Do-it-yourself insulation of the facade with extruded polystyrene foam under plaster

Insulating the exterior of your house can greatly increase its comfort and energy efficiency. Plaster is often applied over extruded polystyrene foam as a popular technique to accomplish this. This kind of insulation is well renowned for its ability to keep heat from escaping and use less energy. By reducing your carbon footprint and improving the thermal comfort within your house, insulating your facade can also help the environment.

Often known as XPS, extruded polystyrene foam is a strong, lightweight material that is perfect for exterior insulation. Because of its superior thermal performance, it keeps your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Because XPS resists moisture, it can be used in damp environments. Its inflexible structure gives the facade more strength as well, extending its longevity.

It is imperative that the facade be appropriately prepared before beginning the insulation process. This is giving the surface a thorough cleaning to get rid of any dust, debris, or dirt. To guarantee a level and smooth surface for the insulation boards, any gaps or fractures should be filled with the appropriate materials. In addition to increasing the insulation’s effectiveness, proper preparation guarantees a more aesthetically pleasing finish after plaster is applied.

With careful planning and preparation, installing extruded polystyrene foam boards is a reasonably simple do-it-yourself project. To start, determine the boards’ dimensions and cut them accordingly for your facade. To ensure the boards are firmly in place, use an appropriate adhesive to firmly attach them to the prepared surface. Take care of the joints between boards to reduce the possibility of thermal bridging, which is the loss of heat through gaps.

The next step is to apply an appropriate plaster system over the firmly installed insulation boards. This layer gives the facade a polished, smooth appearance in addition to shielding the insulation. Select a plaster system that works with XPS insulation boards, and pay close attention to the application instructions provided by the manufacturer. Plaster that has been applied correctly increases the facade’s resistance to weather and adds to its overall durability.

In summary, adding extruded polystyrene foam insulation beneath plaster to your facade is a sensible and efficient approach to raise the comfort and energy efficiency of your house. XPS improves the longevity and visual appeal of the exterior of your house while lowering heat loss and energy expenses thanks to its durability and thermal insulation capabilities. You can save money on installation by doing this project yourself, and you’ll feel good about making a positive impact on a more comfortable and sustainable living space.

What is expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene (PPS) is a material made up of many sealed, gas-filled granules that are fused together into a single conglomerate during the manufacturing process. The walls of the granules are the only thing holding them together; they are not destroyed.

The densities and hardness of EPS vary depending on the temperature during the manufacturing process and the size of the granules at the beginning. The stronger and denser the material, the finer the grains. PPS’s exceptionally low thermal conductivity—a 3 cm thick layer of PPS has the same thermal resistance as a 123 cm thick layer of concrete—is its most significant physical characteristic.

There are several varieties of expanded polystyrene available:

• PS. Press .
• PSB. Pressless.
• EPPS. Extruded.
• PSB S. Pressless suspension.

Furthermore, there are material subtypes with specific uses, such as PSB-S 25F, or facade polystyrene foam with a density of 25.

Material Details

Depending on the brand, the material’s density can vary by a significant amount.

Samples with densities available:

• PSB-S 15.
• PSB-S 25.
• PSB-S 35.
• PSB-S50, where the last digits are the value in kg/cube.m.

Benefits

• Excellent thermal insulator.
• Effective sound insulator.
• The light weight of the material allows for widespread use.
• Self-extinguishing material (free burning time – 3 seconds).
• Almost impervious to steam and moisture, depending on the density (there is a slight absorption of moisture through the capillaries – micro-gaps between the welded granules).
• Low price.

Drawbacks:

• Low plasticity; when deformed, the material crumbles or breaks.
• Does not tolerate contact with solvents such as gasoline, acetone, etc.d.
• When exposed to flame, it emits large amounts of poisonous gases, although in itself it is not dangerous in terms of fire safety.
• Impermeable to air, which makes it difficult to remove moisture that has seeped through the capillaries.

Many years of experience have proven and tested the teaching staff’s abilities. The material’s low cost, ease of processing, and other benefits make it the best insulation material available.

The polystyrene foam varieties have different designations under the current GOST, which is in effect. For instance, the new standard designates PSB-S 25F as PPS-16F.

All forms of polystyrene foam share the same chemical foundation, but their properties are greatly altered by the various production techniques. Extruded options (EPS, penoplex, etc.) differ the most from conventional types.

Comparing materials with the same thermal conductivity in terms of thickness

Since this material is mixed while it is being made, its structure changes and it becomes a homogenous frozen foam that resembles foam rubber in appearance but is far more stiff and long-lasting.

EPS is a great material for waterproofing and insulation because it is completely impermeable to water or steam and works well in challenging environments, such as insulating foundations or other underground structures.

How to calculate the thickness of insulation

The process of calculating material thickness involves two steps:

• First, the thermal resistance of the wall is determined. This refers to the general value, together with insulation. If there are many layers of the pie, all are taken into account. The value is standard, determined according to SNiP tables for a given climate zone.
• Then the thickness of the PPS is determined – the product of the thermal resistance of the wall and the thermal conductivity coefficient of the material.

Remember that since the theory deals with subtle effects that are unique to each situation and cannot be accounted for in calculations, it is largely corrected by experience.

As a result, when building privately, they stick to locally accepted norms rather than conducting in-depth theoretical research.

When in doubt, you can always find the desired value by using an online calculator—ideally, more than one. To obtain the desired outcome, simply enter your data into the appropriate columns of the attached table.

Wall-pie apparatus

Is polystyrene foam suitable for insulating wooden, brick, foam concrete houses??

Expanded polystyrene is a versatile insulation material that works well under all kinds of circumstances. But in order for the insulation cake to function correctly, each layer’s vapor permeability ratio needs to be exactly right—it should be maximum inside and progressively decrease outward.

The use of polystyrene foam, which has a very low vapor permeability (EPS is thought to be completely impermeable to vapor), is made more difficult by this.

The sequence in which the materials can be arranged depends on how well PPS works as insulation:

• Foam concrete. The most vapor permeable material.
• Wooden wall. Wood itself does not conduct steam, but joints, cracks and joints are replete with loopholes for steam.
• Brick wall. The closest (relatively) material in terms of vapor conductivity.

Because PPS is a "time bomb" that silently builds up moisture in the wall’s thickness, some experts do not advise using it outside at all.

Nonetheless, polystyrene foam is frequently utilized to insulate exterior walls, yielding highly favorable outcomes. Setting up efficient ventilation at home will solve the issue by eliminating steam from the air and providing relief.

Preparing walls for laying thermal insulation

The following actions must be taken prior to installing insulation:

• Sealing irregularities, gaps or cracks, depressions in the wall plane. Differences of more than 1 cm per 1 m of length must be leveled.
• The plane of the wall is covered with a contact primer (especially necessary for severe shedding).
• Installation of sheathing. This is done for subsequent installation of the casing (if planned).

The sheathing creates a flat plane and is constructed from wooden blocks or drywall guides. The thickness of the planks is the same as the thickness of the insulation, not less! The recommended spacing between the planks is between 40 and 50 centimeters; in actuality, a pitch that is greater than the width of the PPS sheet is chosen for maximum efficiency.

Methods for attaching polystyrene foam to the wall

The following methods can be used to install PPS:

• Tight fit between sheathing strips.
• Fastening on special dowels with wide caps – “fungi”.
• Glue installation.

During the tension installation process, it is possible to encounter fragmented materials or crumbled sections. Polyurethane foam needs to be poured into these spaces; no gaps or openings should exist.

Installation on "fungi" is done in addition to gluing; using it as a stand-alone fastening technique is not advised.

Adhesive is prepared mixes that are mixed right before the material is installed by diluting them with water. Although they cost more, synthetic adhesives similar to polyurethane foam can also be produced in cylinders.

Using a dowel for installation

This post discusses the advantages and doable methods of DIY facade insulation for your house using extruded polystyrene foam under plaster. We’ll go over the benefits of this technique for increasing thermal comfort and energy efficiency, as well as how to apply and prepare the insulation correctly and what equipment is required. We’ll also go over possible financial savings when compared to hiring experts and offer advice on how to make sure your insulation project turns out well. By the time you’re done, you’ll know exactly how to improve the insulation in your house and make it a more comfortable place to live using this easy and affordable technique.

Do-it-yourself installation of polystyrene foam

• If there is a lathing, EPS is cut into appropriate pieces.
• If there is none, installation is carried out in whole slabs (if possible), since factory ones are smoother and more accurate than those cut by yourself.
• Glue can be applied in stripes along the perimeter and in the center of the sheet, pointwise or in a continuous layer.
• Installation of EPS on the wall. The slab is pressed against the wall with a little effort, you can slightly move it from side to side for better adhesion of the glue to the wall material.
• After installation, the slab should be secured with a dowel. This will help save time – press the slab to the wall while the glue sets.
• All subsequent slabs are installed in a similar way.
• The work is carried out in horizontal rows from the corner (or opening) of the building.

The joints can have glue applied to them if they are tight or if the slab edges are uneven.

Insulation of slopes and window perimeter

Foam strips must be cut to the appropriate length and positioned snugly on the slope, resting on the ends of the wall slabs, in order to insulate slopes.

An alternative is to first reinforce the window opening by pasting PPS strips over it so that the insulation strip’s cut is flush with the wall’s plane.

After that, length-cut polystyrene slabs are placed on the plane.

It is imperative to firmly cover all joints and junctions with insulation, and to fill any potential cracks with foam or apply glue.

Installation of reinforcing mesh and finishing with plaster

1. Reinforcing mesh is used to provide greater rigidity to the plaster and preventing it from falling off the polystyrene foam. For this, a metal or plastic mesh with a small mesh size is used.
2. First of all, you need to cover the window or door slopes and corners of the house. This is done with strips of mesh, cut about 30 cm wide and bent in half lengthwise to form a stable rib. All corner areas of the house are decorated with such “corners”.
3. For plastering PPS, a special composition is used – universal mass.
4. The plaster is applied with a spatula to the corners and slopes decorated with a mesh. In places where there will be joints with the main mesh, free areas are left for connecting the mesh panels.
5. For laying on a plane, the mesh roll is cut into pieces of 1 m each.
6. A layer of plaster is applied, a piece of mesh is placed on it and pressed onto the plaster with a spatula. Using stroking movements, the mesh is pressed into the layer of universal mass, so that it is completely inside.
7. The next piece is laid next to each other and the procedure is repeated.
8. After the mesh is completely installed, the mixture is dried for several hours (up to a day), after which the composition must be grouted.
9. Then a second leveling layer is laid, which is also rubbed down after drying. Grouting is done until the surface is completely smooth.
10. After this, the surface is primed for greater reliability and durability of the coating.
11. Finishing is carried out – painting, applying relief or decorative plaster, etc.d.

Putting in reinforcement mesh

It is entirely feasible to insulate the facade using extruded polystyrene foam; however, this will necessitate making sure that the room is adequately ventilated in order to remove any steam.

If this requirement is not met, moisture may slowly build up inside the wall or in the space between the wall and the PPS, which could eventually lead to the walls’ deterioration. Other than that, polystyrene is a very dependable and reasonably priced insulating material.

Step	Description
1. Preparation	Clean the facade thoroughly and repair any cracks or holes.
2. Measuring	Measure the area of the facade to determine the amount of extruded polystyrene foam needed.
3. Cutting Foam	Cut the foam boards to fit the dimensions of the facade.
4. Adhesive Application	Apply adhesive to the back of the foam boards and press them onto the facade.
5. Securing Boards	Secure the foam boards with mechanical fasteners if necessary.
6. Joint Filling	Fill the joints between the foam boards with insulation tape or joint filler.
7. Plastering	Apply a base coat of plaster over the foam boards and smooth it out.
8. Finishing Coat	Apply a finishing coat of plaster and texture it as desired.
9. Curing	Allow the plaster to cure properly before exposing it to the elements.

Extruded polystyrene foam insulation for home facades can be a satisfying do-it-yourself project that improves comfort and energy efficiency. This kind of insulation works well beneath plaster to form a barrier that keeps interior temperatures stable and lowers heating and cooling expenses all year long.

Extruded polystyrene foam’s resilience to moisture and durability are two of its main advantages. Since it doesn’t absorb water like other insulation materials do, it’s perfect for outdoor applications where exposure to humidity and rain is a concern. This feature helps sustain the insulation’s efficacy over time in addition to ensuring longevity.

This kind of insulation fills in gaps and stops heat loss through walls when it is installed correctly, creating a seamless layer on the facade. This can greatly improve your home’s thermal performance, particularly in areas with severe weather. As a do-it-yourself project, it enables homeowners to improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of their home while saving money on labor.

It’s crucial that you familiarize yourself with local building codes and regulations before starting this project. To get the best results and protect your home’s structural integrity and safety, proper installation methods are essential. You can achieve a professional-looking finish that improves the appearance and usefulness of your facade by adhering to manufacturer guidelines and using suggested tools and materials.

All things considered, utilizing extruded polystyrene foam under plaster to insulate your facade is a useful and efficient method of enhancing the insulating capacity of your house. Whether you’re driven by a desire to reduce energy use, improve comfort, or address environmental issues, this do-it-yourself project provides an easy fix with lasting advantages. You can benefit from a more comfortable home and possibly lower energy costs for years to come if you take the time to properly plan and carry out the installation.

Video on the topic

This is what will happen!!!,if you attach penoplex to foam, to walls made of foam blocks