Today, when choosing a home, comfort is paramount. Modern construction technologies make it possible to erect structures with energy saving elements. This indicates that the thermal insulation in such structures is at a fairly high level. However, today not all residential buildings possess such qualities. This is due to the fact that new technologies began to be applied a little more than ten years ago. To ensure a comfortable stay, the owners decide to insulate the walls with their own hands. Next, we will understand what constitutes a process. Also, the article will tell you the better to insulate the walls of the house.
General information
Almost all experts agree that if the question is: “Is the wall in the apartment insulated from the inside or from the outside?”, Then it is better to give preference to the second option. If the room is located above the 3rd floor, and even, in addition to this, the corner, then you have to use the first method. It should be noted here that if you insulate the wall in the apartment from the inside, then immediately the useful space will be reduced. This is due to the fact that the insulating layer has one or another thickness, and therefore takes some place. In addition, it is not enough to know how to insulate a wall in an apartment. It must be remembered that it still needs to be finished. As a cladding, for example, can be used:
- Plaster.
- Decorative panels.
- Plasterboard sheets.
- Tiles and stuff.
Possible insulation problems
Internal insulation of the apartment has several disadvantages. Of great importance in this case is the external temperature. For example, at -18 ° C freezing of concrete surfaces is noted. Gradually, ice begins to act on insulation. This significantly reduces its operational properties and physical and technical characteristics. As a result, the entire insulation system ceases to work effectively. At a temperature of 0 to ten, condensation will accumulate between the insulation and the wall. It also has a very negative effect on the quality of insulation. These problems can be completely avoided. Next, we will figure out how to properly insulate the walls.
Key recommendations
To achieve the efficiency of the entire insulation system, some basic rules must be followed. First of all, it is necessary to create a high-quality vapor barrier. It will prevent the accumulation of condensate in the gaps between the insulation and the walls. Another condition for ensuring reliable insulation is the creation of high-quality ventilation. It will help to remove humid air from the premises, at least part of it. With insufficient ventilation, condensation will accumulate in the corners. Subsequently, fungus and mold will appear in these areas. In the same room it will become stuffy and humid.
Material Selection: Basic Information
Many owners of residential premises decide to carry out work on their own, without consulting with specialists. At the same time, many, for obvious reasons, are trying to save money and choose the cheapest materials. In addition, not everyone knows how to properly insulate walls, so they do not work on technology. This leads to numerous errors. Before you insulate the wall in the apartment, you should find out some of the nuances associated directly with the materials. All isolation is divided into groups. Each of them corresponds to one or another material from which the structure was erected. For example, for a brick wall, insulation is used that cannot be laid on concrete. Here you can consider an example of the use of materials for different surfaces. Expanded polystyrene foam is perfect for a brick wall . This material has excellent performance and physical and technical characteristics. Extruded polystyrene is more suitable for a concrete wall. It is also an excellent insulation. For concrete surfaces, any other material is suitable, on one side of which there is a vapor barrier layer. For example, foil can act as it. The vapor barrier must be on the inside.
The most common types of insulation
A fairly wide range of materials is presented on the market today. Most of them meet the latest insulation requirements. You can insulate the wall in the apartment from the outside with many materials. But for the isolation device in the room itself, there are not so many options. Actually, many materials can be used both inside and outside the building. The following are considered the most common:
- Mineral wool.
- Styrofoam.
- Warm plaster.
How to insulate a brick wall?
There are expensive and cheap materials. Among the available should be allocated foam. This material perfectly combines quality and relatively low cost. Interested in how to insulate a wall in an apartment? First you need to plaster it. After the solution has dried, the surface must be leveled. For these purposes, putty is used. It can be laid in one layer. After it dries, before insulating the walls with foam, it is necessary to arrange a waterproofing layer. It is necessary in order to prevent the accumulation of condensate on the thickness of the insulation. Despite the fact that the foam has moisture resistance, over time, with a constant stay in a humid environment, it can begin to rot. A waterproofing layer will prevent this phenomenon. Before insulating the walls with foam, it is necessary to prepare a solution for fixing it on the surface. As a rule, a special glue mixture is used. The solution is applied to the wall. After this, the plates of material are laid end-to-end. It must be ensured that there are no gaps between the elements. If the insulation is laid inside the room, then the final step will be a vapor barrier device.
Mineral wool
Many homeowners are curious about how to better insulate walls from the outside. A good option is polystyrene. However, some experts recommend the use of mineral wool. Despite the fact that installation is more complicated, according to a number of masters, such insulation is better. Mineral wool is also used for insulation indoors. However, some experts do not recommend plastering surfaces when laying this material. Next, we consider in more detail how to insulate the wall in the apartment with mineral wool.
Styling technology
Now you need to tell how to insulate the wall in the apartment with mineral wool. To do this, build a crate. It consists of slats packed vertically on the surface. Elements must be set by level. In the inter-rack space, waterproofing is laid. It attaches directly to the rails. After that, the insulation itself can also be laid. To prevent the appearance of "cold bridges", the canvases or slabs are mounted end-to-end. Minvata should enter tightly, there should be no gaps. As a rule, to facilitate the work, the slats are stuffed with a step slightly smaller than the width of the plates or roll. The final stage of the internal insulation of the room is the installation of a vapor barrier. This material is again fixed to the rails. If it was decided not to plaster the surface, it is better to lay mineral wool in two layers. So isolation will be better.
Stucco mortar
This method of insulation has been used for a long time. In many residential premises, stucco mortar is used as insulation today, despite a fairly large number of more modern materials. The advantage of using the mixture can be considered the styling technology worked out to the smallest detail. If this option was chosen, then you should know some nuances.
Features of applying the mixture
First of all, it is necessary to remember that warm plaster is applied in three layers. The first step is spraying. In this case, a liquid solution is applied to the surface of the wall. This is necessary so that the mixture fills all the cracks and cracks. Pouring mortar onto the wall should be carried out evenly and with effort. The spray layer should be 5-10 mm thick. The second step is the priming of the surface. If we evaluate the layers by importance in terms of thermal insulation, then it is the soil that is considered the main one. Its thickness is 50-60 mm. Primer must be applied in 2-3 layers. Each of them should be 20-30 mm thick. This application method is used in order to prevent soil from peeling off from the surface under its own weight. The third, final stage is the cover. Actually, it can be called the finish. The thickness of this layer is 3-5 mm. It is necessary to completely align the wall. The mixture is simply rubbed into the wall and create a flat surface.
Concrete base insulation
Above are the options for warming brick walls. But today, most structures are made of concrete. What is better to insulate the walls outside in this case? Actually, the material used is the same as described above. The isolation technology itself is also not much different. However, speaking about the better insulation of the walls of the house from concrete, experts recommend giving preference to expanded polystyrene. This material is more suitable for such a surface than, for example, mineral wool. If foam is selected, the surface should be putty first. Desirable in two layers. The wall should be as flat as possible. All obvious differences should be removed. Then, a primer is applied to the dry putty layer. It will increase the adhesion of the surface to waterproofing. All other actions are similar to those for a brick wall. Instead of mineral wool, you can use more modern materials with improved performance characteristics. These, for example, include cork panels. They are perfect for warming the room from the inside. However, they have a significant minus - high cost. If mineral wool will be used as insulation, then it is recommended to lay it in three layers. The technology of installation of the material is already described above. In general, the insulation of a living room is not accompanied by special difficulties. Particular attention should, however, be given to vapor and waterproofing.