How to glue extruded polystyrene foam. How and how to glue polystyrene to various surfaces Properties and methods of using different types of glue
The thermal insulation of modern materials is based on the creation of volumes with a stationary gaseous medium. To increase the already high performance of materials for insulation allows gluing foam to the wall. For this, adhesive compositions are used, both in the form of semi-finished products and ready-to-use. Before you decide how to glue the foam, you need to understand at least a little the specifics of the use of adhesives.
Before gluing the foam to the wall, select the adhesive composition that is optimally suited to the wall material and the insulation itself.
The use of expanded polystyrene foam imposes certain restrictions on the substances that make up the adhesive used. When purchasing it, you must carefully study the ingredients and if it contains:
- esters (methyl acetate, butyl acetate);
- alcohols;
- derivatives of natural gas (propane, hexane and others);
- amines (aniline, etc.);
- hydrocarbon processing products (gasoline, kerosene, white spirit, etc.)
- ketones (acetone, etc.);
- compounds containing chlorine (dichloroethane, chloroform);
- nitrogen compounds (nitrobenzene, nitromethane);
then you do not need to buy such glue. The compounds included in it have a destructive effect on the structure of expanded polystyrene either immediately or over time.
To obtain a high-quality result when gluing polystyrene foam on walls, it is recommended to use the following materials:
- formulations based on dry mixes;
- "liquid nails";
- mounting foam;
- polyurethane foam.
In some cases, it is possible to combine the indicated adhesive compositions.
Before gluing the foam, its surface can be treated with a needle roller to improve adhesion with adhesive mixtures.
We use semi-finished products
Dry adhesive compositions allow you to glue the foam to the brick wall efficiently and quickly enough. Their use has several advantages:
- low cost;
- availability;
- low consumption of glue per unit area.
- place of sale (it is desirable to purchase bags located and stored indoors);
- the integrity of the package (the surface of the bag must be without through gusts);
- production date (it is not recommended to buy a mixture made 12 months before purchase);
- absence on the bag of traces of liquid ingress or wetting of the surface;
- the mobility of the contents when carrying (there should not be a feeling of having a large stone in the bag).
- the need for water to prepare the solution;
- the time spent on its preparation;
- relatively long final fixation on the surface (about 3 days);
- the impossibility of attaching polystyrene foam to concrete and metal surfaces.
The finished mixture can be applied both to the foam and to the wall. Plate stickers are made from the bottom up.
Help an old friend
Of particular difficulty and confusion is the question: “What kind of glue to glue the insulation to the metal?” The answer is simple.
Sticking foam on a metal surface is carried out using PVA building glue.
Being an affordable and inexpensive material, it does an excellent job with the task assigned to it. The burlap impregnated with glue is fixed on the metal. After the glue dries, the foam is glued to the wall. Plates are abundantly lubricated with PVA.
Expect an increase in the density of the glue (during this time, you can spread the next plate). Press the plate for a short time. As a result, a good fastening strength result is obtained.
Fast but expensive
Many compositions require holding for some time (sometimes long) the glued board. How can I quickly glue the thermal insulator, thereby reducing downtime?
"Liquid nails" are used when it is necessary to insulate a small area of \u200b\u200bthe wall from any material. Before gluing the foam to concrete or other material, clean it of foreign deposits and cover with a primer layer.
The main advantages of this composition are:
- versatility of application;
- fast installation (long-term holding of the sheet is not required).
A rather high cost should be attributed to the disadvantage, but you have to pay for convenience. "Liquid nails" are sold in tubes of 300 ml. Squeezed out of the tube with a sealant gun.
And here you are, my old lady
Polystyrene foam can be glued to concrete, brick, stone with mounting foam. To do this, just apply it around the perimeter and cross through the center. Attach the plate to the installation site. After installing several rows, fill the gaps between the slabs with foam.
Advantages of using polyurethane foam:
- reliable fastening of plates on stone building materials;
- ease of application.
There are still many more cons:
- increased degree of expansion after application (due to uneven expansion, voids and surface irregularities may form);
- high consumption of foam per square meter;
- the need for long-term fixation of the plate due to the long setting;
- destruction of the structure of the thermal insulator under the influence of foam components is possible.
If you can reduce the consumption by using a foam gun, then nothing can be done about other shortcomings. Therefore, it remains only to accept or choose another adhesive composition, which will be used to glue polystyrene foam.
Young, but strong, he is devoid of flaws
If you ask: “What is the best way to glue foam insulation?”, Then you will hear in response: “Polyurethane foam adhesive-foam”. It is specially designed for fastening polystyrene foam to vertical surfaces of various materials.
Before sticking the foam to concrete or other material, clean the surface of foreign deposits, dust and dirt. Prime the wall. Using a gun, apply foam to the surface of the slab around the perimeter and in the center of the sheet. Attach the adhesive sheet to the wall. Hold for 5 seconds. You can move on to gluing the next one.
The use of polyurethane foam adhesive as a means of fastening has huge advantages:
- excellent adhesion of the foam surface with any others;
- low consumption of foam;
- convenience of work;
- speed of installation;
- high moisture resistance.
In earlier periods of construction, clay was used to insulate the walls. Before sticking the polystyrene foam, it is not necessary to remove the clay layer. It is enough to cover the surface of the clay with any acrylic primer. Now you can glue the insulation.
In the process of application and operation of the glue-foam, no minuses were found.
You need to know how to properly glue the foam. Pay attention to the absence of voids between the boards to be glued, maintaining the strict vertical and horizontal position of the sheets.
When insulating the walls of the house, you can only do with the mechanical method of fixing the foam. But the use of glue creates additional closed air spaces under the slabs, thereby reducing heat loss from heated rooms.
An interesting experiment with styrofoam gluing:
Foam insulation in the form of plates has been used for several years. They are distinguished by rigidity, the necessary density, durability, and are completely unaffected by moisture. But laying requires the use of special glue, although many experts say that ordinary tile glue can also be used. Today on the market there are various options for adhesive masses. The simplest is dry glue, which can be of any brand. It is applied in a continuous layer, in stripes or in separate equal sections. But you can use another option that comes in small bottles. It is applied with a gun, it is enough to make several strips so that the plate is securely attached to the surface.
If we compare foam plastic with a thickness of 60 mm with other materials, we can draw the following conclusions:
- The thickness of the foam board of 60 mm corresponds to 110 mm of the thickness of ordinary mineral wool. There is a saving of space and cost by almost 2 times.
- The same thickness corresponds to 500 mm of dry foam concrete, which is sometimes recommended as a heater.
- Compliance with wood panels of 195 mm with 60 mm of foam is often completely against the first material, despite its environmental friendliness.
- A foam board of 60 mm corresponds to 850 mm of brickwork thickness. A brick can hardly be called efficient and economical precisely in terms of the thickness of the resulting heat-insulating layer.
- Concrete and foam with a thickness of 60 mm have the largest discrepancy. To ensure such properties, it is necessary to make a concrete wall with a thickness of 2132 mm. It is too expensive and completely unprofitable when you can get by with cheap and high-quality foam.
To glue the foam, you must immediately prepare all the tools and materials that may be needed during installation:
Styrofoam laying tools: Styrofoam, diffusion membrane, timber, hammer, saw, axe, nails and stapler, mesh, wall cladding material.
- Styrofoam of the required thickness and density in the estimated amount. It is determined by the area of the surface to be sewn, taking into account 10% for trimming.
- A drill and a special nozzle for a construction mixer, so that you can quickly and efficiently mix mixtures and glue.
- Spatula-comb for applying glue on a dry cement basis.
- A small narrow spatula that is used to remove excess adhesive mass. What is it for? The protruding mass after its hardening forms lumps, they adversely affect the quality of thermal insulation.
- A wide metal spatula, which is needed to level the surface.
- Primer required to prepare the surface before bonding the foam.
- Perforator with a 10 mm drill. It is required to make holes for additional fasteners using plastic mushrooms (or umbrellas, as they are often called). Dowels are used as auxiliary fasteners for foam boards, they provide excellent fastening quality, they are in demand mainly for outdoor work.
- A plastic container for preparing a solution if a dry-based adhesive is used.
- Wide, comfortable primer brush.
- A knife or other tool that will be used to cut the slabs.
- Hammer for driving dowels.
- Styrofoam dowels of a special shape resembling an umbrella or a fungus, it is under such names that they usually appear.
The question of which glue to use must be decided in advance so as not to purchase unnecessary materials and tools. For example, a bucket is not required for aerosol glue, here you need a special mounting gun into which a container with a mixture is inserted.
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How to glue foam?
Gluing polystyrene is not so difficult, it is enough to follow simple rules. First you need to inspect the surface, clean it. After that, it is recommended, if possible, to apply a layer of primer, let it dry. Glue is applied to the material in full accordance with the requirements. The pre-dry mixture is mixed with water in the proportion specified by the manufacturer. If such a mixture is used, then the solution can be applied using the dot method, but the number of dots cannot be less than 5. One is applied in the center and one at a time in the corners of the plate.
If spray adhesive is used, it can be applied in strips. One at the edges and diagonally is enough. The drying time of the glue is also different, in the latter case it takes only about 30 minutes to start work on further finishing.
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Types of foam adhesive
How to glue foam? Usually, experts do not make too high demands; any composition is well suited even for tiles. Such glue is evenly and easily distributed over the entire surface of the plate, has an excellent level of adhesion to the surface. It must be remembered that after gluing the foam is additionally fastened with dowels, the fixation is strong and reliable.
What kind of glue is best to take for a material such as foam boards? As already mentioned, you can use almost any composition that has the necessary properties, is easy to apply. Silicone sealant, which is usually used for absolutely any work, is also suitable.
You can purchase facade glue, a universal construction adhesive for installation work, which is also well known as liquid nails.
When using glue, certain factors must be taken into account. This is not only the quality and type of the insulated surface, but also the operating conditions of the plate, the requirements for the material. Today, all mixtures that can be used to carry out such work can be divided into 2 large groups.
Dry mixes. This is the most economical option, which consists in buying a special dry mix, which, when cooked, is diluted with plain water. Such compositions have a cement base, they are intended for use with foam-type heaters, other rigid plate materials. After the adhesive is applied to the surface, it is cemented, creating a very rigid base with excellent strength characteristics. By themselves, such mixtures are distinguished by reliability, durability, and the highest level of adhesion.
Before using the adhesive, the surface must be cleaned of dust and debris, it must be perfectly clean, otherwise the quality of gluing will be worse. There should be no traces of old plaster or paint, it is important to apply a primer to the surface to be treated before work. It is very easy to glue the foam with glue. To do this, the sheet is turned over with the wrong side, the mixture is applied in a continuous layer, on separate points or in the form of stripes. If you use spot application, then the number of sections should be from 5. They are applied not only along the perimeter of the sheet, but also over its entire area.
Aerosol types of glue are used less often, although their application is much easier and faster. One of the most popular is polyurethane adhesive aerosol, which is used not only for internal, but also for external work. Such glue in the amount of just one can can be used to glue up to 10 m² of foam boards. The mixture hardens quite quickly, usually it takes only half an hour, after which you can proceed to further actions.
Working with polyurethane adhesive is simple. The cylinder is inserted into the required position in the mounting gun, after which the mixture is squeezed out from the edge at a distance of 2-4 cm. Stripes are applied along the diagonal of the slab. After that, the foam is strongly pressed against the surface, although there should not be much force. Such glue compares favorably with the standard cement-based adhesive, since its consumption is much less, it is more economical, although the price of one bottle exceeds the price of a bag. The quality completely outweighs this negative.
Thus, polystyrene is a material that is often used in construction. It is one of the best thermal insulators that retains its shape and properties even under the most adverse operating conditions. But to mount it on the surface, you must use a special glue.
Consumption depends on the type of adhesive, the mixture is applied to the surface in the form of stripes, dots or a continuous layer. Additionally, after gluing, it is required to strengthen the sheet with dowels.
To date, the insulation of the walls of a house or apartment with the help of polystyrene is widespread. This is not surprising, because the cost of the material is low, and the foam itself has many advantages that are several times superior to other well-known insulation materials.
This allows not only to save on heat, but also to save the building, so you need to know how to glue the foam to the wall and what it will take if you do the work yourself.
Characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the material
Thicker foam has better quality The standard sheets that are used for are 1x1 m or 0.5x1 m. In addition, the material can be with different densities, which have values of 15, 25 and 40. As a rule, the higher the density, the better, but also the purchase price will be higher. If you take the average option, more precisely, 25 density, then the thickness of the material will be from 5 cm, this type is used for outdoor work.
If 15 density is used, it is suitable for interior work and can be used for wood or concrete. 40 density is used as a floor covering for floor insulation. This material is of very high density, due to which it is not afraid of the loads that will come. Such foam is not pressed through and is not deformed.
Styrofoam is indeed a versatile material, but it has both pros and cons. All of them are shown in the table:
| № | Advantages | disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low weight due to the composition, where 98% is air or gas. | With different materials to which the foam is applied, there are different methods of gluing, which must be taken into account. |
| 2 | Easy to handle and install. | After gluing, the foam should be additionally covered with a protective layer. |
| 3 | High resistance to sunlight, temperature extremes. | Almost does not pass air. |
| 4 | High heat capacity. | It can be destroyed by some types of paints and adhesives, so you should specify how to glue the foam and what needs to be applied to it at the end of the work. |
Since the walls of the house will not breathe after being insulated with foam, you need to carefully consider and make ventilation.
Preparatory work
The primed wall will better adhere to the foam panels. Before applying to concrete or other material, the surface should be cleaned. To do this, it is enough to remove dust and dirt. As an assistant, you can use a spray gun.
If there is no such equipment, then a conventional metal brush is used. Its pile will qualitatively clean the surface from any kind of pollution. In the event that the surface has an uneven texture, it will initially need to be leveled.
All types of irregularities that have a difference of more than 1 cm will lead to breakage of the foam.
Mesh can be installed with glue or staples After cleaning and leveling, you need to cover the wall with soil, it is better to use a brush, which will additionally clean the surface from dust and dirt. Next, you need to prepare the mesh, it should be glued around the window and door openings. A mesh is applied to the wall and simply nailed with staples using a construction stapler. The mesh can be fixed using glue.
The mesh is sold in rolls, and therefore, for more convenient use, you need to cut it into strips of about 40-50 cm. The mesh is glued to the walls with the expectation that at least 15 cm of it is under the insulation. The rest can be wrapped and after pasting the walls with insulation, apply it over the foam.
construction mixer In addition to preparing the walls themselves, you also need to prepare tools. This will require:
- Mixer or drill with a nozzle, with which glue and putty will be stirred.
- Spatula, which is used for the adhesive composition.
- A small spatula with which it will be convenient to remove the remaining glue.
- Wide spatula for leveling walls.
- Perforator for installation of fungi. A 10 mm drill is used.
- Solution container.
- Primer brush.
After completing the main preparatory points, you can begin to install the foam on the walls. Often the question arises, how to glue the foam to the wall. For these purposes, plaster or special glue can be used. It is these two application methods that will be presented below.
Installation with plaster
In this way, the foam is attached to a concrete or brick base. Used for foam when mounted on a concrete or brick base. This method is very convenient to use, since there is no need to spend a lot of time on installation. Plaster can be kneaded in any volume that is needed for work. It is important to remember the rule that it is necessary to apply the solution to the foam sheet at five points, along the edges and in the center.
Some, in order to save money, apply the solution to only three points, but this disrupts the process. As a result, the sheets will not adhere well and may peel off after a while. Other workers apply plaster around the entire perimeter of the sheet. In general, this can be done, but the consumption of the mixture is very large. It is better to apply the mixture pointwise, and carry out additional fixation with dowels.
If the work is carried out for the first time, it is better to make the plaster thinner than according to the instructions, due to this you can get a certain amount of time for it to harden.
Plaster is applied over the grid Installation is carried out as follows:
- It is applied to the walls. Initially, the corners are pasted over, after which it is installed over the entire surface and plastered.
- When the solution dries, the insulation is glued.
- You need to glue the foam boards from the bottom point to the top.
- After a day or two, additional fixation is carried out with special dowels.
- After complete drying of the solution and reliable adhesion of the sheets to the wall, the insulation is plastered.
- After plastering, the surface can be painted. For more information about wall insulation, see this video:
During the drying of the solution, it is important not to touch the insulation with your hands, so as not to disturb its points of contact and thereby not budge.
Glue mounting
Use any adhesive containing solvent What kind of glue is best for styrofoam? If we are talking about gluing the sheets themselves to each other, then any composition will do. It can be a dry type or a wet type, as long as they do not contain a solvent.
When choosing glue, you should clearly understand where the insulation is carried out. If this is internal work, then there is not much difference in the glue. If the facade is insulated, then it will be necessary to use a special class of glue, which will have resistance to the influences of nature. The glue is diluted according to the instructions on the package, and applied by analogy with plaster.
The concrete base is cold in itself, for such a surface it is better to use special polyurethane foam instead of glue. It is sold in bottles and is easy to work with. In addition, the foam is able to adhere the material to the metal surface.
Although the composition glues the insulation very well to any surface, you should be careful and make sure that the foam does not freeze in the balloon. To save money, it is better to use flushing, which does not allow the remaining foam in the cylinder to dry out when work is suspended for a certain time. For more information on the best way to glue foam, see this video:
That's all the necessary information, how to glue the foam and how to properly carry out the installation work. For the highest quality adhesion of the insulation, use the tips given in the article, then the house will save not only heat, but also money. As you can see, the work is simple and you can do it yourself in just a few days.
The second name of polystyrene is expanded polystyrene. This is a soft material that consists of a plastic air mass. Its structure is cellular and has a white color. The cells are reliably separated from each other, so the material has good thermal insulation properties.
Styrofoam features:
Kinds:
- Polystyrene. It consists of white granules, which are obtained by heat treatment of polystyrene. During this treatment, a blowing agent is used. The size of the granules is from 7 to 17 mm. The structure of the granules consists of closed cells that are 98% filled with gas.
- Polyurethane. This material is obtained by combining diisocyanates and polyesters. These substances are combined with pressure. The structure is not the same - the cells have different shapes and sizes. The cells are very closely adjacent to each other and due to this the density of the material is very high. The foam of this type has high strength and durability.
- Polyethylene. This material is flexible and elastic. Polyethylene has a small thickness - only 5 cm. This type of foam is used for packaging products.
Application area
Polyfoam is used in various spheres of life. A large number of materials and products are made from it. Also, the material retains heat well, so it is often used for wall insulation.
Areas of application of expanded polystyrene:
- Construction works. In construction, it is used for thermal insulation of structures, houses, buildings, garages, hangars. It is also used for outdoor insulation.
- In shipbuilding. Life belts, lifeboats, light boats are made from it. Also used to fill the compartments of small boats.
- In medicine. In this area, foam containers are used to transport organs and medicines.
- In furniture production. It is added to the composition of the material, from which various pieces of furniture are then made.
- For the manufacture of packaging materials. They are added to the composition of various packages, packages, wrappers and so on.
- For the production of outdoor advertising. It is added to the composition of advertising structures - banners, signs.
- in the production of clothing. It is added to the composition of many fabrics. Styrofoam content is very warm.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of foam:
- Natural and environmentally friendly material. Expanded polystyrene does not emit toxic and harmful substances, therefore it is safe for the human body;
- Long service life. The structure does not lend itself to mold, fungi, it is not affected by moisture and various microorganisms.
- It resists fire well and withstands high temperatures. The spontaneous ignition temperature is +491 degrees and it is 2 times higher than wood and 2.2 times higher than paper. It also does not support combustion well, if the source of ignition is removed in time, it immediately goes out.
- Little weight. Due to its low weight, it is easy to install and does not put additional stress on the base.
- Inertia. Does not interact with other materials. Good resistance to various chemicals. Therefore, it can be lowered into soapy water. Also does not interact with bleaching agents and acids, except for nitric and acetic.
- Low cost. This material is very cheap and can be purchased at any hardware store.
Foam Disadvantages:
- Easily damaged and broken. Therefore, it needs additional protection.
- It quickly collapses under the influence of nitro enamels and solvents. As a result, it cannot be dyed.
- Doesn't let air through. Therefore, rooms insulated with polystyrene foam must be ventilated frequently.
- Very often, rodents damage the foam, gnaw holes in it and arrange their nests.
How to glue foam to foam
Styrofoam is glued together with various mixtures and adhesives. During gluing, it is important to consider the type of material, its structure. When choosing mixtures for gluing this material, you should pay attention to their properties and composition. You should also take into account the composition of the adhesive, for this material you should choose products that do not include various solvents.
Types of glue:
- Glue for foam. This type of glue is cheap and easy to use. The adhesive has good bonding properties. Currently, there are many brands of this glue.
- Front glue. This adhesive is designed to bond foam to foam, to concrete, to plastic, to wood, to metal, and so on. The shelf life of this glue is also average, about six months from the date of issue.
- Mounting foam. The foam has very good properties and adheres well to polyurethane. With the help of foam, the material will stick firmly and forever. It should be borne in mind that during gluing the foam dries quickly, and this can lead to unpleasant consequences. The tube through which the foam is squeezed out can become clogged, so it is best to clean it with a special solvent.
- Polyurethane adhesive. This adhesive has good bonding properties. The only drawback is that it is sold in the form of cylinders and you need to buy a special gun for it.
- Liquid Nails. Liquid nails adhere very well to this material, but are not always reliable. Therefore, with this mixture you need to use a simple glue. Approximately 50-70% of the surface is treated with glue, and the rest with liquid nails.
- Dry mixes. Mixtures are very cheap and have good properties. Mixtures are diluted with water. Be sure to pay attention to the packaging before buying this product, it should be marked that it is suitable for foam.
- This glue comes in the form of aerosol cans, so they are easy to work with. Glue just needs to be sprayed onto the surface of the material. Freezes within 30 minutes. However, one cylinder is designed for only 10 square meters.
glue cost
The cost of adhesive mixtures is different, the price depends on the properties of the mixture - on the hardening time, on the level of bonding, on the method of application.
Average cost of some mixes:
Polyurethane foam Ceresit- the cost of 750 ml is 650 rubles.
Polyurethane Adhesive Tytan- the average price of 750 ml is 400 rubles.
Facade adhesive T-AVANGARD-K- this glue is sold in packages of 25 kg, the cost of the package is 280 rubles.
Dry mix Ceresit- the cost of a package with a volume of 25 kg is from 400 to 600 rubles.
Liquid Nails- the price of 300 ml is about 200 rubles.
Dry glue moment- the cost of a bag with a volume of 25 kg is 300 rubles.
- the average price of 500 ml is 900-1200 rubles.
How to prepare the surface
Before gluing the material, you need to prepare the surface well for gluing. It is on this that further bonding and fixation time will depend.
Surface preparation consists of the following steps:
- Cleaning from dirt, dust and various substances.
- Surface leveling. If there are irregularities or defects on the surface, then they must be removed with special tools. If there are defects, the bond will be low;
How to glue
Styrofoam is very fragile, so it must be glued very carefully.
For gluing it together, it is desirable to use mixtures that are designed for this material. Gluing is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Glue must be applied to the sheet. It is applied in stripes or dots at the four corners. The adhesive must cover the entire surface. It is desirable that no extra spaces are formed during gluing. If the foam is glued with mounting foam, it must be taken into account that the foam expands when it dries, and spaces between the sheets may form. Therefore, during gluing with this agent, a reinforcing mesh is inserted between the sheets.
- Sheets need to be pressed together. In order for the glue to grab well, pressure must be applied to the sheets. For pressure, it is advisable to use a small load or just squeeze with your hands and support for a while, 15 minutes will be enough.
Conclusion
Styrofoam is a material that has a number of advantages - warm, plastic, fire resistant, non-toxic. Thanks to this, it can be used in various spheres of life. It is very easy to glue and suitable for almost all adhesive mixtures. In addition, it is very light, and does not cause great difficulties in operation and installation.
Low cost and excellent thermal insulation properties make foam boards an increasingly popular building material. The durability of operation directly depends on the means of fixation, so it is reasonable to have a problem with how to glue the foam so that it performs its functions longer.
The main characteristics of the foam
Before gluing to a wooden, concrete or brick surface, as well as deciding how to glue the foam together, you need to learn about the properties and characteristics of this material. Styrofoam, or, as it is otherwise called, polystyrene foam, is formed as a result of foaming polymers. 98% of the material is a gas located in the smallest cells with very thin walls.
Typically, foam boards are used as insulation for the walls of building facades and for finishing ceilings, walls, slopes indoors, in basements, on balconies and loggias. Expanded polystyrene can be glued to a concrete, wood, metal, brick, plasterboard and gas silicate base.
The main characteristics of the foam:
- with a small mass, excellent rigidity;
- long service life;
- excellent thermal insulation properties;
- resistance to moisture;
- expanded polystyrene with flame retardants does not burn;
- does not pollute the environment during disposal after operation;
- protects from wind if applied outside the building;
- does not emit substances harmful to the human body, it is possible to work with this material without protective equipment;
- does not dry out and does not shrink during prolonged use, resistant to temperature changes;
- it is easy to work with foam plastic - it is easy to cut it, installation can be carried out using improvised means;
- molds do not develop on it;
- inexpensive.
Using expanded polystyrene as an insulation material instead of wood, brick, concrete or mineral wool saves time, money and indoor space.
The foam has disadvantages:
- breaks easily;
- has very poor breathability;
- is destroyed under the action of mixtures, which include nitrolac;
- deformed when hit on the surface of the solvent and ultraviolet rays.
Gluing methods and types of adhesive compositions
You can attach the foam boards to the surface with glue, dowels, or both at the same time. Foam plastic is usually fastened with adhesive compositions indoors, with dowels and glue - when working on the facade. Fixation only by means of dowels is used in extremely rare cases, this is due to the fact that the required level of reliability cannot be achieved in this way. If the roof is insulated, then polystyrene foam is simply embedded in the crate.
Foam gluing is carried out using dry formulations and ready-made adhesive mixtures.
Advantages of powder products:
- excellent adhesion (adhesion) with brick, plaster, concrete, cement;
- immunity to temperature extremes and precipitation;
- elimination of small irregularities on surfaces;
- relatively low cost.
Disadvantages of dry mixes:
- the adhesive composition must be prepared, it will take time, in addition, you need to know how to properly combine the powder with water in order to achieve a uniform consistency;
- you will need a mixing container and a construction mixer;
- dust is released during cooking.
Ready-made adhesives will allow quick and high-quality gluing of foam plastic to foam plastic, concrete, brick and wood surfaces, OSB panels or cellular blocks. The most commonly used aerosols in spray cans based on polyurethane foam. Such materials are very convenient, while one cylinder is enough to glue approximately 10 m 2 of foam boards inside or outside the building. The glue is resistant to temperature changes and high humidity, hardens in about half an hour and securely attaches the foam to the base.
Important
Never use mixtures containing toluene, alcohol or acetone for gluing foam, as they destroy the structure of the material.
The disadvantage of ready-made adhesives is the high cost. Popular ready-made adhesive mixtures:
- Ceresit ST 84 Express;
- "Titan Styro 753";
- Penosil.
When deciding how to glue foam, you should not write off other ready-made adhesives, for example:
- silicone sealant is used if it is necessary to fasten small fragments of thin foam with a leveled base;
- "liquid nails" - a universal adhesive composition made on the basis of polymers. For example, "Installation Moment", Dragon, which will perfectly connect the metal base with the foam. It is convenient for them to stick polystyrene foam to the ceiling.
Advice
Before gluing, clean the metal surface from rust, grease and paint.Stages and nuances
Gluing foam is carried out in several stages:
- Unplug electrical wiring.
- Clean the base from paint, whitewash, remnants of finishing materials and dirt.
- Remove irregularities deeper than 1 cm, that is, level the surface. If this is not done, then the foam plates will break during installation.
- Treat the surface with a primer, which includes antiseptics. This will improve adhesion and prevent the appearance of mold fungi.
- Wait for the primer to dry.
- Foam boards are usually glued from a corner or lamp. In the process of work, the desired configuration is given with the help of a mounting knife.
- If aerosol glue is used, insert the can into the gun and cut off the tip. Apply the composition on the wrong side of the foam board in strips along the edges (retreat 2-4 cm from the very edge) and diagonally. It is also permissible to squeeze out the glue with dots - in the center and in the corners.
- Dilute the dry mixture with water until a homogeneous consistency is obtained and spread the plate with a small notched trowel, a uniform thin layer should be obtained. Another option is to apply glue pointwise around the perimeter and in the middle, evenly distributing it over the surface.
- Press the foam to the base and hold for a few seconds. Remove excess adhesive with a damp cloth or even spatula.
- In the same way, glue the next plate end-to-end to the previous one. If a gap of more than 2 mm wide has formed between them, blow it with mounting foam or putty.
It is necessary to press the foam to the surface with the rule, and level it with the help of the building level.
Advice
When using additional fasteners (dowels), wait for the adhesive to dry completely and only then drill holes and drive in dowels-umbrellas.How and with what to stick to concrete, wood and brick surfaces
If it is required to mount expanded polystyrene to a concrete base during external thermal insulation work, then it is better to use dry compositions in the form of a powder. This is due to the fact that they have a cement component, polymers and sand, which provide reliable adhesion.
The best tools are:
- "T-Avangard-K";
- Ceresit CT 83;
- Armierungs-Gewebekleber.
The composition of "T-Avangard-K" is suitable for fastening foam plates not only to concrete, but also to brick bases, gypsum and cement plasters. The dry mix is available in 25 kg bags. One package is diluted with 5-6 liters of water. The powder is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Available in summer and winter versions. The first one is recommended to be used at temperatures from +5 to +35 ° C, the second - from -10 to +5 ° C. The cost of one bag is, on average, 275 rubles.
Ceresit CT 83("Ceresit ST 83") is a high-quality, fast-hardening compound that is perfect for any mineral substrates. Available in bags of 25 kg, the finished mixture should be used within two hours. The price per bag varies from 413 to 539 rubles.
Ready-made adhesive mixture (glue-foam) Ceresit ST 84 Express should be used at temperatures from -10 to +40 ° C and in conditions of high humidity. It is perfect for concrete, brick surfaces, as well as cellular blocks and OSB boards. Adhesive foam Ceresit ST 84 Express consists of butane, propane and polyurethane. One bottle with a capacity of 750 ml costs 600 rubles.
For interior decoration and thermal insulation, rolled foam is most often used. For him, it is better to use powder mixtures based on gypsum.
plaster Perlfix issued by the company Knauf. Packed in bags of 30 kg. The glue will do an excellent job of gluing polystyrene foam to foam concrete, plaster, ceramic brick bases. It is not necessary to level the surface before using the composition. To improve the adhesive properties, the foam blocks are pre-treated with concrete contact. It is not recommended to work with glue if the air temperature in the room is below +5°C. One package Perlfix weighing 30 kg costs, on average, 280 rubles.
Styrofoam is a high-quality and at the same time inexpensive building material, which is successfully and often used as a heater in almost any room. For its gluing, dry mixes, ready-made adhesive compositions in the form of aerosols and "liquid nails" are used. When deciding which adhesive is better to glue the foam, it must be borne in mind that the composition in the form of a powder will be cheaper, but the finished mixture is much more convenient to use. When carrying out work outside the building, on the facade, be sure to use dowels for additional fixing.
