What is ecowool, how is it produced, the technical characteristics of the material, its advantages and disadvantages, the rules for choosing a high-quality heat insulator and the features of DIY installation.
Disadvantages of ecowool
Today it is almost impossible to find a building or heat-insulating material that would be devoid of drawbacks. Ecowool is no exception. Its disadvantages include:
- Increase in thermal conductivity over time … After a certain time, the thermal insulation qualities of ecowool may decrease. This is due to the fact that when used, the material decreases in volume (about 20% of the total mass). To avoid subsidence of the insulation, it is recommended to lay it with a margin of 20-25%. So it will be possible to cover the reduced volume of ecowool in the future.
- The need for special equipment … This is an expensive pneumatic equipment that assembles the material by spraying. Buying it for a single use is unprofitable. It is recommended to rent equipment. In this case, it is necessary to have at least initial skills in working with it, otherwise the insulation layer may be laid poorly.
- Time-consuming and time-consuming installation … Ecowool can be sprayed with two main methods: dry and wet. In the first case, the material is very dusty, which requires the use of special respiratory and eye protection. In the second case, the insulation layer will dry from 48 to 72 hours, and sometimes longer.
- Limited scope of use … Ecowool has a slight stiffness. Therefore, it is impossible to use this material for insulation under a concrete screed without special frames.
- Risk of shrinkage on vertical surfaces … This applies to those structures on which ecowool was applied with a density below the norm (65 kilograms per cubic meter). As a result, non-insulated cavities appear.
It should be noted that it is not recommended to use cellulose insulation near open sources of fire, on chimneys and chimneys. Due to the constant exposure to high temperatures, ecowool can begin to smolder. To protect it from fire, you need to shield the material with asbestos-cement slabs, basalt mats.
Ecowool selection criteria
Ecowool has no varieties, its technical characteristics, as a rule, are determined by the density of the application and the thickness of the layer. Therefore, when choosing ecowool, it is necessary to pay attention only to its quality and composition.
Recommendations for choosing ecowool:
- Check with the seller or look at the packaging which type of flame retardant was used in the production of the material. The optimal substance is borax. In this case, ecowool will not emit an unpleasant odor, and its fire-fighting qualities will not decrease over time. If ammonium phosphates and sulfates were used in the production of a heat insulator, then when combined with boric acid they will give an unpleasant aroma, and the fire resistance of ecowool will decrease over time.
- It is recommended to buy European-made cellulose insulation, not domestic. The production of ecowool in Russia began not so long ago, so the technology has not been established and poor-quality waste from the cellulose industry and waste paper are often used as raw materials.
- Look carefully at the packaging and markings on it. The lack of data on the manufacturer and the low price should alert and force you to refuse to buy such ecowool. Often, under the guise of a heat insulator, unscrupulous sellers sell shredded cellulose without special additives that ensure the material's fire and biological resistance.
- Pay attention to the consistency of the ecowool. In appearance, the insulation resembles fluff. It must have a homogeneous structure, there are no seals and large cellulose particles in it. Quality material - gray. Splashes of white and yellow shades indicate that low-quality raw materials were used in the production process.
- When exposed to fire, a good ecowool will smolder, and if the source of fire is removed, it will extinguish on its own. If the material behaves differently, then it is not worth buying. And, of course, high-quality insulation must have a certificate of compliance with fire safety standards.
- The packaging should be intact, transparent so that the buyer can appreciate the appearance of the ecowool. There should be no sand at the bottom.
Price and manufacturers of ecowool
The popularity of cellulose insulation has been growing lately. Along with it, the number of ecowool producers is increasing. Let's dwell on those who have earned good reviews about their products:
- Greenfiber … Manufacturer from the USA. It is considered the world leader in the ecowool market. In the process of manufacturing insulation, it uses innovative technologies, high-quality raw materials. The company has all the necessary quality certificates and licenses. The price for this heat insulator starts from 1000 rubles per package (15 kilograms).
- Ekovilla … Finnish company that widely represents its products in our market. The insulation of this brand is environmentally friendly and high technical characteristics. The price of ecowool is about 600 rubles per package.
- Termex … Manufacturer from Finland with a good reputation. In the process of creating ecowool, the energy of wind installations is used. The products are environmentally friendly and of high quality. The cost starts from 550-600 rubles per package.
- Isofloc … A company from Germany that supplies its products all over the world. Ecowool produced by this brand can be used to insulate absolutely any buildings and surfaces. The price starts at 700 rubles per package.
Brief instructions for installing ecowool
There are such methods of applying ecowool on the surface: manual, automatic. The latter is divided into the following subspecies: dry, wet and wet-glue. The essence of the process is the same in all cases - to apply and tamp a layer of insulation. And this can be done manually (floor), which is not easy, since the work is laborious, or using pneumatic equipment (walls, ceiling, facade). Spraying technology is as follows:
- If you are insulating the floor, then we pre-install logs made of wood with a height of at least 12 centimeters.
- If you are going to insulate the walls, you will also need to install the lathing. It is better to use a wooden bar rather than a metal profile.
- When filling the ecowool manually, simply scatter it from the bag over the floor surface, taking into account future shrinkage. Insulation should be poured in between the logs with a slide. We compact the material lightly. The thickness of the ecowool must be at least 10 centimeters.
- When using the equipment, we direct the nozzle to the surface of the wall - and the ecowool will be supplied with a powerful stream. At the same time, it is moistened with water at the outlet, which improves its adhesion properties.
- If you plan to insulate the ceiling, then additional adhesives must be added to the ecowool composition so that the material does not fall off over time. Spraying is carried out in the same way as for wall mounting.
- We add glue to the composition of the heat insulator when spraying on complex structures.
- After the ecowool dries, the excess can be cut off with an ordinary assembly knife. They can be reused for spraying.
The finished coating can be sheathed with decorative panels, plastered and then painted. Watch the video review of ecowool:
Ecowool is a natural insulation that has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. It is environmentally friendly, durable, biologically sustainable. Flame retardants and antibiotics are additionally introduced into the waste composition of the cellulose industry to improve the properties of the heat insulator.
