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How to properly insulate the walls and inside the apartment. Insulate the wall in the apartment from the inside. We provide effective ventilation of the room insulated from the inside

Insulation of an apartment is a troublesome, but very useful procedure that allows you to improve the microclimate in your home, create comfort and coziness. The need for this event arises if the heating networks do not cope with their task, or when the configuration of the room contributes to an increase in heat loss. For example, corner apartments that have an additional window, but in return receive a cold corner that is constantly wet or covered with a crust of ice. The recommended SNiP increase in temperature by 2 ° or an increase in the number of sections in heating radiators does not give the desired effect, requiring more effective methods. Let's figure out together how to insulate a wall in a corner apartment from the inside and what needs to be done for this.

What does "corner apartment" mean?

Corner apartments are located in the end sections of residential buildings. One or two rooms in such apartments have two adjacent walls bordering the street. The layout of such apartments is no different from the configuration of all the others in the house, only an additional window and a heating radiator appear, moreover, such an addition is not found in all corner rooms. To compensate for heat losses through enclosing structures resulting from an increase in the area of external walls, an increase in the internal temperature by 2 ° is provided, which is ensured by an increase in the standard number of radiator battery sections. In practice, this is achieved either by having a battery installed under an additional room window, or by installing a larger radiator (number of sections).

These measures rarely work as intended, as they are designed to solve the problems of the conventional premises and do not take into account many of the impacts that exist in reality:

The outer wall is located on the windward side of the house;
Worn-out heating networks, non-compliance of the heating regime with regulatory requirements;
Mistakes and shortcomings made during the construction of the house.

These factors are often present all together, significantly changing the temperature in the apartment for the worse. The cold surface of the walls begins to get wet due to the active formation of condensate, the apartment becomes cold and uncomfortable. Such situations are quite common and require appropriate measures.

Wall freezing is a common occurrence in corner apartments.

Ways to insulate an apartment

Insulation consists in installing a special material on the outer walls - a heat insulator. There are two types of insulation:

External (external). Experts unanimously consider this technique the only true one. The heat insulator is installed on the outside of the walls, which are separated from contact with the outside cold air. As a result, the thermal circuit of the room begins to operate in the nominal mode, the surface temperature of the enclosing structures returns to normal, and the formation of condensate stops.
Internal. Forced option, used when it is impossible to produce external insulation. The insulator is installed on the inside of the walls. The volume of the room decreases (slightly), it becomes necessary to install a durable protective layer over the heat insulator. The main disadvantage of the method is the exclusion of walls from the composition of the thermal circuit of the room. From now on, they perform only the functions of an external mechanical barrier, not participating in the heat saving of the apartment.

External insulation has a lot of advantages:

Works are carried out outside, without creating inconvenience for living.
The surface of the walls remains intact, the interior of the room does not change, there is no need for sheathing or decoration.
The microclimate of the room improves, there is a feeling of coziness and comfort.

The disadvantage of external insulation is the complexity of the work outside, the reasons for which may be:

The apartment is located on one of the upper floors;
The facade of the building has an architectural value, as a result of which the installation of any materials is excluded;
Any technical or decorative objects are installed on the wall;
The building is located close to other buildings or structures;
Work can only be carried out during the warm season.

Internal insulation is almost completely devoid of these shortcomings, no permit is required for work, you can work at any time of the year. And yet, experts prefer external insulation. The reason for this is the presence of water vapor in the internal air of the apartment. It is gradually absorbed into the outer walls, passes through them and evaporates from the outside. This process happens all the time in any living space. Mounting the insulator from the outside does not stop it, you just need to correctly organize the progress of work. With internal insulation, water vapor is locked inside the apartment, which has a sharp negative effect on the microclimate. There is a strong humidity, a feeling of stuffiness, lack of comfort.

It is important! The solution to the problem is the installation of high-quality ventilation system, which removes the internal air saturated with water vapor.

The choice of internal insulation, as a rule, is due to the lack of the ability to work outside. Outdoor work requires a permit, which is not easy to obtain. In addition, to install a heat insulator, you will have to involve industrial climbers, which will be quite expensive.

External thermal insulation preferred, but more expensive

Therefore, most apartment owners choose a more affordable and simple option - internal insulation. The method allows you to get a positive result, it is only important to correctly understand the physical essence of the process and organize it in the right way.

Types of heaters

There are many insulation materials on the market. Consider the most popular heaters in detail.

Mineral wool

One of the most successful options is stone (basalt) wool. Usually, when it comes to mineral wool, they mean exactly stone, although the term denotes a wide group of materials, which include slag wool, glass wool and other types of similar insulators. Basalt wool is more convenient to use, has a good set of operational and technical characteristics. It does not burn, does not emit harmful substances and is not subject to decay. It is produced in different forms - from rolled to more rigid slab. The disadvantage of mineral wool is the ability to absorb water, which makes installation somewhat difficult and requires additional operations.

Mineral wool slabs are one of the most popular insulation for walls and other surfaces.

Styrofoam

This insulation is a confident leader among all other types in terms of popularity. The reason for this is the low price of the material, low weight, ease of installation and processing. The material is resistant to water, has stable dimensions and geometry of the plates, impervious to water vapor. For internal insulation, this is the most preferred option, budgetary and not time-consuming.

Styrofoam is suitable for both internal and external insulation

Penoplex

From a chemical point of view, this material is a complete analogue of polystyrene - both of them are variants of expanded polystyrene. But unlike polystyrene, which is connected with heat treatment expanded polystyrene granules, foam polystyrene (extruded polystyrene foam) is a monolithic material, hardened foam. It is stronger and heavier than foam, has a higher price.

Penoplex does not crumble during processing, it is completely resistant to moisture or water vapor.

polyurethane foam

A specific heat insulator, sold in liquid form and applied by spraying onto the surface to be treated. In air, the material foams and hardens, as a result, an airtight layer is formed, resembling mounting foam. Polyurethane foam is ideal for insulating walls with complex geometry, the presence of small defects or protruding parts. The price of the material is quite high, in addition, special equipment is used for application. These factors somewhat limit the use, although the performance of the insulator is very high. It is completely impervious to moisture, sealed and perfectly covers the surface without gaps or gaps.

Wall insulation with sprayed polyurethane foam

There are other materials that can be used for internal insulation. It is not advisable to list them all, since they are noticeably inferior to the named species in terms of operational and technical specifications or are expensive.

It is important! When choosing a material, it is necessary to take into account an important parameter - vapor permeability. For internal insulation, it is important to qualitatively cut off the wall from any contact with internal air, otherwise it will start to get wet. If a non-vapour-permeable material is used, install it firmly and without gaps on the surface.

Permeable types of heat insulators require the installation of a vapor barrier film, which increases the number of installation operations and requires additional costs. Permeable types of insulation include mineral wool and polystyrene, foam or polyurethane foam are impervious to steam or water.

Carrying out work

The process of insulation consists in installing a dense layer of heat insulator on the entire surface of the outer walls. A feature of the insulation is the need to install a protective and decorative sheathing on top of the insulation, for which it is necessary to create a supporting structure - battens. It is a series of planks forming a vertical plane located at a distance from the wall equal to the thickness of the heat insulator. It is tightly inserted between the planks of the crate, forming a continuous layer without gaps or gaps.

Insulation of corner apartments is characterized by the need to install thermal insulation on two adjacent walls, which increases the consumption of lathing, insulation and vapor barrier. In addition, the overall volume of work is increasing. It will be necessary to qualitatively and hermetically insulate the joint of the two walls.

Procedure:

Surface preparation. Everything is taken off the wall foreign objects, hanging lamps, brackets, flower beds, etc.
The walls are marked, the attachment points of the lathing slats are determined. The markup should take into account the width of the insulation and the lathing strips, so that you do not have to subsequently adjust the heat insulator.
Lathing installation. Wooden bars or metal guides for drywall are used. The installation of metal elements is more convenient, it allows you to get the exact distance from the wall, corresponding to the thickness of the insulation. At the same time, metal parts are capable of creating so-called cold bridges, which form pockets of condensation. Wooden planks do not form cold bridges, but require great precision in installation.
Installing a vapor barrier. This item is only necessary when using mineral wool. Vapor barrier is an ordinary polyethylene film (you can take a standard sleeve). Installation is carried out in horizontal stripes. The first row is below, the next overlap is at least 10 cm above it - and so on until the wall area is completely covered. The joints of the film must be glued with construction tape. Installation is carried out on top of the lathing laths, the film is wrapped around them and fits snugly against the wall.
Installing a heat insulator. Slabs (or cut pieces) of material are tightly inserted between the battens of the crate. You need to keep a bottle of mounting foam on hand to immediately fill the cracks or gaps if they appear. Some experts recommend covering all edges of the insulation with mounting foam in order to seal even the smallest gaps.
A second layer of waterproofing is installed on top of the heat insulator. For impermeable materials, a polyethylene film is suitable, but for mineral wool it is better to take a vapor-waterproofing membrane. It has the ability to pass water vapor in one direction. When installing, you must carefully monitor that the material allows you to remove steam from the inside of the formed cocoon. This will ensure that the heat insulator dries out if water gets into it in any way.
After that, a layer of protection is attached to the surface of the lathing slats. Actually, the crate is installed precisely in order to have a supporting structure for mounting the skin. Usually sheet materials are used - plywood, drywall or the like. Some owners prefer lining or Wall panels. The choice is determined by the capabilities and preferences of the owner.

Stage of installation of waterproofing for internal wall insulation

One of the options for installing a protective layer is the application of plaster. The works are associated with the use of wet solutions and require some time to dry, but the result is quite decent, masking the work done in the best way. If you plan to use plaster, you can do without crates. The insulation is tightly installed on the wall using an adhesive composition, after which a fiberglass reinforcing mesh is attached to the surface and a layer of plaster is applied. This option is best used if foam is used as a heater. The ability to refuse the installation of the crate allows you to use enough thin insulation while maintaining the volume of the room. Simplified work in the area of radiators and risers of the heating system, it becomes easier to insulate the window opening.

The use of warm plaster is one of the effective ways reduction of heat loss

After the installation of the skin, the finishing is done. All works are carried out indoors, so they do not depend on the season or the weather outside. No permits for internal insulation are needed, these actions do not constitute a redevelopment or even a reorganization of residential premises.

Insulation of a room in a panel house

IN panel houses The main problem areas are inter-panel joints. Insulation will not be effective enough if the joint is not previously sealed, for which it is necessary to open it as much as possible along the entire length of the wall. Usually, the joints of the plates are sealed with tow, gypsum or plaster. The gap should be opened as much as possible with a spatula or a narrow chisel. Remove old tow, aggregate or other material. Then you need to examine the resulting gap and determine its depth. The best option would be to fill the joint with mounting foam. It is not difficult, it is carried out quickly enough and allows you to effectively seal the joint.

It is important! After the foam has hardened, the parts protruding from the gap are carefully cut with a knife to form an even angle. Further work produced according to the general technology of insulation.

Insulation of a room in a brick house

Brickwork is well tied up at the corner joints and does not have slots with access to the outside. This allows you to work without preliminary insulation of the connection of the planes. At the same time, the properties of the material require hydrophobization before installing the heat insulator. To do this, the brick wall to be insulated is cleared of the plaster layer over the entire area. After that, the surface is covered with a layer of water repellent with a brush or roller. It is necessary to use deep penetration material for interior work. Some types require application in several layers, as written in the instructions on the package. After the composition has dried, a heat insulator is installed on the surface of the walls using conventional technology.

Video: how to insulate a wall in an apartment

Insulation of corner apartments is a forced measure, dictated by mistakes made during the construction or design of housing. The main task of the owner is a dense and hermetic installation of a heat insulator that completely cuts off external walls from contact with the internal atmosphere of the apartment. Any gap forms a section that will constantly get wet and gradually impregnate the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe wall, which will sooner or later lead to its destruction. Accuracy and thoroughness in the performance of work will allow you to get high-quality and effective result, which changes the thermal regime in the room and increases comfort for residents.

The construction industry does not stand still, so today houses are built using new multi-layer building materials. They retain heat in the room much better than buildings made of brick or concrete, which is especially noticeable during the onset of cold weather. However, many of us live in apartments of the old housing stock and are faced with the problem of the need to insulate the walls.

This question is also relevant for those who own corner apartment, as well as for owners of a private house. If it is cold in the apartment in winter and there is a draft, or if you receive huge sums for heating a private house, the housing must be insulated. Proper thermal insulation of the walls will make your apartment warmer and save on heating the house.

Experts unanimously argue that wall insulation from the outside is much more effective. However, situations are known when it is necessary to insulate a wall that joins a staircase or adjoins an elevator shaft. In addition, external wall insulation is unacceptable for those who live in architectural monuments or buildings designed in a certain architectural style. How to warm up in this case?

What you need to know about the insulation of the apartment from the inside?

Experts believe that warming an apartment from the inside can lead to such unexpected results that all the effort and money expended will be wasted. This process must be taken with all responsibility: choose the right material and mount it correctly.

Residents of apartments in which internal wall insulation work was carried out a few years ago often find that the room does not get warmer. Moreover, the wall begins to freeze even more! This situation is explained by the accumulation of condensed moisture in the room, which leads to the appearance of dampness and mold fungi, destruction on the outer wall and flaking of the interior finish, as a result of which the thermal insulation only becomes worse and heat loss increases.

Therefore, builders do not recommend using ordinary drywall sheets for wall insulation. Its installation can be the final stage of insulation work, but not the main way to finish the walls. Insulating an apartment from the inside is an extremely responsible task, because this work is carried out with the expectation of a long service life, so it is important to take into account all the nuances and features of this type of insulation.

Disadvantages of internal insulation of the walls of the apartment

Before deciding on the thermal insulation of your apartment from the inside, analyze the negative aspects that may accompany such insulation.

Thermal insulation of walls inside the room should be entrusted to professionals!

First of all, you will have to go for a reduction in the area of the room - depending on the material chosen and the features of its installation, it can decrease by 1-1.5 sq.m.
When carrying out internal insulation work, you will need to vacate the premises for a while, which creates problems for residents one-room apartments and large families where many people live.
Insulation work requires skill and certain skills - if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to turn to professionals.
You can not limit yourself to simple wall cladding, otherwise mold and fungus will form, and the insulation will not last long. These negative aspects will lead to the formation of an unhealthy microclimate, the destruction of the interior decoration of the room and outer wall premises. Similar troubles occur if you do not adhere to the process.

The building material chosen for insulation should be a weak heat conductor, since its purpose is to retain heat in your apartment.
The material must be selected environmentally friendly, since the release of hazardous substances will adversely affect the health of the residents of the apartment.
The material must be refractory and not react to temperature changes.
The material must be moisture resistant, otherwise it will not last long and will not provide heat retention.
When choosing a thermal insulation material, remember that its vapor permeability should be low (preferably lower than that of outer wall- then the steam will not go into the room, but outside).
Choose a quality thermal insulation material that retains its shape for a long time.
For insulation of walls from the inside, heaters are optimal, which are mounted without joints, gaps and seams.
Joints and joints must be carefully sealed.
When installing, use a vapor barrier film. Please note that in this case you can not save - the film must be of high quality.
Remember that to reduce humidity, the room must be regularly ventilated. To do this, make small ventilation holes with grates in the walls.
Before carrying out insulation work, treat the surface of the walls with an antibacterial composition aimed at destroying fungus and mold, as well as preventing their occurrence.

Traditional materials for warming an apartment

Mineral wool

This material is most often used when working on the internal insulation of the room. When working with mineral wool, metal racks should be installed, between which layers of wool are placed. Then the structure is covered with plasterboard panels, plastered and finished with a decorative coating. This is one of the most economical ways to insulate walls.

However, mineral wool has a very high moisture absorption capacity and is not a durable material. So such insulation is rather a temporary measure, since the room will become damp in a few years and will require more capital investments. Experts are especially negative about mineral wool in rolls, since it is characterized by a very low coefficient of heat resistance.

Today, the construction market offers new types of this material, the properties of which are more reminiscent of polystyrene. It is worth noting that it will not be possible to ensure 100% dryness of the room, since the vapor permeability of mineral wool is always higher than that of any material that is used to build an external wall.

Expanded polystyrene (styrofoam)

This material is becoming increasingly popular: it is characterized by good resistance to moisture absorption, has a low vapor permeability, low thermal conductivity, and also has a small thickness, which makes it possible to save space and do without mounting frames.

Expanded polystyrene can withstand significant loads, compression and tearing forces. Styrofoam is very light, and it can be easily divided into the desired pieces using with a simple knife. Expanded polystyrene is easy to install and is attached with dowels or glue, however, the place where the material comes into contact with the wall must be insulated with polyurethane foam for greater tightness.

The modern market offers two types of this material - foamed and extruded, so you may wonder which one is more suitable for interior work. The main difference between them is the manufacturing method:

foam type foam is produced by foaming individual granules. Experts say that over time, experiencing temperature changes, changes in humidity conditions and other factors, the bond between the individual particles of expanded polystyrene foam becomes weaker, and this leads to breaks.
extruded foam is produced by squeezing a liquid mass through the holes of the extruder apparatus. Such expanded polystyrene is considered more durable, as it has a solid structure. By and large, these differences are more fundamental for outdoor work, since indoors, with proper preparation walls, the external environment will not noticeably affect the material.

However, the foam is not ideal for insulation, since there will still be joints between its sheets, which will facilitate the penetration of moisture. During the installation process, it is necessary to fit the sheets to each other as tightly as possible, smearing the seams with sealant. Now on the building materials market you can find polystyrene foam with a cut edge - when it is installed, the joints are more airtight. The disadvantages include poor sound insulation of such material.

polyurethane foam

This material consists of many sealed cells filled with air or an inert gas. Construction experts consider this material the most reliable in wall insulation. Polyurethane foam is very easy to use and most convenient to install, as it does not require additional fasteners. It is moisture resistant, has excellent thermal insulation and fills all the cracks and holes. it is also characterized by high "tenacity", forming a single whole with the wall. This material does not get wet and does not pass moisture.

Polyurethane foam is one of the most reliable insulation

For the installation of polyurethane foam, a metal frame or formwork should be prepared so that the final surface is as even as possible and has a given thickness. The material is applied in the form of a layer or spraying directly onto the surface - it foams immediately and hardens almost instantly. Further, experts in the construction industry advise to fix the layer of polyethylene film with glue.

Before execution decorative finishes the premises should be covered with drywall sheets, since the material itself is fragile and does not have a sufficient degree of density to withstand Finishing work. Alas, the installation of drywall will somewhat reduce the area of \u200b\u200bthe room.

Modern materials for wall insulation

Innovations in the construction industry almost every year make it possible to launch new materials on the market that manufacturers recommend using for internal insulation of apartments. Among these materials, the following types can be distinguished:

"Warm" plaster. It practically does not take up the area of \u200b\u200bthe insulated room and looks good, however, this material is characterized by high vapor permeability and perfectly absorbs moisture. The ability of such plaster to retain heat cannot be compared with the same polyurethane foam or polystyrene.
Foamed polyethylene. This material has a foil coating, so it retains heat well. However, it is difficult to install - not every master knows how to work with this material, since it is necessary to ensure the correct layer of air between it and the wall.
Liquid ceramics (ceramic thermal insulation). This New Product in the construction market of heaters - a liquid mass of vacuum microcavities, consisting of a silicone-ceramic mixture and a polymeric liquid that binds them. If a coloring pigment is added to the liquid, then this material is called thermal paint. The manufacturers of this material claim that 1 cm of this insulation replaces 5 cm of mineral wool. It has good tenacity and well protects against the formation of mold. The disadvantages include the high cost of this material, and its consumption is quite significant. Liquid ceramics was invented in the USA, but today in some states it is forbidden to use it as an internal insulation, which makes us think about its environmental qualities.

Features of the insulation work

After you decide on the method of insulation, you can begin to purchase the materials necessary for work. At the same time, one should take into account such important aspects, as the time and conditions under which it is best to carry out insulation work. Savings in this case are inappropriate: strictly adhere to all the points that are required technological process, as an attempt to save 10-15% of the cost of repairs will subsequently turn into significant problems.

It is better to carry out work in the warm season - from late spring to early autumn, when there is no frequent precipitation, dampness and high humidity. At the beginning of work, you need to dismantle everything decorative coating- remove wallpaper or peel off paint, and also beat off a layer of plaster, because you have to work with a base, that is, a brick or concrete surface. The finished wall must be cleaned of dust using a vacuum cleaner (or by carefully going through a hard broom), paying special attention to damp places.

After that, the surface of the wall must be treated with antifungal agents and primed. It is best to choose a primer that is characterized a high degree penetration. After each step, the surface should dry well. To speed up the process a little and dry the wall to its full depth, use a heat gun - this way you will reduce the humidity as much as possible.

If you plan to insulate a brick wall with polystyrene foam, it must first be plastered, and it is advisable to use mixtures designed for bathrooms and pools. If the surface of the walls is uneven, use beacons. The plaster must be allowed to dry without the use of heat guns, in a natural way - then its strength will be higher.

The next step should be priming the plaster layer. If you are insulating walls made of concrete, make sure that all joints between the plates are sealed with sealant, or apply mastic. Only after the specified preparatory work you can proceed to the direct insulation of the walls with the selected materials.

Frosts are rapidly approaching, and the temperature in many apartments is far from the most comfortable. We are forced to put on warm clothes, buy heaters, sleep under several blankets, which causes discomfort. What to do if it's cold in the apartment? It is quite possible to solve this problem on your own.

What to do if the apartment is cold

Cold batteries in the apartment: what to do?

High-quality radiators are the key to warmth and comfort in the house. If the radiators are many years old and the apartment is cold in winter, it may be worth replacing them. But before you run for an expensive purchase, do a survey: sometimes the batteries do not heat up due to air jams or due to the negligence of utilities. Where to complain if it's cold in the apartment, we told.

Many modern radiator models are made with, so you can set the right temperature. High-quality heaters can serve faithfully for decades, therefore, having spent only one time, you will forget about cold batteries in the house for a long time.

There are several types of radiators:

Cast iron - the most classic option, which has been used for heat supply for over a hundred years. Cast iron batteries are durable, corrosion resistant and have high heat dissipation. They are not afraid of hard, low-quality water and pressure drops. The disadvantages of cast iron radiators include bulkiness and unaesthetic appearance. Nevertheless, modern design of these batteries with monograms and original coloring will fit well into the interior of the classical style.
Aluminum - durable, lightweight and elegant heaters. Ease of installation, best price and high heat transfer make aluminum batteries the ideal choice for many. However, this type of radiator is prone to corrosion at a high alkali content in the water.
Steel radiators are often used for heating private houses and offices. They have excellent heat dissipation and corrosion resistance. Their disadvantage lies in the sensitivity to water hammer - sudden pressure drops in the pipe.
Bimetallic radiator, speaking plain language, consists of a steel core and an outer aluminum layer. This design is optimal for city apartments: steel pipeline is not subject to corrosion, and aluminum, which has good thermal conductivity, perfectly supplies heat to the room. However, all these advantages are overshadowed by the high cost of the product.
Copper batteries provide efficient space heating due to their thermal conductivity - it is much higher than that of aluminum and even more so than that of steel and cast iron. But the price of copper radiators, as well as bimetallic ones, will not please everyone.

The choice of a radiator depends not only on your tastes and financial condition, but also on compatibility with your heating system. Therefore, before buying, you should determine whether the characteristics of the heater (pressure, allowable temperature, heat transfer, etc.) correspond to the indicators of the heating system.

Sometimes it happens that the heating works well, there is a three-chamber double-glazed window, there are no cracks and drafts, but the room is cold. A similar situation can often be observed in a corner apartment. This is due to large heat losses. One of the ways out in this case may be additional insulation of the apartment from the inside.

Inside or outside?

It is most correct to fix the insulation from the outside. In this case, the thickness of the heat-insulating layer will be significantly less, and the likelihood of condensation is reduced to a minimum.

Internal insulation, although not the best the best way, but still has the right to life, especially in the following cases:

administrative ban on execution facade works for insulation;
the presence of a compensatory expansion joint;
the presence of electrical or gas communications;
the exit of the wall in need of insulation into the elevator shaft;
the location of the apartment above the first floor.

The last point requires a little clarification. If the insulation is done by hand, then on the ground floor, thermal insulation can be attached both from the outside and from the inside. With an increase in the number of storeys, the use of climbing equipment is already required and for independent work only the option of internal insulation is suitable.

Types of heaters

At the moment there is big choice what can be used to insulate:

mineral basalt wool;
glass wool;
expanded polystyrene (polystyrene);
extruded polystyrene foam (EPS);
foam polyethylene.

Fiber materials

Mineral wool and glass wool belong to the class of fibrous heaters. They are mats or rolls of compressed fibers. There is air inside between the fibers.

A characteristic feature of such materials is a sharp decrease in thermal insulation characteristics when wet, which entails the need to use additional vapor barrier from the side of the room.

The only option when mats can be used without additional protection is to place them inside the wall.

The insulation is placed between the outer and inner layers, made of brick or concrete.

Foam materials

Styrofoam and similar in properties to XPS in the form of plates have a closed cellular structure. The air enclosed inside the cells isolated from each other is a good heat insulator.

A significant advantage of such materials is that they are not afraid of moisture. No additional protection is required when using them.

Relatively recently, a new roll material has appeared - polyethylene foam with a thickness of 2 to 10 mm, foiled on one or both sides with aluminum. It can be used as an auxiliary material to improve the thermal insulation properties of the entire wall structure.

Foil polyethylene, in addition to the function of direct insulation, is able to create a vapor barrier and a screen that reflects inside the room infrared heat from heating appliances.

Basic schemes for performing work

Insulating the walls of an apartment by simply sheathing them from the inside with a thick layer of thermal insulation is a very risky undertaking. There is a high chance that the effort will be wasted.

In the inner layers of the structure, zones favorable for the formation of condensate will form. Moisture, regardless of the type of insulation used (a little faster for wool, slower for EPPS), will come to the surface of the finish in the form of weeping spots, and then fungus and mold. In order for the wall to be dry and warm, there are two solutions.

Construction of an additional wall

In this case, "well" masonry is reproduced with internal insulation. An additional partition is erected at some distance from the main wall of brick or wall blocks. The thickness varies between 100 - 150 mm. A heater is installed in the resulting gap.

Inside, the possible dew point will be either in the thickness of the outer wall, or on its border with the insulation. The entire array of the inner wall remains dry.

External wall heating

A heating mat of an electric floor is fixed on the insulated surface, which automatically turns on when critical temperatures are reached. On top of the heating mat, thermal insulation and a final fine finish are mounted. In practice, such a scheme is implemented quite rarely due to the high costs of electricity during the cold season.

A similar principle arises when insulating the walls of a panel house with an internal central heating system. circulating through pipes hot water heats the wall from the inside and prevents condensation from forming.

It is enough to mount the required layer of the missing thermal insulation to get the desired effect.

Performance of thermal insulation works

Depending on the climatic zone where the building is located, the material and thickness of the walls, the composition and design of the insulation of the internal surfaces of the room will vary. Possible options will be very a large number of. To obtain optimal results, it is necessary in each case to carry out at least approximate calculations before starting work.

To get a general idea of the progress of the work, you can consider the process of insulating a brick and concrete wall using EPS.

Material selection

One of the brands under which XPS is produced is penoplex. This material is 20 - 100 mm thick, 600 x 1200 mm in size. Distinctive feature is the presence of a fold along the perimeter, providing a tight pairing of adjacent sheets.

Fastening foam to the surface is much easier than in the case of mineral wool. There is no need to build a frame or use plastic "fungi" to fix the insulation. It is quite possible to get by with “liquid nails” construction mounting adhesive (for a more or less even surface) or an adhesive solution based on a ready-made dry mix (if necessary, smoothing out small irregularities).

Determining the thickness of the heat insulator

How much insulation to lay in the wall? The answer to this question can be given by heat calculation, which takes into account the type of building, building material, climate zone and parameters of the heating system.

When doing work with your own hands, such calculations are often problematic. In practice, most often limited to approximate, averaged values.

Yes, for brick wall 300 - 500 mm thick is enough to lay inside 100 - 150 mm foam.

This design will be able to withstand up to -30 ° C. In panel houses with an intra-wall heating system, 100 mm of insulation will be enough.

The process of doing thermal insulation with your own hands begins with the preparation of the base. Surface brickwork and the joints with the ceilings are examined in order to identify through cracks. If necessary, they are sealed with mortar or foam.

In order to fix the insulation, an auxiliary wall is erected at a certain distance from the outer wall. Thermal insulation sheets are installed in the resulting gap.

Another option for carrying out work involves fixing the penoplex on the surface of the main street wall with the help of adhesives. Then, an additional wall is erected close to the resulting layer.

Thermal insulation of reinforced concrete wall

In panel houses, the probability of cracks occurring at the junction of individual blocks is quite high. For a corner apartment, the search for and repair of cracks in the joints is necessary condition. Through through cracks, heat, despite the insulation, will be blown out into the street.

In large-panel housing construction, very often central heating radiators are hidden inside. During the heating season, the surface always remains warm.

This feature greatly simplifies the thermal insulation scheme. Penoplex is attached directly to the inner surfaces of the walls. Finishing can be done directly on the insulation.

The dew point will be in the depth of the wall closer to the street. Favorable conditions does not create condensation. insulation layer and interior decoration will remain dry for the entire period of operation.

Insulation of the walls of the apartment may be required in multi-apartment panel buildings, since it is in them that the greatest problems are observed due to the small thickness of the partitions. If the walls do not protect the premises well from frost, then the load on the internal heating system increases, as do utility bills, an unfavorable microclimate occurs.

Rules and main disadvantages of wall insulation from the inside

Internal insulation compared to external insulation has a number of disadvantages that you need to know about before starting work on the installation of thermal insulation. Due to the location of the insulation on the inside of the apartment, the wall does not accumulate heat and it will not be possible to completely avoid heat losses, in any case they will be up to 15%. Also, when insulating from the inside, the "dew point" will be located between the installed thermal insulator and the wall. Therefore, condensation can accumulate on the wall, which can cause fungus and mold to appear in the rooms.

Correctly in an apartment from the inside it is much more difficult than from the outside, and making even minor mistakes during installation work will lead to the fact that the wall will still freeze, which is why building, facing and heat-insulating materials will be subject to increased wear.

To prevent condensation on the walls, it is necessary to install a high-quality vapor barrier, it is she who protects the insulation from moisture and significantly extends its service life.

For work, we need a high-quality vapor barrier film and construction waterproof tape (for sealing the seams of the installed vapor barrier). As thermal insulation, materials with low vapor permeability should be used. It is very important that the vapor permeability of the insulation is lower than that of concrete walls. This will allow moisture to evaporate outside, and not inside the apartment.

When installing vapor barrier and insulation material, they should be very carefully coated with glue and fixed tightly on the wall so that there are no cavities between them. Walls before installation work should be primed with special compounds that protect surfaces from fungus and mold. They also help to improve the adhesion of the materials to be mounted.

It is also recommended to provide high-quality ventilation in an insulated apartment. Standard natural ventilation is unlikely to be enough, therefore it is necessary either to install a forced air circulation system, or to equip window frames special valves through which fresh air will enter the rooms.

It is extremely important to correctly calculate the required thickness of the installed thermal insulator. The thickness of the insulation must correspond to the material of the walls and the climatic conditions in the region. If the insulator layer is too small, it will not be able to reliably protect the apartment and its residents from the cold. Particular attention during installation must be paid to the joints of the plates, there is a high probability of the occurrence of "cold bridges".

Can mineral wool be used for thermal insulation?

Mineral wool retains heat well and is able to "breathe", that is, let air through, however, due to temperature changes, this property can adversely affect the microclimate of the room and cause condensation to appear on the walls.

To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to choose materials of high density. Mineral wool is not as dense as polystyrene foam and urethane foam, therefore, experts recommend either abandoning such a heater, or buying only those mineral wool slabs that have the highest density comparable to the characteristics of foam plastic.

Before installing the mineral wool, it is necessary to install a high-quality vapor barrier. If insufficiently reliable is chosen waterproofing material, or it will be installed with violations, over time, a fungus will definitely appear under the facing layer, to combat which it will be necessary to carry out complex and costly repair work.

Expanded polystyrene - advantages and installation rules

Styrofoam, foam plex and expanded polystyrene are much better suited for mounting on concrete walls than minvata. They have all the necessary characteristics to ensure a comfortable microclimate in the apartment. The most important advantage of expanded polystyrene is its low thermal conductivity, but it also has other positive qualities that make it possible to use it for mounting on walls inside:

1. Light weight, smooth surface. These characteristics allow you to perform installation work with minimal labor and securely fix the material on the wall with glue.
2. The possibility of pre-treatment. Before installation, expanded polystyrene can be cut with an ordinary construction knife.
3. Strength. Expanded polystyrene can withstand strong tensile loads and even significant compression, which is very important, given the high loads on the thermal insulator during strong temperature changes and shrinkage of building structures.

Even the cheapest extruded polystyrene foam almost does not absorb moisture, which means that when installing it, you can refuse to install a vapor barrier layer. To isolate the joints of the plates during repairs, it is enough to seal them with mounting foam. Foam can also be used when installing polystyrene foam boards on walls. When expanding, it will fill all the gaps between the installed insulation and the surfaces to be treated, make the fastening reliable and completely sealed. Modern extruded polystyrene boards have spikes and grooves that simplify their installation.

To fix the foam, you can use not only glue, but also special fasteners in the form of fungi. After the panels are located on the wall, they are drilled through and the fasteners are driven through the holes into the walls. Such fastening is very reliable and can be used in concrete and brick houses. After completion of installation, all cracks and seams of the plates must be sealed. Various facing materials can be mounted on top of the thermal insulation, including plaster and drywall sheets.

When choosing expanded polystyrene for insulation, it is necessary to take into account not only the advantages of this material, but also its disadvantages. For example, expanded polystyrene is not able to provide high-quality sound insulation in rooms, in addition, it is highly flammable and can release substances hazardous to humans during combustion.

Internal thermal insulation with polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam - polyurethane foam, foamed polymer, which is sprayed for insulation using special equipment. To mount such a heat insulator, a wooden crate is installed on the wall, acting as support guides for the sprayed material, it is also used for further installation of the cladding.

The main advantage of polyurethane foam is that when sprayed, it fills all the bumps, cracks and joints in the walls, creates a sealed, seamless surface that fits snugly against the wall without voids and cavities. In other words, the installation of polyurethane foam completely protects the apartment from "cold bridges" and from the possibility of condensation.

Polyurethane foam is a moisture resistant material with low thermal conductivity characteristics. When installing it, it is not at all necessary to cover the walls with layers of hydro and vapor barrier. With its help, it is very easy and quick to insulate any walls, however, it is impossible to perform such work without specialized equipment, which is the main disadvantage of this method of insulation.

It is impossible to create a heat-insulating coating for walls from polyurethane foam with your own hands, you will have to seek help from professionals who are familiar with the insulation procedure and have the necessary to perform such work. technical means. Some companies are leasing equipment for processing walls with polyurethane foam, this is a great opportunity for self-insulation, requiring much less financial costs than acquiring expensive equipment.

Cork - a non-standard tool for dealing with cold walls

Cork is an insulating material produced in the form of slabs and rolls of cork wood. It is environmentally friendly and completely safe for users, which is very important for finishing living rooms. Due to the excellent technical characteristics of cork wood, it can be used to simultaneously insulate an apartment, provide it with high-quality sound insulation, and also increase the attractiveness of interior walls.

Cork insulation can only be installed on perfectly flat surfaces, therefore, before installation, the walls should be prepared for repair. First you need to completely remove old facing materials from the surfaces, and then cover the walls with a primer with an antiseptic that can protect the room from biological contamination - fungus and mold.

Next, the walls are leveled. For this, plaster or plasterboard sheets are used. When leveling with drywall, waterproof glue and mounting foam should be used so that after installing the plates between them and the wall there are no voids and cavities. After fixing the drywall sheets on the wall, they should be additionally fixed with plastic fasteners such as "fungus" or anchors.

When the drywall or plaster base is dry, you can proceed with the installation of cork insulation. Sheets of natural wood or pieces of rolled material are carefully coated with special glue, after which they are tightly applied to the base. Cork wood insulation is also a full-fledged facing material that does not require subsequent finishing.

In addition to ease of installation and visual appeal, the positive characteristics of cork wood materials include the fact that they have a small thickness. That is, the installation of insulation will not greatly reduce the area of the rooms to be lined, which is very important for small city apartments.

Penofol - foamed polyethylene to improve the performance of the apartment

Penofol - foamed polyethylene, the thickness of which is from 2 to 10 mm, which is sold in rolls. On the one hand, this material has a foil coating that provides heat reflection inside the lined premises. Before installing penofol, the surface of the walls must be prepared in exactly the same way as for the installation of cork wood cladding, after which the material can be fixed with construction tape.

Penofol must be installed in such a way that its foil side faces the room. Such an installation will turn the room into a kind of thermos, perfectly retaining heat. Penofol strips for installation must be cut into lengths along the height of the room. The strips must be installed like wallpaper - end-to-end. The joints are additionally glued with special adhesive tape, which also has a foil surface.

Penofol is a high-quality insulation of an apartment, which can be done by hand, but heavy facing materials cannot be attached to it. For further wall decoration cold apartment it is necessary to install a wooden or profile crate on top of the foam foam layer, on which plasterboard sheets can be attached. Drywall is faced with plaster, wallpaper or paint.

When installing drywall sheets, it is necessary to leave small gaps (about 5 mm) that will ensure good air circulation and prevent condensation and accumulation of moisture on the insulation. Penofol is one of the best materials for thermal insulation, which can be used alone or together with other heaters, for example, with expanded polystyrene.

Professionals recommend carefully examining the walls in the apartment before installing any facing material. Only if no traces of mold are found on the surfaces, you can proceed with the installation work. If the walls are infected, they must first be cleaned and protected from the recurrence of the fungus, and only after that proceed to the insulation.