In construction, there are two types of wall insulation: internal and external. When carrying out certain works, different materials are used, which differ in physical-mechanical properties and structure. If you apply a facade insulation, then it will not occupy the space inside the house, and sometimes the area is very limited. How to understand the variety of rolls and plates that are used today for thermal insulation? In order to understand what material is better to choose for external insulation, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the main varieties of modern insulation and their characteristics.
Mineral wool reviews
Mineral wool is a natural material that has a fibrous structure. It is made of molten rocks, and its main advantages are resistance to biological and chemical reagents, hygroscopicity, as well as high sound and heat insulation ability. Consumers note that mineral wool insulation is resistant to deformation and fire.
Considering the materials of this group, it is possible to highlight the basalt facade insulation, the drawback of which is only the high cost. But according to the coefficient of water absorption and high fire resistance, mineral wool boards are leaders in comparison with other types of thermal insulation.
Customer reviews of the most popular brands of stone wool products
If you choose a facade insulation, then you can pay attention to the Technonikol products that are manufactured in Russia, which are common today. According to customers, these slabs are excellent at ventilated facades. Their technical characteristics make it possible to use this material for thermal insulation of walls with a high degree of convection of air flows.
Consumers are advised to choose the Rockwool facade insulation, if there is a need to equip the hinged structures of ventilated systems with higher stiffness and strength. After all, these features are possessed by mineral wool material.
Similar products are manufactured by the Finnish company Paroc. Experts recommend using them in the construction of single-layer and two-layer facades, which provide for the presence of a ventilation gap. For the reason that this thermal insulation is made abroad, it costs slightly higher than analogues of domestic production. For a square meter you will have to pay a price from 880 to 980 rubles. According to private builders, such a cost is justified by reliability and quality.
Insulation facade should have excellent vapor permeability. This characteristic is characteristic of the products of the Russian company Izorok. Among other things, the materials of this manufacturer are durable and have low thermal conductivity.
Fiberglass Insulation Reviews
Fiberglass is made from waste from the glass industry, it is highly elastic, resistant to chemical influences and low hygroscopicity. Users argue that fiberglass has a drawback, which is the instability of the fiber structure and low strength. For this reason, the material crumbles so easily.
Famous brands of fiberglass products
Facade insulation can be made on the basis of fiberglass. The production of such products is carried out by the French concern Saint-Gobain, which produces material that compares favorably with mineral plates in weight. This allows you to use insulation for light facades, which do not include heavy loads. Users most often choose Ursa's fiberglass insulation. A distinctive feature of these materials is the presence of fiberglass coating on the outside. Due to this, when using these heaters, there is no need to additionally fasten the windproof film.
Reviews about polystyrene foam
The facade insulation can also be made of polystyrene foam, which is quite light and made of foam material, polydichlorostyrene, as well as polymonochlorostyrene. According to users, such foam insulation has excellent thermal insulation properties, high hygroscopicity and good strength.
To increase fire safety, flame retardants are added to the ingredients during the manufacturing process. But users highlight the disadvantages that are expressed in instability to the effects of the sun and chemical solvents. The most popular brands among modern customers are Penoplex and Extrol, which are produced in Russian factories.
Polyurethane foam reviews
If you need a facade insulation, then you can pay attention to polyurethane foam, which is represented by thermal insulation made of molten plastic, 90% saturated with gas. You can purchase this thermal insulation in the form of a liquid substance, which is common when using the method of warming on the principle of “wet facade”. Private builders advise using liquid polyurethane foam together with mineral wool or polystyrene foam insulation. A fiberglass reinforced mesh is laid on top of the latter, and then a layer of plaster is applied. It is just made from acrylic, silicone or polyurethane foam.
This facade insulation for the home, according to customers in their reviews, has an insignificant coefficient of heat conductivity. It is characterized by higher adhesion qualities compared to other materials, and is also resistant to chemical solvents. However, like other types of thermal insulation, polyurethane foam has its drawbacks. One of them is expressed in the fact that during combustion the material begins to release toxic substances. It is for this reason that insulation is recommended for use in equipping industrial facilities.
The main technical characteristics of different types of thermal insulation
When choosing a facade insulation for walls, you should not forget that it will have certain characteristics that affect the indoor microclimate. Thus, mineral wool has a density ranging from 80 to 100 kilograms per cubic meter. For fiberglass, this indicator varies from 11 to 30, while for expanded polystyrene and polyurethane foam - from 28 to 38 and from 50 to 70, respectively. The water absorption of the described insulation in the same sequence is: 1.5; 1.5-2; 0.4; 0.2-0.4%.
Before purchasing, you should also pay attention to the vapor permeability of mineral wool and fiberglass. These indicators for these materials vary from 0.3 to 0.32 and from 0.55 to 0.64 mg / (m · h · Pa), respectively. In polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam, these parameters are as follows: 0.02-0.07; 0.05 mg / (m · h · Pa). The first two of the listed heaters are not combustible, but expanded polystyrene and polyurethane foam belong to the classes G3-G4 and G1-G3.
You will have to pay 350 to 970 rubles per square meter of mineral wool, while fiberglass is cheaper, its cost varies from 40 to 145 rubles. per square meter. In the middle price category there is polystyrene foam, the price of which is from 250 to 320 rubles per square meter, but for the mentioned unit of polyurethane foam consumers pay from 450 to 600 rubles.
For reference
The prices for heat-insulating boards were mentioned above, but if you want to make insulation using the method of applying polyurethane foam using the “wet facade” technology, then the price will vary from 150 to 1350 rubles per square meter. The final cost depends on the thickness of the applied layer, which can range from 10 to 100 millimeters.
Characteristics of the facade insulation "Technonikol"
“Technonikol” is a facade insulation that is notable for its small thickness, but provides high sound and heat insulation characteristics. Installing this material is extremely simple, since it does not cause allergic reactions, and its weight is small. During operation, it exhibits resistance to high temperatures and stability, as well as the inviolability of external parameters. Low water absorption guarantees extended service life of adjacent materials. Rodents “Technonikol” is not interesting, as well as microorganisms, as well as cockroaches.