At the same time, such an event will help reduce the cost of heating the building.
What materials are needed, as well as what method to choose for insulating a strip, column or wooden base - read on.
Why do you need base thermal insulation?
Insulation of the foundation of a wooden house can be internal and external. In any case, thermal insulation will help prevent many of the destructive factors.
External insulation (regardless of material) protects against freezing and cold air entering living rooms, allowing you to save approximately 1/3 of electricity. In addition, the foundation, insulated from the outside, is protected from the destructive effects of moisture from the soil, which extends the life of communications and the very foundation of the building.
Arranging thermal protection from the inside contributes to the formation of an optimal microclimate in the basement and, accordingly, in the house, creates an obstacle to the penetration of groundwater and the accumulation of condensation, which eliminates the appearance of mold.
Conclusion
To avoid wasting time and saving money when insulating the foundation, you must first decide what to insulate on the outside. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the climate in the area where the house is located. It is the effectiveness of the material that determines how much of it will be needed and how much the work will cost.
First, they calculate how much heating will cost and decide to install thermal insulation.
Foam plastic is considered one of the cheapest and most effective materials. But it is highly flammable, so fire safety must be ensured. Otherwise, the likelihood of an unpleasant situation is very high.
Polyurethane foam is considered another good insulator, but its price and installation costs are quite high, and you will need special equipment.
There are quite a few options for thermal insulation, so it is worth carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Types of foundations and methods of their thermal insulation
Depending on the method of support on the ground, the following types of foundations used for wooden buildings can be distinguished:
- columnar;
- monolithic;
- tape;
- pile
For the construction of wooden and frame houses, in most cases, shallow foundations are used. They are made of concrete or brick in the form of a strip or slab structure. It is better to insulate such a foundation from the outside. The thermal insulation layer is located at a distance of approximately 1.5 m, behind which a frost-free layer of soil is created.
Columnar base
This type of foundation is constructed from pillars that are dug below the frost line by about 2 m.
The posts are located at all corners and intersection points of the building structure, as well as in places with maximum load.
In this case, the base is made thick and the floors are thoroughly insulated; there is no basement.
Pile structures
When making a screw base, instead of monolithic pillars, piles are used that are screwed into the ground.
It is insulated in the same way as a columnar foundation.
Monolithic foundation
Monolithic is made in the form of a slab under the base of the house; in this case, a basement is not provided.
To equip its buried version, they dig a pit; for a shallow one, the top layer of soil is simply removed. Such a foundation can be insulated with any modern materials only from the outside.
Tape
A strip foundation is created under the walls along the perimeter of the building, provides for a basement, it can be made of concrete blocks.
It can be insulated from the outside and inside without any problems.
Protecting the base floor box from direct contact with the ground
For more effective insulation, it is advisable to completely isolate the foundation box from contact with the soil. When the base is already fully equipped, there is usually a considerable amount of empty space left inside. If it was not initially planned to make a basement in this place, then it would be better to fill it with expanded clay or earth to the floor level. Arranging a cushion of earth is cheaper, especially if it remains after the foundation pit has been dug. However, if there is no free land and it needs to be purchased, then you need to be prepared for the fact that a considerable amount of land will be required.
In this case, it will be more profitable, simple and convenient to make a backfill from expanded clay. With its help, the entire surface of the basement is not completely covered, only half a meter from the foundation strip. This will cost much less than purchasing land for the entire area of the building. In addition, the basement will remain free, which over time can be used as desired.
Thus, you can insulate a wooden house in various ways, it all depends on the type of foundation and design features. In any case, it is necessary to use thermal insulation materials, as they will help provide the entire structure with reliable protection from cold and exposure to external conditions. It must be remembered that despite the strength of concrete, it is quite easily and quickly destroyed under the influence of moisture and cold.
Choice of insulation
The most popular insulation materials for insulating the base from the outside are:
- expanded clay;
- polystyrene foam, polystyrene, penoplex;
- polyurethane foam.
cotton wool
Internal insulation of the foundation of a house is usually carried out using cotton wool materials (mineral, glass, basalt).
They will require double-sided waterproofing (to avoid getting wet, lumps, and cold penetration through the voids).
Styrofoam
You can also use polystyrene foam. It is accessible, cheap, and easy to install. But this is a fragile material, so you need to work with it carefully.
Despite its fire safety, when insulating the outside, experts give preference to foam plastic, since contact with electrical wiring is excluded, and the operational characteristics of the insulation make it possible to create an effective thermal insulation system.
PPU
Polyurethane foam is considered a universal insulation material. It is commonly used as a thermal insulator under floors and in basements.
Apply by spraying onto surfaces. A heat-insulating layer forms after drying.
It does not require additional insulation, is very light, and lasts a long time.
Penofol
To insulate the foundation, penofol is also used - foamed polyethylene covered with aluminum foil. It is thin, retains heat well, and protects against moisture.
Used as an additional material with other types of insulation.
EPPS
Most often, extruded polystyrene foam is used for any method of insulating a load-bearing base.
This is a universal material that has excellent moisture-repellent properties, is relatively cheap, and has a long service life.
Expanded clay
Expanded clay is a good choice for insulating a shallow foundation. Due to the porous structure of the granules, it retains heat well. It is an environmentally friendly and inexpensive material. Thermal insulation with expanded clay is often carried out externally.
To do this, the foundation is dug out around the entire perimeter and cleared of soil. After this, all cracks in the base are eliminated and waterproofing is installed. Protection from moisture can be carried out using a coating method, for example, bitumen mastic or by gluing with waterproofing materials (optionally, roofing felt). Insulation is poured into the trench and a concrete screed is poured.
When is it better to insulate the base of a wooden house?
The optimal period for arranging foundation insulation is considered to be the beginning of construction work, when the walls have not been erected and the subfloors are not ready. But if thermal protection was not provided at the construction stage, then it can be done during the operation of the building.
If you have the opportunity to choose an insulation option, then it is better to go with the external one. According to experts, internal insulation shifts the dew point, and the foundation is easily exposed to external humidity and cold, which quickly destroy it.
The insulation layer in the basement creates increased dampness, which can be eliminated with additional ventilation, and this is an additional expense.
Another disadvantage of arranging the system from the inside is a noticeable reduction in the area of the room.
Features of thermal insulation
Before installing an insulation system, the foundation of the building in use must be completely excavated. The surface is cleaned of soil and other contaminants, damage and cracks are eliminated.
Waterproofing layer
It is important to protect the foundation from groundwater. To do this, waterproofing is performed.
Bitumen mastic, special deep penetration solutions, roofing felt, and liquid rubber are used as waterproofing materials.
Installation of insulation
For external thermal protection, foam boards or extruded polystyrene foam are most often used. The insulation is installed using special glue without organic solvents. Additionally, you can secure them using dowels with a wide head. After the glue has completely dried (about two days), the underground part of the foundation is backfilled.
The material is attached to the base in the same way. But in its upper part it is necessary to use non-flammable insulation, for example, mineral wool. So, slabs of expanded polystyrene or polystyrene foam, which are not highly fire resistant, are separated from the wooden structures of the building.
Reinforcement and cladding
A reinforcing mesh is installed on the surface of the insulation, which is embedded in the adhesive solution.
Then you can do the finishing touches. Artificial stone or brick, tiles, and decorative plaster are suitable for this.
Ventilated facades
If fibrous materials are used as insulation, after its installation it is necessary to lay a vapor barrier layer. After that, a sheathing is installed, on top of which the facing material is attached.
Thus, a ventilation gap is formed between the thermal insulation and the finishing, due to which moisture does not accumulate in the insulation and it does not lose its properties.
Stages of insulating the foundation with your own hands
To carry out high-quality insulation of the base of a wooden structure, you need to perform the following steps:
- Select the soil around the foundation if work is carried out after the construction of the house.
- Clean surfaces from dirt, mold and grease deposits.
- Remove unstable fragments, seal cracks and potholes.
- After the material has dried, treat it with a deep penetration primer or anti-corrosion agent.
- Waterproof the base.
- Fasten the insulation in accordance with the method recommended by the manufacturer.
- If required, apply another layer of waterproofing or exterior finish.
Backfilling and compaction of soil can be carried out only after the adhesive compositions have completely hardened.
