Why is it impossible to insulate the floors in a wooden house with foam. Methods for insulating the floor with foam plastic We warm the wooden floor with foam plastic

Regardless of the cottage construction technology and the wall material used, the following factors influence the choice of floor pie design:

floor - the floor on the ground can only be made at the lower level;
planned flooring- for tiles and most facing materials, it is more convenient to floor on the ground, it is better to lay parquet on a black wooden floor;
type of foundation - to reduce the construction budget, wooden buildings are erected on poles or MZLF, floating and insulated slabs are used on wet ground, in swamps and steep slopes, pile-screw grillages remain the only option.

Important! In any of these options, the insulation of a wooden floor with foam plastic leads to rotting of the elements of the load-bearing frame. It is forbidden to lay this material inside the floor screeds on the ground due to its insufficient density, the possibility of subsidence of the structure

Floor decking on beams

In contrast to the floor on the ground and floor slabs, wooden structure decking on beams is cheaper for the developer. Wooden floors can be made on any floor. However, wood protection, taking into account operational and structural loads, is much more complicated:

the wooden floor cake is closed with a vapor-tight film or membrane; however, the protection does not cope with humid air inside the house by 100%; some of the moisture penetrates the floors, is absorbed by the lumber; after which, with a decrease in humidity in the cottage, the wood tries to evaporate excess moisture; if the lumber is surrounded on all sides by a vapor-tight insulation, then this is impossible; elements of load-bearing structures darken and begin to rot, fungus and pathogenic microbes start and spread on their surfaces.

After foaming the cracks, the evaporation surface of the lumber is sharply reduced.

After foaming the cracks, the evaporation surface of the lumber is sharply reduced. The vapor permeability of mineral wool insulation 0.45 is an order of magnitude higher than that of foam plastics (0.03) and 15 times higher than that of extruded polystyrene foam (0.013 Mg / m * h * Pa), and hygroscopicity is at least twice.

Ground floor

A reinforced concrete floor cast at the place of operation, resting on the soil, is called a floor on the ground. The slab has a lower waterproofing, is cut off from the foundation by a damper layer, that is, it is floating.

It does not perceive structural loads, distributes to the ground only operational loads from the weight of furniture and people inside the room. However, even with a minimum thickness of 7 - 10 cm, the own weight of the structure is much higher than that of a beamed ceiling.

Therefore, the heater must have the following qualities:

high density - so that the floor slab does not sink on the ground over time;
low hygroscopicity - despite waterproofing, concrete can absorb soil moisture, so thermal insulation must retain its properties when wet.

These properties are possessed by foam glass and extruded high-density polystyrene foam.

Due to the large loads and the possibility of subsidence in the floors on the ground, high-density EPS is used, and not PSB foam.

Styrofoam breaks under the floor's own weight on the ground, mineral wool loses its thermal insulation characteristics when wet. Therefore, these two materials for flooring on the ground are not suitable.

The finished floor on the ground is a slab foundation, the easiest way is to make a 10 cm reinforced screed inside the MZLF. It is much more difficult to implement a floor on the ground inside the grillage:

grillage beams in without fail must be off the ground;
in high (hanging) grillages, this happens automatically;
in low (ground, underground) air gaps are protected on the sides with sheet materials so that soil does not crumble inside it;
the base inside the grillage must be compacted with a vibrating plate or vibrating roller to ensure normal bearing capacity.

Since it is difficult to make a floor on the ground in a hanging grillage, a slab floor is poured with support on the foundation beams.

In a hanging grillage, the soil will fall out from under the beams; when the base is compacted inside a low grillage, the probability of destruction of sheet materials increases, which closes access to the air gap when soil pressure increases on them.

Structure and main technological and operational characteristics of the material

Materials based on polystyrene have both common properties that are characteristic of all of them, and significant differences. Outwardly, it is almost completely identical to the foam. For the manufacture, the same ingredients are used - polystyrene granules, to which a foaming agent is added during heat treatment. This results in a honeycomb structure with isolated chambers. Expanded polystyrene, unlike polystyrene, has a denser structure, resembling a sponge. Therefore, in order to provide a heat-saving effect similar to that obtained from thick foam boards, polystyrene foam boards can have a much smaller thickness.

Floor insulation with extra-extruded polystyrene foam has an important advantage in comparison with polystyrene foam - a higher surface density. This affects the mechanical strength

On a note
If we compare the indicators of thermal insulation of the floor with expanded polystyrene and other materials, it turns out that regardless of the temperature outside, in contrast to, say, the option with expanded clay, the human body feels warm. The thermal insulation characteristics of such floors are approximately 25 times higher than those of analogues made of expanded clay concrete.

The heat transfer coefficient varies from 0.028 to 0.034 W/m*K depending on the density of the structure. According to this indicator, it is better than mineral wool. Therefore, if there is a question of warming the floor of the basement floor - with expanded polystyrene or expanded clay, most often the choice is set on the first one.

In addition to this quality, other technical characteristics should be taken into account:

Waterproof. It is completely sealed, but unlike polystyrene, it is hygroscopic. The vapor permeability index is 0.014 (kg * m) / (h * Pa). This is due to the molding process during production;
Strength. The insulation can withstand significant loads - from 0.4 to 1 kg per 1 cm². Therefore, the thermal insulation of the balcony with polystyrene foam can be performed without installing an additional protective layer;
Treatment. To form sheets with the desired dimensions, you can use a regular drywall knife. Unlike polystyrene, this material does not crumble at the ends.

Expanded polystyrene for the floor, in addition to the positive properties common with polystyrene, also

durable
reliable
moisture resistant
not subject to rotting and the influence of harmful microorganisms,
resistant to deformation, excluding fracture,
chemically neutral,
easy to install.

To call the material ideal, of course, is impossible. For example, being moisture resistant, when water leaks, fungus can form on it, and although it basically does not react to acids and alkalis, it melts from the action of resins and mastics containing organic components.

Characteristics of foams and expanded polystyrenes

Despite the fact that the thermal insulation of polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are very similar visually, performance characteristics materials are different. In comparison with the main competitors - Ecowool and mineral wool, they look like this:

These materials do not have the same structure, which also affects the scope:

ecowool is a free-flowing product, so it cannot be used inside wet screed, but it is easy to pour into a wooden floor on your own without the involvement of professionals;
mineral wool - ideal for ceilings along beams, additionally protects structures from fire, partially absorbs moisture, reducing the load on lumber;
polystyrene - not suitable for floors in principle;
expanded polystyrene is the best insulation for the floor on the ground.

Important! Ecowool completely fills the volume provided to it, does not shrink, is not tolerated by insects and rodents. Mineral wool has elasticity, fits snugly to surfaces

Styrofoam and expanded polystyrene do not have such properties; seams and joints have to be additionally filled with mounting foam with similar properties. Which increases the complexity of the work.

lumber compatibility

With overlapping on wooden beams, everything is exactly the opposite:

extruded polystyrene foams and foams are harmful here, as they interfere with the natural regulation of moisture by wooden structures;
mineral wool and cellulose chips - Ecowool, on the contrary, help wood in this process, partially absorbing moisture, then evaporating it.

For overlapping on beams, basalt or ecowool insulation is more suitable.

Important! The practice of operating frame cottages, inside the walls and floors of which foam plastic was used, shows that repair of the floor along the beams and other elements of the building's load-bearing frame is required after 3-5 years.

Therefore, it is better to immediately lay in the project compatible, according to building physics, structural materials and thermal insulation.

Concrete compatibility

There is no loss of thermal resistance when placed in a humid environment (wetting without the possibility of evaporation) only for expanded polystyrenes and glass. The remaining materials, filled with concrete and absorbing moisture from it, lose at least 30% of thermal resistance with an increase in humidity by 10%.

Styrofoam does not have sufficient strength under load-bearing structures, therefore it is also excluded from insulation for concrete structures. Among the remaining heat insulators, extruded high-density polystyrene foam is cheaper than foam glass.

For flooring on the ground, high-density XPS should be selected.

Therefore, for slab foundations, screeds and floors on the ground, in 90% of cases XPS or XPS are used. Mineral wool will reduce the operating budget and make the floor covering on the ground vulnerable to excess moisture.

Thus, Styrofoam is not even worth considering for floors. wooden house. In floors on the ground, it is better to use high-density extruded polystyrene foam. And in the ceilings along the beams, use Ecowool, basalt or fiberglass plate, roll insulation.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for their selection. Just send in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and you will receive offers with prices from construction teams and firms. You can see reviews of each of them and photos with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.

An example of floor insulation with foam

Consider step by step floor insulation in the house with foam. This is a fairly simple option, and any person can perform such insulation.

Step 1. First of all, the rough base must be cleaned of debris and all irregularities removed. If necessary, cracks are sealed, and the protrusions are polished

It is important to remember that the foam does not tolerate a curved base. Next, a waterproofing layer is laid

In this case, rolled material is used, which is laid in separate strips overlapping each other. In this case, the individual strips are fixed to each other by means of heating. blowtorch. Waterproofing should be brought to the walls by about 10-15 cm.

Roll waterproofing

The material is brought to the walls by 10-15 cm

Step 2 Next, you need to install logs for the floor. In this case, they are wooden bars, on which the floor will subsequently rest under their feet. Logs should be used only from dry wood. Fixing the lag on the base can be done using dowels. The step between the lags can be equal to the width of the foam sheet.

Lags are installed

Lags are fixed with dowels

Step 3 After installing the lag, all communications should be laid that will be inside the floor pie. It can be wiring, pipes and so on. Laying should be done in accordance with the project of the house or repair. As for the water supply, especially in a private house on the ground floor, it is best to put it on the heat-insulating material.

Laying communications

Step 4 Next, foam must be laid on the surface of the waterproofing layer between the lags. It is laid consistently and tightly so that no gaps form. But if they appear, it is best to cover them with mounting foam. The logs should be of such a height that they are approximately 5-10 mm above the level of the laid foam.

Styrofoam plates are laid between the lags

The process of laying insulation

Styrofoam laid

Step 5 Then you need to “sew up” the floor cake with plywood sheets, OSB sheets, or an ordinary board. Everything, the floor is ready, you can equip the finishing floor covering.

The floor pie is sewn up with plywood

Video - Insulation of the floor with foam

Styrofoam is really convenient and practical, and most importantly, an inexpensive material that is great for insulating floors in a house, as well as in any building. It is easy to work with it, and the material performs its functions properly. So the main thing is to work without breaking the technology, and then in the house after the installation of such a heater it will be comfortable and cozy.

Procedure technology

Using granules for concrete floor insulation

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam, which is made of concrete. The technology of the procedure lies in the fact that the granules are introduced into the concrete solution, due to which this material acquires the properties of thermal insulation. The process begins with the preparation of a concrete solution. Dry cement must be added to the water. We stir everything with a drill. For this, a specially designed nozzle is used. Stir everything to the consistency of sour cream. After you need to add granules of insulation, but do not stop interfering. The ratio should be 1:6.

The more granules you add, the higher the thermal insulation characteristics of the floor will be. However, the more you add them, the lower the strength indicator becomes.

Also, thanks to these particles, the concrete coating will acquire excellent soundproofing characteristics. This is how the concrete floor is insulated with polystyrene foam.

The use of expanded polystyrene sheets for insulation under the screed

What does this technology include? First you need to compact the soil before insulating. To do this, crushed stone is backfilled and a layer consisting of sand and a film is applied from the top. After this procedure, the sheets of this building product should be laid tightly on the entire floor. The resulting joints must be filled, for this you can use mounting tape. Next, another layer of film is laid.

In order to protect this material from mechanical influences, it is necessary to lay a strong mounting mesh on top of the insulation sheets. Then the screed mixture is poured. Its thickness should be 50 millimeters. After a certain period of time, the coating will become hard, after which it is necessary to lay the floor covering on concrete screed. Laying needs to devote some time.

If you need a layer with a thickness of 50 millimeters, then you need to lay three layers of foam at once. The foam sheet is 20 millimeters thick.

Thermal insulation along the lags

The floor can be arranged using wooden logs. In this case, the thermal insulation procedure becomes quite easy. At the very beginning, you need to process each wooden lag, this can be done thanks to antifungal and moisture protective agents.

After that, from the bottom of the lags, the boards are fixed to the screws. Next, cut out sheets of extruded polystyrene foam are installed on the boards. At the end, the film is installed and the floor covering is installed. This is how the floor is insulated with polystyrene foam along the logs (flooring).

As we have seen, each of the technologies has its own styling rules.

Mounting technology

Floor insulation on the first floor

foam laying;
installation of vapor barrier;
clean floor installation.

For foam plastic, installation along the logs compensates for its low strength. When laying under the screed, it must be additionally reinforced, which leads to an increase in the cost of construction or repair. Read more about floor insulation under the screed.

overlap;
vapor barrier;
Styrofoam;
waterproofing;
clean floor.

Attic floor

The ability to absorb water. Manufacturers claim that the foam is not afraid of water, it is. But he is able to accumulate it in himself in small quantities. If the material containing moisture is exposed to low temperatures, it will crumble into separate balls. Therefore, it is important to protect the foam from any type of moisture. It is also not recommended to use it in wet areas, in which case it is better to give preference to its more stable closest relative - extruded polystyrene foam.

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam

There are several technologies for floor insulation, which differ in the material of the finish coating:

ground insulation;
wood insulation;
concrete floor insulation.

But it is worth noting that the procedure for installing floor insulation is the same for all coatings. Of course, there are some nuances, but we will get acquainted with them a little later.

Sequence of work

Below is the technology of insulation under the screed, but it is almost completely applicable to other methods.

Floor insulated under screed

Step one. Prepare the base. If there is no concrete or wood, then the preparation consists in compacting the earth and preliminary (or rough) leveling of its surface.

Step two. Fill in a 10-centimeter crushed stone pillow, also tamp it down and level it.

Step three. Fill in the next layer of fine sand to hide the sharp edges of the rubble and fill in the voids in it.

Step four. Lay the polystyrene boards with an overlap (modern products allow you to do this - the end parts in them have special cutouts).

Laying slabs on a prepared pillow

Step five. Lay the waterproofing film, also overlapping. Seal the joints with mounting tape.

Step seven. Pour concrete screed. The concrete layer must be at least 5 cm to withstand the loads.

Step eight. The final part of the work. After the concrete has dried, finish its surface, lay Additional materials optional (parquet, linoleum, etc.).

Note! Between the walls and the floor around the entire perimeter of contact, leave a two-centimeter technical gap (for waterproofing or possible thermal expansion). Seal the gap with polyethylene foam

Video - Styrofoam

What to look for when choosing

Choosing polystyrene foam for a warm floor, take into account its quality and variety.

Granular dense structure of expanded polystyrene

Quality control

The quality of polystyrene foam boards that will be used for floor insulation can be judged by their visual inspection

You will need to pay attention to the following: . The product must have a bright, evenly distributed color.

Usually, orange or blue slabs go on sale. This does not affect the characteristics of the products in any way, except for the tonality and uniformity of color, which indicate the quality and compliance with the manufacturing technology of the plates.

The product should have a bright, evenly distributed color. Usually, orange or blue slabs go on sale. This does not affect the characteristics of the products in any way, except for the tonality and uniformity of color, which indicate the quality and compliance with the manufacturing technology of the plates.
The presence of a slight specific odor is acceptable, but there should not be a sharp unpleasant odor.
During visual inspection, it is necessary to make sure that the plate has clear geometric dimensions, its edges are even and dense - they do not crumble when pressed.
The surface of the plate must be even, otherwise the thermal insulation properties will be significantly reduced.
It is necessary to visually assess the quality of the granules - they must have the same size without voids.

When choosing plates, you should pay attention to their structure on the cut.

Advice! By breaking a sample of the slab in half, you can evaluate its quality by looking at the place of the break. If the granules in this place have retained their integrity, then this indicates a poor adhesion between them. If the plate is of high quality, then the granules are also destroyed at the fracture site.

When broken, high-quality expanded polystyrene granules also break, thanks to strong soldering

Kinds

The properties of expanded polystyrene directly depend on the technology of its production. In this regard, three types of material can be distinguished:

Unpressed expanded polystyrene is produced by molding a mixture of pre-dried and foamed at a temperature of 80 degrees granules. This is the most budget option, which is characterized by high fragility.
The material produced by extrusion (extruded polystyrene foam) is produced under the action of a reagent that is introduced into a container-form, followed by extrusion of the foamed mass into a plate mold and drying.
When replacing the foaming agent with an autoclave, a material is obtained that is not suitable for use as a heat insulator.
Similar characteristics with extruded polystyrene are pressed plates with a thickness of 15 to 70 mm.

Styrofoam balls can be used as insulation in wooden floor by lags

What is polystyrene, its features

Styrofoam is actually familiar to every person. And the scope of this material is quite extensive. But few people know what foam is made of and what it is in general from a physical and chemical point of view.

Styrofoam

So, foam is light blocks different size, consisting of foamed, but compressed together granules of a substance such as polystyrene. During the production of the material, the granules of this substance are subjected to steam treatment, the resulting particles undergo a drying stage, after which they are glued and pressed into a single block. And at the same time, 97% of the foam is ordinary air. During the drying process, the foam just acquires the same sound and heat insulation qualities that are familiar to us. foam plastic production is regulated by GOST 15588-66.

GOST 15588-86. Plates are expanded polystyrene. Specifications. Download file (click on the link to open the PDF file in a new window).

GOST 15588-86

Table comparing the characteristics of foam and XPS

Comparative diagram of the thermal conductivity of foam

Polyfoam is characterized by low thermal conductivity, which allows it to retain heat for a long time, due to which there is a decrease in heat loss in the house. Such indicators can be achieved precisely due to the porous structure of the material.

What density foam is best for different types insulation

Polyfoam is not afraid of moisture due to a special production technology, when the granules of raw materials are processed with steam saturated with moisture, it is resistant to the appearance of colonies of harmful microorganisms on it, the growth of mold. It does not develop a fungus, which, in terms of health safety, makes it one of the most the best heaters for walls and floors. Also, the material has a long service life and low weight, which is why they like to use it in construction. The material is easy to use, as it can be easily cut into pieces if necessary. the right sizes elements, and you can drag and drop blocks on your own without involving third-party people.

Styrofoam is easy to cut

On a note! To ensure the proper level of thermal insulation of the floor, it is enough to buy very thin blocks of foam - 10 cm of material thickness is enough to cope with this task.

Styrofoam sheet

Styrofoam is an inexpensive material, somewhat rigid and durable, it does not need to equip plywood structures for flooring, it does not require special skills or knowledge from the master. This perfect option for such coverings as lamellas or parquet because of its soundproofing characteristics.

The main drawback of the material from the point of view of construction is its exactingness in the evenness of the base on which it will be laid. If this condition is not observed, then the foam will break and crumble, as a result of which it will lose its properties, albeit partially.

Laying foam sheets

On a note! Styrofoam is often confused with expanded polystyrene, which is used to package various fragile products. Actually this is a few different materials, albeit with many similarities. Packing polystyrene foam is fragile, and its thermal insulation characteristics are much lower than that of polystyrene.

Table. Technical specifications.

The foam may have different sizes and characteristics

2 Construction scheme

In general, extruded polystyrene foam for floor insulation in a private house has the following construction scheme for creating a warm floor:

Taking extruded polystyrene foam, then its granules, or evenly cut plates, are used to fill the free space between the floor joists, which are pre-installed on a plank or plywood base;
On top of the heat-insulating mats, they are covered with a vapor barrier membrane, after which an additional crate is placed in the cross of the lags, which will serve as a kind of ventilation;
Plywood or similar sheet material is then placed on the crate;
Next is the installation of guide rails. Between them it is necessary to put loops of a heat-insulated floor;
Then everything is done, focusing on the total budget of the construction work. It is recommended to put foil 30 microns thick along the water floor pipes, or cover the surface of the water floor with polyethylene foil. These are the most preferred options.

After laying the foil along the water floor pipes, the entire structure should be covered with plywood, or using OSB boards.

A priori, it should be assumed that the structure of the water floor was initially protected by special waterproofing on the side of the underground. If not, it should be organized.

Remember that even though manufacturers of such thermal insulation products assure their customers that all materials are pre-protected from moisture, this should not be trusted in absolute.

In any case, it is important to make forced waterproofing, especially for floor insulation with expanded clay. Otherwise, moisture, having penetrated into the pores of the insulation, will noticeably reduce the effectiveness of insulation over time or completely destroy the structure of the insulation material.

Underfloor heating interior

2.1 Pros of expanded polystyrene

The foam polystyrene substrate is good because this material provides its effective insulation. Insulation foam polystyrene mats are just perfect for creating a warm floor and density, and strength, including rigidity.

The reason for this is the way insulated polystyrene foam mats are made. Briefly, the whole process is as follows using a calculator for calculating the thermal insulation of pipelines:

The material polystyrene, or one of its derivative materials, is foamed by a special method (introducing a low-boiling liquid into the initial mass of polystyrene);
In the process of boiling, a kind of granules dressed with a water-impermeable surface are formed. Inside them is gas, which determines the lightness and thermal insulation characteristics of the material;
The manufactured product is heated with steam in order to increase the number of small pellets. They increase them tenfold, but sometimes they reach a thirtyfold increase;
In the end, the enlarged granules fit together and form insulating mats with small, but numerous and fairly strong cells.

Thermal insulation mats made of expanded polystyrene at the exit have the properties that were predetermined by the method of "sintering" the granules.

The final foamed substrate (plate) is presented to the consumer in a huge number of multi-colored design options. At the same time, the substrate, no matter what design it has, does not change its performance indicators.

Installation of insulated floor

Now the heat-insulating substrate is ready to work. It can be laid in the following ways and under the following conditions:

On the soil with preliminary tamping, backfilling with ordinary crushed stone and a ten centimeter sand layer;
On a concrete floor, which is previously covered with a 0.2 mm polyethylene coating;
On the wooden beams which are pre-coated with either polyethylene or glassine.

It should be understood that only a heat-insulating substrate is suitable for creating a warm floor. Whereas bituminous mastics or materials containing solvents are strictly prohibited.

They not only destroy the entire structure, but also gradually dissolve the polystyrene foam itself and the Izospan windproof membranes. Therefore, it should be remembered: only a heat-insulating substrate is suitable.

It is possible to install rigid styrofoam slabs, including on compacted gravel. But here it is important to remember that in any situation, the insulation must be additionally protected from moisture and, in addition, cut off from the walls.

1 Expanded polystyrene and analogues

In general, polystyrene foam for underfloor heating to infrared underfloor heating under tiles is not one specific product. Simply put, the term "polystyrene foam" implies several types of thermal insulation foam products at once.

That is, for a warm floor, both extruded, and foil and "classic" polystyrene foam are used.

And this is important to remember.

All types of foam floor insulation differ from each other not only in appearance, but also, which is obvious, technical specifications. In addition, they differ in the way of laying.

In addition, you need to know that there are many more thermal insulation materials for non-styrofoam floors. However, they have a number of problems that limit their scope too much.

So cork thermal insulation, like polyethylene pipes in underfloor heating systems, is not available in most cases not at all because of inefficiency. The problem is its huge price, which not every private trader can handle.

Heaters from the so-called "mineral wool" are extremely sensitive to the effects of soil water. For this reason, and only for this reason, heat-insulating mats of this type are not used in floor structures, both on the ground and above the initially unheated underground.

Foamed foil polyethylene is not used because, under the weight of the screed, it decreases exponentially in thickness. It turns out that foil polyethylene almost completely loses its effectiveness over time.

Styrofoam for underfloor heating

Granulated or extruded foam with bosses is not used because it has a relatively low rigidity.

Although it is worth recognizing that foam with bosses is the cheapest of all the heat-insulating materials described above, besides, it also has good insulating efficiency.

Thermal insulation technology for wooden buildings

When insulating wooden floors, the insulation is laid in the voids between the lags

The process of thermal insulation of wooden floors, due to their design, is not particularly difficult.

Depending on the design, the laying of expanded polystyrene will take place between the supporting logs or on the rough flooring. When insulating structures with an underground or basement, it is worth taking care of additional backfilling and waterproofing of the soil.

Insulation of a wooden floor with polystyrene foam will consist of the following steps:

Demolition of skirting boards and old flooring. If the lining is still suitable for further use, the sheets of boards or other material are numbered for convenience when re-laying;
Perform a visual inspection of all wooden parts structures - log, support beam, rough flooring. If rot and affected areas are found, the damaged parts are removed. The removed parts are replaced with canvases of fresh wood;
Before warming, all wooden parts are treated with an antiseptic and a composition that prevents the formation of rot and fungus;
Styrofoam sheets are laid on the base of the rough flooring. With the formation of large voids between the lags, it is recommended to trim the insulation. With small gaps, no more than 2-3 cm on each side, trimming is not performed.
The voids between the insulation and the lags are filled with mounting foam. When making insulation, you should leave a space (8-10 cm) between the insulation and the floor;
A vapor-permeable membrane is laid on top of the insulation. When joining the canvas, the seam is sealed with adhesive tape or self-adhesive isolon. For convenience, the membrane is attached to the logs with a construction stapler;
The floor covering is being re-layed or a new cladding is being laid.

Varieties and advantages of expanded polystyrene

The main manufacturers of insulation based on polystyrene

The popularity of expanded polystyrene for floor insulation is due not only to its availability and ease of installation.

The material is lightweight, sufficiently durable, has excellent heat saving performance and practically does not absorb moisture.

The main advantages of expanded polystyrene include the following:

High thermal insulation performance - the material has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity (0.038-0.045 W / mK);
Durability - the average life of expanded polystyrene is 70-80 years;
Resistance to temperature extremes - the insulation is able to maintain an unchanged structure, when exposed to low and high temperatures;
Strength - high resistance to mechanical and weight loads. One square meter insulation is able to withstand a load of more than 350 kg;
High rates of sound and noise insulation - the cellular structure of the material contributes to the reflection of sound waves from the surface of the material;
Environmental friendliness and safety - the production of insulation is based on the method of extrusion of polystyrene. The result is a compound that does not emit harmful substances and toxins;

Table of physical and technical characteristics of the material

For floor insulation with extruded polystyrene foam, various types of insulation can be used, differing in technical characteristics.

Basically, when choosing polystyrene foam, one should focus on the average density of the material, the percentage of water absorption and the coefficient of thermal conductivity. For the northern regions of Russia, it is desirable to use material with a density of at least 32-35 kg/m3. In the middle lane, there will be enough insulation with a density of 25-32 kg / m3.

When conducting self-insulation, you can recommend products from companies such as:

As a conclusion. About the environmental performance of the material

There is a European association of enterprises that are engaged in the manufacture of expanded polystyrene. So, this association conducted a study, during which it turned out the following: the material is in the process of extraction, and during operation and, ultimately, during disposal absolutely harmless for environment. That is why it is widely used in industry and construction.

The initial derivative is styrene - a non-hazardous substance that does not have any characteristics by which carcinogenic properties are determined today. Furthermore, styrofoam can be reused rno, moreover, with minimal losses during recovery.

In a word, this material is absolutely harmless, as well as its production and, moreover, its use as a heater.

General principles

To figure out how to insulate the floor with foam, you need to follow the instructions below.

Foundation preparation. Before starting work, it will be necessary to close up all deep gaps and holes in the floor with a concrete solution. After that, clean the surface well with a regular broom or construction vacuum cleaner.
After that, proceed to leveling the base. To get a smooth surface, use leveling mixtures or cement mortar.
The thickness of the layer should be about 3 - 5 cm, then be sure to dry it.
Laying a waterproofing layer.
Once everything is dry, you can start laying the next layer. To do this, buy a special durable film in the store. Lay it with an overlap, about 5 - 10 cm, glue it with adhesive tape at the joints for reliability.
Be sure to make the film exit onto the wall by about 7 - 10 cm, sometimes a special mastic is used instead of a film. It is easy to apply with a brush or spatula.
Now we can proceed to the next step. Lay the foam layer, fixing it with special glue. We apply glue only at the edges and in the center a few drops. Lay the plates compactly one to the other. If holes are formed, seal them with special mastic or adhesive putty.
At the end, it is necessary to cut the edges of the plates with a regular kitchen knife or hacksaw.
When sealing floors with foam, leave a small hole between the floor and the wall, and then seal it with damper tape. This will prevent the building from shrinking in the future. Also, the plates are additionally fixed with dowels to the base for reliability.
Screed reinforcement.
A concrete or cement mixture is poured onto the insulation, approximately 1.0 - 1.5 cm thick. And then a special reinforcing mesh is applied. Thus, you will significantly increase the durability and strength of the screed.
The last step is to refill. concrete mix 5.0 - 6.0 cm thick.
In the process of work, periodically pierce the solution with a metal rod, as this will remove excess air from the thickness.

We recommend that all further work be carried out only after complete solidification, and this is somewhere around 24 - 28 days. To avoid the appearance of cracks, we advise you to periodically moisten the concrete surface for the first 10 days, preventing it from drying out.

Mounting technology

Before you insulate the floor with foam, you need to understand the features of its use for various designs. The laying process itself is as simple as possible, but the material requires additional protection against moisture and steam.

Floor insulation on the first floor

There are no strong differences when working in a brick, concrete or wooden building. Insulation of the floor with foam plastic is carried out both from above the ceiling and from below. The bottom method is more competent from the point of view of heat engineering, but very laborious. In the vast majority of cases, insulation is performed on top of the ceiling.

Styrofoam can be laid on logs or under a concrete screed. In a wooden house, it is appropriate to use insulation between the log.

If desired, you can lay the material on the logs and with concrete floors, if wooden floors are planned.

Wood floor insulation

Insulation of reinforced concrete floors from above (a special case with lags)

Styrofoam insulation pie on a reinforced concrete slab with a screed

Installation on the lags is carried out in the following order:

preparation and cleaning of the base;
laying waterproofing material;
lag layout and their fastening;
foam laying;
installation of vapor barrier;
clean floor installation.

Use as soundproofing

To prevent the penetration of noise, a layer of 30-50 mm thick can be used. The overlap pie should look like this:

Similar to the previous case, the installation is carried out along the logs or under the screed.

Attic floor

Insulation of the attic with foam plastic in the house requires the same arrangement of layers, but a large thickness is needed. You can assign it to about 15 cm, or you can perform a special heat engineering calculation.

Features of foam insulation

Despite the large number of positive characteristics, the foam has some undesirable properties that must be considered when working with it.

Low strength. Manufacturers position their material as strong enough for use in floor construction, but it must be remembered that it requires additional protection from the direct impact of the load. Laying between the lags, pouring a reinforced cement screed allow you to protect the foam. You can also strengthen the surface by laying a thin layer of more durable polystyrene foam over the foam and pouring the screed. Read more about double layer insulation.
The ability to absorb water. Manufacturers claim that the foam is not afraid of water, it is. But he is able to accumulate it in himself in small quantities. If the material containing moisture is exposed to low temperatures, it will crumble into separate balls. Therefore, it is important to protect the foam from any type of moisture. It is also not recommended to use it in wet areas, in which case it is better to give preference to its more stable closest relative - extruded polystyrene foam.

Compliance with the technology and attention to the characteristics of the material will allow you to competently and efficiently insulate the house and avoid serious problems with the operation of structures in the future. It is important to place all layers of the insulation pie in right order, since a violation of technology will lead to improper operation of thermal protection

Video instruction for laying foam under the screed:

Styrofoam insulation on the example of a balcony:

Popular types of expanded polystyrene

Styrofoam, as a rule, is produced in the form of plates. The following types of polystyrene foam board are most popular among consumers:

non-press;
extruded;
foil;

profile.

Thermal insulation material for underfloor heating

In the production of expanded polystyrene, various technologies are used that determine its characteristics, areas of application and laying methods.

Bespressovy expanded polystyrene

The manufacturing process of this type of material is that polystyrene granules are placed in hot water, and after swelling, they are dried and foamed, placed in special molds or an extruder.

Types of non-pressed polystyrene foam

Given the low cost of production, such a foam plastic has a very affordable cost, and therefore is especially popular among citizens who are puzzled by the installation of a warm water floor.

Styrofoam belonging to this variety is obtained by mixing polystyrene granules with a blowing agent under pressure and at a high degree of heat. The result is a viscous mass, which is extruded using a special tool equipped with an extrusion head.

Extruded polystyrene foam laying

Extruded polystyrene foam for underfloor heating is especially popular among installers involved in installing water system options. Plates made of this material are also widely used in other areas of construction, for example, in the insulation of roofs, foundations and facades of houses.

Extruded Styrofoam Size Chart

Foil Styrofoam

This foam has distinguishing feature, consisting in the presence of an additional metallized layer. This material is often used in underfloor heating systems, as the foil layer acts as a reflector, increasing heating efficiency by evenly distributing heat.

Step-by-step laying of foil polystyrene foam on a warm floor

When arranging a warm water floor, it is always necessary to lay an additional layer of foil under the pipeline, which acts as a reflector. The use of foiled polystyrene foam eliminates this need.

However, when laying it, it must be taken into account that the concrete screed in which the system is placed completely corrodes the thin layer of aluminum that covers the plates in a short period of time. Therefore, this material must be protected with an additional layer of waterproofing.

It should be noted that foil polymer insulation can be used in the arrangement of water and cable underfloor heating. But it cannot be used when laying infrared mats.

Profile expanded polystyrene

The use of this material facilitates the installation of the underfloor heating system, as it eliminates the need to lay a reinforcing mesh to which the pipeline is attached, apply markings and install guides, since all these functions are performed by bosses located over the entire surface of the slab.

Distinctive features of such a plate are the following factors:

Thermal insulation scheme using polystyrene foam boards

the bosses themselves, which make it easy to lay a water pipeline or an electric floor heating cable, regardless of the chosen scheme;
increased mechanical strength due to the high density of the material;
the presence of a shell that acts as a vapor barrier that protects against moisture;
a layer of laminated foil, immune to chemical attack;
the presence of locking joints, thanks to which the plates are laid without gaps;
the presence on the underside of the plate of a relief pattern that provides ventilation and smoothes out small irregularities in the base.

Features of laying the heat-insulating layer

Expanded polystyrene slabs are laid on a base that has been previously cleaned of debris and leveled with appropriate solutions. Further, waterproofing is laid on the base of the floor, and on top of it - expanded polystyrene plates. If a plate without bosses is used, then metal or plastic mesh to which the cable or pipes of the water-heated floor will be attached.

Stages of installation of a water-heated floor

The last stage in the arrangement of the heating system is the pouring of a cement-sand screed, which contributes to an even distribution of heat.

Companies producing polystyrene foam for underfloor heating claim that this material can last 50 years. However, tests conducted by scientists have shown that a warm floor laid on expanded polystyrene slabs will function flawlessly for more than 60 years. And if we add the affordable cost of materials to these factors, we can say that polystyrene foam is an ideal insulation not only for underfloor heating systems, but also for various types of finishing work.

Pros and cons of polystyrene foam

Let's look at the pros first:

This material is easy to work with. It is easy to handle with a household knife. Mounting aids can also be used for fastening. You can glue it with glue or a mixture of mortar.
Plates are light in weight. Thanks to this factor, they can be raised to absolutely any height, without the need to use any additional mechanisms for this procedure.
This product is absolutely safe for human health. When the product is processed, no dust is released. The product also does not have any specific smell. Do not irritate the skin during operation.
Expanded polystyrene has a high level of resistance to various substances: biological, chemical. Since this product is made of synthetics, various harmful microorganisms cannot start in it, because they do not like such material. Fungus and bacteria are also not terrible for this material.

These are the main advantages, however, they can also include excellent sound insulation, a high level of resistance to moisture, low cost in the construction market, as well as a huge service life - it can reach up to 50 years.

Let's discuss now weak sides styrofoam boards:

Plates are prone to deformation. This material has low level heat resistance. Therefore, when the temperature reaches 80 degrees Celsius, the product begins to break down.
The pellets may ignite. Since Styrofoam is made from a gas filler, it can ignite when exposed to high temperatures.
The product needs additional protection, as it does not tolerate mechanical stress.

After we have got acquainted with the main characteristics, it can be used for thermal insulation of the floor. Underfloor heating is an opportunity to save on space heating. The effect of expanded polystyrene plates is that they significantly reduce heat loss, and the temperature in the room will be maintained at a comfortable temperature for you.

What type of insulation to choose under the screed

Mineral wool provides good floor insulation, but has some disadvantages, which include:

High cost;
ability to absorb water;
the probability of subsidence;
the need for additional protection for builders during installation (overalls, gloves, mask).

These shortcomings are devoid of Styrofoam, but it also has its own characteristics. This insulation refers to combustible materials, does not have high strength and emits substances hazardous to humans during combustion. All these negative sides are smoothed out when used under a screed, since it protects the insulation from damage and contact with fire.

Extruded polystyrene foam non-flammable, has high strength and low water absorption. This material will be a very good solution for do-it-yourself insulation. But more cheap option foam insulation also does not lose ground when laying under a screed.

Pie overlapping wooden house

Depending on the strength, the material can be laid in two ways: without a lag and with their help. In the first case, the weight of the entire clean floor structure falls on the insulation, so a cement-sand screed is made on top of it. Earlier, we have already considered in detail the technology of floor insulation under the screed. Most often, this method is used for floors of brick and concrete buildings.

For a wooden house, insulation is carried out between wooden logs.

It is important to consider the location of the insulation in the building - thermal protection attic floor different from the insulation of the ceiling over a cold basement or underground.

Please note that the process of floor insulation in a house on screw piles is slightly different from the above method. . In the first case, the layers are stacked in the following order:

In the first case, the layers are stacked in the following order:

wooden floor;
vapor barrier;
insulation.

When used in construction first floor floor installation order is as follows:

wooden floor;
waterproofing;
insulation;
vapor barrier.

When using extruded polystyrene foam, the vapor barrier can be omitted.

For foam, it is important to remember that steam protection is located on the side of warm air, and moisture protection is on the cold side. Only in this case the house will be reliably protected from the penetration of cold air. As a vapor barrier and waterproofing, you can use an ordinary durable polyethylene film.

Mounting process

Depending on the method of laying, work can be carried out in different ways.

The minimum layer of insulation depends on the climate in which the house is located, but on average it is 10 cm.

Laying insulation without lag (under the screed)

The workflow begins with cleaning the base from dirt and dust. Further, if necessary, perform alignment. After preparing the base, the plates are laid out, taking into account the gap for thermal expansion. These gaps are filled with fiberglass or polyurethane foam. On top of the insulation with this method of installation, a cement-sand screed is performed. For fragile foam, it must be additionally reinforced.

Laying between lags

The process starts with installation lag, the pitch of which is selected depending on the size of the insulation boards.

This method does not require high strength, so foam can be used without fear.

Between the lags, depending on the structure to be protected, lays vapor barrier or hydroprotection. The plates are mounted, as in the previous case, with a small gap. After the installation of insulation, the construction of the structure begins. finishing floor.

Insulation of the floor with expanded polystyrene can significantly reduce the load on the building structure. This is especially important if the house is built on unstable soils with poor characteristics, as it allows you not to overload the foundations.

If you follow all the rules for laying polystyrene foam, then it is able to protect the house from the cold for 40-50 years. Right choice materials and quality control of the production of works can reduce the cost of operating and repairing a home.

This video clearly describes the insulation by this method:

How to practically do the work

If you settled on the option - foam floor screed, check out the technological sequence of the process:

First of all, a wooden crate is mounted

Prior to the start of thermal insulation work, the base should be leveled with a concrete or cement-sand screed 2-3 cm thick, depending on the subfloor level differences.
After the rough screed has dried, we cover it with a plastic film with an overlap of at least 150 mm (the joints are insulated with any adhesive tape). The edges of the film should be 5-7 cm above the intended floor.

If necessary, the foam can be fixed with glue

Next, the insulation of the desired thickness is laid directly. Styrofoam under the screed on the floor should be laid in two layers with offset seams between the plates or fill the seams of a single-layer insulation with mounting foam. This will avoid the occurrence of cold bridges.
To strengthen the subsequent screed, it must be reinforced. A thin 1.5-2 cm screed is arranged along the heat-insulating carpet. A reinforcing mesh is laid on it.

Joints and locations of fasteners must be covered with putty

Disadvantages of foam

Styrofoam - the material is far from ideal, it also has its own drawbacks, which you need to know about in order to draw your own conclusion - whether or not to buy such material for floor insulation. The main ones are as follows.

Low strength indicators. The material is easily damaged or broken. But it is also easy to cut.
The material is afraid of the effects of varnish or paint - it collapses because of them.
It is not a breathable coating, although it is full of air in itself.
If mice or rats start up in the house, they can greatly spoil this type of insulation. Therefore, it is best to cover the foam blocks with plaster.
This is not an environmentally friendly material, and if set on fire, it releases a huge amount of toxic fumes into the air. But the foam itself is absolutely safe for humans.
You still need to create a frame for foam, but in the case of this material, it can be made not as powerful as when using the same mineral wool.

The use of foam for floor insulation has its drawbacks.

Features of installing polystyrene foam under a warm floor

Insulation plates must be tightly adjacent to each other

A warm floor does not have to be organized on a concrete rough screed. The supporting structure can also be a wooden flooring, the main thing is that the expanded polystyrene plates are laid tightly to each other.

Before laying the insulation boards, it is necessary to qualitatively clean the coating from debris and eliminate all irregularities.

It may be necessary to repair the rough screed with a special mixture, repairing all cracks and damage.

When you are convinced that the surface is flat and clean, you can proceed with the installation of polystyrene foam plates. In this case, each unit of the product should not stick out and move. All heat-insulating flooring must fit snugly against the walls.

A number of manufacturers of polystyrene products create plates with grooves and spikes

When installing such a heater, you need to pay attention to the fact that the connecting elements are not damaged.

Special slabs for underfloor heating have not only docking grooves, but also limiters for laying pipes or electric cables.

Usually, pairs of limiters are placed at a distance of 3-8 cm from each other, thereby allowing you to arbitrarily choose the distance between the heating elements.

After laying the cable or pipes between the limiters, a test run should be made and the heating elements should be covered with a waterproofing film (for water floor heating).

A light coating, such as parquet or laminate, can be laid directly on top of expanded polystyrene, and roll materials (linoleum, carpet) and tiles should be laid on sheet materials, plywood or OSB-plate, which is laid on the insulation.

In rooms with a high level of humidity, self-leveling mixtures are used, which are poured onto the insulation, at one level with intervals for laying pipes.

One example of flooring can be seen from the above diagram.

From this article, each owner will be able to emphasize information about the choice of polystyrene foam for underfloor heating. It is worth deciding on your product option, taking into account all the disadvantages and advantages. The choice of material should be made only independently.

Currently, many individual developers take care of the thorough insulation of walls and roofs, but often insufficient attention is paid to floor insulation in a private house. On the market building materials There is a wide range of thermal insulation. One of the most common methods of thermal protection has become floor insulation with foam.

Why floor insulation is necessary

The main heat loss of the house. Through the floor - 10-15%.

The floor is the only surface in the house that cannot be avoided. Therefore, it is important to ensure its comfortable temperature. Warm air heated by radiator heating batteries rises, and if the floor is not sufficiently insulated, it is unpleasant to walk on it.

When using a system of warm floors, insulation is also necessary. In its absence, the coolant will not rationally give off energy, heating not only the floor covering, but also the underlying cooled layers.

The lack of full-fledged floor insulation leads not only to overspending on heating, but also to damage to structures by mold and fungus. Condensation falls from the side of warm air, and a humid environment is beneficial for the development of dangerous microorganisms.

Advantages of using foam in floor construction

Styrofoam floor insulation is a fairly common option, which has gained popularity due to the following qualities:

ease of installation: there is no need to provide workers with overalls and protective equipment, as is the case with mineral wool or polyurethane foam;
ease of cutting allows you to insulate the floor in a room of any geometric shape;
the cheapness of the material compared to other effective heaters in many cases becomes a decisive factor;
can be used for insulating underfloor heating systems;
resistance to the appearance of mold, fungus and other microorganisms harmful to humans makes it possible to call the material safe, not causing allergic reactions.

These positive qualities make the material suitable for use in housing construction from any materials.

Options for using foam in the floor

In private housing construction, foam plastic can be used to improve the characteristics of the following structures:

floors on the ground in a heated basement;
the floor of the first floor with an unheated basement;
interfloor ceilings to increase sound insulation;
attic floor in a house with a cold attic.

In all these cases, subject to the laying technology, the material perfectly copes with the task.

Mounting technology

Floor insulation on the first floor

Styrofoam can be laid on logs or under a concrete screed. In a wooden house, it is appropriate to use insulation between the log.

If desired, you can lay the material on the logs and with concrete floors, if wooden floors are planned.

Installation on the lags is carried out in the following order:

preparation and cleaning of the base;
laying waterproofing material;
lag layout and their fastening;
foam laying;
installation of vapor barrier;
clean floor installation.

Use as soundproofing

To prevent the penetration of noise, a layer of 30-50 mm thick can be used. The overlap pie should look like this:

overlap;
vapor barrier;
Styrofoam;
waterproofing;
clean floor.

Similar to the previous case, the installation is carried out along the logs or under the screed.

Attic floor

Features of foam insulation

Despite the large number of positive characteristics, the foam has some undesirable properties that must be considered when working with it.

Low strength. Manufacturers position their material as strong enough for use in floor construction, but it must be remembered that it requires additional protection from the direct impact of the load. Laying between the lags, pouring a reinforced cement screed allow you to protect the foam. You can also strengthen the surface by laying a thin layer of more durable polystyrene foam over the foam and pouring the screed. More about
The ability to absorb water. Manufacturers claim that the foam is not afraid of water, it is. But he is able to accumulate it in himself in small quantities. If the material containing moisture is exposed to low temperatures, it will crumble into separate balls. Therefore, it is important to protect the foam from any type of moisture. It is also not recommended to use it in wet rooms, in which case it is better to give preference to its more stable closest relative -.

Compliance with the technology and attention to the characteristics of the material will allow you to competently and efficiently insulate the house and avoid serious problems with the operation of structures in the future. It is important to arrange all the layers of the insulation pie in the correct order, since a violation of the technology will lead to incorrect operation of the thermal protection.

Video instruction for laying foam under the screed:

Styrofoam insulation on the example of a balcony:

Calculation of insulation thickness

In a private house, it is allowed to take the thickness of the insulation layer “by eye”, but if you wish, you can master the program for performing calculations. It is called "Teremok" and is freely available. Working with this software is easy. Even a person far from construction can deal with this. The calculation will help to provide the necessary thermal protection at minimal cost.

In order to save heat in the house, a whole range of measures should be carried out aimed at additional insulation of the roof, walls and floor. A correct and comprehensive approach will help the homeowner save on utility bills. But the insulation of rooms and buildings is a complex process that requires consistency and technology.

As everyone knows, the main supplier of cold and dampness, and especially in private one-story houses, is the floor. Presented in stores huge selection thermal insulation materials.

The most common and popular is foam. Today we will consider the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of polystyrene foam. We will also touch on where, when and how floor insulation is used with foam plastic.

Characteristics of foam as a heater

Styrofoam is a polymer, 96% gas, which is enclosed in ultra-thin walls of the feedstock. Ordinary air is used as gas, which in turn is the best natural insulation.

Can be obtained from various types of plastics. Such parameters as strength, density and resistance to aggressive environments depend on the production and processing technology, as well as on the composition of the feedstock.

As a material for thermal insulation, foam has become widespread in Russia and Europe. It accounts for about 50% of sales.

In fact, this is a universal material that is suitable for the insulation of absolutely any structure or structural element.

There are many varieties of material, we will analyze the most popular ones.

In order for the foam to fully retain all its heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties when used as a floor insulation, you should follow the rules for surface preparation before laying the blocks and, accordingly, the technology itself and installation requirements.

Styrofoam as a heater has a number of advantages and disadvantages.

As usual, let's start with the advantages:

The disadvantages include:

It is a non-breathable material, meaning it does not allow air to pass through.
Do not apply paint that contains nitrate components to the foam.

Styrofoam can be used to insulate floor surfaces, both residential and industrial buildings. The application is not limited to the presence of warm floors. Professionals say that not insulated floor gives about 20%.

We properly insulate the floor with polystyrene foam with our own hands

Since we have examined some types of foam plastics, there are several ways to insulate the floor, respectively, and it also depends on the type of subfloor.

Use of granular foam.
The use of polystyrene foam for insulating wooden floors.
The use of polystyrene foam for floor insulation under the screed.

Let's start with the first method. This method involves the use of a polytherm. Balls with a diameter of 3-5 mm. foam is mixed with water and cement in a percentage of 80% - 10% - 10%. This is the approximate composition of "lightweight concrete". If you suddenly need to increase the bearing capacity, just add more cement. Underfloor heating can be easily installed on such a surface. The technology is simple and consists in simply mixing the components and pouring the surface.

It should be said that the cost of the process is about 40-50% lower than the laying of pressed plates under the screed.

Since the granules are hidden inside the concrete screed, they are not affected by any harmful factors. It also makes this material absolutely safe and non-combustible, which in turn allows them to be used in critical areas.

The most important plus is the simplicity and speed of filling, which you can do yourself. To do this, you do not need special skills, but you need accuracy and care.

The following method is usually used by owners of cottages, log cabins, country houses. Most modern wooden houses already immediately come with floor insulation. But over time, the boards dry out, crack, and cracks and drafts appear on the floor. In order to avoid these problems, many owners carry out additional insulation. Right on top of the old wood floor.

We clean the floor from debris and dirt. We inspect the floor for holes, defects and chips. If necessary, we eliminate defects.

We lay a waterproofing material on top of the wooden floor, usually a plastic film or special materials. The film is laid with an overlap of about 8-10 cm. We glue the joint of the film with construction tape.

The next stage is the construction of the crate, every 40 cm if there is a finish coating (laminate, linoleum, carpet). After 60 cm, if there is a floor from the boards.

The crate helps to evenly distribute the load. In the cavity of the grate we lay foam plates or pour granules. The recommended layer thickness is 20 cm.

When laying foam boards, all cracks are sealed with either special glue or mounting foam. Then we cover the top of the lag with waterproofing, we also glue all the seams.

The next topic is very extensive, as it includes many sub-items, how to insulate a concrete floor with a basement, how to insulate a floor on the ground, how to insulate under a screed?

Let us consider in more detail one of the options - this is the insulation of a concrete floor under a screed without a basement. Like any process, we start with preparatory work, we clean the floor surface from dirt and dust.

We make curvature measurements as a rule, if the differences are more than 2-3 mm, then the surface should be leveled using self-leveling solutions.

Large differences deform the foam plates, which leads to damage to the material and the loss of its useful qualities.

Do not forget that the foam is afraid of direct contact with substances that include bitumen and its modifications. To prevent such contact, we use a polyethylene film.

You should decide on the thickness and density of the foam boards. The thickness depends on the heat supply coefficient. And the density of the load on the base. The denser the material, the more expensive it is - but the service life will please you. So don't skimp.

It is better not to lay the film from below. The slabs should first be pre-decomposed in order to reduce the number of scraps. The foam is attached to the concrete base with a special adhesive.

Reinforced belt distributes pressure evenly over the surface. Then we fill cement-sand mortar 5-7 cm thick. We are waiting for complete drying. It is advisable to wait 28 days until the screed is completely set and dry.

Before pouring a concrete screed, a warm floor system can be applied to the insulation. Only a layer of foil should be applied to the surface of the plates or ready-made plates should be bought for underfloor heating.

All seams should be taped with foil tape to reduce heat loss. Some manufacturers make markings on the surface of the foil, for the convenience of attaching pipes and cables.

It should be noted here that for the insulation of concrete floors they often use a crate made of timber and the whole technology is repeated as with the insulation of a wooden floor.

If you live on the ground floor or have a basement under your house, then you should use foam plastic no less than 10 cm thick when insulating indoors.

And also experts recommend additionally insulating with a layer of 5-10 cm foam from the basement. Usually, construction combs are used for fasteners.

We just apply a sheet and drill through with a drill. Then we remove the block and drill concrete. Before the final installation of the slab in place, all joints and holes are glued with special glue. But as we understand it, foam plastic cannot be thrown, so we apply a reinforcing mesh and plaster.

It is best to do floor insulation at the construction stage. Consider with you floor insulation on the ground. And so if the soil is loose, then it should be given time to settle for about 1 month.

We make a pillow, for this we pour a 10 cm layer of rubble or small stone, we carefully tamp everything. Then we repeat the same with a 10 cm layer of sand.

We cover the resulting cake with a film. This is a layer of waterproofing. The film should be taken with a thickness of 0.2 mm. It can be replaced with roofing material. Moreover, the overlap is 8-10 cm and the release is above ground level 15-20 cm.

We lay the foam in two layers with offset seams. It is better to use foam with a border, it helps to remove heat loss at the seams. The last slabs should be laid with force.

Cover with a layer of plastic wrap. Reinforcing with mesh. We fill everything with a concrete solution with a thickness of at least 4 cm. You should wait until the concrete has completely hardened and set.

Conclusion

We do not advise you to save on floor insulation in your house, cottage or country estate. Since in a couple of years your costs will fully pay off and the next years will bring you only profit from savings on utility bills.

To insulate the first floors with high quality, you will need a foam plastic with a thickness of 10 cm. No less. To cover the interfloor ceilings, 5 cm of polystyrene is enough.

In general, floor insulation with foam plastic should be approached individually, depending on your requirements and capabilities.

How to insulate the floor with polystyrene foam

Almost everyone who lives on the ground floor is familiar with the sensation of an ice floor when the heating system is operating at full capacity. In this case, the best solution would be a “warm floor”, which, in addition to feeling comfortable, will avoid heat loss. 20% of the total heat loss is due to the loss through the floor, the design of which is not made correctly. But only heating the floor surface will not completely solve the problem - the heating area is larger, but the heat disappears somewhere. To achieve the desired result, the insulation material must not only have low thermal conductivity and hygroscopicity, and also withstand heavy loads, but also have an adequate price. At present, it is a reliable and easy way to save heat both in a city apartment and in a private house.

For the first time, expanded polystyrene in the USSR for construction purposes was produced by the Mytishchi plant Stroyplastmass. Since then, the technology for the production of polystyrene foam has evolved and improved.

The raw material for obtaining this material is styrene granules and its derivatives, which are filled with gas dissolved in the polymer. After that, with the help of steam, the mass is heated, in the process the volume of the granules increases by more than 50 times, until they occupy the entire space of the block mold and stick together.

According to the method of production, this material can be divided into two groups. The first is produced by technology sintering under the influence of high temperature foamed polystyrene balls in the form. In the second method, the blowing agent and granules elevated temperatures mixed up. and then the resulting mass is forced through the opening of the extruder.

Expanded polystyrene has various physical and mechanical properties and is subdivided into:

extruded polystyrene grade PS. made from polystyrene granules by pressing them. This type has high strength characteristics due to the tight adhesion of the granules, but its production is quite expensive. Therefore, this type is currently used only for military purposes.
suspension non-pressed polystyrene grade PSB due to its lower cost, it has become more widespread. The quality of this material is very easy to check: well-adhered balls are clearly visible at the break of the plate the same size. The fracture can take place, so to speak, "along the living." Poor-quality balls have different sizes and the fault passes only at the points of their contact. PSB boards are produced density 15−50 kg/m3. which affects its strength properties and determines the scope. For example, expanded polystyrene with a density of 15 kg / m3 is used as packaging for household appliances, and denser for insulation of facades.
suspension pressless self-extinguishing polystyrene foam grade PSB-S is an improved modification of the previous type. The advantage of this modification lies in the absolute incombustibility, which is achieved by introducing fire-retardant additives - fire retardants into the raw material.
extruded or extruded polystyrene foam grade EPS refers to the best type of polystyrene foam, which is due to the production technology that allows you to get a dense, absolutely waterproof material with high resistance to mechanical stress. This type fully meets the requirements of fire safety.

High-quality expanded polystyrene of the PSB and PSB-S brands will serve up to 40 years old, without changing its qualities at all, extruded polystyrene foam can be used practically unchanged for 80 years.

Characteristics of expanded polystyrene as a heater

Regardless of the brand, expanded polystyrene has the following characteristics :

Recently, the building materials market has been filled with polystyrene foam boards of various colors, which does not affect either the quality or the characteristics, but only indicates that this type of product belongs to a certain brand. Expanded polystyrene boards with milled edges are also produced, which allows you to lay the boards according to the scheme "thorn-groove".

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam

As a heater for the floor with the laying of foam boards between the beams, the brand is quite suitable PSB-S with a density of 15 kg/m3. since the main part of the load will fall on the logs. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that for the insulation of the first floor, the minimum layer of insulation should be at least 10 cm, for interfloor floors - 5 cm. The gaps between the expanded polystyrene plates and the logs, as well as along the perimeter along the walls, are necessary for thermal expansion of the material. They are filled with mounting foam or fiberglass.

The density of polystyrene foam for concrete floor insulation should be equal to or higher than 35 kg/m3, for example, PSB-S 35. Before insulating the floor, a screed is made. Then a waterproofing film, foam plastic (foam) slabs and a reinforcing mesh are laid on the solution layer. Next, a finishing screed 5–8 cm thick is performed and technological gaps are sealed with fiberglass or foam around the perimeter. After that, the floor covering is laid.

From floor insulation on a rough concrete base, the arrangement of floors on the ground differs additional soil preparation:

soil by mechanical action rammed down. in this case, the surface is leveled;
crushed stone falls asleep. the layer thickness of which is 10 cm, it is also leveled and compacted;
small-fraction river, quarry or sea sand. to fill the voids between the particles of rubble;
fit insulation .

In the event that floor insulation is performed in the attic or attic, instead of hydro-laying vapor barrier layer. This is due to the fact that the floor of the attic or attic is at the same time the ceiling of the rooms on the upper floor. The insulation is laid on a vapor barrier material and covered on top with exactly the same layer of material. Next, either a crate for the subfloor is made, or a concrete screed, on top of which the floor covering is mounted.

Insulation of the floor with polystyrene foam allows not only to save heat, but also increase the sound insulation of the room. It should also be noted that the use of this material as a heater can significantly reduce the load on the building structure. At the same time, a person who does not have experience in construction or decoration can cope with floor insulation.

Video of floor insulation with polystyrene foam
How to properly insulate the floor with polystyrene foam?

A modern house is a building to which rather stringent requirements for thermal protection are imposed. A large number of highly effective heat-insulating materials are now on the market. They allow you to provide a comfortable temperature and humidity conditions in the premises. The most effective and reliable way to increase the heat-shielding characteristics will be floor insulation with polystyrene foam.

The need for thermal protection and requirements for insulation

If a person is told that it is necessary to do something, he has every right to know why it is necessary. If the house has insufficient thermal insulation of structures, serious problems arise during operation.

The heater performs the following functions:

prevention of freezing of the floor of the first floor and the penetration of cold into the premises;
protection against the appearance of condensate, which leads to the formation of mold, fungus and rotting of wooden house structures;
the house will require lower heating costs during the cold period;
improvement of soundproofing characteristics.

The following requirements are imposed on the insulation used in the floor pie:

good strength characteristics;
resistance to moisture;
resistance to decay and mold;
human safety;
incombustibility;
ease of installation.

All these requirements are met by extruded polystyrene foam, which can be used to insulate the structures of a concrete, wooden, brick and frame building.

What is polystyrene foam

Styrofoam consists of styrene granules filled with gas. Air is the most effective insulation, so a large number of cavities allows the material to have good heat-shielding performance. Currently, two types of expanded polystyrene are widely used in construction: polystyrene foam and extruded material. The second is preferable to use.

These two materials look similar in appearance, but differ in their characteristics and method of manufacture. Styrofoam is made from polystyrene foam balls by sintering. In the production of extruded polystyrene foam, the granules are mixed with a foamed reagent and forced through an extruder.

What's better? Styrofoam or extruded polystyrene foam?

Option 1. Styrofoam

Option 2. Extruded polystyrene foam

Styrofoam has only one advantage over extruded material: low cost.

If the house is being built without strong financial constraints, it is better to choose the second option.

If you spend comparative analysis, we can come to the following conclusions:

extruded polystyrene foam has high strength and works better in floor construction;
foam plastic is characterized by higher water absorption (about two times);
in the presence of moisture and exposure to low temperatures, the foam may crumble into separate balls;
polystyrene refers to medium and low combustible materials and, when exposed to high temperatures, releases substances dangerous to humans;
extruded polystyrene foam, thanks to special additives, becomes resistant to fire.

For warming the floor of a wooden house is better suited extruded polystyrene foam. To reduce construction costs, you can apply floor insulation with polystyrene foam of two types at the same time. The lower thick layer of greater thickness is made of foam, and the upper one is made of a more durable material 3-5 cm thick. This method allows you to achieve a compromise between price and quality.

Pie overlapping wooden house

For a wooden house, insulation is made between wooden logs. It is important to take into account the location of the insulation in the building - the thermal protection of the attic floor is different from the insulation of the floor over a cold basement or underground.

Please note that the process of floor insulation in a house on screw piles is slightly different from the above method.

In the first case, the layers are stacked in the following order:

wooden floor;

vapor barrier;

insulation.

When used in construction first floor floor installation order is as follows:

wooden floor;

waterproofing;

insulation;

vapor barrier.

When using extruded polystyrene foam, the vapor barrier can be omitted.

For foam, it is important to remember that steam protection is placed on the side of warm air, and moisture protection is on the cold side. Only in this case the house will be reliably protected from the penetration of cold air. As a vapor barrier and waterproofing, you can use an ordinary durable polyethylene film.

Mounting process

Depending on the method of laying, work can be carried out in different ways.

The minimum layer of insulation depends on the climate in which the house is located, but on average it is 10 cm.

Laying insulation without lag (under the screed)

Laying between lags

The process starts with installation lag. the pitch of which is selected depending on the size of the insulation boards.

This method does not require high strength, so foam can be used without fear.

Schemes for constructing a floor pie are given in this article above.

If you follow all the rules for laying polystyrene foam, then it is able to protect the house from the cold for 40-50 years. The right choice of materials and quality control of the production of works can reduce the cost of operating and repairing a home.

This video clearly describes the insulation by this method:

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam Options for using polystyrene foam for floor insulation different types, advantages and disadvantages of this method of thermal insulation, the choice of consumables.

Features of the work

Advantages and disadvantages

Warming technology

Choice of Styrofoam
Glue selection
Ground insulation
Insulation on a concrete base
Floor insulation with joists

Floor insulation with expanded polystyrene is an affordable and simple option for maintaining heat in rooms at any stage of building construction. The use of this material brings other benefits: it absorbs noise on floors and serves as a good vapor barrier. Where insulation is used and how to install it, we'll talk in this article.

Features of work on floor insulation with polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam is a granular heat insulator obtained from polystyrene and styrene copolymers with the addition of natural or carbon dioxide. It is made by extruding from an extruder, hence the name. The result is a high-quality porous substance with a uniform distribution of cells, the dimensions of which do not exceed 0.1-0.2 mm.

The material is marked with XPS and other alphabetic and numerical designations, each manufacturing company has its own. For example, Styrofoam extruded polystyrene foam is marked 1B-AXPS-EN13164-Tl-C5(10/y)250DS(TH)-TR100. In encrypted form, there is information about the thickness, density, weight and other important characteristics.

Due to the increased resistance to steam movement, the product is used in such cases:

To insulate a concrete floor above a high basement, for which it is mounted to floor slabs with outer side. In conditions of high humidity, the coating will serve as additional waterproofing.

To protect a concrete floor over an existing base, followed by pouring the screed. In this case, the height of the room will decrease by at least 15 cm.

For thermal insulation of the ground base. The material is laid directly on the sand and gravel pad, and then poured with concrete.

For creating an insulating layer in underfloor heating.

Granulated polystyrene foam can be added to the cement mortar. In this case, the screed acquires heat-insulating properties.

Advantages and disadvantages of floor insulation with polystyrene foam

The material has become popular due to the unique qualities that distinguish it from other types of sheet heat insulators:

The insulation does not absorb ground water. Under the influence of moisture, it does not change its size and does not deform.

High density allows the panels to withstand significant loads.

It goes well with cables and pipes of the "warm floor" system.

Samples are easy to process. They can be easily cut into small segments of any geometric shape.

The insulator has properties that allow the exploitation of floors long time. Microorganisms, bacteria and fungi do not start in the plates. The product is resistant to biological and chemical attack, does not rot.

Expanded polystyrene soundproofs interfloor ceilings.

The material is environmentally friendly. It does not irritate the skin during installation work, does not create dust and does not emit an unpleasant smell.

The negative properties include the deformation of sheets at a temperature of + 80 + 90 degrees and the ability to ignite. Therefore, it is not used in fire hazardous areas. The cost of the product is much higher than other samples.

Technology of floor insulation with extruded polystyrene foam

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam is carried out in two stages. First, there is a process of preparation for the main operations, during which the base is cleaned and leveled. At this stage, one acquires expendable materials- glue and other components of the insulating layer. Next, the heat insulator is laid according to the selected installation technology, which depends on the type of flooring, the design of the "pie" and the requirements for it. Let us consider in more detail all the stages of installation work.

Features of the choice of expanded polystyrene

Styrofoam for floor insulation

Before buying, it is necessary to determine the main characteristics of expanded polystyrene for floor insulation in each case. These include the density and thickness of the material.

Features of the choice of expanded polystyrene, depending on its density:

Products with a density of up to 15 kg / m 3 are used for thermal insulation of bases without load;

From 15 to 20 kg / m 3 - for floors of low load;

From 25 to 35 kg / m 3 - for bulk structures that can withstand a lot of weight;

From 36 to 50 kg / m 3 - are used for insulation of especially loaded floorings.

The calculation of the thickness of expanded polystyrene for floor insulation is recommended to be carried out according to SNiPs or simplified according to our recommendations:

The thickness of the insulation for laying above the basement or on the ground: at least 10 cm - for the southern regions, at least 15 cm - for the northern ones.

For thermal insulation of floors in piled houses, sheets should be: for southern regions - at least 10 cm, for regions middle lane- not less than 15 cm, for the north - not less than 20 cm.

Only high-quality insulation is able to reliably insulate warping. At home, it is difficult to check its characteristics, but a fake can be identified by indirect signs:

Carefully inspect the end of the sheet. A quality product has a uniform structure, without seals. The cells are small and hard to see. If they can be distinguished with the naked eye, then this is a sign of poor-quality workmanship. Large pores neutralize one of the main advantages of the material - the lack of water absorption. When laid on the ground, moisture will seep through them, and when the wooden floors are insulated, insects will appear in the slabs.

Break off the fragment and press in this place with your finger. A fake can be identified by the cod that appears when the thin walls of the cells burst. After laying, cracks appear in such plates, which leads to their destruction.

Also, a fake can be detected by smell. Part quality material harmless chemical elements are included, and at the break you can feel a slight smell of alcohol or plastic.

It is recommended to buy the product in company stores, packed in protective film. The label must indicate the manufacturer and his data, brand, characteristics, application information, plate sizes and other information.

Rules for the selection of glue for polystyrene foam

To create an insulating layer, you may need special adhesives such as Kliberit, Knauf, Ceresit on a polyurethane basis. They are sold dry, packaged in 25 kg bags. To prepare, it is enough to dilute them with water in the proportions indicated in the instructions.

Insulation can be glued with universal means, which do not contain gasoline, kerosene, formalin, acetone or toluene. They destroy polystyrene foam.

The instructions for the tool always indicate its consumption per 1 m 2. but you need to buy it with a margin on an uneven base.

More recently, Penosil iFix Go Montage bottled foam has appeared on the market, designed to fix the product to any surface. It is applied with a mounting gun.

Insulation of floors with polystyrene foam on the ground

For decks that are built on a soil base, thermal insulation with extruded polystyrene foam is essential.

The technology of floor insulation with polystyrene foam on the ground looks like this:

Level the area under the base. If the soil is loose, compact it and let it settle for a month. During this time, the soil will shrink.

Pour a layer of coarse gravel 10 cm thick and tamp. From above, make a layer of sand of the same thickness and also compact.

Place a waterproofing film on the pillow, make joints with an overlap of 10 cm, and then glue with mounting tape.

Lay the sheets of insulation in a checkerboard pattern. The elements must fit snugly together. Seal the gaps with the remnants of the material.

Cover the panels with a layer of vapor barrier with a slight overlap on the walls. Thus, they will be maximally protected from moisture from below and from above.

Lay a metal mesh over the membrane.

Fill the base with concrete or cement mortar with a thickness of more than 60 mm and level it in a horizontal plane. The surface must comply with the requirements of the floor covering.

Insulation of floors on the ground in the presence of lags is found in private houses that have already been in operation for a long time. In this case, the use of extruded insulation is justified if high-quality vapor barrier of the base is required.

The work is done like this:

Remove old floor boards.

Pour a layer of expanded clay or a sand and gravel cushion on it and compact it as well.

Lay a waterproofing film over the pillow. The joints should be made with an overlap of 10-15 cm. After laying, glue them with mounting tape. It is necessary to waterproof only the gaps between the lags, with the approach to them.

Fill the cells with a sheet of insulation, cutting them exactly in place. Fill the remaining gaps.

Nail the finishing boards to the lags from above.

To quickly cut extruded polystyrene foam, you will need the following tools:

Sharp stationery or wallpaper knife. It is in every home.

An electric jigsaw will quickly cut a sheet of any thickness, but the cut edges are uneven.

heated kitchen knife cuts the material without the formation of crumbs.

Nichrome wire, heated to redness, will cut a workpiece of any shape.

Floor insulation with polystyrene foam on a concrete base

Sheets of extruded polystyrene can be fastened to a concrete base from the outside (for example, from the cellar). This option has its advantages, because. allows you to keep warm not only the floor slabs, but also the walls in contact with it. Also, the height of the ceiling in the room does not decrease.

Work on the insulation of the floor from the basement is carried out as follows:

Clean the concrete slab and rinse with water.

In the presence of cracks, depressions and other defects, seal them with cement mortar or glue for polystyrene foam. Take down the speeches.

Apply a layer of adhesive 12 cm thick to the sheet and level with a notched trowel. Place the plate on the surface and press down for a snug fit.

Join the following panels without gaps. If the cracks are still formed, fill them with pieces of material on the glue. Do not use mounting foam for sealing gaps due to its complete watertightness.

Also insulate the basement walls at a distance of 60 cm from the floor slab down with the same material. In this way, heat leakage through the flooring and partitions into the ground is eliminated.

Cover the insulation with fiberglass construction mesh and glue it with plaster. For reliability, fix it with dowels with wide heads with a plastic core. Install fasteners after 40 cm.

Insulation on concrete from the inside of the room is used to protect the floors with expanded polystyrene plates in high-rise buildings, including above basements.

The work is performed in the following sequence:

Prepare the base in the same way as in the previous case.

Using a hydrostatic level, check the deviation of the surface of the plates from the horizon. If the difference is more than 0.5 cm at the maximum length of the room, level it with a self-levelling compound.

After the mortar has hardened, fill in a finishing layer 3-5 cm thick, which will eliminate minor irregularities. Further work on floor insulation with extruded polystyrene foam can be carried out only after the surface has completely dried.

To the walls along the perimeter of the room, above the screed, glue a damper tape, which should compensate for thermal expansion.

To prevent moisture from getting on the screed, cover it tightly with plastic wrap with access to the wall. You can also use waterproofing membrane. On the middle floors, the film can not be used. If the floor is not floating, the insulation sheets are placed on polyurethane adhesive directly on the concrete.

Lay the plates on the film close to the wall. Lay the sheets in a checkerboard pattern, gaps between them are not allowed. If necessary, close the gaps with the rest of the material.

Cover items vapor barrier film with an overlap on the wall and on adjacent pieces. Seal the membrane connections.

Lay a reinforcing mesh on top and coat with a thin layer of screed to secure.

Fill the "pie" with a 3-5 cm thick screed.

After it has hardened, the floor covering can be laid.

In the case of thermal insulation of the floors of the attic and mansards, the design of the "pie" is somewhat different from that used on the middle floors. Not a waterproofing, but a vapor-permeable film is placed on the ceiling. This is due to the fact that the attic flooring serves as the ceiling of the upper floor, which must "breathe".

Put a heater on it and cover it with the same vapor barrier. Sheets can be stacked in several layers with offset vertical joints. They can be glued with special solutions. Then you can fill in the screed or collect the crate and nail the boards of the finishing floor.

Thermal insulation of the floor with expanded polystyrene with lags

Thermal insulation of floors of a similar design is carried out in the following sequence:

Clean and level the concrete base as previously described.

Lay a waterproofing film on the floor with a call to the walls. Lay its fragments on top of each other with an overlap of 10 cm. Glue the joints with mounting tape.

Perform installation of lags. The width of the cells must correspond to the size of the insulation sheet. Choose the height of the rails so that it is greater than the thickness of the insulation. Fix the lags to the base with driven dowels.

Lay polystyrene foam boards in the cells.

Lay vapor barrier material over the beams.

Next, fix the finished floor from the boards or OSB boards. Leave a small gap between them for thermal expansion.

To protect concrete floors with extruded crumbs, you will need expanded polystyrene granules, which can be found in hardware stores. The solution is prepared in the following sequence: pour some water into the concrete mixer and add dry cement, mix the mixture until a homogeneous consistency, add granules in a ratio of 1:3, 1:4 or with other values. The more insulator, the better the heat will be retained, but the strength of the coating will deteriorate. It may crumble during use. Fill the floor with this solution.

How to insulate the floor with polystyrene foam - look at the video:

The method of thermal insulation of the base with this sheet material so effective and simple that it is deservedly considered the best of all options. The main thing when insulating the floor with polystyrene foam with your own hands is to strictly follow the technology of work, since negligence can easily cross out what has been done.

To ensure maximum comfort in the house, you should take care not only of the thermal insulation of the walls, but also of the insulation of the floor. Today, there are a lot of insulating materials, but perhaps the most effective is considered to be polystyrene foam. Insulating the floor with polystyrene foam is a fairly simple procedure, which, nevertheless, allows you to make your home warmer. In addition, this material is non-flammable and environmentally friendly.

Modern expanded polystyrene is cheap material, widely used in country houses and urban apartments. It is made by thermal expansion of polystyrene granules. As a result, the granules are sintered, forming a white material.

Each of the expanded polystyrene granules consists of many microscopic cells with air. This can explain the extraordinary lightness of the material, because 97% of its composition is air voids.

Main varieties

Modern expanded polystyrene is represented by the widest range of brands that differ in thickness and performance properties. However, they are grouped into five groups:

non-pressed polystyrene foam (in particular, PSB-S, EPS, etc.);
autoclave (Stirofoam);
extruded ("Penoplex", XPS, etc.);
extruded-autoclaved;
pressed (PS (from 1 to 4), other foreign brands).

If you want to insulate the floor on the first floor of the house, then it is better to use the material of the brand PSB-S-35. Such plates are characterized by low thermal conductivity (0.4 W / m²) and moisture absorption (maximum 2%).

Video - Production of extruded polystyrene foam

Material Advantages

Low thermal expansion + negligible thermal conductivity. Due to this, 10 cm of expanded polystyrene are comparable in property to 40 cm of wood and 2 m of brick.
Environmental friendliness - the material does not harm health at all.
The material is durable.
Expanded polystyrene has excellent soundproofing properties.
It is also very durable, able to withstand significant loads.
Its structure does not change with temperature changes.
The material is resistant to moisture, that is, it does not swell and does not dissolve in it.
It is resistant to aggressive chemical and biological environments - soaps, bleaches, salt solutions, bacteria, etc.

That is why polystyrene foam - best option for floor insulation. The only negative is that it dissolves under the influence of resins of organic origin.

Note! Recently began to produce plates different color- green, red, blue. But this does not affect the properties and even more so the cost of the material.

Fire safety. Modified and unmodified expanded polystyrene

Raw material is very easily ignited by a lit match or sparks from a welding machine. However, it cannot catch fire from a cigarette or a hot metal object.

Expanded polystyrene can ignite at temperatures from 200°C to 450°C, in this case it all depends on the additives used in the production.

Note! The ignition temperature must be indicated in the certificate that comes with the stoves.

If ordinary unmodified polystyrene foam burns, then the temperature around it can exceed 1200 ° C (although not for long). During combustion, toxic substances such as cyano- and hydrogen bromide, phosgene are released. If special additives were used, then the combustion temperature is reduced to that which is normalized for each particular brand of material.

In the manufacture of modified polystyrene foam, fire retardants (substances that prevent ignition) are used. In this case, the material is already considered to be self-extinguishing and is indicated by the letter “C” at the end of the abbreviation (for example, PSB-S).

There is another way to reduce flammability - when the granules are expanded, the combustible inert gas is replaced by non-combustible carbon dioxide.

There are several technologies for floor insulation, which differ in the material of the finish coating:

ground insulation;
wood insulation;
concrete floor insulation.

But it is worth noting that the procedure for installing floor insulation is the same for all coatings. Of course, there are some nuances, but we will get acquainted with them a little later.

Sequence of work

Below is the technology of insulation under the screed, but it is almost completely applicable to other methods.

Step one. Prepare the base. If there is no concrete or wood, then the preparation consists in compacting the earth and preliminary (or rough) leveling of its surface.

Step two. Fill in a 10-centimeter crushed stone pillow, also tamp it down and level it.

Step three. Fill in the next layer of fine sand to hide the sharp edges of the rubble and fill in the voids in it.

Step four. Lay the polystyrene boards with an overlap (modern products allow you to do this - the end parts in them have special cutouts).

Step five. Lay the waterproofing film, also overlapping. Seal the joints with mounting tape.

Step seven. Pour concrete screed. The concrete layer must be at least 5 cm to withstand the loads.

Step eight. The final part of the work. After the concrete has dried, finish its surface, lay additional materials as desired (parquet, linoleum, etc.).

Note! Between the walls and the floor around the entire perimeter of contact, leave a two-centimeter technical gap (for waterproofing or possible thermal expansion). Seal the gap with polyethylene foam.

Video - Styrofoam

Ground insulation

This technology is different in that the floor and thermal insulation coatings are in contact with the ground, and sometimes even with groundwater. That is why this method of insulation is aimed primarily at improving waterproofing. Consider if there is a basement under you. If yes, then you can put the insulation in a thinner layer, but always on a moisture barrier.

When insulating the floor in the loggia, it is necessary to use wooden logs

People prefer to insulate the wooden floor with materials of natural origin. But if the wood flooring is installed on a concrete screed, then you can also insulate it with polystyrene foam. The technology here is standard, just reinforce not with a metal mesh, but with wooden logs. Then lay insulation boards between the lags, fill everything with concrete mortar and lay a wooden floor.

Features of floor insulation in the loggia

Loggias differ in that the level of the floor in them is almost always lower than in the apartment. Therefore, insulation in this case must also be carried out using wooden logs. Stuff the steam membrane onto the expanded polystyrene boards, and then mount the covering from the boards.

Note! It is advisable to insulate the floor even before entering the apartment, while there is no furniture, or at the stage of building a house. And if you use extruded polystyrene foam, you can further improve sound insulation.

As a conclusion. About the environmental performance of the material

There is a European association of enterprises that are engaged in the manufacture of expanded polystyrene. So, this association conducted a study, during which it turned out the following: the material is in the process of extraction, and during operation and, ultimately, during disposal absolutely harmless for the environment. That is why it is widely used in industry and construction.

In a word, this material is absolutely harmless, as well as its production and, moreover, its use as a heater.