Insulating a house with blown-in cotton wool

Advantages of insulating a house with cellulose

The material entered the market relatively recently, it is difficult to blow out and requires specialized equipment for this. Moreover, the cost of recycled cellulose is relatively high. Despite all this, it is considered one of the best insulation materials that exist in the construction industry. Why? Let's try to figure this out.

1. Excellent thermal conductivity, the performance of which is superior to many mineral and synthetic insulation materials (0.032-0.041). It is used for blowing out narrow walls, where it is necessary to achieve maximum thermal efficiency with a minimum layer of installed material.
2. Almost zero air transmission. Due to this, the temperature of the inner layer of this material is always high and even with low heating inside the room, the heat does not go anywhere and accumulates inside.
3. Increased viscosity ensures excellent flow around all objects. If you take an electric overt screw and use a large self-tapping screw to screw the shelf to the wall, then the metal of the self-tapping screw is enveloped in cotton wool and does not in any way reduce its integrity. The situation is similar with bolts, studs and other items.
4. After blowing, all seams are missing, as a result - cold air does not penetrate into the room through the “weak areas” of the house, as happens when treating the surface with slabs.
5. Environmentally friendly. Recycled cellulose is absolutely safe for humans, and all additives present in the mixture are non-volatile. Even when heated to +200C, they do not emit substances harmful to the body .
6. Biological stability. Mice, insects and other pests will not bother you - you don’t have to worry about it.
7. Possibility of application to the most inaccessible places, including remote voids in the walls, roof, floor and everything that can be found in the house. Thanks to modern equipment, it can be blown out under high pressure, which guarantees increased processing density in each area.
8. Moisture resistance. You don’t have to worry about the safety of the material in a humid environment.

Ecowool, the pros and cons of which we discuss in the article, is relevant in many cases, especially in the construction of country houses. It can save up to 50% of money on heating a room if done correctly and used as the main insulation of the house. However, ecowool has disadvantages, although small, but large.

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Low heat loss, vapor permeability, light weight and non-flammability - these advantages of blown-in wool make it a popular thermal insulation material. Thanks to the automation of the installation process, the speed of insulation increases eight times compared to rolled materials. Learn the basic secrets of working with blown-in wool and get valuable advice from roof insulation specialists.

Table of contents:

1. Pros and cons of blown wool - characteristics of the material
2. Calculation of insulation thickness with your own hands
3. Installation instructions for blown-in wool - technology and recommendations
4. Do-it-yourself device for installing blow-in cotton wool
5. Safety precautions for thermal insulation of a roof - methods of insulating a roof with ecowool

Pros and cons of blown wool - characteristics of the material

There are three options for blown wool in relation to its composition:

• basalt;
• glass wool;
• ecowool.

Mineral or basalt wool is made using basalt stones. The uniqueness of the composition ensures complete environmental safety of the material. Mineral blown wool does not contain formaldehyde and is not capable of forming glass dust, unlike glass wool.

Basalt and blown glass wool are made from scraps of thermal insulation boards. Cellulose wadding is based on recycled waste paper. Additional fire retardant and antiseptic compounds prevent rotting and burning of the material.

Let us note the following advantages of basalt-based blown wool:

1. Low level of thermal conductivity. Thanks to this, 4-5 times less heat is used to heat the house.

2. Light weight does not load the general structures of the building; blown-in wool is used both for insulation of walls and floors, and for thermal insulation of roofing floors.

3. The material has high vapor permeability and moisture-repellent properties. These indicators reduce the risk of developing fungus and mold in areas insulated with blown-in wool.

4. The fire safety of the building is ensured by absolute non-combustibility.

5. Basalt blown wool does not rot and has a long service life.

Another advantage of blown-in wool is its ease of installation. Thanks to the foamed consistency, the material gets into all the nooks and crannies. However, special compressor equipment is required to install the insulation. Automation of installation work can significantly increase the speed of laying insulation.

Blown-in cotton wool forms an integral seamless structure, inside which cold bridges do not form. The risk of additional heat losses is reduced. The insulation is installed both during the construction of the house and after the main finishing has been completed.

High-quality blow-in cotton wool has a uniform consistency, fills all voids, forming a continuous, even and dense layer. Using blown-in wool, pipes and building structures of various shapes and configurations are insulated.

Among the disadvantages of blown-in cotton wool, we note:

• the need to use special equipment to supply material under pressure;
• When installing blow-in wool on plasterboard structures, make sure that they are laid in two layers, otherwise they will swell;
• mineral and glass wool needs additional waterproofing;
• It is used most often for insulating structures with large volumes; it is inappropriate to order expensive equipment for insulating one wall of a house.

Calculation of insulation thickness with your own hands

When performing calculations to determine the thickness of the insulation, consider factors such as:

• the material from which the walls of the house are made;
• thermal resistance of the climatic region;
• number of windows and doors;
• additional heat losses;
• insulation composition;
• thermal transfer.

When insulating a house with cellulose-based blown-in wool, pay attention to the following indicators - an insulation thickness of fifteen centimeters is equal to:

• eighteen centimeters of mineral wool;
• forty-six centimeters of foam concrete;
• half-meter wooden beam;
• ninety centimeters of expanded clay;
• one and a half meters of brickwork.

Cellulose blown wool has an affordable price. The material resists the formation of fungus and mold. Environmental safety allows the use of blown-in cotton wool in any premises. The thickness of its installation depends on the density of the material used.

When calculating the thickness of the insulation, pay attention to the resistance of thermal transfer to the material. In order to determine the degree-day heating time, use the formula:

GSOP=(t8-t0t)ХЗot

• t8 - temperature in the house - its optimal value is from 18 to 22 degrees Celsius;
• he is the average air temperature;
• Zot - the number of days in which heating is used.

After determining this value, decide on the thickness of the insulation on the walls, ceiling, and floor. In addition, take into account the material from which the walls are constructed; for brick, concrete, wood and foam concrete, the indicators will be different.

For more accurate calculations, read the manufacturer’s recommendations on the number of layers for applying blown-in wool to various structures.

Installation instructions for blown-in wool - technology and recommendations

Ecowool is applied using a blow molding machine using a wet-glue or dry method. The first method is based on spraying an insulating layer: ecowool, adhesive solution, glue and a special dispersion. Next, the layer is cut to the required dimensions and dried. This method is called visual, since the specialist has the ability to control the filling of the frame with cotton wool. Installation work is carried out at temperatures above +5. Drying the products takes at least three days. Ventilation is required to prevent the accumulation of moisture and steam in the insulated space. As a result, the use of the wet-adhesive method makes it possible to obtain a coating with excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics.

A faster and easier to use method is the dry method of applying blown cotton wool. The inside of the frame structure is pre-coated with craft paper or construction cardboard. With their help, a closed space is created. To fix this material, use plastic mounting tape or a stapler. Next, the blown wool is fed into the frame using a special device. In this case, the adhesion of the material to the surface is less than when using the wet-glue method.

In general, we will highlight three main methods of applying blow-in cotton wool with your own hands:

1. Manual option - loosening the insulation with improvised tools and laying it on the surface. The quality of such insulation is low. Cotton wool is installed inside structures with maximum density. The method is relevant only for thermal insulation of small surfaces.

2. Blowing installations - used for preliminary loosening of ecowool. The device supplies the material under pressure, ensuring its uniform spraying on the surface. The advantage of the method is that it is seamless and there is no need to dismantle structures.

3. Blowing the surface using the wet method - the material is supplied simultaneously with water and glue. Thus, the quality of adhesion of the wool to the insulated surface improves. The surface is characterized by absolute evenness, rapid hardening of the material and good performance characteristics.

Blown-in cotton wool has a compressed shape and requires loosening with special equipment for application. The blow molding installation consists of the following components:

1. Base platform - has the shape of an island, the inside of which is filled with a gearbox, motor and air duct.

2. The basis of the mechanism is a low-precision type motor. It is characterized by low sound performance, minimal dust formation and long-term operation.

3. A device in the form of a gateway is used to capture the blown-in wool. The material fibers are pushed out using an inlet hose.

4. For the purpose of dosing cellulose material, the equipment is equipped with a valve.

5. To increase the supply speed of thermal insulation material, a gearbox is used.

6. In addition, the mechanism is equipped with a baking powder, a feeding hopper, a control panel and an emergency switch.

Do-it-yourself device for installing blow-in cotton wool

If you cannot rent or purchase expensive equipment for supplying blown-in cotton wool, we recommend using the option of replacing it with a homemade device. When working on the device you will need:

• a garden vacuum cleaner with a speed of at least 200 km/h;
• plastic container;
• corrugated hose, about 8 meters long, 60 cm in diameter;
• tape;
• electric drill with mixer attachment;
• cotton wool.

Instructions for assembling the blown wool feeder:

1. Disconnect one part of the vacuum cleaner and rearrange the terminals on it. This is necessary to enhance the power of the device.

2. Remove the teeth with the wire cutters provided with the dust bag. Otherwise, the blown-in wool will get into the device, causing it to jam.

3. Connect the corrugation to the dust collector of the vacuum cleaner. To fix it, use regular tape.

4. Using a cloth, make a seal that increases the tightness of the structure.

The device is ready - start using it. A minimum of two people will be required for the job. When insulating walls, make holes in their upper part with a diameter of about 6-7 cm. Fill a plastic container halfway with blown-in cotton wool. Ecowool is mixed with a construction mixer. The material will at least double in volume.

A corrugation is placed in a plastic container, not reaching the bottom by 30 cm. To seal the cracks, use a lining ring. Start the vacuum cleaner, which will pick up the cotton wool from the container, delivering it to the wall. The device is used exclusively for insulating ceilings or walls. Cotton wool will not be sprayed on the floor.

Safety precautions for thermal insulation of a roof - methods of insulating a roof with ecowool

The most important advantage of installing ecowool on roofing structures is the speed of completion of the work. Thermal insulation of a flat roof is completed in 3-4 hours. The structure of ecowool for insulation is loose and light. The material does not burn, does not form mold or mildew, and has high thermal efficiency.

After installation of ecowool, it fills all cavities and cracks without forming butt joints. Among the advantages of roof insulation with ecowool, we note:

1. Environmental safety and harmlessness of the material. Ecowool is used for both internal and external thermal insulation.

2. High thermal insulation abilities make this material convenient and effective to use.

3. The material does not rot, develop fungus or mold.

4. Ease of installation and speed of work is another advantage of blown-in cotton wool.

5. Compared to roll insulation, the cost of ecowool is an order of magnitude lower.

Working conditions and individual characteristics of the roof determine the method of using blown-in wool in everyday life. Polystyrene foam for thermal insulation of roofs is less effective compared to ecowool.

Dry installation is effective in the process of insulating the lower floor, attic, attic and horizontal sections of the roof. Insulation in a dry consistency is sprayed onto metal, concrete, wood, and brick surfaces. Roof insulation is completed in two hours by two people. This method is quite fast, but of lower quality than wet application of cotton wool. The wall is first covered with water diluted with glue, only after that the blown-in cotton wool is applied to the surface. The result is a perfectly smooth coating with higher performance characteristics.

The thickness of the application of blown-in wool on roofing areas should be at least 18 cm. Be sure to leave a ventilation gap of 10 cm. Make sure that snow does not accumulate on the thermal insulation material in winter, this will lead to its damage and a decrease in performance characteristics.

Apply blown-in cotton wool under the roof and on ceilings only using a dry method. It is necessary to stretch a vapor barrier membrane on the rafters and on the roof, which is fixed with boards. Ecowool is installed through small cuts in the membrane, and then they are sealed with tape.

Insulation of roof structures with blown-in cotton wool video:

Why hasn’t cellulose insulation caught on among the masses?

The most important characteristic of any material for the average consumer is cost. Here, recycled cellulose does not meet the requirements of the people. Its price is 2 times higher than any mineral sheet, plus the cost of work is added to everything, because it is simply impossible to blow it out on your own (special equipment is required). Let’s take a closer look at what other disadvantages ecowool has, and how “serious” they are.

1. Hiring a qualified employee to blow out the material. This can be time-consuming, expensive and very inconvenient in many cases. Otherwise, it will not be possible to spray the material correctly. A trick with a trowel, an electric drill or a bag for filling will not work - you need compression equipment with a supercharger.
2. Ecowool has good fire safety, but at high temperatures it deforms and smolders; it will not survive even a light fire.
3. If the material is blown onto damp walls, it may take several months to dry, so finishing is simply impossible.
4. High shrinkage rate. It is better to blow out the cotton wool in 2 approaches, the second one should be done after a few months. With a wall height of 3 meters and a space thickness of 15 centimeters, the shrinkage will be up to 25-30 centimeters. This will significantly increase heat loss.
5. Untidy appearance. Not suitable for areas that will be in plain sight.

We looked at all the characteristics that ecowool has, all the pros and cons of using this material. You just have to decide whether it is right for you or whether it would be better to buy a cheaper material, for example, mineral slabs.

BULK/BLOWN WOOL

Bulk (blown, stuffed) wool is a relatively new, convenient and economical mineral wool thermal insulation material obtained by dispersing (crushing) mineral wool slabs and mineral wool waste in a special machine. Supplied to the consumer in bags, in loose and bulk form, it is an excellent additional insulation for existing thermal insulation - for example, for slag, sawdust, expanded clay, etc.

Application area.

Insulation of building structures: attics, ceilings, floors. Bulk basalt wool: density 35-50 kg/cub.m. Usage volumes in European countries are doubling every year.

Insulation methods.

• Automated - characterized by a method of laying a heat-insulating layer, in which specialized compressor-screw equipment is used to supply insulation to building structures.
• Mechanical - characterized by manual laying of material.

Insulation technology.

Insulation of attics, ceiling space and floors: when insulating the attic space, the entire horizontal surface of the attic is covered with an even layer of cotton wool, which also envelops the ventilation pipes, filling the slightest gaps. If additional thermal insulation is not planned in the attic, it is recommended to apply blow-in wool in a layer of 15-25 cm. Regarding brickwork, a layer of blow-in wool of 20 cm is equal to 2.5 bricks.

Insulation of building structures using Blown-in Wool is an effective way to insulate attics, ceilings, roofings, floors and walls.

Characteristics of loose/blown wool:

• is a non-flammable material (flammability group NG);
• long period of decomposition (50 years);
• chemical resistance;
• thermal conductivity (0.036 W/(m-°C));
• water absorption (no more than 2%);
• density 35-60 kg/cub.m (can easily be compacted mechanically to 60 kg/cub.m; further compaction will lead to an increase in the thermal conductivity coefficient).

Thermal insulation properties: basalt crumb consists of the finest fibers, randomly connected to each other and forming cells filled with air.

• Fire properties: unlike ecowool, basalt wool materials effectively prevent the spread of flame and can be used as fire insulation and fire protection.
• Hydrophobic properties: in the production of stone wool products, special additives are used to enhance their water-repellent properties.
• High vapor permeability: if in some case water penetrates the fiber, then after the cessation of such exposure, the moisture will evaporate from it. Well-permeable to water vapor, stone wool almost always remains dry, maintaining the internal temperature regime of the room.
• Safety and environmental friendliness: basalt crumbs are safe for the environment and human health. It is non-toxic, non-biodegradable and odorless.

Loose/blown wool is a “breathable material” that will protect against the appearance of fungi and mold in places where thermal insulation comes into contact with the building structures.

Advantages of use:

• has elasticity and lightness;
• has low shrinkage and does not accumulate moisture;
• ease of installation in hard-to-reach places, allows you to fill all voids and cracks in building structures;
• allows you to create an even, dense continuous layer of thermal insulation, guarantees the absence of “cold bridges” and guarantees a reduction in energy costs for heating;
• reusability;
• installation efficiency equal to 35 sq.m/hour. Two highly qualified installers carry out the entire technological process, with a productivity of about 800 sq.m., in one shift.

Application practice in Russia.

The global practice of using blow-in wool is relatively new for Russia, which cannot be said about Europe, where this insulation has taken its rightful place in the market of thermal insulation materials. Currently, in our country there is a steady trend of growth in the construction industry’s demand for blow-in wool. The market is intensifying, and more and more customers are interested in using automated installation technology for bulk wool.

Technical characteristics of the material or “a few numbers”

If you cannot decide whether this insulation material is suitable for your home project and how much better or worse it is than its opponents, we bring to your attention the numbers. Namely, all the technical characteristics of cotton wool.

1. The density of the mixture is from 40 to 80 kg per 1 m3, depending on the equipment and the amount of recycled cellulose.
2. Its thermal conductivity is 0.032-0.041 W, while the material complies with DIN 4102 and GOST 30244.
3. Vapor permeability 0.3 mg. During test moistening for 4 days, the moisture permeability is 16%.
4. The air throughput is 110x6 m3/msPa.
5. Acidic environment – ​​8 pH.
6. Sound insulation up to 70 dB and this with a thickness of only 5 centimeters!
7. Allergen content – ​​0.000017%. That is, practically zero, which meets the requirements of modern construction.

By weighing all the pros and cons, and also taking into account these indicators, you can determine whether you really need this material or whether you should try to look for a worthy replacement.