Construction is a delicate matter. It is not enough to lay an excellent foundation and build strong walls. Without insulation, you will soon see that the concept of “my home is my castle” works quite poorly. Therefore, the choice of materials that will provide sound insulation, remove moisture and retain heat should be taken very seriously. Dealing with this issue, we faced a lot of controversy over which is better, basalt wool or mineral wool. Both materials have good characteristics and low cost, which is why they are used in a variety of types of construction work. Let's try to compare them with each other.
We start with the definitions
Literally in a nutshell, let's compare the main characteristics of these two materials. Of course, an experienced craftsman already knows which is better, basalt wool or mineral wool. However, such subtleties may be unfamiliar to a simple layman. And the difference between them is only in the raw materials used for production. A basalt heat insulator, or, as it is also called, stone wool, is made of fiberglass, which is obtained by melting mountain basalt rock.
A plate basalt heat insulator has great differences from mineral wool, despite the fact that they belong to the same class, and each of them has its own pros and cons. This is where the main difficulties lie that make it difficult to say unequivocally that it is better, basalt wool or mineral wool. During the production of stone wool, special components are added to the glass fiber, which provide a bundle between the individual fibers. As a result, the material receives a loose and fibrous structure and perfectly retains heat. Between the fibers there is always air, which means that the preset temperature regime will remain several times longer.
The main advantages of stone wool
Basalt heat insulator has many indisputable advantages. Among them are:
- Ability to freely withstand high temperatures. Even with strong heating, the insulation will not emit hazardous substances.
- Resistance to pollution and long service life. After serving 50 years or more, the material does not lose its original properties.
- Low sound conductivity.
- Good level of vibration resistance.
- It does not burn, does not melt, does not explode, that is, it can serve to create thermal insulation of aggressive and hot environments.
- Not afraid of rodents.
- Lightweight and durable.
- It has excellent water-repellent properties. In this case, the stove can let water through, but does not accumulate it inside.
Minuses
It was not in vain that we spent so much time examining the main characteristics. Without this, it is impossible to say which is better, basalt wool or mineral wool. Despite the pros, the stone slab has its drawbacks. This is primarily a high cost. In addition, the slab basalt insulation has a large number of joints at the joints, which somewhat reduces the insulation properties. Some experts argue that phenolic substances that are used in the manufacture of the material make it unsafe. Tests that could confirm or deny it have not been conducted.
Mineral wool
The main advantage is the low price. This directly follows from the fact that the production process itself is not too costly. It is produced in compact packages, which facilitates its transportation. Lightweight, it does not take up much space at the same time. It has the following characteristics:
- Light weight and low density.
- No load on the main structure.
- Chemical passivity.
- Lack of a tendency to fire.
- Excellent elasticity. This is due to the fact that the fibers are almost twice as long as stone wool.
- It does not cause corrosive processes on metal.
- Use in those designs that may have uneven surfaces is justified. Easy to fit one to the other.
- Sound insulation is much higher than stone wool.
The downside is the high ability to shrink. That is, after some time, the properties will deteriorate.
Based on the above, it is already possible to talk about what is better for sound insulation, basalt wool or mineral wool. According to this characteristic, mineral wool demonstrates its complete superiority. However, it is still not completely clear which of them will be better for the performance of certain works. Let's look at examples.
We build a bath
This is a room that should keep heat well. This creates additional requirements that are put forward to the insulation layer. In addition to keeping heat, it must drain water and not accumulate it inside. What is better for a bath, basalt wool or mineral wool? Let's look at the main features again. Both of these materials will perform their functions well, however, stone wool requires laying a good waterproofing layer, since when wet, the properties will deteriorate. At the same time, flexible mineral wool is more convenient to install, but will shrink over time.
Therefore, specialists use the following alternative. The lower structures are finished with heavier basalt wool, and mineral wool is chosen for walls and ceilings.
Stoves and chimneys
Here, the task of the insulation is quite simple - to preserve all the heat produced. To do this, not so much is needed, the main thing is that the layer is thick enough and not afraid of high temperature. Some builders advocate the use of stone wool, emphasizing the duration of its service. This is really a plus, but her cost is much higher. And based on practical experience, experts say that it is enough to warm the chimney with a layer of ordinary mineral wool and make a metal or brick casing. Based on this, everyone will choose what is best for the chimney, basalt wool or mineral wool.
Indoor floor
It is known that an insulating layer is needed for any room, and they complement all surfaces. Based on this, there are often discussions about what is best for the floor, basalt wool or mineral wool. This question is fairly easy to answer. Stone slabs are denser and heavier, they practically do not shrink and serve excellently for many decades in a row. In addition, basalt wool perfectly shows itself in the case when it is necessary to line a flat area.
Walls and Tile
This is a separate topic, here the requirements for the material are changing. First, there are more details, these are windows and doors. That is, the material should be easily adjusted to the desired dimensions. Secondly, soundproofing comes first. No less important is the weight of the material, which will be distributed throughout the structure and create additional load. Based on these requirements, we can already understand what is better for the facade, basalt wool or mineral wool. The choice in favor of the second material is obvious. In addition, you will save on price.
Instead of a conclusion
As you can see, there is no single answer. A concrete example is needed to say which is better, basalt wool or mineral wool. The responses of builders and specialists in the field of interior decoration of the premises note that more often their choice is mineral wool, which is due to the need to meet the given budget. But in some cases, certain types of work are best done with basalt wool. The best option would be a combination of insulation materials with each other. Each of them is somewhat better or worse.
Therefore, do not stop your choice on one. Indoors, up to ten different insulating materials can be used, which are stacked in one or more layers. Such careful planning makes it possible to foresee all the nuances and create your dream home that will meet all modern requirements and characteristics. Pay attention to this at the stage of bookmarking the project.