How to insulate concrete floor: a description of all

Concrete has excellent strength properties and durability, which makes it a very popular building material. But as a floor construction, it is in itself uncomfortable due to the high thermal conductivity. In this article we will look at how to insulate a concrete floor in a private house in order to eliminate this disadvantage.

Insulation materials

Thermal insulation of a concrete floor in a private house implies the use of special materials that increase its thermal insulation qualities. What are the requirements for them put forward?

Tip: If you have enough financial resources, it is recommended to install a water or electric underfloor heating system. Its price is quite high, but the effect is appropriate: you get perfectly warm floors and an economical heating system for the whole house.

Required qualities

• Density. The smaller this indicator is at the insulation, the greater the number of pores in it is located, and, consequently, it is able to retain more heat.
• Strength. The floor is experiencing the greatest load of all the elements of the house, and the material used for its warming should also stand up to it.
• Thermal conductivity. Its high level means fast transfer of heat energy, that is cooling, which is unacceptable.
• Moisture resistance. Especially important if the insulation is placed between the soil and concrete.
• Durability. Remember that only cutting reinforced concrete with diamond circles will allow you to get further to the insulation material. Therefore, it is desirable that he was able to survive the top coating.

Suitable materials

Taking into account the above requirements, let us now consider what to insulate the concrete floor in a private house:

• Mineral wool. Perfectly keeps heat, has a low density and creates, in addition, high-quality sound insulation. But the high moisture absorption and lack of rigidity limits its use by mounting in the raised floor design.

• Styrofoam. The low price, high moisture resistance and low thermal conductivity make this material very popular, but during its operation it is necessary to remember its fragility as well.

• Extruded polystyrene foam. This is, in fact, an improved foam. Its cost is slightly higher, but higher strength indicators make working with it yourself much easier. Its insulation and water resistance are also higher.

• Polyurethane foam. Another remarkable synthetic insulation, endowed with increased resistance to temperature extremes and able to withstand extreme mechanical loads, without losing its technical characteristics.

• Керемзит. Having a low thermal conductivity, this material is usually used to be added to a concrete solution instead of gravel or to fall asleep under it with a kind of pillow, but it should be remembered for its high porosity and consider reliable moisture insulation for it. Also uncomfortable are its large volumes, due to which the level of the floor rises significantly.

• Foam. There are high thermal insulation and moisture-proof properties in combination with absolute environmental friendliness. But weak resistance to mechanical impact makes it more rational to warm the walls with such material, and not the floor.

Insulation technology

Warming of the concrete floor of the first floor is a kind of multi-layer cake. In this case, the insulation can be located as in any of the layers or even several.

The location of the insulating material

• Under the concrete. Ideal, but possible only in the case of work from scratch. Here we lay all the materials on the ground, and then perform the fill.

• Adding to the concrete. This is the case for claydite replacing gravel.
• Over the concrete by mounting a raised floor. Lags are placed on the frozen surface, and between them is a warming substance. On top, everything is covered with a finishing coat. It requires additional costs, but makes it possible to use any insulating material.

• On top of the finish layer. Carpet, cork or soft floors can also improve the comfort of your home.

Tip: it is recommended, if possible, not to be limited to only one layer of insulation. The combination of different methods leads to a stronger effect, which has a positive effect on the creation of favorable living conditions.

Carrying out the necessary work

In order to better understand the method of installation of the insulating material, consider the option in which all of the listed layers of the floor structure are insulated.

Instruction:

1. We fall asleep the "bare" base with a pillow of gravel, after which we carefully rub it down.
2. From above we fill in a thin layer of liquid cement mortar.
3. Further stela polyethylene film to create a waterproofing. Each canvas is laid overlapped with each other and over the walls. Docking seams sizing mounting tape.

1. On the perimeter of the room we glue the damper tape.
2. We stack sheets of extruded polystyrene foam or other material of your choice in a checkerboard pattern for greater reliability.

1. Now again we are covering with a layer of waterproofing. At the same time we glue together the edges of the upper tape with the protruding ends of the bottom with a construction tape, creating a kind of bag for insulation.
2. We install a reinforcing grid, which will increase the strength of the insulation layer, and beacons.

1. Knead the concrete solution, using clay instead of rubble.
2. Fill the floor with the resulting concrete, leveling it with a guideline rule.

1. After complete curing of the screed, you can also install logs by placing sheets of mineral wool between them, or you can restrict yourself to installing carpet or cork.

Conclusion

Concrete itself is cold due to its high thermal conductivity, and therefore needs additional warming. It can be produced both before and after the pouring of the solution, or even to combine several methods. Using the above recommendations, you can easily cope with this task on your own (find out here what bits for drilling concrete can be).

The video in this article will provide additional information. Now you know how to warm the concrete floor on the first floor.