A cheap way to insulate your floor. How and what is the best way to insulate the floors in the apartment: choose the material and method of insulation

After building a house, to keep warm, floor insulation will be required, especially when it comes to a wooden structure. It is necessary to prevent the penetration of cold coming from the ground, or from the basement. Before choosing technological process do-it-yourself floor insulation, you need to choose a material based on the characteristics of the base to be insulated.

Now on the market there are a lot of insulating materials for insulation, and every day there are high-tech ways to keep warm. To understand the best way to insulate the floor, consider the types of insulators.

The most popular are:

Styrofoam;
expanded polystyrene;
glass wool;
expanded clay;
mineral wool;
penofol or isolone;
cork insulation materials;
ecowool, consisting of cellulose;
fiberglass or gypsum fiber;
"Thermo Plast" - bulk material;
foamed glass;
stone wool;
linen in mats;
slag;
polyurethane foam.

These insulators are categorized as synthetic and natural. Natural - ecowool, cork, sawdust, flax. The rest are synthetics.

Floor insulation material is divided into types:

loose- sawdust, expanded clay, slag, foamed glass;
jellied- polymer compositions applied by filling;
sprayed- polyurethane;
in the form of slabs- penoplex, mineral wool, linen in mats, gypsum fiber layers, glass wool, polystyrene, stone wool;
roll- penofol, cork, isolon, flax, linoleum with an insulating layer.

The technology that will be used for thermal insulation directly depends on the type of insulation chosen. If expanded clay or penoplex is chosen as an insulator, then you will have to mount logs, or equip a screed.

Roll cork insulation, or izolon, can be simply rolled out over the surface and closed from above facing material such as parquet, laminate, or rail car. As for linoleum with an insulating layer, then insulating material does not need to be laid under it, it itself is a good insulation.

If the height of the room is small, then it is better to use a bulk heat insulator, which will take a minimum of height. If we consider bulk or plate insulators, then it is worth remembering that they will occupy about 5-10 cm in height.

For a wooden house, it is mono to apply thermal insulation using a log, or on the ground, this makes it possible to use a thick slab or roll insulator. As for the apartment, it is better to use thin materials, since the height of the ceilings in apartments is usually 2.5 meters.

Before choosing a heat insulator, it is worth assessing the humidity of the room and measuring its height.

The higher the ceiling height, the wider the choice of insulators that can be used for floor insulation.

You can get one hundred percent insulation by using an electric underfloor heating in a duet with isolon, in this case you can regulate the temperature of the floor covering by switching the heating power.

How to properly insulate the floor, there are several methods of insulation that are used to insulate the floor, depending on the type of base - it can be wood, soil and concrete.

Floor insulation on the ground

When building a house, many private developers save on insulation by pouring a concrete screed directly onto the ground, and this is not entirely correct. Firstly, the earth can freeze in winter, and the concrete pavement will be cold, and secondly, the screed will not only come into contact with the ground, but also be exposed to bottom waters, which will quickly disable it. Therefore, it is important to carry out high-quality waterproofing and floor insulation on the ground.

It is advisable to carry out floor insulation along the ground only if the bottom waters are at a sufficient depth from the surface. Otherwise, it is better to install beams and a double floor with insulation.

Floor insulation on the ground is carried out during the construction process, finished coating will have to be disassembled, which will lead to a waste of additional funds. The floor cake begins to form after the foundation of the building is completely dry. It is worth noting that the latter structure should rise 20 cm above the ground.

Several layers should be arranged:

directly the ground;
coarse river sand, for leveling the plane;
waterproofing layer;
thermal insulation material;
mesh, chain-link, for reinforcement;
screed.

The first option for insulation

How to properly insulate the floor on the ground, we will consider in detail:

The soil under the house, you need to level, remove debris and weeds, fill in the depressions and compact the entire surface well.
Fill up the entire plane river sand, you can mix it with rubble, to a height of more than 5 cm. If a decision is made to insulate the floors with expanded clay, then it can be poured directly onto the ground, but the cost of such floor insulation will be much more expensive. The sand needs to be leveled with a rule and tamped well.
Lay a layer of waterproofing, for this you can apply:
- membrane material based on polymer;
- roofing material;
- polyethylene film 200 microns, in two additions - the cheapest option for waterproofing.
After that, you can start laying the slab heat-insulating material - it can be expanded polystyrene, or polystyrene.
Then you can start pouring the finishing screed, just before that, lay the reinforcing mesh.

The second option for insulation

Better quality, although it will cost more, for this they equip rough screed, on which the waterproofer is laid - for the sake of economy - a polyethylene film. It must be pressed with bars to the foundation, while the material should go on the walls by at least 15 cm. The insulated floor in this way has very good thermal insulation characteristics.

As soon as the waterproofing is ready, the insulation is laid, for example:

penoplex;
expanded clay;
Styrofoam.

These are cheap types, but at the same time they are good heat insulators.

How to insulate a floor in a wooden structure?

At the stage of building a house, the process of floor insulation begins. First of all, the place under the floor is covered with sand by 5-6 cm, then expanded clay is poured onto it.

When choosing a heater, you need to take into account many points, for example, if you opt for natural materials, then it is worth remembering that they are susceptible to combustion, while they rarely resist moisture, and various microorganisms and rodents can start in them.

Sawdust is often used to insulate the base, cellulose - processed for fire safety.

Concerning plate heaters, then the following are considered to be in demand and of high quality:

mineral wool;
expanded polystyrene;
glass wool;
dry screed.

The finishing floor is mounted on logs, and a heater is installed in the intervals. The finishing coat can be installed over the screed. The screed is additionally insulated with expanded clay.

How to insulate the floor along the logs? To do this, the structure is assembled with a step of 40-60 cm, while the subfloor must be well waterproofed from below. A vapor barrier is laid on top of the boards and logs. After that, insulating board material is placed in the gaps, the width of the boards is just 60 cm, and they are covered with a finishing coating - plywood, OSB or a board.

If during construction it is decided to fill in a rough screed, then it is better to perform it using expanded clay. This will give the effect of additional thermal insulation of the floor. Then logs are arranged on top of the screed, on top of which the finishing floor will be laid, under which there will be a layer of heat-shielding material. Thanks to this cake, you will get the perfect floor insulation as a result.

If the floor in the house is wooden, then a dry screed on the floor is well suited as insulation. To equip such insulation, you need to fill in expanded clay along the guides set at the level. Then a gypsum-fiber insulation plate is laid on the expanded clay. This method is simple, but not applicable for high humidity.

Not so long ago, a practical, durable and fireproof material appeared on the market - foam glass. The thickness of this material reaches 12 cm. These slabs can be laid not only on a wooden floor, but also on a concrete one.

How to insulate a concrete floor

The concrete floor can be insulated with the following materials:

expanded polystyrene;
Styrofoam;
ecowool;
liquid insulation;
mineral wool.

But this heat insulator will take away precious centimeters from the height of the room, since logs need to be mounted on top of the base, on top of which plywood or OSB will have to be laid, and only then the final floor covering. Moreover, this is a very labor-intensive process and very expensive.

You can equip the screed by combining it with expanded polystyrene. At the same time, pipes for a warm floor can be built into the screed - the thickness of the coating will be more than 10 cm.

You can arrange a cake from expanded clay and gypsum plasterboard, then the thickness of the insulation will be 7 centimeters. If the base is initially flat, then only gypsum-fiber sheets can be used, while the thickness of the insulation will be only 2 cm.When insulating the floor in an apartment with not very high ceilings, it is not advisable to choose thick insulation, since the useful space for life will decrease.

If the floor in the apartment requires insulation, then it is better to use Isolon, followed by the arrangement of a warm, infrared, electric floor. This option will not reduce the height, and will make living in the apartment more comfortable, due to the fact that the floor temperature can be regulated.

The most effective option with a high ceiling height - arrangement of a water heated floor. The height of the cover in this case will be 10-12 cm.

To save space, you can use a screed with an insulating effect. This is enough new material, but already proven to be of high quality and reliable. In this case, the insulation layer will be only 3 cm.

You can apply the simplest and most common method - double decking. Planks 2.5 cm thick are fixed directly on the concrete base with tongue-and-groove piles.After that, on wooden base laying the substrate and laminate, or linoleum with an insulating layer.

Linoleum on a substrate is often applied directly to a concrete base, while the thermal insulation properties are quite good.

Fiberglass or wood can be laid on top of this insulation. Some ordinary people directly on polyurethane foam, in order to save money, lay a clean floor covering.

In custody

Warming the floor in the room - each master has his own way. Some people prefer time-tested materials, equipping them with a thermal insulation "pie". Some people prefer innovative heat insulators. But the main factor when choosing a material is the cost and quality of floor insulation.

One of the most important tasks of any owner of a private house is floor insulation, and it should not be neglected. Especially if the housing is located in a region with harsh climatic conditions. You need to know that a lot of heat is blown out through non-insulated floors. It is the poet that the first thing to start with the insulation of the house is the floors.

Since they can be arranged from various materials and have a different design, they can also be insulated in several ways.

Today there are many technologies for floor insulation in a private house, and in addition to this, some owners create their own methods or supplement existing ones with their inventions.

To find out in more detail which of the insulation methods and the type of thermal insulator to choose, you need to consider several common methods.

First you need to figure out what material the floor can be made of, since the method and material of insulation will depend on this. So, floors can be made of wood, concrete or dry screed.

Wood floors

This type of flooring includes floorboards or plywood floors.

Also, by their design, they are divided into two types - these are single-layer and two-layer, i.e. having a rough floor.

All types of wooden floors are arranged on logs raised to a certain height above a concrete screed or over compacted soil. And it should be noted that wood itself is a warm material when compared to others used for flooring.

Wood floor insulation can be done in several ways:

pour a thick layer of expanded clay onto the ground, and over it arrange a wooden flooring of boards on the logs;
if a rough floor is arranged, then the issue is solved easier - some of the heaters are placed in its cells, or they are filled with liquid expanding material;
it is possible to arrange an infrared floor on top of the wooden flooring, and then lay a decorative coating;
if there is no subfloor, then it can be replaced vapor barrierfilm, which is spread and fixed on a crate made of bars, and a low-weight insulation is laid on it, sold in the form of plates or rolls. On top of such insulation, first it is laid vapor barrierfilm, and then the flooring is also made from the floorboard.

Concrete floors

Floors made of such material are very durable, but they have a big drawback - this is that the concrete is very cold and requires mandatory insulation. such a floor is most often used as a basis for insulation material and decorative coating. Concrete floors can also be insulated different ways:

The screed is arranged on expanded clay backfill.
The solution is mixed with insulating materials - fine expanded clay or crushed foam.
The bars are fixed to the finished screed, and between them it is laid or filled up different kind insulation. This is followed by a vapor barrier, and then the crate is closed with plywood or a floorboard.
The device of the "warm floor" system - electric, infrared or water.

Dry screed floors

Today, more and more often dry screed is used for flooring. Although this technology has been around for quite some time, it hasn't been as popular as it has been recently.

This floor will require special mixture for backfill, which may consist of fine expanded clay, expanded perlite sand, pumice and slag. The dry backfill, after leveling it, is covered with materials that will serve as the basis for the decorative floor covering, and also take on the main load - these can be chipboard, OSB, moisture-resistant plywood or special composite boards.

A dry screed in itself is a good sound and heat insulator, it is easy to install, allows you to arrange various communications in it without any problems. But if it is required to strengthen the insulation of such floors, then this can be done using one of the methods of installing a "warm floor" - electric or infrared.

Insulation of floors

Floor insulation in a private house, depending on the coating material, is carried out according to various technologies, and in order to achieve a positive result, you need to do everything in order.

Thermal insulation of a wooden floor

You can start insulating a wooden floor with insulating the ground. To do this, expanded clay is laid on it with a layer of 20 to 40 centimeters thick. This material will prevent cold air from the ground to go up but it won't be enough to keep the floor warm.

The floorboards are laid on thick timber battens.

In Russian huts, a rough floor was required, since it served for laying insulation materials on it, which served as dry leaves, slag, chopped straw. Numerous mineral or synthetic insulation from which you can choose the one you want.

First in the rough semi-closed all holes and crevices - this can be done with ordinary clay by soaking it and diluting it to the consistency of thick sour cream. Clay is a natural, breathable material, it adheres well to wooden surface and will serve as a material for sealing joints between boards for a long time.

After the clay has dried, the cells of the subfloor are filled with insulation - it can be expanded clay, polystyrene, mineral wool, ecowool or liquid insulation - penoizol, which works on the principle of polyurethane foam.

Next, the insulation is covered vapor barrier film, which needs to be fixed on the laths of the crate.
After that, the floorboard is laid, and the skirting boards are fixed.

If the subfloor is not made for some reason, it can be replaced with a thin insulation or vapor barrier film. These materials are attached to the joists so that slabs or rolls can be laid on them. mineral wool.

Then the entire structure is closed with a vapor barrier film, which is fixed to the logs using a stapler and staples.
The final steps are the laying of the floorboard or thick plywood. Linoleum or laminate can be laid on plywood. Then the floor is made out along the entire perimeter with a plinth.

Another way to insulate a wooden floor can be an option when you do not want to raise an existing flooring from a board. In this case, the joists are fixed perpendicular to the floorboards. If there are gaps between the boards, they must be sealed, for example, with a special sealant.

Next, the insulation is laid or filled up, then it is covered vapor barrier membrane, and plywood is laid on top. It can be primed and painted, or varnished. The plywood floor can also be used with decorative flooring. To enhance the insulation, an infrared film system is sometimes laid under linoleum or laminate.

Video - How to insulate the floor on the logs

Insulation of a concrete floor

The concrete floor, arranged in a residential area, must be insulated, and this process is carried out in several ways.

To make concrete floors less cold, when installing a screed, a waterproofing film is first spread on the ground, then expanded clay is poured, the thickness of which should be from 10 to 15 centimeters. To remove the evenness of the backfill, beacons are installed, along them the insulation is leveled and covered with a reinforcing metal mesh.
When such a base is prepared, it is poured over with a liquid cement mortar - this process is necessary to create a kind of film on expanded clay that will retain the moisture of the solution and help it dry naturally.
After the initial processing of expanded clay dries, a screed is laid on top of the reinforcement. Cement mortar for it can be made from sand and cement, or you can add to it foam crumb- this will also help make the floors warmer.
After the screed has hardened, it is imperative to lay a covering on it.
If the housing is located in a region with a cold climate, then the above insulation will not be enough. Therefore, in order to finally make the floors warm, several methods are used, and for each of them, waterproofing of the junction of the walls and the floor is necessarily arranged.
When the waterproofing is arranged, wooden logs made of bars are laid and fixed to the floor at a distance from each other by the width of the slabs or a roll of insulation. The height of the lag should correspond to the thickness of the insulation, and the width should be 7-9 centimeters.
If a wide insulation is purchased, it is cut to the required size.
It must be remembered that the logs begin to be laid, stepping back about five centimeters from the wall, where pieces of insulation are also laid.
After laying the material, a vapor barrier film is fixed on top of it.
Next, thick plywood or floorboard is laid. On the plywood floor, if desired, you can put laminate or linoleum. The finishing includes the installation of skirting boards.

Floor insulation in a private house, as wooden and concrete, is very successfully implemented according to the "warm floor" system, which will be given special attention below.

Floor insulation on a dry screed

A dry screed is used both for the construction of the floor itself, and as insulation for concrete. But if the owner of the house considers this situation insufficient, you can additionally insulate it. This is done using a "warm floor" system.

The dry screed is covered with slabs, which are closed with waterproofing, and only an electric warm floor is laid on it. In this case, one cannot do without waterproofing, since the underfloor heating system must be covered from above with a thin layer of mortar ( building mixture), which after hardening is covered floor covering.

The decorative coating can be anything - ceramic tiles, linoleum or laminate.

The water version of this system is not suitable for a dry screed floor, since it has a greater weight, requires deepening into the coating, and in the thermal insulating expanded clay thickness, heating will lose any sense - heat cannot be achieved.

If you do not want to use self-leveling floors on top of a dry screed, you can use the installation of an infrared floor, which is a thin film and can be laid even under linoleum.

Underfloor heating system

As mentioned above, the "warm floor" can be infrared, electric and water.

Electric floor

The electric floor can be purchased pre-assembled, i.e. laid and fixed on a special grid, in the form of heating mats, which just need to be laid out on a prepared flat base. The mesh is glued to the floor with ceramic tile adhesive.

Such an electric floor kit is available up to 25 meters long and 50 to 150 centimeters wide. Therefore, before purchasing it, you need to carefully measure the room or all the rooms separately, where it will be located.

This electric floor option works well for dry screed floors.

Another, more complex in the device, way to make an electric field is when you need to select a specific electrical cable and lay it in holders intended for it, which are fixed to the prepared base. This option is suitable as insulation of a cement floor.

When the floor is laid and fixed, a thermostat is installed on the wall at a height of 50-70 centimeters, which will control the temperature heating elements... The temperature controller is connected to the floor cable. The sleeve that will connect the cable to the thermostat must be positioned so that it is closed with a tie.

When the entire system is laid, you can proceed to the screed device - it should have a thickness of at least five cm.

It is possible to connect such a floor to the power supply only after the final hardening of the concrete - after 3-4 weeks.

« Warm floor »water

If the electric floor consists of heating cables or mats, then the water floor is a piping system. For him, metal-plastic or polyethylene pipes, which can be laid on special mats or attached to a metal mesh laid under them.

The pipeline is laid in two ways - with a snake or a snail, with a step of 30-35 centimeters. After laying the pipes and bringing their ends to the manifold cabinet, the entire floor system is closed with a concrete screed, its total thickness, including the thickness of the pipeline, should be 10-12 centimeters.

The manifold cabinet is where the connection to the general heating system takes place. A mixer and a pump can also be installed there, if necessary.

On top of the screed over the warm floor, you can lay any decorative coating - this is linoleum, carpet, tiles or laminate.

It should be noted that electrical and water system The "warm floor" is best laid on foil insulation - then the heat will not go towards the ground, but will be reflected into the room.

Infrared floor heating

If he fits on concrete surface, it is necessary to arrange waterproofing, and then a thin foil insulation based on foamed polyethylene is laid on it, the strips of which are fastened with special tape.

Then, film heating elements are prepared and laid down on the floor with copper elements according to a previously drawn up drawing scheme. The stripes should usually be five centimeters apart. If you plan to put laminate or linoleum on top of the infrared floor, then to achieve the maximum heating effect, you can put the film as close as possible.

When the film elements are mounted, they are installed contact clamps- in the layers of the film, one side of the contact must be placed, and the other on the copper side, after which the contacts are crimped.

To control the heating of the film floor, a thermostat is installed on the wall, which is also connected to the cable coming from the floor.

The selected decorative floor covering is placed on top of the film.

Insulation of the floor in a private house will depend on various criteria related to its construction, as well as the desire and capabilities of the home owner. Before settling on a specific option, you need to find out the prices for all the components and for their installation, in the event that it is decided to invite a wizard to perform this work.

Even at the design and construction stage, you need to think about how to insulate the floor in a private house. will create comfort and coziness. The health of the inhabitants of the house and the state of the home interior depend on it.

Floor insulation can be carried out using several insulation materials. Each of these materials has its own styling technology. How to insulate the floor, you can decide after studying it and the possibility of using insulation.

The following are used as floor insulation:

mineral wool;
expanded polystyrene (polystyrene) or (penoplex);
expanded clay.

The better to insulate the floor, you can decide after finding out all the advantages and disadvantages of each insulation.

Styrofoam

A common material that is widely used to insulate different areas.

Its use is due to a number of advantages:

cheap material that can be bought at any hardware store;
has a low weight;
moisture resistant, as a result of which it retains its characteristics for a long time;
has a porous structure, as a result of which it is easy to process. Any shape and size can be cut;
low level of thermal conductivity.

Along with this, there are some drawbacks due to which it is sometimes refused to use it. These include:

the material ignites quickly and burns well, giving off a corrosive gas. It is difficult to extinguish;
in case of violation of steam insulation and waterproofing, it begins to collapse during operation.

Penoplex is a subspecies of polystyrene foam. It is characterized by a denser shape than polystyrene. Differs in increased resistance to mechanical stress and temperature extremes. The disadvantages include the fact that the material, in comparison with foam, is not cheap.

Mineral wool

For home insulation with your own hands, the most demanded material is mineral wool. Mineral wool is a material for thermal insulation that is made from inorganic components and has a fibrous form. They are made from a mixture of rocks, glass and waste slags.

A mixture of these components, followed by heating and thread formation, determines the process of obtaining mineral insulation. It can be glass wool, rock wool or slag wool. The name of the material depends on the filler used to make the fiber.

For the release of glass wool, boric salt, sand, lime and soda are combined in specific proportions. After the smelting of pig iron, blast-furnace slag remains, which is added for the release of slag wool. IN stone wool basalt minerals predominate. These materials have almost the same thermal performance, fire resistance, thermal conductivity and density. Mineral wool is inexpensive and sold in building materials stores.

One of the types of mineral wool is ecowool. It is more refined and quality look glass wool made from environmentally friendly components.

Thermal insulation of the floor with mineral wool has several significant advantages. These include:

ease of installation of the material;
the insulation has a high fire resistance, does not burn and does not smolder;
easily processed, as a result of which the plates can be cut into the desired shapes and sizes;
after deformation, it can take on its original size and shape. This is useful when filling in hard-to-reach voids;
has good noise absorption performance;
high level of energy saving;
insignificant weight;
long period of operation.

Despite the significant advantages, the heat insulator has several disadvantages. These include:

working with this heat insulator can sometimes cause allergies. Long-term operation turns fibers into fine dust. This can be avoided by reliable insulation of the material during its installation;
if the insulation is broken, the material absorbs moisture well. As a result, the original thermal insulation characteristics and there is a need for unscheduled repairs;
during the installation of mineral wool slabs, it is recommended to wear special means protection (respirator or cotton-gauze bandage for the respiratory system, goggles for eye protection, gloves and clothing to protect the skin).

Despite the disadvantages, mineral wool insulation remains the most common method of thermal insulation. Correct floor insulation will avoid these disadvantages.

Expanded clay insulation

Expanded clay is called porous granules made from a mixture of clay, sand and fine natural stone, followed by firing.

A characteristic feature of this floor insulation is the ability to maintain its heat-insulating parameters in a humid environment. A few positive qualities made it popular:

high level of thermal conductivity;
resistance to temperature extremes;
has a high fire resistance, does not burn;
the ability to withstand significant mechanical stress;
long period of operation exceeding 40 years;
environmentally friendly material;
ease of use;
insignificant weight;
strength.

The disadvantages include large amounts of material for insulation work. To forget about the cold floor, the expanded clay layer, according to various criteria, should be from 10 to 50 centimeters.

Features of insulation work

A private house can be built directly on the ground or it can be a complete house with a basement.

If there is soil below the subfloor, then the floor and the bottom of the walls are affected by low temperatures and moisture that seeps from groundwater. Cold floors in a private house can cause mold and fungal diseases of the walls, regardless of the material from which they are made. The consequence will be permanent bad smell, decay and destruction of the material from which the walls are made. IN winter time the degree of freezing of the soil increases, which further affects the indoor temperature and the condition of the floor, which will become icy.

Insulation of floors in a private house depends on many factors. These include: the material, the walls of the house (brick, concrete, logs, frames), the number of floors, the base of the floor (soil, cement, wood).

An important role in insulating the floor of a private house is played by the height of the basement, the presence of external insulation and protection from moisture. The presence of a basement in the house is important. It takes heat away from the floor. If there is a basement, it is necessary to insulate its ceiling.

Basement ceiling insulation

Work begins with a thorough examination of the entire surface of the ceiling. All cracks, delamination are inspected and the condition of the ceiling and the amount of work required are assessed.

The insulation process includes:

cleaning of all roughness and swelling;
flooding with plaster of all cracks, voids, depressions. Ceiling alignment;
with the help of a perforator and an "umbrella" attachment, installation of foam plates over the entire surface;
application adhesive composition and, if necessary, finishing material.

The reinforcing mesh may not be installed, since no mechanical loads are envisaged on the ceiling.

Floor insulation in a private house is carried out based on the material of the floor itself. It can be insulated by concrete pavement, on logs or on the ground.

Rough floor

What to do if the house has a dirt floor. It contains a high level of moisture due to the presence of groundwater. Before insulating the floor with foam, it is necessary to cover the ground, create a rough floor.

To equip a subfloor, you must:

Prepare a pit, which should be 30-40 cm below the level of the intended finished floor.
Protect the substrate from moisture. For this, it is necessary to equip the substrate.

When equipping drainage, it is necessary to lay a sand layer 5-10 cm thick on the bottom of the pit.On top of the sand a layer, 10-15 cm thick, of crushed stone average size or broken brick. Tamp down crushed stone or broken brick until it sinks into the sand. Lay another 5-10 cm thick layer of sand on top of the rubble and tamp it.

Make a mesh from the reinforcing wire and install it over the backing. Reinforcing mesh is made of wire, 6-10 mm thick, with a mesh size of 10x10 cm. Wire crossings are fastened with knitting wire.
Pour a layer of cement mortar. The layer thickness should be 10-15 cm.
Leave the floor to freeze.

After 5-7 days, the subfloor will gain initial strength and will be ready for insulation.

Foam insulation

Thermal insulation of the floor with foam is performed in the following sequence:

A waterproofing membrane must be installed on the subfloor. The strips of the membrane should overlap each other by a width of 10 cm. The overlap is sealed with wide tape.
Lay on the waterproofing material foam boards... Each new row should be shifted to the side in relation to the previous half. This will create a checkerboard pattern for the slabs.
It is necessary to make a mesh from the reinforcing wire and install it on top of the foam plates. Reinforcing mesh is made of wire, 6-10 mm thick, with a mesh size of 10x10 cm. Wire crossings are fastened with knitting wire. It is recommended to fix the mesh at a height of 3-4 cm from the foam. After pouring, it will be inside the solution.
It is necessary to stick nails 8-10 cm high into the foam plastic. They determine the level of grouting.
Fill cement mortar and let it freeze. Completely the solution hardens from 4 to 5 weeks.
The frozen floor must be covered with a vapor barrier membrane. The strips of the membrane should overlap each other by a width of 10 cm. The overlap is sealed with wide tape.
A wooden grate should be laid on top of the vapor barrier and a floor covering should be installed on it.

The grill under the flooring acts as an additional ventilated space.

The floors of the lower floors and the floors that are the overlap between the floors are insulated according to the same principle, regardless of the insulation material.

Warming with expanded clay

The principle of warming with expanded clay is absolutely identical with foam. An important feature is the size of expanded clay granules and the thickness of the insulation layer.

For good insulation, it is recommended to use medium-sized granules, which should form an insulating layer with a thickness of at least 10 cm. The expanded clay layer should be even. Used for verification building level... The height of the layer is determined by the pre-installed signal beacons.

Floor insulation with mineral wool

In this case, the laying of the heat insulator is carried out between the logs, which lie at the base of the house. If there is no lag, and we have a rough cement floor in front of us, then it is necessary to make a frame. It can be made from wooden planks or drywall. It is recommended to make the dimensions of the cells of the frame to the size of the insulation boards. This will eliminate the need to cut insulation slabs of the required size.

Floor insulation is performed in the following sequence:

It is necessary to install a waterproofing film.
Mineral wool must be laid between the lags or in the cells of the frame.
After installing the insulation, the entire surface must be covered with a vapor barrier membrane. The strips of the membrane should overlap each other by a width of 10 cm. The overlap is sealed with wide tape.
A wooden grate must be laid on top of the vapor barrier
Install the finished floor.

The vapor barrier membrane will additionally protect the room from microparticles that are released by mineral wool.

Conclusion

One person is able to cope with the work on his own if he knows how to properly insulate the floor. The main criterion in the work is compliance with the work technology. Therefore, the insulation of floors in the house is a difficult process, but doable.

Floor insulation in wooden house: 15 best ways

The coldest surface of a house is, of course, the floor. This usually applies to the first floor of the least protected building, as well as isolated wooden houses... Why is the floor in a lower-rise apartment always cold? This is due to the fact that the air rushes down. Drafts blow from under the floor from below. To minimize heat loss, you have to insulate the floor in the house.

This procedure is especially necessary in houses with a classic eco-friendly wood flooring... Even if you put wood elements (boards) tightly together, they will dry out over time. From the crevices it will certainly start to see through. This will naturally lead to heat loss.

How to insulate the floor in a wooden house: the choice of material

The quality of flooring insulation directly depends on the correct choice of material. Today in the Russian construction market there is a wide selection of heat insulators.

Penoplex, stone and mineral wool, expanded polystyrene and commonly used fiberglass are popular types of thermal insulation. Each of them has its own pros and cons. Which is better?

Fiberglass, stone and mineral wool - these materials have good thermal protection properties and excellent sound absorption. If you want to lay the insulation in one layer, then use a roll or mats. The latter are considered a more elastic and durable material. the site advises to lay the elements of insulation between the logs or under the rough flooring. Both options are acceptable.
Penoplex and expanded polystyrene can also be used. At the same time, they will delight you with a democratic price, high thermal insulation of the structure and durability. From these materials, thermal insulation is performed by spraying. This is an effective, fairly quick and economical method. This method is most often used in new homes.

Advantage of expanded polystyrene:

minimal water absorption, and, accordingly, resistance to water;
excellent thermal insulation qualities;
form stability;
high strength material;
volume stability;
long service life;
biological resistance;
immunity to various microorganisms;
the material is environmentally friendly.

Benefits of mineral wool:

the material is low in density;
the level of thermal conductivity is negligible;
long operational life;
affordable price;
incombustibility;
environmentally friendly material;
high level of water repellency;
high chemical resistance.

All of the above materials meet environmental requirements:

The better the polystyrene foam, the more environmentally friendly it is. It must be dried well so that no volatile compounds remain in the material. Otherwise, at elevated temperatures, they can poison a person. Styrene can cause toxic hepatitis, rare leukemia, etc.
You will be able to fit into the tight bounds of ecology by using fiberglass or mineral wool, provided these materials use harmless resins. Phenol-formaldehyde resins, which are undesirable, can be identified by the brown or yellow tint of the material.

Durability of thermal insulation

Various qualities have to be taken into account when choosing a particular material. For example, with some load on the heat-protective layer, it will no longer be able to restore the original volume - some of the fibers will simply break. That is why such raw materials do not fit tightly to the joists and floor beams. As a result, cold bridges are inevitably created on structures. Condensation can also appear where the thermal insulation is loose.

In order not to make a mistake with the choice and buy insulation good quality, press on a small piece of it (for example, step). If after such a test it takes its former shape, then it suits you. If it remains wrinkled and flat, then it is best to refuse such a product.

Is it possible to improve the thermal insulation qualities? When insulating, you cannot do with mats alone. Insulated finishes are often used: heat-insulating linoleums, double-layer carpets .. Other materials can also not be neglected. The ground floor can be made warmer by insulating the foundation. Basements must be carefully checked and all cracks must be repaired.

We insulate the wooden floor along the logs

Most often, floor insulation in a wooden house is implemented through the use of logs. It is quite simple to implement and at the same time very effective. In any case, you can eliminate significant heat loss. This method is especially relevant for the basement and first floor, where the floors are closest to the ground.

The technology goes like this:

Install on the base of the T-bar. Observe the step per meter.
Then fix the boards or shields, on which you will later lay the insulation. They need to be fastened to a special type of cranial bars or hemmed from below.
Then place the insulation on the flooring between the joists.
Next, you have to take care of steam and waterproofing. True, the need for this procedure arises only in individual cases. It all depends on the type of insulation. So, this procedure will be relevant if you use ecowool or mineral wool. Lay the vapor barrier sheets with an overlap of fifteen centimeters. Its edges should "climb" on the wall by about ten centimeters. For waterproofing, you can use it as a simple plastic wrap and special kind of materials.
The final stage is installation and finishing of the flooring.

Important! You can also make thermal insulation of the floor along the logs, which are laid on even brick columns. Insulation boards must be laid between these posts (foam, fiberglass, mineral wool). A layer of insulation must be covered with a layer of vapor barrier on top.

An invariable advantage of thermal insulation along the logs is the ease of work execution. Moreover, the method is very effective. The insulation does not experience mechanical stress, therefore, any of the heat-insulating materials can be used.

What are the materials for floor insulation

Of course, choosing insulation is not easy. You can make the floor warmer in different ways using different materials:

isolone;
polyurethane foam;
polystyrene;
penofol;
mineral, glass, stone, slag wool;
ecowool.

For this purpose, sawdust, polystyrene, expanded clay are perfect. The choice depends on the characteristics of the material, personal preferences and financial capabilities.

We insulate the rough floor

The whole procedure is carried out in lags.

Attach the bars to the sides of the fixed logs.
Fix the boards on them with screws or nails. The latter in length should correspond to the distance between the lags.
When an integral surface is formed, lay a vapor barrier on top: plastic wrap, glassine or some other material.
Next, lay the insulation between the logs.
Make sure that there are no gaps.
Next is another layer of vapor barrier. The subfloor is ready.

We insulate the floor with sawdust

Sawdust is one of the common types of insulation. Its main advantage is low cost and ease of filling. Insulation can penetrate even the most hard-to-reach places... It is also important to mention that this material is environmentally friendly. As a heater, sawdust can be used not only in its pure form, but also mixed with appropriate building materials.

Pellets and sawdust granules

This is a granular insulation made from a mixture of sawdust, glue based on carboxymethyl cellulose and an antiseptic fire retardant. Thanks to such components, the insulation is not only an excellent heat insulator, but also antiseptic, hardly combustible.

Sawdust concrete

It can be obtained by mixing sawdust (mainly with conifers) with cement, sand and water. It is similar to cinder concrete in terms of thermal conductivity. This is an environmentally friendly material that requires good waterproofing (since it contains sawdust).

Arbolit

This material can be obtained by mixing cement with the required chemical components and organic fillers (wood chips). Usually slabs are made from this material. They are distinguished by good heat and sound insulation properties. This insulation is nonflammable, easy to process, durable.

The main disadvantage- "not indifferent" to moisture.

Of all the above materials, sawdust most often acts as a heater (without adding impurities).

We insulate the floor with mineral wool

This is a very common, popular type of insulation. It can be slag, stone, glass. Absolute incombustibility is one of the main advantages. The advantages also include: chemical and biological resistance, thermal and noise protection properties.

It is necessary to mention the disadvantages: low vapor permeability and mechanical strength.

The material is hygroscopic, as a result - a decrease in thermal insulation properties. Pay close attention to the vapor barrier when installing mineral wool. Such material also cannot be called absolutely safe for human health.

It is sold with plates and mats. The latter form is made from hydrophobized mineral wool. The blue stripe marks the hard side of the slab. Please note that the markings must point upwards when laying. Among manufacturers the most popular are Rockwool and Izovol.

It is based on mineral fibers. Izovol has low thermal conductivity. It has much more hydrophobic efficacy. In addition, it is chemically and biologically stable, non-flammable.

Basaltic mineral insulation- this is the material of the Rockwool brand:

resistant to mechanical stress;
does not shrink during operation and practically does not deform;
chemically and biologically resistant, non-flammable;
low thermal conductivity of the flooring;
absorbs sounds well due to its porous structure.
excellent sound-absorbing properties.

Thermal insulation of floors with a mineral slab (video)

We insulate the floor with penofol

A new type of thermal insulation material. Not yet widely adopted.

It is a multi-layer material that comes in rolls and consists of a reflective layer ( aluminium foil) and insulation (almost any insulation) .. For example, foamed polyethylene.

The classic version of this insulation is just polyethylene foam, which is held together by foil. However, all requirements modern construction this option cannot satisfy. That is why various types of penofol were invented.

The classic penofol has a higher density. It can withstand higher mechanical loads. Insulation can also be used as a hydro and vapor barrier. It will also show itself perfectly in tandem with heaters of a different composition.

Penofol comes with two- and one-sided foil.

Penofol-2000 became a progressive version of penofol. Foamed gas-filled polyethylene is used as a base. It costs less than its classic representative.

There is penofol and type "C" - self-adhesive. It is multilayer: polyethylene foam, contact adhesive (moisture resistant) with a release film, aluminum foil. Such insulation can be fixed on any (with few exceptions) surface thanks to glue. Accordingly, it is very easy and quick to mount it.

The material is laid on the surface of the base. Sheets can be stacked either end-to-end or overlapped. The joints must be glued with metallized tape. If you use penofol, then hydro- and vapor barrier is not necessary. Everything will be provided by aluminum foil. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the material about.

We insulate the floor with foam

Also one of the leading types of insulation. Possesses:

low vapor permeability;
significant fire resistance;
high strength;
low thermal conductivity;
chemical and biological resistance;
does not grow moldy;
unsuitable for rodents;
high performance layer.

The disadvantages include the fact that it absorbs moisture, losing some of its properties. When using such a heater, you need to pay attention to hydro and vapor barrier.

For insulation, both foamed and extruded foam are suitable. The latter has a solid structure - a mass of closed cells filled with gas molecules.

Of course, insulation has both pros and cons. The advantages include hygroscopicity, low thermal conductivity, durability, fire safety. By cons - a harmful effect on the human body.

We insulate the floor with ecowool

This insulation is made of natural materials... It consists of 78-81% waste paper, the rest is natural additives - a mixture of cellulose fibers. The binder is an organic antiseptic lignin and boric acid.

The main advantage of ecowool is safety for humans. The advantages also include:

fire safety (smolders, not burns);
low thermal conductivity;
after drying, it restores the properties of thermal insulation.

The disadvantages include the high cost.

Ecowool can be applied to the surface in different ways:

manually. Plates of cotton wool will need to be laid between the bars on boards or boards hemmed from below. The main thing is to lay the insulation tightly and treat the joints with polyurethane foam;
with the help of special devices - mobile blowing machines. Under the influence of pressure, the insulation is fed through the hose. There are two ways here: dry (ecowool is blown into the floor cavity) and wet (ecowool is applied to the walls).

Ecowool laying (video)

We insulate the floor with isolon

Insulation of a new generation. It is made from foamed polyethylene foam. Izolon was developed taking into account the new requirements for floor insulation. Has a number of advantages:

small thickness - 2.1-10.0 cm. It is noteworthy that the level of thermal conductivity does not increase in this case;
goes well with any material. Ideal for any gender;
does not absorb moisture;
does not rot, protects against negative impact moisture and steam;
high operational life;
environmentally friendly material;
suitable for any room;
small thickness. This significantly saves space.

We insulate the floor with polyurethane foam

This insulation (hard and soft) can be obtained from isocyanate and polyol components.

Polyurethane foam, cellular in structure (the bubbles are filled with gas and air), provides low thermal conductivity, and is lightweight. For a number of properties, it is considered one of the best materials for thermal insulation.

It is necessary to apply insulation to the surface by spraying. You will have to use special equipment... Polyurethane foam adheres perfectly to any material. No vapor barrier required.

PPU floor insulation (video)

Double floors

An effective option for insulation. The subfloor is used as the first layer (rough planks that are attached to the joists). There should be no gaps.

Try to fit all the boards tightly together. The finishing deck is mounted from above. Even a top coat made of decorative materials will do.

Often, instead of a rough base, a variety of flooring is used: embossed or smooth coatings with a high level of thermal insulation.

Said material does not accumulate debris. Dust and debris can be removed from it with a vacuum cleaner or swept away. The covering must be glued to the floor with an adhesive. You need to glue in separate strips. Do not forget to glue the joints as well.

We insulate the fiberboard floor

For floor insulation, standard DV plates are sometimes used. Such slabs can be placed under rough floor boards or under the finishing flooring (parquet, linoleum, carpet, etc.).

The main thing is to proceed carefully and perform the styling in stages. Observe the alignment of the joints, avoid the formation of gaps.

The type of slabs can be different:

PT-100;
M-20.

These options will keep the cold out of your home. Fiberboard for insulation can be used in combination with other heat insulators. For example, with mineral wool.

Underfloor heating system

The above-mentioned system is especially relevant for floors based on cold cement screed that need good heating.

The system will evenly heat the floor surface. As a result, comfortable thermal conditions throughout the room. The humidity level in the house will drop significantly. For the first floor of an eco-friendly wooden house, a water one is especially relevant. You can read the material about.

lay on the subfloor concrete plates or ;
lay any kind of insulation. Its thickness should not be less than two centimeters and more than ten;
lay a reinforcing mesh;
attach the piping system to the mesh with plastic clamps;
fill the floor with a cement-sand mixture;
use a backing if necessary;
mount the topcoat.

You can find out about the device and installation technology.

We create an electric floor heating system

It is much easier to install it. As heating, cable structures, safe infrared film elements are used here.

The cable can be stretched, if necessary, on a metal mesh, which is previously required. Film elements can be attached directly to the screed, insulated with some kind of heat insulator.

We invite you to find out by reading the corresponding article on our website.

The variety of heaters can be confusing for buyers. We list some of the most common types of heat insulators:

Thermolife. This material is usually used for light loads on the thermal insulation layer. Most often, they insulate the walls, roof, interfloor space. Equally well applicable on planes of different inclination.
Ursa. Insulation popular among specialists. Especially common in the finishing of horizontal surfaces. Advantages: good heat and sound insulation properties.
Insulate. Manufactured in China. Available in rolls. High quality at a low price. It will find application in a wide variety of areas.

You can insulate the floor in different ways and independently. The choice is great. Go for it!

In any structure, the floor, as a rule, is the most problematic part, since the penetration of cold air masses through it with well-insulated walls is quite likely. Neither excellent will help to solve the problem heating system nor carpets. Wood floors are more vulnerable than others.

The most logical solution would be correct insulation floor with the help of special materials, but first of all it is worth studying the structural features of the wooden flooring.

Peculiarities

Even correct styling floorboards without gaps and gaps disappear over time due to the peculiarities of the wood structure. Boards can dry out and heat loss is inevitable. Up to 30% of the heat escapes through the floor that has not been reconstructed, therefore it is necessary to insulate the wooden floor, but it is worth remembering the features of this work.

The wooden floor does not consist of only planks, it has a more complex structure. The base of the floor is logs, which are wooden blocks... Either a subfloor is attached to them, consisting of untreated boards, plywood, chipboard, and which is the basis for finishing coatings (laminate, parquet), or a final floor, the basis of which is made up of boards processed by a cutter.

In order for the floor to be comfortable, various types of insulation are used, but for normal operation one insulation is not enough - it is necessary to use layers of waterproofing.

Their presence is necessary because excessive moisture space contributes to the formation of fungus and the development of insects that destroy wooden structure.

Insulated premises

Most often, wooden floors are found in private buildings, and therefore it is important to know how to insulate a wooden floor in a country house. And this depends on many factors. First of all, this is the time of the construction of the structure. If the house is new, then you need to wait for the time it takes for the wood structure to shrink (6-7 months). If the house is old, then after dismantling the old coatings, be sure to pay attention to the wear of the lag, removing the rotten, even partially, logs.

When choosing a material for thermal insulation in a country house, it is necessary to take into account the area of the room and the height of the ceiling, the type of surface, the option for placing the floor structure, the temperature and humidity of the room, the load, and, of course, the purpose of the house. Each of these factors directly affects the choice of material.

The height of the ceiling in a country house for efficient and economical heating should be within 2.35-2.50 m. The height of the room after installing the insulation should not be less than 2.35 m, otherwise the space will not be very comfortable, and higher than 2.5 m in order to avoid an increase in heating costs.

The thickness of the insulation also depends on the purpose of the house. For houses used in summer period, you can get by with an insulation 5 cm thick, and for a house that will be used constantly, it is better to purchase material with a thickness of at least 20 cm.

The choice of material is directly related to the construction of the floor, as it affects the installation method. There are several types of flooring:

The flooring was laid either at a short distance from the ground, or on a special bedding. Both the flooring was laid without ventilation.
The flooring is located above the basement or cellar with high humidity.
The flooring is located on the logs, below there is pile foundation with lattice.
Laying the flooring on the joists, at the bottom there is a ventilated basement with good air ventilation due to the presence of vents.

When choosing a material for a country house, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the insulation itself. Besides the thickness, great importance have characteristics such as environmental safety, fire resistance, insulation service life.

To insulate the floor in a toilet located in a private wooden building, it is worth not only taking into account the above characteristics of the insulation, but also taking care of waterproofing the underground space of this room, as well as thinking over a ventilation system.

You can also insulate wooden floors in an apartment. The choice of material and installation method will depend on the floor of the apartment. For the first floor where there is soil nearby or basement, insulation will be both from the side of the apartment and from the side of the basement, if any. For floor insulation on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th floor, the material is laid only from the side of the apartment.

In a private house, floor insulation on the 2nd floor makes sense only if this or that floor is not heated, or more warm materials compared with the second, resulting in a temperature difference.

Floor device

Floor insulation can be done different methods... The choice of method depends on the initial condition of the coatings, the location or absence of ancillary facilities.

The simplest, most reliable and most often used is the method of warming along the logs. It is suitable for floor insulation both for private wooden structures and for floors located in apartments located on the 1st floor. In this case, the principle is that the coating is divided into finishing and rough.

Thermal insulation of a wooden floor occurs due to the sequential laying of various materials.

The draft layer consists of wooden planks docked with logs. At the bottom of the boards are cranial bars running along each log. The logs themselves are bars that are laid over the entire surface of the floor at a certain distance from each other, as a rule, from 0.6 to 1 meter. They can be attached to the foundation of the building, be cut into the basement of the structure, attached to load-bearing beams or fixed on erected posts from durable material(brick, concrete, stone).

The vapor barrier layer is laid on the subfloor and on top of the log. It is needed only when using a certain type of insulation, and the insulation itself is placed between the log. The gap between the insulation and the vapor barrier layer should be at least 4-5 cm. This value ensures proper ventilation of the space. If there is a lack of height, counter rails are packed on the logs.

If the building is located in an area where high groundwater is present, then instead of a vapor barrier layer, you need to lay a waterproofing layer that will prevent the insulation from getting wet. In addition, some types of insulation do not need a vapor barrier.

The installation outside the house of special air ducts installed in 4-5 m increments and an exhaust pipe will also help to get rid of high humidity. The presence of these elements contributes to good air circulation and increases the efficiency of floor insulation.

It is possible to insulate a wooden floor without dismantling the old coating using linoleum on a jute or felt basis, but it is better to use it not as independent view insulation, but as an addition to the warm floor. This durable and easy-to-install coating performs the function of waterproofing.

Another method of insulation without dismantling is liquid foam, which is driven under the floor through the holes with a special device. But, using this method, it is worth remembering that the filling of the space is uneven, and therefore this option is not perfect.

How to choose the right insulation

All types of materials of natural or artificial origin used to insulate a wooden floor, are subdivided into:

fibrous;
foamed;
filling;
cellular stone.

Any insulation has both advantages and disadvantages.

The most common and affordable material is mineral wool. Floor insulation with mineral wool has a lot of advantages. This material, in addition to its direct purpose, has very high noise insulation properties, has good fire resistance, and has a low thermal conductivity. This eco-friendly material is easy to arrange and has different shapes release (rolls, mats), which is important to consider when choosing.

A type of mineral wool is a brand insulation "Isover" manufactured by Finnish manufacturers for over 20 years. The basis of this material is fiberglass. Insulation "Izover" will protect the wooden structure from the development of fungi, bacteria, invasion of rodents and insects.

But this material has its drawbacks. First of all, they include poor moisture resistance, therefore, it is better to use mineral wool in combination with a waterproofing layer.

Unlike mineral wool, polystyrene foam is poorly permeable to water. This lightweight, non-toxic material is not subject to deformation due to temperature extremes. Even with a small thickness, it does not lose its good thermal insulation properties. But it also has some disadvantages. The fragility of the material is in the first place, so the material must be adjusted as accurately as possible.

Long-life polystyrene foam has improved characteristics. In addition to high levels of noise insulation and low thermal conductivity, the material is distinguished by increased strength. Installation with extruded polystyrene foam, in addition to insulation, will protect the house from the invasion of rodents and the development of mold fungi.

Vapor tight roll materials isolon or penofol are of small thickness, and therefore cannot provide the required degree of insulation. Most often, these materials are used in conjunction with others. With penofol or izolon, a rough floor surface is laid, using it as a waterproofing layer on which the insulation is laid.

Bulk materials used as insulation, such as expanded clay and sawdust, are used for structures without basements.

Insulation of the floor with sawdust makes it possible to save money, since sawdust is of low cost. In addition, the shape of this insulation allows you to fill up even the most inaccessible places. Very often sawdust is combined with other substances to enhance thermal insulation, antiseptic and other properties.

The floor is insulated with expanded clay in the case of the immediate proximity of the soil. This lightweight material has a porous structure, due to which, in addition to thermal insulation, good sound insulation is provided. He is not afraid of temperature changes, and even an inexperienced person can handle the installation.

Insulation technology

After analyzing the floor structure, it is necessary to consider best solutions for a specific room. There is a certain sequence of floor insulation, suitable both for insulation along logs, and without them.

First, it is necessary to dismantle the old coating, if the insulation process takes place in the old room, and install or replace the logs. Then proceed with the laying of the rough covering, on which the waterproofing or vapor barrier layer is laid. Its edges should overlap the walls by 15-20 cm, and the joints should be glued with tape.