The insulation of the floor under the screed is one of the most pressing issues in the arrangement of any residential room. The main stages of this process include the right choice and high-quality installation of thermal insulation material. On the nuances of the insulation of the floor with the help of several materials and will be discussed in our article.

The need for insulation works

Comfortable conditions in the residential premises are achieved when in the cold season on the floor you can walk barefoot. So that it becomes reality, the floor should be insulated. The heat insulating material that is placed under the screed prevents a huge air temperature difference in the room.

Particularly relevant is the insulation of the floor, which is located above the cold basement. The implementation of heat-insulating works will lead to a decrease in thermal energy loss. In particular, if it is planned to create an electric warm floor, then the insulation will not allow heat penetration into the basement.

In the kitchen, bathroom and other rooms, which are characterized by an increased level of humidity, work must be carried out on the protection of heating elements by laying the waterproofing material.

The insulation itself must meet the following requirements:

• be immune to the effects of moisture and the appearance of fungus or mold;
• have excellent ignition resistance;
• have maximum strength and reliability;
• withstand huge loads.

The specific selection of thermal insulation material directly depends on the type of screed. We will dwell on the insulation of the floor with the help of foam, foam and expanded polystyrene. Since most professionals claim that it is these materials that are most suitable for the heat insulation of the floor under the tie.

The basis of the production of all these materials is polystyrene. The manufacture of polyfoam is carried out using a water vapor. Polystyrene balls are poured into a special shape and ferry heated. As a result of this process, the balls increase and adhere to each other.

Polystyrene foam is a material that is filled with gas. In the production of the granules of thermal insulation material melted. The polystyrene foam becomes viscous. Due to this, it has a one-piece structure consisting of closed cells filled with gas molecules. The manufacture of conventional polystyrene foam is carried out using natural gas, fire-resistant insulation - carbon dioxide.

Penoplex is an improved species of expanded polystyrene. It is made by extrusion. Polystyrene sales are made under great pressure. At the final stage of manufacturing, the pressure decreases and the material "is supplied" with closed pores with a size of up to 0.2 mm. Compared with polystyrene foam, Penoplex has a greater hardness and the most dense structure.

Polyfoam - economical thermal insulation material

Floor insulation foaming under the tie can be made for various bases:

• wooden floor;
• concrete surface;
• priming.

Wooden floor

The tree itself is an excellent insulation. Despite this, often it is necessary to deal with the presence of gaps located in places of contact of overlapping and walls. Therefore, the wooden floor is recommended to be covered with thermal insulating material. Polyfoam is the cheapest option.

Preparation of a wooden floor surface is to clean and seal cracks, which often serve as the reason for the appearance of insects and other parasites. Through the base of the tree, a thick waterproofing film is settled. The edges of the film are fixed with scotch. After the device, the moisture screed should not penetrate the floor.

To create waterproofing, it is not recommended to be placed polyethylene film. It is better to take advantage of a special material that has a water-repellent basis and reflects heat. A poor-quality laid waterproofing layer will reduce the operational period of the new floor.

At the next stage there is a wooden framework. For this, ordinary lags are used. Foam sheets will be located between lags, contributing to the uniform distribution of the load on the base. All the resulting gaps are closed by mounting foam.

On top of the foam places another layer of waterproofing material. After that, carefully, without damaging waterproofing, a metal frame device is performed on the film. The thickness of the cement screed poured on the frame must exceed 5 cm.

Concrete base

The thermal insulation of concrete floor by foam can be made in two ways:

• the first method is used in the arrangement of rooms under which the basement is located;
• the second method provides insulation of the founding of houses without basement.

Floor insulation in the house with the basement

In most cases, the first method is used in thermal insulation of the floor in apartments located on the first floor. Warming with their own hand floor under the tie is carried out on the side of the basement.

To do this, it is best to take advantage of foam sheets with chamfer that have a thickness of 5-10 cm. If the walls and ceiling in the basement are uneven, then this problem is easily solved by laying foam sheets of various thicknesses and the use of mounting foam.

For fastening the heat-insulating material, plastic dowels are used with a length of 12-15 cm. Work in the basement begins from the very far corner. For markings of fastening places, the foam sheet is applied to the concrete plate. Holes are drilled in it, and the hole drilling point under the dowel remains on the stove.

After creating holes under the dowel:

• glue is applied to the side surface of the foam;
• with the help of dowels, the sheets of the insulation are attached to the stove;
• the locations of the joints are filled with mounting foam.

The final stage is plastering foam. In the open form, the insulation is better not to leave, because it is easily flammable and susceptible to mechanical damage. As a plaster mixture, the glue used for laying ceramic tiles.

Floor insulation in the house without basement

This technology involves thorough preparation of the foundation. Remove the old floor covering. The floor is checked for cracks and other defects. Existing defects are close to thick glue, designed for tile work.

The next stage is waterproofing work. Typically used bitumen rolled material. It stacked with a 15-centimeter wall at the wall. A reinforcing grid is placed on the waterproofing material.

For thermal insulation of the floor, a foam is used with a thickness of 2-3 cm. Its styling is carried out on the adhesive mixture applied to the base in 15-30 cm increments. Sheets are located without gaps that reduce the thermal insulation effect.

After laying foam, it should be started to install beacons. Location of extreme lighthouses is determined using a laser level. The remaining beacons are located in parallel to the extreme elements. The correct horizontal position is achieved using the usual construction level.

Reliable lighting fixation is carried out with the help of adhesive solution, which was used for laying foam. The beacon layout should not exceed 1.5 m. The solution to create a screed is poured between beacons. The rule is removed by excessive solutions and the floor surface is aligned.

Priming

At the initial stage, it is necessary to align the foundation. If there is a loose soil, it is compacted and maintained within a month. After that, a gravel pillow is created with a thickness of about 10 cm, which is carefully tumped. The 10-centimeter sand layer is poured. Also trambed and covered with a plastic film.

Waterproofing works are required. A polyethylene film or runner is usually used. The waterproofing material is placed to 10 cm to 10 cm and with a wall at wall up to 15 cm from the floor level.

Laying foam begins with an angle. Plates are tightly pressed to each other. The insulation is recommended to lay two layers with displacement of seams. This will prevent the penetration of cold air flows. For installation on the ground, the foam is best suited, having the edges of the type "spike-groove". Recent plates are cut down larger and stacked as close as possible.

When the foam is laid on the ground, it is covered with a polyethylene film. The last part of the film displayed on a wall. To improve the performance characteristics of the floor, plate reinforced with metal mesh.

Concrete solution should contain a filler with a diameter of 8 mm. The minimum screed thickness is 4-5 mm. The thick concrete solution is poured between the beacons and rubs with the use of rare concrete.

Features of thermal insulation by floor polystyrene foam

The cost of insulation of the floor under the screed polystyrene is slightly exceeding thermal insulation work performed using foam. This is mainly due to the fact that this thermal insulation material is more expensive.

The polystyrene foam is the perfect option for rooms that are characterized by an increased load on the floor. This material is even suitable for industrial facilities. A low thermal conductivity and water absorption indicator makes it possible to use polystyrene foam in homes that are located on a plot with a high level of groundwater.

Now there are several varieties of polystyrene foam. The material with a small density is manufactured. It is used to finish the walls. Polystyrene foam with elevated density is used for floor thermal insulation.

The technology of insulation of the floor under the screed polystyrene was almost identical to the thermal insulation of the base of the room with the help of foam. The heat-insulating material can be coated concrete, wooden and earth ground.

The main stages of the work:

• alignment of rough base;
• creating a crushed stone-sand pillow with a layer of 10 cm;
• filling with emptiness with small clay and sandy sand;
• flooring plates of polystyrene;
• the coating of the insulation with a waterproofing film with a pour to 5 cm;
• installation of the reinforcing grid (evenly distributes the load on the base);
• concrete screed device.

The thickness of the acquired polystyrene depends on the type of base. Its optimal size is 5.5-6 cm. The best option is to lay the insulation plates in 2-3 layers of 2-2.5 cm each with the displacement of the seams.

The sheets of polystyrene are stacked tightly jack. There should be no cold bridges. To improve the thermal insulation characteristics of the seams between the plates close using a foil self-adhesive tape. When laying a waterproofing film, the joints are sampled along the entire length of scotch.

There are the following features of thermal insulation work using expanded polystyrene:

• cutting plates are made by any suitable tool;
• creating a ventilation gap of 1-2 cm near the walls;
• in the presence of too large gaps, liquid fiberglass is used;
• the insulation is not allowed with bitumen mastic;
• if a laminate or parquet board be used as an outdoor coating, a wooden frame is stuffed on the insulation;
• when creating a warm floor around the perimeter of all walls, a damper tape passes.

If the finish coating is a ceramic tile, then in each sheet of the insulation, 2-3 holes are made. When the holes are filled with concrete solution, the strength of the heat insulating layer will increase.

Polymplax use

The most efficient thermal insulation material is the penplex. In essence, this insulation is an improved model of extruded polystyrene foam. Penoplex has elevated thermoregulation and conservation of heat, moisture resistance and strength.

Floor insulation Penoplex under the screed has undoubted advantages. Maintain them:

• long-term operating period of the floor;
• exposure of maximum loads on the base;
• lack of moisture and condensate in joint places;
• gorgeous soundproofing qualities;
• simplicity of installation work;
• resistance to significant temperature differences (from -50 ° C to + 70ºС);
• when the material is heated, no harmful toxic substances are distinguished;
• exposure to processing at home.

Installation work consist of such consistent actions:

• failure, rubbing and alignment of gravel layers with a thickness of 30-40 cm and sand with a thickness of up to 10 cm;
• roofing waterproofing material;
• styling of sheets of polyems;
• device of the second waterproofing layer;
• reinforcement of the floor by galvanized grid;
• pouring a concrete screed (its minimum thickness is 5 cm).

A distinctive feature of the fastener is that in winter it attracts rodents due to the ability to exceed the heat conservation. For this reason, it is recommended:

• increase gravel (up to 0.5 m) and sandy mound (up to 0.2 m);
• add to gravel and sand broken glass.

After complete drying, the screed can be laid any finish flooring: laminate, linoleum or carpet.

Video on the insulation of the floor under the screed: