Proper insulation of the house is an extremely important issue. Lack of properly made thermal insulation of the building results in higher costs associated with heating, as well as the formation of moisture and, in the worst case, mold and mildew on the walls. Wanting to take care of proper insulation of our building we can choose from different materials, but which of them will perform best in this role? This is discussed below.
Roof, floor, window and door openings or walls, all these places cause that heat starts to escape from our house. This leads to higher heating bills, especially in winter when temperatures outside drop below freezing. According to many studies the most critical places in the buildings, through which most heat escapes from apartments, are roofs and walls. Lack of insulation or its improper execution generates heat losses of up to 30%, so it is very important to properly secure them.
When hearing about insulating buildings, most of us have in mind stretches of Styrofoam which are laid on the walls. It is not surprising at all. This material has been used for this purpose in the construction industry for years, mainly due to its low price and low heat transfer coefficient. However, it does not mean that it is the best solution
In addition to the fact that it allows you to perform insulation of buildings quickly and cheaply, it has no more advantages. Styrofoam, even the best one, after about 8 years from its installation on the walls starts to undergo the process of oxidation, which translates into its worse insulating parameters. Additionally, this material does not breathe which may result in dampening of the space between the Styrofoam layer and the wall. Collected in this way water vapor then begins to condense, causing the formation of efflorescence of mold, which not only looks unsightly, but is also dangerous to the health of household members.
A much better choice than the styrofoam described above is to perform insulation of buildings using mineral wool or glass wool. These materials are also cheap and easy to install and what is more, they are characterized by hydrophobic properties. Thanks to that insulated surfaces can breathe
An additional advantage of these materials is that they can be used for insulation of all elements in the building, not only walls, but also ceilings, floors or roofs. However, it should be remembered to choose the right density of mineral wool for the given surface, so that it is not damaged too quickly and retains its parameters for as long as possible.
In recent years, an innovative insulation solution– polyurethane foam – has become very popular. Its advantage is the fact that after application on the surface, the foam volume increases several times, filling all gaps. Thanks to this, it thermally insulates all even the most inaccessible places. Additionally, it is characterized by very low heat and moisture permeability. Polyurethane foam is most often recommended for thermal insulation of attics, roofs and partitions in wall frames.
Those who can afford to make thermal insulation, can try to improve the permeability parameter of buildings with quick ways that will temporarily reduce the amount of heat escaping from the building. One of them is to seal windows and doorways leading to the outside, to unheated attics or basements. This solution will minimize heat loss from 10 to even 20%, which will translate into significantly lower costs associated with heating the building, especially during cold winters.
