The peculiarities of the operation of the penoplex and its technical characteristics must be taken into account if you decide to insulate your steam room with it. For thermal insulation of a log house, this is not the best option, however, it is very convenient and profitable to insulate brick and panel baths for them. Content:
- Advantages and disadvantages of penoplex
- Features of thermal insulation of the bath
- Insulation of the strip foundation
- Thermal insulation of the bath base
- Thermal insulation of the floor in the bath
- Thermal insulation of walls
- Insulation of the ceiling and roof
Recently, penoplex (extruded polystyrene foam) is gaining great popularity among synthetic thermal insulation materials. It is made by forcing molten plastic foam using a special molding nozzle (nozzle). Under the influence of high temperature and pressure, the structure of the material becomes finely porous with isolated cells of 100-200 microns in size. Due to this, it is distinguished by its strength and high thermal insulation properties.
Advantages and disadvantages of penoplex when used in a bath
Among the main advantages of the material for warming baths are:
- Moisture resistance … For a day, a heat insulator plate absorbs less than 0.4% of its volume, and for a month it is capable of absorbing up to 0.6%. Moisture penetrates only into the top layer, the inner filling remains dry, even if the foam sheet is completely immersed in water. Thanks to this factor, the material is not subject to the formation of mold and decay.
- Low thermal conductivity … This property is provided by the special structure of the foam. The heat conductivity coefficient is 0.03 W / m and is considered the lowest among heaters.
- Strength … Due to the homogeneity of the material, which is achieved by the extrusion method, it is able to withstand significant mechanical stress. With 10% linear information, its strength is 0.2 MPa. In order not to damage its integrity, when insulating the floor, you need to monitor the evenness of the surface.
- Vapor tightness … This indicator for penoplex is close to roofing material. Therefore, it is often used to insulate bath rooms in which high humidity is maintained.
- Ease … The density of the material is only 25-32 kg / meter3… It is often used for thermal insulation of roofs, since it does not weigh down the structure. Because of this property, it is easy to install.
- Easy to install … Penoplex for bath warming is cut with an ordinary construction or office knife. Thermal insulation with it can be easily done by yourself.
- Durability … Some manufacturers provide material warranties for up to 50 years.
- Chemical resistance … The heat insulator is not influenced by alkalis, water-based paints, saline solutions, alcohol compounds, bleach, ammonia, carbon dioxide, propane, butane, various oils, freons, concrete mixtures. However, it must be borne in mind that under the influence of formaldehyde, diesel fuel, gasoline, acetone, methyl-, ethyl acetate bases, enamel and oil paints, the physical and technical characteristics of the penoplex deteriorate. Some formulations may even dissolve the material.
- Soundproofing … After insulating the roof and walls, you will not hear the thud of rain or the hum of a busy highway. The noise protection index is 41 dB.
- Resistant to temperature changes and stability … The working temperature of the heat insulator is from -100 to +75 degrees.
As for the disadvantages of the material, it is possible to distinguish the average indicator of flammability and the release of toxic fumes during combustion. For this reason, before thermal insulation, it is treated with special fire-fighting compounds. Some manufacturers offer insulation already impregnated with fire retardants.
Features of thermal insulation of a bath with penoplex
Due to its physical and technical properties, extruded polystyrene foam is widely used to insulate the strip foundation under the steam room, floors, roofs and walls. The log house is usually insulated with natural materials. Therefore, penoplex is used for the most effective insulation of frame and brick structures.
As a standard, slabs are made 60 cm wide and 120 cm long. The thickness can be from 2 to 15 cm. It must be selected depending on the purpose and climatic characteristics of the region of use. Be sure to purchase certified goods in specialized stores. The quality of the material, its environmental friendliness and performance characteristics depend on this. The cost of penoplex, depending on its thickness, can vary from 3900 to 4300 rubles per cubic meter.
Insulation of the strip foundation for a bath with penoplex
It is necessary to start the process after thorough waterproofing of the base with bitumen mastic. We use acrylic glue to securely fix the sheets.
We carry out the work in the following sequence:
- Apply five to six points of acrylic glue to the first slab and fix it from the bottom edge.
- We fix the rest of the elements around the perimeter, connecting with each other with a thorn-groove system.
- We blow out the joints with acrylic glue or polyurethane foam.
- Set the second layer with offset seams. In places of future backfilling with soil, we use acrylic glue for fastening. It can be attached to the base with dowels 12 cm long, 1 cm in diameter.
- We cover the hollows from the fasteners with acrylic glue and wait for it to dry completely.
- We fix the reinforcing fiberglass mesh with an overlap of 10 cm.
- We plaster penoplex for protection from soil action.
- We level the surface with a cement-sand mortar.
If desired, acrylic adhesive can be used for leveling. After backfilling, it is also advisable to insulate the blind area.
The method of thermal insulation of the bath base with penoplex
The basement is the thinner part of the foundation, to which the walls of the structure are attached. Therefore, the durability of the building depends on the quality of its thermal insulation.
In the process, we adhere to the following sequence:
- We cover the base with a waterproofing membrane.
- We fix on top of acrylic glue a 12-centimeter layer of styrofoam.
- We lay the second layer of waterproofing. It will be a kind of drainage.
- We attach a geotextile material that acts as a filter.
- Fill with a sand-cement screed.
Due to the hydrophobicity of the heat insulator, the steam room will be reliably protected from moisture.
Features of floor insulation in a bath with penoplex
If you decide to insulate the concrete floor in the steam room, then this insulation can be used in all rooms.
We carry out the work in the following order:
- We cover the foundation cushion with bitumen mastic in two layers.
- We lay the roll waterproofing with an overlap of 10 cm. For this purpose, glassine or hydrostekloizol is excellent.
- We lay sheets of foam. We check the evenness of the installation with a hydraulic level.
- We make a reinforced concrete screed with a thickness of 6 cm.
- We install the cladding.
- The best option for finishing the floor in the bath is wood or ceramic tiles.
There is a lot of controversy regarding the use of this material for thermal insulation of wooden flooring in steam rooms. As for the technical properties of penoplex, it can withstand temperatures up to +75 degrees, and therefore it is strictly forbidden to use it in the steam room, even if it is treated with a fire-fighting compound. But for insulation in the rest room and dressing room, it is considered the most suitable due to its good moisture resistance.
We carry out thermal insulation, adhering to the following algorithm of actions:
- We cover the logs and the space between them with a vapor barrier membrane. For this, you can use aluminum foil, kraft paper, or plastic wrap.
- We lay between the logs sheets of foam with a thickness of 10 cm, pre-treated with fire retardants.
- We fix the second layer of steam and waterproofing
- We equip finishing flooring.
Before laying, wood for finishing the floor must be thoroughly impregnated with several layers of fire retardant and antiseptic.
Specificity of thermal insulation of the walls of the bath with penoplex
Due to the operating temperature range of the material, insulation of the bath with penoplex from the inside is not allowed. Extruded polystyrene foam, as a rule, is used outside for frame or brick baths.
The procedure for thermal insulation of walls in a bath with penoplex looks like this:
- We cover the surface with a primer in two layers.
- After complete drying, we fix the vapor barrier layer.
- We apply an adhesive composition 7-8 cm thick on a sheet of foam. It should cover about 40% of the surface.
- We attach the part to the wall and additionally fix it with "mushrooms".
- Having completely covered the surface of the walls, we proceed to the installation of the second layer, shifting the elements to cover the seams.
- After the adhesive has completely dried, we blow out the gaps with polyurethane foam.
- We reinforce the surface with fiberglass mesh, attach it with glue, and let it dry.
- We plaster the walls and carry out further wall decoration.
Please note that the adhesive for fastening the material can only be used based on cement, polyurethane or bitumen.
Technology of insulation of the ceiling and roof of the bath with penoplex
Penoplex is not recommended for warming the ceiling of a steam room due to high temperature exposure. However, they often insulate the roof of the bathhouse, especially if the attic space is used or adapted for an attic.
For high-quality insulation of the bath roof with penoplex, we adhere to the following instructions:
- We fix the vapor barrier membrane with an overlap of 15 cm and glue the joints with sealing tape.
- We fill the crate and lay the penoplex between its elements. We keep a safe distance to the chimney.
- We attach an overlap geotextile on top.
- We install the counter battens and finishing roofing material.
Do not forget to treat all wood with fire retardants and antiseptics before starting work. Penoplex must also be impregnated with fire-fighting compounds. Watch a video about insulating a bath with penoplex:
Correct use and correct installation will ensure reliable thermal insulation of the steam room. Moreover, you can carry it out with your own hands, even without having construction skills. Most importantly, keep in mind that it is not recommended to insulate the walls of the bath from the inside with penoplex. The material begins to emit toxic vapors already at +75 degrees.
