How to insulate a house outside with mineral wool with your own hands

Insulating a house with mineral wool is an effective measure that will reduce utility bills and create comfortable living conditions in the rooms in all respects. This is a relatively simple exercise that you can do yourself. To achieve the desired result when insulating walls with mineral wool, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of this material and how to handle it. After that, it will be easy to make the right choice and bring your plans to life.

Reasons to use mineral wool

On the construction market, there are many thermal insulators designed for internal and external work. However, not all of them are distinguished by the advantages that are inherent in mineral wool.

This insulation is chosen by private and industrial developers based on its such advantages:

• Low thermal conductivity. Compared to foam, it is 2-3 times better, depending on the model. A 10 cm layer of material has the same characteristics with wood with a thickness of 30 cm.
• Elasticity. This quality allows you to install the slabs against the spine, without the use of foam and glue. In addition, there is no need to level the base, as the insulation fills in the recesses and shrinks under the bulges.
• Ease. The substance does not exert any special stress on the supporting structures. There is no need to install additional stiffeners and strengthen the foundation.
• Immunity to the vagaries of the weather. Thermal insulation has no freeze-thaw cycles. The insulated wall is immune to temperature fluctuations.
• Refractoriness. The substance does not support combustion and blocks the flame, preventing its further spread.
• Water vapor permeability. If you insulate the walls of a log structure from the inside with mineral wool, moisture will be effectively removed from it, regardless of its concentration.
• Easy to install. Warming the house outside with mineral wool is easy to do with your own hands. At the same time, there is no need to purchase expensive professional tools.
• Durability. The material does not rot, fungus and mold do not start in it, insects and rodents avoid it. There is no shrinkage or structural breakdown.

Mineral wool is produced in the form of rolls and slabs, the thickness of which is 50 mm, 100 mm, 150 mm. For central Russia, it is better to use products with a thickness of 10 cm.

Do-it-yourself insulation technology

Mineral wool insulation can be carried out from the inside and outside. The choice depends on the size of the premises and the priorities of their owners regarding the comfort and external design of wooden, brick, stone and aerated concrete buildings. The formation of a perfectly warm wall involves the execution of a number of works performed in a strictly defined sequence. The thermal insulation of a house depends on the quality of the insulation of the walls, floor, ceiling and window slopes. When planning the insulation of the facade of the house outside with mineral wool, you should remember these nuances.

The technology of insulation of external walls with mineral wool slabs involves the following stages:

• Design. It is necessary to decide on the method of insulating the building, make an estimate, calculate the need for materials and tools.
• Preparation.The preserved base must be resistant to dampness, microorganisms, temperature extremes. The protruding objects are removed from the surface, mold and primer are cleaned off, then the base is treated with preservatives.
• Laying the material. The procedure is carried out in accordance with the project. It is necessary to observe all the nuances of the process, since deviations from it lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of insulation and a decrease in the service life of the entire structure.
• Technological processes. Mineral insulation is soft and hydrophobic. For its high-quality functioning, vapor barrier and protection from external pressure and humidity are needed. For this, appropriate measures are being taken.
• Finishing finish. After waterproofing, the coating must be adapted to the surrounding landscape. For this, siding, corrugated board, panels are selected that are most suitable for the environment.

To insulate a house with high quality, you need to choose good material from trusted manufacturers. You should not focus on the price, as the work is done for a long time. It is inappropriate to redo everything every few years.

Details about wall insulation with mineral wool

To carry out the installation of mineral wool on the external walls of the house, you will need the following tools and materials:

• roulette;
• level;
• drill;
• puncher;
• a hammer;
• putty knife;
• mixer;
• roller or paint brush;
• drywall;
• plaster;
• primer;
• paint;
• mounting grid.

The list can be expanded or reduced depending on the selected technology.

Wet facade technology

This insulation option is distinguished by its simplicity of execution and a small construction budget. The slabs are attached directly to the walls, the material costs are minimal.

The work is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Marking. The lines along which the slabs and points for drilling will be fixed are marked.
2. Strengthening the starting profile at the basement level. If the placement begins directly from the blind area, a damper tape is attached to it along the width of the insulation.
3. The solution is mixed. The choice is made based on the structure of the base. For wood and aerated concrete, a vapor-permeable mixture is taken. For concrete, ceramic tile adhesive is better.
   
4. The mortar is applied to the boards. This can be done pointwise or over the entire area with a notched trowel. The fragments are pressed tightly to the base and are tapped with a fist.
5. Laying is done in rows from bottom to top. Each subsequent row is shifted by half a figure. The edges of the slabs are also lubricated with glue; after joining, its remnants are distributed along the seam.
6. The last and corner pieces are trimmed to fit and fill the remaining openings. The corners are reinforced with plastic profiles.
7. Plates are rigidly fixed on the base with dowels or self-tapping screws, depending on the base material. This is done at 5 points - in the middle and at the corners.
8. The surface is pasted over with an assembly mesh. The edges of the strips overlap each other by 20 cm. A layer of reinforcing compound with a thickness of up to 3 mm is applied on top of the mesh. The dried surface is treated with a primer.
9. Fixing the lattice. The best option is a chain-link plastic mesh. It is fixed pointwise with hot silicone or plastic clips. On such a frame, the putty will hold tightly.
10. A layer of facade plaster is applied. A material is selected that is resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity. The dried coating is treated with an antiseptic and impregnation.

The final stage of insulation is surface finishing. Paint or varnish is applied to it. Glitter or beads are added if necessary.

Insulation under the panels

This option belongs to the category of collapsible. As needed, the structure can be dismantled for inspection, repair or improvement.

Installation is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Taking measurements, drawing up a diagram, marking. Preparing lumber for installation. The boards for the frame are well dried, after which they are treated with an antiseptic, fire retardant and hydrophobic composition.
2. A vapor-permeable membrane is attached to the wall. Fixation is done with staples or with instant glue.
3. Vertical steel hangers are fixed on the base according to the markings.
4. Boards are inserted inside the hangers in a vertical orientation. They are fixed with self-tapping screws. The distance between the boards is taken 3-4 cm less than the width of the boards. The material is elastic and this property must be used when installing it.
5. Insulation is inserted into the crate at the edge. The plates should be pressed down vertically, and it is better to immediately glue the joints in order to avoid the appearance of cracks in the future.
6. If laying is carried out in 2 layers, the second is inserted with an offset in half of the rectangle.
7. An external wind protection film is nailed to the frame. When fastening it, you need to make a slack of 1 cm for each opening so that the matter does not break when the temperature decreases in the cold.

In conclusion, the installation of the finishing cladding is carried out. For this, lining, plastic panels, steel or vinyl siding are used.

Ventilated facade

The technology is most in demand when arranging buildings, the walls of which allow air to pass through. The installation of an external structure allows you to preserve these qualities, due to which a comfortable microclimate is maintained in the premises.

Construction must be carried out in this order:

1. The base is being prepared for conservation. Dirt, dust is cleaned from it, foreign objects are removed. After that, the surface is treated with agents against decay, fire and moisture.
2. After carrying out measurements and calculations, the starting plate and brackets for vertical and horizontal profiles are screwed to the walls.
3. A spatial frame is made from wooden planks or metal profiles. A membrane sheet is attached to it. Glue, staples or self-tapping buttons are used. Observe the correct orientation when installing it.
4. Fastening the insulation. Plates are inserted into the frame so that there are no gaps between them. To do this, you need to use their elasticity. If, nevertheless, this cannot be achieved, the voids are blown out with polyurethane foam. After it has solidified, the protruding fragments are cut off with a knife.
5. A windproof film is attached to the outer part of the frame. During installation, remember about the need for a slack of 2 cm per meter of area, so that the canvas does not break from shrinkage in the cold.
6. Finishing of the structure is in progress.

Choose a material that is strong enough to withstand wind and mechanical stress. Vinyl siding is a great option. Wall corrugated board performs these tasks no less effectively. Products are on sale in a wide range of colors that imitate natural and artificial materials.