How to insulate a wooden house outside and with what?

The popularity of wooden houses is increasing every year. Such buildings are distinguished by a high degree of environmental friendliness, comfort and the ability to provide the premises with the right amount of fresh air. If the house is properly insulated, then the cost of heating it will be minimized. In addition, the exterior finish will protect the facade from external factors and extend the life of the entire structure.

Knowing how to insulate a wooden house, you can do it yourself. But it should be remembered that working with natural material has important nuances. What you need to consider and how to install insulation yourself, read in our article.

Where to begin?

Before starting work, determine which side you will insulate the facade. Builders recommend installing the material outside the house. Since the walls are completely protected from temperature fluctuations, the internal space remains unchanged. In addition, the outer lining allows you to completely modify the structure, to make it more attractive.

Pay attention to the fact that the highest quality thermal insulation of the walls will not be able to provide your home with heat if the cold passes from under the floorboards. Thinking about how to insulate a wooden house, add to the work plan measures to warm the floor of the first floor.

As for the facade, the outer insulating cake should consist of the following layers:

1. Vapor barrier material.
2. Thermal insulation.
3. Waterproofing layer.
4. Decorative finish.

As insulation material, use those options that will not destroy the breathable properties of wood. Most often, polystyrene, foam and mineral wool are used for these purposes. Consider the properties and installation technology of each of them.

Foam insulation: pros and cons

Polyfoam is often used to insulate walls of buildings for two reasons - low cost and light weight. Material can be transported and installed independently. It does not create additional load on the base of the house.

Plates are resistant to moisture, are not afraid of fungus and have high thermal insulation performance. They are not afraid of sudden changes in temperature and are able to last more than 50 years. However, if you decide to insulate a wooden house with your own hands with the help of foam, consider its shortcomings.

The most significant disadvantage of the material is the inability to let air through. This leads to the formation of condensation on the walls. The tree becomes moldy and begins to rot. When using polystyrene foam as a heater, take the time to arrange a high-quality ventilation system.

Features of the use of foam

To insulate a wooden house as high quality as possible, follow a number of rules for the use of foam boards. First of all, you need to install the material as tightly as possible. There should be no gaps between the plates.

Cold air should not penetrate under the insulation. Achieve this by the following actions:

1. The seams between the plates are covered with a diffusion membrane. Its fixation is carried out using a construction stapler. Membrane sheets overlap.
2. The joints of different parts of the membrane are glued with masking tape.
3. The top layer is necessarily covered with waterproofing material.

If you do not provide the foam with dryness, it absorbs moisture, expands and begins to crumble. At the same time, all its insulating qualities will come to naught. Leave a 20 mm ventilation gap between the tiles and the finish. It will prevent condensation.

Heater "Penopleks" and its properties

An improved variety of polystyrene is the Penoplex insulation. It has improved technical characteristics, so it costs slightly more than its predecessor.

Considering the question of how to insulate a wooden house from the outside, many prefer this option. "Penoplex" has the following positive properties:

• high strength;
• increased density;
• high thermal insulation performance;
• resistance to mechanical stress;
• resistance to moisture, temperature extremes;
• long term of operation;
• incombustibility.

As for the negative qualities, this is a fear of ultraviolet radiation, chemicals and rodents. Topping the list is still the same poor airflow capacity.

The installation of foam does not differ from the method of fixing the foam.

Mineral heaters and their features

Mineral wool is considered an ideal material for warming the facades of wooden buildings. It reliably protects the building from temperature extremes and does not interfere with the natural air exchange of the walls.

There are three types of mineral insulation:

• stone;
• glass;
• slag.

The first option is presented in the form of hard plates. They are completely safe for humans, easy to install and cut to size. If you have to insulate an old wooden house, stone wool is the best suited for these purposes.

Glass fiber material is sold in rolls. From also has high rates of heat saving, but its installation is slightly complicated. In the process, small particles are crumbled from the canvases, causing skin itching and burning. You can install the material on the walls only in a protective suit, mask and glasses.

Slag insulation is the most affordable variety, as it is made from waste. The material is sold in rolls. Poor quality products can be dangerous to humans, so it is better to buy slag wool from trusted suppliers.

Positive and negative properties of mineral insulation

Mineral wool is an environmentally friendly material related to mid-priced products. It does not respond to temperature changes and is not subject to wear. The fibrous structure of the insulation allows the walls to breathe, prevents the accumulation of condensate and the formation of mold.

A significant advantage of mineral wool is that it is able to withstand high temperatures. The material flares up for a long time, therefore it belongs to the group of fireproof heaters.

Before insulating a wooden house with a natural heat insulator, take into account that it is afraid of moisture. When wet, cotton wool gets off, loses its original properties. Also, it does not accept mechanical stress and has weak strength.

A few words about the installation of steam and waterproofing

Any novice master is interested in the question of whether it is possible to insulate a wooden house without making mistakes? In fact, this process is not considered complicated, but it requires some knowledge.

Follow these guidelines:

1. A vapor barrier material is installed on the inside of the insulation layer. It should work where warm air prevails.
2. The glossy side of the canvas is located to the insulation plate, and porous "looks" at the wall.
3. The waterproofing layer must ensure the insulation is dry, so it is mounted on the outside (in front of the lining).

Getting started, evaluate the condition of all surfaces. Replace or repair rotten and moldy areas. Treat all walls with an antiseptic.

Wall insulation technology

How to warm a wooden house is not known to every owner. To avoid irreparable errors, perform the work in accordance with the instructions. It involves carrying out work in the following order:

1. Fix the wooden slats on the base. Their thickness is 2.5 cm. The distance between the boards is 0.5 meters.
2. Using a furniture stapler and staples, fix the vapor barrier to the wall.
3. Install the crate from wooden slats. The size of the timber used should be equal to the thickness of the insulation material. If this indicator is 10 cm, then a 10x10 bar is selected. The step of the crate is determined depending on the width of the insulation: if it is 50 cm, then the step of the crate is 48 cm (2 cm less). This will allow the most tightly installed material.
4. Place the insulation between the vertical bars. If it is loose, pull it to the base with anchor bolts.
5. Pull the waterproofing film over the thermal insulation (vapor permeability of the film is more than 1300 g / sq. M). Glue the edges of the canvas with tape.
6. Make a ventilation gap. To do this, assemble the frame, which will be 5 cm distant from the insulation. For its assembly, wooden blocks or a metal profile are used.
7. Fix the decorative material on the trellised base.

Use lining, block house or siding as a finishing cladding. Treat wooden materials with an antiseptic and cover with a protective layer.

Floor insulation

You can insulate the floor in a wooden house (with your own hands) both at the construction stage and at the repair stage. The work has been reduced to laying thermal insulation in the space between the rough and the final floorboards.

For these purposes, you can use:

• expanded clay;
• slag;
• basalt cotton wool;
• glass wool;
• Styrofoam;
• "Penoplex".

First, waterproofing is laid on the base. Over it a heater is installed. If this is bulk material - it pours out into the space between the lags, the plates are inserted between the beams. Next, a vapor barrier membrane is laid. The finishing board is laid on top.

Door insulation

Streams of cold air can leak out not only through walls and floors, but also through doors. In such a situation, there is nothing left but to insulate the doors. In a wooden house usually are paintings of wood. They need to be removed from the hinges.

If there are gaps between the door boards, fill them with silicone sealant. On the inside of the canvas, fix the batting. Lay a layer of foam on the batting. Place the decoration material on top of the insulation. Fix it on the canvas with decorative nails. Two layers of insulation and a dense finish will prevent the penetration of cold into the room.

To summarize

We examined how to insulate a wooden house from below, from the side of the facade and doors. These works are not complicated, but require attention. Violation of the sequence of layers, poor fixation of the insulation and slots left will lead to the fact that the insulating materials will not perform their functions.

Therefore, before starting work, evaluate all the properties of materials, acquire quality products, carefully study the technology. With this approach, you are guaranteed warmth and comfort inside your home.