Select floor insulation in wooden house can be done by comparing performance properties. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the design of the floor and the compatibility of thermal insulation with the elements of the structure.

In low-rise individual buildings, a wooden house means a house built using one of the following technologies:

• log house - sanded or rounded log;
• a log cottage is a good analogue of a log house, but without locks on the corners;
• frame - assembly of walls using the Platform or Balun method;
• panel room - factory-ready kits;
• panel - self-supporting SIP panels with pre-installed PSB insulation;
• half-timbered - a powerful power frame, filling the space between it with translucent and decorative materials.

All buildings turn out to be light; a budget columnar or pile grillage is sufficient for them. However, due to ground conditions, relief, project features and developer preferences, floating and insulated slabs are often used, strip foundations different depths. What influences the choice of floor and ceiling design for a home.

Types of flooring in a wooden house

Depending on the design of the foundation, the ceiling and floor of the cottage can have several options:

• floating or warm USHP slab - often used for log houses on wet soils, a wooden floor on joists or a leveling screed for any other coverings or installation of a heated floor is possible;
• strip foundation - floor on the ground or floor on beams;
• the grillage is low - on a flat area, options similar to a strip foundation are possible;
• hanging grillage - only the ceiling on the beams.

Wood is present in the construction of beam floors, but not in ground floors and slab foundations.

Choice of insulation

When designing insulation for floor or floor structures, it is not enough to calculate the thickness of the layer. It is necessary to take into account the mutual influence of the materials of these pies on each other:

Overlap on beams:

• the heat insulator is placed between the timber;
• even when using the most reliable vapor barrier membranes, humid air inevitably penetrates into the structure;
• if the thermal insulation is absolutely vapor-tight (EPS or PSB), all the moisture will be absorbed into the timber and will not be able to escape due to tight contact with the insulation;
• problems (rot, fungus, insects) are possible after 1 – 1.5 years of operation;
• but they will not occur when using hygroscopic thermal insulation materials (ecowool, mineral wool, sawdust, expanded clay, cork granules), which will absorb part of the water along with the beams, and then release it outside through the waterproofing (membrane).

Floor on the ground

• in this design, the heat insulator is laid on a sub-concrete or membrane under the screed;
• cotton wool and bulk materials do not have sufficient strength to withstand operational loads (some manufacturers have exceptions in the form of high-density mineral wool);
• these insulation materials are hygroscopic, there is always a possibility of them getting wet, even due to capillary suction of concrete;
• In any case, moisture will not be able to escape through the screed without dismantling the structure, and besides, moisture is not harmful to concrete;
• Therefore, in floors on the ground it is better to use polystyrene foam, which does not absorb water at all and has a high density.

Advice! Polystyrene foams and polystyrene foams are considered incompatible materials for wooden structures and wood-containing boards. Therefore, it is better for an individual developer not to use the technology of house construction from SIP panels.

Polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam

Due to the above laws of building heating engineering, vapor-tight materials are only suitable for floors on the ground. The layer thickness is usually:

• from 5 to 10 cm for EPS;
• up to 5 to 13 cm for PSB.

Important! With a slight decrease in this characteristic, the user will not experience a significant deterioration in living comfort, but will overpay the energy supplier by 10-20% of the family budget on a monthly basis.

Mineral wool

In contrast to previous materials, mineral wool is not recommended for floor screeds on the ground, but it sharply increases the service life of lumber in wooden floors. Depending on the heat loss inside the structure, the layer thickness will be:

• 20 – 30 cm for the basement;
• 10 - 15 cm for all subsequent floors.

Important! Interfloor ceilings without thermal insulation sharply increase heat loss in the roof, and the sound insulation of the building’s load-bearing structures decreases.

Shredded waste paper and cardboard packaging impregnated with a protective fire retardant - borax and an antiseptic - boric acid are called ecowool. The material has features:

• not suitable for flooring on the ground, as it does not have the necessary density to withstand loads;
• the only insulation in which rodents do not live or move;
• counts better thermal insulation for floors on beams;
• The layer thickness is 25 cm and 20 cm for the basement and subsequent floor levels, respectively.

Advice! Without changing the thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/m*K and 20% hydrophobicity, the density of ecowool can be adjusted on site independently. For floors, a maximum value of 40 kg/m³ is used.

Compared to popular mineral wool and polystyrene, foamed polymers are more expensive. These materials are created to save working space, which is not relevant in floors on the floor and ceilings on beams.

When foil modifications are poured into concrete, the gap between the heat source and the reflective insulation disappears, and it stops working. Foamed polymers are best used in thin-layer structures under floor coverings, but not in slabs and screeds.

Foam glass

After foaming quartz raw materials, foam glass is obtained, the weight of which is 5 times less than that of dry wood. By analogy with expanded polystyrene, this material is a vapor barrier that can withstand high loads without destruction from 40 t/m² and reduces sounds by 50 dBa.

It is produced in slabs on which loaded trucks can easily move, or in granules for filling into wooden floors. With a density of 150 kg/m³, the layer thickness for the basement and all subsequent floors is 18 cm and 15 cm, respectively.

Expanded clay

With the advent of highly effective thermal insulators, expanded clay is used selectively. Given its characteristics - thermal conductivity 0.01 W/m*K, it will be necessary to increase the layer thickness by 4 times in comparison with basalt wool or 6 times relative to Ecowool. Such a volume will not fit in the ceiling along the beams, and when added to concrete, the thermal conductivity increases even more. Therefore, for floors on the ground, expanded clay is pure form rarely used.

Thermal insulating material fiberboard is obtained by mixing wood wool with liquid glass and cement. The slabs are considered universal, as they dampen structural and airborne noise, reduce heat loss in load-bearing structures buildings after pasting with this material.

They produce fiberboard in Satka near Chelyabinsk, in Bulgaria it is known under the brand Zidarit, in Austria it is called Heraclitus. Since the material is hygroscopic, it should not be embedded into floors along the ground. But for floors on beams and for pies of other structures made of lumber, Fibrolite is ideal. The recommended layer thickness is 10 cm for the upper floors and 15 cm for the basement.

Sawdust

To reduce heat loss in the basement floor along the beams, you will have to lay at least 30 cm of sawdust on it. Therefore, in its pure form, the material is used only for backfilling slabs in unused attics. Most often, sawdust serves as raw material for more effective thermal insulation and structural materials with similar properties.

Taking into account the above, if there are wooden elements in the floor structure, it is necessary to use vapor-permeable insulation - mineral and ecowool. Foam glass or high-density extruded polystyrene foam should be laid on the ground in a concrete floor.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for selecting them. Just submit in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and you will receive offers by email with prices from construction crews and companies. You can see reviews about each of them and photographs with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.

Here are the walls and roof erected wooden house, windows and doors have been installed. It's time to move on to the internal finishing works. And they usually start with the installation of floors. This is one of the most important and responsible stages of work, because the overall microclimate in the premises will depend on how correctly and efficiently the flooring is done. wooden structure and the level of heating costs. At the same time, close attention should be paid to the choice of insulation for floors, because up to 20% of the heat in the house is lost through the flooring.

How to choose insulation?

The most important thing on which the choice of insulation for treating the finished floor from below depends is the type of foundation and, accordingly, the floor structure:

• If the foundation is strip, then the floor can be laid directly on the ground or on a ceiling arranged along beams.
• A low grillage foundation assumes the same floor arrangement options as with tape type foundation.
• With a high grillage foundation, the floor is arranged on floors laid on beams.
• If there is a floating slab (this is often done during construction wooden houses on wet soils), then the floor can be arranged on joists or on a screed.

So, it becomes clear that there are three options for flooring in a wooden house, on which the choice of material for their insulation directly depends. This is the installation of floors on the ground, on a slab and on wooden floors with joists.

Therefore, when choosing insulation, you should definitely take into account the mutual influence of the floor pie construction materials.

Wooden floors

Since the floors of a wooden house are also made of wood, when using vapor-tight thermal insulation, all the moisture that ends up inside the floor structure will be absorbed into the wood and, due to the tight contact with the insulation, will not be able to escape outside. The result of this will be the appearance in a year and a half of fungus, insects and the spread of rotting processes.

Insulation with hygroscopic property gives a completely different result.(sawdust, ecowool, cork granules, mineral wool, expanded clay) and due to this, they absorb moisture in the same way as wood, but at the same time release it to the outside.

Therefore, with this type of floor installation, it is strictly forbidden to use various insulation materials based on polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam.

Wood and similar materials are incompatible things.

Floors on soil and slab

In this kind of floor structures, the insulation is covered with a screed on top.

Bulk and wadding materials will not be able to provide the required level of strength, although mineral wool with a fairly high density is now also produced.

In addition, these types of thermal insulation are hygroscopic and there is a possibility of them getting wet. And if they get wet, they will not be able to release moisture out through the screed.

Therefore, polystyrene foam insulation is most suitable for this type of floor - it is dense and does not absorb moisture.

In addition, when choosing thermal insulation for floors in a wooden house, you should proceed from the following factors:

• maximum weight of the floor structure;
• required thickness;
• humidity- temperature regime inside the house, the presence of temperature changes;
• design loads on the floor structure and operating conditions.

Separately, you should dwell on the thickness of the thermal insulation layer.

This indicator determines how warm it will be in a wooden house. It is calculated individually and depends on climatic conditions in which the house is built, and the thermal conductivity of the insulation itself. To determine the thickness of the insulation, you need the specified technical description for a specific insulation, multiply the thermal conductivity coefficient by the thermal resistance of the structure (determined according to SNiP “Thermal protection of buildings”). This formula helps to accurately calculate what the thermal insulation layer in the floor structure should be in order to ensure optimal temperature conditions in the house.

When choosing thermal insulation for the floor, you should also pay attention to:

• ease of installation of the material;
• environmental friendliness;
• efficiency, that is, maintaining its characteristics throughout the entire service life;
• fire safety;
• density and reliability;
• price.

How to insulate?

You can insulate floors in wooden houses different materials. Today, the building materials market is replete with a wide variety of thermal insulation, from the simplest to the most modern types.

Insulation materials

Sawdust

The simplest and cheapest insulation. It is easy to use - just sprinkle it on the subfloor. This material is environmentally friendly and safe. But it has a serious drawback - a high degree of fire hazard. And also when using sawdust as insulation, they will have to be laid in a layer as much as 0.3 m. Sawdust, in addition, like any wood product, can rot, and rodents can grow in it. Therefore, simply sawdust is most often used to insulate the floors of unused attic spaces.

However, sawdust has recently increasingly acted as a raw material in the production of other more modern and effective thermal insulation.

Ecowool

Thermal insulation material made from cellulose with the addition of fire retardants and antiseptic compounds. This product has good performance thermal insulation, vapor permeability. It is environmentally friendly, non-flammable, resistant to rodents and fungi. But ecowool strongly absorbs moisture. This is its main drawback.

Expanded clay

Material with high strength and thermal insulation characteristics. Expanded clay is suitable for installing floors on flat bases. To ensure optimal performance for thermal insulation, expanded clay must be laid in a layer of at least 15 cm. The convenience of this material is also that all necessary communications can be laid in it. Expanded clay is quite hygroscopic, so before using it on the ground, waterproofing measures must be carried out.

The main advantage of bulk thermal insulation for floors is their waste-free nature and ability to fill all kinds of (even the most difficult-to-reach) voids.

Expanded polystyrene, foam plastic, polyethylene

These materials are vapor-tight thermal insulation that can be used when laying a floor pie on a flat base. For floors on floors with joists (in wooden houses on stilts, posts, strip and grillage foundations), such material is not suitable due to the laws of building heating engineering.

The thickness of the insulation layer will be 5-10 cm for polystyrene foam and 5-13 cm for polystyrene foam.

These types of thermal insulation materials have the following characteristics:

• low thermal conductivity;
• strength;
• resistance to rodents and rot;
• resistance to temperature changes.

Expanded polystyrene insulation materials in our country are presented under the names “Penoplex”, “Technoplex”, “Knauf”.

Insulation materials based on polyethylene foam are also used for thermal insulation of floors. One of the varieties of such insulation is the rolled foil material penofol, which has high performance and thermal insulation properties. Penofol is a polyethylene foam covered on one or both sides with a layer of foil.

The high thermal insulation properties of this material are ensured by retaining heat in air bubbles sealed in polyethylene balls. The foil acts as a barrier that traps heat in winter and reflects solar heat in summer, thereby maintaining optimal thermal regime indoors.

Penofol is also a waterproofing material.

It is lightweight, non-hygroscopic, safe for health and has a long service life (up to 25 years).

Fibrolite

A not very common type of insulation, which is made from a mixture liquid glass, cement powder and wood wool. This material retains heat well and has high sound insulation characteristics. Due to its hygroscopicity, such insulation is not suitable for laying floors on the ground, but is ideal for floors on beams. To insulate the floor of the first floor, it is laid with a layer of 15 cm, the second - 10 cm.

Foam glass

Foam glass is obtained by foaming quartz sand. This is a durable slab or granular material with high vapor barrier and noise insulation characteristics that can withstand the weight of a truck.

Fiberboard slabs are used for insulating floors on a flat base, and granules are used for backfilling between joists on subfloors. The thickness of the insulation layer is 18 cm for the first floor and 15 cm for the second.

Mineral wool

This type of thermal insulation is by far the most popular. Mineral wool insulation is made from slag fiber, fiberglass or basalt.

The most inexpensive mineral wool insulation is glass wool, which is made from broken glass, sand, borax, dolomite, limestone and soda.

The raw material for slag wool is blast furnace slag, which is a waste product from the production of cast iron. Due to its excessive hygroscopicity, slag wool has practically not been used recently.

Stone wool made from basaltic rocks such as gabbro, basalt. Diabase with the addition of carbonate rocks (limestone and dolomite).

The main advantages of such insulation:

• they conduct heat poorly, and therefore retain it well;
• vapor permeability. The insulation ensures good air exchange, the floor design is “breathable”, which allows you to maintain optimal temperature and humidity conditions in a wooden house. The likelihood of condensation forming in the insulation is small;
• high density;
• high noise insulation characteristics;
• they are resistant to high temperatures and fire, and no smoke is released upon contact with fire;
• waterproof. Stone wool and glass wool do not absorb moisture, so there is no need to worry about dampness occurring inside the field structure;
• long period of operation - up to 50 years. This type of thermal insulation is not susceptible to rotting and damage by rodents.

The disadvantages of mineral wool thermal insulation are ambiguous. Currently, many large manufacturers have practically reduced them to zero, while others are successfully working to minimize them.

Among the disadvantages, it is noted that when working with mineral wool, especially with glass wool, a lot of dust arises, since the insulation consists of fragile fibers, which, when damaged, form very thin and sharp fragments. When they come into contact with the skin during installation of insulation, they lead to itching. Getting these fibers into the respiratory system is also dangerous. Therefore, such insulation can only be installed using personal protective equipment, such as a respirator, overalls, goggles, and gloves.

When wet, mineral wool loses its high thermal performance. Therefore, such insulation materials are specially treated with hydrophobes. To reduce the likelihood of mineral wool getting wet, it is recommended to install waterproofing on the room side and vapor barrier on the street side.

Builders still argue that mineral wool releases phenol-formaldehyde resins into the air. But the data latest research indicate their absolutely small quantity, which cannot have a detrimental effect on human health.

Mineral wool can be produced in the form of rolls or slabs. Mineral wool material in rolls has a lower density than thermal insulation in slabs. It is used more often as an addition to slab material or where it is not required high level thermal insulation.

The main brands of mineral wool are “Izover”, “Rokvol”, “Knauf”, “Ursa”, “TechnoNIKOL”, “Ecover”, “Izovol”, “Parok” and others.

Professionals cannot give a definite answer to the question about floor insulation for a wooden house - which choice is the best.

Almost everyone who loves comfort and warmth prefers to additionally insulate their floor. Today this is extremely relevant, since in construction stores you can find insulation for every taste. This applies to both insulating properties and the cost of the material. However, only at first glance the choice may seem obvious, but in fact it is not. Let's figure out what it is, high-quality thermal insulation for the floor and how to choose it.

Some general information

Before you start choosing a material, you need to answer yourself one simple question: do I need it? The fact is that today in many houses and apartments there is no exception, the only exceptions are those rooms where “warm floor” systems are installed, since in this case thermal insulation is required. In the end, the main goal we need to achieve is warmth and comfort. But we must not forget that if we can direct the heat in the right direction, we will also save a significant part of the money. It would seem that everything is simple, but this is not entirely true. Firstly, there are a large number of bases, for each of which it is necessary to use a specific material. Secondly, there are systems such as “warm” or “water” floors. Every place has its own nuances, so thermal insulation for the floor must be carried out taking into account even the smallest details.

About the choice of material

Before proceeding with installation, you must select good material, which will satisfy all requirements. Of course, you must also consider your financial capabilities. The most popular and at the same time relatively inexpensive thermal insulation material is essentially a regular roll seal, the main advantage of which is that it is completely environmentally friendly and clean. But use cork backing is limited by several factors: firstly, the floor will rise by about 3-4 cm, and secondly, it is necessary to use reflective material in the kit. If we take into account the last nuance, it turns out that such thermal insulation for the floor becomes quite expensive. But there are several other, more economical options.

Thermal insulation for heated floors

One of the most popular materials is polypropylene. It is usually used in the form of extruded slabs. This is due to the fact that they are easy to process, and this allows for correct installation in complex room configurations. What is also important is the non-hygroscopicity and closed cellular structure of polypropylene. Polypropylene can be used for quite high temperatures(up to 130 degrees).

Often, thermal insulation for heated floors is made from a material such as polystyrene foam. Sometimes an overlay is used on top, which is a polypropylene film. Extruded polystyrene foam is produced in thicknesses of 50-100 mm. By the way, many believe that this is one of the best materials for a water floor. It has mechanical properties such as strength, lightness and hardness. In addition, it withstands both high and low temperatures and lasts for many years, which is facilitated by its cellular structure.

Thermal insulation for water floors

Let's look at what better material choose for such a popular water floor today. As noted above, polystyrene foam is well suited for these purposes, and we’ll talk about it. The fact is that in our case it is extremely important to save heat from the coolant for as long as possible. Due to the preservation of its performance properties at temperatures from -180 to 180 degrees Celsius, polystyrene foam is excellent for solving this problem. In principle, it makes sense to note that air itself is a very poor conductor of heat. Therefore, we can safely count on a low thermal conductivity coefficient.

In detail about polystyrene foam

We have already figured out that substrates made of this material are very effective. In addition to thermal insulation, expanded polystyrene exhibits excellent sound insulation properties. Again, all this can be achieved thanks to the presence air bubbles, which prevent the conversion of sound energy into heat. Many may say that the soundproofing properties are unnecessary. In principle, this is true in a private house, but residents of high-rise buildings will definitely not agree with you.

Another feature is resistance to impact salt solutions and acids. Such thermal insulation for water heated floors will not be eaten by insects and rot. By the way, foam plastic is also good because it can last for decades, and during this time nothing will happen to it. Consequently, the arrangement of the heated floor will not be disturbed. Unlike some other insulating materials, this one does not emit harmful and toxic substances when heated.

What is best for a wooden floor?

Usually for completely wooden houses they try to choose environmentally friendly pure material. In principle, mineral wool, polystyrene and fiberglass are best suited for these purposes. These materials are not only environmentally friendly, but also good insulators. For example, fiberglass is well suited for wooden houses and structures, and polystyrene can be used for other buildings. The first option is more preferable, but the price is steep. The second method is less expensive. Mineral wool as thermal insulation for wooden floor, has the following significant advantages:

• low thermal conductivity;
• environmental friendliness;
• non-flammability;
• chemical resistance.

Expanded polystyrene is good in its own way; it is worth noting the following strengths:

• excellent thermal insulation;
• ease of installation;
• easy to process;
• durable and resistant to mechanical damage.

A little about the durability of materials

When choosing, it always makes sense to look not only at the initial quality of the insulating properties, but also at how long it will all work. Agree, I wouldn’t really want to buy expensive material that will rot in three years or simply lose its technological qualities. For this simple reason, it always makes sense to pay attention to durability. Any materials for floor insulation must last at least 10 years. For example, “warm floor” systems work for 15-20 years. After this period, a partial replacement of the system will be required. It is recommended to change the insulation during such maintenance. Some materials do not recover their previous shape after a slight load. This contributes to the fact that insulating properties are lost and appear. Because of this, the overall effectiveness of insulation is reduced.

Something about proper installation

It is necessary to understand that depending on the surface, not only the material, but also the method of its installation differs. For example, mineral wool for a wooden floor should be light color. This will indicate a minimum quantity. Laying is carried out according to subfloor. It is necessary to understand that between the rough and finished floor and the thermal insulation layer it is necessary to leave air gap, which is needed for effective moisture removal.

Isolon is much easier to install. A roll is rolled out on a pre-treated surface, then it is glued with tape. It is important to ensure that there are no visible mechanical defects or bumps. The technical plug is installed in exactly the same way. By the way, the latter material is almost ideal thermal insulation for the floor. The fact is that the layer thickness does not exceed 1.5 cm, so you can try to lay 2 layers with minimal raising of the floors.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a large number of thermal insulation materials. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages. The same applies to cost. By the way, it is not at all necessary to buy too expensive insulation. Sometimes the same polystyrene foam is more effective than mineral wool. For example, thermal insulation for an electric heated floor requires a concrete base You need thick material that will not absorb moisture. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to know what kind of flooring you have in your home. Experts will tell you what to choose. Remember that a lot depends on correct installation. You can install thermal insulation yourself, but this should be done very carefully and slowly so as not to damage the insulation.

Insulating the floor in a house is an important procedure that requires a responsible approach. High-quality insulation of a wooden floor will minimize heating costs in winter and ensure a long service life for the floor covering. Currently, the market for insulating materials offers a wide selection of products that can make a person’s life comfortable even in cold climates. However, it is necessary not only to install the insulation correctly, but also to choose it wisely. The fact is that each of these materials has features that allow it to be used in certain cases.

Insulation is carried out during the construction of the house; in this case, there is no need to dismantle the insulating material, and the consumption of building materials and time costs is minimal. But if it is necessary to insulate the floor of a wooden habitable house, then the work here is more difficult to complete. First you need to decide which insulation material is suitable.

Types of insulation

Choosing insulation

The choice of insulating materials is approached carefully. Under no circumstances should you save money on thermal insulation; remember that heat losses in the room entail financial costs for ever-increasing prices. electrical energy for home heating. But what kind of insulation for a floor in a wooden house should be and how to choose it correctly can be determined after you become familiar with the pros and cons of each type of thermal insulation. Popular thermal insulators are:

1. Ecowool and mineral wool.
2. Sawdust.
3. Expanded clay.
4. Polystyrene foam and penofol.
5. Polyurethane foam thermal insulation

They differ from each other in features and installation technology. To choose the right type of thermal insulation, several parameters are taken into account:

• Temperature and humidity indicators inside a wooden house and the frequency of their changes.
• Required thickness of the insulating layer.
• Operating conditions of a wooden floor and expected loads on it.
• Design weight of the floor structure.

Insulation with sawdust

It should be noted that wood itself is a good heat insulator, however, without an additional insulating layer, wood will not provide a high level of heat conservation in the room. High-quality thermal insulation of the floor is performed using wood sawdust.

This material has a number of advantages, including:

• Low price. Buying sawdust will be cheaper than buying mineral wool.
• Environmental friendliness of the material. To insulate the floor with sawdust in a wooden house, the subfloor will need to be covered with material.
• The thickness of the layer is from five centimeters or more. The thicker the layer of thermal insulation, the better.
• Sawdust can be easily poured into cracks and other hard to reach places, where it is impossible to lay another type of thermal insulation on the floor.

Insulation with sawdust

Advice! Insulation of a wooden house using sawdust is done if you are not afraid of a high level of fire hazard; otherwise, it is wiser to pay attention to a heat-insulating material that has a lower degree of flammability.

Insulation with mineral wool

If you are faced with the question of what is the best way to insulate a wooden floor, in this case mineral wool would be the ideal solution. At the moment, such thermal insulation is an attractive solution in terms of price and quality. In addition, mineral wool has many advantages compared to other insulation materials:

• Low degree of thermal conductivity, this allows to minimize heat losses in winter.
• Excellent level of water repellency. Mineral wool is used as insulation in houses with high humidity, the material does not allow moisture to pass through.
• Non-flammability. This indicator minimizes the occurrence of fire.
• Long service life. Insulating a wooden floor with mineral wool ensures a long service life of the heat insulator, which other materials cannot boast of.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Rot resistant.
• Mineral wool is resistant to temperature changes.
• Low cost. The price for such a heat insulator is slightly higher than for sawdust, but lower than for most other heat-insulating materials.
• Good sound insulation.

A number of minuses of mineral wool follow from the pluses. The main disadvantage is considered to be the low level of vapor permeability, because of this water condensation collects on the heat insulator. Therefore, if you choose mineral wool, then think about installing a vapor barrier.

In addition, over time, the mineral flooring cakes, which negatively affects the properties of the wool - the thermal insulation becomes worse. Therefore, during installation, it is recommended to lay mineral wool in two to three overlapping layers. Installation of insulation is carried out without gaps; vapor barrier layer, the seams are taped, this step will ensure reliable protection mineral wool to prevent condensation from accumulating on it.

Laying mineral wool

Penofol insulation

This material has not been used for floor insulation for a long time, so penofol has not yet become as popular as many heat insulators. This insulation consists of two layers, the first layer is foil, the second is insulating. Using penofol as floor insulation, you provide many advantages:

• Simplicity and ease of installation. Laying such material will not be difficult; you do not need to have professional skills to do this.
• The insulation is resistant to mechanical loads.
• The insulation has high density values, this allows the material to be laid under wooden subfloor thin layer.
• When using penofol as insulation, there is no need to install a vapor barrier, because condensation does not accumulate on such material.

Advice! Penofol has too high cost, however, don't let this scare you, because performance Such insulation more than compensates for such a price.

To insulate floors using penofol, you must adhere to the following sequence of work:

• The first stage is laying a layer of waterproofing.
• The insulating material itself is laid on the already laid waterproofing layer.
• Joints and seams are securely closed using polyurethane foam.
• Next, logs are installed on the insulation in increments of at least fifty centimeters.
• Between wooden joists the insulation is laid again, the cracks and seams are again sealed with foam.
• Now you can install the boards.

Penofol

Insulating material foam

This type of insulation is on par with mineral wool in its popularity. However, the thermal insulation material differs from the latter in higher performance: it does not cake over time, does not absorb moisture and retains its properties for a long time. In addition, using polystyrene foam as insulation under wooden floors, you will provide the following benefits:

1. The highest strength characteristics of the heat insulator; it can easily withstand mechanical stress.
2. Low degree of thermal conductivity. Thanks to this property, even a thin foam layer minimizes heat loss in the room.
3. Fire resistance.
4. Resistant to temperature changes and negative environmental influences.
5. The material is not subject to rotting.
6. Rodents are not afraid of polystyrene foam.

Foam plastic

Insulation material ecowool

When choosing ecowool as insulation, you should know that such thermal insulation will require installation time, unlike the above materials. But such a heat insulator will serve you for many decades and during this time it will reliably retain heat in a wooden house. The disadvantages of the material include its price and the need to use special equipment during the installation process.

Ecowool insulation

Penoplex insulation material

If you are insulating the floor using penoplex, then the installation scheme is the same as laying mineral wool. The insulating material is being installed, the seams and joints are sealed with foam. The insulation can be laid in two or three layers. The use of penoplex provides the following advantages:

• During installation there is no need to make a vapor barrier, because condensation does not collect on such a heat insulator.
• The material does not require additional protection from moisture.
• Resistant to any mechanical stress.
• Penoplex is not afraid of rodents.
• Has a long service life.

One of the main conditions for comfort and coziness in the house is its insulation, including the presence of floor insulation. This is especially important when the floor of the home is in direct contact with the ground. Moreover, floor insulation is necessary not only as a means of improving living comfort, but also to reduce money spent on heating a home.

Basic materials for floor insulation

Today, thermal insulation materials are presented on the market in quite large quantities. Depending on the properties of the insulation, different requirements are imposed on them. The main ones, regardless of the type of material, are low thermal conductivity, high strength, moisture resistance and durability. The most common materials:

• expanded polystyrene, most often in demand for insulation concrete floors;
• extruded polystyrene foam Penoplex, another well-known brand is Technoplex;
• expanded clay;
• mineral wool;
• cork insulation;
• gypsum or fiberglass;
• polyurethane foam;
• cellulose, on its basis ecowool is made;
• foam glass.

These insulation materials are divided into two types: natural and artificial. The first category includes cellulose and granulated slag, which is by-product iron smelting. Its use is quite popular due to its high thermal insulation properties. However, it may contain harmful impurities, so you should buy it only from trusted suppliers.

This is what bulk insulation looks like

All other insulation materials are of the artificial type. In my own way appearance they are also divided into several categories:

1. Sprayable. This is penoizol, or liquid foam, cellulose and polyurethane.
2. Rolled: mineral wool, linoleum, penofol.
3. Tile: glass wool, penoplex, polystyrene foam, foam glass, etc.
4. Bulk materials, which include foam glass, granulated slag, expanded clay and sawdust insulation.
5. Polymer mixtures, that is, self-leveling insulation materials.

Depending on what kind of insulation is used for the heated floor, the technology for its installation also depends. For example, linoleum, fiberboard sheets or cork insulation are rolled out on the floor and covered with hard material: parquet, laminate or wood covering. And mineral wool, expanded clay or extruded polystyrene foam need to be laid with a screed or joist.

Floor insulation with tile materials

Features of the most popular materials

Mineral wool and glass wool have good sound and heat insulation properties due to the presence of thin mineral fibers. When burning, harmful toxins are released, and noise is “extinguished.” The disadvantage of glass wool is that it quickly absorbs moisture, so it should not be used in damp rooms.

Most often, both of these materials are used for wooden floors due to their good vapor permeability. However, they still emit chemicals, although in small quantities, so glass and mineral wool cannot be classified as environmentally friendly materials. Their installation requires ventilation gap.

Cork insulation is more expensive due to its significantly best characteristics compared to other materials. It retains its strength and integrity for a long time, and it is also considered one of the most environmentally friendly and durable materials. Cork underlay can be placed under linoleum, which will significantly improve sound insulation. However, after some time, the unevenness of such a coating can be transferred to the linoleum, especially if you lay only one layer of material. This insulation is made from the bark of the cork oak tree.

A good replacement for glass wool is polystyrene foam. This is a moisture-resistant material, so it can be used in damp areas. Expanded polystyrene reduces heat loss because it conducts heat poorly. It flares up with difficulty, however, if it catches fire, then it’s a disaster, since fire resistance is not its quality.

Another name for expanded polystyrene, more familiar to all of us, is polystyrene foam. It is often used during the installation of a floating screed, after which it is filled with a concrete or cement layer. Due to its good moisture resistance, it can be used to insulate the floor on a balcony.

Due to the low density of glass wool, the material may slip during installation, which requires careful monitoring during installation

Another affordable one inexpensive material- This is expanded clay. It is also used as floor insulation under screed, but mostly dry. Expanded clay is added to concrete or poured under gypsum fiber boards. It can also be used for a floating screed, but then you need to pour cement or concrete on top. Expanded clay has a porous structure, is made from clay, and serves as an excellent thermal insulation material even in very cold conditions. However, for this purpose, the insulation layer must be at least 10 - 15 cm.

The most important characteristics

Before choosing floor insulation, you should take into account not only its areas of application, but also important parameters that determine how much the material will retain heat in certain conditions:

1. Thermal conductivity coefficient. Perhaps one of the most important parameters. It determines how much a material is capable of transmitting heat. Equals the amount of heat that passes through a material 1 meter thick with an area of ​​1 square meter in 1 hour. Calculations of this coefficient must be carried out under the condition that the temperature difference on both sides of the coating is 10 °C.
2. The characteristics of insulation largely depend on porosity. Equal to the ratio of the number of pores to the total volume of the material.
3. Ability to absorb water. The lower it is, the better the material is resistant to conditions high humidity.
4. Vapor permeability. It determines how well the material will “breathe”.
5. Strength. Important when there is a compression load.
6. Heat capacity. Determines how long a layer of material can withstand heat during temperature changes.
7. Fire resistance is the ability of insulation to withstand high temperatures.

First of all, it is necessary to consider what kind of floor – wooden on joists, concrete or a “warm floor” system. In all three cases you will need various materials

Floor insulation in a country house

Don't be surprised why you chose country house. They have both wooden and concrete floors, so a variety of insulation materials are installed.

To insulate wooden floors, you can use bulk materials, for example, expanded clay or wood concrete, as well as mineral fibers or glass wool. Mineral wool board covered with roofing felt or polyethylene, then filled with cement-sand or concrete screed. Foam plastic cannot be used due to poor vapor permeability. The thickness of the thermal insulation layer depends on the climate in a given region. If the average air temperature in winter is -20 °C, then this parameter should be 150 mm or higher.

To insulate the floor, level it and then lay the floor, it is necessary to fill in a loose gravel layer and compact it

To insulate wooden pores, it is best to lay logs every 60 cm. The gaps between them are closed with boards with lined insulation. It is necessary to lay waterproofing on both sides, the layer of which is 200 mm or higher. This technology insulation will protect the material from mechanical loads.

Foam plastic is suitable for a concrete floor, because it has good moisture resistance, compressive strength and a low thermal conductivity coefficient. The thickness of this insulation is at least 100 mm.

Thermal insulation should be laid tightly to the joists, leaving no gaps or cold bridges.

It is laid out as follows:

• the concrete base is pre-dried and waterproofing is laid on it, which can be polyethylene film;
• then they put polystyrene foam and lay the waterproofing layer again;
• at the end it is poured concrete screed thickness of at least 50 mm.
• Then you can start laying the flooring.

Waterproofing must be placed on both sides of the insulation

Video on laying floor insulation

Warm floor system

This is a so-called low-temperature water heating system used in apartments, kitchens, bathrooms and children's rooms. It is not installed very often, since this technology is quite expensive. Pipes with circulating water are laid under the floor surface hot water. Of course, in addition to pipes, you need to purchase a device automatic control, collectors, risers and shut-off valves.

Mainly for underfloor heating Polymer pipes are used, which are made from polyethylene, polybutene and polypropylene. They are resistant to corrosion, durable, and have good strength.

There is another version of the “warm floor” system. A cable is laid under the flooring that converts current into heat. However, on top heating elements it is necessary to lay a concrete layer of 3–7 cm or cement-sand mortar, and only then lay the flooring. The disadvantage of this technology is that due to malfunctions it is necessary to completely dismantle the floor.

Advantages of water systems low temperature heating are simple in design and small compared to systems steam heating capital costs

Key Findings

It is impossible to say for sure which insulation is better for the floor. There are quite a lot of such materials today. Expanded polystyrene, or polystyrene foam, works well for concrete floors. Mineral wool and glass wool are more often used for wooden floors, but they must be well insulated so that dust does not enter the room when it wears out. Ecowool is also best used for wooden floors, but only where there is no moisture.

When choosing a coating, you should pay attention to its thermal conductivity, moisture resistance and other important characteristics.