Isolate walls
Properly insulated walls allow the interior temperature to be maintained while keeping street noise at bay. For this reason, it is good to know what is the best way to insulate the walls of the house, in order to enjoy an air-conditioned environment without spending too much money.
The energy consumption of the home depends largely on the efficiency of the air conditioning system. In this sense, many families are currently opting for the so-called green energy to reduce the environmental impact and reduce the amount of the electricity bill. However, installing a solar panel system or any other type of green source involves a high initial investment, so it is essential to know how to insulate a wall to prevent heat loss so that the expense is worth it.
We can say that in general terms, thermal insulation for interior walls are easy to install, but it is also true that the level of difficulty can vary. On this occasion, we will use as an example insulation with glass wool and plasterboard, very durable materials that do not cost too much money.
Tools and materials to insulate walls
To insulate walls from cold or heat we need rolls of glass wool and its corresponding special adhesive, we must also have the plasterboard and the appropriate screws to fix them to the wall. Likewise, channels, galvanized sheet profiles , plugs, resilient adhesive tape, dowels and fixing clips are necessary. As for the tools, it is good to have a drill, a tape measure, a ruler, a spirit level, a ruler, a cutter, a sheet metal snips and a pencil at hand.
Assembly of the structure
It is important to take the measurements of the wall, taking the window frames as a reference, for this, we must use the ruler and the spirit level. Next, you have to mark a reference line for the installation of the channels on the floor and on the ceiling, for this we can use the ruler. It is possible to fix the ceiling and floor channels with plugs every 50 cm.
On the other hand, it is advisable to place a profile on the wall horizontally, either in the middle or at a height of 135 cm if the ceiling is very high. This profile should be fixed with a screw every 25 cm, so you have to use the drill and place plugs. As for the clips and dowels, they should be at intervals of 60 cm.
Installation of the glass wool
The first thing we must do is cut the glass wool, so it is necessary to measure with the tape measure (by clicking on this link you can find some options to choose from) from the floor to the ceiling and add 2 cm, so that the wool fits well In addition, it must be nailed to the clips and fixing pins. Then, it is necessary to place vertical profiles using the exact measurement from floor to ceiling, to fasten them, you just have to adjust and lock each clip and peg.
Placing the plasterboard
This is the last step and is usually the easiest, since it only involves fitting the plasterboard to the wall. To achieve this, you only need special screws for this material and an electric screwdriver. The screws must be placed at intervals of 25 cm and always on the spaces where the vertical and horizontal profiles are.
Types of insulating materials for walls
In the current market there are different materials for thermal insulation of walls, and it is essential to know the properties of each one to know which is the most suitable according to needs. Let’s look at some of the most popular.
- Glass wool
This is probably the best-known thermal wall insulation in the world. It is a mineral fiber made from sand, recycled glass, and other elements that are heated to very high temperatures to form fiberglass strands thinner than human hair. The end result is very similar to cotton. In general, the wool measures 50 mm thick, but there are different presentations. This fiber is covered with asphalt -coated wood paper, which is efficient in isolating walls from moisture, thus preventing the appearance of mold.
- Polyurethane foam
This material has good thermal behavior and offers good insulation capacity with little thickness. Currently, the projection of polyurethane foam is used , a mixture of polyol and isocyanate, by means of a professional machine. In this case, the application of the material must be done by a specialized company, but it is a good alternative for insulating walls without work.
On the other hand, it is also possible to find sprayable foam in a can, which comes ready to be used, is easy to apply and is free of isocyanate, so it is less toxic and can be used in closed spaces. Due to its ease of application, this type of insulation is widely used for roofs. If you want to know how to isolate a wall from noise, this can also be a good option, since polyurethane foam has good acoustic resistance.
- Expanded and extruded polystyrene
Also known as white cork or polystyrene, this material is used in construction to prevent temperature from escaping through the walls. Expanded polystyrene is a spongy, thermoplastic polymer that, despite being very resistant, is quite light, which improves insulation without adding weight to the structure. For its part, extruded polystyrene is much denser, so it offers greater thermal and mechanical resistance, in addition, it resists humidity better, so it may be the answer if you are wondering how to insulate an exterior wall. However, it is also true that due to the cost of the material, placing extruded polystyrene on the wall can be more expensive compared to installing polystyrene.
- rock wool
It is a type of mineral wool made from volcanic rock, which not only allows the desired temperature to be maintained inside the home, but also has an A1 classification in its behavior against fire, so it slows down the spread in the event of a fire.
As we can see, there are different types of insulation for walls, which is why we must evaluate each material and take into account our particular needs to make the best decision when making the investment.
