disadvantages of internal insulation:
- The outside is constantly exposed to external temperatures, both high and low.
- Constant climate change, temperature changes and soil swelling will quickly lead to mechanical damage.
How to insulate a foundation with your own hands
If you decide to insulate the foundation without resorting to the help of craftsmen, the first thing you need to start with is the choice of material. As mentioned above, penoplex would be an ideal option. Penoplex is slabs made of , the thickness of which ranges from 2 cm to 10 cm. For insulation of the foundation or insulation from possible mechanical damage and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Plinth panels are perfect for this.
When creating a blind area, you need to remember that its height above the ground should be 10-15 centimeters, regardless of the material from which it is made (it can be concrete or). If the base is not provided between the pillars, only the grillage needs to be insulated. If you use mineral wool to insulate the floor of the first floor, according to the technology, a layer of 10-20 centimeters must be laid between the floor beams and covered waterproofing film. After this, a floorboard with a thickness of at least 40 mm can be laid on top.
The foundation of a house is the basis of any structure; to a large extent, it determines how long the house will last. Let's take a closer look at the insulation of a columnar foundation.
A columnar foundation is quite simple to construct and has a low cost, however, like other types of foundation, it needs insulation to increase its service life.
An important factor is not only the quality of construction, but also insulation, because if there is a basement in the house, then heat loss through it can be up to 20%.
Insulation additionally protects the foundation from freezing, dampness, and mold, significantly extending its service life. The insulation technologies are the same for both a wooden house and a private brick house.
It is quite easy to insulate using 1 of 2 more suitable options. Insulation must be carried out to the depth of soil freezing. This value must be found out for each geographical region separately from the geological exploration service.
When installing insulation at a greater depth, the effective use of thermal insulation material can be significantly reduced.
Extruded polystyrene foam is considered an excellent insulation material for foundations. It is moisture-resistant, frost-resistant and safe for human health.
If insulation is carried out using polystyrene foam, then there is no need for additional protection for the waterproofing layer, which protects it from mechanical damage. For a foundation located below the soil freezing depth, you can change the protection scheme for the waterproofing layer: we lay extruded polystyrene foam up to the soil freezing limit, and below this level we install a profiled membrane.
You can use 1 of 2 options:
- The formwork and trench for pouring the foundation are made larger by the width of 2 sheets of polystyrene insulation. The insulation must have a density of more than 35 kg/m³, and its layer must be at least 10 cm thick and adjusted for each climate zone separately. After dismantling the formwork, the polystyrene foam insulation does not need additional mechanical protection.
- It is necessary to strengthen the insulation only after the formwork has been dismantled. If the width of the trench does not make it possible to strengthen polystyrene foam, then it is necessary to widen the trench. The part located above the ground can be finished with artificial or natural stone, tiles, siding, ceramic tiles.
You can make the floor warmer using a heated floor system, 2 popular options:
- Warm electric floor under tiles.
- Warm floor under linoleum.
Which is better: insulation from the inside or the outside?
External insulation of the foundation is considered the most effective, thanks to which the strength of concrete is maintained and a barrier to cold and moisture is created.
Construction practice indicates that it is better to insulate the base from the outside. The arguments in favor of external insulation are quite compelling:
- External insulation protects against freezing with any type of foundation and insulation, preventing cold from entering the house.
- External thermal insulation preserves the strength of concrete for a long time.
- External insulation is also an additional barrier for groundwater; it helps protect against moisture penetration.
- The external insulation holds up well against temperature changes that occur during seasonal weather changes in the basement.
If work cannot be done from the outside, all that remains is to insulate the foundation from the inside. Advantages of this method:
- The insulation laid in the foundation creates a comfortable microclimate in the basement and throughout the house.
- Internal thermal insulation protects the foundation from groundwater.
- Internal thermal insulation prevents condensation from accumulating in the basement walls.
The negative aspects include the following:
- Outside, the foundation is vulnerable to frost.
- Soil heaving and seasonal temperature changes lead to the appearance of cracks and deformation of the foundation.
Do not forget, after insulating the foundation, to insulate the floor in a wooden house; the house will be much warmer.
If it is not possible to insulate the floor, you can install a warm film floor system under the laminate.
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Insulate the foundation of a house with different materials
Polystyrene foam is widely used as foundation insulation. It is inexpensive, lightweight, hypoallergenic, non-toxic, sound and thermal insulating material.
Today, the following foundation insulation materials are widely used:
- Mineral wool.
- Fiberglass wool.
- Extruded polystyrene foam.
Each insulation must be assessed according to the following characteristics:
- Material density (kg/m³).
- Thermal conductivity coefficient (W/(m*K)).
- Flammability class of the material.
- Water absorption coefficient.
These indicators help determine whether the thermal insulation material corresponds to a specific foundation when insulating different structures.
The thermal conductivity of the insulation must be low, then it will work better.
The density of the insulation determines what load the load-bearing elements of the structure will experience, in this case the foundation.
The water absorption coefficient indicates the percentage of moisture absorption: the lower this indicator, the better the thermal insulation material will work.
The higher the flammability class, the more resistant the material is to high temperatures.
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Insulate the foundation with extruded polystyrene foam
One of the effective ways to insulate the foundation is the use of expanded polystyrene, which protects against freezing and also prevents the appearance of mold and dampness.
Expanded polystyrene is the most used building material for insulating foundations and other structures. Expanded polystyrene is available in sheet form and is easy to install on any surface. This insulation resists moisture well and retains excellent heat. Foundation insulation with polystyrene foam is carried out as follows:
- The foundation walls are protected with a layer of waterproofing.
- Starting from the bottom plates, sheets of expanded polystyrene are strengthened.
Insulating the foundation from the outside is much more effective. However, if a house has already been built, it is possible to insulate the building from the inside with expanded polystyrene. For installation of polystyrene foam sheets, special glue is used.
Be sure to pre-waterproof the foundation walls.
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Foam insulation
To insulate the foundation and basement, you need to take the following steps:
- Preparing for insulation of basement walls, cleaning of old plaster and debris.
- Irregularities in the walls and foundation must be leveled with a solution so that the foam slabs are in good contact with the surface.
- Special glue is applied to the foam sheets.
- The foam is glued to the floor.
- The foam boards are additionally secured with plastic dowels.
- A reinforcing mesh is glued onto the foam sheets and a leveling mixture is applied to it.
- The last stage is finishing with decorative materials.