How to insulate concrete walls from the outside or inside with your own hands: methods and materials

One practical way to increase your home’s energy efficiency is to insulate the concrete walls. In addition to keeping your home comfortable all year round, proper insulation can save your heating and cooling expenses dramatically. Choosing to insulate from the outside or the inside is a viable do-it-yourself project because the process can be completed with a few simple tools and supplies.

Concrete wall insulation comes in a variety of forms and supplies. Each has advantages and things to keep in mind based on your unique situation and requirements. The process of adding a layer of insulating material to the outside of the walls helps shield the building from thermal bridging and extreme weather. Conversely, though, i

Preparation

Every building material responds differently to environmental factors. The same is true of concrete. It outperforms wood and brickwork in terms of performance, but it needs adequate thermal insulation. The following details need to be considered before you begin hand-insulating concrete walls from the inside:

  1. At high density, the monolith remains a permeable material, which negatively affects both the condition of the insulation (if they are not able to withstand moisture) and the wall – in cold weather, condensation will begin to freeze, triggering deformation processes.
  2. Before carrying out work, concrete is treated with an antiseptic, which will prevent the formation of fungi and mold.
  3. Thermal insulation should cover the entire facade, not individual parts of the building.
  4. The amount of insulation is selected taking into account the thickness of the walls.

Inside or outside ?

After deciding which material to use to insulate an apartment from the inside or to insulate a concrete wall from the outside, you must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Experts advise prioritizing external insulation above all else because, in the absence of it, internal insulation will be useless and will worsen the issue.

When the weather is dry and warm, work can begin. The house has insulation covering both sides to improve defense against heat loss.

Calculation of materials

Numerous factors influence the amount of insulation materials consumed. The evenness of the wall’s surface that will be insulated is the first consideration because it determines how much glue is needed to secure the foam.

  1. To glue polystyrene foam boards on "lyapukhi" (without an adhesive layer along the edges), you will need to use 5 kg of polystyrene foam adhesive.
  2. The dimensions of the boards must correspond to the parameters of the walls without taking into account openings (window and door). The thickness of the material is determined by the region of residence.
  3. To strengthen the plaster, reinforcement with facade fiberglass mesh is used. The number of reinforced concrete structures is selected taking into account the parameters of the wall.
  4. If the facade will be covered with decorative plaster, then to level the surfaces you will need to purchase a primer with quartz sand. The consumption of this composition is 300 g / m².
  5. Before painting the structures, they must be treated with a deep penetration primer – 200 g / m².
  6. The consumption of plaster is determined by the size of its grains.
  7. The consumption of the paint composition depends on the application method (spray gun, roller and brush).

Surface preparation

Surface preparation can be done after wall insulation materials have been purchased. To accomplish this, you must first remove any dirt, mold, and outdated paint from them before applying an antiseptic.

This will guarantee a smooth and dry surface. Plaster needs to be used to cover any chips or cracks. The surfaces should be leveled using a different composition.

To improve the material’s adherence to the adhesive base, a primer is applied to the wall’s upper portion.

Insulation instructions

Regardless of the materials chosen for the apartment’s thermal insulation, it’s crucial to consider a number of guidelines and details:

  1. You can start insulation work only during the warm period, when it is dry outside.
  2. Before fixing the insulation, you need to dry the surface. For such purposes, it is allowed to use a heater.
  3. Next you need to perform a complete cleaning of the structure, paying special attention to places where moisture and fungus accumulate.
  4. Treat with an antiseptic and apply a layer of primer. Before each subsequent stage, you need to wait for the previous layer to dry.

Polystyrene foam

The material’s accessibility and simplicity of self-gluing contribute to its popularity.

  1. Apply the adhesive base to the back of the tile. It is advisable to do this pointwise, observing intervals of 30-35 cm.
  2. When gluing the products, do not allow the seams in the rows to coincide.
  3. Then apply a fiberglass mesh and an additional layer of glue.
  4. A steel profile is used to strengthen the corners.

Plate-style dowels are used as fixing elements in addition to glue. The reinforcement mesh should have 10 to 12 cm of overlap and cells that are 3 to 5 mm in size. The insulating layer needs to be at least 8 cm thick if the building was constructed in accordance with the previous plan.

Polyurethane foam

The following benefits come from using polyurethane foam to process surfaces:

  1. The material does not need additional use of plaster or other protective compounds, since it is not afraid of the influence of ultraviolet rays and mechanical impacts. This helps to extend the service life.
  2. During operation, polyurethane foam does not lose its presentable appearance and skillfully masks all defects in the walls.
  3. A technical endoscope is used to check the quality of the fill.
  4. With the help of polyurethane foam, it is possible to insulate various structures with a hollow structure.

Mineral wool

In order to install the slabs technologically, a unique metal or wooden frame must be fixed, and the following guidelines must be followed:

  1. Installation is carried out in 2 stages: in the first, the space between the frame and the surface is filled, and in the second – the gaps of the frame.
  2. Products made of polyurethane foam must be 50 mm thick and have a density of 75 kg / m³.
  3. After completing the fixation of the slabs, it is necessary to fix the vapor barrier film.
  4. The film is fixed with an overlap on the edges of the slabs.
  5. The points to which the film adjoins are treated with a sealant.
  6. At the end, plasterboard is fixed and finishing work is carried out.

Heat-insulating plaster

Thermal insulation plaster is frequently used as the foundation for the insulation layer. The use of unique indicators guarantees uniform application.

  1. Splash – the first layer is 10 mm thick. It is a liquid consistency for sealing cracks and irregularities.
  2. Primer – is a key part of thermal insulation with a thickness of 45-60 mm.
  3. Finish coating – is 5 mm thick and is a combination of chalk powder with water for competent masking of defects.

Other materials for insulation

Facade insulation can be achieved with a variety of methods in addition to the materials mentioned above. This can include foam glass, thermal panels, penofol, or siding insulation.

Thermal panels

Because these products only require glue to secure the sheet to the surface, they are especially simple to apply.

Foam glass with fiberglass application

The density of the majority of slabs made using this novel raw material is between 100 and 150 kg/m³. To fix them, dowels and glue are utilized. The slabs are covered with either drywall or a final plaster layer.

This option’s benefits include excellent resistance to vapor and water, adherence to environmental regulations, and fire safety. One of the drawbacks is that it’s more expensive than other options.

Penofol

The insulation has a thickness of 10 mm and the same thermal insulation qualities as 3 cm mineral wool, with a high resistance to vapor penetration. Nevertheless, multiple layers of penofol are applied for more efficient heat conservation.

It is typically employed as an auxiliary material.

You can improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home at a reasonable cost by insulating concrete walls yourself, from the inside or the outside. It is possible to build a barrier that minimizes heat loss, lowers energy costs, and keeps your living space comfortable all year long with readily available materials such as foam boards, spray foam, or insulation panels. Through the use of straightforward techniques and comprehensive instructions, even a novice can effectively embark on this do-it-yourself project and enhance their home’s insulation without the need for expert assistance.

Installation

There are various ways to install insulation. You must consider both your financial situation and the option’s implementation complexity when selecting a good one.

Insulation

To affix the polystyrene foam sheet, use a Ceresit adhesive mixture and dowels. To achieve a consistent consistency, you must first dilute the adhesive base with water. The consistency of this mixture establishes how well the material will fix.

Once the glue has been thoroughly prepared, you can start evenly applying it to each polystyrene or PSB foam sheet. There are 10–20 centimeters between sections and 5–10 centimeters between the material’s edges. The middle portion of the insulation needs special attention.

Proceed to fix the material after applying the glue. It is glued from the bottom corners of the sheets. The mixture may need two to four days to dry. Dowels are hammered into the wall to increase the structure’s strength. Plaster or construction foam are applied to the resulting joints.

Meshes and rough finishing

Using the same Ceresit glue, fix the reinforced mesh in the next step after ensuring the adhesive base is completely dry.

The base needs to be applied equally across the slab, pressing the mesh with reinforcement from above and working from the top to the bottom. Next, coat the area again with primer, putty, and glue. The final step involves installing the siding panels.

Method Materials
External Insulation Styrofoam boards, mineral wool, insulation adhesive, plaster
Internal Insulation Insulating panels, foam spray, drywall, adhesive
DIY Tips Ensure proper surface cleaning, use insulation with high R-value, seal edges well

Effective concrete wall insulation can significantly improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your house. An effective project depends on your knowledge of the available techniques and materials, regardless of whether you decide to insulate from the outside or the inside.

In general, external insulation shields the structure from temperature changes and offers superior thermal performance. It also keeps the interior room intact. But in order to make sure it survives the weather, careful planning and execution are needed.

If making exterior modifications is not possible, installing internal insulation can be a good alternative because it is frequently easier to install. Although this approach can result in less usable interior space, it makes maintenance and access easier.

Whichever method is chosen, using high-quality materials like fiberglass, foam boards, or spray foam can significantly improve ins

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Anna Vasilieva

Journalist with a technical education, specializing in construction topics. I can explain complex technical topics in simple and accessible language.

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