Insulation of a wooden house outside with mineral wool for siding

Many owners of wooden houses believe that insulation of the walls should begin as soon as the house is built. But, I would like to point out that a common mistake is that, even though new wood houses can produce a pleasant microclimate inside the rooms and have low thermal conductivity, it is not always worth the expense to use them as insulation.

If a wooden house has been standing for a long time and has experienced multiple temperature changes, it is recommended that the wood be insulated before siding is installed. This is because numerous deep cracks appear on the logs or timber from which the house has been erected due to atmospheric influences.

External wood-frame house insulation using mineral wool siding

If the house is located in an area with cold winters and the walls are thin, they also turn to insulation measures. Fuel expenses are greatly decreased and the overall thermal conductivity of the enclosing structures is lowered with the aid of thermal insulation.

Vinyl siding, which is more affordable and has a longer lifespan than mineral wool, is becoming more and more popular as an external decoration material for wooden houses. Furthermore, installing the finishing material is simple, and replacing a damaged panel with a new one is not difficult.

It’s important to understand the ins and outs of the house’s operation as well as the specifics of the thermal insulation process so that, following the insulation of the wooden walls, the ideal microclimate is maintained and the structure is safe.

Would you be interested in learning more about the effects of using mineral wool for wall insulation from the inside?

What leads the increased moisture content of wood?

Knowing the answer to this question will help you approach the insulation measures more seriously and make the right decisions by using logic and reason rather than relying on random advice.

Effects of fungal-caused wood lesions

Everyone is aware that wood that has not been treated with specific chemicals, is continuously moist, is impacted by microflora (flexible mold), starts to deteriorate, and loses strength. A log with mold settles over a few years, loses all of its thermal insulation properties, and eventually turns into a dust. As a result, it’s critical to select the appropriate materials and install them in a way that prevents the building from becoming wet when warming wooden walls.

Prior to being installed in the log house, the logs should have a moisture content of 23 ÷ 35%. After a year or so of normal use, the walls dry out and the moisture content of the wood decreases to 10 to 18%, depending on the season of measurement. Note that the formation of fungus in the tree’s structure is inevitable if it remains in a humid state for an extended period of time (20 · 22%). Additionally, a warrior beetle’s appearance is encouraged in such a setting.

There’s no reason to believe that rain, snow, fog, or elevated humidity is the only reason wood starts to rot. As a matter of fact, during the winter months, when indoor and outdoor temperatures fluctuate and the relative humidity in a room frequently surpasses that of the exterior, the wood itself takes on these characteristics. A tree takes in moisture from the interior and releases it through the spaces between the logs and micropores. More moisture permeates the wood in the house’s structure the colder it gets outside and the warmer it gets inside. They claim that the material "breathes" during this process.

Violate such a natural equilibrium—you can never do so. Insulating in a way that prevents water from couples from wood to the atmosphere is unacceptable. The "dew point" will also be displaced by the insulation; it must be in the thickness of thermal insulation material and will extend beyond the bounds of the wooden wall. Additionally, it will drastically lessen the possibility of wooden walls getting wet.

Materials for insulation of wooden walls

Therefore, it is crucial to follow proper insulation technology and select appropriate materials so as not to disturb the natural temperature balance and avoid moisture stagnation inside the logs.

The most important condition is a vapor permeable membrane

A windproof diffuse membrane is the most crucial component of a wooden house’s insulation system.

It is vital to establish normal operating conditions for the structure and remove any barriers to the outflow of water vapors from it in order to respect the natural Ball of the NS of insulation and moisture.

Windproof diffuse membrane costs

Wind -protective diffuse membrane

Many builders, performing work “not for themselves”, do not really think about the durability of the insulated house, and close the wooden wall with a vapor barrier film, which is absolutely not permissible . Specialists involved in the study of the construction physics of wooden housing and building materials advise to completely abandon vapor barrier material when warming wooden buildings, in which it is planned to live all year round. Instead, you should use a windproof diffuse membrane, which is fixed on the outer side of the insulation. This coating has hydrophobis – the water that falls on it simply rolls, but will never be absorbed into the fibers. That is, even if water leaks under a layer of siding, getting into a layer of mineral wool, and even more so – to wooden walls, she will not be able to.

The diffuse membrane’s exterior structure

However, the special design of this membrane in no way stops water vapor from the walls and insulation layer from freely escaping into the atmosphere. As a result, the house’s walls continue to "breathe," naturally balancing the humidity.

The insulation itself requires wind protection, which this membrane effectively provides by preventing the material’s fibers from weathering and from having cold air seep into its thickness.

The structure of the insulation "pie" on the wooden wall schematically

Condensate drops on the membrane’s surface will continuously dry thanks to the free air circulation created by the ventilation gap left between the windproof vapor-permeable film and the finishing material.

Optimal insulation – mineral wool

Synthetic thermal insulation materials, such as polystyrene foam, foamed polyethylene, and t.P., are totally disregarded when it comes to the external insulation of wooden houses. Additionally, you must remove any foil-coated materials right away. As was already mentioned, the vapor barrier properties of all these heaters are wholly unacceptable.

Avoid using artificial, pretentious insulation materials for wooden houses, like polyurethane foam, which completely seals the surface and keeps trees from being able to "breathe." Such insulation will cause the house to decay and cause mold to grow inside, which is extremely dangerous for the residents’ health as well as the health of the entire structure.

Mineral wool is the best choice for this kind of work, but there are none at all. It can be constructed from a variety of materials, including volcanic gabbro-basalt rocks (stone or basalt cotton wool), molten glass battle and sand (glass wool), and domain slags (slag).

Costs of mineral wool

mineral wool

The best material for insulating a wooden house is stone cotton wool because of its great thermal insulation properties, low hygroscopicity, appropriate density, and relatively high compression strength.

Wool blocks made of basalt minerals

The primary functional and technical attributes of this material are:

• Coefficient T T TULLECTION – from 0.032 to 0.048 W/m × ° K.
• Moisture absorption – no more than 2% of the volume (in some species – significantly less)
• The density of basalt mats can vary from 30 to 400 kg/m³, since semi -rigid and hard plates are produced, as well as mats from mineral felt.
• The compression strength limit is from 5 to 80 kPa, depending on the variety of the material and its density.
• The basalt insulation is a breathing material, and this is one of the main conditions when warming wooden structures.
• The most important quality, especially for use in wooden construction – is non -combustibility of the material.

It is advised to use semi-rigid heat insulator mats for the exterior of the house; their densities range from 80 to 150 kg/m³. Typically, they come in a specific thickness range and measure 600 x 1200 or 500 x 1000 mm. Roll material is more readily mounted, but even with high-quality wall fasteners, it has a lower density and strength and can eventually become sore.

For thermal insulation external works on the walls of a wooden house, you can also use glass wool, but the effectiveness and durability of such insulation will be significantly lower than.

However, slag needs to be completely and immediately eliminated. This one absorbs moisture well and has a higher coefficient of tth, so don’t be fooled by its low price. During operation, increased moisture absorption causes a rise in thermal conductivity, which causes the material’s thermal insulation properties to sharply decline. Furthermore, the sample’s elevated acidity is completely useless for natural wood.

Environmentally friendly hemp or linen mats, which have a high resistance to moisture, good vapor permeability, and low thermal conductivity, are advised by experts for both internal and external insulation. The primary disadvantage of these materials is their exorbitant price.

Information regarding the best timber intervention heater may be of interest to you.

Required insulation thickness of a wooden house

The choice of insulation thickness is based on the wall thickness and the average winter temperature in the area where the house is located. The heat insulator is typically mounted in two layers, the first measuring 100 mm and the second measuring 50 mm. You will need to fix another row of crates if you decide to increase the thickness.

To avoid low insulation efficiency or, on the other hand, avoid spending extra money on TVs that are superfluous or unnecessary in certain thermal insulation conditions, it would be good to precisely determine the thickness of the insulation layer. Making calculations is not too hard.

The basic idea is that the multilayer wall structure’s total thermal resistance cannot be less than the indicator R (m² × ° C /W), which has been determined by experts for this area.

The values of this indicator are shown on the suggested map-scheme of Russia to aid in perception simplification. Select the higher value (shown by purple numbers) for walls.

Card-scheme with the necessary heat transfer resistance values

Because of its multi-layer construction, the wall’s overall thermal resistance will be determined by adding the resistance of all the layers that contribute to the house’s insulation.

R is equal to R1 + R2 + R3.

The following formula, however, expresses each layer’s thermal resistance:

Hn / λn = Rn

Hn: The layer’s thickness.

Λn is the material’s T T epoplitude coefficient.

Such layers, when used to warm wooden buildings, can be:

Which layers influence a wall’s ability to insulate against heat?

1) The actual wooden log home. Please be aware that a log house folded from rounds will always be slightly thinner than one built with a rectangular beam. When executing, this should be considered.

2. Interior décor, assuming any exists at all. The interior walls of wooden houses can be inseparable and can be covered in plywood, MDF, OSP, or natural lining. Drywall is occasionally used for painting and adhering wallpaper.

Layer three of external insulation is the value that needs to be found.

There might be more intricate "pies," and the computation is done for each layer. However, internal natural wooden walls typically aim to maintain the inherent qualities of wood by avoiding "spoiling" with artificial materials.

The diagram additionally displays:

4- Hydrophobic windproof membrane that is vapor-permeable.

5- Fragment details (crate).

6-Siding. There is an air ventilated gap (7) between the insulation and the cladding siding. As a result, the panels—regardless of their composition—do not contribute to the wall’s overall thermal insulation and are ignored.

Therefore, you must know the thickness of each layer and its coefficient of thermal conductivity in order to determine the amount of insulation that is needed.

Consequently, the computation formula will have the following format:

Hu is equal to (R-H1/λ1-H2/λ2-H3/λ3) × λ.

The value of a material’s thermal conductivity can be easily found in reference books, and the packaging or accompanying documentation should include this parameter for the mineral wool type that has been chosen (λu).

We advise using the integrated calculator, which is optimized for natural wooden walls, for counting convenience. It offers the chance to designate two additional layers of natural-material finishes in addition to the wall itself.

Calculator calculation of the thickness of the insulation

The final figure ought to be "leading" to the selected insulation plates’ (mats’) current thicknesses. The calculated thickness will, of course, be regarded as the minimum in this instance.

Details of the frame

A beam or metal galvanized profiles will be needed in order to install the frame. It should be noted that the crate’s metal components freeze easily and that temperature variations cause condensation to form on them, which is detrimental to the insulation and wooden walls. Furthermore, compared to a beam, thin-metal profiles are less rigid.

Sometimes the thickness of the insulation mats, or plates, influences the cross-sectional selection of the wood for the frame crate. Though this isn’t a rigid rule, this is how much less material is used when the guides are positioned appropriately in relation to the wall and with the aid of wooden racks.

It is imperative to consider the ventilation clearance distance, which is typically 40 ÷ 50 mm. Therefore, a beam with a cross section of 40 × 50 or 50 × 50 mm must be prepared in order to install the counter-scheme, which is positioned between a windproof film and finishing material.

It might be necessary to purchase specific metal holders to attach the crate and fix the insulation. For this, straight suspensions are typically utilized, just like when working with drywall.

Preparatory work

The preparatory work holds great significance as it determines not only the length but also the quality of the insulation operation.

There are a few easy steps in the preparatory work, but they need to be done carefully:

• Revision of wall surfaces and determination of the volume of work.
• Discovered cracks and gaps must be thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt.
• After that, it is recommended to be primed with antiseptic agents intended for wood processing. The primer should be completely absorbed and dry well.
• Further, the cracks and cracks need to be embedded, since they simplify the penetration of cold air inside the house – create cold bridges.

Cracks that are sealed with a unique substance

• After the sealing material in the gaps freezes, it is recommended to cover the entire surface of the walls with an antiseptic composition that will protect the wood from the occurrence of the fungus and insect sockets.

A few words regarding the materials used to seal gaps between crowns and cracks in logs or units. The simplest method of eliminating these imperfections is to fill them in with a latex sealant intended for exterior woodwork.

These materials are intended to keep indoor temperature and humidity levels balanced because they effectively block wind streams and keep drafts from coming through the wall.

The sealant adheres well to the primed surface and fits flawlessly. Since it is elastic, it can stretch repeatedly and become deformed when the clearance changes, as happens, for example, when the walls get smaller or become wood. The racks’ material is resistant to high humidity and temperature changes, so the wooden wall will be long-protected.

Should the crack be excessively large, the sealant is mixed with an acrylic harness that is tucked into an opening and sealed on top.

Furthermore, cracks are sealed with dad, moss, felt, or other natural materials; these materials typically conduct intervention insulation.

Different types of intervention heaters The selection of this material directly affects how cozy a wooden home is to live in. How to choose the right Insulation in a different portal publication that intervened.

Intervention heater costs

Intervented insulation

Installation of the frame

The crate frame can be mounted from a wooden bar or metal profile, as was previously mentioned. Since the technologies differ slightly, it makes sense to weigh both choices.

Wooden frame

The next step is mounted after the wooden wall has been prepared. Depending on the insulation’s thickness and layer count, there are various ways to fix it.

A log home’s walls are framed in wood.

• A beam, before fixing to the wall, it is necessary to treat with antiseptic solutions and dry well.
• While the timber will dry, it is necessary to mark the surface of the wall and determine the places of fasteners, guides or racks.
• The elements of the crate are mounted with a step equal to the width of the insulation mats, minus 50 mm – this is necessary so that the mineral wool slabs are installed by the timber and fill the entire space between them.
• Before fixing, the bars are exhibited in level, since they will not only hold the insulation, but also align the wall. If it is necessary to align under the bars of the crate, wooden lining are installed.
• The crate is fixed on the wall with long self -tapping screws or nails. Brus large section can be additionally fixed with metal stainless corners.
• If the siding is mounted horizontally (this is most often happens), then the guide crate is fixed vertically.

The diagram illustrates multiple ways to install a wooden crate for insulation, both in single and multiple layers.

Numerous choices for the location of the insulation and the wooden frame

• Without fail, the guides are installed in all corners of the structure, around the door and window openings . Usually along the walls, from above and below, control cords are extended along the set marks, since all the elements of the crate must be strictly displayed in one plane.

Metal carcass

Although the galvanized metal profile frame is more resilient, it freezes more readily due to the material’s high heat conductivity. On the other hand, it will also be insulated if the insulation is placed in the crate’s elemental grooves.

A metal profile frame extending from the beam to the walls

The following is the sequence in which the metal components of the frame are installed:

• On the wall, the vertical lines are marking, which will correspond to the placement of guide crate .
• Further, on vertical lines, with a step of 250 ÷ 350 mm, metal holders (straight suspensions) are fixed, into which profiles will be installed and fixed. These elements allow you to set the frame vertically in level at the desired distance from the wall. The convenience of these auxiliary details is that they have numerous holes through which you can fix the profiles at the required level with self -tapping screws.

Diagram of a direct suspension device

It should be noted that the wooden frame can also be fastened using these metal holders.

There are holes in the middle of the suspens so that you can fasten them to the wall. Their lateral sections are bent after they are fixed, and a metal profile is put in place in between.

Installation of the frame at the necessary distance from the wall is made possible by straight suspensions.

• For the stiffness of the structure, horizontal are fixed to the vertical elements of the frame. To do this, the segments of metal profiles of the desired size are cut into folds, their side parts are bent at a right angle. The average wide part is fixed on the front shelf of the installed guides of the crate, and bent on their side shelves.
• Around the window and doorways, continuous hard frames from the profile are mounted, while not forgetting to take them into a common plane with the main crate .

Once the frame is in place, you can move on to installing the insulation.

Laying of insulation in the frame structure

• The mats of the insulation begin to be laid between the guides from the bottom of the wall. To create a stable even surface, before installing the first row of insulation in the lower part of the frame, a horizontal solid beam is fixed in one plane with the entire crate, or individual segments that are fixed between vertical elements.
• The mats of the insulation are installed close to the wall, without leaving the gaps. If you plan to use two layers of mineral wool of different thicknesses, then first the thicker, and then the thin.

• Sometimes they resort to the device of two rows of the frame, so first the insulation is installed in the first crate, for example, fixed horizontally. The vertical bars of the second row of the crate are nailed on top of it, and another layer of insulation is laid between them.

Installing insulation around the windows

• For laying the material around the windows from mats, strips of the desired width are cut off. They need to be measured very carefully, since there should be no gaps between the crate and the insulation. In addition, it is impossible to allow the material to bend out – it must be pressed as tightly to the surface of the wall.
• The laying of mineral wool in a metal frame occurs in the same way as in the wooden one, if it is fixed directly on the wall, and not removed from it using racks-suspensions.
• In this case, metal profiles are fixed sideways, and the insulation is inserted into their groove . Thus, an almost continuous insulated surface is created.

Putting two layers of insulation in a metal frame

• If a gap forms between the wall and the crate, then it is first filled with the insulation. Moreover, if there is a necessity, mats are cut so that they can fit tightly with each other, forming a continuous basal canvas along the wall. The next layer of the heat insulator is already installed between metal profiles.

You might find it interesting to know what the foamine’s heater is.

Wind protection

• After all the insulation layers are laid, the remaining cracks (if they were) are vocal between the blocks, the entire surface of the wall must be tightened with a windproof membrane. Individual canvases of which are glued with special adhesive tape or combined on the elements of the crate . In any case, the canvases are overlapped by 100 ÷ 150 mm.

• After that, the entire structure is stitched with plastic mounts with wide hats – "fungi".
• For them, through openings are drilled in the insulation “pie” and the wall. The dowel is inserted into the hole until it is inserted – the “fungus”, and is fixed with a crumbling plastic rod. “Fungi” should tightly press the insulation against the wall, holding it in the right position.
• Further, on top of the bars or profiles of the frame, the bars of the counterparties are nailed directly on top of the windproof membrane, which will help create a ventilation gap.

There is a membrane covering the insulation. The counterparty’s bars are put in place. Everything is prepared for the siding installation.

The counterparties will add siding to these bars.

Here’s some information you might find useful when selecting a heater for your home’s interior walls.

Installation of siding on the insulated surface

It should be fairly easy to install siding if you carefully understand the technology involved; even a novice builder could handle a similar task:

Illustration	Brief description of the operation performed
	If the structure has a protruding part of the base, then installation can be started with the installation of the tide.
	If the tide is not provided, then the first step in the installation of siding is fixed the starting profile along a pre -applied horizontal marking along the lower boundary of the siding cladding. In different sets of this finishing material, the starting stripes can have a different configuration and appearance. Pay attention to the indicated gaps when installing the profile. The starting profile of the upper part has a lock connection, which will be clung to the above panel.
	When fixing any elements of siding, the screws are not screwed until the end. A gap of 1 mm should remain between the hat and vinyl details. Self -tapping screws are screwed in the center of the fasteners slotted holes available on the mounting planes.
	Next, the corner profile is mounted, which should be located with a technological gap of 6 mm from the ends of the starting bar. fixing the details must ensure that the profiles are fixed strictly vertically and horizontally, so these parameters must be constantly monitored by the construction level. When installing vertical profiles, the upper self -tapping screw should be located so that the part on it is “hung”. The rest of the screws – as a general rule: approximately in the center of the mounting slit -like hole.
	So, if necessary, the corner profiles are spent.
	Around the frames of the window are the finish planks are installed. Then, near-window profiles-cups are inserted and fixed on the crate, in which the end sides of the siding panels will hide.
	The same elements are fixed in the doorways. at the corners, profiles are neatly cut at an angle of 45 degrees, so that when they do them form a right angle. The diagram is well shown how to provide water flow from the upper profile-underwear.
	The next step is the installation of N-profiles that serve to docking the ends of the siding panels.
	Since siding panels have a certain length, which often lacks the length of the wall, they are interconnected in the N-profile. This vertical border should be applied in advance when marking.
	This element is fixed vertically on the beam of the crate. He, like all other elements, does not screw tightly to the crate, but should move on self -tapping screws freely.
	Next, there is an installation of the first siding panel with fixing it on the castle of the initial bar. Panels of the panels are launched into grooves of the corner profile and n-profile (or profile-peregrinboard of the door or window). Be sure to follow the full snap of the castle part.
	The rules for fastening the panels with self -tapping screws does not change – in each vertical guide crate in the center of the slotted opening with the abandonment of the clearance. usually twist the screws to the end, and then turn out for 1 turnover.
	It should be noted that the connection or extension of the length of the panels can be carried out without the use of the H-profile, setting them over 25-30 mm. For this, it is necessary to cut locks and fasteners of panels. How to do it correctly – is clearly shown in the diagram.
	Installation continues in the same order from the bottom up. Each subsequent panel is hooked by the castle part for the underlying. regularly, at least than on every third row, the horizontal panels of siding panels are controlled.
	To complete the wall cladding, it is necessary to carefully install the upper panel. Almost always, it has to be adjusted in width. It should be fixed with the upper finish line, which is attached in advance along the upper boundary of the cladding.
	This figure is well shown how such a joining should be made.
	To do this, from a solid panel, it is measured and its upper part is cut off with a mounting bar to a measured width. will be used for installation to the lower side, with a lock located on it.
	There was no castle part left on the resulting narrow panel. To eliminate a similar drawback with the help of a special punch (punch), hooks are made on which the panel will snap and bend in the front side. hooks should be located at a distance of 150 ÷ 200 mm from one another.
	After that, the narrow cut panel first grows up with the lock of the lower panel, and then the hooks made are clung to the top bar of the finish profile upward.
	During the installation of the panels, when facing the window or door openings, it is necessary to calculate and remove unnecessary parts of plastic. To do this, on the panel, at first, the window is planned (according to the previously installed near -window or finish profile, and then a 3 mm technological indentation is made from it. Next, cut out the intended fragment and make hooks – as it was shown above.
	Under the window bar located from the bottom of the opening, the vinyl panel is prepared and cut out in size, it is snapped on the lower panel and screwed onto the screws through the fasteners on the sides from the window frame.
	In order to sheathe the pediment, in the direction of the slopes and the lower on the lower side of the triangle, J-profiles are mounted in which the siding panels will be installed. can also be used for internal angles profiles. To correctly withstand the angle of cutting angle, you can use a fairly simple scheme presented in the figure.
	This figure shows the only place where the self -tapping screw can be screwed outside. Other profiles are installed on hidden mounts.
	On the outside of the overhang of the roof of the panels, the ends of the panels are closed with a wide J-profile inserted into the finished bar mounted on the cornice. The profile of the inner angle between the pediment and the overhang can be replaced by two J-profiles.

Several noteworthy observations:

• So that all the elements of the casing are fixed evenly and without flaws, before the installation, it is necessary to first make a thorough markup.
• All lining elements are fixed at a certain distance from each other. The size of the gaps are indicated in the schemes-schemes, and basically it is from 3 to 6 mm. These gaps are necessary for the free expansion of the material at temperature differences, without the general deformation of the entire wall cladding.
• All vinyl elements of the finish must be fixed freely, without preliminary stress of the material. You can find out the floor with a foam with a foam by the link.

Finally, here’s a video that explains how wall insulation is installed for future siding cladding:

Video: Wall insulation technology for siding

Afanasyev Evgeny, Chief Editor

This post explores the crucial step of using mineral wool designed for siding to insulate a wooden house from the outside. Insulation is essential for controlling indoor temperature, saving energy, and improving general comfort. Mineral wool is an extremely effective and environmentally friendly insulation material that homeowners can use to shield their wooden buildings from outside influences, heat loss, and moisture buildup. By doing this, you can increase the house’s lifespan and energy efficiency without sacrificing its visual appeal. We go over everything you need to know about using mineral wool siding for insulation on your wooden house, from installation methods to the advantages.

The publication’s author (18.09.2015)

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