Advantages and disadvantages of wall insulation from the inside with stone wool, the choice of an insulator and other materials to form an insulating layer, options for fastening products to partitions. Insulation of walls from the inside with stone wool is one of the most economical methods of thermal insulation of a room, which is used in case of impossibility of external fastening of the material. This method allows you to reliably keep heat in the house, but only if all the requirements for the formation and installation of the insulating layer are met. We will talk about the options for fixing the material to the partitions from the side of the room in this article.
Features of work on wall insulation with stone wool from the inside
Insulation of partitions from inside the premises is carried out in exceptional cases. The main problem with this option of thermal insulation is the unpredictable consequences of poor-quality installation of the coating. The dew point can move closer to the room and cause the walls to get wet, resulting in dampness in the house. Such problems do not arise if the heat insulator is attached from the outside.
For interior work, stone wool is best suited - a type of mineral wool that is made from rock basalt rocks with the addition of hydrophobic substances. The material is filled with an inert gas that does not allow heat to pass out. It is distinguished by its low weight and low density (10-90 kg / m3).
Stone wool is produced in the form of rolls, mats, slabs of various sizes. It is advisable to fix the insulator in rolls on the walls. They are produced in widths of 0, 6-1, 2 m and lengths of up to 10 m. The soft structure allows the material to be laid in the most difficult-to-reach places. Large areas are insulated with mats, small areas with slabs.
During installation, it must be vaporized with a special film. This is due to the fact that the insulation absorbs moisture well and, under its influence, quickly loses its qualities.
Cotton wool has a harmful effect on the human body due to the presence of formaldehyde in its composition and the irritating effect of fibers on the skin. Therefore, when insulating partitions from the inside, you must adhere to the following safety rules:
- When insulating walls with stone wool, avoid contact with the product. Use safety goggles, heavy gloves, long sleeves, and a respirator. At the end of the process, change into other clothes.
- Remove food from the room during installation.
- Do not let children play with the heat insulator.
- Prevent fibers from spreading throughout the apartment. Remove any debris from the room immediately after work.
It may be thought that stone wool is extremely dangerous, but this is only at first glance. Existing installation technologies neutralize its negative properties, and after the construction of the decorative wall, it will not harm anyone.
Advantages and disadvantages of wall insulation from the inside with stone wool
The use of such an insulator for insulation from the inside has a number of advantages, listed below:
- The product does not burn, does not emit toxic fumes when heated, it can be used in any room.
- The insulation is well cut, so the installation is carried out in a short time.
- Stone wool, in comparison with other products of a similar purpose, has a slight hygroscopicity and can be used in rooms with moderate humidity.
- It is useful even in summer, with internal insulation, the insulator does not let the heat through.
- The product has a relatively small thickness, so the area of the room is reduced slightly.
- Wall coverings are very rarely repaired, as the service life of the material reaches 70 years.
- An undeniable advantage is the price of the insulator, which is lower than the cost of any other product.
- Fastening the mats from the inside increases the soundproofing of the room.
- Insulation with stone wool from the inside allows you to keep the facade of the house in its original form.
Internal thermal insulation of a room with stone wool has a number of disadvantages:
- It contains harmful substances that should be neutralized.
- The insulation absorbs moisture well, which reduces its quality, so the room must be equipped with forced ventilation.
- The usable area of the room is reduced.
- At the time of work, people will have to be evicted from their homes.
Wall insulation technology from the inside with stone wool
Work on the formation of an insulating layer requires operations to be performed in a specific sequence. Deviation from the insulation technology will lead to the accumulation of dampness and the formation of black mold.
Preparatory work before installing stone wool
The process of warming with stone wool from the inside does not require careful leveling of the wall surface, irregularities can reach 3 mm.
Preparation for thermal insulation is as follows:
- Free surfaces of loose plaster and paint.
- Thoroughly clean the wall, remove dust and dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
- Pay special attention to areas with traces of mold, mildew, and rot. They must be cleaned with a spatula, dried with a building hair dryer or infrared heater, and then treated with an antiseptic.
- Seal cracks and gaps in cement and concrete substrates with cement mortar. This procedure is mandatory, because a large number of voids increases heat loss.
- If you plan to glue stone wool, make sure there are no greasy or oil stains on the wall. Remove them mechanically or with a solvent if necessary.
- Eliminate cracks on wooden walls using caulking. Fill deep voids with tow and foam. Seal recesses up to 3 cm with polyurethane foam. Impregnate the structure with agents that prevent fire, decay and the appearance of insects. Apply each solution after the previous one has dried.
- Dry the wall thoroughly. If the base is constantly wet, find the cause and correct it.
- Remove fasteners and decorative elements that interfere with the installation of the vapor barrier film and insulation.
- Treat the wall with a special liquid waterproofing material that prevents dampness.
The choice of stone wool for insulation from the inside
When buying an insulator, we recommend paying attention to the following points:
- Place and conditions of storage of goods. If stone wool is kept outdoors under a canopy, it must be wrapped in a protective film. If the packaging is different, the products should be kept as dry as possible.
- It is not recommended to buy damp insulation even at a very favorable price. After drying, it loses its quality and becomes unusable.
- Buy samples of the same density, because manufacturers produce products with a wide variety of characteristics. For one-story houses, you will need a low-density heat insulator. High partitions are insulated with denser and stiffer materials, but they are more expensive.
- Do not use stone wool that has already been used.
- Buy well-known brands to avoid counterfeiting.
Fastening stone wool to staples
The technology of insulation with stone wool involves the mandatory use of a vapor barrier film, with the help of which moisture is removed from the wall into the room. The membrane is placed with the vapor-permeable side to the base and smooth to the room.
Start installing the film from the top of the surface and perform horizontally with an overlap on the walls and ceiling. Lay each piece with an overlap of 10 cm on an already fixed segment and fix it with self-tapping screws or a construction stapler. Lubricate the joints with the adjoining wall with sealant. Glue the joints of the film with mounting tape or construction tape.
Next, do the following:
- Fasten the plasterboard profiles to the wall in vertical rows. They are screwed at a distance of 50-60 cm between themselves. Thus, there will be 4-5 staples between the floor and the ceiling.
- Bend the elements in the form of the letter "P".
- Unwind the stone wool roll. Cut a piece of insulation 10 cm longer than the distance between the floor and the ceiling. The stock is necessary due to the property of the material to shrink, and a precisely cut panel will not be enough for the wall. A plasterboard aluminum profile is best suited for cutting, and a clerical knife for cutting.
- Thread the strip onto the mounting brackets and lock in an upright position. Install the sealant with an "accordion", which will straighten itself and cover the wall without breaks. Fix the next piece next to it.
- During installation, no gaps should be left between the elements to be laid. Moisture will form in them, which will then cause the drywall to get wet. It is also possible the appearance of fungi and mold, which are very difficult to get rid of.
- Fasten the CD profiles to the brackets, to which the drywall will be fixed.
- Lay metallized paper or foil on top to create a hydro-barrier between cotton wool and humid indoor air. It will also further protect the room from the spread of mineral fibers. Place the film overlap on the wall and between each other. Glue the joints with construction tape. Fix the membrane to the profiles with self-tapping screws or double-sided tape. If the lathing is wooden, you can use a furniture stapler.
- If you plan to use a product on a foil base, do not install a waterproofing film. In this case, the insulation is placed with foil towards the room.
- Fasten slats 15-25 mm thick from above to the crate to create a gap between the cladding and the hydro-barrier through which air will circulate.
- The last stage is the installation of the plasterboard wall.
Installation of stone wool on a wall with a frame
Attach the vapor-permeable foil to the wall. On top of it, mount the crate for fastening the drywall sheets. It is made from wooden strips or metal profiles for sheet material. The thickness of the planks should be equal to the thickness of the insulation.
Align the profiles in a vertical plane using a level and secure with dowels and self-tapping screws. The distance between the strips should be 1-2 cm less than the width of the insulator. If the wall is uneven, the frame can be fixed with perforated drywall hangers. When using a slab insulation near the floor, fix the rail exposed to the horizon.
The insulator is placed between the profiles and the rasp is fastened between the rails or dowels with a wide head. If you have rolls, start from the top, if in the form of mats - from the bottom. During installation, check that there are no gaps between the product and the profiles. Filling in areas near window and door openings is performed last.
Choose dowels for attaching stone wool according to the following recommendations:
- The length should allow the product to enter the wall by at least 6 cm.
- The fasteners must be with a metal rod.
- For fixing to aerated concrete, use a dowel with an extended spacer base.
- In order to avoid the appearance of cold bridges, it is advisable to use hardware with a thermal head.
- It is not allowed to recessed the head into the insulation by more than 1 cm, because the leg may rupture over time.
- For fastening, it is allowed to use anchor dowels, which are fired with a pneumatic pistol. They significantly reduce the installation time. There is no garbage left after them.
Fixing stone wool with glue
For gluing cotton wool, it is advisable to use a special glue designed only for this material. When purchasing, make sure that the product is suitable for indoor use. It must be waterproof and provide good adhesion between the insulation and the partition. It must contain microfiber. You should also take into account the type of surface, for example, for a brick and concrete wall, the funds will be different.
Bonding is performed in the following sequence:
- If the product is sold in dry form, prepare the components (water and powder) in the proportion indicated in the instructions for use.
- Pour the mixture into the water and stir with a low speed drill until a uniform consistency is obtained. Check for clots and lumps.
- Leave for 5 minutes and stir again. The solution must be used quickly, after a short period of time it loses its properties.
- It is allowed to glue cotton wool at a temperature of + 5 … + 30 degrees. Under other conditions, the insulation can change the operational parameters.
- Cover the surface of the insulator with a thin layer of mortar and rub it thoroughly into the fibers with a simple spatula. Only then apply a base coat 1 cm thick and smooth it over the entire surface with a notched trowel.
- Press the insulator firmly against the wall. When placing the next block, press it down until you get a flat surface with the adjacent sheet. You can correct the position of the product within 10 minutes.
- Insulate the entire wall in the same way. If mats or blocks are used, the vertical seams must not match.
For greater adhesion, after 48 hours, the panels are additionally attached to the wall with dowels. After the adhesive has set, install a waterproofing film and install the plasterboard sheets.
How to insulate walls from the inside with stone wool - watch the video:
Opponents of wall insulation from the inside argue that this method will not lead to the desired effect. This statement is not entirely true if stone wool is used for thermal insulation, and all work is performed in compliance with the repeatedly proven installation technology.
