How to insulate a frame house with foam with your own hands

Frame construction technology is very popular among land owners. Structures are inexpensive, erected in a short time, they do not need a powerful reinforced concrete foundation. But this economy will achieve its goal only if the building does not freeze in the cold season and heat up in the summer. Competently executed insulation of a frame house with penoplex will allow you to create and maintain comfortable living conditions in it at any time of the year. You can carry out this event with your own hands, saving on the services of hired workers.

Types of foam

Insulation of the frame with foam can be carried out immediately after the walls are erected, but it is more convenient to do this under the roof, since the sun and precipitation can greatly complicate the work. When deciding to insulate the frame with foam, you need to know that this material is divided into several varieties. The determining property is the size and shape of the cells, the degree of strength, flexibility and resistance to external and internal factors. The thickness of slabs and strips in rolls varies between 1-10 cm, which provides a wide choice when arranging walls, ceilings, floors, window slopes and even blind areas.

The following foam models are on sale:

• PPT - insulation;
• PSB-S - self-extinguishing;
• Penoplex is an improved material with increased strength;
• Penofol - roll insulation with an aluminum foil backing;
• Penoizol is a liquid modification designed to fill voids and openings.

The sign of the purpose is the density of the slabs of the standard PPT insulation, which is most often used in construction due to its versatility and affordable price. The density index determines the scope of the material and its performance characteristics.

The marking defines the following product purpose:

• PPT-15 - soft, 15 kg / m³, for the ceiling;
• PPT-25 - solid, 25 kg / m³, for walls;
• PPT-35 - hard, 35 kg / m³, for floor.

Having a lower price, foam plastic is a worthy competitor to mineral wool, surpassing it in some indicators.

Phased house insulation

Insulation of the frame with expanded polystyrene can be carried out at any time of the year, since this technology does not imply the performance of wet works. To achieve a high-quality result, this event must be carried out in a certain sequence so that the foam insulation does not lose to its mineral wool counterparts.

To work, you will need the following tools and materials:

• roulette;
• level;
• hacksaw;
• grater;
• stapler;
• screwdriver;
• a hammer;
• paint brush;
• membrane tissue;
  
• Scotch;
• windproof film;
• antiseptic;
• primer for wood;
• fire retardant;
• Double-sided tape;
• scissors;
• stationery knife;
• grater.

Since the manufacture of an insulated frame is associated with work at a height, it is necessary to prepare a stable staircase, make or rent scaffolding. Safety precautions require insurance, a safety helmet, goggles and gloves.

Arrangement of walls

Insulation of the walls of a frame house with foam begins with the preparation of the base. The wood should be free of protruding metal objects and chips. It is necessary to carefully treat it with an antiseptic, fire retardant and hydrophobic impregnation. Steel corners are cleaned and painted.

Then a vapor barrier is made. This is an important stage, due to which moisture that forms in the premises will be removed from the wood into the street.

The sequence of this process is as follows:

1. After marking, a strip of the required length is cut from the roll. Then the protective film is removed from it. Fastening is carried out from the bottom up. The overlap of the strips is done by 20 cm, these places are sealed with tape.
2. The membrane is nailed to the wood with a stapler with an attachment interval of 20-25 cm. Additional fixation is necessary, since over time the glue loses its properties and lags behind the base.
3. Frame upholstery with slats. They will serve as lathing for the next layer of trim. In addition, the layer will protect matter from contact with solid objects and the associated mechanical damage.

Since structures insulated in this way become airtight, effective natural or forced ventilation must be considered.

Thermal insulation and waterproofing of walls

The frame can be insulated in any order, from the outside or from the inside, in this respect there are no rules.

The order of performing this activity:

1. Measurements are being carried out. If the slabs do not correspond to the internal dimensions of the frame mesh, they are adjusted to the required format. It is convenient to cut the material with a clerical knife or a metal file.
2. The workpieces are inserted, leveled and immediately fixed with polyurethane foam fed into the gaps between the PPT and the wood.
3. The second row of insulation is laid. This is done in a half-square offset pattern. After that, the cracks are blown out with foam, and its excess is cut off after solidification.
4. A vapor barrier membrane is attached. The actions are similar to fixing at the initial stage - first, planting on glue, then staples.
5. Stuffing on the crate frame. Some developers practice installing an additional layer of mineral wool to provide a full guarantee against freezing and overheating of the building. The height of the lathing is adjusted to the thickness of the insulation.

After waterproofing, the lathing is sheathed with finishing. For this, siding, OSB boards, corrugated board or block house are used.

Floor insulation

For arranging the floor, it is recommended to use PPT-35 foam plastic with a thickness of at least 10 cm.

The process is performed in the following sequence:

1. Lags are treated with preservatives and dry well.
2. The membrane film is being laid. It is attached to the far corner and distributed over the grooves so that there are no stretched sections. After that, the material is nailed to the lags with staples.
   
3. PPT slabs are laid in the openings, the cracks are sealed with polyurethane foam.
4. On top of the insulation, the second layer of membrane fabric is laid and fixed.
5. The vapor barrier is covered with a backing that will protect it from mechanical damage and reduce the noise level when walking.

The finishing floor is laid in accordance with the technology of its installation.

Ceiling insulation

To insulate the ceiling, it is better to choose an internal method so as not to make a bulky lathing in the attic along the floor slab. Beams already installed earlier are used as a frame.

The work is carried out in this order:

1. Installation of vapor barrier. All joints should be glued to exclude the penetration of moisture from the outside.
2. Creation of a strapping from a thin wire or nylon thread at the level of the beams.
3. Filling the frame with cut blanks PPT-15.The strapping supports the slabs until they are finally fixed.
4. Blowing in cracks with polyurethane foam. Also, foam is applied in a spot to the edges of the slabs to ensure that they are rigidly fastened between the beams.
5. The garter is removed, and excess foam is removed.
6. The membrane tissue is fixed.

In conclusion, the installation of a stretch or false ceiling is carried out. The choice is determined by the priorities of the homeowners and their financial capabilities.

Advantages and disadvantages

When planning to use polystyrene, it is necessary to consider the pros and cons inherent in this material.

The material has the following advantages:

1. Low thermal conductivity. In this regard, good quality insulation is not much inferior to basalt wool and polyurethane foam.
2. Environmental Safety. Under normal conditions, the material does not emit substances that can harm human health and the environment.
   
3. Waterproof. TTP and its modifications effectively protect the interior from dampness even during prolonged precipitation.
4. Low weight. The slabs are easy to work with, they do not create a significant load on the supporting structures and the base of the building.
5. Excellent noise absorption. Walls and ceilings securely block out street sounds.
6. Preservation of volume during temperature changes, due to which cracks do not form in the masonry.
7. Affordable cost. The purchase will not hit the family budget.

Styrofoam also has disadvantages. Plates do not allow air to pass through, which, with improperly organized ventilation, leads to excessive humidity in the house, wetting and decay of the frame wood. On contact with fire, the material releases toxic substances hazardous to health.