Mineral wool for wall insulation - what is it, application, pros and cons, varieties, installation technology

Proper thermal insulation of a house solves several problems at once - increases living comfort, reduces heating costs and protects the building from harmful environmental influences. For walls and partitions, modern non-combustible mineral-based fibrous materials are most often used. Let's consider what special mineral wool for wall insulation is, what is its scope of application, what types exist, what are its pros and cons, how installation is performed, and also what safety rules must be followed when working with it.

External insulation of walls of an aerated concrete house Source kronotech.ru

Mineral wool - what is it and where is it used?

Mineral wool became available to the average consumer more than 10-15 years ago. Since then, manufacturers have only improved its properties - by reducing the harmful effects on the environment and increasing thermal insulation characteristics. However, its main basis remains unchanged - mineral fibers in an air-structural spatial arrangement.

The material has a shapeless or granular structure with lumps, yellow, brown or green in color with an admixture of various shades. Mineral wool is produced by melting sand, glass, rocks and slag and then centrifuging the molten mass using the blow molding method (similar to the production of cotton candy).

As a result, a cotton mass is formed with three directions of fibers - horizontal, vertical and chaotic. To give the product the required strength, the fibers are impregnated with binding components - synthetic resins, bitumen and other substances. Next, the mass is formed into a form convenient for use - slabs or mats.

Structure of mineral wool Source gipsohouse.ru

Mineral wool is used not only for insulating the walls of a private house from the outside or inside, but also in a number of other cases:

• Thermal insulation of communication networks - water supply, sewerage, gas lines.
• Soundproofing of interior partitions.
• Production of sandwich panels.
• Protection against heat loss through horizontal ceilings and roofs.
• Equipment casing.
• Manufacturing of a filtration system.
• Creation of a wet and ventilated facade.

Note! Mineral wool is often used to line chimneys in attics and attic rooms for better heating and to prevent condensation accumulation. However, when heated to 300-4000C, the material undergoes destructuring with loss of properties. In the future, it will simply crumble. To avoid this, you need to choose a heat-resistant option - basalt wool.

Types of mineral wool

Mineral wool is divided into separate types, depending on the raw materials that were used in the production process:

• slag;
• fiberglass;
• rocks.

Many people are concerned about the question of what is better: basalt wool or mineral wool. In fact, the first is a subtype of mineral insulation. It is important to understand the difference between basalt and basalt wool. The difference is that the first is a rock, which is only one of the components of the thermal insulation material, and the second is the insulation itself.

A comparative table will help you to clearly see how basalt wool differs from mineral wool in properties and operation.

Minvata	Basalt wool
The density of mineral wool is low, which affects the moisture absorption coefficient, therefore, to maintain the thermal insulation characteristics, it is necessary to additionally lay special membranes.	The difference between basalt wool in this aspect is significant. High density increases thermal insulation characteristics and also extends the service life of the insulation.
Due to the pliability of the material, it is easy to transport and quickly restores its original shape.	This insulation is produced in the form of slabs, so the conditions for its use are limited.
It is very easy to install, since the long, soft fibers do not break or fall off.	Basalt - inelastic, mineral wool can crumble during installation and cause irritation of mucous membranes.

Before starting insulation work, you need to decide on the choice of insulation: choose basalt or mineral wool. When
choosing which is better: basalt or mineral wool, you must take into account the operating conditions, the required degree of thermal insulation, and the characteristics of the room to be insulated.

The best manufacturers

There are a large number of mineral wool manufacturers represented on the construction market. At the end of the year, the most popular brands were named:

1. ROCKWOOL insulation . The manufacturer's products have a high level of thermal insulation and sound absorption. It is absolutely safe for humans, which makes it possible to use it even for insulation of public institutions. The high quality characteristics of the material made it preferred, which influenced the cost. According to experts, the technical characteristics of Light Butts from Rockwool rightfully allow it to be called one of the best.
2. TechnoNIKOL is a leading manufacturer of inexpensive mineral wool. It is very convenient to install, but if installation rules are not followed, the sheets may break. Basalt wool from the manufacturer has excellent vapor permeability.
3. The ISOVER brand is also well known on the building materials market . The manufacturer offers stone and glass wool, which are environmentally friendly and safe. The insulation properties of the materials are excellent, and the price is quite reasonable.

Thermal insulation basalt wool Rockwool Light Butts Scandic
Also, experts highlight such manufacturers as PAROC, KNAUF, URSA. Products from these brands are often used to insulate log houses and other buildings.

The listed heat insulators retain heat well and are easy to install. These are quite expensive materials, but their price is consistent with the quality.

Experts highlight the Beltep brand among mineral wool for facades in the mid-price category. Fire safety, excellent level of vapor permeability, good rigidity and ease of installation, combined with an affordable price, have made the Belarusian manufacturer very popular.

Varieties

Thermal insulation wool is classified according to the raw materials used in production into the following 3 types:

1. Stone.
2. Slag.
3. Glass.

Let's look at their features in more detail.

The principle of insulating a wall from the outside with stone wool Source fasadec.ru

Stone

Stone or basalt wool is made from rocks of volcanic origin - mainly granite, porphyrite and basalt. Due to the fine-grained nature of the raw materials, the fibers during production are very thin (about 1-3 microns) and long - up to 50 mm. Such structural features determine a number of the following positive properties of the material:

• Resistance to aggressive environments.
• Preservation of structure when heated to 1000°C.
• High levels of elasticity, strength, flexibility, porosity.
• Attenuation of sound air and shock sound vibrations.
• Applicability for interior decoration.
• Possibility of installation under plaster.
• 50 years of service.
• Hygroscopicity – no more than 1%.

Stone mineral wool for insulating house walls is not without its drawbacks. First of all, they are associated with the highest price among analogues and reduced heat resistance (for polymer-based varieties).

Insulating the attic from the inside with stone wool Source recn.ru

Slag

The production of the slag type of heat-insulating material is based on waste from metallurgical production. In this case, the average parameters of the fibers are as follows: length 15-16 mm, diameter - 5-12 µm. Since the material cannot withstand a large number of temperature change cycles and contains harmful acidic components, it is not used for finishing residential premises, but mainly for outbuildings.

Against the background of the general advantages characteristic of this type of thermal material, slag wool has a fair number of disadvantages:

• The minimum heat resistance is only 300°C.
• High hygroscopicity.
• Manifestation of causticity during styling.
• Presence of harmful components in the composition.
• Reaction with metal surfaces.

However, slag wool is an inexpensive insulation option with good durability, sound insulation and the ability to be easily installed in hard-to-reach places.

Mineral wool is suitable for insulating the external walls of any building Source stroy-podskazka.ru

See also: https://m-strana.ru/brands/uteplenie-domov/

Glass

Glass wool is made primarily from glass mass with the addition of limestone, soda and dolomite. The length of the fibers of the material can reach 5 cm. Among its main advantages are:

• Heat resistance up to 450°C.
• High elasticity, vibration resistance and impact noise resistance.
• Chemical resistance.
• Versatility in use.

However, insulation with glass mineral wool has a number of limitations. It has a high water absorption coefficient, insufficient heat resistance and is caustic during installation.

On a note! Mineral wool in rolls is always characterized by a minimum density. This is due to the fact that the material itself is very fragile, and with a high density value it would simply break when trying to roll it.

Vapor barrier of walls

When carrying out work on wall insulation, you need to do so as to minimize the penetration of moisture from the interior of a residential building under the insulation.

To do this, you need to provide a layer of vapor barrier; it is laid directly on the wall. To do this, you can use an air-permeable diffuse membrane.

The vapor barrier material is attached using a construction stapler; individual strips must be secured with staples. To preserve the insulating properties of the material, it is best to overlap the fabric by 10 -12 cm.

The seams can be additionally insulated with adhesive tape (stationery tape is suitable for this purpose).

Dimensions, shape

Modern manufacturers package tepid wool in two main forms:

• Rolls or mats. The length of the product is 7-10 m, width 120 cm, thickness – 50 mm. The density of the material is quite low. This is due to the purpose of the rolls - for finishing floors, roofs, partitions and other non-load-bearing structures.

Mineral wool slabs and rolls for thermal insulation of walls Source o-cemente.info

• Plates. Standard dimensions are 120 x 60 cm, width 5-10 cm. Density is medium or high. Designed for installation in hard-to-reach places and structural elements with loads.

Good to know! The main advantage of mineral wool as insulation for wooden walls is the unhindered transmission of water vapor. This allows you to maintain the natural microclimate in the house. However, before laying the material, the wood surface must be treated with antiseptic compounds to avoid the formation of mold and fungi due to possible accumulation of dampness.

Thermal calculation

To calculate the thickness of the insulation, appropriate skills or the participation of a specialist are required. However, there are thermal calculators that greatly simplify the task. For example, the basic ISOVER calculator allows you to select the optimal insulation material and calculate its thickness, indicating the region and the main characteristics of the building: building materials, area, height, number of floors, glazing parameters.

For those who are engaged in design or want to receive a detailed calculation of thermal insulation with all formulas and standards, the ISOVER design calculator will help.

For example, in the Moscow region, for an average log cottage, a 50 mm layer of ISOVER Warm Walls Strong mineral wool will be enough. A similar building made of foam blocks will require 100 mm of insulation (its thickness directly depends on the thickness and type of load-bearing walls; before choosing, we recommend making an individual calculation using a heat engineering calculator).

Buy at isover market

Those wishing to study the issue in more detail can familiarize themselves with the contents of the relevant regulatory documents: SP 131.13330.2020 “Building climatology” (new edition, comes into force in June 2022), SP 50.13330.2012 “Thermal protection of buildings”, etc. Insulation of frame buildings in detail describes SP 31-105-2002 “Design and construction of energy-efficient single-family residential buildings with a wooden frame.” This document is an adapted Canadian standard Design and construction of wood-frame single family houses (translated as “Design and construction of wooden frame single-family houses”).

Advantages and disadvantages

General benefits of using mineral wool:

• Good thermal insulation properties.
• Noise absorption.
• Environmental Safety.
• Fire resistance.
• Moisture resistance.
• Vapor permeability.
• Durability.
• Resistance to biological factors.
• Processability.
• Easy installation.
• Strength.

Negative factors of using the material include:

• The need to use protective equipment during installation.
• High cost compared to alternative synthetic insulation.

To insulate a large area, you will need to invest a lot of money Source imageban.ru

• Deformation of the structure under the influence of load, wind, vibration, shrinkage, and wetting.
• Insufficient heat resistance.

Important! With all the obvious pros and cons, mineral wool has long established itself as a reliable material for insulating the walls of a house. However, in order for its service life to correspond to that declared by the manufacturer and for the structure not to suffer from the effects of moisture accumulation under the cladding, it is necessary to strictly follow the installation technology.

Bottom line

It would seem that initially complex questions turn out to be simple, the solution of which requires basic knowledge and banal skills. Therefore, just delving into the theory, it immediately became possible to insulate the house with mineral wool with your own hands. After all, this does not even require special tools - moreover, most of the work can be easily done with hand tools. The material is easy to process, has a low weight, which means you can recruit “everyone who catches your eye” as assistants. At the same time, it’s really quick to bring them up to date, so that for them the question of how to properly insulate a house with mineral wool will also be simple and transparent.

Insulation technology

When finishing the walls of a house with mineral wool, first of all it is necessary to take into account the following important aspects:

• Material will be laid on the inside or outside of the walls of the house.
• Calculation of dew point.
• The thickness of the required layer and its density.

Let's look at these features in more detail.

External

Insulation of walls using wet technology is carried out according to the following algorithm:

• The outer surface of the wall is cleaned, if necessary, primed and treated with an antiseptic.
• The base plate is installed.
• Next, the mineral slabs are laid, glued and screwed onto dowels onto the prepared surface.

External insulation diagram Source kronotech.ru

• A reinforcing mesh is mounted on top of the material layer.
• After this, the wall is primed, plastered and painted.

If the walls are made of wood or foam concrete, ventilated facade technology is used. It differs from the one described above in that the tepid material is placed in a pre-installed lathing frame. At the same time, its depth is such that there is a gap of several centimeters between the finishing material mounted on it in the final stage and the insulation. In addition, the surface of the cotton wool must be lined with a wind-moisture-proof film.

Internal

Sometimes it becomes necessary to insulate the walls of a house with mineral wool not only from the outside, but also from the inside. In this case, external insulation may be absent altogether. Then the installation technology is performed in a similar way - except that there is no need to leave a gap. In addition, it is extremely important to perform high-quality steam and moisture protection. It is performed in several options:

• If the wall is made of breathable material (for example, wood), steam should leave the room, but external moisture should not enter.

Installation of insulation

Insulation of the facade with mineral wool is carried out using several technologies. Here are instructions for the most common methods: insulation of frame walls, facades under siding and decorative plaster.

Insulation of frame walls

Insulation of frame walls has the following work algorithm:

• from inside the room, a para-insulating membrane is attached along the frame posts, with the smooth side facing the insulation;

• a block is placed on top of the membrane or a metal profile is screwed on to create a ventilation gap;
• OSB or plasterboard (gypsum plasterboard) is fastened onto a padded block (profile) for finishing;
• mats are installed between the racks. Here, home craftsmen often do not know how to attach mineral wool to the wall of a frame house. There is no need to be tricky - it is held between the posts due to its rigidity and slightly larger size;
• A windproof film (type A) is fixed on top of the insulation with staples;

Important: the outer layer of the vapor barrier cannot be stretched, as in frosty weather the film shrinks in size and may burst. There should be 1 cm of sag between the posts.

• the counter-lattice is filled with a block of 5.0x6.0 cm (according to SNiP, the ventilation gap should be 6 cm);
• the walls are sheathed.

Quite often, especially in cold zones of the country, double insulation of a frame house is carried out. In this case, a sheathing of horizontal timber is placed on the outside of the frame. Basalt wool mats are installed between the beams.

The insulation is covered with a windproof film, on top of which a counter-lattice is placed to create a ventilation gap. An OSB board 9 mm thick is laid over the counter-lattice if the façade will be finished with artificial or natural stone. The siding panels are attached to the counter battens.

Insulation under siding

Under the siding, mineral wool slabs are laid from bottom to top, as closely as possible to each other in the absence of a horizontal beam. In the cells - in space. Non-standard pieces in corners, near window openings and doors last. Cutting to size is done with a construction knife.

The top of the insulation is covered with a windproof film. A counter-lattice with a beam height of 2-6 cm is placed on it (violation of SNiP regarding the size of the ventilation gap does not lead to negative consequences). Cladding panels are attached to the padded slats.

Insulation of facade under plaster

Applying decorative plaster to basalt wool requires rigid fixation of the mats to the wall. This makes changes to insulation technology. The process consists of the following operations:

• prepare the glue according to the instructions printed on the package;
• The adhesive mass is applied with a notched trowel to the mat over the entire surface, pointwise or along the perimeter and with a point in the center of the slab.

Important: some authors of works on construction sites recommend applying glue to the ends of the insulation, which is a serious mistake.

• the mat is pressed against the wall. The 1st row is pasted. The mats of the second row are attached with an offset of at least 150 mm (like brickwork);

Attention: it is impossible to accommodate all the subtleties of the technological process in one work. Therefore, we strongly recommend that all home craftsmen who perform facade insulation with mineral wool look at the works: “Wall insulation with stone wool” and “Wall insulation with foam plastic.”

• corner, top and mats adjacent to door and window openings are cut to size with a construction knife;
• in the corner the mats should overlap each other one at a time, in a checkerboard pattern;
• corner joints are reinforced with plastic or metal plaster corner;
• The plates are additionally secured with dowels with a large plastic head at 5 points: 4 in the corners, one in the center. Fastening between seams is allowed. In this case, the dowel fixes two mats at once;

• The insulation surface is reinforced with fiberglass mesh. The glue is the same as that used to attach the slabs. The mesh is overlapped, overlapping the previous strip by 20 cm. The top is covered with glue 2-3 mm thick;
• dried glue is primed twice;
• After the primer has completely dried, the facade is finished with decorative plaster.

Important: insulation of the outside walls of a wooden house with mineral wool is carried out using the same technologies as given above.

You can insulate the attic using thermal insulation technology under siding.

Video description

Video instructions for external installation of mineral wool under plaster:

• If the wall does not allow air to pass through (for example, made of brick), steam should not pass either into the wall or from the wall into the room.

Otherwise, there is a high probability of moisture accumulation in the wall material and the thermal insulation layer. In this case, the development of all the accompanying negative processes is inevitable - freezing of the walls, the formation of fungi and mold.

Dew point

The most important factor in the proper arrangement of a thermal insulation layer is taking into account the dew point. If its position is inside the wall, this means that moisture will begin to accumulate inside it and destroy the material. Thermal insulation shifts its location in two ways:

• Outside – when laid externally they are a little warm.
• Inside – with internal insulation.

Price list

Insulation of ventilation façade with cladding

Name	Without insulation	50mm	100mm
— porcelain stoneware, rub/m2	3045	3330	3440
— fiber cement panels, rub/m2	3175	3460	3570
— metal cassettes, rub/m2	3415	3700	3810
— Clinker tiles, rub/m2	5245	5530	5640
— Aluminum cassettes, rub/m2	6860	7145	7255
— Planken, rub/m2	4815	5100	5210
— Composite cassettes, rub/m2	3520	3805	3915
— Metal siding, rub/m2	2715	3000	3110
— Profiled sheet, rub/m2	2215	2500	2610
— Terracotta panels, rub/m2	7815	8100	8210
— HPL panels, rub/m2	6860	7145	7255
— Natural stone, rub/m2	6090	6375	6485

Name / thickness of thermal insulation	60mm	80mm	100mm
Turnkey installation of thermal panels lined with artificial stone, rub/m2	3300	3450	3550

Briefly about the main thing

Mineral wool is an air-structured fibrous material produced by air centrifuging molten rock, slag and glass. It is widely used for heat and sound insulation of walls, partitions, ceilings, communications, equipment and structures.

Based on the type of mineral wool raw material, there are 3 varieties:

• Stone.
• Slag.
• Glass.

Each of them has its own pros, cons and purpose. The material is produced in the form of slabs and mat-rolls. The main advantages of mineral wool are resistance to fire, dampness and biological factors, and durability. Disadvantages - high cost and possible destruction of the structure over time. When laying, it is necessary to take into account which side the installation is being carried out on - from the inside or outside, where the dew point will be located and what the thickness of the heat-insulating layer should be.

Carrying out waterproofing work

Since mineral wool is a thermal insulation material with high water permeability properties, the façade of the house must be provided with good waterproofing.

In order to ensure the process of removing moisture from mineral wool boards, which is formed as a result of temperature differences indoors and outdoors, it is necessary to install a waterproofing film or diffusion membrane.

To ensure water movement only in the outer direction, it is necessary to fasten the waterproofing with the wide side of the pores to the mineral wool, and the narrow side to the sheathing. Self-tapping screws should be used as fastening elements. The waterproofing is laid overlapping, from top to bottom, the seams are taped with mounting tape.

Waterproofing under siding

Water absorption

If there is a possibility that the structure in which the insulation is embedded may come into contact with water, then the water absorption indicator is important, indicating how quickly the insulating layer will get wet. When wet, its properties deteriorate significantly, so when choosing insulation for entrance doors or filling walls in a bathhouse, you should give this priority attention.

The water absorption of glass wool is 1.7% by weight after 24 hours of direct contact with water. Basalt slabs have a value of 0.095%, making it twice as good in this category.