Possibility of using expanded clay for insulation of floors, walls, ceilings

Classification of heat insulator by fractions

The variety of material is determined by the size of the fraction, i.e. size of granulates:

1. Small. According to the parameters, it is 0.1-5.0 mm. Used as a bulk mixture for backfill. Also used in the production of concrete blocks.
2. Average. Reaches sizes of 10-20 mm, called gravel. Construction experts consider this fraction of expanded clay to be better for insulating ceilings, floors and floors of buildings.
3. Big. Sizes vary in the range of 20-40 mm. Expanded clay of this fraction is used to insulate roofs, basements and semi-basements, as well as floors in garages and cellars.

Today, the building materials market offers about ten varieties of expanded clay. The distribution of types of material is carried out due to the density of the filling level. Thus, expanded clay of a large fraction has a lower density. Thus, the lower the grade and density of the granulate, the higher the quality.

Roof insulation with penofol

Penofol is a modern roll synthetic material. Despite its small thickness (only a few millimeters), penofol has excellent thermal insulation properties due to its low thermal conductivity coefficient.

The surface of penofol is covered with a thin layer of aluminum foil, which also affects its thermal insulation characteristics. Moreover, the foil gives the material hydro- and vapor barrier properties.

This allows penofol to replace conventional vapor and waterproofing materials.

Thanks to the above properties, penofl is perfect for insulating roofs and attics, both in residential buildings and in bathhouses, garages and other buildings. The thin thickness of the material allows you to forget about restrictions regarding the thickness of the rafters. Convenient release form ensures ease of installation.

Penofol is used as an additional insulating material. It is mounted between the insulation layer and the external finishing of the roof/ceiling

When installing, it is important to leave small closed air spaces between layers of materials

Their thermal resistance, enhanced by reflective penofol insulation, is comparable to the resistance of a 50 mm thick mineral insulation board or one and a half bricks of brickwork.

Reflective material is an added plus

Using reflective material penofol to insulate a roof or attic floor will eliminate the need for an additional layer of vapor barrier. The low vapor permeability coefficient of the penofol material makes additional layers unnecessary.

Penofol allows you to protect the structure from moisture and minimize heat loss. At the same time, it does not affect the volume of the insulation layer. The material goes well with any insulation, but can also be used independently.

To insulate the roof of a country house, a “cold” attic in a bathhouse or agricultural buildings, it is enough to simply “hang” penofol along the rafters.

Roof insulation with penoplex

Due to its unpretentiousness, penoplex can be used in different conditions. Click on photo to enlarge.

1. Low moisture permeability.
2. Resistance to strong temperature changes.
3. Biological neutrality.
4. Resistant to fire and high temperatures.
5. High heat and noise insulation coefficients.
6. Environmentally friendly, non-toxic, safe for human health.

All this makes penoplex a sought-after and popular material for roof insulation. Penoplex is easy to install and can be cut with a regular knife. At the same time, it is resistant to mechanical loads and is lightweight, which makes it popular for insulating floors and flat roofs in use.

Penoplex slabs are made from high quality polystyrene foam by extrusion. During the production process, sealed air cavities are formed in the raw materials.

After hardening, penoplex acquires a homogeneous cellular structure. Thanks to it, the material has high thermal insulation characteristics, as well as mechanical strength.

Where can Penoplex be used?

Extruded polystyrene foam is allowed for use in any climatic zones.

Its use can significantly reduce the cost of materials during construction and the further operation of the building. After all, a five-centimeter layer of penoplex is not inferior in characteristics to brickwork, 153 mm thick.

Roof insulation with penoplex can be done using any type of material. Most often you can find the following types of extruded polystyrene foam on sale:

1. Penoplex 31 Standard.
2. Penoplex 35.
3. Penoplex 45.

To insulate the roof in a private house, Penoplex 35 is most often used. It perfectly protects the roof waterproofing from sudden temperature changes and other destructive factors.

It is used to insulate a pitched roof from the inside of an attic or flat roof using the “rolling ceiling” method. In the second case, a covering of gravel or paving slabs is made on top of the insulation on the roof. This will help protect the material from the wind and increase the fire safety of the roof.

What is expanded clay

Expanded clay is a heat-insulating material made by firing natural clay that can be foamed. This is a clean, environmentally friendly material that can be purchased in any city at a very low price.

Expanded clay sand (up to 5 mm in diameter) is used in pouring and in the lower layers for insulation. Fractions from 5 to 40 mm are used to create a heat-insulating “pie” on roofs, attic floors, floors, foundations, blind areas and even walls.

Advantages:

• environmental friendliness - the material does not decay, rot and decompose even over time;
• does not release toxic substances into the air;
• resistant to temperature changes, frost-resistant;
• does not support combustion;
• rodents do not live in it;
• reasonable price;
• expanded clay sand perfectly fills all recesses and cavities;
• easy process of roof insulation with expanded clay.

Flaws:

• the material is fragile, and broken granules lose a significant part of their thermal insulation qualities;
• the cellular structure of the fractions allows them to fill with water when heated, which somewhat reduces the ability to retain the mixing of cold and warm air.

A little about choice

At the moment, there are 10 brands of expanded clay: from 250 to 1000, depending on the density of the embankment. This or that number indicates the number of kilograms of material per 1 m³ of volume. There are approximately 20 buckets of expanded clay in one cubic meter.

What brand of expanded clay is used for roof insulation? This depends on the climatic conditions and the strength of the attic floor. In addition, when insulating an attic, more than 1 brand of material is used.

Insulation technology

Insulating a roof with expanded clay in a wooden house begins with inspecting the attic floor and removing all debris. What requires repair - the problem must be corrected immediately.

Next, the algorithm is approximately the same as when using other insulation materials.

We do waterproofing

The floor of the attic must be covered with waterproofing with obligatory overlap of the strips (by 200-300 mm) and gluing the seams with reinforced tape.

Many people prefer roofing felt or parchment. Previously, when people lacked finances, they used ordinary cardboard. The waterproofing should extend 15 cm onto the walls and floor beams. If the budget allows, the beams can be completely covered with film.

This is how waterproofing under expanded clay is done

What should be the thickness of expanded clay?

It is better to make the bottom layer from fine expanded clay sand, and for the top layer use fractions of 10-30 mm. Many people immediately purchase a mixture of granules of different sizes. The material is poured between the beams, but not above their upper edge.

The expanded clay backfill is carefully compacted and leveled using a rule.

Expanded clay must be leveled

You can already finish the work at this stage, but if you are going to use the attic in any way (storing things, drying vegetables and herbs), you better organize flooring in the room.

To do this, another layer of vapor barrier is laid on top of the expanded clay and wood flooring/plywood/chipboard is installed.

If there is a need to fully use the under-roof space, concrete is poured on the attic floor. To do this, a reinforced mesh is laid on top of the expanded clay and filled with screed. After complete drying, install the floor covering.

Useful video below - be sure to watch.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=W7CNaXfxy4w

Technology for laying screed with expanded clay in a frame house

The use of expanded clay for insulating wooden houses is a fairly common practice that builders constantly turn to in the process of implementing certain projects. Using loose granular material, they effectively insulate walls and ceilings. But still, expanded clay is most often used to insulate the base of the floor. To perform this operation, many different technologies are provided, from simply filling and compacting granules to introducing them into the solution in certain proportions.

One way or another, the first stage of constructing a base is preparing the surface. It involves dismantling old coatings (if any), removing debris and dust. After this, you can proceed directly to the installation of the screed. Expanded clay is poured into the space between the joists directly onto the ground. This technology is considered universal because it is suitable for arranging large residential properties and compact country houses.

Installation work is carried out in the following order:

• The soil is cleared of debris and thoroughly compacted.
• Antiseptic-treated logs are laid on the prepared base.
• Waterproofing is laid between the logs with the entrances to the walls (most often 2-3 layers of roofing material).
• A three-component mixture of expanded clay (three fraction sizes) is poured into the grooves between the joists.
• A layer of vapor barrier is laid, most often using ordinary polyethylene.
• The finishing floor covering is being installed.

This is the simplest and most affordable technology for thermal insulation of floors in a frame house. It is often used to insulate the base of an attic.

Advice! To insulate the base of the floor in a wooden house, experts recommend keeping the thickness of the expanded clay layer within 10-16 cm.

Pros and cons of thermal insulation with expanded clay

Ceiling insulation with expanded clay has a number of advantages:

• The heat insulator has a long service life.
• Fire safety, because the material is not subject to combustion and when heated does not emit toxic substances that are dangerous to humans, animals and nature.
• Due to the porous structure of the insulator, the weight of the insulation is significantly less than its analogues.
• Does not attract insects, rodents and bacteria that contribute to the formation of mold and mildew.
• The low price tag allows you to use expanded clay on any construction sites.
• High-level thermal insulation coupled with sound insulation ensures an optimal microclimate in a private home.
• Absorbs moisture without increasing its own weight and without loss of performance.
• Expanded clay crumbs or crushed stones are not allergens. This is due to the natural origin of the material.
• Easy to use bulk heat insulator.
• The fractional shape of the material creates a barrier to air escape, which further increases heat insulation and provides natural convection.

Along with the positive features, the material has disadvantages:

• The effectiveness of expanded clay as a heat insulator depends on the thickness of the layer, i.e. backfilling to a depth of 20-40 cm is pointless.
• It is necessary to protect the material from exposure to precipitation.
• The optimal application is considered to be application to concrete floors. This is due to the fact that monolithic beams are able to withstand high loads and prevent granules from spilling onto the second floor.
• When planning work on insulating the ceiling in a wooden house, you should ensure that the expanded clay is protected with a vapor barrier film. In this case, PVC film is placed at the bottom of the heat insulator and at the top. This creates protection from the effects of precipitation.

Construction industry experts do not recommend using expanded clay insulation on a suspended ceiling lined with beams on the lower side (ground floor).

Considering the weight load, volume of material and structure, the probability of a breakthrough of such a structure is high. In this case, the collapse occurs inside the room.

Advantages and disadvantages of expanded clay

Compared to widely used slab insulation materials such as mineral wool, expanded clay is much more profitable. When insulating a roof with expanded clay, no special skills or abilities are required. The use of bulk thermal insulation does not require adjustment of elements and additional fastenings . Roof insulation with expanded clay has the following advantages:

• Expanded clay is a highly environmentally friendly material . It does not decompose and does not emit toxic gaseous fumes that are hazardous to human health.
• Not edible for rodents.
• Has increased resistance to frost . Can withstand up to 25 cycles of complete freezing and thawing.
• Fireproof and fireproof material.
• Excellent heat and sound insulator .
• When wooden surfaces are insulated with expanded clay, their service life increases to 50 years.
• Lightweight material.
• Resistant to chemical attack.
• Cheap , a cubic meter of slab insulation will cost several times more than expanded clay of the same volume.
• When using high-quality expanded clay insulation, the thermal conductivity of which is 0.07-0.16 W/m, heat loss is reduced by 70-80% .

clay is a bulk material ; it fills almost the entire provided volume. This, unlike slab insulation, allows for the most effective insulation of small cavities.

NOTE!

It is not recommended to lay expanded clay on a plank base without a backing . Small crumbs and dust can enter the living space through the gaps between the boards.

Using expanded clay to insulate the roof of a house

Scheme of roof insulation with expanded clay.

You can organize roof insulation on your own; you don’t need to hire specialists for this. Before you insulate it, you need to know what expanded clay is and why it is so highly valued for thermal insulation of buildings and structures. Expanded clay is a natural material. It is highly durable and can last a long time, unlike synthetic insulation. It is based on clay. Due to all this, it does not rot and can withstand very low temperatures, which is especially valuable in cold climates. It has a crumbly and porous structure. Porosity helps retain heat. The big advantage of this material is its fire resistance.

Insulation is most often carried out with expanded clay gravel, sand or crushed stone. In addition to all of the above, expanded clay is a fairly lightweight material, which simplifies the work. Today, many synthetic materials are not environmentally friendly, which cannot be said about expanded clay. It is absolutely safe for humans to use. Expanded clay is waterproof, so there is no need to make an additional waterproofing layer. Its cost is low, which is of great importance in the consumer market. In addition, it puts minimal load on the entire house and the roof itself. The main disadvantage is its fragility.

Roof insulation technology with expanded clay

Scheme of single-layer attic insulation.

Before insulating the roof with expanded clay, you need to know some of the features of this work. First of all, to obtain a good effect, it is advisable to take into account the features of the house, its structure, walls, and roof slope when insulating the roof. Modern technology for insulating a roof (roof) includes several main stages: internal lining, vapor barrier, laying a layer of insulation and surface finishing work (laying slabs or other covering).

Expanded clay insulation is no different from the standard. If there is a reinforced concrete floor with slabs on the upper floor of the house, then the work is somewhat easier.

This will ensure a more complete and thorough filling of all voids and irregularities. The layer thickness should be 25 cm. Expanded clay gravel is leveled and compacted. This can be done manually or using a special machine. It is recommended to apply screed on top of the first layer. This will give the structure greater strength and rigidity, and a smoother surface. It is advisable to organize several ventilation channels between the inner and outer layers so that it is possible to remove excess moisture and ventilate the space. Roofing felt is placed on top of the insulation layer

It is important that the rolls overlap and there are no gaps. On top of it are tiles or tiles

List of tools and equipment

Roof insulation will require a whole set of tools and materials. It includes: insulation (expanded clay gravel or crushed stone), shovel, buckets, log or stick for compaction, slats for leveling the expanded clay layer, waterproofing film, rolled material (roofing felt), knife, tiles or tiles. Based on all of the above, we can conclude that roof insulation using expanded clay is an effective and simple way

This material is fireproof, light, durable, resistant to low temperatures and moisture, which is especially important for our country. In addition to thermal insulation properties, it has a noise-proofing effect due to its physical and chemical characteristics.

It is durable, which is why it is so widely used. Expanded clay is used not only to insulate the roof (roof), it is perfect for insulating floors, hangars, that is, any horizontal structures.

It has one drawback - it is fragile, so you need to work with it very carefully. Filling expanded clay onto the roof is done quickly; no complex equipment is needed for this.

It is only important to comply with the basic requirements (layer thickness, organization of ventilation holes, etc.)

The thickness of the expanded clay layer directly depends on the strength of the roof. A thick layer can cause a lot of stress. It is advisable to combine bulk expanded clay materials, for example, with foam chips for a better effect. When laying rolled material, the seams must be sealed; for this, they are glued with construction tape or mastic based on bitumen and rubber, which is more optimal.

Modern methods of dry screed installation: Knauf technology

Especially to create effective and durable foundations, I developed the Kompevit backfill mixture. The material is very popular in Kaliningrad and is designed for use using the dry method.

Initially, “Compevit” was created as a material intended for floor insulation, but during its practical use its outstanding properties as an effective leveling mixture began to appear.

Compavit contains finely granulated perfectly round expanded clay (fraction up to 5 mm), which ensures effective distribution of the material on any surface. The discrepancy between the granules and the size established by the standard indicates that instead of a certified product they are trying to sell you a crude fake. The use of such material will soon “please” you with shrinkage of expanded clay, deformation of gypsum fiber boards and damage to the finishing coating. The shape of the granules also matters when determining the quality of the leveling mixture. It should be perfectly round - lack of symmetry or elongation of individual fractions indicates that the coating may be seriously damaged during the shrinkage of the material.

The advantages of using the Kompevit backfill mixture are obvious:

• The low weight of expanded clay granules eliminates the risk of creating excessive load on the floor;
• The reasonable cost of the material allows it to be used in large-scale construction;
• "Compevit" is suitable for the installation of "warm floor" technology, since it fully retains its properties even when exposed to high temperatures.

The key advantage of a floor created using is its exceptional strength. If all installation rules are followed, the coating can withstand pressure of up to 900 kg per 1 m² without deformation or damage to integrity. The service life of such a screed significantly exceeds the durability of existing analogues on the market.

Roof insulation with a layer of expanded clay

Roof insulation is most often performed using the following types of expanded clay:

Expanded clay crushed stone. It is a large material. The size of its granules does not exceed 4 centimeters. Well suited not only for thermal insulation of the roof, but also for insulation of walls and floors in the house;

Expanded clay gravel. This material is also coarse-grained. Its granules have an angular shape and do not exceed 4 centimeters in size;

Expanded clay sand. It is a finely dispersed material. Particle size is up to 5 millimeters. When using this material as insulation, the layer thickness should not be more than 5 centimeters.

As mentioned above, it is quite possible to perform thermal insulation using expanded clay with your own hands.

Before you begin thermal insulation work, you need to study certain subtleties of the insulation process

First of all, you need to pay attention to the design features of the building

Insulating the roof of a house with expanded clay includes the following steps:

Internal lining;

Laying a vapor barrier layer;

Laying thermal insulation;

Surface finishing.

Detailed description of work:

1. The thickness of the expanded clay layer when insulating the roof should be 25 centimeters. It should be poured directly onto the vapor barrier material. This work must be done quickly and very carefully so as not to damage the granules of the material.
2. To improve noise and heat insulation, it is advisable to make the expanded clay layer thicker. However, you should remember the maximum load that the roof of the house can withstand. In this case, it is best to choose a middle ground.
3. Next, you need to properly level and compact the expanded clay layer. Then there will be fewer voids between the particles of the material, and the thermal insulation will be better. Expanded clay must be compacted by hand or with a special machine. Next, it is recommended to screed over the first layer. Due to this, the structure will become stronger and more rigid, and the surface will be more even.
4. It is also necessary to make several channels between the inner and outer layers. Moisture will be removed through these channels and air will also circulate.
5. At the next stage, roofing felt is laid on top of the heat-insulating layer. It must be overlapped. To ensure that the roofing felt seams are airtight, they are insulated using bitumen mastic or construction tape.
6. At the final stage, the installation of tiles or tiles is carried out.

1. Features of thermal insulation
2. Advantages and disadvantages
3. Insulation technology
4. Preparation
5. Flat roof
6. Pitched roof

Roof insulation with expanded clay is the oldest and most commonly used method of thermal protection for a home. The comfort of living depends on the reliability of the roof, and this material helps ensure this reliability over time. Today we will tell you how to use expanded clay for roofing.

Features of wall insulation with expanded clay blocks in frame houses

The sufficient thickness of the outer layers of sandwich panels allows even the walls of frame houses to be insulated with expanded clay. To achieve a pronounced thermal insulation effect, the thickness of the insulation must exceed 20 cm. In the case of expanded clay, it is planned to build special sheds into which the granules will be poured.

Advice! In order for wall insulation with expanded clay to have the proper efficiency and be able to compete with other more modern technologies, experts strongly recommend using materials of proper quality. Careful compaction of the granules is also important.

Expanded clay blocks, special hollow structures used in the process of wall construction, have excellent thermal insulation characteristics. They consist of cement, sand and expanded clay. Objects insulated in this way are distinguished by a comfortable internal microclimate: while keeping cool in the summer, they accumulate heat in the winter months. But due to the insufficient strength of the material, it can only be used for the construction of internal partitions and small one-story buildings.

Hollow blocks have excellent plasticity, sufficient to create various shapes. To ensure a pronounced thermal insulation effect, they are placed on a sand-cement mortar with the voids facing down. The design of such blocks is initially focused on insulation, as evidenced by the presence of voids. An effective solution to various problems (cladding external surfaces, insulating walls and partitions) is ensured by using slotted expanded clay blocks of the appropriate size.

Roof insulation using expanded clay technology and nuances

To carry out the work you will need the following materials and tools:

• Vapor barrier layer;
• Waterproofing layer;
• Rake (will be needed for compacting and leveling);
• Shovel;
• Several buckets;
• Knife with a sharp blade;
• Expanded clay.

Before the insulation procedure, it is worth doing some preparation work. They will consist of cleaning and leveling the surface that needs to be insulated. In addition, you will need to seal all cracks and crevices.

Subtleties of laying bulk insulation

The technology of roof insulation using expanded clay has a number of rules that must be taken into account when carrying out work. If they are not taken into account, the results of the work will not only not please you, but there is also a risk that you will have to redo the insulating layer.

If the angle of inclination is greater than 5°, the space between the rafters will need to be filled in the same way as the walls of frame houses are backfilled using bulk insulation. This is done gradually, in small portions. At the same time, the wall is sheathed in parallel.

All types of work must be done from the outside. In this case, weather conditions may become an important factor. During the insulation process, it is unacceptable to work during rain or fog, as well as other factors that provoke significant air humidity.

The backfill will need to be protected as much as possible from the possibility of moisture. To do this, a waterproofing layer is laid on the outside of the building, and a vapor barrier is installed on the inside to prevent water vapor from entering the living space. Tightness can be ensured by laying the film overlapping; the joints are additionally sealed with tape or bitumen mastic.

Since a sufficient layer of insulation has a significant mass, the roof structure must have high strength indicators. It would be best if the flooring material is a reinforced concrete slab (if a flat roof is being installed).

Flat roof insulation

Basically, expanded clay is used to insulate flat roofs. It is easy and convenient to carry out work on a horizontal surface, which allows you to fully appreciate all the advantages of this type of insulation.

First, you need to clear the work surface of debris, paying special attention to the presence of small stones with sharp edges. If they are not removed, they can cause damage to the vapor barrier. The vapor barrier layer must be distributed over the entire surface area requiring insulation

You can use high-density polyethylene film for this. To make the protection highly durable, you can cover the surface in two layers. The key stage of thermal insulation is the backfill process itself. It is recommended to calculate the required thickness of the insulating layer in advance, taking into account all the nuances of a particular construction project. This will allow all stages of work to be completed in a short time. The most common thickness of expanded clay insulation backfill varies from 30 to 40 centimeters. If during operation it turns out that this layer is not enough, after the first winter you need to insulate the ceiling from the inside of the house using mineral wool or polystyrene foam. After this, a screed is made using reinforcement. This technique allows you to carry out routine roof maintenance work without risks. The final stage includes laying one or two waterproofing layers. To give the roof a beautiful finished look, a roof covering is installed. For this, ceramic or soft tiles, slate sheets or painted corrugated sheets, etc. can be used. materials.

Insulation of roofs with slopes

It will be more difficult to install thermal insulation if the roof is pitched

It is extremely important to achieve a uniform layer of insulation backfill in the space between the rafters

When the space between the rafters is completely filled, a layer of waterproofing is laid on top of the sheathing and the final roof covering is installed. The vapor barrier is attached from the side of the room, not forgetting about the airtightness standards, using overlapping panels and carefully gluing their joints.

Although expanded clay is not a material that is easy and simple to work with, this is offset by its versatility. The main thing is to follow all the rules for working with this material, and then it will perfectly perform its functions as insulation for various roofing structures.

Various technologies for using expanded clay for floor insulation

The most common reason for using bulk insulation in various rooms is the need to create a warm, even and relatively light subfloor. Precise adherence to the technology for constructing such screeds allows you to achieve a noticeable positive effect even in extremely cold rooms. Throughout the entire period of operation, the base of the floor experiences the greatest loads, which imposes certain requirements on the quality, packing density and thickness of the expanded clay layer.

Advice! When choosing bulk insulation for the floor, try to give preference to a material consisting of a mixture of three different fractions. The use of only small expanded clay is fraught with significant weighting of the structure, and large ones during the operation of the floor can lead to its subsidence.

Correct selection of insulation thickness will prevent any troubles with the surface and eliminate the risk of damage or subsidence. In addition, excellent results can be achieved by combining granules of different diameters when preparing a backfill mixture. This will ensure maximum coverage of the entire surface.

The technology for making screeds with expanded clay is also of no small importance. After all, it functions as a top moisture-protective layer and ensures reliable fixation of the granules. Experts use many different technologies, but the two-layer method of laying the mixture is considered the most effective. At the first stage, the solution is distributed over the surface to level and fill voids. The mixture impregnates the expanded clay backfill, thereby providing protection from excessive pressure and moisture. The second stage involves laying the finishing screed, which finally levels the base, making it suitable for subsequent installation of all types of floor coverings.

As can be seen from the described technology, the use of expanded clay concrete screeds for insulating any structures is a simple and very economical process. However, it has its own nuances and features, strict adherence to which during operation will allow you to avoid various troubles.

Expanded clay

It is a lightweight material whose structure includes many pores, which determines its high thermal insulation properties. It is produced by firing clay shales or clay itself at high temperatures (1000-1300 degrees) for quite a long time (20-40 minutes). Depending on the type of feedstock and processing technology, the density of the resulting expanded clay can range from 0.35 to 0.6 g/cm3.

There are the following types (depending on the shape of the fragments):

Expanded clay gravel. It consists of cellular elements of a streamlined oval shape, their size varies from 5 to 40 mm in diameter. Typically, this type is used when there is a need to create a layer of insulation over 5 centimeters.

Expanded clay crushed stone. The size of the pieces is approximately similar to expanded clay gravel, but their shape is more like a cube, the edges and corners of which protrude sharply. The technology for its production comes down to crushing larger fragments of expanded clay.

Expanded clay sand. The particle size ranges from approximately 14 to 50 millimeters. The peculiarity of this type of building material makes it possible to create a layer of thermal insulation less than 5 centimeters thick without losing its insulating qualities. In addition, it is used in the range of 14-50 millimeters. Small dimensions allow the use of expanded clay sand with a heat-insulating layer thickness not exceeding 5 centimeters. It is also used as a filler for concrete or other mortar.

Advantages of expanded clay

This thermal insulation material is very economical. When using expanded clay, you can sound and heat insulate your home with the least investment of money. The material has a high fire safety rating and a high degree of environmental friendliness, since various types of clay are used for its production. It also has a significant service life. This is due to the fact that the material does not condense moisture.

Any material used for construction must meet environmental safety requirements. Expanded clay is made exclusively from pure clay, which does not contain various chemical additives. Therefore, it is completely safe for human health. In the production of oval varieties of expanded clay, clay is fired.

Expanded clay gravel allows you to fill various types of voids. In this way, thermal insulation of the roof is carried out. Often, when installing insulation, expanded clay gravel is mixed with foam chips, which increases the thermal insulation properties of the layer.

Disadvantages of the material when insulating the roof

One of the important disadvantages of expanded clay is its increased fragility. This point must be taken into account when carrying out work, and the building material must be handled with care. When material is poured into a cavity, some of its elements may be damaged, which leads to their partial loss of their properties.

Expanded clay should only be used as a material for dry backfill. It is not advisable to mix it into cement or mortar.

However, even without being a professional builder, you can still use expanded clay. Everyone will be able to produce high-quality insulation of a building, while spending a minimum of time on the process.

The main aspects of ceiling insulation with expanded clay

Expanded clay, as insulation, is a traditional clay. This material is subjected to high-temperature treatment with the subsequent formation of granules of the middle fraction. Thermal insulation properties are ensured by the porous structure of the material.

The thermal insulation layer for heat conservation work must be thick to provide an effective cushion. Despite the large weight of the granules, the load on the building is insignificant if the thickness is 50-70 cm.

Experts recommend using expanded clay of different fractions to improve heat-saving characteristics. At the same time, 60-70% of the layer is allocated to coarse gravel. Fine granulate is distributed into the upper and lower layers.

Thermal insulation work on expanded clay insulation solves problems such as:

1. Expanded clay has soundproofing properties. In view of this, with the help of a heat insulator, it ensures the preservation of silence from both the sounds of precipitation and noise from the street.
2. At sub-zero temperatures, heat remains in the house, because... heated air is not able to leave the premises due to the lack of cold bridges. Provided that the insulation work is carried out correctly.
3. At high temperatures, expanded clay prevents heat from entering the room. This creates a thermos effect.

The use of expanded clay for the insulation of the roof at home

The scheme expanded clay roof insulation.

You can organize on their own, without the need to hire professionals to do so. Before you insulate it, you need to know what the concrete block and why it is so highly prized for thermal insulation of buildings and structures. Expanded clay is a natural material. It has high strength and can last for a long time, unlike synthetic insulation. At the heart of it - clay. For all these reasons it does not rot, it can withstand very low temperatures, which is especially appreciated in cold climates. It is crumbly and porous structure. Porosity contributes to the conservation of heat. The great advantage of this material is its fire resistance.

Warming of the frequently most performed expanded clay gravel, sand or gravel. In addition to the above, concrete block is a pretty light material, making it easier to carry out works. Today, many plastics are not environmentally friendly, which is not about the concrete block. It is completely safe for humans when operating. Expanded clay waterproof, so do not need to do additional waterproofing layer. Cost of it is low, which is important in the consumer market. In addition, it provides a minimum load on the house and the roof itself. The main disadvantage is its fragility.

The technology of expanded clay roof insulation

Driving a single-layer insulation of the attic.

Before you insulate roofs expanded clay, you need to know some features of this work. In the first place, to obtain good effect when it is advisable to take into account the particular roof insulation of the house, its structure, walls and a sloping roof. Modern (Roof) includes several basic steps: the inner lining, vapor barrier, laying down a layer of insulation and finishing work on the surface (stacking plates or other coating).

is no different from the standard. If there is a reinforced concrete ceiling slabs of the upper floor of the house, the work is somewhat easier.

This will provide a more complete and thorough filling all voids and irregularities. The layer thickness should be 25 cm. clay gravel leveled and compacted. This can be done manually or using a special machine. It is recommended to make a screed on top of the first layer. This construction will give greater strength and rigidity, a flat surface. It is advisable to organize some ventilation ducts between the inner and outer layers to be able to remove excess moisture and ventilation space. On top of the layer of insulation roofing material is placed. It is important that coils overlapping fit and there are no gaps. Above him - shingles or tiles.

List of tools and equipment

Thermal insulation of the roof will require a whole set of tools and materials. It includes: insulation (expanded clay gravel or crushed stone), a shovel, a bucket, a log or stick to ram, rail to align the expanded clay layer, a waterproof film web material (roofing material), Knife, tiles or shingles. Based on the above we can conclude that the insulation of the roof with the help of expanded clay is an effective and simple way. This material is different fire safety, lightness, strength, resistance to low temperatures and humidity, which is especially important for our country. In addition to thermal performance, it is inherent in the soundproofing effect due to the physico-chemical characteristics. It is durable, so found a wide circulation. Expanded clay is used not only to insulate the roof (the roof), it is perfect for warming the floor, hangars, ie all horizontal designs.

Insulation of beams and concrete floors with expanded clay

Insulating the attic with expanded clay in a house with beamed floors.

The insulation of the attic with expanded clay and the floor differ in technology quite a bit if the work is carried out in a house with beamed floors. In houses where a concrete slab serves as a floor, the insulation technology is somewhat different. Therefore, we will consider how to insulate a ceiling with expanded clay from two angles:

• in a house with beamed floors;
• in a house with concrete floors.

In a home with beams, there is space between the subfloor and the finished floor, or the ceiling and the second floor floor. The height of the buffer zone is equal to the cross-section of the supporting beams. Expanded clay for insulating the ceiling or floor is poured there. Three components of the insulation cake:

• expanded clay;
• diffusion membrane;
• vapor barrier.

The main thing is not to mix up the films. The vapor barrier must be installed between the insulation and the heat source. Waterproofing is laid between expanded clay and an unheated room.

That is, when insulating an attic with expanded clay, the vapor barrier is laid from below, and when insulating the floor - from above. Naturally, the joints of both layers of films must be airtight. When insulating the ceiling of a bathhouse with expanded clay, you need to use Penofol as a vapor barrier - this is reflective insulation, which consists of two layers. The first layer is a pillow made of foamed polyethylene with a thickness of several millimeters to a centimeter. The second layer - foil, which reflects infrared rays, is placed with the shiny side facing the heated room. An important condition is the presence of an air gap between the finishing finish and the reflective surface of 1.5 cm or more.

In houses with concrete floors, insulation with expanded clay is carried out under the screed. There is nothing complicated in the technique, the main thing is to lay a plastic film between the concrete and expanded clay and glue the damper tape around the perimeter of the room. The screed is poured along the beacons.

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How much will it cost to insulate walls with expanded clay?

The costs of creating expanded clay insulation are largely related to the height and perimeter of the building, the number of floors and the selected material. The amount also depends on the method of insulating the walls with expanded clay - optimal three-row, lightweight or combined. In most cases, the width of the expanded clay concrete layer is about 300–400 mm, and that of the expanded clay cement layer is 100 mm, which corresponds to a brick enclosing structure one meter thick.

With an average cost of 1 cubic meter of expanded clay about 2,000 rubles, and expanded clay concrete about 3,500 rubles. it is easy to calculate that for a wall whose inner layer is 250 mm thick and the middle layer is 100 mm thick, the costs will be approximately as follows:

• per 1 sq. m of wall will be 0.4 cubic meters. m of expanded clay concrete blocks costing about 1,400 rubles;
• the same area contains 0.1 cubic meters. m of expanded clay for 200 rubles;
• for a building with a height of 3 m and a perimeter of 32 m (for example, 8 x 8 m), the costs only for expanded clay concrete and expanded clay for wall insulation will be: 3 x 32 x (1400 + 200) = 153.6 thousand rubles.

The cost of cement depends on the chosen proportion, but in any case it is several times less than the cost of expanded clay.

The price of the outer layer, which is taken as facing brick or wood, may differ significantly depending on the chosen finishing option. Sometimes it is comparable in cost to insulation (from 1000 to 1600 rubles/sq. m), but can be several times higher than the costs of expanded clay and expanded clay concrete, reaching 3000–6000 rubles. for 1 “square”.