Why basement ceiling insulation is important?

Spraying granules of wool on the basement ceiling

Basement ceiling is a construction barrier separating the basement from the ground floor level. In the residential buildings with masonry construction or made of large panel usually there is a massive reinforced concrete ceiling or ceiling of the slabs. In the single-family houses there are also wooden ceilings, brick or beam-and-block ones with clay tiles.

In existing buildings, constructed before the end of the eighties in systems of prefabricated concrete for example WWP, W70, ceiling insulation layer above the unheated rooms (e.g. basement) has little thickness – usually 1-2 cm. Due to serious errors in execution in many cases the insulation was completely ignored. The consequence of this behavior is the significant loss of heat through floors above
cold cellars. This results in increased costs of home heating as regards ground floor and discomfort in the form of a cold floor. To prevent this phenomenon it is necessary to perform a solid basement ceilings warming, in addition to the comprehensive thermo-modernization of the building.

Insulation of basement ceilings

Warming the ceilings above unheated spaces for example above cellars is a complicated task. Hitherto used methods: light-wet or dry development, were a nuisance to tenants because of the need to conduct the work in stages, and by the need to share tenant basement for several consecutive days. These methods do not guarantee continuity of insulation particularly, in the basement one should insulate the ceiling level, where central heating and water installations are mounted as well as all electrical installations.

The ceiling in the basement before and after spraying with wool

For these reasons, insulation of ceilings above unheated spaces has so far been a difficult task for the residents, and so often overlooked in the process of comprehensive thermo-modernization or often ignored.The modern method of spraying insulating material in GRANTERM system ensures efficient heat insulation workflow. The system consists of insulating mortar GRANTERM and primer E-GRUNT. The insulating material may be applied in areas which are hard to reach, regardless of extending the installation, and by spraying the insulation material it ensures continuity and integrity of thermal insulation, and hence its high efficiency.

Before carrying out insulation one must cover all the elements which cannot get dirty:
internal installations, lighting, window, door, existing racks, etc. Securing these elements is done prior to painting, for example with foil for painting.

1. Preparing the substrate of the ceiling

Mechanically remove any paint covering the surface of the ceiling. The emulsion coatings can be removed with a wire brush, and paint coatings from chalk and limestone can be moistened with water and removed with a spatula. In the case of grease the surface should be washed off with warm water under pressure.

2. Priming the substrate of the ceiling

The cleaned surfaces are sprayed (or potentially using the brush or roller) with coat of primer E-GRUNT.

3. Application of a layer of insulating material on the cellar ceiling

Basement ceiling after spraying with granulated mineral wool

The insulation material should be applied directly onto the substrate. Mortar GRANTERM is applied by means of a special unit in which the dry mixture is mixed with water. After mixing the material is sprayed on a substrate of ceiling using “wet on wet” method. Primer constitutes a layer of insulating material bonding it to the substrate.

The single layer can be applied to a thickness of 8cm. If it is necessary to impose greater insulation thickness, the material should be applied in two layers, the second layer cannot be applied earlier than after 12 hours. The total maximum thickness should not exceed 10 cm.

4. Alignment of the surface of the insulating layer

Basement ceiling after spraying and leveling

Mortar GRANTERM after its on application to the surface of the ceiling has a structure of a lamb. In order to achieve an even surface of ceiling one should smooth the surface of the insulating layer using a hard rubber roller or trowel.

Why use GRANTERM to insulate ceilings?

non-flammable – greater safety of buildings
• very good thermal properties
• maintenance-free, can be painted
• resistant to chemical and biological corrosion
• irreplaceable in places hard to reach
• works are not burdensome to the residents
• insulation can be done all year round.