Insulation of a wooden floor from below from the basement. We insulate floors above a damp, cold basement. How to insulate the floor from below without removing the covering

Floor insulation in wooden house from below from the basement is not an easy task. There are several ways to solve it, which can be implemented using recommendations from specialists and those who have personally insulated the underground of a house. At the same time, they get rid of dampness: wet floors create discomfort for residents.

Why insulate the floor?

In a country house or in a private house there is always a cold floor above an unheated basement. And if there is dampness in the underground, then it should be slightly damp. This affects the condition of the materials that make up the lower floor. If it is wood, rotting processes begin to develop in it; if it is concrete, dampness and delamination begin to develop. This reduces the lifespan of the building, and after some time it may receive emergency status.

Paul and others structural elements buildings are insulated in order to reduce heat loss, as a result of which the cost of heating rooms in the cold season is reduced.

How to insulate the floor below from the basement?

Insulating the floor from the basement side is possible in several ways, but they all involve attaching heat-insulating material to a previously prepared surface. The floor of the first floor must be protected from moisture penetration, so first of all, waterproofing is done from any suitable materials.

Insulating the floor above a cold basement is possible using mineral wool or polystyrene foam. It is not recommended to use materials based on polyethylene foam (Penofol, Teplofol), as they are not able to fully prevent heat leakage through the lower ceiling.

Choosing insulation materials is not an easy task. Mineral wool is sold in rolls and slabs. The latter are easier and more convenient to attach to the lower ceiling from the basement side. The reason is that the slabs are rigid, while the rolled fibrous materials are loose. If the basement is dry, the slabs will best choice for buildings whose floors are made according to frame technology or consist of reinforced concrete slabs. Such floors on the basement side are flat and relatively level.

If the ceiling is installed on wooden beams, it will be much more difficult to attach slab and sheet materials. They will have to be cut so that there are no gaps at the joints of the panels. In this case, the best choice would be rolled materials, which will allow you to go around the beams without forming gaps. You can also combine loose mineral wool with hard one.

Insulating the floor in the basement with increased level humidity is recommended to be done using polystyrene foam. Mineral wool is not suitable in this case, as it is a hygroscopic material. You should not rely on the latest proposals from manufacturers: slabs treated with a moisture-repellent composition, since their end cuts remain unprotected. Foam plastic does not have this drawback. It will not get damp in the basement and will last a long time.

There are 3 ways to attach insulation to a wooden floor from below:

  • on dowel-nails with a wide round head (“umbrellas”);
  • installing a double floor system;
  • on glue (foam only).

There is another way to insulate a basement: using spray-on thermal insulation. This is the most expensive method of protecting walls and ceilings. Sprayed PPU (polyurethane foam) has many advantages:

  • forms a seamless coating that eliminates the occurrence of “cold bridges”;
  • to insulate the basement, a layer 5 cm thick is enough, which in terms of thermal insulation corresponds to 10-12 cm of foam plastic;
  • Can be applied to any curved surfaces;
  • Sprayed polyurethane foam does not require hydro- and vapor barriers, which reduces the cost of the basement improvement process.

But this method has one drawback: to do the work yourself, you need expensive equipment - a foam generator. Or you will have to invite specialists and pay for their services. If the basement area is large, optimal choice— purchase of equipment for spraying polyurethane foam. To do this you will have to buy:

  • pumping station;
  • spray gun;
  • hoses;
  • cylinders with components that, when mixed, produce polyurethane foam.

An example of calculating materials and tools for insulating a basement with an area of ​​36 m² with a 10 cm thick layer of polyurethane foam (required for northern regions):

  • equipment PGM-3BN or PGM-5BM;
  • cylinders with components “A” (210 kg) and “B” (250 kg);
  • metal container with a volume of 100 l;
  • milk flask;
  • special clothing (chemical protection suit).

The market for finishing and renovation materials also offers sprayed thermal insulation in cylinders, which is optimal for improving basements small size. 2 brands are popular: POLYNOR and Teplis. Insulating the basement using sprayed thermal insulation in cylinders has its advantages:

  • no need to purchase expensive equipment;
  • simplicity and ease of transportation;
  • convenience of work;
  • the ability to insulate floors on the basement side yourself, without the help of specialists.

Among the materials suitable for improving the basement is foam glass. It was popular in the middle of the last century, but subsequently its production was considered unprofitable. In the 21st century The manufacturing technology of this insulation has been modernized and it is gaining popularity again. Foam glass is made from powder obtained by carefully crushing glass and volcanic basalt. The resulting mass is heated and subjected to foaming. The output is a porous material that can retain heat well.


Strengthening on wooden beams (joists)

The floor in a wooden house is traditionally built on joists. The technology for performing work on wooden floors requires installation waterproofing material, regardless of whether we use polystyrene foam or mineral wool. Special membranes, roofing felt, and glassine are used as waterproofing.

The canvases are attached to nails or self-tapping screws, since they will have to be fixed to the basement ceiling. In order for the sheets of waterproofing material to be securely held on the lower ceiling, they are secured using wooden slats or strips of galvanized steel. The second option is preferable.

The insulation is laid below and fixed with dowel nails. After which they cover the mineral wool vapor barrier material: special membranes or polyethylene film. This is not required when laying polystyrene foam.

It is possible to install a double floor system. To accomplish this task, the space between the joists is covered with boards, OSB sheets, and plywood. It is important that the lumber is pre-treated with an antiseptic to prevent rotting and the formation of fungus and mold. Insulation is placed in the openings between the lower floor and the sheathing.


Insulation over concrete floors

The insulating materials for insulating the floor of the first floor of the floor slab are the same: mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam. But for waterproofing concrete, they use not sheet or roll materials, but coating materials: bitumen-based mastics. Insulation with foam plastic will be more profitable, since it does not need to be covered with a vapor barrier. If thermal insulation is performed with mineral wool slabs, they can be glued to the concrete with mastic, but additional fixation with dowels and nails is also necessary.

Conclusion

Insulation of the floor above the basement is possible using various thermal insulation materials. All landscaping work can be done independently.

It is important to properly insulate the floor, as this will prevent heat losses from the building and will provide maximum comfortable temperature. There are two ways of insulation: from above and from below. Each case must be considered separately, since when thermal protection of different elements of a building is carried out, only one of them will be competent from the point of view of thermal engineering. When is it better to use floor insulation in a wooden house or in a country house from below?

Basic structures for insulation

Thermal protection of vertical elements in a private house is required in three cases:

  1. insulation of the floor above a cold basement;
  2. interfloor ceilings;
  3. attic floor in the presence of a cold attic.

In the second case, work is carried out to improve sound insulation characteristics.

Insulation in a wooden house helps prevent the following problems:

  • overconsumption in the heating system;
  • violation of the temperature and humidity conditions of the room;
  • rotting of floor structures;
  • the appearance of mold and mildew.

In a private house or country house, it is worth thinking about carrying out thermal insulation measures at the design stage.

In what cases and why is insulation from below correct?

It is better to insulate the floor above a cold attic from above, but the thermal protection of the floor above the basement is technically more competent to perform from below. This has its reasons:

  • there is no reduction in the height of the room on the ground floor;
  • there is no need to choose dense rigid insulation that will withstand the loads from residents, furniture and equipment;
  • protection from freezing not only of the floor, but also of the entire wooden floor;
  • displacement of the dew point (the line on which condensation falls) to the surface of the ceiling from the thickness of the structure, which prevents rotting.

But when carrying out work in a private house or dacha, some difficulties may arise specifically related to work from below:

  • the need for more reliable fastening of the insulation;
  • the difficulty of working in low subfloor conditions;
  • the need to work on the ceiling leads to rapid fatigue of workers;
  • restrictions on types of insulation.

So if you are looking for more simple ways insulation, we recommend that you read the following articles:

Material requirements

The peculiarities of the method of carrying out work force the use of only certain thermal insulation materials. The basic requirements when carrying out heat protection measures in a private wooden house or in a country house from below include:

  1. small mass of insulation, since the place of attachment to the ceiling experiences increased loads;
  2. Ease of use;
  3. high efficiency;
  4. structure coherence (not suitable bulk materials);
  5. if possible, fire resistance, since when carrying out work in a wooden house it is necessary to ensure maximum fire safety.

There are many options for materials that satisfy all these requirements.

Materials for bottom insulation

  • mineral wool produced in the form of rolls;



Mineral wool in the form of rigid slabs can also be used; it is installed between the beams of a wooden floor in a country house or in an individual building from below so that the width of the slab is slightly greater than the clear distance between the beams. In this case, the rigid insulation will be held in place due to friction. The same applies when installing thermal protection on an attic roof.

Mineral wool insulation has the following advantages:

  • high efficiency;
  • non-flammability;

The main disadvantage of the material is that workers need reliable protection from contact of fibers with the skin and lungs: gloves, overalls, masks.

You can also use inexpensive polystyrene foam in your country house and home. Its main advantage, of course, is cost, but there are others:

  • good thermal insulation;
  • low degree of water absorption;
  • ease of installation;
  • there is no need for complex tools or special clothing.

The fact that the material has low strength is not important when insulating from below, but flammability and instability to the simultaneous effects of negative temperatures and humid environment are obvious shortcomings. The solution to the second question could be reliable waterproofing and steam protection. Due to its low cost, this type of material has become quite widespread.

The third insulation option was polyurethane foam. This type of thermal protection has the following positive characteristics:

  • ease of installation;
  • reliability of fastening due to penetration into cracks, irregularities and inaccessible places;
  • effectiveness as thermal protection;
  • resistance to biological influences.

Installation technology


Insulation with mineral wool from below

The fastening methods for each material are different, but when installing reliable thermal protection, it is necessary to follow the order of layers, which is the same for all. When insulating from a cold basement or underground, materials for insulation and protection of the insulation are arranged in the following order:

  1. waterproofing;
  2. thermal insulation layer;
  3. vapor barrier;
  4. floor design;
  5. floor construction.

Compliance with just this order will ensure normal temperature and humidity conditions in the house. Next, it is necessary to consider in more detail the arrangement of protective materials.

In a house with existing wooden floor 1st floor insulation from below can be done by attaching bars with a section from 50x50 to 50x100 to the beams below and placing insulating material between them. After waterproofing, the resulting pie can be hemmed with boards.

Waterproofing

Cold air from the basement can fall out in the form of condensation onto the warm surface of the ceiling. The constant presence of moisture on the structure will lead to the formation of mold or mildew, and subsequently to rotting, even if the wood is treated special compounds. In addition, condensation is very harmful to the thermal insulation layer. It can lead to increased thermal conductivity. To avoid this, a layer of waterproofing is laid on the cold air side.

Vapor barrier

From the outside warm room the situation is changing. Here the problem is not liquid water, but warm steam. Penetrating into the thickness of the material, as it approaches the outer surface, the steam cools and turns into water. This process is especially dangerous because, unlike the previous case, moisture does not form on the surface, but in the thickness of the structure. This increases the risk of wetting and destruction of the insulation and rotting of wood elements.


Vapor barrier – polyethylene film

A vapor barrier layer prevents steam from penetrating from the room.

When insulating the ceiling of the upper floor, the arrangement of layers changes. Based on physics, it is necessary to place the steam protection on the side warm air, but from moisture on the cold side.

As both types of protection in itself simple case can be used plastic film. When insulating a basement floor, moisture and windproof membranes are sometimes used as waterproofing. They do not prevent air movement, but reliably retain moisture.

In order to reliably protect the house from the penetration of cold, it is necessary to think about this at the design stage, but measures to protect the basement floor from below allow work to be carried out during operation.

This installation method does not require disassembly flooring and does not create uncomfortable conditions for residents.

Video about floor insulation from the basement side with polyurethane foam:

It is important to carefully choose the material for insulation and follow all the manufacturer’s recommendations. This will ensure reliable and long-term operation. The thickness of the layer is selected depending on the climatic region and the selected insulation. Knowing the thermal conductivity and thickness of the layer, even a non-professional can perform competent calculations. This is possible thanks to the convenient Teremok program, which is freely available.

Under most old houses and under every new one, as well as under the latest ones built construction technologies cottages, there is an underground floor - this is a basement, which the owners usually use to store vegetables, preparations, and seasonal items.

IN modern buildings(brick or wooden house) the basement can be equipped for functional living room, for example, an office, a workshop, gym, home cinema, billiard room, etc.


Regardless of its purpose, the basement can only be used if the temperature in it is comfortable. Even if the height of the basement does not allow you to arrange it full room, it still needs insulation, since basement insulation is one of effective ways reduce heat loss in the house.

Is it necessary to insulate the basement?

From the description above, it becomes obvious that yes, it is better to insulate the basement. Let's give a few more arguments for those who doubt:

  • effective use of usable area;
  • prevents the appearance of fungi and mold in basement, which are the source unpleasant odor and deterioration of the microclimate on the lower floor of the house;
  • the temperature in the insulated basement does not drop to below zero;
  • insulating the basement in a house makes it possible to protect the foundation from dampness and deformation due to soil heaving;
  • the rate of destruction of the building foundation is reduced;
  • the consumption of electricity or gas for heating the house is reduced.

Note. If the basement is not insulated, according to GOST 9561-91 “Reinforced concrete floor slabs,” it is necessary to insulate the floor that separates the floor of the first floor from the non-insulated area. The same requirement is specified in SNiP 2.08.01-85

Kirill Sysoev

Calloused hands never get bored!

Content

One of the problems of living in a private house made of wood is a cold floor. The fact is that low-temperature air currents descend downwards, and coolness also emanates from the ground. Insulating the floor covering, which is done using a variety of materials, will help make your home cozy, warm and comfortable, and protect it from freezing.

How to insulate the floor in a wooden house from below

It is known that home is the fortress of every person, so it should always feel cozy and warm. One way to transform a living space is to insulate the floor in a wooden house from below. To get a positive result, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the range of products for insulation, find out the features, and choose the most best option and complete the installation.

Installation of the thermal insulation layer has several specific nuances:

  1. It is necessary to have two-layer insulation of the floor in a wooden house from below. It is necessary to reduce the loss of heat escaping through the rough bottom. As a rule, the floor is made of ordinary boards that are adjusted to each other. The surface will suffer from strong impact humidity and low temperature from the ground, so building materials must be treated with special means in advance.
  2. Given the fact that wood absorbs liquid well, waterproofing will be required. Before you begin to insulate a wooden floor, it is recommended to lay one-sided fiber.
  3. Products for floor insulation in a wooden house from below should not change their characteristics when in contact with wood.

Which insulation is better for the floor in a wooden house

Very often, consumers think about what material is more profitable to use to insulate a cold floor in a wooden house from below. The choice of insulation depends on the following factors: room size, type of surface, type of wood, climate, price. It’s worth saying right away that it’s expensive. finishing material not always the best in quality and may simply not be suitable for a particular building. To make the right choice, it is recommended to find out what types of insulating materials there are flooring materials, study their characteristics and advantages.

Materials for thermal insulation

Range modern thermal insulation very wide. Products may differ in dimensions, characteristics, installation technologies, and so on. Insulation of floors in a wooden house is often carried out with the following building materials: mineral wool, expanded clay, penofol, polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene), polyurethane foam, sawdust, penoplex. The choice of thermal insulation layer depends on the individual preferences of the owner of the building and the characteristics of the floor covering. How to insulate the floor in a wooden house during construction or renovation of a residential premises?

Mineral wool

Cold wood flooring is often insulated with mineral wool. This type of sealant is available as elastic mats or durable panels. The material must be laid in a single layer. The main advantages of mineral wool:

  • high sound and heat insulation;
  • long period of practical use;
  • fire resistance and high humidity;
  • affordable price;
  • environmental friendliness;
  • This insulation is resistant to damage: mechanical and chemical influences.

Polyurethane foam

Perfect fit wooden floor a seal whose pores are closed with air and gas for insulation is polyurethane foam. This cellular material has a small mass, but retains heat well. This insulation is most resistant to the formation of fungus and mold, is not afraid of rotting, and is not susceptible to acids. Polyurethane foam is applied using a special technique and has good adhesion (adhesion to the surface). Thanks to the use of this type of thermal insulation, it is possible to insulate a floor of any shape without creating joints.

Styrofoam

Thermal insulation of floors using polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene) has many advantages. The structure of the material ensures a low level of vapor permeability and thermal conductivity, fire resistance, reliability, and resistance to chemical and biological factors. Expanded polystyrene has long term use and retains its characteristics for a long time. The main disadvantage is that the seal absorbs a certain amount of liquid, which can affect some properties.

Penoplex

Insulation of a wooden floor is also done with penoplex - a very light polymer homogeneous material that does not put any load on the base of the building. It is produced by extrusion - forcing molten raw materials through the molding cavity of an extruder ( special equipment). Penoplex is very durable, resistant to low temperatures, durable, characterized by minimal moisture absorption and combustion.

Expanded clay

Thermal insulation of a wooden floor can be done using expanded clay - a loose, porous product that consists of small round balls. Insulation is produced by burning slate or clay in a special oven. Expanded clay for preserving the heat of wood floors is durable and environmentally friendly materials. He has high performance sound insulation, fire resistance, frost resistance. There is one significant drawback: after a certain period of time, expanded clay becomes compacted under the weight of its own weight and loses its thermal insulation qualities.

Penofol

Insulation roll type for a wooden floor, which is made of polyethylene foam, which is covered with aluminum foil on top - this is penofol. This seal is not very thick (3-10 mm), but it conducts heat well and does not require additional vapor barrier. Due to its composition, penofol has several disadvantages: foil can be “eaten” by rust, and polyethylene loses strength over time.

Installation technology

Reliable and effective option laying insulation for wooden covering from below there is installation along logs - transverse boards (beams) on which the floor covering is located. ­

  1. First, logs are attached to the brick foundation, the distance between which should be 1-1.2 meters (as in the photo).
  2. Chipboard or thick plywood is mounted on the beams below using self-tapping screws. This is necessary for laying thermal insulation.
  3. The insulating material is laid on the surface between the joists. The thickness of this layer of thermal insulation can be varied, so you need to be guided by the dimensions of the transverse boards (joists).
  4. Waterproofing (for example, plastic film) is laid on top of the seal. This type of material is not always used, because some types of insulation are themselves resistant to moisture.
  5. The final stage of installation is the installation of elements of old or new wooden flooring on the ground floor.

Floor insulation is very important task in providing warmth and comfort in the room. This issue becomes especially important when the apartment is located on the 1st floor, when there is a basement underneath. Insulation of the floor covering on the basement side is also relevant in a private cottage.

Why is insulation carried out?

The heat exchange process in a private house or apartment very often depends on the design of the floors, since their surface is the place of greatest heat loss. This is especially true when the floor base is made of concrete. Concrete is a durable material with good performance characteristics, which is why it is often used to make floor subfloors.

Despite their good characteristics concrete is also very cold material. If concrete covering If used in a residential area, it will need to be sufficiently well insulated, otherwise any heating will be ineffective.

The presence of a cold surface will create uncomfortable living conditions in the room, which will lead to high heating costs. In addition, if there is no thermal insulation of the surface under which the basement is located, this will cause the formation of dampness and mold on the surface of the walls.

To avoid this, you need to build a high-quality insulating structure. At the same time, insulating the floor is a fairly simple procedure. Any owner of the premises can do it on our own, having necessary material and a tool.

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Material selection

Currently on construction market there are several types insulation material. This material is produced in bulk, liquid, roll and block form. Moreover, any of them can be used to insulate the room under which the basement is located.

Various slabs and mats are used as block material. This type of insulation has a low thermal conductivity coefficient and low weight. Block insulation is very good for use on the basement side. They can be used together with rolled material, which will increase the overall thermal insulation. The block type of material is made from mineral wool, foam plastics, basalt fibers or other materials with a composite structure.

Bulk materials include the following:

  • expanded clay;
  • sawdust;
  • foam chips;
  • slag waste.

Their use will completely fill free space between the floor surface and its base. Bulk materials can be used directly on open ground or in any private building with a cold basement below.

As roll insulation Mineral wool, any composite with a cork base or any multilayer foil-based insulation can be used. The thickness of such materials can vary, but generally have a size of 8-10 cm.

As liquid insulation various cement-based solutions are used, containing foam chips, wood shavings, expanded clay or other similar materials.

Currently, foamed polymer floors based on penoizol are widely used. To lay it, you need to use specialized equipment. Which is quite difficult to do on your own.

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How to perform insulation?

In order to carry out the required work correctly, the first step is to dismantle the old coating. This must be done carefully so that you can use it again later.

To insulate the floor, below which there is a basement, it is necessary to take into account the load that will occur on all layers of the structure. To minimize them, all material must be laid in a certain sequence.

To produce everything installation work you will need the following tool:

  • screwdriver;
  • Screwdriver Set;
  • hammer;
  • building level.

The first step is to dismantle the old coating. After the old coating is removed, it is necessary to inspect the joists. Damaged joists will need to be replaced. After this, they must be treated with an antifungal antiseptic, which will help in the future to avoid the occurrence of mold on their surface. Once the antiseptic has dried, you can lay waterproofing.

After this, the necessary insulation is installed. If the height of the lag is quite high, you can lay 2 layers of material. Here you can combine insulation on its different layers (bulk and rolled).

Then you need to put vapor barrier film, and on her plywood board. On top of the plywood you can lay a thin roll material(substrate), the thickness of which is 1-4 mm. And only then the finishing surface is finally laid out.

At the stage of building a house, it is better to do preliminary insulation. It is performed in the same order. This will avoid further problems during operation.