Many people wonder why you need to warm the foundation of the house. In discussing this issue, people are divided into two categories: some argue that it makes no sense to insulate the foundation of the house if there are no basements in it, while others strongly disagree. They believe that this part of the building is the beginning of the wall of the house. If you insulate it, then the room on the lower floor will become warm. Waterproofing and insulation of the foundation of a residential private house depends on many factors. It is worth considering in more detail the options for insulation and possible pitfalls.
What are the goals when warming?
Not everyone knows that in addition to poorly patched windows and cracks in the walls, the foundation of the house affects the temperature of the room. Often heat “leaves” through it. According to construction statistics, one fifth of the total room heating is lost.
If you timely insulate the foundation of the house, then in the basement it can be dry. The most common problem in private homes is high humidity. Residents try to avoid it.
To avoid winter cracks on the outside of the house, you need to insulate the base of the building inside and out. Warming the foundation inside the house is a rather painstaking work. It is easier and more efficient to make insulation from the outside.
In the cold season, the soil very often freezes, in which case a soil shift occurs. The level can move up to a maximum of 35 centimeters. The foundation of the building is deformed. Therefore, the insulation of the foundation of the house is a very important process for creating a comfortable temperature inside.
Many citizens equip billiards and a gym in the basements of their houses. In this case, warming the foundation of the house will be a necessary measure.
When is it better to do these jobs?
To carry out such a plan, warm weather is needed. Humidity should not exceed the permissible limits, so spring and summer are ideal. It is important that there is no rain.
What to look for when choosing a material?
At the planning stage, it is worth considering the entire range of products offered. The materials used to warm the foundation of the house must be resistant to the pressure that the soil exerts. They should not be deformed. It is important that they do not absorb moisture.
What are the methods of insulation?
The methods of warming the foundation of the house differ from each other in approaches to this process. Each has its positive and negative points:
- Expanded clay insulation. This method has been used for a long time, since expanded clay is a good and cheap insulation. Nowadays, better quality materials are known, but they cost significantly more. In order for the room to maintain positive temperature, it is necessary to fill the foundation with a thick layer, about one and a half centimeters. Do not forget about waterproofing work after backfilling. Top make a blind area. The process will require a lot of effort.
- The use of polystyrene. This method is considered the simplest. Warming the foundation of the house from the outside with polystyrene foam has many advantages: the material has good moisture resistance, it is very durable. Its service life is measured in years. Even a layman can fix it on the foundation of the house. Polystyrene is very durable, even rodents are not afraid of it. It is convenient to plaster it at the finishing stage. This material is the most popular among products for self-finishing. Another advantage of polystyrene is its low price. The layer thickness should be at least 5 centimeters, and preferably closer to 10 centimeters. The material due to its characteristics has a positive effect on the waterproofing of the entire foundation. The insulation of the foundation of an old house is often carried out using polystyrene foam. The structure will stand for many years, from forty years or more. Another advantage of the material is its compression response. Strength does not suffer.
- Polyurethane foam. This is a composition that is sprayed directly onto the foundation of the building. Its main advantage is that the hitch is quick and without glue. Polyurethane foam is easy to apply even to beginners. He quickly freezes on the foundation. When using this material, additional joints are not created, which is a definite plus. Usually it is through the joints that the cold penetrates into the room. The obvious advantage of polyurethane foam is that the base of the foundation can not be leveled. It is cleaned of impurities and spray insulation. This method of work significantly saves workers time. It is great for warming the foundation of a brick house. The layer is applied with a thickness of not more than five centimeters. In addition to the fact that heat is perfectly retained, polystyrene foam is a moisture resistant coating. The only point that impedes the work will be the search for equipment for applying expanded polystyrene. It is worth to find out from specialized companies, suddenly someone rents it out.
The latter method is the most expensive of the acceptable options. The price of materials is moderate. Polyurethane foam also does not have high vapor permeability. It is reliable and can compete with others in its adhesive properties. No additional waterproofing is needed.
The only disadvantages include the fact that the desired material is “afraid” of ultraviolet rays.
Pros of warming
An attempt to insulate the foundation carries many positive aspects:
- Heat loss is greatly reduced.
- Savings on heating costs.
- The risk of soil freezing is reduced.
- The temperature in the room does not drop, the plus value stays stable.
- No condensation forms inside the building.
- Protects the waterproofing layer from mechanical damage.
- Helps maintain design for years to come.
The process of warming with polystyrene foam outside
When choosing a material for warming the foundation of a house outside, people often stop on polystyrene foam. You need to learn how to properly install the slab in the foundation. The insulation is placed to a depth of where the soil freezes. If you install the sheets even deeper, then this will be an inefficient method.
The strongest thermal insulation must be done in the corners. It is necessary to retreat one and a half meters from each corner and begin to increase the thickness of the layer of material used.
Around the perimeter of the building is the insulation of the soil. A layer of material is placed under the blind area. The purpose of such work is to reduce the degree of freezing of soil along the perimeter of the building, as well as inland. Ideally, the permafrost boundary should not extend beyond the bulk layer. As it is used sand or fine gravel. It is important to observe the correct installation angle for expanded polystyrene. It should be at least two percent. The blind area should be equal in width to the depth of freezing of the soil.
Before starting the insulation of the foundation of the house from the outside, it is necessary to smooth the surface of the walls with polystyrene foam. You need to take care of waterproofing in advance.
An important nuance is that mechanical fasteners cannot be used to fix polystyrene foam. Slabs of this material hermetically "pack" the foundation. If you use fasteners, the tightness will be broken.
Plates are fixed in two ways:
- Special glue is applied, it holds the composition at six points of adhesion.
- The layer is melted a little, hold for several minutes until completely solidified.
To install the plates you need to start from the bottom row. The connection of the rows occurs end-to-end. It is important to use boards of the same thickness. Vertically, the seams are best slightly offset from each other. This method is called "chess".
If the stove has come off, it must not be reused. If the coating has settled on the adhesive solution, it will be impossible to move it to the side. If you get a seam with a thickness of more than 5 millimeters, then you need to fill it with mounting foam. The most popular plates with stepped edges. Thanks to it, the tightness of the insulation layer is ensured. The waterproofing of the entire perimeter of the building is improving.
How to choose the right glue?
They buy it, focusing on the material that was chosen for waterproofing. If you purchased material based on bitumen, then you need to take bitumen mastic. It should not contain substances that destroy polystyrene foam. It is necessary to study the composition of the glue before buying, make sure that it is suitable for the planned work.
Important nuances in the work
It is important to remember that bitumen waterproofing completely dries out in seven days. Before warming the foundation, you need to wait a week until the layer has completely dried. If you start installing the plates on a poorly dried layer, then the plates will "disperse", forming visible defects in work. When the waterproofing has not dried out, it may have a damp solvent. It can also destroy polystyrene foam.
If the boards are below ground level, then the adhesive is applied pointwise. This method of work is used so that moisture can fall down. If the expanded polystyrene plate is above ground level, then additional fasteners and dowels are used. 4 fasteners per plate are required. The plate, which is located in the ground, is fastened only with an adhesive composition. It must be pressed down with a layer of soil.
The method of warming the base plate
In order for insulation to be tangible, you need to start from the base. A waterproofing layer is laid, plates for insulation are already placed on top of it. If a power floor is planned, then special knitted fittings are installed. Then the insulating layer is covered with polyethylene, and then glued with construction tape.
When welded reinforcement is used, a layer of concrete screed is placed on the film. The option of screed made of cement-sand composition. After the completion of this stage of work, they proceed to welding activities.
How to insulate a pile-screw foundation of a house?
Often the insulation of the pile-screw foundation of a wooden house is done with their own hands, without the involvement of professionals.
This type of foundation is used in places where the soil has its own characteristics, creating problems for construction. Typically, in such an area, the ground will move for periods, and a particularly strong foundation is needed. It is better to carry out warming of the foundation of a house from a bar at the initial stage of construction.
This type of base is resistant to stress. Its disadvantage is the rapid release of heat, it occurs due to the space that is present between the floor of the building and the ground. Such a foundation has to be insulated. The best option is to do this at the initial stage of construction. A false base is made. It protects from wind, draft. As a heater, it is better to use polystyrene foam boards. It is possible to insulate the foundation of the house with foam. The advantage of this material is its durability and durability. He is not afraid of moisture.
Layers of roofing material can be put on top of the waterproofing. To construct a false base, tools such as a welding machine and a screwdriver are useful. It should be stocked up with a concrete mixer. A hammer and putty knife should be available. Roulette and trowel are also useful. A clerical knife can be replaced with a regular one.
You can make a brick wall half a brick, it should be thin and located under the grillage of the building. This option requires a lot of effort and cost. Its advantage is the durability of the design.
Another option would be to use decorative panels. They are placed on top of a grillage. The panels are easy to install, but there is a chance of damage. Masonry will be more reliable.
Initially, a trench is rummaged around the perimeter, it should be slightly larger than the brick that is used in the work. The resulting ditch is poured with concrete M400. Get a foundation for a brick base . Since the depth is minimal, reinforcement will be required. Its diameter will be no more than 12 millimeters. When the concrete becomes completely solid, it is possible to build a basement of brick. Inside, foam panels are installed. To fix the desired material, you will need an adhesive composition. It should not contain organic solvents.
After insulation from the outside, the base is plastered. The option of using decorative facing material is possible. Well proven siding. Some people prefer ceramic tiles, they like it more. Others use the budget option - lining.
Installation of panels for a false base is much easier than brickwork. A metal frame is mounted to the piles by welding. Sometimes a wooden beam is used as a frame. It is treated with an antiseptic solution that counteracts the processes of decay.
The insulation plate is fixed to the frame. She should not go abroad grillage. It must be remembered that decorative panels still need to be installed on it.
So, we found out how, when, by what methods and materials the foundation is warmed with our own hands.