What kind of insulation is best to insulate a bathhouse? Choosing which insulation to use for a bath in a steam room: so that the steam room is hot and environmentally friendly

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The Russian bathhouse does not lose its popularity, and at the same time it must be built in compliance with the relevant norms and rules. Therefore, the question of how to insulate a bathhouse remains very relevant.

Some features of bath insulation

Proper thermal insulation of the bathhouse will help to significantly reduce fuel costs, improve the quality of the procedure, and preserve the building itself in good condition for a long time, especially if the sauna is used all year round.

Since ancient times, Russian baths have been insulated using natural materials - moss, tow, bast, etc. Nowadays, it is better to use artificial insulation. They are durable, easy to install, and environmentally friendly.

When choosing insulation, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of using bath rooms - high level moisture, high temperatures, often live fire. All these points impose certain requirements on bath insulation, especially if they will be used for internal insulation.

Before purchasing material, it is necessary to carefully consider a number of important factors, taking into account cost, biological inertness, technical characteristics proposed heat insulators. 1 more important point— regional climate. The amount of materials required is determined by the size of the bathhouse building and the required thickness of the thermal insulation layer.

Whether it is necessary and whether it is possible to insulate a bathhouse from the outside depends on the material from which it is built, the regional climate and the time of use - seasonal or year-round.

Required tools and materials

In order to carry out thermal insulation of a bathhouse yourself, you need to prepare the following set of tools:

construction tape;
screwdriver;
building level and plumb line;
axe;

chisel;
saw or hacksaw;
hammer;
jigsaw;
nippers or pliers;
sharp technical knife;
electric drill or hammer drill.

In addition to the insulation itself, for work you will need:

vapor barrier film;
wooden beam;
metal rail;
screws and nails;
adhesive tape.

How to choose insulation

The bathhouse usually has: a dressing room, washing rooms, a steam room, a dressing room, and a relaxation room. In these premises it is installed different level humidity and temperature during washing. Therefore, how you can insulate a bathhouse inside is determined for each room separately.

By mechanical characteristics insulation materials are divided into bulk, block and tile, matte and fibrous materials.

The chemical composition makes it possible to divide heat insulators into organic, inorganic, technical and plastic materials.

Plastic-based heat insulators are best used for insulating rooms with low level moisture and temperatures. They are not used in the steam room due to their easy flammability and deformation when heated. Cheap and safe organic heat insulators can be used in a steam room only after fire prevention treatment.

Inorganic heat insulators are considered the most practical. These materials are fire resistant and non-hygroscopic. They don't rot and can for a long time serve without losing your basic technical properties.

More about vapor barriers

Most good option vapor barriers for all rooms of the bathhouse - aluminum foil. It is fire-resistant, durable, non-hygroscopic. The main advantage of aluminum foil is its ability to reflect heat. By using such a vapor barrier in a bathhouse, you can significantly reduce the consumption of fuel material.

Glassine and roofing felt cannot be used in the steam room, since these materials, when heated, emit volatile toxic substances. In some cases, glassine can be used as insulation. It is better not to use roofing material for this purpose at all.

The choice of insulation and the method of its installation depend on the material from which the bathhouse is built. If the bathhouse is built of timber, load-bearing walls First, a cellular sheathing of beams is installed. The cross-section of the beam should be 0.2-0.3 cm greater than the thickness of the heat insulator. This will ensure the safety of the insulation and its useful properties.

The selected heat insulator is placed between the sheathing beams. He gets covered vapor barrier material. The vapor barrier is laid with a shift. A thin metal strip is mounted over the joints. A gap of no more than 3 cm must be left between the insulation and the vapor barrier.

The corners of the room, pipes, window and door openings are sealed using special vapor barrier tape. This will protect problem areas from moisture penetration.

For finishing in in this case It’s easier to use clapboard boards. It is stuffed on top of the vertical sheathing.

Bath buildings of panel or frame type are insulated only with heat insulators that have a low specific gravity. They are treated before use lime milk to protect against corrosion and increase fire resistance. After processing, the material must be thoroughly dried.

We insulate the steam room

The steam room in the bathhouse requires special attention. After all, it is here that the highest level of moisture and elevated temperature are observed during operation. Therefore, insulation, waterproofing and finishing of this room must be done with special materials.

The ceiling of the steam room is subject to maximum heating during operation (up to 150 °C). Therefore, the question of how to insulate the ceiling of a bathhouse is solved by using materials with high heat resistance.

With absence attic space or attic insulation is installed in the following order:

wooden grate from timber on ceiling boards;
sheathing elements;
thermal insulation;
vapor barrier.

If there is an upper room - an attic, an attic - the insulation scheme looks slightly different. A layer of clay at least 2 cm thick is applied to the ceiling boards. This will ensure moisture retention. All small holes, joints between boards, etc. are filled with bulk material. Typically, expanded clay or wood chips are used for this. The thickness of this layer is at least 20 cm.

A box-shaped base of rafter supports is mounted on the ceiling around the chimney. This will provide a gap of 20 cm between the pipe and the heat insulator, required by fire safety. A non-flammable heat insulator such as glass wool or mineral wool is placed inside the box. The main surface of the ceiling is covered with a layer of mineral heat insulator.

The walls and ceiling of the bathhouse building must be insulated, according to following principles:

Thermal insulators must be in close contact with the wall surface to reduce the risk of internal moisture and cold air entering.
A ventilation gap is needed on top of the insulation to dry it.
All floors and others wooden elements must be treated with an antiseptic composition to prevent premature destruction of the material.
Materials with a low level of heat and moisture resistance cannot be used in the steam room.
Insulation materials should be selected from those that do not deform under the influence of moisture and high temperatures and do not emit hazardous chemicals.

Required Properties insulation for baths:

heat resistance;
moisture resistance;
environmental friendliness;
Fire safety.

Natural insulation materials require special processing before use. Otherwise, mold, mildew and harmful insects may soon appear. In this case, it is more advisable to use artificial insulation.

Application of foam plastic

Many home craftsmen are interested in whether it is possible to insulate a bathhouse with polystyrene foam. After all, this is a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use material. However, it should be said that the bathhouse can be insulated with foam plastic from the outside or along the foundation.

When asked whether it is possible to insulate a bathhouse with foam plastic from the inside, most experts will answer negatively. This is due to the fact that foam is easily destroyed when exposed to high temperatures. The low moisture resistance of this material causes it to rot under the influence of high humidity. Therefore, for the interior of a bathhouse, foam plastic can only be used in rooms where there is almost no moisture.

Use of mineral wool

The question of whether it is possible to insulate a bathhouse with mineral wool is usually resolved positively.

After all mineral wool- almost universal modern insulation, which has many positive technical characteristics. Among them are:

reliability;
moisture resistance;
heat resistance;
fire safety;
resistance to rotting;
easy installation.

Therefore, mineral wool can be used as bath insulation both outside and inside. interior spaces, including steam room.

Penoplex insulation

Is it possible to insulate a bathhouse from the inside with penoplex? This is quite acceptable taking into account some technical characteristics of the material. Despite having many useful properties, penoplex is a hygroscopic material with low heat resistance.

Therefore, in the steam room it is better to use it only on the walls and be sure to cover it with foil. In other sections of the bath it is quite suitable.

Bathroom floor insulation

Usually made from wooden board or concrete. The board is used in relatively dry rooms. Concrete - in the washing room and in the steam room. The technology of floor insulation depends on the base material.

To insulate a concrete floor, expanded clay (3-5 mm), extruded polystyrene or boiler slag are most often used. The upper level of the floor at the end of the insulation work is 15-20 cm. The work is carried out in the following order.

Concrete base must be leveled and cleared of construction debris and dust. Next, an adhesive composition is applied to the surface in 2-3 layers. Most often, special mastics are used for this, for example, rubber-concrete. A waterproofing agent - high-strength polyethylene or roofing felt - is placed on the adhesive.

After the waterproofing has set, the installation of insulation begins. An adhesive composition is again applied on top of it, on which the waterproofing material is laid. Last layer- reinforced concrete screed, thickness not less than 30 mm. The concrete must be leveled and dried properly. Finishing this type of flooring is usually made using ceramic tiles. Under it you can place a heated floor system.

To insulate a wooden floor, you must first remove the old boards. A cranial beam is placed on the remaining beams from below. It must be wrapped in roofing felt or heavy-duty polyethylene. A rough layer is laid on top of the waterproofing flooring. For this purpose, bulk materials or mineral wool are mainly used. Is it possible to insulate the floor in a bathhouse using isopink? It is possible if the floor is wooden and is located in a room with a low level of moisture.

Placed on top of the insulation waterproofing material. Then the finished floor board is laid. A plinth is attached around the perimeter of the room. The final paint coating is not used in this case, since these materials release toxins under the influence of temperature and moisture. If desired, the wooden floor can be covered with special rubberized mats. They will make the room cozy and will not cause much trouble when cleaning. The floor in the bathhouse is insulated mainly for greater user comfort. Floor insulation has little effect on the overall temperature inside the bath rooms.

Roof insulation

How can you insulate the roof of a bathhouse - this problem is solved depending on the use of the room. If the bathhouse building is intended only for hygienic procedures and relaxation, to insulate the roof it will be enough to lay roofing felt on the sheathing before installing the roofing pie. In the case when brooms will be dried inside the bathhouse, linen and other equipment will be stored, the roof must be thoroughly insulated.

The quality of the steam room depends on many factors. One of the main ones is the ability to retain heat. This needs to be taken care of during the construction and installation of the furnace. But this does not always work out, and over time, various reasons The sauna room may lose its heat-saving properties. However, it is not difficult to correct the situation. For this purpose, there are thermal insulation materials specially designed for saunas and baths.

Most popular sauna stoves Traditional wood-burning heaters still remain. But today it's not the only one possible variant. Many owners choose electric stoves because of their ease of use and the ability to regulate temperature and humidity. Another modern solution – gas ovens: kindling does not require special skills, and the result does not depend on the quality of the firewood. But for safety reasons, only specialists should install such a stove.

Unlike a sauna, the stones in a sauna lie outside and not inside the stove. The climate created in the steam room depends on the number of stones in the stove: how less stones, the faster the stove warms up and the drier the sauna. But no matter which oven you choose, the main requirements for it are safety and reliability. This is especially true for electric furnaces: overly powerful devices will require special additional electrical equipment, and low-quality ones can be a potential fire hazard.

Tip No. 2: consider the requirements for thermal insulation materials

If the thermal insulation technology is broken or unsuitable materials are used, the steam room will take much longer to warm up and then quickly lose heat. Eliminating errors in thermal insulation can result in an almost complete reconstruction of the room. There are a number of requirements for thermal insulation materials for saunas and steam rooms:

Effective thermal insulation properties: The hotter the sauna is, the higher the temperature difference between the steam room and other rooms. This means that heat loss will be very rapid and significant, and on the way air flow there must be high-quality insulating material.

Non-flammable insulation: high temperatures in the steam room are serious fire danger, which can be reduced by fire-resistant thermal insulation materials.

Moisture resistance: High humidity in a bath or sauna can quickly damage the structure of low-quality insulation and reduce its properties.
Biostability: that is, the resistance of the insulation to damage by fungi and bacteria that can form in a humid environment.
Environmental friendliness: All materials for the construction of a sauna, including insulation, should not emit harmful substances during operation.

Tip #3: choose insulation that suits the sauna conditions

By chemical composition insulation materials can be divided into two groups: organic and inorganic. The former are used less and less in the construction of saunas and baths: they cannot withstand high temperatures and are subject to thermal destruction, change their properties at high temperatures and are easily flammable. There are a number of materials that it is better not to use for insulating baths and saunas:

Expanded polystyrene: products made from it have an operating temperature of only -50°C to +75°C.
Extruded polystyrene foam: is always flammable and changes the flammability group from G1 (lowly flammable) to G4 (highly flammable).
Glass wool: has a short service life in a humid environment.
Polystyrene, polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam and others foam materials: when heated, they can release harmful substances, and their flammability characteristics do not correspond to steam room conditions.

Stone wool can be a good alternative as insulation. Its fibrous structure determines excellent thermal insulation properties. Unlike polystyrene foam, it is not just non-flammable, but fire-resistant and can withstand temperatures up to +1000ºС. In addition, stone wool is environmentally friendly and safe material made from natural stone. It is resistant to moisture, does not rot and is not a breeding ground for rodents and insects. Today there are types on the market stone wool, specially designed for insulation of saunas and baths.

Another advantage of stone wool insulation is that its installation is simple and does not require special skills. Here are a few guidelines to follow to achieve maximum effect:

When insulating a room, start from the ceiling. Wooden guides with a pitch of 590 mm “in the clear” are nailed to it, into which stone wool slabs are placed, fastened by surprise. No mechanical fastening is required. It is important to take into account that the insulation boards are placed in a foil layer inside the steam room.
Install the frame. To insulate the outdoor walls of the sauna, you need a double frame, and for the interior walls, a single frame. When insulating interior wall It is enough to install slabs with a thickness of 50 mm for the room. For a wall facing the street, it is necessary to use a material with a thickness of at least 100 mm or a combination of 50 mm and 50 mm materials.
Seal the seams between the boards. The slabs are mounted end-to-end, with the seams of the foil covering sealed with metallized self-adhesive tape. You can make your task easier by using aluminum adhesive tape, designed specifically for use in baths and saunas. By reliably sealing the joints between the slabs, it significantly increases the vapor barrier properties of the insulation.
Install the sheathing. It is needed to protect stone wool from contact with drops of moisture collecting on the foil. It is installed between the thermal insulation and external finishing to ensure an air gap of 10–15 mm.
Insulate the chimney. Thermal insulation material is subjected to severe stress under conditions of prolonged high temperature exposure. The price of a mistake can be a fire. Stone wool completely eliminates the risk of fire. In addition, there are special types created for thermal insulation of fireplaces and chimneys.

The floor in the sauna can be made in two ways: wooden on logs with sheathing or concrete with tiles on the ground. In the first case, stone wool slabs are laid in the frame between the joists, and then waterproofing is performed. Rolls of waterproofing are mounted with an overlap at the joints of the plates, and the seams themselves are additionally taped. Next is laid wood flooring, on top of which the finishing floor is installed.

For concrete floors, a different technology is used. First of all, rigid stone wool slabs are installed and provided with waterproofing. Then a concrete screed is laid on it, onto which the tiles are glued. In both cases, you need to remember that ensuring rapid drainage of water from the sauna is one of the the most important requirements to the flooring of such a room, so the floor should be slightly inclined towards the drain hole.

Today, before starting construction of a bathhouse complex, every owner should ask himself how to insulate a bathhouse from the inside. The construction market offers dozens of options. The main thing is not to get confused and choose such insulation for a bathhouse so that it meets construction requirements.

Principles for choosing insulation

When buying material, you should pay attention to the most important signs of an effective product:

environmental friendliness;
maximum degree of moisture resistance;
resistance to harmful microorganisms;
the ability not to deform during long-term use;
thermal conductivity index: the higher it is, the better;
compatibility with building materials;
minimum moisture absorption value;
compliance with fire safety requirements, sanitary and epidemiological standards;
ability not to accumulate condensate;
ease of installation.

Types of insulation materials

Before you run around the shops and grab anything, you should understand the range of materials on offer.

Bath insulation can be organic or inorganic.

Organic materials

This includes a group of insulation materials that are made from natural raw materials:

sheep wool or felt;
jute;
tow;
heat-insulating materials from peat, reeds and wood shavings.

Main advantage natural materials– environmental cleanliness.

But insulating a bathhouse from the inside with their help has a number of disadvantages:

Natural thermal insulation for the interior decoration of a sauna is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process.
Natural insulation materials are short-lived and require regular updating.
Flax, moss, felt, tow are a favorable environment for the life and reproduction of insects, rodents and other harmful microorganisms.
They are suitable for dressing rooms and rest rooms, but are not suitable for thermal insulation inside hot rooms, even after additional treatment with fire retardants.
Buying natural materials takes a significant toll on your wallet.

Inorganic or synthetic materials

There is no need to talk about absolute environmental friendliness here. Unlike natural ones, they will last for decades and provide better thermal insulation. Synthetic bath insulation is easy to install and resistant to high humidity and hot air.

Inorganic thermal insulation materials are divided into several types:

1.Polymer insulation

The group of these materials includes polystyrene foam, foam plastic, and cellular plastic insulation.

Polyfoam is easy to use to insulate the sauna ceiling. It does not absorb moisture, practical and easy to handle.

A new product in the construction industry is foam glass, which embodies the best properties of foam plastic and stone wool. The material can be carved with a knife and attaches perfectly to the surface.

Despite the advantages, it is not recommended to insulate the ceiling inside a sauna with polystyrene foam. On the one hand, it is considered a fire hazard. On the other hand, as the air temperature increases, the foam deforms and releases bad smell, couples toxic substance– phenol.

If you still decide to use polystyrene foam, then it is better to insulate the walls of the dressing room with it from the outside.

2.Basalt insulation for baths

Made from mountain wood, the material is used in last years demand. It has a number of advantages:

Not subject to combustion;
Resistant to humid air;
Does not deform under the influence of temperatures;
Excellent sound and heat insulation;
Service life up to 30 years;
Does not cause any difficulties during the installation of finishing.

As for the disadvantages, there are none except for the cost of the material.

3.Mineral wool

The main difference between the technology for producing mineral wool and the production of insulation from basalt fibers is the use of inexpensive industrial waste.

This has a positive effect on the price of the material, but negatively on the mechanical strength of the insulation. Therefore, be extremely careful during the installation process.

Along with the disadvantages, mineral wool is not without advantages:

Reliable thermal insulation;
Not afraid of moisture;
High degree of sound insulation.

4.Glass wool

Insulating a bathhouse with glass wool will cost no more than its analogues. And according to certain criteria, it is not inferior to other materials: it holds heat well and is easy to install.

A significant disadvantage of glass wool is its instability to hot air.

5.Foil insulation

To insulate the sauna ceiling, it is recommended to use materials that reflect light. Insulating mirrors have become widespread. Due to a special aluminum coating, they reflect and do not transmit heat through the ceiling. Foil insulation for a bathhouse is recommended to be used in combination with classic materials.

Insulation of the sauna

Having decided on the choice of one or two heat-insulating materials, proceed directly to work. Insulating a bathhouse from the inside with your own hands is a difficult process that requires skills in the construction industry. If you are confident in your abilities, then go for it. Otherwise, it is better to seek the help of specialists from the Marisrub company.

It should be noted that the process of thermal insulation of a wooden or brick sauna is almost the same. Therefore, there is no point in focusing on the insignificant difference.

Before you start insulating the walls, ceiling and floor, it is wise to take care of the vapor barrier. Even if you have chosen moisture-resistant insulation, during operation condensation will gradually begin to penetrate through the internal layers of the insulating material and have destructive effects.

To isolate the insulation from moisture, use aluminum foil. The solidity of the vapor barrier is achieved through metallized tape, which is used to glue the joints of the foil sheets.

We insulate floors

It is correct to start insulating a sauna not from the ceiling or walls, but from the floor. In the bathhouse it can be continuous or leaking. Considering that structures differ from each other, insulation of each type occurs differently.

It is better to use mineral wool. It is laid on a subfloor made of boards and covered with a layer of waterproofing. Final stage- filling the floor.

When installing leaking floors, dig a pit 50 cm deep and fill it with 5 cm of sand. After careful compaction, a 20-centimeter layer of insulation is laid - polystyrene foam, which is poured cement mortar with foam chips.

After drying, the concrete is covered with a layer of waterproofing, not forgetting the walls.

Then they again fill it with cement and vermiculite, spread a reinforcing mesh and cover it with a layer of concrete with fine crushed stone. At this stage of work, a slope is made in the direction where the water will flow.

The work is completed by laying the finished floor on posts.

We insulate the walls

Insulation of bathhouse walls from the inside occurs in stages:

1.Using wooden slats or timber we apply lathing to the surface of the walls. The gap between the slats must be made smaller than the width of the heat-insulating material.

This is done so that the insulation fills the resulting spaces and prevents the formation of bridges for cold air. It is recommended to use mineral wool or basalt fiber slabs as insulation.

2. Having laid the heat insulator, cover it with any vapor barrier with foil. In this case, the reflective side of the aluminum surface is located inside the sauna.

The vapor barrier is placed between the slats and fixed to them.

Thermal insulation of the steam room walls is ready! Other sauna rooms are insulated using the same principle. Instead of foil for a vapor barrier, thick kraft paper for wrapping is suitable.

When insulating buildings made of bricks or blocks, the thickness basalt insulation It is advised to increase it so as not to lose heat.

We insulate the ceiling

Thermal insulation of the ceiling occurs by analogy with the principle of wall insulation.

According to the laws of physics, the closer to ceiling covering, the hotter the air will be. Therefore, fire-resistant insulation is chosen for the ceiling. Mineral wool is perfect.

If there is an attic in the bathhouse, then a vapor barrier layer is made above the insulation - an aluminum film.

Insulation is placed under, above or between the rafters. If you're looking for the easy way out, lay a continuous layer of insulation between the rafters.

Finally, cover the heat-insulating material with a layer of waterproofing. Do not forget about the air gap of 20 mm. This is done taking into account the increase in insulation by a third of the width under the influence humid air.

If there is no attic in the bathhouse, expanded clay is often used as insulation for the ceiling. A 25 cm layer of thermal insulation is poured onto the vapor barrier layer.

The construction market offers for insulation bath room thermal insulation panels. The main advantage of the material is the possibility of refusing waterproofing, the minus is that they require a reliable vapor barrier layer.

Done correctly interior decoration Baths guarantee not only a pleasant stay in the company of friends, but also safety. So come to your choice building materials and performing work with maximum responsibility.

Is it possible to use Isover insulation in a bathhouse?

If we talk about the above product, then this option is a completely acceptable solution for insulating a bathhouse. The foil layer gives the isover vapor barrier properties. The material itself is characterized as suitable for rooms with high humidity. Such qualities fully comply with the requirements determined by the characteristics of the bathhouse.

As for using a regular (non-foil) isover, in this case you will have to lay a layer of foil on top of the material yourself.

Penoplex

The properties of the product that allow it to be positively characterized as a thermal insulator for a bath include:

low thermal conductivity. This indicator is achieved due to the special structure of penoplex;
vapor permeability. In this parameter, the product is similar to roofing felt, which allows it to be used in conditions of high humidity.

Disadvantage of penoplex– this is flammability and release of toxic smoke during combustion. Therefore, before installation it must be treated with special fire-fighting means. You can also find products impregnated with fire retardants on sale.

"TechnoNIKOL"

Insulation for baths "TechnoNIKOL". Mineral wool from the Russian manufacturer TechnoNIKOL goes on sale in wide range. In private construction, three lines are used: “Rocklight”, “Technoblock”, “Technoacoustic”. All three types are suitable for both, carried out by specialists or (using a vapor barrier), and for external work under siding.

The general concern of the population about their health has led to the fact that almost every owner country house wants to get a bathhouse. The specificity of this useful structure is thermal procedures that require the creation of a stable high temperature. To ensure a similar microclimate with the least amount of energy spent, something like a thermos is installed inside the building. Bathroom insulation can be carried out different materials, which directly affects the implementation method.

Why is thermal insulation needed?

The bathhouse has many useful properties, but many of them may not be available if the internal insulation is not properly organized. In such a situation, even competently implemented construction works: if the walls of the building are not able to retain the heat created by the stove, the comfort of bathing procedures will noticeably decrease. The only way out is to reduce the time between kindlings, which, accordingly, will provoke an increase in financial costs for paying for energy resources.

A more correct solution is to insulate the bathhouse; fortunately, there are a number of effective technologies for this. It is best to do this during the construction of the building. However, if this important stage for some reason was missed, some methods of internal insulation allow the possibility of implementation upon completion of construction. The main difference between thermal insulation of a bathhouse and a similar procedure in an ordinary house is that in the first case, it is necessary to maintain the high temperature created by the stove for as long as possible inside the room. This requires a better approach to carrying out work.

Which material is better

In the old days, insulation of baths was carried out exclusively with natural materials. It's about about felt, hemp, flax, red moss, etc. The undoubted advantage of these insulation materials is their complete harmlessness to people. Even under conditions of a significant increase in temperature (which often happens in a steam room), they do not emit any harmful substances and toxins.

Natural materials also have significant disadvantages:

The complexity of the installation process. Despite the simplicity of the procedure for caulking a bathhouse using moss or tow, it takes a lot of time and effort. As a result, we have to increase payments to craftsmen.

Weak biological resistance. Natural materials susceptible to rotting and fungus formation: in conditions of constantly high humidity this only gets worse. Insects and rodents often live in the thickness of the insulation, so regular inspection and refilling of the thermal insulation layer will be required.

More attractive performance characteristics have modern artificial insulation.

Although their degree of environmental friendliness is somewhat lower, their service life is an order of magnitude longer. This is explained by their absolute inertness with respect to constant moisture and high temperatures. If you add light weight, ease of installation and low cost, it becomes clear why synthetic materials have now practically replaced natural analogues. The most commonly used materials are polystyrene foam, basalt fiber, mineral wool and glass wool. Before insulating a bathhouse from the inside, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each of these materials.

Expanded polystyrene

It has excellent thermal insulation characteristics with low weight and low cost. Expanded polystyrene foam resists moisture well, but in high temperature conditions there is a real risk of deformation and even fire of the slabs. If we add here the release of toxic substances when heated, it becomes clear why they try not to use this material in baths (except for the external design of the dressing room).

Expanded polystyrene is a close relative of polystyrene foam, but with improved characteristics

Basalt fiber

An excellent option for insulating a bath. The raw material for the production of basalt fibers is molten rocks.

This explains the following characteristics of the material:

It doesn't burn at all.

Tolerates mechanical stress and high humidity well.

Has the ability to absorb noise.

Provides excellent thermal insulation.

Can be used for decades without loss of performance characteristics.

Installing basalt insulation is very simple, because... it can be cut into pieces required sizes. The only drawback of this material is its high cost.

Basalt fiber compresses well, and after laying it occupies the entire required volume

On our website you can get acquainted with the most from construction companies, presented at the exhibition of houses “Low-Rise Country”.

Mineral wool

It is produced under approximately the same conditions as basalt fiber. The difference between them concerns the raw materials used: in this case, it is not rock, but metallurgical waste. In this way, it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of the finished material.

In addition to being cheap, mineral wool has other advantages:

Low level of thermal conductivity. Thanks to this, the heated room retains its heat for a long time.

Moisture resistance. The material can be used at consistently high humidity.

High sound insulation performance.

The disadvantages of mineral wool include its low resistance to mechanical stress. This introduces certain difficulties into the installation procedure.

Glass wool

The material consists of the finest threads of inorganic glass intertwined. As a result, numerous air gaps and pockets that prevent heat from escaping through the thickness of the insulation. You should also highlight the good vapor permeability and low cost of the material. It is available for sale in rolls of different thicknesses and widths, which makes it easier to select the optimal level of insulation. In addition to rolls, glass wool is sold in the form of mats and slabs.

What to choose

Analysis of the characteristics of materials for thermal insulation leads to the conclusion that the most the best option basalt fiber and mineral wool are used to insulate a bathhouse from the inside. To save money, the choice is mainly made towards mineral wool. Moreover, manufacturers managed to solve the problem of its fragility through the use of foil.

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer bathhouse construction and design services. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.

Warming procedure

You have to work in high humidity conditions. This means that the moisture resistance of the heat-insulating material alone is not enough in this case: you additionally have to use a vapor barrier film. Thanks to this, it is possible to avoid moisture condensation inside the insulation (condensation reduces thermal insulation characteristics material and contributes to the rotting of the walls). In addition to film, aluminum foil is often used as a vapor barrier in baths, which enhances the insulation effect by reflecting heat into the room. To create a continuous protective surface, the joints of the foil sheets are decorated with metallized tape.

Walls

The nuances of thermal insulation of bathhouse walls largely depend on the material they are made of. Concrete, stone and brick foundations in any case need insulation. The goal in this case is not only to reduce heat loss, but also to protect the walls themselves from damaging moisture.

When selecting the thickness of insulation, the following is taken into account:

The thickness of walls made of stone, concrete or brick.

Features of the local climate.

As a rule, experts recommend laying insulation with a thickness of at least 100 mm. As for the insulation from the inside of a bathhouse made of timber, it is carried out only for walls thinner than 20 cm. For additional protection of more substantial structures, a waterproofing film and clapboard cladding are usually used.

List of stages:

Arrangement of sheathing on an insulated surface. Used for this wooden blocks must be well dried and treated with antiseptic impregnation.

Decorating with fiberglass the spaces between the individual cross members of the frame.

Installation of insulation for a bathhouse on the walls from the inside. To do this, use slabs of basalt or mineral wool cut to size.

Laying a vapor barrier material on top of the insulation.

Finishing. For this purpose, natural lining is most often used in baths.

Ceiling

Equipping the bathhouse ceiling with thermal insulation is in many ways similar to a similar procedure on the walls. In this case, the washing compartment and dressing room may not be equipped with foil vapor barrier, replacing it with inexpensive polyethylene or kraft paper.

The vapor barrier layer is separated from the finishing sheathing by a ventilation gap of 10-20 mm, which significantly speeds up the drying of the sheathing at the end of the water procedures. This nuance is of fundamental importance, because Due to the microclimate of the bathhouse, the ceiling finish experiences the extreme effects of heated humid air. The ventilation gap prevents wood from rotting, significantly extending its service life.

Floor

A significant amount of heat loss in a bathhouse occurs through the floor surface. This becomes especially noticeable when winter cold. Features of floor insulation also directly depend on the material of its manufacture.

The procedure for insulating a wooden floor consists of the following operations:

Laying the drain pipe. It is best to arrange the drain hole in the center of the room.

Roofing material is laid on top of the compacted earthen base, extending onto the walls (within 15-20 cm).

Filling the expanded clay with as thick a layer as possible. In this case, it is important that there is at least 20 cm left to the upper jumpers for ventilation.

Installation of floor beams pre-treated with antiseptics.

The bottom of the logs is equipped with cranial blocks for laying subfloor boards.

Decorating the subfloor with a vapor-proof film. It is important to achieve protection for both beams and boards.

Laying insulation in the spaces between the beams. Usually mineral wool is used for this. A vapor barrier film is also laid on top.

Installation of logs under wooden flooring. They are stuffed at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the beams.

Construction of a frame for a waterproof finished floor from mounting slats. They are equipped with a specific cut towards the central drain (cut angle - 5-7 degrees). The spaces between the frame jumpers (and the jumpers themselves) are decorated with foil-coated mineral wool (the foil should face up).

Finishing wood flooring.

Video description

In this video you will learn how to insulate a bathhouse or sauna. You will also learn how to properly insulate a bathhouse with your own hands and avoid making mistakes when working:

The sequence of thermal insulation of a concrete floor:

Leveling and compacting the earthen base.

Pouring concrete screed.

Equipping dried concrete with waterproofing. For these purposes, you can use dense plastic film or roofing felt.

Laying thermal insulation boards or strips. They are also covered with waterproofing.

Pouring another concrete layer, with a mandatory slope towards the drain hole.

As finishing coating tiles are usually used on concrete.

The floor surface of the bathhouse is constantly wet, so increased demands are placed on the installation of waterproofing. It is important to ensure that even minor damage to the top screed cannot cause the insulation inside the “pie” to become wet.

Video description

A few more words about choosing insulation for a bath in the following video:

Conclusion

From high-quality insulation bathhouse directly depends on its internal comfort and the amount of fuel spent on maintaining desired temperature. Most suitable thermal insulation materials, taking into account the specifics of operation - basalt and mineral wool with additional foil.

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