Do-it-yourself wall insulation with ecowool. Warming methods.

No house is built today without thermal insulation. The choice of modern materials allows you to choose insulation according to any parameters. When the main criterion is the price of the issue, the range of searches is limited. Among the materials for insulation typical for the Russian climate, ecowool is gaining special popularity. The first installations for its production appeared in 1993, although in Europe this material has been used for thermal insulation of residential and industrial premises since the 30s of the last century.

The construction of Scandinavian frame houses is not complete without this practical material and it is no coincidence: thermal insulation with ecowool of residential buildings and industrial buildings has its advantages. First of all, it is versatility. Insulation is used in partitions, walls, ceilings, roofing and enclosing structures and in private construction, and on an industrial scale. Lightweight material does not make the structure heavier, it is durable in operation ( up to 70 years ) Several variants of ecowool insulation technologies have been developed, differing in the method of its application.

Material features

What is ecowool? The insulation material contains 80% cellulose. Its fibers retain heat well and have the necessary characteristics to form a seamless fabric.

But cellulose for construction in its pure form is not suitable: it is flammable, under the influence of aggressive natural factors, its protective properties deteriorate. To enhance its capabilities, additional ingredients were added to the composition.

Table 1. Insulation composition:

Basic characteristics of ecowool:

1. Thermal conductivity index - 0.

   032-0.041 W / mK . Good protection from the wind, reduces heat loss in winter - a serious item of energy savings.

2. Biostability - high. The material is not available for rodents and insects.

3. Stacking density - up to 95 kg / cu. m. Provides good sound insulation.
4. Flammability group - G2. As the temperature rises, the insulation releases a crystallized liquid, so it melts, smolders, but does not burn.

5. Water vapor permeability level - 0.3 mg / (mhPa) . Reliable protection against moisture.
6. Smoke generation class - D2. Moderate room smoke.

7. Degree of air tightness - (80-120) * 10-6 m³ / msPa . The walls "breathe".

Ecowool has these characteristics in principle, but whether a particular brand will meet the standards depends on the manufacturer. It is necessary to purchase insulating material only from a large manufacturer, where all processes are automated and strictly controlled. Among the authoritative ones:

1. ISOFLOC is a German brand that produces high-quality insulation for multivariate purposes.

2. TERMEX is a Finnish brand that has been supplying ecowool to the Russian market since 1988.
3. Equator is a large domestic manufacturer offering competitive products since 2007.

Shape release

Unformed mass - bulk material. To facilitate transportation, it is compacted and packed in briquettes at 110 kg / cu. m . Before applying, the mass is unpacked and loosened.

The volume of the insulation will then triple.

In terms of its thermal insulation characteristics, ecowool is close to basalt slabs, mineral wool or expanded polystyrene, but it also has its own advantages.

Prices for mineral wool

Mineral wool

Absorption

Despite the stable air and vapor permeability, ecowool still absorbs moisture. But this process does not impair her protective capabilities. If mineral wool with an increase in moisture 1% increases thermal conductivity by 8-9% , then ecowool, even with an increase in this criterion by 25% , reduces the thermal conductivity coefficient by 2-5% . In addition, the hygroscopicity of cellulose allows it to absorb and release moisture without compromising its properties. If you insulate a wooden frame house with ecowool, humidity and temperature conditions will always be normal.

Pay attention! To exploit ecowool with maximum efficiency, it is necessary to create conditions under which the material will be freed from excess moisture. Because of these features, ecowool is not recommended to be used to protect ceilings in basements or basements, since the humidity in such places is usually increased.

Seamless layer

The mass is placed in bulk in frame cells fixed to the surface. As a result, thermal insulation is obtained without seams. With high-quality installation, the material will fill the entire space prepared for insulation. The appearance of cold bridges or free voids, which worsen the thermal insulation, in this case is excluded.

Especially if the degree of shrinkage of the material is taken into account when filling ( about 20% ). When insulating a house with roll or sheet materials, they are laid in several layers - this increases the cost of construction.

Soundproofing

The air permeability of ecowool cannot be compared with mineral counterparts, and its elasticity makes it possible to absorb sound waves (for example, expanded polystyrene does not have such capabilities) ...

A fifteen-centimeter layer of insulation absorbs up to 9 dB . This ability makes it possible to use insulation in the busiest areas: along the railroad tracks, near the airport, etc.

Safety

Reducing the noise level in the room does not contradict safety requirements: the environmentally friendly material does not contain phenol. Instead, natural lignin is used for the bundle, so you can not be afraid of harmful fumes. Borax and violent acid are not volatile substances and are safe in this regard. According to these characteristics, ecowool is close to expanded polystyrene.

Availability

Reasonable cost, waste-free laying technology ranks the material among the most demanded heaters for a private developer.

Of the shortcomings of the material:

1. The need for additional equipment. Whether wet or dry, it greatly simplifies the insulation process.
2. Installation has its own difficulties, and workers must also have the appropriate qualifications - for the developer this will be an additional cost.
3. The time required for complete drying of ecowool with a wet method of installation is 2-3 days - at the current pace of construction, this is not always realistic.

   The dry method creates a lot of dust and does not always contribute to proper compaction.

4. The thermal insulation capabilities of ecowool are gradually decreasing, since the material accumulates moisture and becomes compacted. If you make ventilation and add 20-30% of the reserve to the volume, the problem can be prevented.
5. Insulation shrinkage during vertical installation is observed after a year. The problem can be avoided with proper installation: you only need to blow cotton into a rigid structure.

6. Relatively low rigidity (in relation to foam, for example) does not allow using ecowool for frameless insulation.
7. The burning rate within 30 seconds indicates that the cotton wool is not flammable. But when it smolders slowly, the risk of inflammation of adjacent layers increases.

As you can see, ecowool is a specific material with its own application technology and application features. Considering all its features, it is possible to operate the insulation with maximum efficiency.

Thermal insulation technology options

Ecowool can be filled in different ways.

On an industrial scale, wet material is sprayed onto the prepared wall. The fibers are placed in the framework with a compressor. A summer cottage, bathhouse or garage can be insulated manually, but in this case it will take more time.Ultimately, much will depend on the adherence to the technology and the qualifications of the master.

1. Wet method. Lignin serves as the adhesive filler in this embodiment.

   Wet fibers adhere well to any substrate. The insulation layer should be within 50-60 kg / cu. m. This method is good for insulating block or brick walls. The lathing is made from a bar or profile (the first option is preferable).

   Insulation is applied using a professional installation. Loose cotton wool at the very outlet at the nozzle is impregnated with water and delivered to the surface under pressure. The wet method is easy and fast, indispensable for large volumes. The only disadvantage is the availability of professional equipment. For difficult surfaces such as the ceiling, on the underside, adhesives are dissolved in water for strength, helping the line to increase adhesion.

   The excess is cut off in level and reused after drying. Actually, there is no waste for any installation option, since cotton wool is suitable for reuse.

2. The dry method involves filling with dry ecowool cells of the crate on the wall, floor, ceilings. You can loosen the insulation with a nozzle for mixing solutions in a container of a suitable size. All surfaces are filled in bulk, tamping cotton until the forces are absorbed.

   When applying, they are guided by a simple formula: m = S * L * p, where m is the mass, S is the area; L is the layer thickness; P is its density. It is convenient to use a filling method to insulate floors, where it is possible to compact the layer to 35-45 kg / cu. m. In frame housing construction, when insulating wells, this method is used less often, since it is tamped to 60-65 kg / cu. m is not always possible.

Calculations with compressor insulation

With horizontal application, the distribution is close to 45 kg / cc. m. , with vertical - 65 kg / cu. m. With the industrial method of insulation, ecowool is applied in layers, using a professional installation.

The frame must be covered with foil or kraft paper. A hole for the supply hose is left in the upper part. With the flow of forced air, the fibers fill everything, including hard-to-reach places. Then the hole is closed. Craftsmen instead of a professional compressor use a homemade installation based on a garden vacuum cleaner.

Video - Wet or dry ecowool application technology

Do-it-yourself home insulation

For ecowool frame houses - ideal insulation : no need to bring a ton of material at once, tie the installation to the step of the lathing, it is easy to maintain the microclimate in the room, since you can insulate to a depth of up to 500 mm.

The logs of a wooden house are insulated on both sides. An important advantage is that there is no need for a film that traps moisture from the inside - the environmentally friendly material freely passes it through.The room, as they say, "breathes".

A block house made of aerated concrete, foam concrete, gas silicate can also be insulated with ecowool. It is usually applied outside. At the preparatory stage, a vertical crate is installed ( step - up to 1 m ).

The insulating material is applied with a wet adhesive method. The house breathes and therefore does not need vapor barrier. When insulating block structures, it is necessary to identify the location of the dew point in the puff cake so that it does not end up in the insulation. It is resistant to moisture, but it also has its limits. Such facades are usually clad with siding.

The manual method differs from the mechanized insulation by the duration of installation and material consumption. The main advantage of doing work on your own is considered to be resource saving. Manually insulate the floor, floors (starting from the second floor), walls. The surface is sheathed with self-tapping screws with building material (for walls - from bottom to top). The algorithm for thermal insulation with ecowool is simple:

1. An insulating material (kraft paper, vapor barrier) is applied to the prepared wall.

2. The material is removed from the package by pouring cotton wool into a container of the appropriate size.
3. A drill with a paint stripper can be used to loosen the dense workpiece and give the desired volume.
4. The space between the roof rafters or joists on the floor is filled manually (using a spatula or spatula) with fluffed insulation.
5. It takes 2-3 days for the insulation to dry and thicken.
6. At the final stage, the topcoat is laid.

It is better to insulate the house in a protective mask, since there is a lot of dust from dry ecowool. The floor is insulated by filling the logs up to a small slide. After laying the finishing material, the insulation layer will be compacted. When insulating the walls, the material is additionally compacted. As a result, the volume of the insulation is reduced by 2-3 times .

It is convenient to manually insulate small surface areas.

Mechanized application

If you invite a team of professional builders, the insulation period will be reduced from two weeks to two days. Installation of ecowool with the help of special equipment allows you to more economically use insulation, minimize the likelihood of problems due to the human factor. The dry method is also used to isolate space in interfloor ceilings and non-separable structures, horizontal or inclined surfaces. The technology involves several stages:

1. A hole is made at the top point of the structure.
2. A hose from the compressor is placed in it.

3. Ecowool is blown into the prepared niche under pressure.
4. After filling evenly, the hole is closed with a decorative plug.

Ecowool is in any case laid after the vapor barrier layer and kraft paper. Density standards - 44 kg / cu. m.

Thermal insulation of a house with a wet method

The method is suitable for insulating an open surface.

The advantage of wet material is that it adheres reliably to the surface to be insulated. High adhesive properties of ecowool are provided by lignin (when moistened, its adhesion is maximum). Wet insulation algorithm:

1. A frame is constructed from a metal profile or bar.
2. The cells are filled with a heater with a pneumatic installation.
3. The hole from which the cotton is supplied is wetted with water.

4. Insulation is laid in a dense layer that does not lend itself to deformation
5. Excess protruding parts are cut off for reuse.

The material is left to dry for 2-3 days until a stable crust is formed.

Warming the house with a wet-glue method

The difference between this technique and the previous one is that glue is additionally added to the ecowool to enhance adhesion. This technique is indispensable for ceiling insulation, suspended complex structures with thin walls. It is important to take into account that shrinkage can also be avoided with vertical laying, if ecowool is sprayed as randomly as possible.

If the dry method can be used to insulate the room (horizontal ceilings) on your own, then for other options you need to invite specialists. It is better to insulate the walls with wet methods - the probability of shrinkage is lower.

Thermal insulation of the roof with ecowool

At the preparatory stage, the roof is waterproofed, the bearing capacity of the rafter system is checked. If necessary, reinforce it with wooden beams and metal profile structures. The attic is cleaned of debris, protective screens are installed in the places where the cable is laid to provide access to them after the cotton is laid. Before blowing in, all the spaces that need to be filled should be analyzed: formed by the side rafter beams (the layer thickness will be identical to the width of the rafters), the upper wind shield, the lower vapor barrier.

The insulator exerts a certain pressure on the base, therefore it is important to control the gap between the vapor permeation membrane. Lay only high-quality material on the timber and without sagging. The counter bar must create a gap of 45 mm. At the bottom, the material is fixed with a bar 20-40 mm.

Prices for various types of bars

Bar

Attic roof insulation requires the following rules:

• thermal insulation must be protected from excess moisture;
• ventilation in this technology is mandatory;
• cotton wool is laid in a uniform monolithic layer.

The roof cake consists of a roof covering, a frame, a waterproofing layer, ecowool, a vapor barrier and a finishing material from the inside.

The geometry of the roof is quite complex, so wet technology is recommended. Insulation instructions:

1. Cover the roof over the frame with foil. At the joints, the canvases are connected with construction tape.
2. Spray a layer of ecowool on the surface. It is applied from the bottom up to prevent the top layers from slipping.

3. After complete drying of the insulation (up to 2 days), it is covered with a vapor barrier film. The canvases are fixed with a stapler.
4. Sheathed the roof along the crate with plasterboard, siding, wood.

Video - How to insulate the roof ecowool

How much wool is needed to insulate a house

For example, let's take a one-story house with an area of ​​ 100 sq. m (building dimensions - 9x11 m ). We begin the calculation of ecowool by determining the surface area that needs to be insulated.

1. Outer walls: (9 + 11) * 2 = 40 m - this is the perimeter, multiply it by the height of the room (3 m) and get 120 sq.

   m of wall area. Insulating layer - 200 mm (150 + 50 cross). We translate everything into meters and multiply by the thickness of the interlayer: 120 * 0.2 - 24 cubic meters. m.

   We will blow cotton wool into the walls with an approximate density of 65 kg / cu. m. As a result, we get 24 * 65 = 1560 kg of material with the wet method.

2. Internal walls: let's say, inside a room of 100 sq. m of the lateral surface.

   With a thickness of an insulating layer of 100 mm, 100 * 0.1 * 65 - 650 kg of material will be required. In total, double insulation requires 1560 + 650 = 2210 kg.

3. Gender Determine the overlap area: 9 * 11 = 99 sq. m.

   With a heater thickness of 200 mm, 99 * 0.2 = 20 cubic meters will be required. m (approximately). To cover the attic, it is necessary to increase the layer to 300 mm. Total: 99 * 0.

   3 = 30 cubic meters. m. For 2 floors - 50 cubic meters. m. With horizontal dry blowing, the density is 35 kg / cu.

   m. in total - 30 * 35 = 1050 kg.

So, a one-story building with a layer of 200 mm. for floor, 200 ml. for walls and 300 ml.

for the attic you need 3260 kg. insulation. In a standard bag - 15 kg , it turns out 218 bags (approximately, but always worth taking with a margin). The price of a bag of ecowool is about 500 rubles. The cost of such a quantity is approximately 115,000 rubles.

Estimates are approximate, you can reduce the layer in the attic (if there is not enough material).

Calculations the cost of house insulation on their own and by installers

For one cubic meter of floor insulation, professionals have to pay 2 thousand rubles . With self-installation, a cubic meter will cost 1,750 rubles. at a density of 50 kg / cu. Professional application with a machine provides a density of 40 kg / cu. Difference per cubic meter - 250 rubles.

If you want to compact 100 sq. m with a layer of 200 mm, it comes out 20 cubic meters. m. or 5 thousand rubles difference. If you compare in time, the compressor will complete this work in an hour and a half, and manually for such a volume of work will take 30 hours.

Similar calculations will be made for the insulation of floors.

Additional recommendations

The spaces between the battens are filled moderately. Otherwise, the protective properties of the material are reduced. The thickness of the insulating layer when applied to the floor, the interfloor overlap is 0.2 m.

Standard cake for this type of insulation: ventilation facade-MDVP-ecowool-kraft paper-frame-plasterboard.

After insulation, it is necessary to withstand several days until the lignin, the binder ecowool, upon contact with a moist environment, will create a 5 cm thick crust on the surface, which improves the insulating properties of the material.

The decorative cladding must be mounted carefully so as not to damage the insulating layer. To reduce air pollution when compacting the material, you can insert paper between the cotton wool and the trim.

For a cottage intended for permanent residence, the following insulation layer is sufficient:

• floor - 200-250 mm;
• walls - 200 mm;
• attic or attic - 250-300 mm.

When building a summer cottage, you can also save: 150 mm for the floor, 100 mm for the walls and 150 mm for the attic. In general, energy resources are constantly getting more expensive, so the savings should be reasonable.

In case of self-insulation, a garden vacuum cleaner is used instead of a compressor. Disconnect its moving part, and fix the terminals on the working area. A very long hose is not used as the power of the unit is reduced. The teeth are removed because the cotton wool will cling to them. The hose with the hole in the dust container is connected with tape.

To reduce dust formation, wrap a cloth around the corrugated hose.

Experts do not recommend using ecowool in floating floors or when insulating central heating pipes and similar surfaces. In winter, insulation works are carried out at an air temperature of minus 15 degrees . Add 30 liters per cubic meter of cotton wool.

Is it worth building a ventilation gap when insulating with ecowool? There are no special recommendations for this material: it all depends on the material of the facade and on the composition of the wall cake.

When finishing with siding, a ventilation gap is not required, but a wooden cladding is needed.

Wet ecowool can be sewn up with plasterboard, it is only important to let the insulation dry completely.

Mice do not eat ecowool, but if they get inside, they can build nests. For this purpose, nets are installed on the ventilation holes. The problem is relevant for other heaters as well.

It is best to have a cat as a safety net.

After ecowool on any facade, a windproof film will not be superfluous: it will protect the tree not only from dampness, but also from blowing. In a classic pie, there is a vapor barrier film inside the room.And ecowool in this regard is no exception. It is especially necessary to install a vapor barrier with high quality when insulating a bath.

Unlike alternative insulation options, ecowool is not afraid of dampness.

If the building does not have a solid sheathing, it will not work to fix the ecowool. It can only stick to a rigid base. A vapor barrier film can be laid between the layers of insulation. In this case, the cross layer is also recommended to be made with ecowool. The vapor barrier in the house is installed before insulation with ecowool.

Pipes and wires are also hidden under the film.

Kraft paper is also combined with ecowool. It is used for partial vapor barrier, when it is necessary to release part of the steam into ecowool, and it already sends it out. Kraft paper also protects the room from dust. Outside, paper is not used.

As you can see, ecowool is not inferior in its characteristics to other modern heaters.

In addition, cellulose is durable, safe, and the use of a professional installation allows you to insulate the house in the shortest possible time. And if we take into account the affordable price and waste-free technology, the choice of this method of insulation is obvious.