Proper insulation walls of a country house is always a pressing issue for owners. It often arises again and again due to the fact that improved ones appear on the construction market, and this diversity makes it difficult to choose the optimal option.
As a rule, suburban areas are located relatively far from the city, so many people prefer to spend all their free time at the dacha, from early spring to late autumn. As you know, during this period the nights are still or already cold, and the thin walls of light buildings are not able to retain heat indoors, so sooner or later the problem of their high-quality thermal insulation becomes more acute. Moreover, some owners would not mind spending the Christmas and New Year weekends in the countryside, but without reliable insulation this desire will be simply unrealistic.
You can use different types of insulation for walls inside a country house, especially since the modern wide range allows you to choose it to suit every taste and budget. To save on heating costs country house and to create a comfortable microclimate for relaxation in it, it is necessary to select high-quality material. It should not only help maintain the required temperature in the premises, but also be safe for the health of residents, and also last long years without losing its thermal insulation qualities. Therefore, to begin with, it is worth highlighting the criteria by which it is necessary to choose insulation installed inside residential premises.
Criteria for choosing insulation for walls
Any material used in the construction or finishing of residential buildings must meet sanitary requirements and comply with safety regulations. The same principles should be used to select insulation material.
The main criteria for evaluating thermal insulation materials are as follows:
- Environmental safety of insulation. Material under specified operating conditions (within established temperature range) should not emit harmful fumes.
- Fire resistance. Very important condition especially for light country houses that can be heated by stoves in cold weather. The material must be non-flammable (NG), or have the lowest flammability category (G1).
- Energy saving. The insulation, of course, must have low thermal conductivity.
- Soundproofing qualities of the material. Perhaps such a property may not seem so important for dacha conditions, however, this would be a misconception. Sometimes, even outside the city, a property may be surrounded by not-so-quiet neighbors who play music at maximum volume at any time of the day. At dachas, motorized agricultural or gardening equipment is often used. There may be a busy highway or branch nearby railway. Therefore, it would also be useful to take into account this quality of the insulating material.
- Vapor permeability of insulation. This quality is necessary so that all fumes that invariably arise and accumulate in the premises of the house are not retained inside the thermal insulation layer, but are freely released into the atmosphere. Otherwise, the insulation will sharply lose its thermal insulation qualities, and in addition, sooner or later mold will appear in it, which will spread along the walls, and then into the structure of the material from which they are built.
- Durability of the material. In order not to replace the insulation every 4-5 years due to the fact that it simply will not perform the stated functions, it would be wise to immediately choose material from a trusted manufacturer who values its reputation and will not deceive its buyer.
- Strength insulation material. We are talking, rather, not about rigidity (not all insulation materials have this property), but about the ability to hold a given shape, since it is subject to various loads during operation - static, dynamic, vibration, etc.
- Biological and chemical stability. The material should not decompose over time, be subject to rotting or chemical decay. Another quality that is desirable for insulation materials used for insulation country houses, both inside and outside - they should not be a favorable environment for insects and rodents.
- In addition, in order to achieve the desired effect, you need to choose insulation that is ideal for the material from which the house is built - there are some incompatibilities in this matter. Moreover, the thickness of the insulation is also selected taking into account the thickness and material of the external walls.
Main types of insulation materials
Several types of insulation materials are suitable for insulating a country house from the inside. To help you figure out which one to choose, their characteristics will be discussed in more detail below.
So, this list of thermal insulation materials includes:
- Basalt and glass wool, which can be purchased in mats or rolls.
- Ecowool, made from cellulose fibers, in bulk or formed into mats.
- Expanded polystyrene in slabs.
- Sprayed materials - penoizol or
Before moving on detailed descriptions characteristics, you need to immediately study their comparative description, which may help take the first step towards the right choice insulation:
| Illustration | Name of material | The main advantages of insulation | Significant material shortcomings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass wool | - affordable price with fairly high performance characteristics; - high vapor permeability | - hygroscopic; - low flammable (G1), - inferior in environmental qualities basalt wool; - there is a tendency to gradual caking. |
|
| Basalt wool | - non-flammable (NG); - durable; - has high thermal insulation characteristics; - excellent vapor permeability | - relatively hygroscopic, but the improved material has pronounced hydrophobicity. - much more expensive than glass wool. |
|
| - low moisture absorption, - high thermal insulation qualities; - light; - non-toxic under normal conditions; - durable; - resistant to ultraviolet rays; - high mechanical strength. | - flammable at high temperatures; - during thermal decomposition it emits extremely toxic gas; - almost complete absence of vapor permeability. |
||
| Polyurethane foam | - not afraid of moisture; - has the highest thermal resistance values. | - low flammable (G1); - almost complete absence of vapor permeability; - difficulty in application - requires special equipment and certain work experience. |
|
| Ecowool | - environmentally friendly material; - excellent heat insulator; - durability, biological stability. | - low flammable (G1); - hygroscopic; - a tendency to caking is possible (with the “dry” method of use). |
Basic physical and performance characteristics These insulation look like this:
| Name of material | Density, kg/m³ | Coefficient of thermal conductivity, W/(m×°С) | Vapor permeability mg/(m/h/Pa) | Moisture absorption kg/m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass wool | 15÷40 | 0.039÷0.046 | 0.4÷0.6 | 0.55÷1.0 |
| Basalt wool | 30÷50 | 0.035÷0.042 | 0.4÷0.6 | 0.1÷0.5 |
| Extruded polystyrene foam | 35÷45 | 0.030÷0.035 | 0.0÷0.013 | 0.01÷0.05 |
| Polyurethane foam | 30÷80 | 0.024÷0.030 | 0.0÷0.005 | 0.01÷0.05 |
| Ecowool (mats) | 33÷75 | 0.038 ÷ 0.045 | 0.3÷0.5 | 0.3÷0.8 |
It should be noted that improved types of these insulation materials are being produced that have improved performance characteristics. Their parameters will be presented below.
Glass wool
Glass wool is made from fibers obtained by melting quartz sand(glass scrap) and some additives. The average fiber length is 30÷50 mm. The resulting mats have fairly high dimensional stability and vibration resistance.
Glass wool has good soundproofing qualities and chemical resistance, high thermal insulation properties. The operating temperature range of the material is from - 60 to + 180 °C. When this temperature is exceeded, the fibers themselves remain intact, but the resinous binder undergoes destructuring, so the fibrous structure can sinter or disintegrate.
Glass wool is used mainly for insulating non-residential premises, since its fibers are particularly brittle, and it is undesirable for them to enter the air of inhabited rooms.
In addition, mice may well settle in layers of glass wool, making nests and passages in it. Therefore, it can be used in country houses if measures are taken to protect the structure from rodents.
The rodent problem can be very serious!
How to achieve good thermal insulation at home and at the same time try to avoid close proximity to rodents - read the article, which can be found on the pages of our portal.
Now let’s look at several brands of glass wool, which in terms of their quality and performance characteristics can safely be considered standard.
"Isover"
One of the most famous brands of fiberglass mineral wool is Isover. This insulation is produced in slabs and rolls, and can have different densities. For example, if thermal insulation is laid under thick plaster, then rigid slabs with increased density are selected - these are “Isover OL-E” and “Isover OL-A”.
Isover glass wool is made from quartz sand with the addition of soda and limestone, and synthetic phenol-formaldehyde resins are used as a binder for the fibers. After mixing the finished fibers with a binder, they are subjected to heat treatment with pressing, due to which the mats acquire the necessary rigidity. Isover brand materials are famous for their durability.
The main characteristics of these insulation materials are given in the table:
"URSA"
Another well-known brand of insulation of this type is “URSA”. The technologists of this company managed to minimize the characteristic disadvantages of glass wool. The material is characterized by excellent durability, strength of the fibers, and the special structure of the mats and slabs extremely simplifies their installation when insulating building structures.
The variety of URSA brand insulation is extremely large. In private construction practice, it is recommended to use the URSA GEO line of materials, as they are maximally adapted to such conditions and safe for human health.
Some insulation products from the URSA GEO line are presented in the table below:
| Insulation type “URSA GEO” | Vapor permeability coefficient, mg/(m×h×Pa) | Recommended scope of application | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "M-11" | 0.04 | 0.64 | One of the most popular types, universal application |
| "Mini" | 0,041 | 0.64 | The same universal material, but made in mini rolls, which can be convenient for individual areas of insulation |
| "A private house" | 0,041 | 0.64 | The name speaks for itself - convenient to use in the construction of private houses |
| "Universal plates" | 0,036 | 0.51 | Material in slabs, intended mainly for wall insulation |
| "Light" | 0,044 | 0.64 | Lightweight type, universal use. Mainly for use in horizontal unloaded structures (for example, a floor on joists or an attic floor) |
| "Pitched Roof" | 0,035 | 0.64 | Convenient packaging - slabs in a roll. The main purpose is roof insulation. |
| "Noise protection" | 0,04 | 0.64 | Material for sound insulation, e.g. internal interior partitions, sound absorption class “B”. |
| "Framework" | 0,035 | 0.64 | For use in frame structures of walls or ceilings. |
Insulation based on basalt wool
Such insulation materials are made from a melt of gabbro-basalt rocks, and are considered the best option for insulating walls and other surfaces from the inside of private houses. The thermal conductivity of basalt fibrous materials is comparable to glass wool, but they have much more suitable qualities for use in residential premises. For example, “stone” fibers are not as brittle as glass, and slabs usually have a higher density, which means that the strength properties of basalt insulation are significantly higher.
Basalt wool is produced in slabs and rolls, which can be additionally stitched and equipped, enhancing the insulating effect. General characteristics basalt wool were presented in the table, and specific qualities for its individual varieties will be shown below.
There are many well-known brands of basalt insulation materials, foreign and domestic produced, on the domestic market. The most popular ones include TechnoNIKOL, Rockwool and « Knauf."
"TechnoNIKOL"
The table shows popular brands basalt wool from the Technonikol company, which are ideal for thermal insulation of private country house.
| Material grade | Thermal conductivity coefficient, W/(m×°C) | Compressibility, %, no more | Vapor permeability, Mg/(m×h×Pa) | Moisture absorption, kg/m² | Density, kg/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Rocklight" | 0.037÷0.041 | 30 | 0.3 | 2 | 30÷40 |
| "Technolight" | 0.036÷0.041 | 20 | 0.3 | 1,5 | 30÷38 |
| "Heat roll" | 0.036÷0.041 | 55 | 0.3 | 2 | 25÷35 |
| "Technoacoustic" | 0.035÷0.040 | 10 | 0.3 | 1,5 | 38÷45 |
"Rockwool"
The Rockwool company can be called the most famous in the production of basalt insulation. She is a kind of “trend setter”, constantly modifying her products, bringing them to perfection. Thus, “Rockwool” basalt wool was assigned the NG category, that is, the material is recognized as absolutely non-flammable thanks to improved manufacturing technology.
This manufacturer produces a very wide variety of basalt-based insulation materials. But in our case, for insulating walls in a country house, the optimal choice would be “ROCKWOOL LIGHT BUTTS” or “ROCKWOOL LIGHT BUTTS SCANDIC”.
The main parameters of insulation of the “ROCKWOOL LIGHT BUTTS” type are given in the table:
| Name of the main operational parameters of the material | Indicators |
|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity coefficient (W/m×°C): | |
| - calculated at t = 10 °С | 0,036 |
| - calculated at t = 25 °С | 0,037 |
| - operational under conditions “A” (normal conditions) | 0,039 |
| - operational under conditions “B” (conditions of high humidity) | 0,041 |
| Flammability group | NG |
| Fire safety class | KM0 |
| Vapor permeability (mg/(m×h×Pa), not less | 0.03 |
| Moisture absorption when partially immersed | no more than 1kg/m² |
| Dimensions of insulation board | 1000×600 mm |
| Slab thickness | 50 or 100 mm |
Video: ROCKWOOL basalt mineral wool is an excellent material for wall insulation
« Knauf»
« Knauf" - This German company, which is well known to the Russian consumer, as it specializes in the production of various building materials, characterized by guaranteed quality. Basalt insulation materials from this brand are no exception.
For insulation, you can choose material from the “Insulation” line - but they are considered professional-class insulation, which, naturally, is reflected in the price. For private housing construction, a special line of products is provided, with the very characteristic names TeploKNAUF Cottage, House and Dacha. The characteristics of these insulation materials are shown in the table:
| Name of material | Flammability group | Thermal conductivity coefficient, W/(m×°C) | Slab (mat) size | Thickness of the slab (mat) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "TeploKNAUF Cottage" | NG | 0,037 | plate 1230×610 roll 6148×1220 | 50 |
| "TeploKNAUF House" | NG | 0.040 | plate 1230×610 | 50 |
| "TeploKNAUF Dacha" | NG | 0,044 | roll 7380×1220 | 50 |
| Note: for slab insulation, the line has been expanded with the “Cottage+” and “House+” types. Their difference is in the thickness of the material, which is 100 mm |
It should be noted that even the highest quality mineral wools have a common drawback - they are fiber-binding components that can release fumes harmful to humans into the environment. However, nowadays, leading manufacturers make bold statements that they completely abandon the use of formaldehyde resins, using innovative technologies for forming the fibrous structure of insulation. Of course, such materials should be given preference.
Extruded polystyrene foam
Everyone is familiar with the very popular insulation material - which is widely used in private construction. But you need to be extremely careful with its use, since it has a number of very serious disadvantages, due to which it was completely abandoned in many European countries.
Such negative properties of polystyrene foam include:
- High flammability of the material. Moreover, during combustion, it actively melts and spreads, as well as the release of toxic smoke, which is deadly to human life.
- With prolonged use, polystyrene foam also begins to release toxic fumes into the environment (its chemical structure cannot be classified as stable organic compounds). Such fumes, containing toxic free styrene, can penetrate even concrete walls.
- In addition, ordinary polystyrene foam is easily chewed by mice, and if it has a thickness of 80–100 mm, then they can easily make their home in it.
Glass wool
Extruded polystyrene foam has a fine-cell structure and is obtained by melting polystyrene granules when heated to high temperatures, introducing a foaming agent into the melt, and then giving the desired shape by pressing it through the extruder nozzles. . Moreover, it is important to note that if earlier foaming took place using freons, which were not harmless to humans, today they have been replaced by freon-free compounds based on ordinary carbon dioxide.
Unlike polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam, due to its density and lack of vapor permeability, does not attract rodents as a permanent place residence, and they can only gnaw on it in several places.
Extruded polystyrene foam has a low coefficient of moisture absorption and thermal conductivity, high compressive strength, excellent frost resistance and chemical resistance. In addition, the material is not subject to rotting, so it is excellent for both indoor and outdoor use.
There are several well-known brands of similar insulation on the Russian market, and it is recommended to choose material from trusted manufacturers, since thermal insulation of unknown origin most likely will not meet all the requirements for efficiency and operational safety.
"Styrodur"
Solid extruded polystyrene foam "Styrodur" is used in various fields of construction. It is great for insulating not only walls, floors and attic floors, but even the foundations of houses.
Styrodur insulation has the following physical and operational characteristics:
— average material density 25÷45 kg/m³;
— thermal conductivity 0.025÷0.033 W/(m×°C);
— water absorption – no more than 0.1÷0.5% of the volume;
— maximum temperature of use — +75 °С.
— vapor permeability 0.008-0.009 Mg/(m×h×Pa).
This material is produced in the form of light green slabs. They are equipped with tongue-and-groove lamellas, which allow you to create a seamless coating for the wall surface, without leaving “cold bridges”. The insulation is non-toxic, odorless and does not generate dust, so it is well suited for homes and cottages.
"Penoplex"
Another, more popular among domestic consumers, insulation from this series is, which has several varieties that eloquently speak about its purpose - these are “Wall”, “Foundation”, “Roof” and the universal one - “Comfort”. Two types are suitable for wall insulation - “Wall” and “Comfort”.
The dimensions of the insulation boards are shown in the table below:
The main technical and operational characteristics of Penoplex are as follows:
— thermal conductivity coefficient – 0.030 W/(m×°С);
— water absorption – no more than 0.2÷0.4% of the volume;
— vapor permeability – 0.007÷0.008 Mg/(m×h×Pa);
— operating temperature range – from -50 to +75 °C;
— durability declared by the manufacturer is 50 years.
- "Penoplex S", intended for insulation of internal and external walls, contains fire retardants, which make the material resistant to fire (G1). Due to its high thermal insulation properties, low moisture absorption, resistance to temperature changes and the presence lock connection This type of insulation is capable of creating reliable thermal protection for the premises of the house.
- “Penoplex F”, used for insulating the foundation, is produced without the addition of fire retardants, since they are not necessary, because part of the insulated base is in the ground, which reduces the risk of any fire to zero. Therefore, due to the lack of fire resistance (the material usually belongs to category G4), such insulation cannot be used for insulation wooden floors and walls.
- "Penoplex K", although it has a specific purpose - for roof slopes, can be used in all areas of building insulation, therefore it is one of the most popular types.
- “Penoplex Comfort” is a material of increased versatility, designed specifically for use in residential construction, so it is also well suited for thermal insulation of cottage walls.
When using a country house not only in the summer season, but also in cold times, it becomes necessary to insulate it.
To solve this problem, you need to answer two main questions: where does the heat leak occur and how to efficiently
Causes of heat loss
It is not difficult to determine the cause of heat loss. It usually escapes through poorly insulated walls, roofs, floors, windows and various cracks.
Experts suggest insulating the dacha not only from the outside, but also from the inside.
Material selection
There are a number of requirements for thermal insulation materials.
The insulation must have low thermal conductivity, good hygroscopicity, fire safety and environmental friendliness.
It is necessary that the material reliably prevents heat exchange between the external and internal parts of the walls and protects the structure well from the inside. 
Today, mineral wool based on basalt or fiberglass is widely used as insulation. If the ventilation of the house is properly equipped, moisture will not be a problem for this material.
New products for high-quality do-it-yourself insulation of a dacha are constantly appearing on the construction goods market. For example:
- insulation made of flax fiber - the material is produced in slabs, is easy to cut, does not change shape, is environmentally friendly, has good antiseptic properties;
- ecowool is a sprayed loose heat insulator consisting of recycled cellulose with the addition of antiseptics and fire retardants;
- soft fiberboard (fiberboard) is an environmentally friendly material that can be used to immediately strengthen walls.
How and with what to insulate is a matter of taste and good choice. The main thing is that the country house is reliably protected from the winter cold.
Roof
If installed incorrectly, a roof can “steal” more than 10% of the heat spent on heating the house.
When choosing thermal insulation for a roof, pay attention to its service life, which depends on many external factors: temperature fluctuations, amount of precipitation (especially snow), wind strength and direction. Pay special attention to the water resistance of the material. Isolation must also be safe for health. The first sign of safe insulation is the absence of a sharp, pungent odor.
Roof insulation polymer materials- Not The best decision. They ignite very easily and quickly, so increased fire safety measures will have to be taken. 
For roofing, stone wool can be considered, which is intended for thermal protection of structures that do not bear heavy loads.
Walls
This is the main stage of work, since they occupy the main area of any building and have the highest heat transfer.
Surface preparation
Before insulating wooden walls, be sure to clean the entire surface of dirt. Carefully treat the inside of the walls with special solutions and aerosols that will protect the wood from insects. Then caulk all the gaps using dry tow and a thin chisel.
Insulation
Jute fabric is very suitable as a heat insulator for walls. It is quickly and easily laid with a construction stapler, does not rot, is not blown away by the wind and is not of interest to moths. Tow and jute fiber have low thermal conductivity due to their capillary structure and easily release moisture. In addition, as bactericidal materials, they successfully resist the spread of fungus.
It is not recommended to use improvised materials to insulate the walls of a country house: felt, batting, wool. They accumulate moisture abundantly. As a result, the process of rotting quickly begins, and moths are sure to appear in the wool.
Window
After insulating the walls, we move on to the windows. They also lead to significant heat loss, so close attention should be paid to windows, especially if the design is outdated.
Cleaning and waterproofing
The frames of the house should be thoroughly cleaned of dust, cracked glass should be replaced, and the gaps between the walls and frames should be sealed.
For high-quality insulation you will need silicone sealant in a special pistol. It reliably protects joints from the inside from fungi and mold. 
Suitable polyurethane foam. However, it quickly deteriorates from the sun and is not entirely aesthetically pleasing. If you choose foam, you will have to take measures to protect it from ultraviolet rays.
D-profile tape
Then you need to glue the sealing tape. D-profile tape is best suited. It effectively closes gaps up to 7 mm. For a more secure fixation, you can secure the tape with nails or staples. 
Film on glass and insulation of slopes
To make the most of it, cover them with heat-saving film. This material is applied directly to the glass. When laying the film there should be no folds, swelling or bubbles. Carefully done work will help save more than 30% of heat.
Don't forget about insulating the slopes. For this, you can use various materials, for example, polyethylene foam or mineral wool. The insulation is fixed to the slopes using glue.
Floor
There are many modern materials for floor insulation. The main thing that country house the inside was as dry as possible.
Styrofoam
Expanded polystyrene does not absorb moisture, is durable, strong, and a good antiseptic. It is convenient to work with such material because it does not change the original volume.
Minvata
Mineral wool is sold in various versions: rolls, slabs, mats. Low density, environmental friendliness, wear resistance, relatively low price- its main advantages.
Penofol
The new material penofol has already shown its best side and has gained popularity. It is sold in rolls consisting of a layer of foil and insulation. Most often, the base is foamed polyethylene.
Requirements for insulation
When choosing a material for insulating a dacha floor with your own hands, do not look for the cheapest options and be sure to remember that the insulation must be:
- environmentally friendly, safe for health;
- excellent heat insulator;
- durable.
Floor insulation methods
There are several ways to insulate the floor of a country house.
Double floor
The bottom layer of rough boards is carefully attached directly to the beams. A “finish” coating is laid on the “rough” structure. 
Wooden logs are installed on the foundation in increments of 0.5–1 m or cut into the frame. Next, the “rough” floor is laid. Free space filled with thermal insulation. Quite a simple and effective way. 
You can insulate the floor using joists installed on brick pillars. Any insulation: mineral wool, fiberglass, polystyrene foam or other suitable material. The distance between the finished floor and the ground increases. The work does not require builder experience and can be easily done with your own hands. With this option insulating material does not experience any load, which makes the method of insulating a wooden floor using joists ideal.
Insulation of a country house is necessary due to the fact that most buildings located outside the city are not heated from the central heating system. heating system, or boilers running on gas, but using solid fuel boilers, or conventional heating stoves.
Such heating is effective, but labor-intensive. In order for the resulting thermal energy to be used as rationally as possible, it is necessary to take care of insulating the walls of the country house. The best way to do this will be discussed in this article.
From this material you will learn where to insulate the dacha - from the outside or from the inside. The answer to the question: “Which insulation to choose?” will also be given. We will consider such materials for do-it-yourself home insulation as mineral wool, extruded polystyrene foam, penoizol and foil penofol.
1 Where is it better to insulate: inside or outside?
It’s worth mentioning right away that if you want to arrange the most effective insulation of a country house with, then the required result can only be achieved through its comprehensive insulation. Especially when it comes to insulating a country house made of wood with your own hands.
Ways of heat loss in a house with low thermal insulation great amount. These include windows, attic floors, doorways, and walls.
But there are often cases when the budget for a dacha thermal insulation project allows you to choose only insulation from the outside or from the inside of the house. Let's figure out which option is better to give preference in this case.
In order to easily understand all of the following, you first need to understand the concept of thermal inertia. For example, a cottage built of brick stands in the sun during a summer day at an air temperature of +35 degrees.
During this time, the brick walls warm up so much that the warmth of the walls will be felt even 3-4 hours after sunset.
Based on this, brick is a material with high thermal conductivity, as well as - it absorbs for a long time Sun rays, increasing its temperature, and when the ambient temperature decreases, it also gives off its heat back for a long time.
1.1 Insulation of cottage walls exclusively from inside the house
There is one key rule in construction, which is formulated as: “design external structure(walls) of the house, the layers of the wall should be arranged in order of decreasing their thermal insulation and increasing vapor barrier properties from the outside to the inside of the building.” That is, the outer contour of the walls should have the lowest thermal conductivity.
If layer thermal insulation material, contrary to these requirements, will be located inside the house, then both points of this rule will be violated. Of course, insulating the walls from the inside will give quite a tangible result, but the microclimate inside the room will significantly suffer.
There is a great risk that the humidity and dampness of the air in the house will increase significantly due to the unnaturally high vapor barrier, which is promoted by most types of thermal insulation, especially foil, materials.
Internal insulation of dacha walls is usually done with your own hands by installing heat-insulating material on the surface of the walls, and then covering it with plasterboard.
This technology is often performed incorrectly, as well as, since one of the key factors that must be adhered to in order to internal insulation Doing it yourself did not bring all of the above problems, the most important thing is to connect the thermal insulator to the wall as tightly as possible and tightly connect the joints.
This is important due to the high thermal inertia brick wall. For 5-10 days of serious subzero temperatures the outer surface of the walls of the house will cool down very much, and the brick will turn into a serious source of cold, working to cool the inside of the house, which has a higher temperature, and, as a result, provokes heat exchange.
If you are insulating a wall inside a house with your own hands, then it is very important that the thermal insulation is made as tightly and monolithically as possible, since any gaps in the connections of the thermal insulation material with the wall and with each other will contribute to the appearance of cold bridges.
A cold bridge is a place that has greater thermal conductivity than the main part of the house structure. Cold bridges are a serious reason for reducing the effectiveness of wall insulation, even if it is made using the highest quality thermal insulation materials.
If cold bridges have appeared, then the brick or wooden wall of the dacha will give off cold through the insulation (even if it is), as a result of which the layer of plasterboard with which it is lined will cool.
When drywall is cooled below the dew point temperature, due to the temperature difference, moisture will condense on it, which over time will turn into mold or mildew. This situation especially often happens in the corners of the most poorly heated rooms.
To ensure that the internal insulation of a country house does not bring more disadvantages than advantages, it is necessary to strictly follow the following recommendations:
- The optimal insulation for insulating walls from the inside is foil-coated thermal insulation material like penoplex; it is best if the foil is done on both sides. Double-sided foiling significantly reduces heat transfer between cold wall And facing material, as a result of which condensate is either minimal or not formed at all;
- Arrangement of a thick facing layer with. If drywall is used, then it optimal thickness should be about 5 centimeters. Such cladding, due to its size, will prevent intensive cooling of the air inside the room due to freezing of the walls in winter period, even if cold bridges are present.
1.2 Insulation of cottage walls from the outside
External wall insulation is one of the most common and universal options partial thermal insulation of a country house with your own hands. And, in fact, the only correct option.
The low thermal conductivity of insulation helps maintain the optimal internal temperature of the brick or wooden wall, throughout the cold season.
The wall will not freeze due to the fact that the insulation prevents the penetration of cold from the outside, and the wall is warmed up from the inside by warm air.
For example, in practice, this plus, taking into account our knowledge of the thermal inertia of walls, results in the following. After opening the window to ventilate the house on a cold winter morning, you will immediately warm up the air entering the house, since the heated walls will give off their heat inside the house.
As a result, even if the window is open for an hour, the temperature in the house will drop by a maximum of 2-3 degrees. Similar ventilation, when the insulation is located outside the walls of the house, will most likely provoke a decrease in the temperature of the house by 7-8 degrees.
An additional advantage of high-quality external thermal insulation, provided that the insulation is installed as tightly as possible and covered with a layer of plaster and external cladding, is the complete absence of any air convection, cold bridges and drafts.
2 Types of insulation
Question: “Which insulation to choose?” is very multifaceted, moreover, each individual case requires an individual choice, and it is impossible to say exactly which insulation is objectively the best. Let's look at the basic requirements that a truly high-quality insulation must meet.
- Thermal insulation properties. The higher the thermal insulation characteristics of the material, the thinner the cladding layer will be, as a result of which both finances and free space will be saved.
- Hydrophobicity The lifespan of the insulator directly depends on how much moisture the heat insulator absorbs. The presence of internal moisture contributes to the accelerated destruction of insulation. It is important that the material has water-repellent properties.
- Fire resistance. High-quality insulation should not be subject to combustion and be self-extinguishing.
- Lifetime. It is important that over time the insulation does not decompose, does not lose its thermal insulation properties, and does not harbor microorganisms, midges and rodents.
- Safety. Maximum value This factor becomes important when we are talking about materials for thermal insulation of a country house from the inside. The insulation should not have any effect Negative influence on the human body;
- Soundproofing. High-quality insulation materials, as a rule, have good soundproofing properties. We are talking about foamed foam and mineral wool products.
- Price. How much insulation costs is often one of the leading factors when choosing a thermal insulation material. It is important that the cost of insulation is optimally correlated with its functional characteristics.
Let's figure out which insulation is best to use to insulate a country house with your own hands. The following materials meet the above requirements:
- Mineral (basalt) wool;
- Foamed polystyrene foam;
- Foil penofol;
- Liquid penoizol.
If you are not limited on funds, then the best option for insulating your dacha with your own hands is mineral wool. In terms of thermal conductivity, this material is one of the best insulation materials. It does not burn, does not rot, has excellent soundproofing properties and vapor permeability, which helps maintain optimal microclimate indoors.
Mineral wool can be used to insulate walls with your own hands, both inside and outside the house. The weakness of mineral wool insulation is its unsatisfactory moisture resistance.
Manufacturers are trying to solve this question using various hydrophobic additives with which mineral threads are impregnated at the creation stage, however, in order to be completely sure that the insulation will not collapse due to moisture accumulation, it is necessary to equip a high-quality waterproofing layer.
If you do all the work yourself, then an important factor is the maximum simplicity of the insulation. The best option in this case, it is foil penofol or expanded polystyrene foam.
These materials have good thermal insulation properties, and, at the same time, they are quite inexpensive. Penofol with double-sided foil is excellent for internal insulation of house walls, while polystyrene foam should be used for external wall insulation.
2.1 Features of insulating a country house with foam plastic (video)
Dacha plots have long ceased to be a place for planting vegetables and fruits. For a modern person, this is an opportunity to take a break from the bustle of the city. Therefore, the attitude towards country houses has also undergone a change. Remained in the past dilapidated summer houses. They are being replaced by full-fledged housing, for year-round living, with heating and insulation of structures.
Why do you need insulation?
Many people believe that if the house is made of brick or cinder block, insulation is not needed. It is already reliable and durable. But the reliability of the building does not affect energy costs. For heating even small building will be needed a large number of energy. If we calculate the cost of work on insulating a dacha for winter accommodation and heating costs you can see savings.
Under the influence of temperature changes, any material is destroyed. The exterior structures of a building undergo freezing and thawing processes every winter. High-quality insulation will reduce the likelihood of destruction of house elements from temperature and atmospheric influences.
During the installation of insulation, a hydro- and wind barrier is provided. They become additional protection against moisture and drafts. As a result, together with frame processing, it turns out reliable protection from mold and mildew.
Thermal protection of the foundation protects the foundation of the house from soil heaving. The moisture contained in soil masses, freezing, expands. Thus, the soil begins to put pressure on the wall. Horizontal insulation of the soil makes it possible to avoid heaving.
Vertical protection of the base and foundation creates a barrier against cold and moisture. In this case, the floor in the house and the foundation under the building itself do not freeze.
Insulation of cottage walls
The walls of a country house need to be insulated from the outside. Internal work is possible in extreme cases. When insulating from the inside, the following problems may arise:
- wall freezing;
- formation of condensation in the thickness of the wall;
- destruction of structures due to large temperature differences in winter;
- the formation of fungus and mold under the insulation layer.
When externally insulating walls in a dacha, a layer of thermal insulation protects the wall from frost. The design is not affected by natural factors. In addition, with a high density of finishing and insulation itself, the wall is protected from mechanical damage.
There are two technologies for insulating the walls of a dacha from the outside:
- Frameless;
- Frame.
Frameless insulation
In the first case, the material is mounted on the wall surface in a continuous layer. The main fixation occurs through gluing to glue or cement-sand mortar. You can work with glue even at sub-zero temperatures.
Additionally, the insulation boards are secured with plastic dowels. They are attached no later than three days after installing the insulation with glue. But not before the adhesive mass has completely set. Installation in this way is also called “wet” due to the presence of wet processes in the technology.
It is convenient to use this technology when laying brick or cinder block walls. In the case of timber-frame construction, the frame will have to be filled with unedged board or plywood. Insulation is fixed to the created surface. Fixation occurs through dowels, since there are few adhesives with high adhesion to wood.
To insulate a dacha from the outside using the wet method, only dense insulation materials are suitable:
- Styrofoam;
- expanded polystyrene;
- dense mineral mats.
A reinforcing fiberglass mesh is fixed on top of the insulation with glue. It increases grip plaster mortar and insulation. Plaster is applied on top of the mesh in a layer of no more than 20 mm.
Painting is done on top of the plaster mortar, after it has dried. Only facade paints are used. Their color does not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and it is possible to wash the façade.
Frame method
The following insulation is created for panel finishing:
Before starting work, you need to make a drawing of all facades. This is necessary to count frame elements. The slats are installed at a distance along the length of the finishing panel. Another element is attached in the middle of the length.
With this method, it is better to use soft insulation. Select or cut mats 10-15 mm wider than the distance between the frame. In this case, there are no gaps or blow-outs between the studs and the insulation. Defects arise due to defects in the wood, uneven walls or inaccurate installation.
A wind barrier is stretched over the installed insulation. Its role is played by ordinary PVC film. The film also acts as a moisture barrier. Under exterior finishing moisture may be present, which will worsen the insulation properties.
To avoid rotting wooden elements are antiseptic. You can purchase already processed material. It has a greenish tint.
Internal insulation
By choosing high-quality materials and following internal installation technology, you can achieve good results. The main thing is to correctly calculate the thickness of the insulation. This is especially important when installing indoors.
It is better to entrust the calculation to specialists. Such a service will not be very expensive. But the owners will be confident in their costs for insulation and in case of failure there will be someone to hold accountable.
For interior work, thinner insulation thicknesses are often used than for exterior work. This is due to the fact that the heat only needs to be retained without worrying too much about external changes.
When using mineral wool and polystyrene foam, the layer thickness is 50 mm. Moreover, 100 mm, or even 150 mm of protection against cold is attached outside.
Materials are mounted on the frame or by gluing. It all depends on the decoration option and the purpose of the room. The frame method is more convenient when the insulation of the dacha from the inside is significant.
Majority country houses built to save space. That’s why the rooms in them are not large. Important role When choosing an insulation material, its thickness plays a role. The thinner the layer, with an equal heat transfer coefficient, the more priority the material.
Currently, penofol is in great demand. Its advantages:
- wide range of operating temperatures from -60 to +100°C;
- reflective effect from 95 to 97% of heat flux;
- thermal conductivity coefficient 0.037-0.051 W/m*C;
- moisture absorption 0.7% for class A material and 0.35% for class C material;
- insulation thickness starting from 3 mm.
Thanks to the foil layer, the coating simultaneously acts as a moisture and vapor barrier. It can be used not only in rooms with a normal microclimate. Such insulation is used for installation in:
- bathrooms;
- saunas;
- baths.
Cork is often used due to its texture. The beauty of the surface precludes other finishing.
The cork is secured by gluing it to the wall or fixing it with decorative nails. Its advantage is that it can insulate curved surfaces, niches and bulges. You can use such insulation even in a nursery. It is natural and environmentally friendly.
To save space indoors, insulating paints and plasters are used. In this case, the insulation capacity increases in proportion to the thickness of the layer.
Floor insulation
Cold air accumulates at the bottom of the room. Therefore, a warm floor is important for the health of winter guests of a country house. The temperature of the lower part of the room can be two degrees lower than the general temperature of the surfaces.
Insulation of concrete and wooden floors occurs differently. It all depends on the difference in designs.
Insulation of a wooden floor
Gender by wooden joists involves the placement of an insulating layer between the load-bearing elements. In this case, the “pie” of the design is as follows:
- Lining the lower part with roofing felt or thick film and fixing it with a board;
- Insulation device;
- installation of a moisture-proofing coating in the form of film or sheets of plywood;
- Finishing device.
Insulation in this case can be either bulk or matte materials. There are no special requirements other than compliance with the calculated thickness, unless it is a bathroom floor. In this case, moisture insulation must be improved. Preference is given to moisture-proof materials.
You can also insulate the floor on top of the lag. In this case, a 20 mm board is mounted on the supporting beams. Insulation is laid on it. The disadvantage of this method is the concept of the design level.
To insulate an existing floor, it is convenient to use ecowool or polyurethane foam. The materials are installed by injection. In this case, it is enough to dismantle one or more finishing boards. The blower sleeve is inserted into the resulting space and the material is supplied under pressure.
Insulation is carried out without unnecessary dirt and dismantling works. The polyurethane foam layer also serves as an additional water barrier.
- base compacted with crushed stone;
- devices for cement-sand base 100 mm;
- installation of a thermal insulation layer 100-150 mm thick;
- laying waterproofing;
- laying reinforcing mesh;
- filling the leveling screed;
- installation of finishing floor covering.
With this installation option, a considerable load is placed on the insulation. It is worth choosing a material with a density of at least 35 kg/m3. In this case, the base will not deform and the floor surface will remain flat.
You can insulate a concrete floor using additives. This technology can be complementary to the main insulation.
The following are added to the solution during mixing:
- sawdust;
- foam balls;
- glass or silicone granules;
- expanded clay
Mixing proportions vary depending on different types insulation.
Insulating the ceiling of a country house
The ceiling can be insulated:
- on top load-bearing structures(attic floor insulation);
- inside floor joists;
- from inside the room.
The first option for insulating the ceiling in a country house is suitable for one-story country houses and upper floor premises. In this case, the materials are:
- sawdust;
- ecowool;
- expanded clay;
- algae mats;
- granular foam.
These types of materials are the most economical. And since there are no strict requirements for the strength and thickness of the layer, you can save money.
Inside the logs, as with floor insulation, soft mats will be used. They are placed sideways, eliminating the possibility of blowing.
You can insulate the ceiling from the inside if the structure is already ready. The disadvantage of this method is that it reduces the height of the room. this is not critical with high ceilings of 2.8-3 m.
In this case, a wooden or aluminum sheathing is screwed onto the base of the ceiling. The frame is hemmed:
- suspended ceiling;
- suspended structure;
- plasterboard.
Insulation is placed in the resulting space. It must be lightweight and fireproof. An electrical cable runs along the ceiling plane and there is a risk of fire.
During the insulation process, do not forget about insulating the doors at the dacha. Up to 37% of heat escapes through window and door openings. Doors are insulated by:
- double design installations;
- installation of insulation inside the canvas;
- sealing gaps between elements and nodes;
- sealing joints.
Windows are insulated using film and sealing the joints with foam, felt or liquid wood.
Insulating a veranda at your dacha requires an idea of how it will be used. If it is a terrace for drinking tea in the air, it is enough to simply install opening glazing. If as part of a house for winter living, then the methods are the same as for other rooms.
If properly insulated, your dacha will be warm in winter and cool in summer. This will significantly reduce heating and air conditioning costs.
Timely insulation of a country house will help keep the heat inside, but if everything is done correctly, energy saving can be raised to a whole level.
Not long ago we discussed a topic that told us how to arrange it correctly. But in view of the fact that not all of us are able to immediately establish heating system or this is no longer possible due to the complete furnishing of a house in which this type of heating was not previously provided, we offer you an alternative. By the way, similar system can be used by absolutely every person who spontaneously decided to conduct winter time at the dacha or just wants warm.
Today we will help you qualitatively insulate your country house with your own hands, because you can save not only on materials and technology, but also on the work itself, which, when done yourself, will save almost half of the budget for such an event.
So, we deal with the topic consistently and try to do everything correctly, because the warmth inside the house will depend on our efforts.
Insulating a country house: where to start
It is clear that heating a country house can be provided with expensive or inexpensive devices and equipment, but even serious installations will not save you from the cold if the energy saving of the building is not adjusted. Or you will have to constantly consume energy and provide yourself with truly “golden” heat.
So, we will start by eliminating the reasons for the cooling of the structure. The most basic actions are a set of simple works to “organize heat” in the house.
Insulating windows or replacing them
Of course, replacing windows with new ones that will not let in the cold and small drafts that seriously affect the internal temperature is financially difficult, but it is possible if you prepared in advance for the winter cold. If it is not possible to install new windows at the dacha, and the old ones have become worn out, you will have to move on to some mandatory measures.
First of all, we need to replace broken glass, if any, by integers. You can even organize a double-glazed window by installing the glass with sealant and pressing it with new glazing beads to the frame. When this work is completed, we eliminate as much as possible through gaps in the frame and in the place where the glass is installed. For this purpose, special sealants and putties are used. When all the cracks are sealed, it is necessary to paint the frames.
The next step is to check if there are drafts from under window frames, and if they exist, we eliminate them with sealing materials. In some cases, polyurethane foam and painted plaster will help a lot. Next, you can apply old-fashioned method and simply fill the opening parts of the windows with foam rubber, cotton wool, wet newspaper, and seal the top with special tape or paper.
Sealed windows are the key to high-quality energy saving at home, but only if other sources of cold are also hermetically sealed, for example, even the entrance doors.
Insulation of doors at the dacha
The doors of a country house are not only the main barrier to unauthorized entry into the house, but also a “valve” that should prevent cold from entering the house.
The doors can be pulled up, lined with felt along the edges or with a special rubber pasting, or you can also insulate the door leaf itself if, say, in your house steel door.
Naturally, a metal door does an excellent job of organizing security. interior spaces, but it is not a barrier to the cold, especially with the onset of winter frosts. Such doors can be insulated quite easily and efficiently, while making them quite silent.
WITH inside 2-3 beams are installed on the door, across the door. You can fasten wooden beams using through bolts, leaving only smoothed round caps on the outside. Next, we cover the doors with polystyrene foam, placing it between the beams, and cover OSB sheet, which we screw with self-tapping screws to wooden beams. The total door thickness of 4-6 cm will make it possible to efficiently retain heat inside the house.
Insulation of a country house from the outside
Certainly, this process is no longer as low-priced as cheap insulation and equipment for windows and doors, but if possible, you can begin to gradually insulate the entire building, which will give an excellent result.
Expanded polystyrene or mineral wool is considered classic external insulation, but today you can find a dozen more worthy materials, but at a higher price. So, we choose by cost and get to work.
It is important to follow the technology, namely:
- Create a high-quality sheathing - a frame for securing the insulation to the outside;
- Treat the walls with an antiseptic and lay insulation material, securing it to the frame or directly to the walls (for example, expanded polystyrene on “mushrooms”);
- Protect the general insulation layer and the walls of the house with a vapor barrier or wind barrier (depending on the chosen technology and insulation material);
- Install the frame under external finishing and sew up the house, for example, with siding;
- When working with polystyrene foam, it will be necessary to perform external plastering finished wall, or decorate the walls in a more original way.
They say that the thicker the insulation layer, the better the heat will be retained in the house, but we insist that it is possible to insulate a country house efficiently only if you strictly follow certain rules, rather than just choosing thick insulation.
Insulation of a country house from the inside
How to properly insulate a country house, outside or inside? It’s up to you to choose here, because there are so many masters, so many opinions. The only thing we want to say from the start is interior lining indoors will take up a certain area, but external ones will cost a little more.
Insulation of the walls of a country house from the inside can be done with inexpensive material, for example, mineral wool, which today is considered not only the most affordable, but also the most practical. Of course, you can choose special insulation boards that are offered on the market and can show a wide variety of characteristics, but the choice is yours. Today we are looking at mineral wool and saving money.
For the internal insulation of a country house or even just some of its premises, you will need to build a frame, which can be made of wooden slats or metal profile. Next, you will need to install mineral wool into the frame, which is very simple to do, especially when the frame is prepared taking into account the width of the mineral wool roll.
After insulating the walls at the dacha, you can move on to covering the frame, not forgetting, of course, about the vapor barrier. Here, choose for yourself - OSB, which can be painted with stain and varnished or left unfinished for several years, or plasterboard on the walls of the dacha, on top of which you can glue wallpaper, lay layers of paint, ceramic tiles, wood trim, lining, and so on.
Insulating the floor of a country house
Warming – important point, because it is the floor that freezes your feet, which freezes your whole body. Therefore, your feet should always be warm, and this can only be ensured by a warm, or at least simply not cold, floor.
We recommend insulating the floor at the dacha using high-density foam, which is laid on the floor screed with the installation of a special wooden frame under subsequent flooring. Having installed a beam of the required size on the floor, observing the indentation steps according to the size of the foam boards, you can begin laying the insulation. Don't forget, polystyrene foam can be cut and cracked, but it is better to insert it very tightly between wooden sheathing for floor insulation.
At the end of the process, we lay a board or OSB on the floor, adjust the dimensions and decide how exactly it will be arranged decorative finishing floor.
Insulation of the roof of a country house
By insulating the roof, we prevent heat from escaping from the premises, because, as you know, warm air always rises. Thus, we can make an excellent barrier to the entry of cold into the premises of the building. In short, with the help of insulation we create a certain type of thermos, the heat in which should be ideally retained.
The most important requirement for such a “thermos” is high-quality ventilation.
Insulation of the roof of a house occurs on attic or in the attic, if one is equipped, but since we are trying to start with simpler options, we suggest that you do not spend much money on finishing these rooms, but simply insulate the house from the inside, that is, put insulation on the ceiling itself. this work, like the previous ones described by us, can be generally combined with high-quality repairs, because insulation quite often intersects with drywall or wooden materials finishes that create ideal surfaces for high-quality decoration.
So, here too it all starts with the frame. It can be wood or a profile, it all depends on the requirements, possible costs and type of work. We suggest starting from a galvanized metal profile, which will need to be installed around the perimeter of each room (strictly according to the level), thereby forming guides for the sheathing. Next, we will need to strengthen the structure and make transversals, between which the insulation will be laid (and on which, subsequently, it will be possible to install plasterboard ceiling).
When the frame is completed, we carefully lay in mineral wool, using eye and hand protection, and then move on to finishing the ceiling, which will include a vapor barrier and ceiling sheathing along the frame.
You can also use polystyrene foam to insulate the ceiling in your dacha.
Insulation of a country house on video
Do-it-yourself insulation of a country house- not the most difficult process, especially when everything is at your fingertips. Here, as in any repair and intermediate work, everything comes down to finances. But there is also positive side, insulation of the walls of a country house, ceiling and floor, can be done independently, and this is where you can save 40-60% of the total cost of such an event.