Penoplex: what kind of material is it, where is it used and how is it mounted?

If earlier the range of thermal insulation materials was not rich enough, today buyers are faced with a wide selection of heaters with different properties and performance characteristics. This means that a homeowner with any budget can find the right option. Today, penoplex is rightfully recognized as one of the most popular materials, which is in great demand and occupies a leading position in the market for thermal insulation coatings. Today we will figure out in detail what it is, find out where it is used and how this popular insulation is mounted.

Surely every person at least once in his life has heard of such a building material as penoplex. However, not every consumer knows what is hidden under this name.

Penoplex is a well-known trade name for high-quality extruded polystyrene. Today this material is the leader in the insulation market. They are often used for covering walls, ceiling structures, roofing bases and even floors.

Penoplex is a high quality expanded polystyrene. This type of material is obtained by extrusion.

A similar manufacturing process was developed over half a century ago in American laboratories. Thus, a completely new material appeared, the structure of which consisted of closed microscopic cells. From the very beginning, their dimensions did not exceed 0.2 mm. In a single structure, these components created a neat and uniform surface without potholes and drops.

In the granules of this polymer, there is a special additive that has a foaming effect. This component combines with the granules under pressure or under heating conditions to a certain temperature. The result is a mass that is then passed through the extruder.

The foaming components (as a rule, they are represented by carbon dioxide or a mixture of light freons) are non-toxic and absolutely safe from an environmental point of view. In addition, these components are not flammable.

The result is a high-tech thermal insulation material with excellent performance characteristics. With its use, it becomes much warmer and more comfortable in the home - a comfortable microclimate is created that you do not want to leave.

The main distinguishing features of penoplex are:

• low level of thermal conductivity;
• good strength characteristics;
• the minimum level of moisture absorption.

As a rule, this insulation is packed in a film that protects it from aggressive sunlight. Thanks to such packaging, such material can be stored without problems outdoors. However, it should be borne in mind that even in the presence of plastic packaging, it is necessary to additionally protect the product from ultraviolet radiation.

Penoplex is a popular material that is in great demand. Its popularity is due to its many positive qualities:

• Penoplex is a hydrophobic material.
• It is lightweight, so it is quite easy to work with it. Moreover, you will not spend a lot of money transporting this material.
• Penoplex is distinguished by excellent strength characteristics. It is not so easy to damage this material - it is not susceptible to mechanical defects.
• The composition of this heat-insulating coating is anti-corrosion, so it can be safely laid on substrates consisting of a variety of materials.
• You can start installing the penoplex in almost any conditions. You do not have to wait for the right moment to proceed with installing the plates.

• This insulation does not attract the attention of insects and rodents, which are usually quite difficult to get rid of.
• Penoplex is an environmentally friendly and safe material - it does not have a negative effect on human health.
• Penoplex is easy to install. With a minimal set of knowledge, you can install this insulation yourself.
• Many buyers prefer this insulation, as it has an affordable price.
• Penoplex is characterized by minimal water absorption.
• Penoplex does not cause allergic reactions.

• This material is sufficiently compressive strength.
• Such insulation is universal - modern manufacturers produce high-quality coatings designed not only for walls, but also for floors and roofing "pie".
• Penoplex is not subject to decay, which once again confirms its durability and resistance to wear.
• This material has a long service life.
• Such extruded polystyrene can be used both in the construction of new and in the restoration of old buildings.

Penoplex is not an ideal heat-insulating material. It has its own weaknesses, which you should also be aware of if you decide to purchase such products for your home. Among them:

• This material is flammable. It burns and actively supports combustion.
• Penoplex does not withstand contact with solvents. Under their influence, polystyrene is destroyed and deformed.
• Not all manufacturers offer penoplex at affordable prices. There are expensive products in many stores.

• Another disadvantage of foam is its low vapor permeability (in certain situations). For example, if this material is incorrectly installed or exposed to unfavorable conditions, then condensation may accumulate in it (from the outside). That is why this material becomes susceptible to the formation of mold and mildew. To avoid such problems, the room must be provided with good ventilation, otherwise the normal air exchange will be hopelessly disrupted.
• This material for high-quality thermal insulation cannot boast of good adhesion. It has an absolutely smooth surface, so it is often not very convenient to glue it to walls and ceilings.

• It is recommended to protect this thermal insulation material from direct sunlight. Under their influence, the penoplex can undergo deformation or damage to the top layer.
• To make extruded polystyrene more resistant to fire, special substances are added to it during the production process - fire retardants. Materials with such additives become self-extinguishing, but when burning or smoldering, this insulation will emit black clouds of smoke with toxic compounds.

Of course, Penoplex has much more positive qualities than negative ones.

The main characteristics of penoplex include:

• low level of vapor permeability, the coefficient of which is 0.03 W / mºK;
• high strength characteristics (both for compression and bending);
• low level of moisture absorption - no more than 0.2-0.4% by volume per day;
• low degree of vapor permeability - the coefficient of this parameter is from 0.007 to 0.008 mg / mh · Pa);
• service life exceeds 50 years;
• combustion resistance;
• environmental Safety;
• large temperature range of application, which is from -50 to +75 degrees.

Due to its technical characteristics, penoplex has become a popular and demanded material. It is difficult to damage or break it. Unfortunately, however, it is flammable.

Different types of penoplex belong to different flammability classes:

• materials for roof insulation - class G3;
• for wall insulation - G3;
• for foundations - G4;
• universal heaters - G4;
• road materials - G4.

In addition, all of the listed thermal insulation materials have different compression densities, for example:

• for the roof - 0.25 MPa;
• for walls - 0.2 MPa;
• for the foundation - 0.25 MPa;
• universal - 0.2 MPa;
• road - 0.50 MPa.

Extruded polystyrene foam boasts good resistance to various chemicals and materials. These include:

• antiseptics designed to protect natural wood;
• bituminous mixtures;
• cement;
• lime.

Penoplex can be destroyed by foreign materials, which contain a component such as a solvent. Such agents soften polystyrene, which then leads to significant shrinkage.

When working with penoplex, you should avoid such mixtures:

• thinners for paints and varnishes;
• coal tar (and any derivatives thereof);
• solvents such as acetone and ethyl acetate.

Currently, on the market of building and finishing materials, the most popular and high quality products with the following markings are common:

• 31;
• 31C;
• 35;
• 45;
• 45 C;
• 75.

Let's analyze each marking in detail:

• Penoplex 31. This is a type of material that does not have the highest strength characteristics. Such coatings are not recommended for use in areas where there is a heavy load. As a rule, such penoplex is used to insulate containers and pipelines.
• 31 C... Materials that have such markings also cannot boast of sufficient strength. They are most often used to insulate walls inside a home. Such a penoplex differs from raw materials of the 3rd class in a higher level of flammability.
• 35. Thermal insulating material with this marking has good strength characteristics. In addition, it has excellent insulating qualities. With the use of such coatings, foundations, floors and pipes passing underground are insulated.

• 45. There is also a penoplex with marking 45. This type of material is used for insulating runways, arranging road surfaces. Moreover, such heaters are ideal for finishing floors in industrial areas and other similar premises.
• 45 C. The material with this marking has almost the same parameters as Penoplex 45. It is quite reliable and durable. However, such insulation is often used for wall decoration in industrial areas.
• 75. Such marking belongs to special materials, which have a density of 40-53 kg / m3. Such raw materials are most often used in the construction of runways located at airfields.

Penoplex, belonging to the "standard" class with a density of 25-31 kg / m3, has the following technical characteristics:

• width - 600;
• length - 1200;
• thickness - 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100.

Comfort-type material (28-33 kg / m3) has the following dimensional parameters:

• width - 600;
• length - 1200;
• thickness - 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100.

Foundation material with a density of 29-33 kg / m3 has similar dimensions. As for the insulation "45" (35-47 kg / m3), then its data are as follows:

• width - 600;
• length - 2400;
• thickness - 40, 50, 60, 80, 100.

These parameters are indicative only. First of all, the dimensions of extruded polystyrene depend on the manufacturer who released them on the market.

Penoplex is a popular and demanded material. It is presented in many modifications, each of which has its own marking and designation. Currently, there are several varieties of this thermal insulation coating.

The density of such extruded polystyrene can be from 25 to 32 kg / m3. This heat-insulating material is perfect for installation on external and internal ceilings. In addition, penoplex "wall" can be used in the design of partitions and basements. Thanks to this material, the sound insulation characteristics of the room are increased.

Such material as "foundation" penoplex is no less popular today. Its density varies from 29 to 33 kg / m3. You can safely turn to this coating if you want to insulate the foundation and the upper part of the basement. This material is highly dense and water resistant. In addition, this insulation is often used for thermal insulation of septic tanks that have a significant deepening.

Another widespread and demanded material is roofing penoplex. Similar products are produced directly for insulating rafter or flat roof types. Also, material from the "roofing" category can be used to insulate attic structures. The density of this grade, as a rule, ranges from 28 to 33 kg / m3. This material is lightweight and does not put a lot of stress on the roof sheathing.

"Comfort" products are in great demand today. Such materials have a density of 25-35 kg / m3. They are used to insulate walls in apartments. For example, it can be the territory of a balcony or loggia. It is permissible to use such a coating in baths and saunas.

Penoplex "geo" is an alternative to materials belonging to the class "foundation". Such coatings are more often used in industrial and civil construction work. It is worth noting that the slabs of this insulation are often used for cladding floors, foundations and other similar

Penoplex from this category has an optimal density that allows it to be used in a variety of construction works. Such insulation is laid on the floor, walls and roofing bases. Penoplex "base" is popular due to its durability and versatility of use - it is often referred to both in civil and industrial construction.

Penoplex "pitched roof" was specially developed for roof insulation. Such a coating is ideal for laying on the foundations of low-rise buildings. As a rule, this thermal insulation material has a thickness of 10 and 15 cm.

The name of this type of penoplex speaks for itself. It is used to insulate plinths, facades, outer parts of ceilings and partitions. On such a material there is a special milled surface, on which the plaster is much easier and more reliable. The thickness of the "facade" foam is 20-100 mm.

Penoplex is recognized as one of the most popular and high-tech materials, therefore it is used in many cases:

• A similar thermal insulation material is used to insulate walls, roof bases and floors.
• Many buyers choose penoplex for basement insulation.
• There are also materials that are used in road construction and the construction of runways.
• Some types of insulation are installed in balconies, loggias, baths and saunas.

• Such insulation is perfect for warming basements and plinths.
• This insulation is used for both exterior and interior cladding of a house.
• Penoplex is used in the construction of not only private, but also industrial buildings.

As mentioned earlier, penoplex is good because it can be used not only in the construction of new buildings, but also in the restoration of old ones.

There are times when penoplex is not available in stores for some reason. Slightly less often, consumers themselves refuse to purchase this material due to its high cost or flammability. Many people are wondering what it is possible to replace this insulation in such situations.

A good alternative to penoplex is a domestic material called Technoplex. This insulation is in great demand today and is a strong competitor to the branded products of the Penoplex brand. It is good because it fits seamlessly on bases made of a variety of materials. In addition, it can be safely laid on the floor, since it is permissible to combine it with the "warm floor" system.

Currently, Technoplex is manufactured using a special nanotechnology. In this case, graphite is used, which significantly reduces the level of thermal conductivity of the insulation, but at the same time increases the rigidity and wear resistance of the plates.

This material has a silvery-gray color, which distinguishes it from penoplex. However, Technoplex has the same positive qualities as extruded polystyrene. That is why these materials are interchangeable.

Technoplex is manufactured in a tiled format. Such insulation materials can have the following thicknesses:

• 100 mm;
• 50 mm;
• 40 mm;
• 30 mm;
• 20 mm.

At the same time, plates of such insulation are produced with grooves and spikes, with the help of which they can be easily and quickly assembled, forming a neat seamless coating. Due to the absence of gaps on such an insulating layer, “cold bridges” do not appear on the bases.

After the installation is completed, such material as Technoplex must be covered with decorative finishing materials without fail.

Another popular analogue of penoplex is Polispen. This insulation is also produced in Russia. It is currently available in three variations.with various technical characteristics, which include the thermal conductivity coefficient, strength, as well as the level of flammability and compression:

• "Polispen 45";
• "Polispen 35";
• "Polispen universal".

As part of such an analogue of penoplex, there is a fire retardant. Thanks to this component, "Polispen" is less flammable. Similar materials are produced in the form of plates with a thickness of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 200 mm. Thanks to this choice, it will be possible to choose a heater for a specific site.

Also, penoplex can be replaced with the following thermal insulation materials:

• "Styrex". Such material is strong and durable enough. The level of its thermal conductivity is slightly less than that of penoplex.
• Extrol. This is another polystyrene foam insulation that goes through extrusion during the manufacturing process. It has a lot in common with penoplex, but at the same time it is produced in the form of cylindrical elements that are convenient for insulating plumbing systems.
• Styrofoam. Polyfoam (without extrusion) is often used instead of foam.It is much cheaper than extruded polystyrene, but at the same time it is less strong and durable.

If the speech insulation will be constantly exposed to high temperatures, then it is better to give preference to mineral wool. This type of thermal insulation material is one of the most popular and demanded today.

By her own mineral wool Is a fiber insulation of inorganic origin. This insulation has many positive qualities, for example:

• fairly high thermal insulation performance;
• waterproofness;
• resistance to aggressive chemicals;
• good air exchange;
• excellent sound insulation characteristics;
• fire resistance;
• long service life (25-50 years);
• environmental friendliness.

If you decide to use mineral wool instead of penoplex, then you should be aware of its weaknesses:

• this material loses its quality if it gets wet;
• mineral wool has a high level of dusting.

You can do the styling of the foam on one or another base with your own hands. You don't need to have rich experience and cunning knowledge for this. The main thing is to adhere to a simple technology and use high quality materials.

It was mentioned earlier that the installation of extruded polystyrene foam can be carried out both inside and outside the dwelling.

Penoplex can be installed in the interior of the house. All work is done as follows:

• First you need to carefully prepare the base for laying the insulation. In this case, you need to remove the old materials from the walls (any wallpaper, paintwork, etc.), while not missing a single section.
• Further, the bases must be protected from fungus and mold. If those have already appeared, then you should get rid of them. For this, it is recommended to use special antiseptic compositions. After that, it is worth sanitizing. To do this, you can use almost any agent that has an antibacterial effect.
• Pay attention to the evenness of the bases. So, the walls should not have significant drops and potholes. You need to get rid of any defects - level the bases, and then prime them with a high-quality composition.

• Then you can proceed to the assembly of the basement profile. Such structures are most often used to facilitate the installation of insulation. In addition, the profile parts will protect the thermal insulation coating from adverse external factors.
• The plinth profile should be attached to the base with a dowel-nails. To make the heaters more tightly adhered to the ceilings, they can be supplemented with spacers.
• Be sure to make sure that the width of the profile matches the thickness of the foam.
• With the use of docking plates, the final components of the structure must be docked with each other. Do not forget to leave a small gap between them (about 2 cm).
• Now you can fix the expanded polystyrene plates. Apply a layer of glue to the penoplex (along the perimeter of the board and in its center).

• Many masters recommend not to save at this stage and thoroughly coat the entire polystyrene foam board with an adhesive solution. After that, the insulation must be pressed against the profile. If protruding glue particles appear on the materials, they must be removed immediately.
• If there are small gaps between the materials, then you can get rid of them by filling them with inserts from segments of expanded polystyrene. In this situation, polyurethane foam is not used by everyone, since such sealing can provoke the appearance of cracks.
• After that, it remains to make the final fixing of the thermal material on the base.When the glue is completely dry (as a rule, it takes about 3 days), the work can be continued. Dowels-fungi need to fix the insulation. The hardware must be placed in the middle of the plates, as well as along their perimeter. However, here it is necessary to count that as a result all the sheets of the penoplex are connected.

It should be borne in mind that insulating a home from the inside is not always appropriate and expedient.

According to experts, the external insulation of the house is more practical and convenient. At the same time, free space is not concealed, and dirt and dust that remains during work does not accumulate inside the premises.

For external insulation, penoplex is most often used, which has a thickness of 80-100 mm. The process of installing heat-insulating material in this case is in many ways similar to internal insulation.

To begin with, the facade of the house needs to be leveled. If there are cracks or potholes on it, then it is imperative to get rid of them - to close up, and then prime.

Penoplex is glued to the facade base in the same way as with the internal insulation of the dwelling. The fastening on the dowels takes place in a similar way.

If you want to plaster the facade in the future, then as preparatory work you need to glue the reinforced mesh. If you want to decorate the house with siding or PVC panels, then you need to take care of the vertical guides in advance in order to secure them securely. In this case, an additional layer of vapor barrier material is not required.

Penoplex is ideal for roof reinforcement. This insulation is used not only by beginners, but also by experienced craftsmen.

• Insulation plates can only be laid after the roof frame structures have been prepared (crate). On the lower section of the rafters near the insulated zone, you need to nail a bar. Its thickness should be the same as the thickness of the insulation. This part will play the role of a starting rail. This element must be set at an equal distance from the edge (along all rafter supports).
• Starting from the starting strip, you need to lay the extruded polystyrene boards. This should be done in a checkerboard pattern. The thickness of the layer to be laid, first of all, depends on the geographical location of the object under construction. However, experts always recommend laying the insulation not in 1, but in 2-3 layers. At the same time, it is very important to qualitatively cover all the joints.

• In this case, the insulation can be fixed using self-tapping screws with mushroom caps, so that the design is more reliable. The seams should be additionally glued. After that, bars are stuffed over the insulation. They should be located from top to bottom. Thus, you will get a high-quality ventilated gap. It is needed for free air circulation.
• After that, you should install the crate, intended directly for the installation of roofing material. For this, a structure assembled from bars fixed in compliance with a certain step is quite suitable.
• Solid coatings made from OSB can also be used. Such bases are ideal for installing soft types of roofing. On the ridge, the heat-insulating material should be fastened tightly.

Today, many homeowners opt for penoplex. Let's take a look at a list of positive qualities that satisfied customers have noticed:

• according to home craftsmen, the installation of penoplex seemed to them quite simple and quick - many coped with this work on their own;
• pleased buyers and the low weight of this insulation;
• penoplex is not afraid of temperature changes and moisture, so many buyers have installed this insulation in saunas and home swimming pools;
• could not fail to please homeowners and the thermal insulation characteristics of this material;
• the lion's share of consumers noted the durability of the penoplex - it does not have to be constantly repaired or replaced in the first 2-3 years after installation.

Of course, people found in this heat-insulating material what did not suit them. Consider what disadvantages of penoplex are noted by modern homeowners:

• the main drawback that buyers noticed is the flammability of the penoplex, due to which the owners of the houses do not consider it safe;
• some buyers noticed that insects start up in the penoplex (in this case it all depends on the good faith of the manufacturer, since these problems should not arise with high-quality material);
• many consumers were not satisfied with the cost of penoplex, despite the fact that it belongs to the middle price category;
• also, house owners noticed that the penoplex is easily squeezed through during installation work, but no one attributed this nuance to a serious drawback.

It is worth noting that most of the reviews about Penoplex are positive. Many buyers did not find for themselves a single drawback of this insulation. Many problems can be avoided if you purchase quality material from a trusted manufacturer.

• Using penoplex, you should rely on the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the choice of the thickness of the insulation, depending on the temperature in your region of residence. So, in the central regions of Russia, it will be quite enough to install extruded polystyrene foam with a thickness of 30-50 mm to insulate the foundation, and in the northern regions - a material with a thickness of at least 80-100 mm.
• Be sure to prepare any substrates before installing the styrofoam. Do not neglect this stage of installation work, otherwise the insulation will not adhere to the bases tightly and reliably.

• Penoplex is not capable of harming substances such as alcohols, alkalis, any acids, water, ammonia, propane, butane or freons. This insulation is made taking into account high biostability, which makes it more durable and reliable.
• For internal insulation, it is recommended to use penoplex, the thickness of which is at least 20 mm.
• Please note that one of the most common mistakes made by home craftsmen is the wrong selection of adhesive mixtures that are not suitable for the purchased insulation.

• If you decide to insulate the floor in the house with penoplex, then you should use the installation method using lags.
• Before buying penoplex, be sure to pay attention to its labeling. This way you save yourself from buying the wrong material.
• Please note that the insulation of the home with penoplex should be carried out exclusively using special technology. Otherwise, the insulation will not last long and will be of little use. If you are afraid to take on such work, then it is better to entrust it to professionals.

You will learn more about penoplex from the following video.