Step-by-step instructions on how to properly make an insulated blind area around the house

To preserve energy efficiency and safeguard your foundation, you must create an insulated blind area around your home. You can make sure that your house is well-insulated and moisture-free by following this step-by-step guide. Additionally referred to as insulated foundations, insulated blind areas aid in controlling interior temperature and halting heat loss through the ground.

Preparation is the first step in this project. The space surrounding your home where the insulated blind area is going to be installed should first be cleared. Clear away any bushes, trees, or other obstructions that might obstruct the construction work. To give the insulation materials a stable base, make sure the ground is level and compacted.

Selecting the appropriate insulation material for your blind area is the next step. Extruded polystyrene (XPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and rigid foam boards are common options. These materials offer superior thermal insulation qualities in addition to being strong and resistant to moisture. Choose insulation boards that satisfy local building codes and climate requirements by selecting those with the right R-value.

After deciding on an insulation material, install it all the way around your home. Make sure there are no cracks or openings where heat could escape by cutting the boards to fit tightly against the foundation walls. To firmly fasten the insulating boards to the foundation walls, use adhesive made specifically for such purposes.

When can you insulate yourself, and when should you turn to professionals??

One of the most basic components of a private home’s construction is the blind area. Any homeowner with manual labor skills can take care of it on their own. It is crucial to adhere to the device’s technology and accurately construct a "layer cake" within the structure using the building materials.

Three categories of blind areas exist:

1. Tough. It is based on pouring concrete or paving. The participation of specialists is recommended here, since the technology is labor-intensive and will require hiring equipment and auxiliary tools.
2. Semi-rigid. The final covering here is made of paving slabs, which lie on a concrete base. Laying out the material and pouring the base require certain skills; it is not always possible to carry out the process efficiently the first time on your own.
3. Soft blind area. The technology does not involve concrete, so this process is easier to do yourself.

As a result, you can use a soft coating to insulate the blind area with your hands without the use of tools or concrete work. For other coating types, professional assistance might be needed, but everyone can install and insulate the coating themselves if they follow the guidelines and behave cautiously.

We provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for building an insulated blind area around your home in this guide. This crucial home renovation project helps with insulation and moisture control in addition to improving curb appeal. We’ll go over the supplies required, how to get ready, and the meticulous procedure to guarantee good insulation. Whether your goal is to strengthen the overall longevity of your house, shield your foundation from heat loss, or both, this post will provide you with the useful information you need to tackle the task effectively and with assurance.

Requirements for insulation

Today’s market is filled with a huge variety of thermal insulation materials. The following characteristics should be present in the best blind area insulation options:

1. Thermal conductivity coefficient. The operating conditions in a particular region are important. The lower this indicator, the better the insulation performs its main function.
2. Humidity and biostability. The material must be dry, the amount of moisture inside is minimal, since otherwise it will affect the integrity of the blind area itself. Its physical properties should not change with temperature changes. The presence of moisture in the pores directly affects the reproduction of microorganisms.
3. Ability to absorb water. The less water the insulation absorbs, the lower its thermal conductivity. A high-quality material for a blind area should not be susceptible to moisture, the indicator is indicated as a percentage. When choosing between the same insulation from different manufacturers, the water absorption rate should be decisive. It is recommended to choose the one with the lower percentage.
4. Density. For the blind area, you should choose materials with high density, since it will be in conditions of high humidity and under the influence of atmospheric conditions. The marking is displayed in kg/m 3, maximum value 400.
5. Strength. Affects susceptibility to mechanical stress. Soil heaving should not affect the physical properties of the insulation. For the blind area, insulation with a strength above 5 MPa is chosen. This also affects integrity during transportation.
6. Durability and frost resistance. For blind area insulation, these are the two most important indicators that directly affect the safety of the building’s foundation and the structure itself. The indicators show what temperature the insulation can withstand and how long it will last if the operating conditions are met.

Elastic and frost-resistant solid insulation types are used for the blind area. Additionally, they shouldn’t shrink because doing so could distort the structure as a whole.

Which material to choose?

Only some of the materials can be used to insulate the blind area because of the strict requirements that apply to them. They can all be installed separately.

Expanded polystyrene

A kind of foam plastic that is more frequently used than other materials because of its affordability and adaptability.

Benefits

• low thermal conductivity and moisture absorption;
• high strength;
• frost-resistant;
• flexible;
• service life reaches 80 years.

Cons: combustible; must be safely locked beneath the uppermost layer of the blind area and covered with the plinth facing material.

Perfect for concrete surfaces and suitable for all kinds of blind areas, but you will need to cover it with extra insulating material (film or geotextile) to prevent mechanical impact and fire hazards.

Penoizol

The building’s base and the bottom of the trench, beneath the blind area where a cushion made of sand, clay, and geotextile is placed, are sprayed with it.

Benefits

• applied without joints, in a uniform layer from a special machine with a sprayer;
• dense, does not absorb moisture;
• low thermal conductivity;
• does not allow oxygen to pass through.
• durable, non-flammable.

Drawbacks:

• application requires the participation of specialists with equipment;
• toxic, requires respiratory protection for all those present and isolation of the adjacent area (so as not to damage the plants).

It is not advisable to use penoizol in areas with high humidity or during periods of heavy precipitation. The material is expensive to apply and cannot withstand high water levels. available in different shapes, including sliced.

Styrofoam

Elastic, one of the most well-known materials, is excellent for fortifying expansion joints.

Advantages:

• low thermal conductivity;
• affordable;
• easy to lay and model to the desired shape.

Minuses:

• easy to damage mechanically (reinforced mesh is required during installation);
• subject to combustion;
• if the density is low, moisture absorption is high.

Compared to other insulation materials, polystyrene foam has a significantly shorter lifespan. However, it’s simple to install and replace on your own.

Expanded clay

The safest, greenest, natural substance available. It is made of a combination of shale and clay.

Benefits

• to use, you don’t need anything other than a shovel – it’s simply poured into a trench;
• non-toxic;
• it"s inexpensive.

Cons: Not advised for areas with hard blindness. Lightweight materials are intended to insulate buildings with lawn, gravel, and crushed stone coverings.

How to calculate the required amount of building material?

In order to maintain the ground’s temperature, polystyrene foam, which has a standard thickness of 5 cm, must be laid in multiple layers.

For central Russia, two layers (10 cm thick) should be sufficient. Three layers for the north. The amount is computed in square meters, accounting for overlaps on the building’s wall.

Building perimeter, for instance, is 8 * 4 meters, or (8 + 4) * 2 = 24 m. Based on a standard blind area width of 1 m, it turns out that 24 m2 of polystyrene foam are needed for just this portion. The overlap on the wall is 30 cm high, but it has the same circumference.

We compute 7.2 (24 * 0.3). with an 8 m 2 reserve. To lay in one layer, 32 m2 of polystyrene foam are required. The area required for a double bottom layer is 24+24 = 48 m^2. and 8 square meters for walls. It takes 56 square meters of polystyrene foam in total.

The calculation for foam plastic uses the same formula; the material’s thickness is the only variable. The insulation is laid in a single layer if the tiles are initially larger than 10 cm. If you look at the previous example, this translates to 32 m2 including walls.

The amount of penoizol is computed per square meter of consumption. The layer should not be thicker than 25 cm; 15 cm is plenty at normal winter temperatures and air temperatures (not in the north or south). Manufacturer estimates state that 1.3 liters are needed for every square meter.

For instance, through comparison with the earlier computation. You will need 24 * 1 * 1.3 = 32 liters of mixture for the actual blind area. 24*0.3*1.3 on the wall equals 10 l. 32 l in total. It is also advised to bring an additional 35 liters with you. The height of the layer determines the consumption of expanded clay, which is sold in cubic meters.

For instance, a 10 centimeter layer of expanded clay with the same building specifications. 1 m2 requires 0.01 m3 of consumption. 10 * 24 (the blind area) * 0.01 equals 2.4 * 1000, or 2400 liters. For a total of 2400 liters of expanded clay, based on the specified parameters. 50 l bags are used to package it. Split 2400 in half. Thus, 48 bags of expanded clay are required.

You must include a few extra units in each calculation to account for mistakes or omissions. In the event that the building has a porch that is not in a blind area, you must deduct its length from the outside measurements.

What is needed to create a warm structure?

In order to build a blind area outside the house, the following is needed:

• shovels, shovels and bayonets;
• gloves;
• vibrator;
• plumb line, tape measure, thread, pegs;
• sharp knife;
• boards for formwork;
• rule.

Resources:

• sand;
• crushed stone;
• clay;
• waterproofing;
• thermal insulation;
• geotextiles;
• covering: concrete, paving slabs, granite chips, lawn, etc.

Certain tools and materials on the list might not be required, depending on the kind of blind area.

Correct insulation technology

Initial stages of construction where the blind areas align are as follows:

1. Dig a ditch with a depth of ½ the depth of soil freezing (approximately 30-40 cm). The width is 20 cm greater than the width of the roof overhang. Treat the bottom with chemicals that prevent plant growth and the appearance of insects.
2. Form the bottom at an angle from the building by about 10 degrees. Dig a groove for the drainage pipe along the outer edge of the trench.
3. Pour moistened clay or sand up to 10 cm high into the bottom. Compact with a vibrator.
4. Place waterproofing with an overlap of up to 20 cm on the wall.
5. Pour 10 cm of crushed stone on top as drainage.
6. Tamp another 10 cm of wet sand.

Apply a layer of thermal insulation after that. Everybody has their own technology:

1. Expanded polystyrene is laid in slabs.
2. Penoizol is applied with a sprayer (a special machine) evenly over the entire space of the blind area with a small coolant on the wall. It does not form seams, it creates another additional layer of waterproofing.
3. Foam plastic is laid in tiles, evenly. If necessary, the material is cut and the required area is formed.
4. Dronite is poured before and after expanded clay. Expanded clay itself in a 10 cm layer.

An expansion joint is the gap that should exist between the building’s wall and the blind area; it should be between two and three centimeters. It is retained in the event that the structure contracts and seasonal expansion of natural building materials (wood) occurs.

A finishing coating is then applied to finish the procedure:

1. Pouring concrete. A blind area is installed around the entire perimeter. A reinforced grate is laid on the thermal insulation layer. Further along the entire perimeter with a step of 2 meters, damping seams are installed – boards 2.5 m thick. Concrete is poured with one layer under an angle up to 10 degrees from the house. Iron is carried out, complete drying with periodic moisture.
2. The coating of paving slabs is made according to the same principle, only the concrete layer is 2 times thinner and the tile is laid out on top.
3. Soft blind area is laid out without reinforcement and concrete. A layer of sand and gravel is filled on the insulation, cover it with geotextiles. And already on this coating they put the final layer: gravel, granite crumb, drainage with the lawn and others.

The lower portion of the wall, which is up to 30 cm tall, is likewise covered in a layer of thermal insulation. It functions as a softening elastic emphasis and runs inside the compensatory suture. The basement finish is applied over the insulation layer during the last phase of construction.

You will learn how to insulate the blind area using polystyrene foam from the following video:

What mistakes can there be and how to avoid them?

Principal errors:

• laying polystyrene foam in one layer – there is no need to save money, the more reliable the thermal insulation, the more durable the entire structure will be;
• the overlap on the wall is done for greater thermal insulation efficiency and protection of the foundation from freezing – you should not forget about it;
• The lamellar insulation is laid in even layers, the seams are connected as tightly as possible – if you overlap the material, cracks will form.

In Russia, insulation is advised for all kinds of blind areas because the majority of the country has harsh winters.

The building’s foundation suffers from the omission of this detail; the cold rapidly erodes it, rendering the house unusable. In the event that mistakes are made during the insulation installation process, the blind area is dismantled entirely and the steps are correctly repeated.

Expenses

Russia’s average cost of insulation:

1. Expanded polystyrene. The price depends on the thickness and volume of purchase. Piece by piece 2 cm – from 55 rubles/piece, 5 cm – from 115 rubles/piece, 10 cm – from 250 rubles/piece. Standard plate size 118.5*58.5.
2. Styrofoam. 1 cubic meter from 220 rubles.
3. Penoizol. Work is carried out by specialists from 140 rubles/cubic meter. They bring the mixture ready for application and spray it, creating a thermal insulation layer.
4. Expanded clay. Bag 50 l from 120 rub.

This section contains a wealth of useful and important information about insulating the blind area around the house.

Step 1: Plan the Area	Determine the dimensions and layout of the blind area around your house.
Step 2: Prepare the Ground	Clear the ground of any vegetation, debris, or obstacles.
Step 3: Excavate the Trench	Dig a trench around the perimeter of the house, ensuring it"s deep and wide enough for insulation.
Step 4: Lay Gravel Base	Fill the trench with gravel to create a stable base for drainage.
Step 5: Install Insulation	Place expanded clay or other suitable insulation material in the trench.
Step 6: Add Waterproof Membrane	Apply a waterproof membrane over the insulation to protect it from moisture.
Step 7: Backfill with Soil	Fill the remaining space in the trench with soil, compacting it gently.
Step 8: Finish the Surface	Level the soil and consider adding decorative elements or plants as desired.

Making an insulated blind area around your home is a sensible approach to safeguard your foundation and increase energy efficiency. Your home will stay safe and insulated if you adhere to these detailed instructions.

Examine the area surrounding your home where the blind area will be created first. Get rid of any plants, trash, or obstructions that could make the insulation process more difficult. For the insulating materials to have a stable base, make sure the ground is level and compacted correctly.

Next, pick appropriate insulation materials like foam that has been extruded or expanded polystyrene (EPS) boards. These materials guarantee durability over time because they effectively stop heat loss and are resistant to moisture.

Make sure the insulation boards are installed snugly against the foundation around the entire perimeter of your home. To firmly secure the boards in place, use the adhesive that is recommended for exterior insulation. To keep an ongoing insulating barrier in place, pay attention to edges and corners.

Cover the insulation boards with a layer of protection, like a waterproof membrane or geotextile fabric, once they have been installed. This layer aids in controlling water drainage away from the foundation and protects the insulation from mechanical harm.

In order to further aid drainage, backfill the area with soil, making sure it slopes away from the house. To stop the soil from settling, gently compact it. To improve the usability and aesthetics of the area surrounding your house, think about planting choices that go well with the recently insulated blind section.

By taking these actions, you support your home’s long-term structural integrity in addition to increasing its energy efficiency. In addition to lowering heating expenses, an insulated blind area shields your foundation from moisture and temperature changes, resulting in a cozy and environmentally friendly living space.