If we compare the pile foundation with a strip foundation, the first one does not have a solid surface, therefore, for beginners, the process of thermal insulation of this design is accompanied by a number of questions. There is nothing complicated in this procedure, it is only necessary to observe the technology.
If you carry out such work, then you will make the floor warmer, the rooms will become comfortable, and the materials will not deteriorate from exposure to moisture and temperature extremes. Some believe that there is no need to insulate such a foundation, since it is possible to insulate the floor without affecting the base.
In fact, such work is done for a variety of reasons. Firstly, communications usually take place under the house, and the measures described can protect them from freezing in the winter. However, additional care should be taken to warm the communications themselves. Secondly, the warming of the pile foundation of a wooden house is accompanied by the arrangement of a basement, thanks to which the house becomes more attractive and has a completed look. Thirdly, the presence of a cap can eliminate the accumulation of water and snow under the house, which is very important for the preservation of materials.
Choice of insulation
The insulation process will consist of several stages. First you will need to prepare the materials, equip the blind area and install the crate. Then you can do the insulation and facing the base. At the first stage, you will need to choose a heater. Extruded polystyrene foam, which is a modified polystyrene foam, is suitable for this. It has higher durability and strength, therefore it is often used precisely for insulation of the base. The cost of such material is 4,500 rubles. per square meter.
If you are thinking about how to insulate the pile foundation of a wooden house, then you can also choose polyurethane foam, which is applied to the surface in the form of foam. The disadvantage here is the need for special equipment. The material hardens quickly after application. The advantage of thermal insulation is that it forms a continuous coating on the surface without cold bridges. But to carry out such work independently is not possible. The cost of insulation with work starts from 350 rubles. per square meter.
Before warming the pile foundation of a wooden house, you should think about what material to choose. Thermal panels are also suitable, which combine insulation and finishing material. The cost of the panels is 1000 rubles. per square meter. In addition to the above materials, you should prepare bars and boards for the crate. You will also need finishing material, it can be:
- Aceid
- basement panels;
- siding.
It should not be limited to the above list. You can choose the facing for yourself, taking into account your own preferences. When using thermal panels, finishing material is no longer required.
Technology of work: execution of the blind area
If you have a question about how to insulate the pile foundation of a wooden house, then you should familiarize yourself with the technology. It provides work on the blind area. Many perform it after carrying out warming, but experts recommend starting the manipulation from the blind area. In this case, you can lay the insulation, which will be adjacent to the blind area, and not to the ground.
The blind area is performed using the following technology. Along the perimeter of the house you will have to dig a trench, the width of which is a meter. It is necessary to go deep by 40 cm. Sand is poured at the bottom of the trench, the layer thickness should be 20 cm. The sand is well compacted. After falling asleep a 5-centimeter layer of crushed stone, which is well leveled and compacted. Next, you need to lay a waterproofing film, the canvas of which is stacked with an overlap.
The next layer will be thermal insulation material. Extruded polystyrene foam is excellent for these purposes. A drain pipe must be laid along the edge of the blind area. On this work, the blind area is completed. If the foundation is insulated from the outside, and the territory is heaving soil, then at the junction of the basement and the blind area, it is necessary to fill the trench with expanded clay. So you can eliminate the breakdown of the base during heaving.
Installation of the crate
If you, like many home craftsmen, are faced with the question of how to insulate the pile foundation of a wooden house, you must decide how to install the lathing. It is necessary, because the insulation will be attached to it, as well as the finish. The frame consists of several belt boards, which are installed around the perimeter of the basement. Boards are attached to the extreme piles. If they are metal, then horizontal strips can be welded to them and holes drilled. So you can fix the boards with bolts.
If there is no desire to contact welding, you can fix the crate with clamps. Another option is fixing to the walls of the house. In order to make the structure more rigid, vertical bridges are located between the boards, which are fastened with self-tapping screws.
Thermal insulation
When the pile foundation of a wooden house is insulated from the outside, different materials can be used. If it is extruded polystyrene foam, it is attached to the crate with dowel umbrellas. Cold bridges must be excluded, filling the space with foam. It is better to install the insulation from the inside so that there are no problems with the lining of the basement.
Polyfoam as a heater is also used quite often. It is less durable, but similar in characteristics to extruded polystyrene foam. If your budget allows, you can use a sprayed polyurethane foam. When installing the battens, the boards should be located as close as possible to each other. Thermal panels are attached to the crate with dowels or special fasteners that are supplied.
If the house has a wooden grillage, then before warming the foundation it should be treated with protective impregnation. This composition also covers the remaining wooden elements, including the crate. As soon as the insulation is in place, it is necessary to fill the blind area with concrete. After that, the work stops until the concrete hardens.
Facing
At the final stage, it will be necessary to carry out the lining of the basement. This is usually done using siding. Instructions for its installation are as follows. Along the perimeter of the house to the crate, you need to fix the start profile. It is located vertically, so it must be installed using the building level.
Panels with the lower part are inserted into the start profile, and the upper ones are attached to the crate. Use with this is necessary self-tapping screws. At the final stage, additional elements are installed, namely corners and ebbs. When facing the crates, it is necessary to provide for the vents that will be needed for ventilation of the underground space.
Basement insulation
Warming the basement of the pile foundation allows you to make the interior space of the rooms more comfortable. First you need to build a base, and then proceed to warming with any of the existing methods. The device base is allowed in certain ways. You can lay the wall, which will cover a number of screw piles. The height of the wall should be equal to the length of the line from the blind area to the lower belt of the house strapping.
You can arrange a fence, which is a fake base. It will be arranged on a frame base and will have an outer lining. If you chose the first method, then the masonry must be done in half a brick. Products will be red ceramic, as they are most resistant to high humidity.
First you need to prepare the foundation, for which a trench is excavated along the perimeter of the building. Depth and width will be 0.3 and 0.25 m, respectively. The bottom is well leveled and filled with coarse sand. The layer thickness should be 10 cm. After this, the sand mixture is tamped and moistened.
A reinforcing cage of longitudinal and transverse rods is laid on such a base, after which concrete mixture is poured. After hardening of the concrete mortar and the set of strength, you can proceed with the construction of a brick wall.
Internal floor insulation on a pile foundation
Insulation of the floor on the described basis is carried out in several stages. The vapor barrier for the floor is laid on the outside over the entire area. A heater is installed on top like a polystyrene foam, which is sheathed with boards. Such a floor can be used as a finished basement ceiling.
For hydro- and wind protection, modern waterproofing membranes can be used. They fit easily and quickly, but the cost of multifunctional products can scare you away.
All elements of a wooden house on stilts are treated with a composition with antiseptic properties. It is important not to forget about the vapor barrier for the floor. It can be a film of polyethylene, which is laid on a layer of heat-insulating material.
When installing steam and heat insulation, no gaps should be left between the individual elements. This can lead to cold bridges. Insulation under the floor in this case can quickly collapse during operation. For additional protection of the internal space from the cold, you can use chipboards, floorboards or plywood sheets that do not conduct heat well.
Additional recommendations on the choice of insulation
Beginning home craftsmen often wonder about which insulation to choose - mineral wool or polystyrene. The first option has pros and cons. Among the advantages it should be noted incombustibility, resistance to chemicals, the convenience of the material when bending angles, resistance to temperature changes, high rates of sound and heat insulation.
But this decision has its drawbacks. Among others, it should be highlighted:
- sagging;
- moisture absorption;
- carcinogenicity of formaldehyde resins;
- inconvenience of installation;
- decrease in thermal insulation efficiency over time.
When thinking about the question of which insulation to choose - mineral wool or polystyrene, you should remember that the application of the first solution is possible, but requires caution when installing, protecting the material from contact with the room and proper waterproofing.
Should I choose polystyrene
Polyfoam is today one of the most common heaters. It has high hydro and thermal insulation, is durable, insensitive to temperature extremes, has light weight, is easy to install and low cost.
But he also has its drawbacks. They are expressed in flammability, ease of mechanical damage and instability to ultraviolet radiation. Among other things, the foam has a low breathability.
Features of foam
This material is close to the foam in chemical composition. It combines the advantages with the absence of most of the disadvantages. Among the advantages:
- incombustible;
- lasting;
- resistant to chemical influences.
Cons of foam
The disadvantage is only the high price. If you want to buy a penoplex of 30 mm, then it is great for the foundation and costs 127 rubles. per square meter. Its compressive strength is 270 kPa, and the density is 31 kg / m 3 . Penoplex 30 mm is supplied in panels with dimensions equal to 1200 x 600 mm.