How to make a private house warmer

With the onset of cold weather, we do not want to leave the house once again, but from the street we hurry home as soon as possible. But not always our hearth pleases with warmth, and sometimes it upsets with dampness. From this situation, like from any other, there is a way out. It is quite expensive at first glance, but believe me, it's worth it. Indeed, in one cold period, you will save a significant amount on heating the house and save your repairs from damage by fungus and mold. So, let's get acquainted in more detail with the options for insulation and the materials used in this.

Wall insulation

If it is a private house or apartment, especially if it is corner, then a lot of heat loss goes through the outer walls. They can be insulated both outside and inside.

The internal method is not as rational as the external one.

With internal insulation:

• the area of ​​the room is reduced;
• all construction and installation work is carried out inside, which entails dirt, dust and additional repair costs;
• due to the fact that the outer wall remains cold, and the insulation will be warm due to heating from the inside, condensation can accumulate between them. This method is unlikely to save you from dampness in the room.

With external insulation:

• all work is carried out outside;
• walls after insulation, even in severe frosts, are warm;
• external insulation protects them from the effects of weather conditions;
• serves as additional noise insulation;
• prevents the appearance of mold and mildew on the inside of the walls.

After choosing a method of wall insulation, it is worth thinking about the material itself.

Mineral wool and glass wool are fibrous insulation materials. Glass wool has a higher thermal conductivity due to the fact that its fibers, of which it is composed, are much thinner than mineral ones. Therefore, much more warm air is retained in glass wool.

The advantage of this material can be considered:

• resistance to temperature extremes;
• fire resistance;
• does not lend itself to chemical destruction;
• the material can "breathe".

The only downside is that the material is unstable to moisture, which requires additional costs for the outer protective coating.

Cellular insulation - expanded polystyrene, known to most as polystyrene, has excellent thermal insulation, is quite durable and practically does not absorb moisture. A relatively inexpensive material, both in price and in installation, it is quite light in weight.

Expanded polystyrene has no less disadvantages than advantages:

• combustible;
• destructible by chemical attack;
• the slightest moisture inside the material can easily freeze.

A more expensive analogue of expanded polystyrene is extruded polystyrene foam. It does not have such disadvantages as ordinary expanded polystyrene, which significantly affects its cost.

Insulation of floors

If there is a question about floor insulation in a private house that does not have a basement, then you can solve it:

• On the first floor, remove the old floors and alternately lay a layer of rubble, then sand. Tamp everything well and lay insulating material on top of everything.
• It is possible to insulate the floor, under which other rooms are located, by immediately laying the heat-insulating material. It is possible to arrange a "warm floor" (for more important rooms).

If, when insulating the floor, you do the same with the ceiling of the room located under it, this will make it warmer. In this case, it will be possible to abandon the rather expensive electric "warm floor".

Cork insulation is the most suitable material for the floor.

Advantages:

• excellent noise insulation properties;
• resistant to rotting and fungal damage.

One significant drawback is that it is a very expensive material. Because of this, it cannot be applied everywhere.

Extruded polystyrene foam is very suitable for floors due to the presence of a foil layer in it. The material itself is roll type. It is also used as a basis for the installation of an electric "warm floor".

Ceiling insulation

For insulation of the ceiling, it is worth choosing a fireproof material. In private residential buildings, the ceiling should be insulated both from above and below, i.e. ceiling and floor of the upper floor. If an attic is located above the insulated ceiling, then it is worthwhile to carry out insulation work in it. This will make it more efficient for keeping warm.

Mineral wool and polystyrene can be used as ceiling insulation.

You can also choose foil-clad polyethylene. Outwardly, it looks like polyethylene foam with a layer of foil. Light enough and not very thick material. But this does not prevent him from coping well with his purpose due to the foil layer. After all, as you know, foil has reflective properties, thereby retaining heat inside the room. This material can be used in combination with other thermal insulation materials to increase their efficiency.

After reviewing the above materials, you can keep your home warm and dry.