Modern thermal insulation materials are very easy to install, but they are expensive. A more budget-friendly warming of a bath with your own hands can be done by correctly using natural insulation, in particular clay, sawdust, straw. Content:
- Features of using clay
- Clay-sand mortar for the ceiling
- Clay and sawdust for the ceiling
- Alternating clay and sawdust
- Thermal insulation of the walls of the bath
Currently, there are many options for thermal insulation of the steam room. The market offers various types of synthetic insulation. They differ in price and performance. However, the "old-fashioned" methods of bath warming have not yet been forgotten. From time immemorial, the method of thermal insulation with the help of clay has come down to us.
Features of using clay for warming a bath
It is not for nothing that clay has been popular as a heater for several centuries. The main advantages of the material include such qualities as:
- A simple technology for the preparation of an insulation mixture and its application. You can cope with insulation work on your own, without having special construction skills.
- Cheapness. The cost of clay is much lower than that of synthetic materials. Sometimes, it can be obtained for free from natural sources.
- High quality insulation. The low coefficient of thermal conductivity allows you to reliably insulate the steam room.
- Does not attract rodents and insects.
- Environmental friendliness. Clay does not emit toxic substances.
As for the disadvantages of this method of thermal insulation, they include the complexity and duration of work. Red clay is considered the most suitable for warming. It is hygroscopic and plastic. If necessary, you can replace it with white clay. This material also has high performance characteristics.
Often, for maximum effect, the bath is insulated with clay with sawdust or chopped straw. If you decide to use an admixture of sawdust, then their choice must also be taken seriously. The best option is oak and softwood shavings. Before use, it is advisable to dry them thoroughly, and also treat them with an antiseptic composition and a fire retardant.
The very process of warming a bath with clay does not take much time. However, keep in mind that the wetted clay layer will dry out for almost a month at temperatures above zero.
Clay-sand mortar for thermal insulation of the ceiling in the bath
There are several ways to insulate the ceiling in a bath with clay. The traditional method is to use a 2: 6 mixture of sand and clay. Water must be added so that the consistency of the mixture resembles thick sour cream.
In the process, we adhere to the following instructions:
- We cover the ceiling with carefully dried boards 4-6 cm thick.
- We cover the cracks with liquid clay and wait for it to dry completely.
- We fix the vapor barrier membrane with an overlap of 15-20 cm on the boards.
- We glue the joints with foil tape.
- We make a homogeneous mixture of sand, clay and water.
- We cover the boards with a layer of mortar 5-7 cm thick, level the surface with a board. To check the level, we put a flat bar on top, and a hydro level on it.
- After hardening, pour dry sand to a height of 10-15 cm.
- We mount logs and a finishing floor on top.
Please note that ventilation equipment should also be given special attention. This minimizes the effect of high temperature and humidity on the thermal insulation layer. To do this, it is enough to make two small dormers in the gables of the attic structure and ventilation holes opposite each other.
A mixture of clay and sawdust to insulate the ceiling of the bath
In this case, sawdust or chopped straw is used to prepare the clay mixture. The solution should have a thick consistency. The approximate ratio of clay to sawdust is 2: 3.
Thermal insulation work is performed in the following order:
- Using a construction stapler, we attach the waterproofing material to the ceiling.
- We fill the slats with a width of about 10 cm with an edge at a distance of 0.3-0.4 meters.
- Moisten the clay and mix it with treated wood sawdust until smooth.
- We fill with the resulting solution the grooves between the installed slats, equalize with a spatula and wait for complete drying.
After final solidification, small cracks may appear on the surface. This is a natural process. They must be covered with a thin layer of liquid clay and sprinkled on top with treated sawdust or 5 cm earth. Sometimes this process must be repeated several times. After that, you can proceed with the installation of the final floor of the attic.
It is also important to pay special attention to fire safety. The space between the chimney and the floor boards should be more than 25 cm. It is better to treat the boards along the edge with asbestos.
Alternation of clay and sawdust for thermal insulation of the ceiling in the bath
This method consists in alternating layers of clay and wood chips on the attic flooring.
We carry out work in the following sequence:
- We put a vapor barrier on the floor of the attic with an overlap of 5-10 cm. For this purpose, you can use glassine or roofing material.
- Soak the clay and add straw or sawdust to it in a ratio of 2: 3.
- Thoroughly mix the resulting mixture until the consistency of thick sour cream. It is recommended to use a concrete mixer for this.
- We spread a layer of 2-3 cm, level it with a board and leave it to dry completely.
- We close up the cracks that have appeared with liquid clay. In some cases, cracks need to be repaired several times. Each subsequent grouting is carried out after the previous one has dried.
- After hardening, fill in a layer of sawdust, shavings, dry oak leaves. The latter, by the way, have strong antibacterial properties and will prevent the appearance of fungus.
- On top we make a 5-centimeter layer of dry soil.
If you plan to use the attic in the future, then equip a wooden flooring on top. Otherwise, the backfill can be left as it is. This method is laborious, but effective and cheap.
Thermal insulation of the walls of the bath with clay
As for the internal insulation, it will not withstand the effects of an aggressive environment. Dampness due to high humidity will alternate with cracking from hot steam. Therefore, clay cannot be used for thermal insulation of the walls of the bath. External insulation can only be carried out for frame and brick structures.
Thermal insulation of the walls of the bath from the outside with the help of clay is performed as follows:
- A shingle is stuffed onto the wall, which is long slats 2-3 cm wide and 1 cm thick. Individual elements are fastened in the form of a lattice with wooden or galvanized fasteners. This is necessary to reinforce the clay layer.
- We wet the clay with water. We add wood shavings, which will reduce the thermal conductivity of the solution.
- We apply the mixture to the shingles and level with a special spatula. We use a plumb line or a building level to check evenness.
- After complete drying, we install the crate on the walls and sheathe them with wooden siding or a block house. Be sure to soak the cladding material with an antiseptic before work.
- A more budgetary option for exterior decoration involves whitewashing the clay layer with a lime mortar.
Due to the increased temperature and humidity in the bath, clay is not used for floor insulation. Under the influence of an aggressive environment, the material will get wet, crack and emit an unpleasant swamp odor. If you want to insulate the flooring with an environmentally friendly material, then consider expanded clay as an option. How to use clay to insulate a bath - watch the video:
Due to its performance characteristics, the clay mixture is often used to insulate the ceiling and walls of a bath. Despite the fact that the market offers many other insulation materials, this method, which has been tested for hundreds of years, has not lost its relevance. In addition, such thermal insulation is easily carried out independently and does not require large financial costs.
