Insulation under siding - the best overview + instructions

Siding has a lot of positive characteristics, but it cannot boast of thermal insulation properties. That is why, when decorating residential buildings, the walls are first insulated, and only then the coating panels are attached. What kind of insulation for siding has the best properties, what criteria should be used to choose it, and how to properly insulate it with your own hands - this will be discussed in the article.

Basic requirements for insulation for siding

In each In a hardware store, heaters are presented in a wide range, and it is very difficult for an inexperienced person to understand them. Rolls and slabs, expensive and cheap, domestic and foreign production, of different density and thickness - how to determine exactly what you need?

First of all, you need to be guided by the requirements that the material must meet:

• Low thermal conductivity is one of the most important qualities that a heater should have.

  The lower this indicator, the less heat escapes through the walls of the room;

• resistance to temperature extremes and moisture - since the insulation is located on the outside of the building, it is exposed to high and low temperatures, and not all materials remain initial properties. When humidified, the same thing happens, in addition, the risk of fungus appearance under the skin increases;
• environmental friendliness - the presence of toxic compounds in the composition is a health hazard and requires additional protective measures when performing thermal insulation;
• fire safety - the insulation should not contribute to the spread of fire during a fire and emit poisonous smoke during combustion. Therefore, preference should be given to fire-resistant and self-extinguishing materials;
• durability - here it is implied that the insulation must fully retain its characteristics, including geometric shapes, during the entire service life. Unfortunately, many materials shrink after a few years, or begin to crumble, which leads to a decrease in thermal insulation properties.

Not all materials have such qualities in full, and below we will consider only the most suitable ones.

Next, you need to take into account the installation method, especially if you are going to do all the work yourself. Rolled insulation is less convenient to install, it is much easier to fix the plates.

Types of heaters

The most popular heaters for siding today are:

• mineral wool;
• based on expanded polystyrene;
• blown insulation (ecowool, penoizol, polyurethane foam).

Mineral wool, according to GOST 52953-2008, is divided into three types - stone, slag and glass wool.

GOST R 52953-2008 - free download.

MATERIALS AND HEAT-INSULATING PRODUCTS

GOST R 52953-2008

For the production of the first type, basalt and silicate rocks are used, as well as their mixtures, slag wool is made from metallurgical waste, glass wool - from waste glass industry. These heaters are very thin fibers pressed into thick webs, which are produced in the form of rolls and mats of various sizes and densities. Additionally, they can be foil-coated. As a rule, only stone and glass wool is used to insulate a house for siding, since slag insulation is less water resistant.

Polystyrene foam insulation, polystyrene foam and EPS, are light dense sheets formed from a large number of closed cells filled with air.

Due to this structure, these heaters practically do not absorb water. They are produced only in the form of plates, differing in density, size, degree of flammability.

Blowing materials are those materials that are applied to the base using a special installation under high pressure. Once dry, they form a durable, seamless coating with excellent thermal insulation properties.

Characteristics of mineral wool insulation

Stone wool

Of all types of stone wool, basalt insulation is considered the most popular.

It is distinguished by the lowest content of binder components, which includes formaldehyde resins and phenol, which are hazardous to health, which means that it is one of the most environmentally friendly materials. The fibers that make up the insulation are not prickly and smooth enough, so they do not cling to clothes, they do not cause irritation on the skin, you can perform work without protective gloves.

Technical characteristics of basalt wool

Manufacturers produce stone wool in the form of mats, soft, semi-rigid and rigid slabs, in rolls. For installation under siding, rigid and semi-rigid slabs are most convenient, but rolled insulation is more suitable for horizontal and inclined surfaces.

Pluses of stone wool:

• the material is easy to cut, has a low weight, does not create difficulties during installation;
• does not burn and does not emit harmful substances;
• microorganisms, including fungi, do not develop in it;
• reduces the noise level to 20%;
• the service life is 40-50 years without loss of basic characteristics.

Cons :

• the production of the material requires high costs, respectively, the prices for stone wool are quite high;
• when cutting and shaking the material, thin fibers break and form very fine dust that easily penetrates the respiratory tract. As a result, a respirator must always be worn during thermal insulation work.

There are many manufacturers who, to reduce the cost of the manufacturing process, use various industrial waste instead of pure rocks, but at the same time pass off their products as high-quality basalt insulation. It is very difficult to visually recognize a fake, especially for an inexperienced person, so buy stone wool from well-known, time-tested brands. Now the following manufacturers enjoy a high reputation in the market of thermal insulation materials:

• Rockwool;
• Knauf;
• Ursa;
• Isover;
• TechnoNIKOL.

  

  Insulation manufacturer Technicol

  

  Mineral wool ISOVER

Glass wool

The popularity of glass wool has dropped markedly with the advent of basalt and slag insulation on the market, but it is still used in various fields. In appearance, it does not differ much from stone wool, but it is more fragile, therefore many manufacturers additionally reinforce the material using steel threading.

A feature of glass wool is that glass fibers are destroyed at the slightest impact and form a fine dust that easily eats into the skin, penetrates the respiratory tract, eyes and causes severe irritation.For this reason, it is possible to work with glass wool only in protective clothing, a respirator and glasses.

Specifications

Advantages of glass wool:

• Due to low thermal conductivity, glass wool perfectly retains heat in the house ...

  A layer of material with a thickness of 50 mm is similar in terms of thermal insulation properties of a meter-thick brickwork;

• no toxic additives are used in the manufacture of glass wool, therefore it does not emit harmful substances even under the influence of high temperatures;
• glass wool slabs have a small weight and can be compressed in the package 6 times of the initial volume, followed by straightening, which simplifies the transportation of the insulation;
• the material is easily cut and mounted on walls;
• microorganisms do not develop in glass wool and insects do not start and rodents;
• compared to other fiber insulation, glass wool is much cheaper.

Disadvantages :

• high fiber fragility requires increased protection and care in work, increased stress on the material should be avoided;
• the average life of glass wool is 10 years, then it shrinks strongly and does not provide even minimal thermal insulation of the walls;
• glass wool absorbs humid vapors and water, which leads to a complete loss of thermal insulation characteristics.

Tip. Slabs laminated with fiberglass with a density of about 30 kg / m3 are best suited for siding. In order not to get a low-quality insulation, pay attention only to certified glass wool from leading manufacturers, for example, Knauf, Isover, Ursa, the domestic brand "Neman".

Prices for mineral wool

Mineral wool

Characteristics of expanded polystyrene insulation

Foam plastic

Foam plastic has a very low hygroscopicity, in which it is significantly superior to fibrous insulation. Walls sheathed with foam also do not require additional wind protection. This is one of the cheapest insulation options, although not the most effective. Due to the vapor tightness of the material, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room so that condensation does not accumulate on the walls.

Pros of foam:

• affordable cost;
• low thermal conductivity;
• light weight;
• ease of installation.

Cons :

• in noise absorption, foam is inferior to other types of insulation;
• sheets of material break easily, therefore, care is required during transportation and installation;
• foam is damaged by rodents;
• is a combustible material and emits toxic smoke when burned.

EPPS (extruded polystyrene foam)

This material has characteristics similar to foam, but in all respects it is much better. EPPS is widely used in industrial and private construction, its installation does not require much effort or special skills.

Pros:

• high density and strength of the material;
• virtually zero hygroscopicity;
• excellent thermal insulation properties;
• good noise absorption;
• long service life;
• relatively light weight.

Cons :

• the cost of EPS is about 20-30% higher than that of foam;
• does not allow walls to "breathe";
• can be damaged by rodents;
• is a combustible material.

Prices for foam

Polyfoam

Characteristics of blown insulation

Ecowool is a new material made from cellulose fibers. It contains a binder - lignin, fire retardants and boric acid as an antiseptic. Ecowool is a loose mass that is applied dry or wet.

Penoizol and polyurethane foam have a cellular structure and are applied to walls in liquid form.

They are lightweight, therefore they almost do not exert loads on the base, but at the same time they cover the entire area with a dense, uniform layer. With this method of insulation, there is no need to level the walls and install a windscreen, which greatly simplifies installation.

Pros:

• no cold bridges;
• durability;
• low thermal conductivity;
• quick installation.

Minuses :

• these materials are more expensive than other heaters;
• for application, you need to have special expensive equipment and experience with it.

Installation of insulation under siding

Regardless of the material chosen and the method of fixing it, the surface must first be properly prepared. To do this, they remove everything that can interfere with the work - lighting devices, platbands, decorative elements and other items, and then carefully examine the walls. It is not necessary to level the base, but it is imperative to patch up the cracks and remove the fungus.

Wooden beams or metal profiles are used as a lathing for siding.

If you prefer a timber, it is worth pre-treating it with an antiseptic impregnation to avoid damage to the wood from condensation and the development of mold.

Prices for different types of bars

Bar

Insulation of walls with mineral wool

Step 1. A frame made of timber with a section of 50x50 mm is fixed on the wall. The bars are fastened vertically with self-tapping screws and dowels, the distance between the posts should be 1.5-2 cm less than the width of the insulation.

It is imperative to control the vertical arrangement of the racks with a building level so that all the elements of the crate are in the same plane.

Step 2. Plates of mineral wool are alternately inserted between the beams, slightly crushing the edges. After installation, the material is easily straightened and tightly fills the crate cells. If necessary, the plates are cut with a knife or fine-toothed hacksaw.

Step 3. If the insulation is planned to be mounted in two layers, on top racks with self-tapping screws fasten horizontal jumpers from a bar at the same distance. Next, the mineral wool slabs are fixed again.

Step 4. A windproof membrane is attached on top of the insulation.

Since its width is not enough for the entire wall area, it is fixed with horizontal stripes, starting from the bottom of the facade. It is most convenient to use a stapler to fix the membrane. Each subsequent strip is laid with an overlap of at least 10 cm. To increase the tightness of the coating, the joints are glued with tape along the entire length.

Step 5.

Next, strictly according to the level, the guides for the siding are installed using the mounting plates. The plates are fastened with self-tapping screws to the crate with a pitch of 40 cm. An air gap of about 3-5 cm should remain between the guides and the windproof membrane.

After that, proceed to cladding the facade with siding panels. As you can see, the technology is quite simple and everyone can do it.

The most important thing is to firmly fasten the plates so that they do not dangle between the posts. If there are gaps, the heat will escape and all efforts will be in vain.

Siding prices

Siding

Thermal insulation with extruded polystyrene foam

Step 1. On the wall, along the level mark the location of the hangers for the guides. The hangers should be fastened along the entire facade in 40 cm increments.

Holes are drilled at the marked points, dowels are inserted and the hangers are fixed with screws.

Step 2. Take the EPSP board, apply it to the wall and press it a little to traces of suspensions were imprinted. Following these traces, cuts are made in the insulation with a knife or a special cutter. Then the slab is again attached to the wall and put on the suspensions, pressing it tightly to the base.

Step 3 . The rest of the plates are fixed in the same way, trying to make the joints as thin as possible. If in the process of work gaps have formed here and there, they need to be sealed with polyurethane foam with a pistol.

Step 4. After sheathing the facade with insulation, proceed to the installation of guide profiles under siding.

The profiles are attached to suspensions that protrude from the heat-insulating layer; a 2-3 cm wide ventilation gap is left between the guides and the insulation. Next, the siding is attached.

This insulation can also be attached using umbrella dowels and special glue. In this case, it is more convenient to first mount the crate to which the siding will be attached. Glue is applied to the insulation, then the plate is inserted between the guides and pressed against the base.

Upon completion of the installation, the plates at the joints are additionally fixed with umbrella dowels.

Thermal insulation with ecowool

Thermal insulation of walls with ecowool can be performed in two ways - dry and wet. The first method is not reliable enough, since the material is blown through small holes in the protective film, and it is impossible to control the density and uniformity of filling. In this regard, the wet method is more convenient, the whole process takes place in plain sight. It is this second method that we will consider.

Step 1. The walls are cleaned of dust, cracks and other defects are eliminated ...The guides for siding will be strengthened strictly in level with a step of about 50 cm.

The fastening of the guides must be carried out using mounting plates so that the thickness of the frame is at least 10 cm.

Step 2. Ecowool is poured into the blowing unit, a water-gel solution is added there, and mixed until homogeneous.

Step 3. Turn on the installation and apply a viscous mass to the walls in a dense layer.

Seams and corners are especially carefully processed so that no voids remain.

Step 4. Allow the insulation to dry completely, after which the siding panels are mounted to the crate ...

Similarly, the house is insulated with penoizol and polyurethane foam. Many companies lease a spraying unit, which is much cheaper than buying equipment. But in order to do everything efficiently, certain skills are required, and it is better for a beginner to hire specialists for this.

Video - Insulation for siding

Video - Insulation for siding with mineral wool

Video - Installation of EPSP insulation under siding