Cannabis instead of chemistry? Why are they increasingly choosing natural insulation

Pros and cons of thermal insulation materials made from natural raw materials or are mice so scary?

Eco-building has become especially popular in recent years. People want to live in houses that are safe for health, the materials of which do not emit toxins and contribute to maintaining a normal microclimate. Therefore, many owners of private houses are considering the possibility of insulating the building with natural materials.

Slavaslava

FORUMHOUSE member

Can someone tell me an environmentally friendly, inexpensive insulation for the attic? I will be very grateful.

Before starting repairs or construction, you can study this issue deeper. We hope this information will help you make the right decision about the possibility of home insulation with natural materials.

Linen

Linen is considered a popular natural insulation material, which is suitable for thermal insulation of walls both outside and inside the building, floors. The work uses lignified flax stalks, which are called firewood. The material has long been famous for its high thermal insulation qualities.

Modern production makes it possible to make felt and flax rolls from natural raw materials. If the fibers are short, insulating mats are made from them. Usually, such slabs are 5-10 cm thick. Advantages of linen insulation:

• used for insulation inside living rooms, including in the nursery, bedroom;
• performs the function of sound insulation;
• the term of use exceeds 7 decades;
• differs in the ability to pass steam;
• if the material gets wet, it dries quickly;
• slabs are plastic, flexible and weigh a little, which makes installation easier.

When buying, they usually pay attention to the composition of linen slabs. Materials are produced 100% from ecological raw materials. No additives are included.

At first glance, it seems that an all-natural base is an advantage. In fact, it turns out that this insulation is less practical than thermal insulation with binder components. Therefore, it is more advisable to buy boards, which include 85% linen fibers and 15% binding components. The additives are starch-based substances or polyester.

The disadvantage of linen insulation is its ability to ignite. In order to meet fire safety requirements, the material is treated with special compounds. Some manufacturers add boron-based substances to the composition or cover the surfaces of the boards with a fire retardant.

Sawdust and fiberboard

Wood has long been known for its high thermal insulation properties and positive effects on the human body. Insulation and sound insulation are made from sawdust.

Chilled

FORUMHOUSE member

I spoke here the other day about the insulation of the house with an old architect. No, it's better this way - an Architect. A real, genuine Architect, a member of the Union of Architects of the USSR. So, his house is covered with sawdust with the addition of lime. The house has been standing for 50 years. In winter, the house is Tashkent. I ask him about all sorts of ursa-styrofoam-rockwool. And he says: for himself only sawdust, yes, it is not technologically advanced, but in such a house you can _live_ for a long time and not have health problems. And the ursa-foam-rockwool is to make the plan more convenient for the builders to drive. They have time and money, they just have no time to deal with sawdust at a construction site. The fact that the customer will have health problems - they don't care. Not immediately, but they will.

It takes a long time to decorate the walls of a house with such insulation. Sawdust is processed before use, so you need to use a special technology when installing such a heater. The advantages of using sawdust are:

• the cost of insulation is low;
• natural material, environmentally friendly;
• in the case of correct installation and processing, the sawdust will last for many years;
• high thermal insulation capacity.

Among the disadvantages is the flammability of the material. And also sawdust damp and decay, not only insects and mold, but also rodents start in them.

To simplify installation, use fiberboard. They are distinguished by a low rate of thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, strength. Fiberboard is easy to install, they are resistant to moisture changes, do not shrink. When buying, it is better to choose soft fiberboard. There are no chemical binders in the material. In the production of such fiberboard, crushed wood chips are mixed with water. Then the mass is pressed and dried.

Fiberboard made in this way does not contain formaldehyde, harmful components. The disadvantage of this material is the difficulty in insulating narrow, hard-to-reach places and areas where communications are connected.

Hemp

This insulation is similar in its properties to linen insulation. It does not emit toxins, perfectly retains heat inside rooms. Hemp is distinguished by its antiseptic properties. This allows you to create a favorable microclimate in the house. Insulation made from hemp raw materials is not susceptible to the formation of fungus and the reproduction of insects.

The disadvantage is the still higher cost of even domestic hemp thermal insulation, not to mention imported analogs. In addition to the fact that it is necessary to restore the once developed industry from scratch, the cultivation of technical cannabis is complicated by the restrictions of legislation in the field of combating drug trafficking substances.

Mice can live inside the insulation layer, so you need to use special means of protection against pests. To many owners of private houses, such a feature of heaters based on plant materials seems to be a minor drawback.

Nir

FORUMHOUSE member

... It is better to live in a thatched house with clay plaster, having a cat than in a SIP, but without mice that have run away from 100% chemistry ...

There are many ways to protect your insulation from rodent attacks. Therefore, plant-based insulation is actively used in the construction and renovation of a house. In our video - the experience of building an eco-friendly house using straw as thermal insulation.

Bung

Cork materials can be used as insulation. They are made from bark. The material is collected from cork oak, which is grown in a Mediterranean climate. Raw materials are ground, exposed to high temperatures and steam, mixed with natural resin (extracted from the same cork oak). The resulting mass is pressed, cut into plates of the size established by standards. Cork insulation has a number of advantages:

• slabs have a porous structure, which provides high thermal insulation qualities;
• the material is breathable;
• the presence of resins prevents the development of fungus and mold in the insulation;
• lightweight material is easy to mount, cut;
• the cork can be plastered or left without additional finishing.

The disadvantage is the high cost of the cork. In some cases, the material has to be mounted in several layers.

Wool

This insulation is made from sheep wool treated in a special way. The thickness of the canvas is 2-12 cm, it has a different density. The material has several advantages:

• Absorbs up to 25% moisture by weight. This property allows you to regulate the level of humidity in the room. If the air gets too dry, the wool will release water. Therefore, the wool is laid without a vapor-permeable membrane.
• It is used for finishing partitions, walls, ceilings, inter-rafter space. With the frame construction method, wool is laid between the sheets of chipboard.
• Wool insulation is lightweight.
• Some woolen insulation contains antiseptics that repel insects.
• Imported materials are treated with flame retardants.

The disadvantage of this insulation is the need for processing with a fire retardant and antiseptics. This reduces the positive environmental qualities of the material. Rodents live in the wool.

People may be allergic to wool. Therefore, when the first signs of the development of the disease appear, it is necessary to remove the thermal insulation and redo the repair. Otherwise, asthma may gradually develop.

Damask

This material is made from seaweed. These are plants that are mined in the Black Sea. There is a lot of sea salt in such thermal insulation, so the dam is practically not susceptible to the development of fungus in the structure. Algae are known for their high thermal insulation values. The disadvantage of the material is fragility - therefore, you need to proceed with caution during installation.

Material pluses:

• As the humidity level rises, the material absorbs water from the atmosphere. If the air is dry, damask releases water into the surrounding space;
• Poor combustion support;
• Releases iodine into the environment, which is good for health;
• Rodents do not nest in the insulation, insects do not live due to the presence of a large number of calcium compounds in the structure.

Ecowool

This is one of the most advanced insulation materials made from natural ingredients. Ecowool is made on the basis of cellulose. Its production involves the processing of waste paper. Binder components, antiseptics and fire retardants are added to the composition. The heat-insulating mass is applied to the surfaces using a spray gun, so it is easy for them to process even hard-to-reach places.

The advantages of ecowool are as follows:

• The material does not rot;
• Retains heat well in the room;
• Differs in fire resistance;
• It is used for vertical and horizontal, inclined surfaces;
• Pests do not nest in the material, as it contains boron-based mineral compounds.

Ecowool, like any insulation, has a number of disadvantages. The material is hygroscopic, so it can absorb moisture and lose its original properties. Ecowool can also cause allergic reactions.

Disadvantages of natural insulation

All natural materials, to a greater or lesser extent, have the following disadvantages:

• Supports combustion. To reduce the flammability index, manufacturers add flame retardants to the composition, which can negatively affect health.
• Allergenicity. Almost all natural materials are capable of causing various allergic reactions.
• Hygroscopicity. If the room has high humidity, the materials absorb moisture, get wet and cease to function as thermal insulation.
• Become a comfortable habitat for rodents and insects. To get rid of this deficiency, antiseptics are added to the composition, which are often unsafe for health.

In addition, it is difficult to calculate the thickness of the insulation that can be used to insulate the house. The density of materials may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Whether or not to choose thermal insulation based on natural components for home insulation is up to you. Knowing the shortcomings of each material, you can take a number of actions to improve their performance.

Helpful overview? Don't forget to press your finger!

Ecowool not only are actively insulated, our craftsmen make it do it yourself. Like the experience of living in a home, insulated with straw with an original facade, also available. In the video - a master class on thermal insulation with ecowool.