10 best materials for balcony insulation

One of the most famous and popular heat insulators in the world is foam. It is made by steam foaming polystyrene. Distinctive features of this insulation are low weight and low thermal conductivity. The advantages of the material, which claims to be the best heat insulator for a balcony, include resistance to moisture, no shrinkage, ease of installation, ease of processing. Complements this impressive luggage of positive characteristics and low price. It should be noted that one of the most important characteristics of the foam is the density. The lower this value, the more brittle the material will be.

Consumers speak flatteringly about the heat-insulating abilities of the foam. It is optimally suited for warming loggias and balconies. Among the shortcomings, environmentalists single out the presence of harmful styrene in the room, which is formed at a temperature of + 40 ° C.

The most attractive material for warming balconies and loggias is extruded polystyrene foam. It is made by foaming polystyrene, thanks to this technology, an insulator with a homogeneous structure is obtained. Penoplex has an excellent set of positive properties, while the material is simple and easy to use. Extruded polystyrene foam is not subject to decay, it can be mounted both in a dry room and in a humid environment. Due to its low water absorption, penoplex can withstand high humidity, which allows it to be used for insulation of ceilings, walls and floors. The material retains its shape for a long time, does not shrink, is not subjected to biological effects.

Consumers speak flatteringly about such qualities of penoplex as low water absorption, good thermal insulation properties, frost resistance, and durability. Of the minuses of the insulation, low fire resistance and high price should be distinguished.

Penofol is the thinnest modern insulation for a balcony. Several modifications of the heat insulator are produced, but type "A" looks the most balanced. It is made of foamed polyethylene, equipped with a reflective foil layer. The total material thickness is 10 mm. With such dimensions on the balcony and loggia, there will be no change in the usable area. For regions with severe winters, penofol with two reflective layers should be preferred. The unique structure of the insulator successfully resists moisture. Penofol is on sale in rolls, which allows you to make a layer of thermal insulation without joints. In addition, the material has good sound insulation, it is durable and safe for health.

Along with many positive aspects, professional finishers note a number of disadvantages of penofol. The material does not have sufficient rigidity, there are problems with fixing the insulator.

The material created on the basis of clay has a rather low weight, which allows it to be used to insulate the floor on a balcony or loggia. Porous granules become a reliable barrier that stops freezing and rapid heat loss. Expanded clay is moisture resistant, is not a breeding ground for fungal microflora (mold) and perfectly stabilizes the indoor climate, especially in such a small volume.

True, in this case it should not be used under a screed, but as a frame floor insulation, simply by filling it with the space between the installed lag rails. The larger the expanded clay layer, the more effective the protection against heat loss.Given the modest area of ​​​​the loggia, the material is not financially burdensome, so it is used quite often. Moreover, ecologically it is completely neutral, because it does not contain possible impurities (the most effective cleaning takes place in the process of creating granules) that can harm a person.

Absolutely harmless heat-insulating material is basalt mineral wool.It is produced on the basis of mountain basalt rocks by transferring a natural mineral to a molten state and the subsequent operation of blowing the mass. Special additives are introduced into the melt to form a fibrous structure. Distinctive features of this material for insulation are water repellency, preservation of the original shape for decades, resistance to open fire, low thermal conductivity and good sound insulation.

This modern type of insulating material is excellent for insulating walls and ceilings of loggias and balconies. Depending on the type of work, you can choose thermal insulation boards or roll packaging. Professional builders recommend using basalt mineral wool at least 100 mm thick for good heat preservation on the balcony.

The material is rapidly gaining popularity in the construction market, because it is easy to work with, it has low thermal conductivity and excellent sound absorption. There are several varieties of foam glass - sheet and granular. At the same time, his weight is rather modest - one cubic meter of insulation will weigh no more than 130-150 kg. For a balcony or loggia, this choice would be the best solution. Moreover, the material is perfect for both floors and walls.

It is worth noting the service life of foam glass - without losing its characteristics, it will perform its functions for more than 100 years. At the same time, it is completely non-flammable, biologically neutral, and does not cause any allergic reactions. The only drawback of foam glass can only be its high price.And if the granular backfill does not particularly affect the cost of insulating the balcony (for the floor), then the sheet material can significantly increase the cost.

The use of this insulation on a loggia or balcony is possible both for walls and floors. Jute-linen mats come in different thicknesses (the choice of 50 mm sheets will be optimal) and are highly efficient - the thermal conductivity of this material is only 0.034 W / m * K (100 mm layer). Its key difference is high environmental friendliness - it is completely safe for humans and does not cause allergic reactions.

The price and high flammability (G 4) are the only drawback of the material, but this feature does not affect the growing popularity of fluxan in construction at all. For many owners, the environmental safety of residential premises is a priority requirement, and according to the estimates of the Dutch research institute FLAXAN, it is recognized as the best insulation according to these criteria. In addition, along with the main functions, it perfectly absorbs sound waves, and its service life exceeds 70 years.

Insulating a balcony or loggia using cork agglomerate is one of the best ways to create comfortable conditions in this unheated section of the apartment. At the same time, there is a minimum load on the structure (a cubic meter of material weighs no more than 130 kg), which in many cases is a decisive factor when choosing a heater.Sheet technical cork in thickness can reach from 10 to 100 mm, allowing you to choose the optimal efficiency of the work.

In addition, sheet cork does not require additional finishing work, as it has an excellent appearance, ideal for balcony cladding. This also reduces the overall cost and somewhat offsets the cost of the material. Also, the advantage of technical sheet cork can be considered its high fire resistance and good soundproofing characteristics. Natural insulation will be effective not only on the walls of the loggia - use as a floor covering will be no less effective.

Insulation of a balcony or loggia most often occurs by creating a frame structure, which is filled with material. Liquid foam (penoizol) is one of the best solutions for this type of premises, because it has a number of positive properties. It is light enough, does not leave seams when laying, has minimal shrinkage. The insulation completely fills the space allotted for it, and after polymerization it also gives the entire structure additional rigidity.

Since penoizol will be protected from the action of sunlight, its service life will be at least 30 years. At the same time, it is completely fireproof, insects do not live in it and microorganisms (mold, etc.) do not develop. In cases where it is not possible to locate the production unit, penoizol can be used in the form of sheet material.In this case, for the effectiveness of insulation, the seams between the sheets must be blown out with polyurethane foam.

It is no secret that a loggia or a balcony is, as a rule, rather modest in size, and when insulated, the interior space inevitably decreases. As a result of the development, a unique material was obtained, which is a mixture of acrylic paint carrier and glass-ceramic microspheres with a technical vacuum. It is easy to apply on any prepared surface - from brick and concrete to wood (plywood or OSB).

At the same time, a layer only 1 mm thick has a uniquely low thermal conductivity - 0.0012 W / m ° C. Such a thermal barrier reliably prevents the freezing of thin walls and prevents the transfer of heat to the surrounding space. Thus, due to the convection of air from the apartment to the balcony (loggia), a small room quickly warms up to a completely comfortable state. If heat loss through the window surfaces is minimized, the TERMION STANDARD liquid thermal insulation may be quite sufficient (for a better effect, the material can be applied twice).