Which side to lay the vapor barrier? Steam insulation: price

When building a private house, special attention should be paid to the vapor barrier of the ceiling, the floor, the walls and the roof. If this important step is missed, the building elements will not last long. About what reasons it is important to arrange a vapor barrier in a private house and how to do it correctly, let's talk further.

The need to use protective films

A special film, which protects the thermal insulation material from moisture, is included in the "pie" of walls or roofs. The fact is that due to the temperature difference, especially in the winter period, on the street and in the house, inside the rooms on the walls and ceiling condensate settles. As a result, the heat insulator becomes wet and stops performing its functions. It's getting cold in the house. In addition, moisture leads to damage to the structural elements of the building.

Varieties of vapor barrier for walls

There are only three main types of films designed to protect mineral wool or expanded polystyrene from moisture:

• Standard. The cheapest and not particularly durable type of vapor barrier. In most cases, this is an ordinary thick polyethylene film.
• Foiled. It is more expensive than polyethylene, but at the same time, besides the actual vapor barrier, it performs one more function - it reflects the heat back into the room. Owners of country houses are very often interested in what side to put the vapor barrier on the walls and ceiling. This question usually arises in relation to this variety. The way in which such a film is actually mounted, we will consider below.
• Membrane. It differs by a limited vapor barrier. This allows you to control the moisture output from the room.

What are the steam-insulators for the roof

To protect from the condensation of attic and mansard walls, membranes are usually used. You can choose:

• Perforated. This variety is a reinforced film or a combined fabric.
• Three-layer superdiffusion. It differs in that it has no holes. Recommended for use in dusty environments.
• Porous. It is used where there is no dust. In such a film there is simply a huge amount of interfiber pores. Dust clogs them. As a result, the film ceases to perform its functions.
• Two-layer film. A cheaper version of a three-layer superdiffusion membrane. In such films, one of the protective layers is missing.

Also for the vapor barrier of walls and ceilings, roll or sheet material can be used. There is no particular difference in their cost.

Steam insulation: price

Depending on the variety, the cost of the material can be different. For example, an ordinary vapor barrier polyethylene film costs about 500 rubles per roll. The foilized version will cost about 1400-1800 rubles. A three-layer diffusion membrane will cost about 4000-5000 rubles. The popular vapor barrier "Izospan" will cost about 800-1000 rubles. Per roll. These prices are valid at the beginning of 2015.

Steam-insulators "Izospan"

At not too high cost it is one of the most reliable and, as already mentioned, popular varieties of protective material. There are several types of such films as the vapor barrier "Izospan":

• Class A. Designed for internal structural elements.
• Class AS. This is a three-layer membrane, which is usually used in ventilated facades and to protect roof structures from under-roof condensate.
• Class B. Universal two-layer version
• Class C. Hydro and vapor barrier material.
• Class D. It is also designed for hydro and vapor insulation of structures. Can be used to protect against capillary moisture.
• Class SL. It is a connecting mounting tape.

Calculation of the vapor barrier

Of course, before you go to the store to buy a film, you need to do all the necessary calculations. It is not difficult to perform this procedure. All you need to do is calculate the area of all the elements of the house that require protection. The calculation is made taking into account the width of the vapor barrier film and the necessary overlaps.

Mounting the vapor barrier film on the walls

Next, consider how to properly install this protective material. Including understand and with which side to lay the vapor barrier. The "cake" of the walls is arranged in several steps:

• Preliminary on the surface is stuffed lath. Do it usually from a bar not too large section. The distance between the bays is usually equal to the width of the insulation plates.
• After the mineral wool is installed between the beams of the frame, the vapor barrier itself is mounted. "Which side should I put the vapor barrier on?" - The question is really very important. The foil layer must necessarily be directed into the interior of the room. It is with this arrangement in the rooms that the effect of the thermos is created and the heat is best preserved. Most often, the fastening is done on small bars. In the future, they install a finishing finish. Sometimes the vapor barrier is attached to special brackets or slats (on both sides of the beam of the crate). In this case, the film is mounted close to the heat insulator. And the ventilation gap is obtained because of the difference in the width of the beam bar and the thickness of the heat insulator.

Tapes of the vapor barrier are mounted on the lathing of the walls in a horizontal position with an overlap of approximately 15 cm. Sometimes an additional sizing of the joint with adhesive tape is performed.

Roof protection

Next, let's look at how to lay a vapor barrier in the under-roof space. Installation of the film in the attic or attic is done in almost the same order as on the walls. The only thing, plates of a heater in this case are mounted directly between rafters. Accordingly, the vapor barrier is attached to them. It is also possible to use bars, staples or slats.

Thus, how we are laying the vapor barrier on the roof, we have found out. As you can see, the procedure is completely uncomplicated. Use a vapor barrier in the insulation of the roof and the device of a residential attic or attic is mandatory.

Protection of floor slabs

Next, consider how to lay the vapor barrier on the ceiling. Performing work on installing the film on the interfloor overlapping, you should also follow certain rules. Fastening in this case is made in the following order:

• On the logs with fixation on the sides (for the device of the ventilation layer) a vapor barrier film is pulled. Fix it with staplers or small nails.
• Modern vapor barrier films are characterized by sufficient strength, and therefore the insulation plates can be laid directly on them.
• After installation of mineral wool, another layer of vapor barrier is stretched over it from the attic or next floor.
• The attic floor boards are packed.
• Ceiling boards are installed in the lower room.

The ceiling is usually vapor-insulated after the walls. The overlap of the material in the corners should be at least 20 cm.

Floor steam insulation

Well, how to lay the vapor barrier on the ceiling, you already know. Now consider how to properly protect the floor insulation. This work is carried out in several stages:

• A layer of waterproofing film is laid between the logs .
• The insulator itself is mounted.
• On top of the bars is filled with a vapor barrier.
• Floor boards are mounted.

Rules for the installation of sheet material

Of course, how to lay a vapor barrier of this type is also worth knowing. In this case, as in all others, the crate is initially installed. The sheets are mounted on it and fixed with screws. The joints are sealed with adhesive tape.

Sizing rules

The answer to the question of how to correctly lay the vapor barrier is, among other things, the following recommendations:

• To coat the coating should be a continuous layer, leaving no holes and preventing tears.
• It is desirable not to tighten the film during installation. Otherwise, it can just tear. To avoid this, you need to cut off the strip with a small margin.
• When the walls or the roof of the building are insulated from the outside, the vapor barrier is installed first.
• After installing the sheets or strips, you must check the fixing strength.
• Between the finishing interior trim and the vapor barrier layer should be located a ventilation layer with a thickness of at least 4 cm.

It is also important to know which side to apply the vapor barrier when using a membrane film. Mount it with the inner surface to the heater. To find out which side is the wrong one, you can mark it.

Thus, as you can see, the vapor barrier of the building's structures with your own hands - the procedure is not particularly difficult. The most important thing is to do everything following the above recommendations. In this case, reliable protection of the insulation, as well as elements of the walls, floor, roof and ceiling will be provided.