Thermal insulation of a foam block bath is an important stage of construction, since with all its advantages, the material needs protection both outside (from cold) and inside (from moisture). The process of insulating such a bath is quite simple and even a beginner in this area can do it. Content:
- Features of thermal insulation
- Bath insulation outside
- Works from the inside
A foam block bath is a fast and economical building designed for relaxation and hygiene procedures. Not everyone can afford wooden houses made of timber, but an inexpensive foam block can be trimmed and insulated in almost any way. Correctly insulating the walls of a bath means always having a room of the right temperature, despite the weather outside the window.
Features of thermal insulation of a foam block bath
The main component of foam blocks (from 40 rubles or 0, 61 dollars) is aerated concrete, which has many advantages:
- light weight;
- fire resistance;
- durability.
Thermal insulation of a foam block bath has features: due to the porous structure, the material absorbs moisture well and gives off heat to the outside, therefore, you should prevent the room from cooling and choose a material that is not subject to decay. Correct wall insulation is of great importance for the further functioning of the building: the higher the temperature in the room, the less firewood will have to be spent.
Thermal insulation of a foam block outside
The most common method is ventilated facade technology. An air gap is needed so as not to heat the ice (especially in winter) walls. The best materials for this: polystyrene (from 390 rubles / sheet or $ 5, 93), glass wool and basalt wool (from 370 rubles / roll or $ 5.63), jute felt (from 24 rubles / m2 or 0, 37 dollars).
Progress:
- Fasten the squares on the outside, which will form grooves for the insulation. The distance should be calculated for the width of the material so that it fits easily there. Do not use ordinary fasteners, as the porous surface of the foam block will not hold them well. But umbrella-type dowels (fungi) are best suited for this (from 2.25 rubles / piece or 0.03 dollars).
- Insert insulation (mineral wool, foam) and walk along the joints with double-sided construction tape (from 27 rubles / piece or 0.41 dollars). If necessary, you can additionally press down the entire structure with dowels.
- For exterior decoration on top of the insulation, decorative plaster is used (from 500 rubles for 25 kg or 7, 6 dollars), artificial or natural stone (from 330 rubles / m2 or 5 dollars).
Another way to insulate walls is with siding. The price of these panels is small (vinyl - from 130 rubles / piece / or 2 dollars), and the installation is quite simple. The air gap formed between it and the wall will be an additional layer of thermal insulation.
Thermal insulation of a foam block bath from the inside
The process begins with the floor, then the walls are insulated and, last of all, the ceiling. Polyfoam is practically not used here, since it is inferior in its properties to jute felt and cotton wool. Many years of experience in construction indicate that the best method of thermal insulation is polymer membranes made of foil-clad expanded polystyrene (from 220 rubles / m2 or 3, 36 dollars), which are placed between the wall and the cladding.
For air circulation, leave a gap of 5 cm. And be sure to ask the seller about the maximum permissible temperatures of this or that material - for example, penofol (from 40 rubles / m2 or 0.6 dollars) begins to collapse at +70 degrees.
Step-by-step instructions for the internal thermal insulation of a bath:
- On the walls, fix the frame under the insulation, with a mandatory indent from the walls. Without reliable ventilation, moisture will constantly accumulate here. This can be avoided with the help of special ducts (small windows) at the top of the wall. During bath procedures, they should be opened, and at other times they should be kept closed.
- Fix the selected material for insulation on the frame. Here, jute felt has an advantage due to its ability to absorb excess moisture and not rot at the same time.
- Reliable vapor barrier in the steam room and washing room are the main points when insulating a bath from foam blocks. Concrete does not like high humidity and it is very important to properly protect the walls. After that, cover the walls with foil or mirror film. This will make it possible to keep the air inside the room and not let it out. Lay the material without tension, aligning the sheets end-to-end or overlapping. For the dressing room and rest room, vapor barrier can be omitted.
- The last stage is cladding. Upholstery of walls with clapboard or planed boards implies their obligatory treatment with an antiseptic to prevent the spread of mold, fungus, insects.
Below you can see a video about the insulation of the bath and the decoration of the steam room:
Even for a novice builder, it will not present any difficulty to insulate a bath from foam blocks. Its thermal insulation is required, otherwise moisture will turn into ice crystals in winter, which will destroy the concrete. In addition, insulation is of great practical importance - it will reduce heat loss and increase the service life of the building.
