Foam home decoration: proper insulation

Gusevsky Andrey Anatolyevich

Finished Finish

Foam wall decoration is used quite often and there are reasons for this. This topic will be devoted to our article.
Finishing with foam at home is carried out according to certain rules and according to the technology that should be followed. You can see photos and videos on the implementation of this work and you will be given instructions on the rules of work.

Why choose polystyrene

Before buying a material, you should study its parameters and carefully analyze whether it is suitable for you and only then make a purchase.
So:

• The price of such a finish is quite low and almost everyone can afford it;
• All work can be done completely with your own hands and without resorting to outside help, this will significantly reduce the cost of the whole work;
• Your task is to completely prepare the surface. Only the generally accepted list of works remains.
  Moreover, this does not require large expenditures;
• You end up with a qualitatively insulated surface and the cost of heat supply will significantly decrease;

Attention: Products made of polystyrene for decoration have their own significant drawback. Rodents can start here, which is rather unpleasant.

Foam wall decoration

Polystyrene finish walls is carried out according to certain rules and in compliance with the sequence. This is a responsible job and everything must be done according to the instructions.
This will be the key to a successful completion of work.

Surface preparation

Finishing products from polystyrene makes the field of their correct installation. Therefore, work should begin with proper preparation of the baseline.
So:

• We do an inspection of the building and remove everything that may interfere with the work. These are all hinged structures;
• After that, we completely clear the plane from the previous coating. To do this, use a brush for metal.
  If necessary, use a chisel with a hammer;
• Now you should apply a layer of primer to the surface. To do this, use a brush or spray;

Installation of the crate

All material can be mounted on the crate or simply on the surface of the wall. It depends on the method of applying the finishing material.
You can simply plaster the surface, or you can use finishing materials that need to be fixed to the crate. Therefore, we will describe the installation of this design.
Those who will not use another facing material will be touched on in the next chapter, where the foam will be fastened and further processed.

Installation of the crate

So:

• The first thing to note is the correct start of fastening. To do this, draw a straight line that is completely parallel to the ground;

Caution: When starting the installation, the dew point must be correctly determined. The coating should be located at least ten cm below the floor.
If you do not adhere to this rule, then condensation will appear that will destroy the structure.

• Put a mark on the plane and transfer it to other surfaces. To do this, it is best to apply a hydraulic level, which is worth buying in advance or doing it yourself.
  With this tricky tool you can do this job most accurately and efficiently. Transferable;
• Now we need to connect all the marks correctly. To do this, we use kapron thread.
  With the help of which the size simply fights off;
• After a correctly drawn line, you can begin installing the frame.A metal corner or wooden battens can be used here;

Attention: If you exchange the second option, then you should bring the slats to the place of work in advance and do their processing with the help of antiseptics, which are available on the market.
This will significantly extend the life of all structures. Therefore, take it seriously.

• After the surface is completely dry, we cut the frame elements to the desired size and nail on the bottom drawn line. For a tree, you can simply use self-tapping screws.
  But if the wall is made of concrete or brick, then you have to resort to a punch. With it, holes are made and fastening is done with dowels;

Attention: The mount must be rigid and high quality. The entire weight of the structure will be supported on the crate and this is not enough.
Therefore, do not use the dowel from the sets. They will not provide the required quality of fastening.
Purchase dowels and screws separately. And the second buy a couple of mm more from the hole in the plastic.
This ratio will provide a high-quality and reliable connection.

• We beat the slats on the line;
• After that, it is worth installing the rails and around the perimeter window openings and door. Cut and fasten.
  And you should not do the fastening of the elements close to each other. Provide one cm clearance.
  This will allow you to avoid troubles during the expansion of the material. And retreat one cm from the corner of the opening.
  This space will be needed for finishing;
• Now do the installation of the transverse rails. It should be remembered that if you exchange any panels for facing, then their fastening is done perpendicular to the battens.
  We make the marking according to the selected panel mount;

Attention: Before installation, it is worth pulling the fishing line along the diagonals of the structure. This is required for proper installation of the transverse rails.
They must be in the same plane. Moreover, the installation height should be a couple of cm above the foam.
This will ensure proper ventilation. We make fastening.

• After installing the crate, a layer of waterproofing should be applied. It is lapped to the crate. The connection is made using a stapler.

Installation of foam boards

For attaching the foam to the wall, both dry mix and special cans with foam are used. You can apply the first and second option.
True, it is worth saying that if you make a solution from a dry mixture, then use a drill with a nozzle for kneading. With its help, you can qualitatively make a batch and the mass will be completely homogeneous.

Caution: Never make the solution for more than two hours. He will be gone. When settling it just needs to be mixed again with a drill with a nozzle.

Now apply glue. Its amount is determined depending on the coating layer.

Correct solution application

So:

• If the roughness of the plane is up to 15 mm. Then apply the mixture around the perimeter of the element and step back from the edge of the order of 20 mm.
  The width of the application should be done at least 20 mm. In the middle of the panel, you should also make two beacons from the solution, in diameter not less than 1000 mm;

Attention: After fixing the plate to the surface, the glue is distributed evenly over the plane and after pressing it should cover at least half of the panel area. And it will not be bad if you cover the entire plane.
It will only get better. Therefore, many use dry mixes.
This is a little cheaper and you can make a better mount. Only when applying glue should leave empty paths.
This is necessary so that the air comes out and there are no air bubbles. As a rule, continuous fastening is used if the plane difference is not more than 10 mm.

• We apply glue on the surface and the foam should be attached to the installation site later than 20 minutes after applying the glue;
• We attach the element to the wall and press. To do this, it is best to use a long grater.
  Then we will press along the entire plane and it will be easier to withstand the mounting area;
• Correct panel mounting should be checked with a level. Remember, if you miss one panel with the wrong mount, then the next one will have even more deviation;
• If the pen protrudes around the edges, it should be removed immediately. Otherwise, it dries quickly and does not allow the next panel to sit on the plane correctly;
• We fasten the panels as close to each other as possible;

Attention: If the sheet is not glued correctly, then do not try to displace it. It is necessary to remove the element and completely clear of foam and after that fasten in a new way.
Otherwise, the strength of the joint is broken and it will be of high quality.

• The fastening of the sheets from the bottom begins and the first polystyrene should be fastened to the crate. Be guided and by the stretched fishing line.
  It is she who will tell you the correct distribution of elements;
• Do not fasten the plates exactly one above the other, do the dressing. This applies to fixing without the use of crates.
  With its use, the plane will be more durable and therefore it is worth paying attention to the density of fit to the rails. This should be done as tightly as possible;

Caution: When finishing the edge of a window or door, do not install along the corner contour. It should be taken into account, if you use an L-shaped profile for external decoration, then you will need to retreat about 200 mm.
If just under the plaster, then you should indent about 20 mm. Remember this. Otherwise, you have to cut the material.

• If the wall is made of different materials, then never make a junction at this place.
  It should completely cover the foam. This also applies to protrusions;
• At the corners, the connection of the foam is best done by a serrated connection. Then you will not have a continuous seam that will significantly weaken the structure.
  To cut the foam, use a ruler and a square. The denser the junction of the teeth, the better;
• When installing the material with window and door cases, an adjacent profile or a polyurethane sealing tape should be used. This will greatly improve the connection.
  It is attached to the surface and then it is necessary to press the foam to half its thickness. Then this connection will be reliable and high quality;
• If the wall surface has a deformation, then a gap of the order of 12 mm can be made. and after that it is necessary to put a tourniquet from polyurethane into the seam.
  It has a circular connection and will hide errors. The harness should be compressed by about 30 percent;

Caution: Sealing harnesses can be of different diameters. Therefore, select them correctly, do not sculpt anything.

We make fastening with dowels

After the surface has completely dried, it will be necessary to mount it on the dowel. This will greatly improve the design.
Drying time is about three days. For fixing, special dowels are used, they are also called fungi, which are made of high-quality plastic.
After fastening, they hold and press the foam sheets to the surface qualitatively. For a brick wall, the fungus must enter at least 90 mm into the hard surface, 50 mm should be used for concrete, and for cellular structures such as foam blocks, 120 mm should be introduced.

Construction fungus

So:

• To make the connection, we use a puncher and make a hole, only it should be done a little more than the depth of immersion of the fungus. In terms of quantity, it should be said that the number of attachment points per meter should be at least 8 connections.
  Most often it is evenly distributed along the plane;

Fungus attachment scheme

• Additional connections are made around the perimeter of windows and doors. The first row from the base is also reinforced;
• After drilling a hole in the foam and the wall, it should be blown and then the fungus should be clogged. After installation, its sliver should not protrude more than one mm from the surface of the foam;

Attention: If you use fungi with a metal rod during fastening. Their head may be damaged by a hammer.
Then it is worth drowning completely and then seal the hole with sealant. Do not try to pull it out, you will only damage the foam.

General view of the mounting of foam

Reinforcement and decoration of the plane

To finish using the crate, now just apply a layer of finish. We fasten the panel.
About all types of finishes we have detailed articles on the site. For fastening on the wall now you need to make a full finish of the front part and this is done as follows.

We make the reinforcing mesh finish

So:

• A reinforcing layer of a special tape, which is available for sale, should be applied along the edge of windows and doors. Such a finish will significantly enhance the coating angles and they will last much longer;
• We take a corner and apply a solution to it. Moreover, it should be not only on the corner, but also on the grid, which is attached to it;
• We apply it to the corner and press. The mesh is pressed with a spatula.
  When working, we apply the level by which we finally make the adjustment of the angle vertically and horizontally. When glue comes out from the mesh cells, it is simply completely smoothed over the mesh;
• The connection of the corners is done only in the joint. Before fastening, you just need to cut the edges at an angle of 45 degrees and then apply the solution.
  Sometimes the corner needs to be pulled, for this, nails are used, which are driven into the insulation.

After finishing the corners, we are waiting for the surface to dry completely. If you immediately attach the grid, then the corner will shift, so you should wait.

• First you need to cut the grid along the length of the mount. To do this, you can use simple scissors;
• We make a solution and use a spatula to apply the mixture to the wall with a layer of about two mm.
• We apply the mesh to the installation surface and press it with a grater or a grater. We begin to smooth from the middle of the sheet and move to the sides.
  Then we will do it evenly. The excess solution is evenly distributed along the grid plane.

Attention: When attaching the mesh, do not press it tightly. It should be in the middle of the layer.
In this option it is better not to squeeze than to squeeze.

• Now apply another layer to the surface. Only the edge is not worth covering.
  The next sheet will be attached there and for this it is worth leaving a gap so that the overlap is at least 10 cm;
• Now we are waiting for the next day. The plane is still not completely dry and it's time to grout.
  To do this, use a grater. Where shells appear, we add a solution;
• We give three days to dry the surface and apply a layer of primer. To do this, use a brush or spray.

Expert Advice

There are several tips that should be applied to the installation of insulation:

• Do work at a temperature from + 5 and to -25 degrees. It is not worth doing work in the rain, even if it is not large;
• Before starting work, make reliable forests. Let them be temporary and self-made, but you should be free to do the work.
  A simple staircase is not suitable for this. You just ruin everything;
• Before starting work, it is worth sealing up wooden surfaces with tape. This will save you from problems with rubbing the mortar and save the surface from damage;
• If you do not make the lining with a reinforcing mesh after attaching the foam, then the surface of the foam may turn yellow. In this case, first wipe the surface with sandpaper and only after that apply the coating;
• If this is your first time doing work, then start with the least visible wall. In this case, even with errors, they will be less noticeable;
• Try not to interrupt the work. Try to do everything on time.

This is how polystyrene finish the surface of the wall. The most important thing is not to rush and do everything right.