Wall Insulation in Apartments
This article covers methods and options for insulating walls in new and secondary apartment buildings. We will examine the simplest and most cost-effective solutions for insulating external walls, as well as soundproofing internal partitions.
Wall Insulation Behind Gypsum Board
The most common method of apartment insulation involves installing a gypsum board finish with the internal space between the board and the wall filled with mineral wool or glass fiber insulation.
When examining this structure in detail, several key points should be noted:
- On the room side, a reliable, continuous vapor barrier must be installed using synthetic film (e.g., spanbond). This prevents moisture damage from condensation, as the dew point will be located within the insulation layer.
- Gypsum boards are mounted on a metal stud framework with straight hangers. The hanger length and distance from the wall are selected based on the desired insulation thickness. A 1.5–2 cm gap must be maintained between the insulation and the inner surface of the gypsum board.
- Gypsum board panels are fastened with special self-tapping screws (fine thread) along the perimeter with a 20–40 cm spacing, and additional transverse strips every 60 cm.
Fibrous mineral wool insulation not only provides excellent thermal insulation but also offers superior soundproofing. Using such materials behind wall cladding significantly reduces external noise penetration into living spaces.
Insulation in Multilayer Wall Constructions
If the goal is to renovate and insulate apartment walls without losing usable space, the optimal solution is the use of so-called blown-in insulation. This is especially relevant for apartments in buildings constructed using the three-layer wall technique.
Typically, multilayer masonry walls are insulated with polystyrene beads, which in this configuration are extremely short-lived. After 5–7 years of operation, the polystyrene layer in the wall collapses, leaving an air-filled cavity. The reasons behind this failure are complex, but the result is wall freezing and significant heat loss for the building owner.
Blown-in insulation consists of finely ground glass fiber specially prepared for injection into a sealed wall cavity via a specialized compressor (pressure injection unit).
The method works by drilling a 12 cm diameter hole in the wall (internal layer) using a special drill bit, inserting a hose from the injection unit, and literally blowing the glass fiber into the hollow space. This method is ideal for situations where usable space cannot be sacrificed, and when avoiding messy, dusty renovation and finishing work is essential.
