During the construction of a new house or the repair of finished buildings, all the owners pay special attention to the hydro and thermal insulation of all its surfaces. At this stage, many choose the most expensive and high-quality materials, trying to make their home as warm and comfortable as possible. But what is the surprise of homeowners when, after a short period of time, the house becomes colder and more and more energy is spent on heating it. To avoid such troubles, experienced builders recommend installing a windproof membrane on the walls and roofs of houses. Here many will ask: what is a windproof membrane? Why is it needed? Because of what, a quality insulation loses its abilities? You can get answers to all these questions and other useful information by reading this article to the end.
Why is wind protection necessary and what is it?
Not everyone knows that strong gusts of wind can blow through any insulation material, especially when it comes to a porous and loose insulation layer. Passing through the insulation, rampaging wind flows drag small particles behind them, as a result of which the material gradually loses its performance characteristics.
Moisture, which can pass through the cladding, as well as steam, penetrating through the walls and the roof of the house, has a negative effect on the insulation. Wet material completely loses its ability and fails. To protect the thermal insulation of the house from the harmful effects of natural factors, it is necessary to install a special windproof layer.
The windproof membrane is a multilayer material that protects the insulation from wind and moisture. It should be noted that the special design of the material does not prevent the escape of water vapor from the insulation and at the same time reliably protects it from moisture from the outside. Also, the windproof layer helps to securely fix the thermal insulation, which positively affects its safety during the entire period of operation.
Material characteristics
In addition to its basic properties, windproof membranes have several additional features. Namely:
- the material has excellent resistance to sunlight;
- safe for humans, since when heated it does not emit harmful fumes;
- has high strength;
- resistant to bacteria and fungi;
- has high waterproofing characteristics.
The negative sides of the windshield can be attributed additional costs for the purchase and installation of materials. It should be understood that the windproof membrane must be installed in strict accordance with the installation rules for this layer. The slightest errors can lead to moisture accumulating in the insulation, air exchange will be disturbed, condensation will appear and all materials will need to be replaced.
Types of wind protection
As a windproof layer, various materials can be used. They differ from each other in functional characteristics.
1. Perforated materials. These include reinforced films and various combined materials on which small holes are made (not more than 1 mm). This type has a low vapor and water resistance and is most often used as a vapor barrier.
2. Porous and fibrous single-layer membranes. Such materials are made by hot sealing of thermoplastic fibers. Due to the large number of pores, they perfectly pass air and steam.
3. Windproof membrane made of polyethylene. This option is made of ultrafine fibers, which is why it has small pore sizes and low density. The vapor permeability of the material is not more than 750 g / m 2 (per day), and the air permeability is 60 ml per minute. Polyethylene membranes are often used in construction, because they have a low cost.
4. Polypropylene membranes. Polypropylene membranes are characterized by high strength, but due to the large thickness of the fibers they have low hydro- and windproof abilities. The density of this material is 100-180 g / m
2 , while the air permeability index is 6000 ml / min. This type is extremely rarely used as wind insulation.
5. Cellulose membranes. This material has a very low density, therefore it requires a careful attitude during installation. Most often it is used in frame construction to protect the insulation from moisture and wind. It should be noted that at low cost the material has high performance characteristics, which makes it quite popular.
Roof wind protection
The windproof membrane for the roof should have high vapor permeability and sufficient strength. This is necessary so that the material withstands the effects of ultraviolet rays and can protect the house from rain during the absence of the main roofing.
The use of brittle materials can lead to the formation of microscopic ruptures of the membrane during installation of the main roof covering. In the future, it will be impossible to identify where the water flows. You will have to completely dismantle the coating and lay new
insulating material.High vapor permeability is no less important than density. The accumulation of condensate in the attic will certainly lead to the failure of all elements of the roof and the formation of rot, mold and fungus. That is why it is very important to ensure the exit of water vapor to the outside and protect the roof elements from moisture.
Wall protection
Windproof membrane for walls is installed on insulated and ventilated facades, as well as in the construction of houses using frame technology. Unlike the roof, there are no horizontal sections where moisture accumulates, so the requirements for windproof material are slightly different.
For cladding and insulation of conventional facades, you can use any option with good vapor permeability. Here the main goal is to prevent the penetration of moisture and the accumulation of condensate in the insulation layer.
Ventilated facade systems especially require high-quality wind protection. It is almost impossible to achieve a tight fit of the cladding elements to each other, so moisture and wind can come through the joints. Strong wind flows can be created behind the hinged lining, which can quickly destroy unprotected insulation (especially if mineral wool is one).
The installation of a windproof membrane helps to tightly fix the
insulating material, protect it from destruction and keep the heat indoors.
Wind protection for floor
Windproof membrane for the floor is installed in all houses built of wood. Such buildings, unlike buildings with concrete floors, are distinguished by the ability to pass wind through the floor. For wooden floors, options are chosen from polyethylene or propylene, since they are endowed with excellent waterproofing qualities. On the logs, waterproofing, insulation layer, wind protection and only then the finish floor are laid.
When properly installed, the windproof membrane in the room is set to the optimal microclimate for a person, and the insulation material lasts a long time without losing its abilities. When installing wind and waterproofing, you should choose the material that is most suitable for each section of the house. A windproof membrane for roofing requires special attention. Comparison of all types described in this article will help you choose the most suitable option that will protect the roof and walls of the house from unwanted phenomena.