Polystyrene Insulation For Winter Warmth!

When we think of insulation, the first thing that comes to mind is retaining warmth in our homes and workplaces. Though this is of course the primary goal, there are in fact multiple benefits to installing insulation. Some of these were discussed in detail in a recent edition of the Greengates Builders Merchants blog so check out our blog archive to discover them.

January has got off to an exceedingly cold start and those who live or work in poorly-insulated properties are definitely starting to notice it. One of the quickest and easiest ways to insulate the masonry surfaces of a property is with polystyrene boards and the following guide will show you how to do just that.
 

• You're going to need a reliable adhesive. A great choice is Soudal Grab Adhesive, which is a solvent-free formula. It is designed to provide exceptional strength on all kinds of building surfaces whether used in horizontal or vertical positions. You can purchase Soudal Grab Adhesive from Greengates at a super-competitive price.
• Polystyrene insulation boards should be applied to sound masonry that is completely clean, dry and free of any foreign materials that may interfere with adhesion.
• First you need to apply the adhesive around the edges of the board and to its reverse side. Make sure the adhesive is evenly applied to a depth not exceeding 2.5 centimetres. 
• If the wall is level, evenly spread the adhesive across the whole board with a comb trowel. Walls that are especially irregular will require that the adhesive is applied in mounds of equal volume. Apply six such mounds, placing them symmetrically.
• Turn the board to a horizontal alignment and press it onto the wall carefully, starting at the bottom corner. When it is in place, check that it is level.
• Repeating these steps, continue adding more boards until the end of the row is reached. As you go, check carefully to make sure that each edge is properly aligned as any gaps will impede the insulation's thermal performance.
• You may find that you have to cut a piece of board to complete the row. If this is the case, use a hand saw for the most precise cut.
• Now it's time for the next row, which should be applied in a vertical orientation to strengthen the finished result. Continue in this manner until you have covered the full wall. 
• After the adhesive has completely cured, make holes in the centre of each insulation board and at the intersections where corners of boards meet. Use a hammer drill in conjunction with a #10 bit for this purpose. Make the holes between five and seven centimetres deeper than the board's thickness.
• Insert dowels into the drilled holes by hand. In some cases you may have to use a hammer but be gentle to avoid damaging the dowels.
• Cover the dowel heads with plastic screws, ensuring that these are properly aligned with the surface of each board.          

Greengates Builders Merchant Accrington supplies polystyrene boards measuring 240 by 120 centimetres in area. You can select from three different thicknesses: 2.5, 5 or 10 centimetres. If you need any further advice then please give our skilled technical team a call.