How to insulate a wooden house from the outside with your own hands. How to properly insulate a wooden house: instructions for installing stone wool and siding How to insulate the outside of a wooden house

Owners of wooden houses sooner or later think about the issue of insulating walls outside. At the same time, energy savings occur, the service life of the log house itself is extended, and the temperature regime is improved. But not only insulation is important, but also further facade finishing.

• It is advisable to carry out insulation of a wooden house in dry, windless weather.
• When choosing a material for insulation, it is important to take into account factors such as environmental friendliness, fire safety, and hygroscopicity.
• Particular attention should be paid to waterproofing materials.
• It is necessary to take care of ventilation.
• Before starting work, study the advice of experts and a variety of videos on the Internet.

When choosing a material for insulation, the further design of the house facade is very important. A wooden log house can have several ideas for facade decoration, Moreover, each of them will serve as another layer of insulation:

1. Covering with decorative bricks.
2. Basement siding.
3. Block house.
4. Vinyl siding.
5. Plastering.

Before insulation, it is important to carry out a number of works that will not be possible to proceed with in the future:

• Check the frame for cracks and large holes, and if there are any, caulk them or seal them, for example, with polyurethane foam.
• Carry out antiseptic treatment of wood.
• All power supply systems should be rebuilt so that they can be accessed in the future.
• Partial leveling of a log house by sawing and cutting down strongly protruding logs.

When insulating wooden houses, it is important to know the property of wood to absorb and release moisture. In this regard, each specialist will give advice, first of all, to pay attention to ventilation, so it is better to use natural insulation materials as insulation materials: mineral, basalt or glass wool.

The technology of insulation work is almost always the same:

1. The first step is to apply a layer of vapor barrier or prime the wooden surface;
2. Then the sheathing or beacons are placed for fastening the insulation and for installing some façade materials;
3. The next step will be to install a windbreak or reinforcing mesh so that the insulation does not blow out;
4. At the end, the final finishing with facade material occurs.

Material for insulating walls outside

Nowadays there is a fairly large selection of insulation materials: these are mineral-based fibers, plastics and polystyrenes.

All have both pros and cons:

Mineral wool. It has good thermal insulation, environmental friendliness, non-flammability, is easily attached to walls, but absorbs moisture well, while losing its thermal insulation properties. Therefore, it is important to use a vapor barrier with it. It is laid between the sheathing beacons.

Styrofoam. Almost does not conduct heat, does not absorb moisture, is easy to install, and thanks to chemical additives it becomes almost non-flammable. It is fastened either with glue or with umbrella dowels.

Liquid polyurethane foam. This is a plastic filled with gas, high sound insulation, low heat transmission, does not absorb moisture, does not burn, long service life, adheres well to the surface to which it is applied. Insulation requires special equipment. Among the disadvantages are the high price and destruction under the influence of sunlight

When installing a ventilated facade, the insulation resembles a multi-layer cake:

1. A vapor barrier is attached to the log house, which will protect the wood from condensation.
2. Next, a sheathing of 50X50 bars or 25X50 picket fence is applied. To ensure that the sheathing is level, first the outer beacons are nailed level, and then three ropes are pulled between them, along which all further work is carried out.
3. It is advisable to make the pitch of the sheathing 2 cm less than the width of the insulation material.
4. Next, another layer of vapor barrier is applied, which will also keep the insulation from blowing out.
5. Additionally, a 25X50 picket fence is attached over the sheathing, onto which the facade material is already attached: vinyl siding, house block, basement siding.
6. At the corners of buildings, in the grooves, it is advisable to install reinforcing fiberglass mesh.

"Wet" facade

This insulation technology is used for flat surfaces, so its use is only possible for log houses or when the log house is completely leveled, for example, with plywood sheathing, OSB panels, or plasterboard.

1. When preparing the surface, it is necessary to prime the surface.
2. An insulating layer, most often polystyrene foam, is attached to the adhesive composition.
3. Next, the reinforcing mesh is glued or sewn.
4. Textured plaster is applied to the reinforcing layer.

This method is possible for almost all people, but it is necessary to obtain advice from a specialist in the selection of consumables.

The most expensive method of insulating a wooden house. Decorative brick is lighter than ordinary silicate brick, therefore it is more suitable for finishing and insulation work.

A house lined with decorative brick becomes more neat and formal. But this method is very difficult to do on your own; it is better to seek the help of professionals.

• For masonry, it is necessary to prepare a foundation, and the more massive and deeper, the better.
• It is important to treat the foundation with mastic to protect it from moisture.
• The distance from the foundation of the main house and the insulating jacket can be filled with expanded clay or other insulating materials. Moreover, if you filled it with mineral wool, then it is better to compact the insulation.
• Further, the work process is similar to the “wet” facade: the surface is primed, insulation is glued and a reinforcing mesh is attached.
• It is better to make the lower layers of masonry from baked bricks, then carry out the work with decorative facing.

Hydro and sound insulation

In a wooden building, it is very important to waterproof the foundation and walls of the log house. The walls can be treated with various types of paint that fill all the cracks in the wood. It is a very effective remedy. Logs covered with it are completely unaffected by moisture.

The foundation is covered with mastic, which will protect it from the effects of groundwater.

As for sound insulation, almost all insulation materials are good noise-absorbing compounds, which is very important when the house is located near railway tracks or highways.

To summarize all of the above, the choice of insulation and insulation method is very important. And before making this or that decision, weigh all the advantages and disadvantages, consult with a specialist. Remember that it is necessary to take into account all the climate, the presence of groundwater, and the location of other houses. At the same time, you need to remember that you should not look at the price of the issue, but rather evaluate all the indicators. And then your home will bring joy for a long time.

When building a private house, both the developer and the future owner of the cottage must pay great attention to the issue of thermal insulation and ensuring comfortable living conditions even in the most extreme cold. This fully applies to buildings made of logs or beams. But at the same time, such cottages have their own specifics, determined by the material from which they are built. It cannot be ignored - otherwise it will negatively affect the durability of the walls and finishing of buildings made of logs and timber. Therefore, deciding how to insulate a wooden house from the outside and with what is not so easy and you need to approach this matter in detail.

When carrying out measures for installing thermal insulation in a house made of timber or logs, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of wood as a material. There are many of them, but the main ones are two - high vapor permeability and susceptibility to fungus and other microorganisms.

The first means that wood absorbs and transmits moisture well, both from the inside and outside. Accordingly, insulation for a house built from timber or logs must have comparable vapor permeability indicators - otherwise the walls will gradually become damp, rot and become unusable. In addition, there is a need for a ventilation gap between the external finish and the insulation - without it, the latter will absorb too much water and lose its thermal insulation qualities.

And the second feature of wood, associated with the susceptibility of the material to fungus and microorganisms, requires mandatory treatment of all walls and parts of the thermal insulation system with antiseptic compounds, and in several layers.

Insulation of a private house can be divided into two types.

1. Internal, when a layer of heat-insulating material is located on the side of the living quarters and is covered with plasterboard, clapboard or any other finishing material.
2. External when thermal insulation is located on the walls on the street side. From above it is covered with a windproof film and external finishing, which can be boards, siding, corrugated sheets, artificial stone, etc.

Internal insulation in wooden houses is usually used when there is a need to preserve the “wood” appearance of the building. This usually applies to log houses.

But at the same time, such a thermal insulation system has a number of disadvantages:

• reduction of useful area of ​​residential premises;
• suboptimal dew point position, leading to dampness and condensation;
• gradual destruction of walls from the outside, caused by temperature changes.

Therefore, external insulation appears to be a more preferable option. Such a solution has the following advantages.

1. Saving living space– the insulation layer and the frame under it are located outside, which means you save several square meters inside the house.
2. Dew point shift outside the walls of the house– with good external thermal insulation along the entire thickness of the wall made of timber or logs, the temperature will be above zero. Consequently, condensation will not fall on the wall from the inside, there will be less dampness, and the service life of the structures will be longer.
3. By shifting the dew point and using ventilated façade technology The risk of mold and rot is significantly reduced.
4. Walls made of timber or logs can serve as interior decoration, the original “texture” of a country cottage is preserved.

Due to these advantages, the article will focus on how to insulate a wooden house from the outside and what materials are suitable for this.

General arrangement of external insulation of a wooden house

From the point of view of ensuring high-quality thermal insulation and preventing the appearance of dampness/condensation on the wall and in the insulation, the most preferable way to protect a house from the cold is to install a ventilated facade. Regardless of the material used, the design is a “layer cake” consisting of the following elements:

• load-bearing wall of a house made of timber or logs;
• frame for insulation, created from timber or metal profiles;
• a layer of thermal insulation material and fasteners for it;
• windproof membrane film or windproof board;
• lathing for external finishing;
• exterior decoration of the house.

At the same time, a ventilation gap is formed between the insulation and the external finishing of the wooden house due to the sheathing, which ensures effective drainage and reduces the risk of condensation and dampness.

Important! Separately, it is worth paying attention to such an issue as the presence of a vapor barrier film between the wooden wall and the insulation. This film has been the subject of controversy for quite some time. Some craftsmen argue that a vapor barrier between the wall and the insulation is necessary, otherwise the thermal insulation material will quickly become damp due to moisture coming from the house. Others are of the opposite opinion and say that the vapor barrier will disrupt the removal of moisture from the walls of the house, condensation will appear between it and the insulation, and then mold. Taking into account both of these opinions, we can say that it is possible to install a film to protect thermal insulation material from dampness, but only if there is good ventilation in the house and a gap between the vapor barrier and the wooden wall.

Prices for dowels for insulation

Dowel umbrella

You can familiarize yourself with the materials used to insulate a wooden house from the outside from the table below and in subsequent sections of the article.

Table. Insulation of a wooden house from the outside - basic materials.

What material to choose for external insulation of a wooden house

Before you start insulating a wooden house, you need to decide what exactly to do it with, i.e. what material. You can see the options available to most in the table from the previous section. These are mineral wool, polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam and ecowool. Let's look at them in a little more detail.

Mineral wool is a combination of many fibers obtained from melts of various rocks. As in cellulose wool, a large amount of air is located between the fibers, due to which the material acquires its heat-insulating qualities.

The following advantages speak in favor of mineral wool as insulation for a wooden house:

• ease of installation;
• availability;
• non-flammable - mineral wool melts only at very high temperatures;
• vapor permeability at the level of wood;
• excellent heat and sound insulation qualities.

But it is worth considering that mineral wool absorbs moisture well and at the same time greatly loses its thermal insulation properties. Therefore, the outside of the insulation must be protected with a membrane windproof film.

A good option for insulating a wooden house is Isoplat soft fiberboard. It is made by the “wet method” from ground coniferous tree fiber without the addition of glue or other chemical binders. Due to this, the slab works efficiently in humid and cold climates and does not delaminate due to temperature changes. The top of the board is treated with paraffin to protect it from atmospheric humidity. The Izoplat plate has a high vapor permeability rate, which means it prevents the walls from becoming damp and the formation of fungus and mold. In terms of thermal insulation properties, 25 cm of material is comparable to 88 mm of solid wood. Isoplat also has a high level of sound insulation, which means the house will become much quieter and more comfortable.

Insulation of a wooden house with Izoplat slabs

Other insulation options for a wooden house are polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam. Both are polymers consisting of cells glued together with many pores and voids. The latter, filled with air, provide the material with high thermal insulation qualities. Extruded polystyrene foam is made using a slightly different technology than regular polystyrene foam, due to which the material is denser and its cells are smaller. The material itself becomes stronger, but also retains its thermal insulation qualities.

Foam insulation is not the best option for a wooden house, but many resort to this solution due to the low cost of the insulating material

However, both polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam have a serious drawback, which makes their use as insulation for a wooden house questionable - low vapor permeability. Moisture and water vapor penetrate these materials very poorly. Therefore, if a wooden house is insulated with polystyrene foam, a humid environment will certainly arise between the wall and the thermal insulation layer, favorable for the development of fungi and other microorganisms and, as a result, for rotting and damage to the wood.

According to environmentalists, up to 40% of heat and electricity generated in the northern hemisphere is spent on heating residential, industrial and other facilities. For this reason, high-quality insulation of buildings brings tangible benefits in terms of financial savings and living comfort. One of the most popular heat insulators is (expanded polystyrene, EPS).

Another insulation option is ecowool. This material is obtained from paper and textile waste that is turned into cellulose. But at the same time, it is supplemented with additives that protect the material from caking, rotting, burning and make it unattractive to insects and rodents. It has excellent thermal insulation properties. But at the same time, the method of laying it differs from mineral wool and polystyrene foam - ecowool in liquid form is sprayed onto the surface of wooden walls between the sheathing elements using special equipment. The material then sets, dries and becomes a very durable layer of thermal insulation. However, you need to understand that without the help of a specialist, ecowool insulation will be impossible.

Now that you know more about the materials used for thermal insulation of cottages made of timber or logs, let's begin to describe how the insulation process should be carried out.

Prices for thermal insulation materials

Thermal insulation materials

Video - Insulating the walls of a house from the outside

Insulation of a wooden house with Isoplat

It is very easy to insulate a wooden house with Isoplat. The plate is a dense, but at the same time elastic material. It is enough to simply press it against the wall and nail it with nails with a wide flat head. Isoplat fits securely to the base and prevents the appearance of “cold bridges”. A ventilated facade is installed on top of the slab. In addition, Izoplat slabs of 25 mm or more can be covered with plaster. Insulation in this way can be done independently without the involvement of specialists. This is the fastest, easiest and most reliable option for insulating a wooden house.

It is very simple to insulate a wooden house with Izoplat slabs

Insulation of a wooden house from the outside with mineral wool

Let's look at how to perform one of the most popular ways to insulate a wooden house from the outside - using mineral wool slabs.

Calculation of the amount of insulation

Work begins with calculating the required amount of insulation. To do this, calculate how many square meters of the house there are surfaces to be covered with mineral wool. This problem is solved using the following algorithm.

Step 1. Calculate the height of the walls from the base to the beginning of the pediment. If one part of the house is one-story, and the second is two-story, perform calculations for them separately.

Step 2. Determine the perimeter of the walls by calculating their length.

Step 3. Multiply the perimeter of the walls by the height and subtract the area of ​​the openings from the resulting figure - this will give you the approximate surface area to be insulated. But the calculations do not end there.

Step 4. Using formulas for determining the area of ​​a triangle, calculate how many square meters there are in your gables (if you are going to insulate them too), and sum the resulting figure with the result of the calculations from the previous step.

Determining the area of ​​a wall, a simple pediment in the form of an isosceles triangle and a complex pediment (which is the sum of a trapezoid and a triangle)

Step 5. Determine what brand and size of mineral wool you choose. Divide the total insulation area by the area of ​​each individual insulation board. Then increase the result by 10-15% for reserve. The figure you receive is the number of mineral wool slabs that will be needed for one layer of external insulation of a wooden house. Please keep in mind that several insulation panels are sold in one package and, as a rule, it is written on them how many square meters this pack is designed for.

Mineral wool ROCKWOOL Light Butts. One such pack contains six slabs with a thickness of 50 mm and dimensions of 600x800 mm. Their total area is 2.88 square meters.

Step 6. Determine how thick the insulation should be. As a rule, in the southern regions it is 50 mm, in the middle zone - 100 mm, in Siberia and northern latitudes - 150 mm. If it is impossible to perform insulation in one layer in your case, double the number of mineral wool slabs from the previous operation.

List of tools

First of all, you will need something that can be used to cut and saw the sheathing materials. If the frame for the insulation is made of wood, it will cope with this task perfectly electric jigsaw with matching blade. But in the case when the sheathing is made of a metal profile, it is better to give preference metal scissors.

Prices for popular models of jigsaws

Jigsaw

Important! Using a grinder to cut a profile into a frame for insulation is acceptable, but undesirable - in the process of such sawing, the external anti-corrosion coating is damaged, which significantly reduces the service life of the future structure.

Next, you will need a tool for screwing self-tapping screws into wood or metal. Considering that the insulation work is carried out with a house made of timber or logs, to complete this task it will be quite enough only screwdriver and set of attachments. Choose a tool with a battery - the wire will not dangle under your feet and get in the way.

Prices for popular models of screwdrivers

Screwdrivers

Advice! Experienced craftsmen use a screwdriver with two batteries. While one is working, the second is charging. Then they change places, and the person gets the opportunity to install the sheathing for insulation without stopping and wasting time.

To fit some wood sheathing pieces or to work with disc dowels, you will need hammer or rubber mallet.

One of the indispensable tools for construction work is a knife for cutting mineral wool. You will need it to open packages of mineral wool and to cut slabs of this material. As an option, you can use a construction knife with a retractable blade.

Attaching a windproof membrane film to the insulation sheathing requires construction stapler and staple set.

The sheathing for insulation should be as straight as possible horizontally and vertically. This is almost impossible to achieve by eye, so be sure to use building level and plumb.

The wall of the house itself, made of timber or logs, and all wooden elements of the sheathing require the mandatory application of several layers of antiseptic, which protects the materials from rotting. For this you will need container and roller. But if you want to do everything quickly, use spray paint.

Both before and during work on insulating a wooden house, a craftsman may need to apply various marks, measure distances and create records. These tasks are successfully completed using a pencil, several sheets of paper (or one notebook), a tape measure and a carpenter's square.

Laying mineral wool on a wooden frame

Let's first consider the most common option, when mineral wool is laid between the elements of the sheathing made of wooden beams.

Step 1. Prepare the walls - remove all protruding elements from their surface, if any. These could be shutters, ebbs, decorative details, etc. Then treat the wall with an antiseptic and fire retardant, preferably 2-3 times. Apply a new layer only after the previous one has completely dried.

Important! When working with a log house, pay special attention to processing the corners and end parts of the logs - they are the ones most susceptible to fungi and other microorganisms.

Step 2. Make the sheathing. For it, take the highest quality timber; in this case, products with a cross section of 30x30 mm are used. The wood should not show signs of fungus or rot. First, install the upper and lower bars, secure them with galvanized self-tapping screws (it is not advisable to use others due to corrosion). Then install horizontal sheathing elements, between which the first layer of mineral wool will be laid. The interval between the beams should be approximately 5 mm less than the height of the insulation slab - this is necessary to secure the material more tightly and eliminate gaps.

Step 3. On top of the first “layer” of the sheathing, secure the second one, where the elements are located perpendicularly. In this case they are mounted vertically. Also, do not forget to secure the bars around the perimeter of window and door openings.

Step 4. Unpack and prepare the mineral wool slabs. If necessary, cut them into pieces for installation around openings and other places where full-size insulation elements will not fit. Install the slabs between the sheathing elements of the first layer, making sure that they fit tightly there. Secure them with disc-shaped dowels. Then, using the same principle, lay the slabs of the second layer of insulation. It is desirable that they overlap the horizontal seams between the mineral wool sheets of the previous layer.

Prices for mineral wool

Step 5. Place and secure a windproof membrane on top of the insulation. Join its individual sections together with an overlap of about 10 cm (as a rule, there is a special marking on the film for this purpose). Attach the membrane to the sheathing with a construction stapler, and cover the joints with special adhesive tape. When working with windproof film, pay special attention to openings that also need to be covered.

Step 6. Fix thick slats on top of the windproof film onto the wooden elements of the insulation sheathing, which will hold the exterior trim of the house.

Step 7 Lay the exterior trim on the mounted slats. In this case, boards are used for this. Then install other exposed features such as window and rain caps, shutters, trim, trim and more.

Laying mineral wool on brackets

Now let's look at another option for external insulation of a house. Here the mineral wool is attached not to the sheathing, but to metal brackets.

Step 1. Prepare the walls - treat them with antiseptic and fire retardant. Next, unpack the mounting brackets and calculate how many you need.

Step 2. Attach the metal brackets to the wall using two long roofing screws with press washers. Since the house will subsequently be finished with siding, the fastening elements are located in increments corresponding to the interval between the sheathing elements for the vinyl panels.

Important! To ensure better sound and heat insulation, place small pieces of paronite under the part of the brackets that touches the wood.

Step 3. Unpack the mineral wool, check the quality of the insulation and prepare it for installation.

Step 4. Install mineral wool slabs on the walls. To do this, place them on the brackets mounted in the previous stages of work. The holes for this can either be pressed through with the fasteners themselves, or cut with a knife.

Step 5. For better fixation, screw the disc dowels evenly over the area of ​​each individual slab.

Step 6. Repeat the previous two operations for all walls and gables of the house.

Step 7 Lay a windproof film over the insulation layer. Secure it with overlapping disc dowels.

Step 8 Using a knife or scissors, cut slots in the windproof film through which the ends of the brackets should pass.

Step 9 Prepare, cut and secure the vertical and horizontal elements of the metal profile sheathing to the brackets using self-tapping screws. In this case, it is very important to achieve the evenness of each individual rack or beam using a plumb line and a building level.

Step 10 On the sheathing installed in the previous operation, install the exterior trim. In this case, these are vinyl siding panels.

With a competent approach to the matter, external insulation of a wooden house will provide you with coziness and comfort of living in a new place.

Wooden houses are popular in low-rise construction. They are environmentally friendly, cozy, warm and breathable. And insulating the outside of your home will allow you to save on heating costs and preserve your home for many years.

There are several ways to insulate a building. Most often, builders choose mineral wool, polystyrene foam or penoplex as insulation materials. It is worth considering that they all have positive and negative properties. Study them carefully before choosing one or another material.

To properly organize insulation in a wooden house, you need to first become familiar with the structure of the wall. For proper insulation it is necessary to create several layers:

• vapor barrier;
• thermal insulation;
• waterproofing;
• external finishing.

Important! The insulation should not reduce the useful characteristics of the tree or interfere with its breathing.

Where to insulate - outside or inside

An important issue that needs to be resolved before starting work is whether to insulate the house outside or inside. Experienced builders recommend external insulation. It is more effective than internal. If you place the insulation inside, then the log house itself will be unprotected from the external influence of natural factors and subject to temperature changes. In this case, the tree rots more internally. External insulation protects the tree from the street side and extends its service life. In addition, this does not reduce the volume of premises. Insulating an old wooden house from the outside will improve its appearance.

Modern materials help protect your home from the harmful effects of mold.

Styrofoam

The cheapest material for insulation is polystyrene foam. The structure is a cluster of foamed plastic balls. Among its advantages it is worth noting:

• ease of installation;
• light weight of the material;
• polystyrene foam is not afraid of moisture and fungus;
• has good soundproofing characteristics;
• tolerates changes in temperature and precipitation well;
• lasts a long time.

Insulating a wooden house with polystyrene foam from the outside can lead to disruption of the temperature and humidity conditions. This is facilitated by the lack of ventilation in the foam. The house will have to install an additional ventilation shaft or install an air conditioner. Polystyrene foam is an unnatural and non-breathable material. Afraid of fire.

To properly insulate the outside walls of a wooden house with polystyrene foam, you need to follow a number of rules:

1. The sheets must be laid tightly, end-to-end;
2. The joints must be treated with a diffusion membrane. It must be secured with a construction stapler. The membrane is installed with an overlap: the sheets must lie on top of each other;
3. The width of the membrane is from 10 cm. Thanks to the width, you are guaranteed to close all the gaps.
4. You need to connect the parts of the membrane with masking tape;
5. You definitely need to make a layer of waterproofing.

Important! Water accumulated inside the foam increases pressure during expansion, which leads to the disintegration of the material into individual particles and loss of its properties.

The insulation technology is as follows:

1. Install vertical rope canopies;
2. Apply special glue to the foam along all edges and in the middle, fix it on the wall;
3. Place all the insulation;
4. Cover the gaps with a membrane;
5. Secure the sheets with screws;
6. Install reinforced mesh;
7. Plaster the walls;
8. After the plaster and putty have dried, perform decorative finishing.

Penoplex

Penoplex is made from the same materials as polystyrene foam. It differs only in increased technical characteristics.

Positive qualities of penoplex:

• high strength of the material;
• does not absorb moisture and is not subject to rotting;
• retains heat well;
• indifferent to temperature changes;
• easy to install;
• not afraid of fire;
• has a long service life;
• not afraid of heavy loads, suitable for insulating ceilings and floors.

Penoplex also has a number of disadvantages:

• the cost is higher than that of competing materials;
• is afraid of sunlight, so it is necessary to install protection from it;
• afraid of solvents and other chemical compounds;
• rodents can quickly ruin thermal insulation;
• poor ventilation prevents the house from breathing.

Do-it-yourself insulation of a wooden house from the outside with polystyrene foam is similar to insulation with polystyrene foam.

Mineral wool

Mineral wool is considered the best insulation for the outside of a wooden house. Thanks to it, the tree retains its best properties. In terms of its composition, it is compressed artificial stone, slag and basalt. There are several types:

• Stone. It is a rigid slab. Safe to use. Easy to cut, you can cut pieces of any shape;
• Glass. Sold in rolls. Hardness – medium. Installation can only be carried out in special protective clothing (suit, mask, gloves). It pricks, digs into the skin, causes irritation. May penetrate the respiratory tract;
• Slag. Its cost is the lowest. Made from waste. Fake or low-quality cotton wool contains toxic substances and is hazardous to health. You should only purchase from reliable manufacturers in whom you are confident.

The advantages of the material include:

• ease of installation;
• mostly environmentally friendly material;
• fireproof, ignites only at very high temperatures, will protect the tree from fire;
• belongs to the middle price category;
• will last a long time;
• little subject to wear, does not respond to temperature changes;
• does not block the flow of air, allows the tree to breathe;
• Excellent for insulating walls and roofs.

Of the minuses it is worth noting:

• It is better to carry out all work in protective clothing;
• Does not prevent the development of fungus;
• Quickly absorbs moisture, needs steam and waterproofing;
• Does not have high strength;
• Decreases in size over time.

When insulating a wooden house from the outside with mineral wool, consider several factors:

1. The log house must first be treated with a special antiseptic, protecting it from mold and rot;
2. First lay the vapor barrier, then the cotton wool, then the waterproofing. This way you will protect the insulating layer from moisture;
3. Lay mineral wool overlapping, there should be no gaps between the pieces;
4. Anchor bolts will help secure the sheets and prevent them from moving.

Natural materials

The house can be insulated using natural materials, for example, sawdust slabs or a mixture of straw and clay, or flax fiber. The advantages of the materials include:

• low cost;
• environmental friendliness;
• moisture resistance;
• are not afraid of fungus (especially flax).

Of the minuses it is worth noting:

• difficulty of preparation;
• fragility

Steam and waterproofing

When installing insulation, it is imperative to install a waterproofing and vapor barrier layer.

Important! Vapor barrier must be installed inside, on the side of the room and warm air, respectively, and waterproofing - outside, on the side of cold flows.

For wooden houses, it is better to choose insulation made from membranes. They allow the building to breathe. Pay attention to the sides of the film. The glossy side should face the insulation, and the porous side should face the wall.

Before starting insulation work, it is necessary to assess the condition of the walls and ceilings. Repair everything necessary, clean the walls from dirt, cover them with a composition that protects against fungus. This will extend the life of your home.

House insulation work

External insulation of the walls of a house using mineral wool takes place in several stages:

An additional measure could be work on insulating the foundation. For such purposes, foam plastic or penoplex are best suited. It is also closed with the help of decorative elements.

External insulation of the house should be given special attention. Thanks to correctly selected material and competently performed work, your family will be able to survive even the most severe frosts. At the same time, your wooden house will still breathe and will not lose its beneficial properties. By insulating the building from the outside, you protect it from the negative effects of weather conditions, prevent the wood from absorbing too much moisture and rotting, and save it from fungus and mold. Accordingly, the service life of your home will increase significantly, and your grandchildren will be happy to come to a beautiful and warm home.

It would seem that the question is quite simple - the methods have been worked out for a long time, and the choice of thermal insulation products is significant. But we are not talking about any building, but about a wooden house. Regarding its insulation, there are a number of nuances that cannot be neglected.

It's all about some of the features of such a building material as wood. First of all, this is its susceptibility to rotting, its ability to “breathe” and retain heat well. The last two properties allow you to maintain comfortable indoor conditions, as a rule, without significant additional costs. For example, for the purchase (and professional installation) of climate control equipment, due to the increased consumption of energy resources (including fuel for the boiler). At least, the indicated devices are not used as intensively in wooden houses as in buildings made of brick or cellular concrete. So, let's consider in detail how and what is the best way to insulate a wooden house.

To make the technology of work clearer, it should be explained why insulating the outside of a wooden house is the only right solution. This method of reducing heat loss is the main one for any buildings, as it has a number of advantages. For example, it does not reduce the usable area. This is precisely one of the disadvantages of arranging this protective layer from the inside. But for a log house something else is more relevant.

It's all about the so-called “dew point”. External installation of insulation takes it outside the perimeter of the house, and condensation forms in the ventilated space. Consequently, in cold weather the tree does not freeze, and in warm weather the process of rotting does not begin. If insulation is laid on the walls of rooms, then the “point” moves inward. As a result, the logs (beams) remain unprotected, and condensation settles in the thermal insulation material, which initiates the development of mold and mildew not only in it, but also in the rooms.

How to insulate a wooden house

If you look into it in detail, the choice of materials is not that big.

Expanded polystyrene boards

They are distinguished not only by their correct geometry, but also by their “rigidity”. Therefore, to fix them, the base must be carefully leveled. It is still acceptable for timber, especially if the walls were erected by professionals. What about logs? In addition, foam plastics do not allow moisture to pass through, but also air. Therefore, the main attractiveness of a wooden house - microclimate regulation - will be completely neutralized.

Sprayable compositions

Typically polyurethane. There are even more disadvantages, and you will also need special equipment. But companies providing this service (for PU insulation) are silent about another rather significant disadvantage - the low maintainability of the layer. After all, it sticks to the surface on which it is applied. If you can literally “pick it out” from brick or reinforced concrete, then what about wood? After all, it is quite susceptible to mechanical stress, and damage to logs or beams in this case cannot be avoided.

There are other types of insulation for wooden buildings, which the authors of some articles recommend using. But all the listed materials (chipboard, flax fiber, etc.), taking into account the specifics of the log house and in terms of durability, are hardly worthy of attention.

To insulate wooden buildings, only mineral wool should be used. Excellent vapor permeability, elasticity, low weight - in fact, such thermal insulation fully meets all the main criteria for a wooden house.

Insulating a house from the outside - how to do it

Surface cleaning

This is where any repair or finishing work begins. For a wooden house, the initial inspection is especially important. It is necessary to identify all areas of wood damage, determine their nature, methods and means for eliminating defects. This is a separate topic, and...

Treatment with special/preparations

For a wooden house, both fire retardants and antiseptics are equally relevant. Features of their use and recipe are indicated on the packaging. It is clear that it is advisable to do this in positive weather and clear skies.

All types of wood are porous. Although they often talk about the hardness or density of lumber. Based on this, the appropriate compositions should be selected. Their list is quite large, and the specifics of application can vary greatly. The best are those that penetrate deep enough into the structure of the material and do not “close” the pores. Otherwise, the tree will not be able to “breathe.”

Installation of a vapor barrier layer

Its main purpose is to ensure the wood’s ability to self-regulate its microclimate and at the same time protect the material from direct contact with moisture. There are many types of films and membranes on sale. If the first option is chosen, then it is necessary to take into account that all samples differ in their design, and therefore in the specifics of use. The film is cheaper, but the usual modification made of polyethylene cannot be used for vapor barrier. It is sealed and does not allow air to pass through along with water. It is worth considering when choosing products.

Fastening on the outside of a wooden house is quite simple - using a construction stapler (with staples). You just need to take into account that the strips must be installed with a slight overlap, and the joints must be covered with adhesive tape.

Construction of a supporting frame

It is also called sheathing. What is its peculiarity in relation to a wooden house? The coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials being held together should be taken into account. Metal slats are much more convenient to install, but since the house is made of wood, it is not practical to use them. Only wooden blocks of appropriate length and section.

The dimensions of the seats (cells of the sheathing), as well as its design, are selected based on the geometry and design of the insulation. Mineral wool is sold in slabs or rolls, so it is not difficult to draw up a pattern for laying samples.

Another nuance concerns fasteners. Self-tapping screws should not be used for the sheathing fixing elements. They “tightly” grab the supporting structure, but this should not happen. A wooden house “plays” somewhat under the influence of external factors (a feature of the material), so the sheathing is attached to it only with nails.

What to consider

The reliable position of the insulation is ensured by the fact that during the process of laying in place the samples are slightly compressed. Then, thanks to their elasticity, they straighten somewhat, which determines their reliable “coupling” with the slats of the supporting frame. When calculating its parameters, you need to select the cell sizes so that they are slightly smaller than the thermal insulation products. Then you won’t need any additional fastening on the outside of the house.

Laying insulation material

There is nothing complicated about this, especially if the scheme is drawn up correctly. Mineral wool can be cut well with a regular knife and bends, so no problems will arise.

Peculiarities:

• In problem areas of the walls (complex configuration, slope, etc.), it is worth additionally fixing the thermal insulation with special nails - anchor nails.
• The gaps in the places where the insulation meets the frame slats are sealed with the same construction tape.
• Installation of thermal insulation is carried out in the direction from bottom to top, in rows.
• In regions with frosty winters, insulation (depending on the thickness of the samples) can be laid in 2 layers. In this case, the slabs for the second are cut so that after installation their joints in the rows do not coincide. That is, the mount is slightly offset.

Calculator for calculating the amount of insulation

In order to maintain warmth and comfort in the house, it is necessary to add a thermal insulation layer to the external walls. Particular attention is paid to buildings that have been in use for a long time and have experienced many negative impacts. Therefore, many owners are interested in the issue of insulating an old wooden house.

A house made of wood has the ability to allow vapors to pass out, making it always comfortable to stay indoors. If you choose the wrong material for insulation, you can completely block the loss of moisture, which will lead to its accumulation in the walls of the building. This will lead to premature destruction of the entire structure.

Mineral wool

Experts say that there is no better insulation for an old wooden house. And indeed it is. has the following properties:

1. Excellent heat retention.
2. Isolates interior spaces from extraneous sounds from the environment.
3. Light weight helps to do everything quickly and efficiently.
4. The structure of the material allows you to hide all the irregularities.
5. Fire and environmental safety.
6. Rodents do not use them to create nests.

But there are also a number of negative points:

• protection from moisture is necessary, therefore the mineral wool is covered with a vapor barrier membrane, on the one hand, and a windproof film, on the other;
• requires mechanical fixation.

But such shortcomings are easy to cope with, so this option is suitable for an old house or a new building.

Styrofoam

Insulation from the affordable class. Therefore, it is in demand among all construction companies and private developers. In addition to this positive point, there are a number of others:

1. Good thermal insulation properties.
2. It is soundproofed.
3. Does not absorb moisture.
4. Withstands small mechanical loads.

But a small set of disadvantages makes polystyrene foam unsuitable for insulating a log house in a village:

• lack of vapor permeability;
• rapid destruction under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
• rodents and insects love to create their homes in this material;
• polystyrene foam ignites easily and then smolders, releasing caustic substances.

Wood already burns well, and if the finishing is such that being in such a house will be life-threatening.

Penoplex (polystyrene)

This material is a close relative of polystyrene foam. But manufacturers have slightly improved the properties of the insulation, due to which the cost has also increased. What characteristics are inherent in penoplex?

1. Improved thermal insulation properties. If 10 cm thick foam plastic is needed to insulate a house, then you can replace 5 cm with polystyrene foam.
2. Withstands high mechanical stress.
3. Doesn't absorb moisture at all.
4. There are also soundproofing properties.
5. Penoplex is produced with the addition of fire retardants, substances that prevent the material from igniting under the influence of fire. Therefore, compared to polystyrene foam, penoplex is safer.

It is sometimes used as thermal insulation for wooden buildings. But it is only suitable for a plinth or foundation. This is due to the lack of vapor transmission capacity. As a result, condensation will form on the walls, which means it will contribute to the development of mold and mildew.

What is the best way to insulate?

A house with a long service life requires not only insulation of the facade, but also all structural elements as a whole. Such actions will help to more effectively retain heat inside the house. Therefore, we will consider all the elements separately:

Wall insulation

It is better to insulate the walls from the outside. This shifts the dew point towards the environment, allowing it to be removed from the substrate much faster. If you insulate the walls from the inside, you can cause a completely opposite result. In this case, the walls will still freeze.

To insulate the walls, we choose hard mineral wool mats. If you have the financial means, you can take the foil version. A layer of foil will reflect heat from the walls. Before installing the insulation, be sure to close all cracks.

In this case, we use a tourniquet, dry moss or tow. With this material we tightly seal the inter-crown space or cracks that may form on the logs.

Ceiling

You can insulate the ceiling in two ways:

• from the side of the room;
• from the attic side.

Both the first and second methods are effective. More rigid materials are laid on the ceiling. If there is an attic under the roof, then it is better to resort to insulation from the side of the rooms. Then a structure is created from beams, between which sheet insulation is placed. Don't forget about vapor barrier membranes.

When there is an attic under the roof, you can use mineral wool and even polystyrene foam. A more rigid material must be laid on top of the insulation. This can be chipboard slabs, which will protect the insulation from being pressed through.

There is an option when bulk insulation is used, for example, sawdust, gravel. But you need a lot of such materials, which can be even more expensive than using modern insulation.

Floor

The choice of insulation technology for a dilapidated house depends on whether there is a basement or not. If there is a basement, then first insulate it. There may be no need to further insulate the floor after this.

But if such a need has already been determined, then choose the following options:

1. Laying heated floors (electric heating). Not always suitable for old wooden structures, as it requires reliable electrical wiring.
2. Use of thermal insulation materials. They choose only hard options, but be sure to make a plank floor or cover it with chipboard or OSB, and then decorate it with the selected flooring material.

It is in an old wooden house that large heat losses occur due to dilapidated floors. Therefore, you should not neglect the possibility of insulating floors. More precisely, start insulating the house from the floors.

How to insulate an old wooden house with your own hands?

The wood must be specially treated before starting any external work. Especially if the structure is closed from the eyes of the owner. Therefore, carefully and thoroughly adhere to the insulation technology if you do everything yourself.

And if you trust the masters, then do not forget to supervise the team. It often happens that workers want to complete the work earlier and are a little slack. This can lead to premature failure of the structure.

Surface preparation

First, let's prepare the base:

1. Clean all dirt and stains, traces of insects or fungus.
2. Remove old decorative coating.
3. Remove hanging structures that will interfere with all work.
4. Close all cracks.
5. Cover the wooden structure with protective compounds. These are antiseptic impregnations or mastics and moisture-repellent compounds. This will significantly extend the service life of the base.

If the package says that it is advisable to make several layers, then it is better to do it as the manufacturer recommends. If you save at this stage, you may regret it later.

Laying a vapor barrier layer

After the impregnation has completely dried, begin laying the membranes. This layer will protect the walls from moisture and allow vapors to freely pass through the insulation and escape outside.

• begin laying from the bottom of the wall in vertical stripes;
• each subsequent strip overlaps the previous one by 10–15 cm;
• the joints are fixed with tape;
• the membrane itself is secured using a construction stapler.

Installation of sheathing

Wooden bars or metal profiles are used for the frame. If a wooden frame is chosen, then its parts also require special processing in order to last as long as the decorative layer. In addition, the bars will not be able to hide the unevenness of the walls, which means you will have to place pegs or cut them off in some places.

With metal everything is much simpler - we take it and install it. Special retractable brackets will easily hide all the shortcomings. But such a structure will cost a little more than a wooden one.

The method of installing the frame depends on whether insulation will be used or not, as well as on what decorative material it was decided to install on the facade.

The rough plan is:

• First we make the markings. The pitch between the elements is equal to the width of the insulation;
• screw the elements;
• We check how level the parts are installed using a building level.

Installation of heat insulator

The material, which acts as a heat insulator, is placed between the sheathing elements. The mats are laid tightly. At the same time, make sure that no gaps are formed. Mineral wool should not bristle.

If such defects appear, they will subsequently become cold bridges, which will partially or completely eliminate insulation work. Therefore, the material should lie tightly, but evenly.

Laying windproof film

It is customary to lay a windproof membrane on top of the insulation. This material will protect the mineral wool from penetration of atmospheric moisture under the finish. The installation principle is the same as for vapor barrier film:

1. Let's start working from the bottom.
2. We make vertical stripes.
3. We overlap them by 105-15 cm.
4. We seal the joints with tape.
5. The membrane is fixed with a stapler to the sheathing.

It is appropriate to use mushroom dowels here. This mechanical fastener will additionally secure the insulation and membrane.

Installation of lathing for fastening finishing materials outside

The additional lathing also creates a ventilation gap, which allows you to remove steam escaping from the interior. The gap size can vary from 3 to 8 mm. It all depends on the thickness of the insulating material and the region in which the house is located.

Exterior wall decoration

You can choose any known option as a finishing material for a wooden house. It is important to take into account the condition of the structure, that is, the strength of the structure. If the house is too old, do not choose heavy material, as the structure may not withstand the load and collapse.

• completely follow the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer;
• fix the parts to the sheathing elements;
• choose dry weather;
• Insulate a wooden house only in the warm season.

Possible problems with insulation

Before insulating an old wooden house, be sure to check how strong the structure is. If necessary, the walls and foundation need to be strengthened. For those who have never done such a thing, it is better to take care of the construction team and not start experiments.

And those who still decide to do everything themselves should strictly adhere to the instructions and not let anything slip out of sight. It is important to properly prepare the base, choose insulation and finishing.