Post by account_disabled on Mar 16, 2024 1:50:19 GMT -5
As you prepare the design of your house, you should already be thinking about what to use to insulate the floor. Adequate floor insulation on the ground floor of the building significantly influences the thermal comfort inside the rooms. How to insulate a floor at home and what insulating materials to choose? Here are a series of practical guidelines. Published: 06-16-2023 What role does floor insulation play in residential buildings? In conventional construction, insulating materials were rarely used for floor finishing. Even in the construction of houses in the second half of the 20th century, little attention was paid to issues such as thermal insulation or even waterproofing of floors. The lack of thermal insulation layers in buildings causes the following: thermal bridges in continuous expansion, Loss of accumulated heat in habitable rooms. Problems maintaining adequate temperatures and humidity within living spaces. Therefore, it is unquestionable that properly performed floor insulation helps reduce heating costs. It allows you to maintain thermal comfort while reducing the risk of mold growing on walls, floors or door and window joinery. What to use to insulate a floor? Insulation of the floor of a house should be entrusted to experienced specialists who know the installation techniques of thermal insulating materials. What is the best way to insulate the lower sections of rooms? To choose the right materials, it is advisable to hire a designer.
An architect will suggest the optimal solutions and inform you about the current legal requirements regarding heat transfer coefficients. What materials are used to insulate floors in single-family and multi-family residential buildings? You can use polystyrene (XPS, white or graphite), mineral wool or rigid polyurethane foam PIR boards . The insulating layer of the floor also consists of polypropylene and aluminum membranes for floor heating. Insulating a floor from the inside in an existing building How to insulate the floor of an existing building without thermal insulation ? Use several layers of protection by placing protective plastic sheets on top of the concrete base, then one or more layers of Styrofoam (or PIR boards) and covering them with another layer of CZ Leads plastic sheets for the new screed. In old buildings, before laying the first layer of insulation, thoroughly clean the base and, if necessary, fill cracks and eliminate irregularities. Follow manufacturers' instructions and guidelines if you intend to insulate the floor of your home yourself. Carefully protect both the base and the junction points of the floor with the walls to avoid the formation of thermal bridges. If your floor is wood, consider installing mineral wool or hiring professionals to fill it with PUR foam. Insulating a floor with polystyrene: pros and cons Styrofoam remains one of the most widely used insulating materials. What contributes to its enduring popularity? Without a doubt, insulating a floor with polystyrene is one of the simplest and most economical methods to improve the energy efficiency of a building. Styrofoam is durable, extremely lightweight, moisture resistant, and easy to install. Any Styrofoam board can be easily cut with a knife. Furthermore, insulating a floor with polystyrene is ecological: extruded polystyrene does not emit toxic substances. Styrofoam waste can be recovered through recycling.
What are the disadvantages of polystyrene foam used to insulate floors? Polystyrene boards do not resist the effects of solvents poorly and deform at high temperatures. When Styrofoam is cut to size, a lot of waste is generated in the form of chips and granules. Thermal insulation of floors with PIR plates In Poland, PIR plates are still a novelty on the market. They are high quality products made of polyurethane foam. They are used to insulate walls, foundations and ceilings, as well as to insulate the ground floor. An example of this type of material is EUROPIR® boards , which perform very well even in humid rooms. PIR boards stand out for their low water absorption, low heat transfer coefficient and resistance to microorganisms; These properties remain unchanged even after treatment. Some of the PIR boards available in Poland are prefabricated systems with profiled edges, making installation quick and easy. Unfortunately, polyurethane boards are still expensive. Some investors prefer cheaper materials, such as polystyrene or mineral wool, for reasons of economy. How to insulate a ground floor with PIR panels? PIR panels are excellent for protecting floors from cold and humidity. How to insulate a floor with polyurethane foam sheets? Each PIR system manufacturer has its own installation technology. However, the way we handle foam boards is very similar to how we install extruded polystyrene: Always start by thoroughly cleaning the base and placing a protective plastic sheet.