Before warming a wooden house outside, you need to correctly select all the materials. The building made of wood has its own characteristics. First of all, it is worth remembering why wood still retains its popularity. There are several reasons for this:
- good thermal performance;
- providing a comfortable microclimate in the building;
- environmental friendliness;
- safety;
- ability to pass air (the tree "breathes").
The insulation of a wooden house outside should be chosen so that all materials do not lower the beneficial properties of wood. But sometimes it can be difficult to do. To choose a good insulation material, you need to spend your time and study the basic information on the issue.
Wall cake
Before you insulate a wooden house from the outside, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the composition of the wall. After that, you can proceed with the selection of all necessary materials. The technology of warming a wooden house outside provides for the following layers:
- vapor barrier;
- insulation;
- waterproofing;
- outer cladding.
Vapor barrier and waterproofing are required to protect the material from moisture. Many types of thermal insulation are destroyed or cease to fulfill their function when exposed to water.
Choice of insulation
What is better to insulate a wooden house outside? The most popular materials in the construction market are:
- mineral wool;
- Styrofoam;
- extruded polystyrene foam or Penoplex.
Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered before deciding how and how to insulate your own home.
Styrofoam
To insulate a wooden house outside with your own hands in this case will be the cheapest. It can be bought almost everywhere. There are different types depending on the strength. Polyfoam has good thermal insulation performance, but the disadvantages include:
- flammability;
- low strength;
- instability to mechanical damage.
Insulators for the walls of a wooden house of this type are not recommended for one reason: the foam does not allow air to pass through. This means that all the useful properties of wood, for which it is so appreciated as a material for the construction of cottages, are coming to naught.
Insulating a wooden house with polystyrene is a rather pointless procedure. Yes, the room will be warm, but at the same time the temperature and humidity conditions will be violated due to lack of ventilation. Natural air exchange in the room is blocked, the arrangement of forced ventilation or air conditioning is required. Both options involve additional (and not small) costs, both during the construction process and during the operation of the building.
Also, the foam needs careful protection from moisture. Manufacturers claim that the insulation of wooden walls with foam does not absorb water, but this is not so. Polystyrene balls themselves are resistant to moisture, but it can accumulate in the space between them. Freezing water expands. The law of physics, known to everyone, does not apply here: water is the only substance that increases in volume with increasing temperature.
With the expansion of water inside the material, pressure increases. This, ultimately, will cause the foam to crumble into separate balls in the first or second winter. To replace the external insulation, you will have to make a lot of effort and spend money.
For all these reasons, wall insulation outside a wooden house with foam is not recommended. But you can consider the option of using it for other structures, for example, basement and attic floors. In this case, special attention should be paid to waterproofing. The reason for this recommendation has already been indicated. Read also a detailed article about the pros and cons of warming a wooden house with polystyrene foam.
Extruded Styrofoam
To perform the insulation of the walls of a wooden house outside, you can consider the option of using Penoplex. He is the closest relative of the foam, but is devoid of most of its shortcomings.
First of all, the insulation of wooden houses with such material is more durable. Penoplex is resistant to stress and mechanical damage. The second positive property is moisture resistance. The material is not afraid of moisture. This insulation for walls and floors can be used even without vapor barrier and waterproofing.
The benefits can also include:
- high energy efficiency;
- ease of installation;
- ease of processing;
- safety and environmental friendliness.
But the disadvantage again becomes poor air permeability. Without additional ventilation, the effect of the greenhouse in the house is guaranteed. Read more about the insulation of a wooden house with Penoplex.
For houses outside, Penoplex is not recommended, but it will be an ideal option for floors. Such material is not afraid of loads. On top of it, it is enough to make a cement screed 30-50 mm thick. It can be used both for the floor of the first floor, and for the attic floor. Also, foam polystyrene is often bought to warm floors on the ground.
Thanks to its resistance to moisture, insulation can be dispensed with. But for wet rooms (bathroom, toilet) it is recommended to put waterproofing. Such additional measures will protect the ceiling and insulation from water in case of various leaks. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the principles of floor insulation with Penoplex in more detail.
Mineral wool
What insulation is better to protect the walls of the building? The answer here will be unequivocal. For both an old wooden house and a new one, mineral wool will be the best option. It not only allows you to save the beneficial properties of wood, but also smooths out its shortcomings.
If you insulate the walls of a wooden house outside with mineral wool, you can prevent fire. Most of the materials in this group are non-combustible. This property favorably distinguishes cotton from foam and foam.
Wall insulation in a wooden house outside with mineral wool conducts air well. When using it, you do not need to resort to measures of additional ventilation: with a competent choice of material, the walls will continue to “breathe”. But this decoration needs special attention, otherwise you can spoil everything at the last stage.
The main field of application of the material in a wooden house is walls and roofing. Putting cotton in the ceiling is strongly discouraged. It has a fairly low strength and contracts over time. This will lead to a decrease in thermal insulation characteristics and damage to floor structures. You can insulate mineral wool with an attic floor structure. It will also be very effective to insulate the roof with mineral wool.
You can insulate the walls of a wooden house using different types of material:
- Stone (the most common option is basalt). Available in slabs and has the highest rigidity compared to other types. It is quite convenient to work with this type of insulation. It is safe and easy to cut.
- Glass. Available in rolls (mats). Its rigidity is not so high. The disadvantages include inconvenience during installation. Glass fibers can cause many inconveniences to workers: they penetrate the lungs and fall on the skin, causing severe itching and irritation. Before you insulate an old wooden house (or new) with such material, you need to prepare a set of protective clothing: suit, mask, gloves.
- Slag. The cheapest and most undesirable option. Thermal insulation of this type is made from industrial waste. Poor quality cotton wool or fake will be a real harm to the health and life of the inhabitants of the house, as it may contain hazardous substances. Such a heater of the external walls of a wooden house is worth buying only from trusted, responsible suppliers who are responsible for the quality of their products.
Vapor barrier and waterproofing
How to warm a wooden house from the outside? It is important to remember one thing firmly: vapor barrier is laid on the side of warm air, and waterproofing is on the side of cold air. Both the external and internal material can be made in the form of films and membranes. For a building made of wood, it is recommended to choose the last option. Films practically do not let air through, while membranes “breathe”.
Before insulating an old wooden house from the outside, it is worth checking the condition of walls, floors and roofing, and if necessary, strengthening and protecting them from mold and fungus. The complex of such measures will extend the life of the building. Also, the insulated structure must be cleaned of dirt and dust.