Steam insulation for a bath: types and materials

The durability of any structure is determined by such factors as climate, design errors, the quality of building materials and much more. Most of them are important in the construction of a steam room. And that the service life of the latter was maximum, a qualitative vapor barrier is needed for the bath. It allows to keep heat and optimum humidity of air inside the room. Steam insulation is needed to protect the heater and the walls of the bath from the penetration of water vapor, to create a special vapor barrier. Combination of various methods of protection prevents the appearance of condensation on the heater.

Material for vapor barrier

In any warm room, moist steam forms. Its pressure is much higher than atmospheric pressure. This is especially true for the bath. Striving to go outside, the vapor penetrates into the heat-insulating material and condenses in it. As a result, the heater and the walls of the bath are getting dirty and spoiled. To avoid this, when using the interior of the steam room, a vapor barrier layer is used. It can be both modern, high-tech, and conventional materials (glassine, foil, polyethylene film, etc.). Steam insulation for a bath with the use of roofing felt and roofing paper has many drawbacks: fragility, the release of toxic substances, an unpleasant smell. Therefore, it is better not to use these materials. Pergamum and polyethylene foil (due to their cheapness and ease of use) are quite common when carrying out steam insulation works.

Steam insulation of aluminum foil

The main requirement for materials for vapor barrier and thermal insulation is temperature stability. Many experienced builders advise to use as a vapor barrier aluminum foil. This material protects the insulation and walls from the steam, perfectly reflects the heat inside the steam room, does not require replacement for a long time. You can use the foil together with the insulation, or separately. Between the inner trim of steam and aluminum foil should be an air layer (about 15 mm). Foil cloths are overlapped, the joints are glued with a special heat-resistant adhesive tape. To allow condensate to flow freely to the floor, a small outlet of the web is provided at the junction between the walls and the floor.

Foiled thermal insulation

In the construction market, special insulation materials with foil-coated coatings (for example, URSA) can be found. They perform a number of functions: heat-insulating, vapor-insulating, reflection of heat inside the room. The installation of such materials is quite simple and convenient.

Steam insulation membrane film

This material is used to protect the heater. The membrane film is located on the inside of the paired compartment, in front of the thermal insulation layer, and covers its entire surface. Fixing the film is done through a wooden strip with staples using a construction stapler. This is necessary to avoid all kinds of gaps and breakthroughs. The membrane-membrane cloths overlap 10 cm. The joints are glued with scotch tape. Such a vapor barrier for the bath will be reliable and durable. The main thing is not to tighten the film with effort.

Heat and vapor barrier of the ceiling of the bath with expanded polystyrene plates

It is known that hot air tends upward. Therefore, the protection of the ceiling from the steam should be envisaged even during the design and construction of the bath. Today, for this purpose, polystyrene plates are successfully used. Their advantages - ease of installation and preservation of their thermal insulation properties, even under the influence of moisture.

It should be remembered that the vapor barrier for the bath is extremely necessary. But this applies only to the twin department. Other rooms can be trimmed differently.