Houses made of aerated concrete – insulation according to all the rules

Aerated concrete homes are getting more and more well-liked because of their energy efficiency and longevity. However, adequate insulation is necessary to optimize these advantages. Best practices for insulating aerated concrete homes guarantee that the building stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter, ensuring year-round comfort.

In addition to enhancing living conditions, efficient insulation results in major energy savings. Homes can benefit from lower utility bills and a smaller environmental impact by not requiring as much heating and cooling. It’s a wise investment with long-term returns.

We’ll walk you through the most important procedures and factors to take into account when insulating your aerated concrete home in this post. We’ll go over everything you need to know to complete the task correctly, from choosing the best supplies to applying them appropriately. These tips will assist you in getting the best results whether you’re renovating an old house or building a new one.

Topic Description
Insulation Materials Choose high-quality materials like mineral wool or polystyrene to ensure effective insulation.
Installation Process Follow proper steps: prepare the surface, install a vapor barrier, attach insulation boards, and seal joints well.
Weather Protection Ensure the insulation is protected from moisture and wind to maintain its efficiency over time.
Cost Considerations While quality insulation can be costly, it saves on heating and cooling bills in the long run.
Energy Efficiency Proper insulation improves the energy efficiency of aerated concrete houses, keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer.
Common Mistakes Avoid gaps and poorly sealed joints, which can lead to heat loss and reduced insulation effectiveness.

Why is it important to insulate aerated concrete?

"Is it necessary to insulate a house made of aerated concrete?" is a question that arises from the remarkable thermal conductivity indicators of cellular concrete. Together, let’s search for the solution to that.

Aerated concrete has a high water absorption capacity because of its high porosity. Furthermore, even though moisture does not seep deeply into the blocks, it can eventually cause their outer layer to collapse due to moisture exposure.

Because the moisture is evenly distributed over the interior dry pores of the aerated concrete, it dries quickly and is not destroyed from the inside when the outside air temperature drops.

But since this is a matter of time, aerated concrete homes need to have their facade consistently shielded from moisture in order to prolong the building’s useful life. Aerated concrete walls will also need to be insulated in areas where winters are harsh in order to lessen their thickness and, consequently, the overall cost of construction. Does an aerated concrete 400 home require insulation? Yes, is the unambiguous response.

Aerated concrete that has been insulated has better thermal insulation properties and a longer service life. Living comfort is increased by the soundproofing qualities of the majority of contemporary insulation materials.

Crucial! Vapor permeability is an essential requirement for the material used to insulate aerated concrete blocks. In the event that expanded polystyrene is utilized, for instance, a sealed finish from the inside is required to keep steam from seeping into the wall’s thickness.

Insulation method

The question of whether to insulate aerated concrete from the inside or the outside emerges if it is evident that insulation is required.

When a room has internal insulation installed, the usable space that the insulation occupies is lost. It will be essential to install a high-quality ventilation system in such a room, which will incur additional expenses. The primary drawback of using aerated concrete for wall insulation is the increased likelihood of mold and mildew growth within the insulation’s structure.

One benefit of using this insulation method is that work can be done without the need for scaffolding. An approach that is more commonly employed and more practical is external insulation for aerated concrete homes.

The benefits of external insulation for residential buildings include the following:

  1. Significantly increases the energy efficiency of the building due to savings on heating costs;
  2. Improves the soundproofing qualities of the external walls, which increases the comfort of living in the house;
  3. Improves the decorative appearance of the facades of the house;
  4. Due to the protection of the supporting structures of the house from environmental influences, the service life of the entire building is significantly increased;
  5. External insulation of an aerated concrete house can be done during the construction of a new or long-built house;

Crucial! Aerated concrete insulation prevents condensation from forming inside a home and freezing of the walls from the outside.

Types of materials for insulating walls made of aerated concrete

How should an aerated concrete home be insulated? Walls constructed of aerated concrete blocks can be insulated using a variety of insulating materials. Their cost and installation technique are different.

Aerated concrete walls can be insulated using:

Crucial! The best way to insulate a house built of aerated concrete requires consideration of the fact that the insulation needs to be lightweight in order to remain on the wall surface and not put undue strain on it.

More thought should be given to each of them.

Foam plastic

Even though foam plastic is an ambiguous material, it is frequently used in aerated concrete. It is lightweight, simple to install, and process.

This material is less expensive than other forms of insulation. Using this material, you can insulate the facade on your own without the need for specialized construction knowledge.

Aerated concrete is a type of cellular concrete. Its inner part consists of many voids that are filled with gas bubbles. They are formed during the production of these blocks. Its technical properties will depend on how the pores are distributed in concrete.

Nowadays, aerated concrete is used precisely in the construction of many buildings, both residential and commercial. Consequently, the question of whether it is feasible to use foam to warm a house made of aerated concrete frequently arises.

  • If we talk about houses built of brick or panels, then the foam is definitely good here. But in houses from cellular aerated concrete, due to their insulation with polystyrene, problems may appear.
  • Proper insulation of a house from aerated concrete should be carried out on the principle of multi -layer. On the inside of the room there is a layer of materials that have a large conductivity of heat and have a high heat capacity, which does not allow a couple to penetrate inside.
  • So, the inside of the building should consist of materials that have a heat capacity, deaf, cold. And outside they install materials that already have thermal qualities that allow steam to pass through, and also have a small thermal inertia.
  • Thus, all the moisture will come out, and the outer part of the building will dry quietly. Foam plastic does not have permeability, so moisture will constantly accumulate in it.

Be aware that if the walls are composed of aerated concrete, the structure will become less stable and looser due to the humidity. Heat will be unable to overcome it.

Therefore, adding foam plastic insulation to a building composed of aerated concrete blocks will cause the dew point to rise. As a result, condensation could appear on the house’s interior walls. Later on, fungus and mold will start to grow in these areas.

Of course, these kinds of issues arise over time rather than right away following construction. This means that mineral wool or vermiculite slabs, which are also excellent fire-retardant materials, are a better choice for insulating buildings made of aerated concrete rather than polystyrene foam.

Note: Of course, polystyrene foam insulation of aerated concrete structures should never be used in regions with a consistently humid climate. The blocks will rot as a result of this.

  • But in drier regions, in practice, insulating a house made of aerated concrete with polystyrene foam is quite possible. Only for this purpose, the walls are first carefully prepared.
  • Then the work is carried out indoors, and the next stage is external insulation. After which finishing of all insulated areas. If aerated concrete blocks are cracked in some places, they must be immediately glued or covered with cement mortar.
  • Aerated concrete is an excellent material for construction. A residential building built from it will be durable and warm. But aerated concrete must be insulated so that the building retains its reliability for many years.

When used for internal wall insulation, polystyrene foam can effectively and affordably reduce heat loss in a home.

However, using it to insulate aerated concrete walls has numerous drawbacks:

  1. The area in the room becomes smaller;
  2. It will be necessary to make a good ventilation system so that condensation does not accumulate on the walls;
  3. Foam is a flammable material, and it releases toxins;
  4. If we compare foam with other insulation materials, its thickness is much greater;
  5. Foam cannot be called a durable material;
  6. You will have to put in a lot of effort and incur costs.

Foam insulation for exterior walls offers the following benefits:

  1. The facade of a house made of aerated concrete becomes attractive;
  2. The room remains warm;
  3. The material is lightweight and does not put a strain on the wall and foundation;
  4. It has soundproofing qualities;
  5. The degree of sound insulation becomes better;
  6. It is moisture resistant;
  7. Foam is resistant to biological influences;
  8. There are no temperature differences inside the building.

Sequence of work

Slabs of firmly packed foam plastic balls are the product and market form of foam plastic.

The installation process for this type of insulation follows this order:

  1. First, prepare the base and, if necessary, level the wall of aerated concrete. But basically, leveling may be necessary only in the case when the walls were erected from non-autoclaved blocks;

  1. The surface is cleaned and primed;
  2. Fix the guide profile;

  1. The insulation is fixed to the wall using special glue or mounting foam;

Crucial! After applying the adhesive to the slab, it is applied to the wall.

  1. After the glue has dried, the foam plastic slabs are additionally fixed using plastic dowels;

  1. Then it is necessary to carry out decorative finishing of the facade. The foam walls are primed and a fiberglass mesh is fixed;

  1. To form even corners, perforated profiles are fixed to them;

  1. Then, the wall surface is covered with reinforcing glue;
  2. After this, the foam wall can be plastered or finished with another finishing material. Usually, this is warm or decorative plaster.

Crucial! Foam effectively blocks precipitation from damaging the wall surface because of its resistance to moisture.

Penoplex

Extruded polystyrene foam (penoplex) is produced under conditions of high pressure and temperature.

Among this material’s advantages are the following:

  1. Penoplex is produced in the form of slabs that are thinner than foam;
  2. Has vapor barrier properties;
  3. It is a non-flammable material and does not contribute to the spread of fire, which is an important quality when using it for residential buildings.

One can mention the expensive price as one of the drawbacks. How can penoplex be used to insulate a house built of aerated concrete? The process for insulating this insulation on the walls is the same as for foam.

Mineral wool

This kind of insulation is conventional. The product is made both in rolls and slabs.

The following can be listed as some of this material’s advantages:

  1. Mineral wool is a fire-resistant material and melts when ignited;
  2. It is made from environmentally friendly materials, therefore it does not pose a danger to human health;
  3. It has vapor permeability;
  4. It has soundproofing properties;
  5. It has a long service life;
  6. Mineral wool is resistant to decay and microorganisms.

Crucial! Because mineral wool allows moisture to seep through and contributes to the formation of condensation, it needs to be properly waterproofed. Acrylic plaster should never be used to finish a facade that has been insulated with mineral wool because it encourages condensation.

Sequence of work

The following steps are involved in insulating an aerated concrete home from the exterior with mineral wool:

  1. The wall made of aerated concrete is cleaned of dirt and irregularities and seams are sealed with cement mortar;

Crucial! It is advised to use specialized masonry glue when constructing aerated concrete walls in order to enhance their thermal insulation properties and create tiny seams between the blocks.

  1. In case of significant damage, it is recommended to use vapor-permeable plaster to eliminate it, which is applied to a pre-primed wall;
  2. Mineral wool is produced in the form of rectangular mats, therefore, to fix them in the base area, a frame structure is mounted;
  3. Beacons must be installed at the corners of the house;
  4. The insulation is fixed with a special adhesive, which is applied to the slab along its perimeter and to the central part. A metal spatula with teeth can be used to apply the adhesive over the entire surface of the slab;

  1. To avoid displacement of the rows of slabs, it is necessary to exclude the formation of cross-shaped joints during their installation;
  2. For additional fixation of the insulation, it is necessary to use plastic umbrella dowels, which are placed in the corners of the slab and in the center;

Crucial! There shouldn’t be any spaces between the slabs that could act as "cold bridges" and seriously impair the material’s ability to insulate against heat.

  1. Many people believe that mineral wool insulation does not have sufficient rigidity and is only suitable for insulating ventilated facades. However, mineral wool, like aerated concrete itself, has different rigidity categories. For example, the density of PZh-175 grade boards is much higher than that of the same foam plastic, and they also serve as an excellent base for plaster;

  1. Adhesive solution is applied to the insulation using a spatula, then the mesh is laid and covered with another adhesive layer;
  2. The corners of the walls, window and door openings are reinforced using perforated corners;
  3. The finished walls can be plastered, having been previously primed or covered with putty and painted.

Polyurethane foam

The best material for insulating aerated concrete walls is polyurethane foam. Using specialized equipment that sprays the material under pressure, it is applied to the base.

The positive aspects of this material can be observed as follows:

  1. Due to the fact that the material is sprayed onto the wall surface, there is no need to store the insulation and organize its storage;
  2. Polyurethane foam can be applied to an uneven wall, as it effectively fills in depressions and cracks, forming a durable monolithic seamless coating;
  3. Thanks to spraying, such insulation covers even hard-to-reach places;
  4. Polyurethane foam has good adhesion;
  5. Work on insulating the facade is carried out faster, since there is no need to construct a frame.

Take note! However, if you have opted for this insulation technique, you must make sure that the interior décor can stop steam from seeping into the walls, just like with foam plastic and extruded polystyrene foam. These include alkyd paints, ceramic tiles, vinyl wallpaper, cement plaster, and

Below is a description of how to insulate a house built of aerated concrete using various techniques for securing the insulation.

The use of aerated concrete in home construction has several benefits, such as cost effectiveness and energy efficiency. The secret to maximizing these advantages is proper insulation. You can make sure your house stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter by adhering to the insulation recommendations.

The right materials must be used when insulating a home made of aerated concrete. The best materials are those that offer strong thermal insulation without sacrificing the walls’ ability to breathe. This method helps avoid moisture issues and maintain a comfortable indoor climate.

The methods of installation are just as important as the materials chosen. The degree to which gaps are sealed and thermal bridges are avoided can have a big impact on the insulation’s overall performance. A more effective and long-lasting house will result from making sure all the procedures are followed precisely.

In conclusion, with appropriate insulation, aerated concrete homes can be very efficient. You can design a cozy, energy-efficient living area by choosing the right materials and installing them according to the right procedures. Long-term comfort and energy savings are guaranteed when time and effort are put into installing adequate insulation.

When constructed properly, aerated concrete homes provide outstanding insulation that promotes comfort, durability, and energy efficiency. Homeowners can optimize the advantages of aerated concrete, guaranteeing their homes stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer while cutting energy expenses, by using the right insulation techniques. This post will walk you through the critical procedures and industry best practices for insulating homes made of aerated concrete, ensuring that you get the best results possible without encountering needless difficulties.

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Dmitry Sokolov

Chief engineer in a large construction company. I have extensive experience in managing construction projects and implementing modern technologies.

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