Wood as a building material was known thousands of years ago. It is used today. However, do not assume that after the construction of a wooden house, construction work ends. Such a building, like any other, requires the need for quality insulation. However, before starting the manipulation, it is necessary to select the thermal insulation, as well as decide on which technology to install it.
Choice of insulation
Insulation of a timber house outside can be carried out using expanded polystyrene. If you make a comparison with other heaters, then it will cost less. In the case of mineral wool, the difference is 3 times. But the basic thermal insulation characteristics of these materials are almost the same.
Polyfoam copes better with moisture, the coefficient of its water absorption can be a maximum of 1% of the total volume. Installing this material is quite simple, it is easy to process even with a regular clerical knife. Its light weight allows you to move the canvas from place to place and lift to an impressive height.
Mass will not affect the structure in the house. Expanded polystyrene will not be able to load the structure, because it weighs almost nothing. You can use glue for installation, there are no special requirements for it, because once again it all comes down to a small specific gravity. If you decide to carry out the insulation of a timber house outside, then you can choose polystyrene, because it:
- durable
- resistant to corrosion;
- has a low coefficient of water absorption;
- can be used for DIY work.
As for the minuses, there are only two of them in the foam, namely, vapor permeability and combustibility. Last quality is the main stumbling block when consumers choose thermal insulation. Although the tree is treated with flame retardants, it can catch fire. This process will be faster than if a similar situation occurred in a brick or concrete structure.
Polyfoam is able to maintain combustion, but modern manufacturers reduce its combustibility by treating canvases with flame retardants. The most successful solution will be extruded polystyrene foam. It is subject to the influence of fire, but does not burn, which distinguishes it from traditional polystyrene. Under the influence of a flame, the extruded polystyrene foam will melt and die out.
Using Flax Fiber
Flax fiber is a slab that is 85% linen and 15% fiber binder. Flax has antiseptic properties that are stored in the insulation. This indicates that bacteria and fungi will not settle in the material. During installation, such insulation does not dust, it will not worsen its heat-insulating properties, even if it is saturated with vapors. Therefore, vapor barrier during installation does not need to be used.
Alternatives
When deciding to insulate a timber house outside, you may prefer alternatives. Among them are the following:
- fiberglass;
- basalt mats;
- mineral wool slabs.
Preferring mineral wool, you get a fairly lightweight material, which also will not create additional load on the building elements. The price of such a material is not so high, it retains heat quite well in the house, and is also resistant to flame.
Mineral wool is quite elastic and soft, and you can lay it, eliminating the formation of cold bridges. If the insulation of a timber house outside will be carried out using this material, then it will be possible to ensure the stability of the walls to thermal deformations. You can prefer fiberglass or basalt insulation, there are budget options for sale.
However, they all work according to a certain principle, which consists in a loose structure that perfectly retains air. Mineral wool can be saturated with moisture and lose its properties, while glass wool and stone wool are devoid of such a disadvantage. However, if you create the right pie, then the brand of insulation will not be important.
Warming under siding
Insulation of a timber house outside for siding involves the creation of a wall cake. At the first stage, you need to choose the thickness of the insulation. Experts recommend purchasing plate insulation, abandoning the roll. This material has a higher stiffness, and over time it does not slide down.
The thickness should be selected taking into account the thickness of the timber. If the walls were built from 150 mm timber, then 100 mm insulation should be used. With an increase in the thickness of the wood to 200 mm, a 50 mm layer of cotton will suffice.
Laying vapor barrier and lathing installation
If you decide to carry out the insulation of a timber house outside with your own hands, then at the next stage you can start laying a vapor barrier. This will protect the material from vapors that leave the interior. The beam is treated with waterproof mastics, as an alternative solution, a vapor barrier film is used. This option is preferable, because the insulation quality will be higher.
The film should be fixed to the wall with a stapler, gluing the joints with tape. Warming of a timber house outside with mineral wool implies the installation of a battens at the next stage. A wooden frame is installed on the beam. The metal profile should be abandoned, because in winter it will be colder than the wall, so there is a chance of condensation. The crate must be installed vertically, using the level and plumb, because it is on it that the siding will be mounted.
The distance between the bars should be selected taking into account the width of the insulation. It is important to take into account the step between the mounting holes in the siding. The frame is treated with an antiseptic before installation.
Insulation and waterproofing installation
As soon as it is possible to form the crate, you can proceed to warming. To do this, basalt wool is attached using dowels-umbrellas. They should not be pressed too hard against the wall. Self-tapping screws will be a cheaper solution, their length should be 10 cm.
In order for the hat not to be recessed into the thermal insulation, it is first necessary to prepare mugs of plywood or roofing material, applying them to the surface before installing the self-tapping screw. One square meter will take about 5 mounts. Next, you need to protect the insulation from moisture. For this, a superdiffusion membrane is laid along the crate. Its surface consists of pores that look like funnels.
Creating a ventilation gap and installing siding
The insulation of the walls of a timber house outside on the next stage involves the creation of a ventilation gap. 5 cm slats are installed on the wooden frame so that free space can be formed between the film and the siding. This will allow moisture to weather and not settle on the membrane.
Air will move through the ventilation slots when installing siding. Its installation should begin from the roof, advancing to the foundation. Now, profiles are stamped on the rails, they should be leveled according to the level, it is necessary to start work from the bottom.
Thermal insulation with expanded polystyrene
Warming of a timber house outside with polystyrene foam is carried out according to a certain algorithm. It is necessary to conduct work on frame technology. Thermal insulation is installed in the crate system. For additional fastening it is necessary to use glue, but some masters do with dowels. First you need to prepare the surface, for this the wood is treated with protective agents. All cracks need to be caulked.
Next, vapor barrier and frame elements are installed. The insulation is laid with glue, in addition, the canvases can be fixed with dowels. Now the second layer of waterproofing is laid, after which you can proceed to the front finish. The technology "insulation of a timber house outside" by this method involves the installation of two layers of insulation.
Conclusion
In order for the insulation to fulfill its functions throughout the entire life cycle, it is recommended that it be stored indoors after purchase. It is forbidden to leave material in the open air. If it does not tolerate moisture, then wetting will lead to a decrease in performance. If there is no need to fasten the insulation layer with the participation of mechanical elements, the distance between the battens of the battens can be less than 20 mm compared to the width of the plates of foam or mineral wool.