Expanded clay as a floor heater: reviews. Properties of expanded clay as a heater

In order for the housing to be comfortable, it is necessary to take care of additional insulation of the walls, roof and floor. Thanks to such work, it is possible not only to create coziness, but also to save considerably on heating the room in the future. Where is the use of expanded clay? As a heater for vertical and horizontal surfaces, it is widely used in private houses and industrial buildings. This option is considered the best and financially justified.

Expanded clay: what is it?

This building material is a fairly light granule with small pores. They are obtained by firing clay. It can be used both in private houses and in standard apartments located in high-rise buildings. Ceramsite is environmentally safe for human health, since it does not contain any synthetic additives and harmful substances that can harm and lead to harmful consequences. It well passes air, which prevents condensation of moisture. Heater claydite (reviews of people allow you to judge its quality), first of all, it has good thermal insulation. Also acts as a noise-absorbing and refractory material. It has a high level of frost resistance and does not break down when temperature fluctuates. The lifetime of the claydite is quite large, this index has no equal among other materials. It is worth noting that this heater is absolutely not afraid of prolonged interaction with hot and cold water. So do not be afraid that after the flood you will have to completely change the base of the floor.

Types of expanded clay

Claydite as a heater is used in construction often enough. However, you need to know that, depending on the field of application, you need to choose a certain type of material. As a rule, we can distinguish three main varieties.

The first, sand, is most often added to dry mixes, which are intended for application on the surface in order to create a heat-insulating layer. The maximum size of its granules is 5 mm. Also this kind can be used to create a heat and noise insulation cushion, which is trampled under the main coating.

Pay attention: a layer of 15 cm thickness allows you to save 50% on heating.

Claydite, as a heater (reviews are mostly only positive), in the form of granules is used not only for floors, but also widely used for roofing and overlapping. Owners of private houses prefer this faction when it comes to the attic or attic.

Claydite in the form of crushed stone is a fine gravel. The sizes of grains are different. Due to this, the compacted layer is maximally functional. Comments of consumers give the right to judge about its high quality and properties. Excellent cope with its main purpose, even in the coldest areas.

Properties of expanded clay as a heater

The main indicator of this material is a natural clay composition. After high-temperature treatment, it becomes sufficiently durable and reliable. It is worth noting that, applying it in garages and basements, you can forget about such a problem as rodents. At an average cost has a long service life. And in comparison, for example, with a tree it wins considerably, as it does not rot, does not create a favorable environment for insects, is absolutely not afraid of humidity and even a long stay in the water.

Properties of expanded clay, as a heater, are multifunctional both in winter and in summer. It is considered the most versatile material, which has a high level of frost resistance and copes well with the effects of high temperatures.

The main property of this material can be called the complete absence of toxicity. Also, importantly, claydite does not create a favorable environment for mold, fungus and other pathogens. Due to the fact that it does not enter into chemical reactions with aggressive substances, this coating completely eliminates the possibility of the formation of harmful vapors, which can adversely affect human health.

Claydite guarantees excellent thermal insulation both the foundation and the roof. Thanks to its use, the house will conscientiously serve for many years. Let's consider the advantages of a heater

Comments from consumers who have already used expanded clay to warm their homes, can identify its main advantages.

1. Indisputable advantage - the ecological and natural nature of the material.
2. Affordable value, especially in comparison with other species.
3. Ideal as expanded flooring. Reviews of people living in apartments and houses, let you judge about its functionality. The average thermal conductivity is 0.13 W / m * K.
4. "Breathable effect" reduces moisture, which allows to significantly extend the performance properties of coatings.
5. Does not respond to temperature fluctuations.
6. It is strong enough: it does not rot and does not degrade with time.
7. The layer of expanded clay perfectly copes with the absorption of sounds.
8. It is fireproof, moisture resistant.
9. Light weight - from 200 kg / m ³ .
10. Completely eliminates the appearance of rodents.
11. The service life is more than 50 years.

Discuss the shortcomings

Like any other material used in construction, expanded clay has some disadvantages:

• In private houses, garages and basements the thickness of the layer should exceed 50 cm, otherwise there will be no benefit from such a pillow.
• In very damp rooms, claydite is absolutely not suitable as a floor heater. The opinions of people allow us to draw these conclusions. However, the above-described drawback can be corrected with a special waterproofing film.

Area of application of expanded clay

The scope of this material is large enough. First of all, it is a common material for warming floors. It is in this place that it is considered to be the most ideal and financially acceptable. But for comparison: claydite as a wall warmer (reviews help to conclude that this method is unprofitable), is used quite rarely. Some may say that at present manufacturers have developed special warm floors. And this is so. However, their cost is quite high, which makes such an option almost inaccessible. But claydite, on the contrary, is easy to install and at a price suitable for any family with an average income.

Depending on the base of the floor, the appropriate insulation method is selected:

• Reinforced concrete floors. On such a surface, it is recommended to additionally mount a vapor barrier layer, which will prevent the penetration of moisture. After that, the base is poured with a special solution obtained by mixing concrete with expanded clay.
• Warming foundation is carried out both outside the building and inside. To obtain the maximum result, it is necessary to fill all voids qualitatively.
• Claydite as a floor heater in a wooden house is most effective. This method will not only reduce heat loss, but also extend the operating life of the coating.

Thermal insulation of walls with claydite is also used in construction. Basically, this method is acceptable in newly constructed buildings. It is in the application of a certain three-layer method, where the main layer consists of capsimet (a mixture of expanded clay with cement milk).

Due to its light weight, this material is widely used for thermal insulation of roofs, attics, attics. Such a method will not lead to an increase in the load on the foundation and, as a result, will not require additional financial costs to strengthen. Claydite as a heater for the ceiling is used in a peculiar way, that is, from the attic side, by the method of floor insulation. The main advantage of this option is the absence of leaks and the formation of mold.

Warming of earth ground is also quite topical, it is often used in greenhouses for growing seedlings, seedlings, etc.

Technology for the production of expanded clay

Clay of some varieties, which is easily melted, is placed in a special chamber. In it, it softens to a doughy mass. After that, using high temperatures (over 1000 ⁰ C), it heats up to a boil. It is this process that leads to the formation of porous granules. The more of them, the better the quality of expanded clay. Here, the raw material remains until completely cooled. Then it is sorted and prepared for transportation. In this way, claydite granules are produced. However, if you need sand, then the finished material is ground into small particles with the help of a press. Crushed stone is produced in a similar way with the only difference: the granules of expanded clay are divided into several parts. Their size is basically different, which allows you to get a better result when filling.

Technology of thermal insulation of floors

Claydite as a floor heater can be used only after special preparatory work. There are several required steps:

1. Preparation. It is necessary to completely remove the old coating. Based on the feedback of people who have already used this method of insulation, the wooden floors are sorted out right up to the fixing structure. If the logs are in good condition, they can be left.
2. Forming a cushion of sand. It should be at least 10 cm thick. Before laying the next layers, the sand is carefully rammed.
3. After that, the expanded clay is filled. It is recommended to immediately determine the thickness of its layer, since it is from this parameter that the thermal insulation effect will depend.

All work is done strictly on lighthouses, in order to maintain the evenness of the floor covering. If all steps are carried out with precision, then a good result is guaranteed.

How to begin to insulate the floor with expanded clay?

Before you begin to insulate the floor, you must familiarize yourself with all the nuances. Claydite as a floor warmer (reviews of people confirm this information) is considered the most ideal option, but only if properly installed.

So, let's take a closer look at what you need to know to get the desired result:

1. Determination of the material from which the floor is made. This criterion is quite important, since its overall thermal conductivity affects the overall index.
2. Calculation of the thickness of the layer of expanded clay. For clarity, we can give the following example: a concrete slab with the addition of expanded clay 60 cm thick will provide the same heat as a meter brickwork.
3. Planned load. The floor is the only surface that is constantly exposed to mechanical stress. Therefore, it is necessary to take this parameter into account at the planning stage. Calculating what should be a layer of expanded clay, the main thing - do not make mistakes, so it is recommended to contact specialists for accurate calculations.
4. Do not forget about the waterproofing layer. There are several features in which claydite without this layer will not be effective.

Also it is necessary to remember that the cushion of expanded clay acquires maximum properties with a width of at least 15 cm

Tips for the insulation of the floor

If the work on the insulation of the floor will be carried out independently, it is necessary to take note of a few important recommendations that are based on customer feedback:

1. Claydite is more effective if it is not mixed with concrete. The most effective is a padded cushion of this material.
2. Using a mixture with different granules, it is possible to achieve a monolithic layer. It is this criterion that will help achieve maximum heat conservation.
3. Claydite as a floor heater (feedback was positive) is better to use with a polyethylene film, which will fulfill the role of waterproofing.
4. For the evenness of the floor, all installation works are carried out by lighthouses. They fix with alabaster or cement. It is necessary to wait for complete drying and only then cover the insulation material and level it.
5. In order to avoid the occurrence of cracks, it is recommended to use a metal mesh, with which the base is reinforced.
6. After the work on the floor can move around after 5-7 days, but the maximum strength comes only after a month, after which you can expose the surface to normal loads.

Roof insulation

Ceramsite for the insulation of roofs has been used for a long time. Of course, many competing materials appeared in this sphere for such a long period of time, but it is not possible to completely replace the natural material. It is using claydite as a heater cover (true reviews look at the information stands of manufacturers), you can fully judge all its merits.

First of all, thanks to this material, it becomes possible to completely eliminate problems with condensate. The formation of steam and moisture is reduced to zero. Also, not least, the roof will be protected from leaks for a long time. A small weight of the material will not save money on additional foundation strengthening. And this is a kind of significant significant savings. If you attract professionals to work, the final result will please the owners not only with warmth and comfort, but for a long time will not require financial investments for reconstruction.

Expanded clay as a wall warmer

People's opinions help to make the right decision in such a complex issue as wall insulation with claydite. It should be noted right away that this process is rather complicated and time-consuming, since it requires professional knowledge. Sometimes mineral wool is used to simplify such work. However, the advantages of expanded clay significantly distinguish it against the background of other materials. One of the important indicators is good ventilation. As a rule, this property is simply indispensable for closed rooms, where for a comfortable stay a person needs constant air circulation.

Using claydite as a wall warmer, you can face some difficulties, in particular, the threat of squeezing other material. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct additional strengthening work in order to avoid such situations. However, this will lead to a significant reduction in the total area of the room. Therefore, it is more cost-effective to use other modern materials.

After acquainting with the feedback of professionals, we can conclude that the clay is ideal for the insulation of floors and roofs, and for walls is a fairly controversial material.