Modern methods of concrete floor insulation. Insulation for concrete screed: which polystyrene foam is best for the floor How to insulate a concrete floor at home

Extruded polystyrene foam brand "Penoplex", due to its excellent characteristics, is becoming the most popular insulation for interfloor and attic floors as well as for walls and partitions. This material is suitable for almost any coating, as well as for mounting a “warm floor” system on top of it.

Do-it-yourself floor insulation with penoplex under the screed can be done by understanding the technology of work. And the device of such insulation is quite acceptable both for a private house and for an apartment located on any floor. Penoplex is a lightweight material, and in combination with a screed that will not be too thick, it will slightly weight the floor without causing any damage to the overall structure.

Experts have proven that up to 10% of heat escapes through the floors of a private house, and this figure is quite impressive, especially if you translate it into a monetary equivalent. To avoid annual extra costs for heating, it is better to invest in insulation material once, which will quickly pay off, since the amount of monthly payments for the use of energy carriers will be significantly reduced.

The technology of insulation of the concrete surface "Penoplex" differs from the thermal insulation of the floor on the ground and requires a different approach.

Penoplex can insulate both the floor on a concrete base and the floor on the ground. Technologies at the same time are quite different and require a different approach. But first, a few words about the thermal insulation material itself.

What is Penoplex

"Penoplex" - insulation material from the category of extruded polystyrene foam. It is made in several versions, each of which is designed for thermal insulation. various surfaces and elements of the building, that is, the choice of material must be done correctly.

"Penoplex" - one of the best modern heaters

This insulation has a special marking indicating its most important specifications, on which the scope of the material depends. Penoplex are marked 31, 31C, 35, 45 and 45C, but not all varieties are suitable for floor insulation, but only those that have a sufficiently high density - 35 and 45.

"Penoplex - 35" in fact, it is universal and is used for thermal insulation of foundations, external walls and floors. This type of insulation has the following characteristics:

• sufficiently high density - 28 ÷ 38 kg / m³;
• low thermal conductivity: the coefficient is only 0.030 W/m×° With;
• low hygroscopicity - 0.4% of the total volume in 24 hours, and moisture absorption during the test it was noted only during the first 10 hours;
• combustibility is designated as G1. This is a very high indicator of resistance to fire, and since a heat-resistant concrete screed will be laid on top of the insulation, the material will be completely fireproof ;
• the noise absorption of this material reaches 41 dB;
• the tensile strength of "Penoplex - 35" is 0.4 ÷ 0.7 MPa;
• operating temperature range from -50 to +75 degrees .

Prices for Penoplex

penoplex

This type of expanded polystyrene is well suited for insulating a concrete floor under a screed. If desired, the "warm floor" system can be laid on the insulation.

"Penoplex - 45" has the highest density of all varieties of this material and is perfect for warming the floor of a private house on the ground. By the way, it is even used as a heat insulator for runways and road surfaces.

Penoplex 45 has the following technical characteristics:

• density 40.1 ÷ 47 kg/m³;
• its hygroscopicity is even lower - only 0.2% of the total volume per day, and all moisture absorption also limited to only the first 10 hours of the test;
• fire resistance is designated as G4, but if the insulation is arranged under a heat-resistant coating, then this no longer matters much;
• the tensile strength of "Penoplex - 45" is 0.4-0.7 MPa;

Otherwise, the technical characteristics are the same as those indicated above.

There is another gradation of types of insulation - according to the field of application. This marking is usually indicated on the packaging:

From this line for floor insulation come t Three types of heat insulator:

• "Penoplex Foundation", which has a density of 29 ÷ 33 kg / m³ and is excellent not only for insulating foundations, but also for floors in residential and basement premises. The heat insulator has high moisture resistance, has good heat and sound insulation qualities, therefore it is suitable for installation on a concrete and soil prepared surface . Quite accessible.
• "Penoplex 45", which was already mentioned in the article, allows you to insulate floors in residential premises, garages, as well as the surface of flat roofs .
• "Penoplex Comfort", the density of which is 25 ÷ 35 kg / m³, is widely used for warming any surfaces in the interior of residential buildings and apartments, and even rooms with high humidity. It is quite possible to insulate them with floors in a private house, if a rigid base is arranged under it .

Ordinary polystyrene foam can also be used for floor insulation. Some homeowners choose it, since the price is significantly lower than Penoplex. However, one should not forget about the serious difference in the technical characteristics of these materials. To clearly see that extruded polystyrene foam is much more suitable for floor insulation, it is worth comparing the parameters of both materials:

It should be noted - despite the fact that the characteristics of these materials differ from each other, the process of warming them is exactly the same.

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The technology of floor insulation "penoplex" under the screed

As mentioned above, the insulation technology will directly depend on the base surface on which the entire floor structure with a screed will be laid. Therefore, it is worth considering various options.

Insulated concrete floor

If we talk about the insulation of the concrete floor in apartments, then there is a difference in the technologies for thermal insulation of the floors of the first floor and all subsequent ones.

In apartments located above the basement, the floors are always colder. In addition, there is a risk of dampness and mold, so do work for thermal insulation is recommended even before moving into a new home. These rooms use more layers various materials, which prevent cooling of the room, as well as protect it from moisture penetration.

The first thing to do before moving on to the main work is to thoroughly prepare the surface. It is carried out in the same way for the concrete floors of apartments, regardless of the floor.

Surface preparation

This stage of work, although not considered the main one, is extremely important, and the process must be taken seriously.

• The first step is to clean the surface of the old floor covering, remnants of the glue on which it was laid, or “blobs” of concrete mortar frozen in separate sections of the floor.

It is very important to thoroughly clean the entire surface, otherwise the concrete growths will interfere with the laying of the insulation material.

• Then, all debris from the floor is removed, and the dust from the surface is swept to clean concrete.

• Next, all holes and recesses are sealed - this work can be done using special repair putties. Deep flaws will be more profitable to repair with mounting foam.

After the foam has hardened, the protruding excess is cut off flush with the floor surface.

• Further, the entire surface of the floor must be carefully primed with a special deep penetration composition.

The primer on the surface should dry well. In the case of obvious rapid absorption of the soil, it is applied in several layers, each time - after the previous one has completely dried.

It is also necessary to prime the walls to a height of 150 ÷ ​​200 mm, since this part of their surface will be fixed or waterproofing material.

• After the final drying of the surface, it must be leveled self leveling composition. In the event that the surface is mostly flat and only in some places there are recesses and drops, then the alignment is carried out precisely in these areas of the floor.

• If the insulation will be carried out in the apartment on the first floor, then the floor and the lower part of the walls are recommended waterproof. To do this, it is best to use roofing material, which is laid on the mastic in a hot way or on a “cold” bituminous mastic ( maklovitsa). The waterproofing material should go on the walls by 120 ÷ 150 mm.

On the ground floor, this process is mandatory, but waterproofing can also be carried out on the upper floors - it will reduce the likelihood of possible flooding of the apartment below in the event of a water supply failure.

• Further, along the entire perimeter of the room, at the junction of the floor and wall, a damper tape is glued. It can be bought ready-made or cut independently from foamed polyethylene with a thickness of 7 ÷ 80 mm. The glued tape should be 50 ÷ 70 mm higher than the future screed. The damper tape is necessary to compensate for the expansion of the screed during temperature changes and to prevent deformation of the coating.

floor insulation process

Since the installation of insulation on waterproofing material is different from installation on an open prepared concrete floor, some stages of work will differ.

This diagram clearly shows what sequence the layers of the concrete floor insulated with Penoplex should have.

1 - flooring - it can be linoleum, parquet board, laminate or ceramic tile.

2 - a layer of concrete screed.

3 - reinforcing mesh.

4 - waterproofing layer.

5 - insulating layer " Penoplex»

6 – concrete slab overlap.

A semi-dry base can be laid on a base insulated with foam or a regular, “wet” screed can be poured, so the sequence of layers can be slightly changed.

If a waterproofing material is applied or laid on the surface, then "foam" is laid on top of it. In the event that the installation will be carried out on a leveled concrete surface, thermal insulation material laid on a bed of cleaned sand.

For example, consider the process of creating an insulated floor with polystyrene foam using semi-dry screed technology:

Illustration	Brief description of the operation to be performed
	In this case, the insulation will be laid on a concrete floor. If any pipe or an insulating box with wires passes along its surface, then first a heater is laid on top, and a mark is made in width and depth at the place where the communication passes. Then, a groove is drawn and cut out, in which the pipe will be placed during installation.
	But before finally laying the insulation in place, the concrete surface is leveled with clean sand or a sand-cement mixture, the thickness of which should be 1.5 ÷ 2 mm. It is necessary then to fill in the small irregularities of the floor.
	Insulation sheets are laid on top of the cement-sand mixture. They are slightly pressed forward and backward along the poured layer, thereby leveling the filling under them and creating adhesion between the surfaces over the entire area of ​​the panel.
	Such backfilling is done sequentially, on the floor areas for two or three slabs. Next, put thermal insulation boards, and then produce the same backfill on the next section. Work continues in the same order until the entire surface of the floor is covered with styrofoam boards.
	Having completed the installation of the insulation boards, reinforcing mesh cards with cells of 80 ÷ 100 mm are overlapped on top of them.
	Reinforcing cards are interconnected by wire, the ends of which are removed under the metal bars of the grid.
	Next, you need to make a semi-dry mixture for the screed. It is convenient to mix the solution directly on the insulated floor, after laying sheets of plywood or thick cardboard on it. A certain amount of dry composition is poured out of the bags onto an impromptu flooring, and then a recess is made in the center of the slide with a shovel.
	Water is poured into the recess, according to the proportions indicated on the package.
	After that, with the help of shovels, a solution is kneaded, which should not be too dry, but also not spread over the surface. During kneading, the dry mixture is constantly sprayed around with water to reduce the amount of rising dust.
	The mixed mass, when compressed in a fist, should not crumble, however, and not be so wet that water oozes out of it.
	At the next stage, the finished solution is distributed over the reinforced surface with a shovel. This layer should have a thickness of 10-15 mm. After filling the entire floor area with it, the mixture is trampled down or rolled with a metal roller.
	Further, the reinforcing mesh must be raised to the top of the poured mixture. To do this, the mesh is picked up with your fingers, slightly lifted and released. Thus, the reinforcing cards on the entire surface of the floor are on top of the semi-dry cement mixture.
	After that, the entire surface is again trampled down or rolled with a roller.
	If it was planned to lay the underfloor heating cable under the main layer of the screed, then it's time to install it. The cable must be solid. It is carefully unwound and laid according to a pre-planned pattern with a calculated step between the loops.
	The cable is neatly fixed to the reinforcing mesh using wire or plastic clamps. The ends of these garters are also hidden in the solution. When installing and fixing an electric cable, it is undesirable to step on it, it must not be bent, the turns of the wire must be smooth. It is very important to remember that the "warm floor" does not fit in those places where heavy furniture will be permanently installed.
	A corrugated tube with a temperature sensor is laid in the chosen location for the installation of the thermostat, strictly in the center of the cable loop. Its second end should be located in the strobe on the wall leading to the thermostat installation socket.
	After the installation of the cable is completed, the entire surface of the floor is covered with a semi-dry mixture to the specified thickness of the screed.
	After backfilling, the surface must be trampled or rolled with a roller.
	With the help of a laser or conventional level, the height of the future screed is marked on the walls. According to these marks on the backfill, flat areas are stuffed with a grater, and then strips that will serve as beacons for aligning the rest of the screed along them.
	The strips are aligned and compacted using a rule. Instead of this procedure, you can install metal beacons, but in such a way as not to damage the “warm floor” cable, that is, until the last filling of the mixture. You can fix the guides with a wire on a reinforcing mesh.
	In this case, the master aligns the main screed with stuffed beacons. The leveling process is carried out using the rule, which is carried out with a little pressure along the beacons, collecting excess mixture. If defects are formed on the surface, then the required amount of the mixture is poured onto them, and they are overwritten.
	After leveling with the rule, the master passes over the entire surface with a construction float, lightly moistening the surface as necessary. And in order not to damage the screed, it is necessary to put on special linings for work shoes, resembling snowshoes, on your feet.
	Next, a trowel is used, which brings the surface to perfect smoothness.
	The building level checks the evenness of the screed. It is considered ideal if there is not even a small gap between the floor surface and the level.
	After grouting, the screed is left to dry for a day. Then the excess damper tape is cut off.
	After removing the protruding part of the damper tape, it is recommended to spray the entire floor surface well with water. This procedure is carried out to strengthen the screed.

After that, the screed should be left to dry and gain strength for two weeks. If it was planned to lay on top of it ceramic tiles, then before laying it is necessary to wait at least 20 days. Coatings such as laminate, linoleum or parquet boards are installed only after additional film waterproofing has been laid and, of course, after complete drying of not only the screed, but the entire room.

You may be interested in information on how to do it yourself

Insulated "foam" screed on the ground

The floors are also insulated with Penoplex in a private house built on a strip foundation - this method is called ground insulation.

Such insulation is possible under the following conditions:

- if serious loads do not fall on the floors of the room;

- the absence of a basement or basement under the house;

— if groundwater occurs at a depth of at least 4000 ÷ 5000 mm;

- the presence of heating in the house, otherwise freezing of the soil can lead to deformation of the screed.

Plates " Penoplex"For this method of thermal insulation, it is better to choose with butt grooves, since there will be no hard and dense surface under them. And lock joints (lamellas) will not allow cold bridges to arise and will reliably hold the plates together in a single plane.

For these works, in addition to insulation, it is necessary to prepare additional building materials, the amount of which will depend on the volume of the space being filled. This is — clean sand, gravel-sand mixture, crushed stone, waterproofing material (roofing material and mastic), cement, self leveling mixtures, damper tape and reinforcing mesh in cards or rolls.

Insulation schemes

There are several schemes according to which the process of erecting a floor insulated with polystyrene foam on the ground can be carried out. To begin with, it is worth understanding them:

• In this embodiment, the insulation is placed on a layer of compacted sand, under which a reliable gravel and crushed stone pillow was made.

• The second version of the insulation consists of two screeds, one of which is placed inside the "pie", between the sand and the insulation, and the second covers the heat-insulating material. The "warm floor" system can be laid in the upper concrete layer.

• In the third option, for backfilling directly on the ground, medium fraction crushed stone, which is covered on top with a “cushion” of sand, on which Penoplex is then laid. Then the insulation is closed with waterproofing and reinforced screed.

Laying insulated floor on the ground

The most used scheme for laying an insulated floor on the ground is as follows:

• The soil is selected from the space where the backfill will be arranged, 550 ÷ 600 mm deep.
• Further, the soil surface is well compacted so that it does not subsequently shrink, which can lead to deformation and cracking of the screed.
• Then, a layer of crushed stone or gravel is poured. Sometimes a mixture of these materials is used, which is also maximally compacted. The height of this layer should be at least 250 ÷ 300 mm when packed.
• To increase the overall efficiency of thermal insulation, crushed stone is sometimes backfilled with expanded clay of the middle fraction. For the layer to be effective, its thickness must be at least 100 mm, and if the height of the space allows, then all 150 mm.

• On top of crushed stone or expanded clay, a pillow of medium-grained sand or granite screenings is arranged. The layer is well soaked with water and rolled with a roller or compacted with a manual rammer. When compacted, the thickness of the sand layer should be at least 100 ÷ 120 mm. Its surface must be very well leveled and measured according to the building level.
• The next step is to attach foamed polyethylene to the walls of the foundation tape along the entire perimeter, which will act as a damper tape. The material must have a width that will be 120 ÷ 150 mm higher than the intended screed. It should be noted that instead of foamed polyethylene, thin, about 15 mm thick, foam can be used.
• Further, on top of the sand pillow, Penoplex is laid, which should fit snugly against the leveled surface. To do this, each of the plates is moved forward and backward along the sand until it takes the desired position. Insulation mats are connected with the help of thorn-grooves or lamellas on them. The thickness of the insulation should be 100 mm - this makes the coating more dense and stable.

• The joints of the plates are sometimes glued with waterproof foil tape - it completely eliminates the appearance of cold bridges.
• Some masters prefer to lay on top insulation dense polyethylene, which serves as a waterproofing for the screed. In any case, this layer will never be redundant.
• Further, a reinforcing metal mesh is laid on top of Penoplex or polyethylene. If several cards are stacked, then they are interconnected with wire.

• On the grid are exposed to the level of metal guides - beacons, which are leveled and fixed with slides of mortar. At the same time, it is possible to install the underfloor heating cable, if it is planned to be laid. After the beacon system has solidified, you can proceed to pouring the screed itself.

• A screed is arranged on top - for this, a mixed solution is laid out on the surface. It is aligned with the rule according to the installed beacons.

As in the previous case, semi-dry or "classic" concrete mix can be used.

The screed is given the time set by technology for full maturation. It is advisable to regularly, starting from the second day, moisten the surface gaining strength.

• After the screed has hardened and gained brand strength, if necessary, the floor is poured self leveling mixture. This process is desirable to carry out if linoleum or laminate is laid on top.

You can bring the surface to the “ideal” with a self-leveling compound

• When the leveling layer also hardens, the excess damper tape is cut off. Its upper edge should be flush with the surface of the screed.

Now, on the surface of the floor insulated with polystyrene foam, you can mount the selected decorative coating.

In the course of the presentation, not in vain several times emphasized attention to the damper tape. The design of the floor, insulated with "Penoplex" or other plate heat insulators, using such a tape is "floating" not connected to the walls, so it does not depend on their shrinkage in any way. The main thing is to have a reliable and stable foundation, and this is especially important when installing an insulated floor on the ground.

And in conclusion - a video tutorial by a specialist in correct device insulated floors on the ground.

Insulation of the concrete floor in a private house allows you to save heat, improve the microclimate in the house, and also save on heating. It is known that a concrete slab with a large temperature difference from the outside and inside forms condensation on a “cold” surface, which contributes to an increase in humidity in the basement and on the first floor. Warming solves this problem.

Almost any modern heat-insulating materials can be used to insulate a concrete floor, but there are currently three main methods of insulation:

• with the help of fibrous heaters - mineral, basalt or fiberglass wool;
• using foam molded materials - foam boards, polystyrene;
• by spraying polymeric heaters - polyurethane foam, penoizol.

All these heaters are quite effective, and depending on the type of insulation, the technology of their installation differs.

When choosing a heater, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the materials. Fibrous insulation has good heat and sound insulation, does not support combustion, but is afraid of water. When wet, it sharply decreases in volume and loses its thermal insulation properties. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it in wet rooms where leaks are possible, and in other rooms it must be waterproofed on both sides.

Styrofoam is combustible, mechanically not strong, although it has a low price. If it is necessary to insulate floors at minimal cost, you can choose foam boards as a heater, but it must be covered from above with a material that redistributes point loads - plywood, chipboard or drywall. An analogue of polystyrene - extruded polystyrene foam - does not support combustion, since its bubbles are not filled with air, but carbon dioxide. It has increased strength, so it can be used to insulate a concrete floor directly under a concrete screed.

Modern and very effective method sprayed thermal insulation is different in that it does not require leveling and surface preparation, it forms a seamless coating, its heat-insulating properties are very high. At the same time, the application of sprayed insulation requires the call of specialists with a spraying installation.

Insulation of the concrete floor with fibrous materials

When insulating a concrete floor mineral wool you should remember about its features and observe the sequence of layers. The thickness of the insulation layer is determined by the characteristics of the material. This information is usually provided by the manufacturer. Usually a 5-10 cm layer of mineral insulation is sufficient.

Insulation of the concrete floor with polystyrene

Insulation with polystyrene or polystyrene is usually used under a concrete screed. These materials are waterproof, so they can be used in the bathroom, kitchen and other wet areas.

The technology of floor insulation with polystyrene is used when making warm water floors. In this case, the heating circuit is laid on a reinforcing mesh, after which it is poured with concrete.

A highly effective method that requires the participation of professionals. The insulation is applied to the floor in the form of a foam with a closed cell structure, and after application it expands in size, forming a seamless layer of thermal insulation. Foam application is carried out using a special installation in which a polymer liquid and carbon dioxide are mixed under pressure.

There are other ways to insulate the floor, less effective. For example, the implementation of a dry expanded clay screed also allows you to create an insulating layer. The concrete screed itself, when polymer or cellulose fillers are added to the solution, acquires heat-insulating properties. When choosing a method of insulating a concrete floor in a private house, all factors must be taken into account, including the method.

In a home's heat exchange system, floors are one of the places where heat is lost the most. This is especially true for concrete floors, which, despite all their excellent performance, have one serious drawback - concrete is a very cold material. And for a comfortable stay in a house with concrete floors, high-quality, multilayer thermal insulation is required. Insulation of the concrete floor in the house, especially if it is the floor of the first floor, is a strict necessity, but the implementation of all the work is not particularly difficult. The main thing is the observance of the insulation technology and the availability of skills in handling the tool.

Concrete floor insulation

Reliable and high-quality thermal insulation of a concrete floor directly depends on the thermal insulation materials used, which differ in performance characteristics, as well as in the place and operating conditions. The choice of the right material should be dealt with first of all when looking for an answer to the question of how to properly insulate a concrete floor.

When choosing thermal insulation, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

• density responsible for the total weight of the material. The lower this indicator, the more porous the material and the more heat it can keep indoors;
• strength material, can be both in bending and in compression. To insulate a concrete floor, materials with a high strength index will be required due to the large loads on the floor surface;
• coefficient of thermal conductivity indicates the ability of a material to transmit heat through itself. The lower this figure, the better;
• moisture resistance the material must be very high, otherwise the material located between the concrete screed and the ground will quickly lose its properties;
• moisture permeability, unlike moisture resistance, should be minimal. Otherwise, the material will quickly gain excess moisture and lose its thermal insulation qualities;
• durability. With this indicator, everything is simple: the larger it is, the better;
• environmental friendliness. This characteristic will be useful to those who seek to build an environmentally friendly clean house using natural materials.

The following materials are often used to insulate a concrete floor:

• mineral and basalt wool. These thermal insulation materials are always popular. They have low thermal conductivity and density (although there are slab positions with high density), as well as excellent sound insulation. Unfortunately, cotton wool is not environmentally friendly, perfectly absorbs moisture, and does not tolerate a humid environment. The use of cotton wool as a heater for a concrete floor is justified only in the case when the raised floor is insulated;
• Styrofoam. The second name is polystyrene foam. Today, the insulation of a concrete floor with foam plastic is a common thing. This material has excellent thermal conductivity, moisture resistance and moisture permeability. It has the following disadvantages: non-environmentally friendly and rather fragile;
• extruded polystyrene foam. This material is a derivative of conventional foam and has a number of significant differences. First, extruded polystyrene foam is much stronger. Secondly, the durability of XPS is greater than that of conventional foam. Thirdly, thermal conductivity, water absorption and water resistance are an order of magnitude higher for XPS.

• polyurethane foam. This material has excellent thermal conductivity, is resistant to moisture and temperature extremes. Perfectly transfers mechanical loadings without loss of heat-insulating properties, is durable. The only drawback is that it is not environmentally friendly;

• expanded clay. This material is often used as a substitute for crushed stone in concrete and for the insulation of the latter. The thermal insulation properties of expanded clay allow several times to reduce the thermal conductivity of concrete. Despite the low coefficient of thermal conductivity and environmental friendliness, expanded clay has a number of significant drawbacks. Firstly, the total weight of the expanded clay insulating layer is quite large. Secondly, expanded clay perfectly absorbs and retains moisture;
• foam glass. As a heat insulator, foam glass has a number of undeniable advantages. These include low thermal conductivity and specific gravity, the ability not to absorb moisture, the environmental friendliness of the material, resistance to moisture, and very long durability. The only serious drawback is a certain fragility of the material, which is poorly tolerated by mechanical loads;
• cork. Absolutely natural insulation with excellent thermal insulation characteristics. The only thing to note is that it is better to use cork for warming raised floors and as a heat-insulating layer under the finishing floor covering;
• perlite. This heat-insulating material is similar in the way it is used with expanded clay. The difference lies in the characteristics of perlite, which are an order of magnitude better than those of expanded clay.

The table below shows the main characteristics of thermal insulation materials that you will have to focus on when choosing them. Of particular note is the thermal conductivity various kinds concrete with various aggregates. This little secret will help answer the question of how best to insulate a concrete floor.

Table 1.

Features of concrete floor insulation

Before proceeding directly to work on the insulation of the concrete floor, it is necessary to understand the technology of insulation, as well as choose the most suitable option insulation from existing ones.

The concrete floor insulation technology consists in the creation of multilayer thermal insulation and consists of several stages of work. The first stage of concrete floor insulation is performed before pouring the rough screed. The second stage of insulation occurs during the creation and pouring of the concrete mixture. At the third stage, the insulation of the concrete floor is performed during the creation of the floor covering. It should be noted right away that it is best to insulate a concrete floor when it is created from scratch. This is the only way to ensure a high-quality level of insulation.

There are only a few ways to insulate a concrete floor. Each of them is performed in due time as the floor is created. Each of these methods is discussed in more detail below.

• Laying insulation under a concrete screed. Such insulation is performed during the creation of a concrete floor from scratch. Therefore, if there is a desire to insulate the floor in an already built house, you will first have to completely destroy the old concrete screed to the ground. With this method of insulation, materials with high strength, resistance to mechanical stress, moisture resistant and durable are used.
• Today it is very popular underfloor heating system, which allows you to create active heating of the concrete floor over its entire area. Such a system is placed on top of a layer of insulation and poured with a concrete screed. Underfloor heating can be water or electric. In any case, floor heating using such a system will require the use of a third-party energy source. Concrete warm water floors or electric warm floors are more related to the active heating system. But in general, they are great for warming.
• Another option for insulating a concrete field is addition of such fillers to the mixture, like expanded clay or perlite instead of the usual crushed stone. Due to their thermal insulation characteristics, these materials can reduce the thermal conductivity of concrete by several times. Concrete with expanded clay or perlite can be used both to create a base on the ground and for a screed.
• One of the common options for insulating concrete floors on upper floors is creation of a "raised floor". This method of insulation involves the arrangement of wooden logs and filling the space between them with insulation. This approach is useful in that it reduces the overall load on the foundation of the house, and is useful for those who do not want to bother with pouring concrete screed.

• You can also insulate a ready-made concrete floor with a floor covering. To do this, it is enough to use insulated floor materials. For example, warm linoleum or carpet. In addition, when creating a finishing floor covering, you can lay a layer of cork, polyethylene foam or other thin-layer insulation under it.

All of the above methods of insulation, depending on the situation, can be used both in combination and separately. So, for example, if it is impossible to lay insulation under the screed, you can limit yourself to using expanded clay and creating a multi-layer topcoat. Or, when creating a “warm floor” system, do not equip a multi-layer warm topcoat.

How to insulate a concrete floor

There is nothing complicated in how to make a warm concrete floor. The first thing to do is to complete the series preparatory work. And depending on whether the floor insulation will be on the ground or on interfloor overlap, choose methods of insulation and materials.

As previously noted, there are several ways to insulate a concrete floor on the ground. Below we consider in more detail the two most commonly used. This is the creation of multilayer thermal insulation and the “warm floor” system.

Concrete floor insulation - layered cake

Regardless of the method of insulation, you must first do the following:

• if you have to repair and insulate the concrete floor in an already built house, you will have to remove the old screed to the ground. Re-fill the sand-gravel mixture, then carefully compact it;
• a layer of “lean” concrete is poured on top of the resulting pillow, which is the basis for waterproofing and insulation;
• after the concrete base hardens and gains strength, we lay a layer of waterproofing on top. At the same time, we strive to make it as reliable as possible. Errors or shortcomings at this stage can lead to the penetration of moisture into the insulation, which will reduce its performance, and over time, moisture will reach the finish screed. As a result, high humidity indoors and constantly cold floors. To prevent this from happening, we overlap the waterproofing, and glue the joints with adhesive tape;
• Now that the waterproofing is ready, we lay a layer of thermal insulation. For these purposes, you can use expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene foam, foam glass, polyurethane foam. Materials in the form of mats or plates are laid on the adhesive composition. We place the materials themselves in a run-up, thereby reducing the likelihood of cold bridges and increasing the strength of the heat-insulating layer. Along the perimeter of the heat-insulating layer between the wall and the edge of the material, we lay a damper tape;

Important! A layer of thermal insulation made of polyurethane foam can be equipped with plates, or by spraying. In the second case, you get a seamless coating. Another important point is an optional arrangement of vapor and waterproofing when using polyurethane foam.

• having equipped the main layer of thermal insulation, we lay another layer of waterproofing on top of it, after which we install a reinforcing mesh and fill in a rough concrete screed. At this stage, you can also additionally insulate the concrete floor. To do this, instead of crushed stone, expanded clay or perlite is used as a concrete filler.

Important! Due to their specific performance characteristics, expanded clay and perlite are best used in a semi-dry mortar screed. Another feature is the use of a filler of various fractions, which will ensure a denser filling of the screed and its strength.

• after allowing the screed to dry completely and gain strength, you can proceed to the arrangement of the finishing floor covering. At this stage, you can also insulate the concrete floor. For this, a special insulating substrate and floor materials with good thermal conductivity are used. Cork or polyethylene foam can be used as a substrate. It is worth noting that under a certain type of flooring, you must use your own type of substrate. So, foamed polyethylene does not fit under linoleum; cork should be used instead. Therefore, before laying the insulating underlay, it is necessary to make sure that it is compatible with the floor covering.

Arrangement of the "warm floor" system

To make a concrete floor on the ground really warm, so much so that it will be pleasant to walk on it barefoot, you will have to equip a system of water or electric underfloor heating. It should be noted that a concrete water-heated floor is somewhat more difficult to arrange, since in addition to water pipes placed under the screed, it will be necessary to install equipment for heating and forced circulation, which will affect the volume and complexity of the work.

Such a system is laid directly on the thermal insulation layer. But there is one important feature - the heat-insulating material must have a foil coating in order to reflect most of the heat into the room. Of course, any suitable thermal insulation material can be used, but a reflective foil barrier must be laid on top of it.

After laying and checking the performance of the system, we lay the reinforcing mesh and pour the concrete screed. To equip the system with a warm floor, a concrete solution can be made without crushed stone or expanded clay.

Insulation of the concrete floor in a house with several floors is carried out using one of the methods described above, as well as by creating a raised floor. Such a floor can be easily arranged in any room of the upper floors.

Important! It should be noted that if the floor on the ground can still be relatively painlessly deepened in order to maintain the height of the room, then when insulating the upper floors, it is necessary to carefully monitor the thickness of the floor with insulation.

You can insulate a concrete floor with a raised floor as follows:

• clean the surface of the ceiling from dirt and, if necessary, level it;
• using wooden beam 50x100 mm, we equip logs over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. We take a step between the lags 50 - 60 cm;
• laying a layer of waterproofing on top. We overlap the edges and glue with adhesive tape;
• put insulation inside. It can be cotton wool, polystyrene foam, EPS, expanded clay, perlite or other insulation;
• on top of the lag we lay moisture-resistant plywood or chipboard, after which you can equip the finishing floor covering.

Important! A raised floor can significantly reduce the height of a room. Therefore, before insulating a concrete floor with a raised floor, you need to make sure that this method of insulation is appropriate.

When insulating concrete floors, the main thing is to choose the right method and materials that will be used to perform the work. And compliance with the technology will create a really reliable insulation that prevents heat loss. It should also be remembered that the insulation of concrete floors is only part of the overall thermal insulation of the house. Of course, a lot of heat is lost through the floors, but by insulating only them, you may not get the desired effect. Therefore, it is so important to insulate the entire house in the complex.

In houses built on the ground, as well as in old buildings, the issue of heat conservation is acute. Knowing how to insulate a concrete floor in a private house, you can not only save on the resources of the heating system, but also minimally affect the technical characteristics of the residential area. Heat retention performance can be improved by using various materials, the choice of which determines the complexity of creating a thermal protective layer.

Why insulate

Concrete floors have the main feature that is unpleasant for the inhabitants of a residential building. They serve as an effective cold bridge. Concrete quickly conducts heat, giving it to the environment. As a result, the first floors of houses built on the ground constantly have cold floors, heating costs increase, and overall comfort for the inhabitants decreases. A similar problem is observed in buildings where there is an unheated basement.

By insulating concrete floors, you can achieve additional benefits, in addition to improved thermal performance. The short list looks like this:

• condensation disappears at the boundary of the separation of warm (air in the room) and cold (concrete floor) environment. This increases the life of the floor coverings, prevents tiles from lagging, adhesive composition which is not exposed to excess moisture;
• the risk of reproduction of fungus and mold, as well as other microbiological formations that are unsafe for the respiratory system and human health in general, is sharply reduced;
• in rooms with insulated concrete floors, microclimate indicators are stabilized. Excessive humidity and other deviations from the norm are not observed.

But the main thing that can be obtained by knowing how to insulate a concrete floor in a private house is a reduction in heating costs and an increased level of comfort in the rooms.

The mechanics of insulation

When floors are insulated in a private house, there are two mutually exclusive cases. The first is to maintain the height of the ceilings. This may be necessary if for wiring the gas line in private house it is impossible to reduce the gap between the floor and the ceiling of the upper floor. The second case does not imply strict requirements for the level of the floor.

When it is impossible to change the height of the ceilings, the following solution is resorted to: insulation is carried out from below the concrete screed, the surface of which is the basis for the floor finish. This is not always possible or convenient. In houses built on the ground, expanded clay bedding is used, formed on sand cushions. Fibrous materials, such as glass wool mats, can also be laid.

When insulating a concrete floor from below, you will have to completely dismantle the existing screed. Work will need to be carried out in a limited space. In the case when insulation is done from the basement side, all operations will have to be carried out by attaching thermal insulation materials to the ceiling, waterproofing them, the total cost of the process is high both in terms of money and labor costs.

Most often, floor insulation in a private house is done on top of the existing one. concrete deck. In this case, apply:

• fibrous materials such as glass wool, rock wool, basalt wool;
• sheet foamed and extruded materials: polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene;
• rolled polymer thermal insulators: foamed polyethylene, penofol;
• sprayed materials: penoizol, special construction foam;
• bulk materials: expanded clay, perlite, polystyrene granules.

Each of the methods has its own effect on changing the level of the floor. In addition, due to the different mechanical characteristics of the products used, only certain options for laying the outer covering are available for a given material, which will serve as the basis for the final floor layer.

It does not matter how to insulate the concrete floor in a private house. In any case, the existing concrete screed must be cleaned, all cracks are sealed on it, and the collapsing sections are removed. Draft waterproofing is also done by applying bituminous mastic.

Working with fiber insulation

Mineral, glass, basalt wool is supplied in mats. Various material thicknesses and densities are available. But one thing remains unchanged. The mechanical strength of fibrous materials is not high enough to serve as a reliable base for the topcoat placed on top. Therefore, the work is carried out according to the following methodology:

• a waterproofing agent is laid on the existing concrete surface - a dense polymer film, overlapping by 10-15 cm, the joints of the strips are glued with a wide adhesive tape;
• lags are laid;
• the height of the lag is selected according to the fibrous insulation used. It can be stacked in one or more layers;
• the distance from one log to another also depends on the insulation. Its strips should lie between the beams or the board without gaps.

A one-sided membrane is laid on top of the insulation to remove condensate. It must remove moisture from the fibrous insulator. A load-bearing surface is laid on top of the lag, these can be sheets of plywood, batten, OSB, chipboard. Further actions depend on the goals set by the owner of the house. However, it is worth noting: the resulting flat plywood surface is suitable for laminate flooring, tile laying, and other finishing floor coverings.

If a self-leveling floor is planned, its construction on a surface formed from plywood, chipboard or boards is carried out with mandatory waterproofing. Fibrous materials should not be exposed to moisture, as they reduce volume when wet and lose their thermal insulation performance. For cases where it is impossible to provide complete hydroprotection, special grades of high-density basalt, mineral wool, with hydrophobic properties, are used.

Work with polystyrene, polystyrene

Foamed polymeric materials are used provided that a concrete screed is created on top of them. This method of insulation is characterized by low cost and simplicity. It is preferable if a floor heating system is being built. The list of work in progress is as follows:

• the base is leveled by adding sand, a thin layer;
• sheets of polystyrene or expanded polystyrene are laid on it end-to-end, the gaps (if there are gaps of 5 mm or more) are foamed;
• a special construction tape is glued around the perimeter of the room;
• the entire surface of the insulation layer is covered with strips of a dense polymer film with an overlap of 10-15 cm, with a 10-15 cm approach to the walls;
• the joints of the strips are glued with a wide adhesive tape, after which a damper tape 20 mm thick is placed around the perimeter of the room.

After completing the above work, everything is ready for laying. cement screed, installation of a warm floor system or pouring self-leveling compounds. Foamed polymer materials create a sufficiently even base so that a layer of concrete or bulk mix can be made to a minimum thickness.

Working with spray materials

The use of sprayed heaters requires the use of special equipment, where the polymer mixture is mixed with carbon dioxide under high pressure. Before applying foam to concrete base lags are laid. In the course of spraying between them, the polymer composition increases in volume, after its solidification, if necessary, trimming is done at the level of the timber.

After the foam insulation has been applied and the time declared by the manufacturer of the mixture as the recommended curing time has passed, a coating of plywood, chipboard, OSB is laid on the logs. This method of creating a surface for a screed, self-leveling floor or finishing coating of laminate, tiles is similar to the process of using fibrous materials.

Working with bulk materials

Expanded clay, perlite, polystyrene granules can be a good way to insulate the floor only in cases where the rise in its level is not critical. The following works are being carried out:

• a pillow 100 mm thick (minimum value) is poured onto the prepared base;
• a rough concrete screed is formed on the pillow, up to 10-15 mm thick;
• after complete solidification, a waterproofing layer can be laid on the rough flooring.

On the surface of the rough coating, you can build a floor heating system, make the main reinforced concrete screed or apply a layer of self-leveling mixture. Laying of finishing floor coverings is not recommended.

Working with rolled polymer thermal insulators

Rolled heat insulators, such as penofol, foamed polyethylene, are rationally used only in cases where a slight increase in thermal protection is required. This measure shows good results if concrete pavement underfloor heating system is installed. In other cases, thin rolled thermal insulators do not lead to a significant increase in comfort in the living space.

Materials are laid as follows:

• the strips are rolled out and overlapped without entering the walls;
• the joints between the strips are glued with foil tape;
• a special construction tape is placed around the perimeter of the room.

In order for the underfloor heating system or based on the use of electric cables, film heaters to show high efficiency, it is recommended to use foil thermal insulating materials, placing them with the metallized side up.

Choose your insulation method carefully.

The method of laying a heat insulator on top of a concrete floor has the following disadvantages:

• condensation occurs inside the insulation layer;
• no frost protection
• be sure to build two layers of waterproofing, between which there will be a heater;
• the arrangement of the final cement screed or self-leveling floor is recommended.

The insulation layer, depending on the selected materials and methods, can have a significant mass, greatly reduce the clearance between the floor and the ceiling, and have other features. Therefore, the choice of a specific option should be entrusted to specialists. They will analyze the task and find the most successful way of warming that meets the requirements of efficient spending of money and obtaining the best result.

To avoid trouble during operation, it is necessary to carefully consider the thermal protection of the building. Very often, when designing, a decision is made to use prefabricated or monolithic reinforced concrete floors. If at the same time the building does not provide for a heated basement or basement, it will be necessary to insulate the concrete floor on the ground floor in a private house.

Why is insulation performed?

Before insulating a concrete floor, it is necessary to understand the feasibility of this event. Concrete has a high thermal conductivity. This means that it passes heat well through itself and takes it out of the room. To prevent heat loss, materials with better thermal conductivity are used.

Laying insulation as an additional layer in a private house on the floor of the first floor prevents the following problems:

• condensation on a cold surface from the side warm air;
• the appearance of mold, fungus and other microorganisms dangerous to humans;
• violation of the temperature and humidity conditions of the room;
• high heating costs.

If you leave the concrete floor in a private house without insulation, then in addition to being uncomfortable to use, the structure will soon require serious repairs.

Ways to insulate a concrete floor

Insulation of the concrete floor on the ground floor can be carried out both from above and from below the ceiling. The most commonly used method is from above. You can understand why this is so by considering the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Warming concrete floor from below (from the side of the basement or underground)

Advantages bottom insulation:

• high efficiency;
• protection concrete structure floors from freezing;
• condensation is expected from the basement;
• does not reduce the height of the room on the ground floor when clean;
• the base for the flooring is a solid concrete slab, and not a porous insulation.

Insulation of the concrete floor from the side of cold air is more competent, but in the case of a horizontal structure, it becomes more complicated. It is difficult enough to work in a low technical underground, constantly raising your head up. Because of this shortcoming, in the vast majority of cases, the floors in the house are insulated from the side of warm air.

Warming over the ceiling has the following features:

• the dew point (condensate) is inside the floor structure;
• the supporting structure is not protected from freezing;
• in addition to the vapor barrier of the insulation from the warm air side, waterproofing from the cold side will be required;
• a device is required on top of the reinforced cement-sand screed insulation;
• the height of the premises of the first floor in cleanliness is significantly reduced.

Currently, screed reinforcement can be avoided by using insulation with increased strength, specifically designed for use in floor pie.

Materials for insulation of concrete floors

The most common thermal insulation materials are mineral wool and polystyrene foam. Recently, sprayed compositions have begun to gain popularity as an additional layer in a private house. When choosing an insulating material, more attention should be paid to the purpose of the room and the planned loads, since their heat-insulating properties are almost the same.

Features of the use of mineral wool

Manufacturers produce plates designed specifically for floor insulation, which have high strength. Mineral wool has the following advantages:

1. Resistant to high temperatures and fire.
2. Vapor permeability.
3. Resistant to fungus, mold and other microorganisms.

It is important that mineral wool is not highly resistant to water, so its use in wet areas is not recommended. When wet, the insulation sags and loses its useful properties.

Mineral wool is a soft material, so it is best to lay it between logs so that the insulation does not take on the load.

Depending on the feedstock, mineral wool is divided into:

• glass;
• stone;
• slag.

When working, it is important to take precautions: small particles of material can get into the lungs and on the skin and lead to health problems. When working with mineral wool, builders must be provided with protective clothing, gloves and masks.

Types of expanded polystyrene and its application

The cheapest option for insulation in a private house on the ground floor, not counting the simplest materials such as expanded clay, is Styrofoam. It has high efficiency, resistance to moisture, but has its drawbacks:

1. If the foam in the wetted state is exposed to low temperatures, it will crumble into small balls and cease to perform its function.
2. The material has a rather low strength, therefore, when the floor is insulated, a reinforced cement-sand screed is made on it.
3. Styrofoam refers to moderately and slightly combustible materials and, when burned, emits substances harmful to humans.
4. Use with caution in damp areas.

Many of the disadvantages of foam insulation are deprived of the use extruded polystyrene foam. By appearance it is similar to polystyrene, but differs in manufacturing technology.

The advantages of this material include:

1. Increased strength characteristics.
2. Long service life.
3. Zero moisture absorption.
4. With the help of special additives, manufacturers receive products that belong to the fire safety class NG (non-combustible).

The main obstacle to insulation with extruded polystyrene foam in a private house can be its rather high cost. But, despite this, the material is the best solution.

To reduce cost and save high performance sometimes they use insulation of the concrete floor with polystyrene foam in two layers: the lower one is made of polystyrene foam, the upper one is made of extruded material. Such a solution in private construction will be the best compromise between price and quality. A layer of dense extruded polystyrene foam is taken with a thickness of 30-50 mm. It is desirable to select the required layer of foam using a thermal calculation. If this is not possible, a thickness of 70-100 mm is approximately taken, depending on the climate of the construction site.

Insulation laying

Before starting work with polystyrene foam everything needs to be prepared necessary tools. For styling you will need:

1. knife for cutting material;
2. glue;
3. mounting foam;
4. foil polyethylene as a vapor barrier;
5. metal adhesive tape for gluing polyethylene sheets together.

How to insulate the concrete floor of the first floor correctly? It is important to carefully prepare the base for insulation, clean it from dust and dirt. Depending on the type of flooring in the house, sometimes heat-insulating material is placed between the ribs of a wooden or metal frame. After completion of laying on top of the insulation material, cement-sand screed.

And this video shows the process of installing a styrofoam screed device:

Tools and materials needed to work with mineral wool:

1. waterproofing (for example, durable polyethylene film);
2. vapor barrier (for example, a vapor barrier membrane);
3. adhesive tape for gluing the joints of film and membrane materials;
4. tool for cutting insulation boards.

Insulation of the concrete floor in the house requires a careful approach, the right choice of insulation and adherence to the technology of its installation. Working with expanded polystyrene is much easier than with mineral wool, and it protects no worse. The costs at the construction stage will easily pay off during operation (savings in repairs and heating).

In this video, experts talk in detail about all the nuances that you need to keep in mind when installing the floor.

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