Floor insulation in the apartment. How to insulate the floor in the apartment with your own hands. Common mistakes during thermal insulation of houses and apartments

The warmth and comfort in the rooms directly depends on how cold the floor covering is. Therefore, when starting repairs, you must definitely think about how to insulate the floor in the apartment to the maximum extent possible using methods available under these conditions.

Since the cold from the base spreads upward, it cools the entire space. This happens especially often when the apartment is located on the ground floor, above an unheated basement. This inconvenience is even more pronounced in winter time when the floor slab can even freeze, and then in the spring, as a result, dampness will appear. Such an environment can be fraught with constant colds, and if there are children in the house, then the cold floor is simply dangerous for their health. Therefore, in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from diseases and create a cozy atmosphere in the house, the floor, especially if it - concrete slab, must be thoroughly insulated.

There are several ways to insulate the floor using various materials, and to know which one to choose, you need to consider the most effective ones.

Starting such warming measures in any of the chosen ways, it is necessary to carefully prepare the concrete or wooden base. If this process is not completed, and gaps or cracks remain in the floor, then the waterproofing may become useless, since moisture will get on it from the base, which contributes to the formation of cold bridges, the appearance of mold and fungus colonies. This is especially true for ground floor apartments.

The preparation process consists of several stages:

The first step is the dismantling of the old coating;

All dust is removed with a vacuum cleaner;

Any flaws found are expanded and cleaned, and then treated with a primer, dried and sealed with putty or sealant;

After all the compounds have dried, the concrete surface must be primed with deep penetration compounds and dried;

It is imperative to remove the old skirting boards from the wooden coating and clean the surface under them;

Any insulation involves raising the floors to some height, so the ideal alignment of the base is almost never required - it will be leveled by the insulation layer.

In order to avoid dampness in an apartment on the ground floor or to use a "warm" or "floating" floor system for insulation, it is necessary to arrange waterproofing on the surface.

Floor waterproofing before insulation

Not all types of waterproofing can be suitable for any base or insulation system, so this point needs to be considered in more detail.

Waterproofing can be painting, gluing, cast, plastering and filling.

Paint waterproofing

This method of waterproofing is quite simple and affordable for self-fulfillment. The process will require a special composition, which is made from polymer materials or bituminous. It is applied in several layers on the base and the lower part of the walls, approximately 20-30 cm, using a wide brush and roller.

Such waterproofing will reliably last 5-7 years, but in the future it will have to be updated.

Paint waterproofing is mainly used for concrete coatings.

Gluing waterproofing

Pasting waterproofing is carried out using sheet or roll material made of bitumen-polymer, polymer or bitumen components. Some of the types of such insulation are laid and glued together with a special polymer adhesive, others - bituminous mastic, which is heated before bonding the sheets, or the material is glued to the base. The mastic is heated using a gas burner or a powerful building hair dryer.

This type of waterproofing is applicable only to a concrete base, and it will reliably protect the floor and insulation material from moisture penetration.

The work is carried out in several stages, and it is better to carry it out with a partner:

One and a half to two millimeters of bituminous mastic are applied to a clean surface.
Then one master warms up the mastic, and the second applies waterproofing material, presses it and flattens it. There can be two or three such layers, they must be laid perpendicular to each other or with a significant displacement of the seams.
Waterproofing material is fixed not only on the base of the floor, but also on the walls, to the height 50-100 mm above the level of the future floor.
Particular attention should be paid to the corners, as this is the most vulnerable place for moisture to penetrate.

As a result, a kind of waterproof container should be obtained on the basis.

This type of waterproofing is well suited for all types of insulation, whether it is bulk material or made in the form of mats or rolls.

Cast waterproofing

Cast waterproofing is performed using special materials that form a waterproof film on surfaces. Installation of bulk material can be done hot or cold:

- "liquid rubber" or "liquid glass" is a cold way to create a waterproof barrier on the surface;

Polymer-asphalt or asphalt waterproofing is applied in a state heated to 145-150 ºС.

As a cast waterproofing, "liquid rubber" is very often used.

The arrangement of this waterproofing is carried out in the same way as others, in stages:

Some materials are sold already in liquid form, and some must be diluted, following the instructions on the package;

In addition, you need to know that for each cast waterproofing material, you need to select the appropriate primer, which is used to treat the surface before pouring;

A cold or heated composition is poured onto the prepared and primed surface and spread over the surface with a doctor blade or a wide spatula.

The waterproofing material has the ability to penetrate into the pores of the base and create a reliable film on its surface. cold way pouring is suitable for both wooden and concrete floors, while hot - only for a concrete base.

Plaster waterproofing

Plaster waterproofing is performed using cement-containing mixtures with additives from polymers. Diluted to the desired consistency, the composition is applied to the entire surface of the subfloor in several layers. Each next layer is applied only after the previous one has completely dried.

To date, many types of plaster waterproofing from different manufacturers are on sale, and when purchasing it, you should pay attention to the composition of the mixture and the bases recommended for it. Basically, plaster waterproofing is used for a concrete base. Apply the material with a brush or spatula in two or three layers.

Layable waterproofing

A common plastic film is very popular for waterproofing in apartments. It has a sufficient thickness (about 200 microns or more) and is able to withstand a significant load. The film sheets are overlapped by 20-25 centimeters and hermetically fastened together with waterproof tape.

Polyethylene is evenly spread on the base, pressed tightly at the joints of the floor and wall, and then fixed with construction tape at a height of 25-30 cm. After the arrangement of the entire floor is completed, it will not be difficult to cut off the excess film.

It can be noted that there are still filling, impregnating and injection methods of waterproofing, but they are not quite suitable for apartment conditions. These options are more suitable for private houses, garages, basements and technical rooms.

Ways to insulate the floor in the apartment

IN last years Increasingly, for insulation measures, the “warm floor” system is used. It can be of three types, which differ significantly in installation. The easiest way to install a "warm floor" is infrared film. More complex and requiring more labor-intensive processes is a heating system using an electric cable or with laying pipes through which hot water circulates.

Infrared warm floor

The infrared heating system is a multilayer thin film in which heating elements are installed. Such a system is powered by electricity, but compared to a cable floor, it consumes much less electricity. In addition, it is much easier to lay under any decorative coating.

The infrared floor requires a rigid base with a low thermal conductivity - it can be plywood or gypsum fiber plates.
A thin insulating material is laid on the prepared concrete or wooden base, for example, rolled cork or polyethylene foam with foil reflective surface.

Next, on the heater fit gypsum fiber plates or sheets of plywood - it is better to fix them to the base. If the base is even, and the apartment is not located on the first floor, you can do without additional coverage of the base, but lay the film directly on the insulating substrate.
The sheets of the substrate are fastened together with the help of construction adhesive tape.
Thermal film is laid out on top of the insulation. heating elements should not overheat, so you need to immediately determine the places where the furniture will be permanently installed, and do not lay the film in these places.
For a normal insulating effect, it is enough that the infrared material covers 70-75% of the surface of the entire area.
Cloths of infrared "warm floor" are laid at a distance of 5-10 cm from each other or end-to-end.

Since the film is sold in rolls, it will definitely have to be cut, but this is done only in certain places, which are indicated on the material with a dashed line.
The length of each of the strips should be no more than 7.5-8 m. The connection of the entire system is carried out on one side. The wires are led to the thermostat - this device can be permanently connected to the mains, or directly plugged into a socket specially installed for it. The temperature controller maintains the set temperature, the data on which comes to it from a temperature sensor fixed under the infrared film.
Further, after the installation of the infrared floor, any decorative coating can be laid on top of it.

Since the film has a thickness of only 0.4 mm, the height of the insulation will depend on decorative coating. It can serve as linoleum, laminate, carpet, parquet board or ceramic tile. If a non-rigid coating is laid on top of the thermal film, it is recommended that plywood be first laid on the insulation system, and then carpet or laminate should be laid on it. But, it should be noted that the effect of warming in this case will be reduced.
It is quite possible to lay the entire floor system on your own, but to connect it, it is better to invite a knowledgeable electrician.

Water and electric floor heating systems

The scheme of water and electric (using a cable or mats) floor insulation is in many ways similar to each other, unless, of course, we take into account the purely technological nuances of connecting to energy supply systems, control and management devices. . The preparation of the grounds for one and the other option does not differ from each other.

On waterproofed surface, so that heat does not go to the base, it is best to lay foil insulation, and then a reinforcing mesh or special mats for laying pipes or cables are installed on it.

The use of special mats for insulation will be a great convenience - in fact, this is an electric cable fixed on a polymer mesh base.

The heating elements (water circuit) can be arranged in different ways - in the form of a snake, a snail, or they can run parallel to each other and be connected from different sides to one common pipe (collector) or power source.

After everything is ready, from above established design a screed with a thickness of at least 50 ÷ 70 mm is poured. If insulating electric mats are used, then ceramic tiles can be laid directly on them.

A finishing decorative coating is mounted on top of the frozen screed.

Insulated floor on logs

Floor insulation using a log is quite simple. However, you need to remember that the floors will rise to the height of the lag, plus the thickness of the plywood or board. Therefore, this method is suitable in apartments with high ceilings, or if the height of the ceiling does not play a special role for the owner of the home.

Usually used as a lag wooden bars or boards of the required height.
The floor surface is marked out, and logs are fixed along the marked lines to the waterproofing. The distance between them must be calculated based on the width of the mineral wool mats that will be used as insulation. If loose insulation is used, then the bars can be installed arbitrarily, but no further than 60 cm from each other.
In addition, you need to remember that the logs should not be installed close to the wall, but at a distance of 10-15 cm from it, since insulation will need to be laid in this gap.
After installing the lag, insulation is laid or poured between them. Further, it is recommended to close it with a vapor barrier film, which is fixed to the logs with brackets.
On top of this structure is laid massive board or plywood, which will serve as the basis for a decorative coating.
This method will not only insulate the floor well, but also serve as reliable sound insulation from noise from the lower apartment.

Video: floor insulation by raising the logs with laying blocks of mineral wool

Floor insulation dry screed

Recently, the method of warming with a dry screed has become more and more popular. This option, like the previous one, will help solve three problems at once - this will significantly reduce audibility, insulate the floor and level the surface.

When installing a dry screed, waterproofing is indispensable in any case, no matter what floor the apartment is on.
IN doorway insulated room, a partition is installed, on which, as well as on the walls, a polyethylene
Warming and leveling the floor with a dry screed
- Since the guides are not left in the dry screed floor, the beacon system should be easily removable, not fixed to the base.
- Along the perimeter of the room, along the bottom of the wall, a damper tape is glued, which will serve as a good compensator for thermal expansion of the coating material.
- After that, you can pour out the expanded clay mixture of a fine fraction just above the beacons and level it with the rule, leading it along the beacons.
- Backfill can fill the entire area at once, or you can carry out work sections, i.e. having filled up part of the floor between two beacons, lay out plates on its surface, and then continue backfilling further.
- Special gypsum fiber panels are laid on the leveled expanded clay, on which lock joints are provided that allow you to join the edge of one plate to another, having previously applied glue to them. From above, the panels are additionally fastened with self-tapping screws. Thus, a perfectly smooth smooth coating is created. Such a floor is strong enough, reliable and will last for many years.
- On a dry screed, you can lay any coating or even additionally arrange a film infrared warm floor system on top of it.
- The installation of a dry screed is not a very complicated process, so it is possible to carry out such floor insulation in one room in just one or two days, without diluting a lot of dirt in the rest of the apartment.
It is quite possible to insulate the floor in an apartment on your own, without resorting to the help of highly paid specialists. In order for any insulation system to work effectively, it is necessary to carry out each stage of work with high quality with the implementation of all technological recommendations.

It is necessary to deal with the insulation of the apartment even at the stage of repair, although some people realize it a few years after its completion. And if it is still possible to correct the situation with the help of wall insulation, then doing the same with the floor is much more difficult. Therefore, insulating floors in an apartment should be a top priority, especially when the property is located on the ground floor.

In this article we will talk about how to insulate the floor in the apartment.

Types of floor for an apartment

IN modern apartments Two types of flooring are usually installed:

Concrete;
Wooden.

We will talk about their features below.

Wooden floor

Wooden board remains one of the most common types of coatings. The advantage of such flooring is environmental friendliness, presentable appearance, practicality and affordable price. The wood coating makes the flooring warmer, but even in this case it is necessary to insulate the floor in the apartment on the 1st floor.

Concrete floor

In multi-storey buildings in apartments, concrete flooring is most often found. They are based on concrete slabs. If on the middle floors they warm up a little, since there are living quarters above and below, then the insulation of the floor of the first floor in the apartment is simply necessary in order to walk on it without fear of catching a cold.

Wooden floor insulation

For insulation under the rough coating wooden flooring put insulating material. The instructions for warming in this case are as follows:

First, logs are installed on the interfloor ceiling in one plane along the horizontal level - wooden beams, the size of which is 70 * 50 cm. The logs should be placed at intervals of 35-40 cm.
Insulation is laid between the lags.
A rough coating is installed on top of the insulation.

Advice! As a rough coating, you can use moisture-resistant plywood, floorboards, chipboard.

At the end, a finishing coating (parquet, laminate, etc.) is laid on the rough coating.

Underfloor heating options

In order for the insulated floors in the apartment not only to retain heat, but also to heat the air, they can be used different types warm floors.

Such coatings are divided into:

Electrical. They can be mounted directly into the screed (if used heating cable) or laid on top of the rough coating (if heating mats are used).
infrared. They are a special film installed under the finish coating.
Water. In this case, the coolant (water) circulates through pipes built into the screed. Water in this case is constantly heated and pumped into the heating system.

Warm floors in an apartment on the ground floor will not be superfluous, because the better it is to insulate the floor in the apartment, the more comfortable it will be.

Insulation of concrete floors

In order to insulate the concrete flooring in the apartment, the insulating material should be placed between the ceiling and the leveling screed.

The technology in this case involves the creation of a multilayer structure.

First, a thick film is laid on the concrete floor in such a way that at the joints it overlaps by at least 10 cm. The film is used to create waterproofing.

Advice! To prevent the film from wrapping, you can fix it with tape.

The selected insulation is placed directly on the film. Insulation sheets should be placed as close as possible to each other, as well as to the walls.
Another layer of a thick film is laid on top of the insulation, which ensures the moisture resistance of the entire insulation structure.
The floor surface is reinforced with a metal mesh.
At the final stage, a cement screed is poured.

Floor insulation materials

In order to effectively insulate the floor, you need to choose the right insulation for the floor in the apartment. Today, the choice of such materials is quite large.

Vermiculite

Vermiculite is considered the most environmentally friendly insulation today. It is obtained by processing mineral products. Sold in the form of plates, the thickness of which varies from 20 to 60 cm.

Tiled vermiculite is a rather expensive material, but you can use its analogue - granular vermiculite, the price of which is much lower. Vermiculite does not accumulate moisture, which is very important for an insulating layer.

In the photo - tiled vermiculite

Mineral wool

This is a cheap insulation that provides low heat transfer. If you are thinking about how to insulate the floors in an apartment so that it is cheap and effective, mineral wool will be an excellent solution.

However, it also has disadvantages: over time, wool becomes denser, which means that its thermal insulation properties decrease. In addition, it is not entirely safe for health.

Styrofoam

Polyfoam provides low thermal conductivity, prevents the formation of condensate, eliminates air convection inside the insulation layer. In addition, it is cheap and environmentally friendly. The disadvantages of polystyrene include its fragility and susceptibility to aggressive environmental influences.

Expanded clay

The advantages of expanded clay include strength, low thermal conductivity, durability. However, it absorbs moisture to a large extent, so you need to consider a competent floor waterproofing system.

gypsum fiber

Most often used as . This material is ineffective as a heater.

Polyurethane foam (PPU)

This is an innovative material that can be used to insulate any surface. Unlike other materials, PPU is simply sprayed onto the surface. This type of thermal insulation is considered the most effective today.

Bulk insulation

For floor insulation, special mixtures are also used, called self-leveling floors. They provide high heat and noise insulation, as well as waterproofing and fire safety. These coatings are environmentally friendly materials, and they can be mounted by hand.

We talked about how to insulate the floor in the apartment. We also examined the types of insulation materials used today. We hope our tips are helpful to you.

Get Additional information on the topic can be from the video in this article.

The floor is the coolest surface in the room. Even at relatively warm air temperatures, the floor can remain cold. There is nothing strange in this. Let's remember the laws of physics: cool air always goes down, and warm air goes up. But that's not all. Cold penetrates into the floor coverings of our apartments through interpanel joints, corner cracks, and damp basements. Through a poorly insulated floor, up to 20-30% of the heat can leave the room! At the same time, heating bills increase, and the rooms are still cold. In this case, it's time to start thinking about how to insulate the floors in the apartment. This will help reduce heat loss and create a more comfortable indoor climate.

Choosing an insulating material

The floor is insulated with materials with high thermal insulation properties that prevent heat from escaping outside the room. For these purposes, the most popular are:

Bulk materials(expanded clay, wood concrete, shavings) - have good thermal insulation qualities, are relatively inexpensive;
Mineral wool and glass wool- effective in terms of heat and sound insulation, fireproof, not susceptible to infection by fungi and rodent attacks, hygroscopic (require mandatory vapor barrier);
Styrofoam and expanded polystyrene- materials are moisture resistant, not subject to deformation, do not ignite, conduct heat poorly, muffle sound noises.

It is impossible to say which of these materials is the best. You need to choose based on your financial capabilities and the functionality of the insulated room.

Wooden base insulation

The traditional way of warming is laying the selected type of heat insulator in the space between the lags.

Scheme of warming a wooden floor along the logs

To do this, perform the following steps. The first step is to remove the old floor covering, open the floor. A vapor barrier layer is laid, for example, a polyethylene or polypropylene film. Unfold the material and lay the strips on top wooden frame floors, overlapping them by 15-20 cm. The joints are securely insulated with special adhesive tape. When laying, a vapor barrier film is placed on the walls to a height of 3-5 cm.

Laying a vapor barrier film is necessary so that moisture does not penetrate into the insulation layer

A heater is laid between the lags. When using expanded clay, it is evenly poured between the lags, leveling to one level with the rule. Sheet or roll insulation is laid close to the logs, without gaps.

Formation of an insulating layer of mineral wool

On top of the insulation (if mineral wool or glass wool was used), another layer of vapor barrier is created.

The second layer of vapor barrier protects the insulation from steam penetrating into the ceiling from the room

Expanded polystyrene is an affordable insulation that does not absorb moisture and is quite easy to install. You can read more about the use of such material in our article:.

Lay over insulated floor wooden planks, dense plywood, OSB or GVL sheets.

If necessary, install the finish coating: laminate, parquet, linoleum, carpet, etc.

concrete floor insulation

In most cases, the floors in the apartments of urban high-rise buildings are reinforced concrete slabs. The concrete floor itself is very cold, but if you add to this the gaps between the slabs, insufficiently tight joints between the walls and the floor, then it becomes truly icy. Therefore, the insulation of the concrete surface is a top priority for residents of multi-storey buildings who seek to increase comfort in their apartments.

Each master involved in insulation derives his own formula for the ideal insulating "pie" on concrete slabs. Consider the most popular of the possible options.

Option number 1 - insulation + screed

It is possible to significantly improve the thermal insulation properties of a concrete floor by laying insulation between the floor slab and the cement leveling screed. In this case, the floor insulation in the apartment is performed as follows. The first step is to remove the old floor covering, remove the screed. The surface of the slab is cleaned of debris, dust, and irregularities from the remnants of the cement screed are eliminated.

Insulation of the floor in the apartment with the help of heat-insulating material and reinforced screed

Then perform vapor barrier. On concrete base lay a polyethylene or polypropylene film, laying the strips overlapping by 15-20 cm and leading 3-5 cm onto the walls. The overlap joints are insulated with special adhesive tape. A foam plastic with a minimum thickness of 50 mm and a density of 25 mm is laid on the vapor barrier film. Styrofoam can be used instead of polystyrene, mineral wool and so on. Insulation sheets are laid as close as possible to each other so that cold bridges do not form in the seams. After that, another layer of vapor barrier is laid. If foam or polystyrene foam was used as a heater, then this step can be skipped.

Now a metal mesh with square cells is laid (cell side - 50-100 mm). The mesh will act as a frame for the cement screed, making it more durable. A cement screed with a minimum thickness of 50 mm is poured over the mesh. A thinner screed will be unreliable - after a while it will begin to crack and crumble. Cement strainer must dry, it will take about two weeks. After that, to strengthen the top layer, it is necessary to cover it with a primer. After all this, any decorative coating is laid on the screed.

Expanded clay is well suited for warming concrete floors. You will learn about how to properly use such a heater in the material:.

Option number 2 - insulation along the lags, without the use of wet processes

This option is similar to the insulation of a wooden floor. The difference is that logs are initially provided in the thickness of the wooden floor, between which it is convenient to lay any type of insulation. In case of concrete floors these lags will have to be designed independently.

Insulation of the concrete floor along the logs eliminates wet processes and does not weigh down the floor

The technology of concrete floor insulation along the logs:

1. First of all, they clean the concrete slab from the old screed, debris and dust.

2. Arrange waterproofing. It is convenient to use ready-made waterproofing polymer-bitumen solutions, which are applied to the concrete surface with a roller or brush. Another option is to use a vapor barrier film for these purposes, which is laid out on the floor with an overlap, leading to adjacent walls. If you want to save money, then the most acceptable material for hydro and vapor barrier will be ordinary polyethylene film.

3. Lags are installed at a distance of no more than 0.9 m from each other, if you take a step more, then the floors will sag. Instead of a log, if bulk material is supposed to be used for insulation, metal beacons are attached to the floor.

Installation wooden lag on the concrete floor

4. Lay the selected insulation. Suitable for both mineral wool and polystyrene, and any variant of loose thermal insulation materials. Insulation in the form of sheets or rolls, laid out tightly, without gaps between the lags. Bulk material (for example, expanded clay) is poured between beacons and leveled to one level with a metal rule.

5. Lay the floor. To do this, you can use sheets of plywood, GVL, OSB, chipboard with a thickness of 10-15 mm. It is safer to lay them in two layers so that the seams of the lower sheets overlap with the panels of the upper sheets. Thus, the floor covering will be seamless, which will eliminate the possibility of cold bridges. After laying, the layers of sheets are connected to each other and to the lags (beacons) using self-tapping screws.

Laying sheets of dense material (plywood, GVL, etc.) on logs

6. Suitable for any floor finish.

IN small video you will clearly demonstrate the process of warming along the lags:

Features of floor insulation by spraying

In addition to the above methods of insulation, there is another, professional one - spraying a thin layer of polyurethane foam (PPS) on the base of the floor. As a result, a monolithic, devoid of seams, surface with a thickness of 50-100 mm is formed on the floor. The technology for applying PPS involves the use of special equipment and some skills, so this work can only be done by specialists.

For spraying, high-pressure equipment is used, which allows the material to be applied to the floor in the form of an aerosol liquid. In a matter of seconds, this liquid spray layer turns into rigid polyurethane foam. The efficiency of the obtained heat-insulating layer surpasses any other heaters - PPS has a lower thermal conductivity than mineral wool, foam plastic, expanded clay, foam concrete, etc. In addition, polyurethane foam is absolutely moisture resistant, therefore it does not need additional hydro and vapor barrier. This material does not require floor preparation before application, is not damaged by rodents, does not rot, does not burn. The service life of the heat-insulating layer of PPS is estimated by the manufacturers of this material at 30-50 years.

Polyurethane foam - effective method creating a warming and waterproofing coating in the apartment

Alternative ways of warming

If the heat loss through the floor is small, then you can use more simple ways insulation. Their essence is to use as floor covering material with low thermal conductivity.

The simplest thing is to lay carpet or carpet on the existing floor. Products made of natural wool with a long pile have the greatest warming properties.

Another option is to use thickened linoleum on a warm substrate (felt, jute) or on a foam base. Similarly, it is possible to “insulate” a laminate by laying a thickened cork, polyethylene or expanded polystyrene underlay under it.

So that the floor even in winter holds comfortable temperature, it is not necessary to use additional heating systems and "warm floor" designs. In most cases, to increase the floor temperature by several degrees, it is enough to properly insulate it with the help of available materials.

How to insulate the floor in the apartment? Some may find this question strange. However, it is more relevant than ever for everyone who lives on the ground floor in a high-rise building. Walking on a cold floor is not pleasant. So the owners of such housing invent a bicycle. Although all floor heaters in the apartment have been used for a long time and repeatedly, you just need to choose the right one and lay it correctly.

How are the floors insulated in the apartment?

In old houses, the interfloor ceilings and floors are wooden. True, such structures are becoming rarer and rarer. However, for owners of apartments in such houses, the topic of wood floor insulation is very relevant.

In modern high-rise buildings, the interfloor floors and the subfloor (on the ground floor) are concrete. This material, unlike wood, is always unpleasantly cold. Therefore, it is necessary to insulate it.

Natural heaters

Expanded clay is perfect for thermal insulation of the floor in an apartment on the ground floor. The insulation is made from burnt clay. There are different fractions - gravel (rounded granules of all shades Brown), crushed stone (glassy formations with colored inclusions), sand. Gravel is most often used to insulate floors in an apartment.

Specifications of expanded clay:

thermal conductivity is much higher than that of artificial insulation, up to 0.16 W / m * K (the parameter depends on the clay and its firing technology);
water absorption - 8 - 20%;
density - 250 - 800 kg / m 3.

Insulation can be used both for thermal insulation of concrete interfloor ceilings, and for pouring a warm screed on the ground floor in an apartment.

Artificial insulation

No matter how good expanded clay is, not everyone wants to mess with its installation. Therefore, most often the choice is made in favor of artificial thermal insulation. Floor insulation in the apartment is done:

mineral wool (relevant for a wooden base);
ecowool (suitable for wooden and concrete floors);
extruded polystyrene foam (penoplex) in plates and balls;
polyurethane foam.

Mineral wool

On sale you can find many of its varieties from a variety of manufacturers (Rockwool, Knauf, Izover and others). Usually, floor insulation in an apartment is recommended to be carried out with basalt wool. Among her specifications worth highlighting:

rather low thermal conductivity (up to 0.048 W / m * K);
low water absorption (not >2%);
good vapor permeability (0.3 mg / m * h * Pa);
complete absence of flammability (melting point - 1000 ° C);
good soundproofing properties;
high tensile strength;
inert to chemical and organic solvents.

Important . Laying mineral wool on the floor in the apartment can be done independently along the logs. Double-sided waterproofing is required.

Ecowool

This floor insulation can be called environmentally friendly for humans. Ecowool is produced from waste paper with the addition of an antiseptic and flame retardant, usually borax and boric acid.

You can fill the insulation in the floor yourself (requires the installation of a log). However, without knowing the exact laying technology, you can make a mistake by laying ecowool below the required density. In this case, after a while, it will shrink with the formation of non-insulated cavities. Therefore, it is better to seek help from professionals.

Among positive qualities ecowool worth noting:

good heat and noise insulation (up to 0.041 W / m * K and 63 dB with a layer thickness of 5 cm);
vapor permeability like mineral wool;
low breathability.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Penoplex is superior to polystyrene in many respects. It has minimal water absorption and almost no vapor and air permeability. It is quite durable, easy to cut. Has a small specific gravity, easy to install (you can insulate the floor yourself).

Insulation burns weakly and fades when exposure stops open fire. Recommended for use under a concrete screed (similar to foam plastic) in apartments on the ground floor with a ceiling height of 2.7 m, as well as for equipment of the "warm floor" system.

Many technical characteristics of penoplex are attractive:

thermal conductivity - 0.03 W / m * K;
water absorption - 0.6%;
vapor permeability tends to zero;
high strength;
inert to most solvents, with the exception of organic ones.

polyurethane foam

Sprayed floor insulation wins in many respects. The thermal conductivity of polyurethane foam is the lowest in the group of artificial heaters (from 0.019 W / m * K), water absorption, vapor permeability and the required material thickness sufficient for insulation are minimal.

Thermal insulation of different densities is produced (18 - 300 kg / m 3). Most of the pores of sprayed polyurethane foam are closed (up to 95% of the total). The material is non-combustible.

Advice . Insulation of floors with polyurethane foam in the apartment should be carried out by qualified specialists. Although you can already find disposable installations for independent work on sale.

Floor insulation technology on the lower floor

The first floor in multi-storey buildings always stands on a concrete slab. It is not very convenient to insulate it with expanded clay. First of all, because it will take quite a lot of backfill material. Secondly, the insulation is dusty, and this is not very convenient in a residential area. And one more important point - floor insulation with expanded clay can be carried out in rooms with a height of 2.7 m and above, since the required thickness of thermal insulation is at least 15 cm.

How to insulate a concrete floor in an apartment? The issue can be solved by pouring a warm concrete screed and installing an "electric floor heating" system. Both types of expanded polystyrene in plates, as well as polystyrene in balls, are suitable for solving this problem. Balls are added to concrete mix, which is then poured into the floor.

Particular attention should be paid to the basis:

The subfloor should be relatively level. Therefore, it is checked by a level and, if significant deviations from the horizontal are detected, a thin-layer alignment is made with a self-leveling mixture.
After it dries, dense polyethylene is laid.
From above, tightly to each other, foam plates. The joints are coated with sealant.
After that, a reinforcing mesh is installed on special supports and the insulated subfloor is poured with concrete.

The second option for insulation (it is no better and no worse than the first) is the installation of wooden logs on the concrete floor, laying waterproofing on them, then mineral wool mats, which are covered with vapor barrier from above. Lay a finishing coating of tongue-and-groove boards on top.

Summarizing what has been said

What is the best way to insulate the floor in the apartment? To make a decision, you need to answer yourself a few questions:

How much finance will be allocated for floor insulation.
How it is planned to carry out the work, independently or with the help of masters.
Are you going to equip the "warm floor" system?
Will you make additional floor insulation with cork (as a topcoat or as a substrate for linoleum, laminate, parquet, carpet).

Important . When the answers are found, you can begin to analyze the technical characteristics of heaters and make a choice.

The cheapest option for the floor is foam, then comes foam. Both types of expanded polystyrene are recommended to be laid in a concrete screed, they are also suitable for equipment of the "warm electric floor" system.

Mineral wool is more expensive, it is not used in the screed, it is ideal for a wooden floor. Ecowool is used in the same way. Both heaters are used for thermal insulation along the logs of the concrete floor.

Polyurethane foam has the lowest thermal conductivity; it is not poured into the screed. It is used for thermal insulation of any floors.

For additional insulation, use a spectacular-looking cork flooring. Walking on it is pleasant at any time of the year.

We are accustomed to thinking that floor insulation concerns only private houses. The question of how to insulate the floor in an apartment on the 1st floor is also acute.

However, such work must be carried out in all premises if you want to save on utility bills.

Materials for insulation

Features of work on warming depend on the chosen method and on the material used.

Take a vapor-insulating film with a margin, since we will put its edges on the walls. And if you are going to use mineral wool, then remember that it must be covered on both sides.

The material must necessarily be enough for the entire space between the lags.

How to insulate the floor in the apartment

We warm the concrete floor

After two weeks, we proceed to the primer, and then close it with a decorative coating.

Thermal insulation along the lags

This option is very similar to the insulation of wooden floors.

We need a timber, it should be fairly even, dry and without any defects.

Chipboard, plywood and polystyrene as insulation options

This option is not suitable for people whose apartments are located on the 1st floor

We insulate the floor in the apartment with polystyrene foam

This is the most sought after insulation in the modern world.

It has good water resistance. And it will last as long as a wooden coating, so you will have to replace it only at the next repair in 50 years.

Very compact, so when using it, the height of the floor will not change much. It can be laid on concrete, soil, even without preliminary insulation from moisture.

The warm floor enters our life with improbable speed. Now not only private, but also multi-storey buildings have elements of a warm floor. It is either water or electric.

Mounted in the screed or on top of it.

If you want a quality floor that will last a long time, contact the experts.