In order for the housing to be comfortable, it is necessary to take care of additional insulation of the walls, roof and floor. Thanks to such work, it is possible not only to create coziness, but also to save significantly on space heating in the future. Where is it advisable to use expanded clay? As a heater for vertical and horizontal surfaces, it is widely used in private homes and industrial buildings. This option is considered the best and financially justified.
Expanded clay: what is it?
This building material is quite light granules with small pores. They are obtained by burning clay. It can be used both in private houses and in standard apartments located in high-rise buildings. Expanded clay is environmentally safe for human health, since it does not contain synthetic additives and harmful substances that can harm and lead to harmful consequences. It passes air well, which prevents moisture condensation. Expanded clay insulation (reviews of people allow us to judge its quality) primarily has good thermal insulation. Also acts as a sound-absorbing and refractory material. It has a high level of frost resistance and is not destroyed by temperature fluctuations. The service life of expanded clay is quite large, in this indicator it has no equal among other materials. It is worth noting that this insulation is completely not afraid of prolonged interaction with hot and cold water. Therefore, one should not be afraid that after the flood it will be necessary to completely change the base of the floor.
Types of expanded clay
Expanded clay as a heater is used in construction quite often. However, you need to know that, depending on the scope, it is necessary to choose a certain type of material. As a rule, three main varieties can be distinguished.
The first, sand, is most often added to dry mixes, which are intended for application to surfaces in order to create a heat-insulating layer. The maximum size of its granules is 5 mm. Also, this type can be used to create a heat and noise insulation cushion, which is rammed under the main coating.
Please note: a 15 cm thick layer saves 50% on heating.
Expanded clay, as a heater (reviews are mostly only positive), in the form of granules is used not only for floors, but is also widely used for roofing and ceilings. Owners of private houses prefer this fraction when it comes to the attic or attic.
Expanded clay in the form of crushed stone is a finely divided gravel. The sizes of grains are different. Thanks to this, the compacted layer is as functional as possible. Customer reviews give the right to judge its high quality and properties. It copes with its main purpose even in the coldest rooms.
Expanded clay properties
The main indicator of this material is a natural clay composition. After high-temperature processing, it becomes quite durable and reliable. It is worth noting that, applying it in garages and basements, you can forget about such a problem as rodents. At an average cost, it has a long service life. And in comparison, for example, with a tree, it wins significantly, since it does not rot, does not create a favorable environment for insects, is not at all afraid of moisture and even a long stay in water.
The properties of expanded clay, as a heater, are multifunctional both in winter and in summer. It is considered the most versatile material that has a high level of frost resistance and copes well with high temperatures.
The main property of this material can be called the complete absence of toxicity. Also, importantly, expanded clay does not create a favorable environment for mold, fungus and other pathogenic bacteria. Due to the fact that it does not enter into chemical reactions with aggressive substances, such a coating completely eliminates the possibility of the formation of harmful fumes, which can adversely affect human health.
Expanded clay guarantees excellent thermal insulation for both the foundation and the roof. Thanks to its use, the house will conscientiously serve for many years. Consider the advantages of insulation
Reviews of consumers who have already used expanded clay to warm their homes, highlight its main advantages.
- Indisputable advantage - environmental friendliness and naturalness of the material.
- Affordable cost, especially in comparison with other types.
- Expanded clay is ideal as a floor heater. Reviews of people living in apartments and houses allow us to judge its functionality. The average thermal conductivity is 0.13 W / m * K.
- "Breathable effect" reduces humidity, which can significantly extend the performance properties of coatings.
- Does not respond to temperature fluctuations.
- Durable enough: does not decay and does not collapse with time.
- The expanded clay layer copes with sound absorption perfectly.
- Fireproof, moisture resistant.
- Light weight - from 200 kg / m 3 .
- Completely excludes the appearance of rodents.
- The service life is more than 50 years.
We discuss the disadvantages
Like any other material used in construction, expanded clay has some disadvantages:
- In private homes, garages and basements, the thickness of the layer should exceed 50 cm, otherwise there will be absolutely no benefit from such a pillow.
- In very damp rooms, expanded clay is completely unsuitable as a floor insulation. The reviews of people allow us to draw these conclusions. However, the above drawback can be corrected using a special waterproofing film.
Scope of expanded clay
The scope of this material is quite large. First of all, it is a common material for floor insulation. It is in this place that it is considered the most ideal and financially acceptable. But for comparison: expanded clay as a heater of walls (reviews help to conclude that this method is unprofitable), it is rarely used. Some may say that manufacturers have now developed special underfloor heating. And so it is. However, their cost is quite high, which makes this option almost inaccessible. But expanded clay, on the contrary, is easy to install and at a price suitable for any family with an average income.
Depending on the base of the floor, the appropriate method of insulation is selected:
- Reinforced concrete floors. On such a surface it is recommended to additionally mount a vapor barrier layer, which will prevent the penetration of moisture. After that, the base is poured with a special solution obtained by mixing concrete with expanded clay.
- Foundation insulation is carried out both outside the building and inside. To obtain the maximum result, it is necessary to qualitatively fill all the voids.
- Expanded clay as a floor insulation in a wooden house is most effective. This method will not only reduce heat loss, but also extend the operational life of the coating.
Wall insulation with expanded clay is also used in construction. Basically, this method is acceptable in newly erected buildings. It consists in the application of a specific three-layer method, where the main layer consists of a capsimet (a mixture of expanded clay with cement milk).
Due to its low weight, this material is widely used for insulation of roofs, attics, attics. This method will not increase the load on the foundation and, as a result, will not require additional financial costs for strengthening. Expanded clay as a heater of the ceiling is used in a peculiar way, that is, from the attic, by the method of floor insulation. The main advantage of this option is the absence of leaks and the formation of mold.
Ground insulation is also quite relevant, it is often used in greenhouses for growing seedlings, seedlings, etc.
Expanded clay production technology
Clay of some grades, which is easy to melt, is placed in a special chamber. In it, it softens to a pasty mass. After that, by exposure to high temperatures (over 1000 0 C), it is heated to boiling. It is this process that leads to the formation of porous granules. The more of them, the better claydite is considered. Here, the raw materials remain until completely cooled. Then it is sorted and prepared for transportation. In this way, the manufacture of expanded clay granules occurs. However, if sand is needed, then the finished material is ground into small particles using a press. Crushed stone is produced in a similar way with the only difference: expanded clay granules are crushed into several parts. Their size is mostly different, which allows for a better result when backfilling.
Floor insulation technology
Expanded clay as a floor insulation can be used only after special preparatory work. There are several required steps:
- Training. It is necessary to completely remove the old coating. Based on the reviews of people who have already used this method of insulation, wooden floors are disassembled down to the fastening structure. If the lags are in good condition, they can be left.
- Sand cushion formation. It should be at least 10 cm thick. Before laying subsequent layers, sand is carefully rammed.
- After this, expanded clay is poured. It is recommended to immediately determine the thickness of its layer, since the heat-insulating effect will depend on this parameter.
All work is done strictly according to the lighthouses in order to maintain the evenness of the flooring. If all steps are performed with accuracy, then a good result is guaranteed.
Where to start to insulate the floor with expanded clay?
Before proceeding with floor insulation, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with all the nuances. Expanded clay as a floor heater (people's reviews confirm this information) is considered the most ideal option, but only if it is installed correctly.
So, we consider in more detail what you need to know to get the desired result:
- Definition of the material from which the base of the floor is made. This criterion is quite important, since its thermal conductivity fully affects the overall index.
- The calculation of the thickness of the expanded clay layer. For clarity, we can give the following example: a concrete slab with the addition of expanded clay 60 cm thick will provide the same heat as a meter brick.
- Planned load. The floor is the only surface that is constantly exposed to mechanical stress. Therefore, it is necessary to take this parameter into account at the planning stage. When calculating what a claydite layer should be, the main thing is not to make mistakes, therefore it is recommended to contact specialists for accurate calculations.
- Do not forget about the waterproofing layer. There are several features in which expanded clay without this layer will not be effective.
You also need to remember that the expanded clay pillow gains maximum properties with a width of at least 15 cm
Tips for warming the floor
If the work on floor insulation will be carried out independently, it is necessary to take note of several important recommendations that are based on customer feedback:
- Expanded clay is more effective if it is not mixed with concrete. The most effective is a filled pillow made of this material.
- Using a mixture with granules of different sizes, it is possible to achieve a monolithic layer. It is this criterion that will help to achieve maximum heat retention.
- Expanded clay as a floor insulation (reviews were positive) is better to use with a plastic film, which will fulfill the role of waterproofing.
- For evenness of the floor, all installation work is carried out on beacons. They are fixed with alabaster or cement. It is necessary to wait for complete drying and only after that fill up the insulating material and level it.
- In order to eliminate the occurrence of cracks, it is recommended to use a metal mesh with which the base is reinforced.
- After carrying out work on the floor, you can move in 5-7 days, but maximum strength comes only after a month, after which you can expose the surface to normal loads.
Roof insulation
Expanded clay for roof insulation has been used for quite some time. Of course, in this area over such a long period many competing materials have appeared, but it has not yet been possible to completely replace natural materials. It is using claydite as a floor insulation (for true reviews, see the information stands of manufacturers), you can fully judge all its advantages.
First of all, thanks to this material, it is possible to completely eliminate problems with condensate. The formation of steam and moisture is reduced to zero. Also, importantly, the roof will be protected from leaks for a long time. The light weight of the material allows you not to spend money on additional strengthening of the foundation. And this is a kind of significant enough savings. If you involve professionals, the end result will please the owners not only with warmth and comfort, but for a long time will not require financial investments for reconstruction.
Expanded clay as a heater of walls
Reviews of people help to make the right decision in such a difficult issue as wall insulation with expanded clay. It is immediately worth noting that this process is quite complicated and time-consuming, since it requires professional knowledge. Sometimes, to simplify such work, mineral wool is used. However, the advantages of expanded clay significantly distinguish it from other materials. One important indicator is good ventilation. As a rule, this property is simply indispensable for enclosed spaces, where for a comfortable stay a person needs constant air circulation.
Using expanded clay as a wall insulation, you can encounter some difficulties, in particular, the threat of crushing with other material. Therefore, it is recommended that additional strengthening work be carried out in order to avoid such situations. However, this will lead to a significant reduction in the total area of the room. Therefore, it is more cost-effective to use other modern materials.
After reviewing the reviews of professionals, we can conclude that expanded clay is ideal for insulation of floors and roofs, and for walls it is quite a controversial material.