Ursa mineral wool in rolls and slabs.
In the previous article we talked about mushroom dowels: their types and installation methods. Today we will help you understand what Ursa insulation is, the characteristics of mineral wool thermal insulation and extruded polystyrene foam. Ursa is a European company that has representative offices all over the world, including Russia. This brand is famous for the high quality of its product, the production process of which does not use toxic substances. Even the color of mineral wool and EPS from Ursa is not the same as that of competitors. The line is dominated by light colors.
Where are Ursa materials used?
"Ursa" is an insulation material used not only in the construction of buildings, but also in the assembly of water supply systems, heating systems, other communications, as well as in the construction of roads, bridges, airfield runways and in many other areas. In each specific case, varieties of this insulation are used, the technical characteristics of which most accurately correspond to this specific purpose. Next, we will consider what types of this material are currently produced by the company.
Knauf produces everything!
Knauf is a manufacturer that has proven more than once that it can provide the construction market with the best offers. Thermal insulation is no exception. Knauf offers good quality mineral wool based on basalt fiber, as well as glass fiber composition. The first option is widely used for technical insulation, in construction and in the production of complex equipment. Fiberglass insulation is produced for specialized purposes (TEPLOKnauf), as evidenced by its names:
- HEATWALL;
- HEAT stove;
- WARM roofing;
- Acoustic partition;
- HEATROLL.
Most of the mineral wool sold by the manufacturer belongs to the Knauf Insulation series. There are no toxic phenol-formaldehyde resins used in the production of this product. The Knauf Insulation and TEPLOKnauf thermal insulation lines are intended for the construction of residential buildings by individuals and construction organizations.
Disadvantage : high price
Rating : 9.9 points out of 10
Reviews : “You rarely hear a bad word about Knauf. This means that the material is truly excellent.”
Method of manufacturing fiberglass variety
Ursa wall insulation, as well as materials intended for insulating floors, ceilings, roofs, etc., are made from a mixture of soda, sand and dolomite. The latter melts under the influence of very high temperatures. Long fibers are drawn from the resulting mass, from which mats or slabs are made. Gluing glass “threads” into a single sheet is done using environmentally friendly binders.
Which mineral wool is better?
Often, a comprehensive analysis of any product at the end allows us to say: “This brand is the best. We recommend it for purchase!” It is impossible to draw such a conclusion with mineral wool. Assessments of the quality of manufactured products are too subjective; diametrically opposed reviews can be found about the same product. Therefore, “Expert Price” does not take the liberty of naming the best manufacturer of mineral wool, but makes the following recommendations :
- The 7 brands mentioned are truly the best on the Russian market and the most in demand in the construction of residential buildings and utility rooms, so it is best to purchase something from the announced list.
- To choose the optimal thermal insulation material, after reading the article, it is best to conduct your own subjective assessment in a building materials store: look, touch, test for breaks - in a word, understand which thermal insulator is convenient for your work.
The combination of these two simple tips will allow you to choose what is truly best for insulating and insulating your home from external adverse factors. Happy shopping and have a comfortable winter!
Modern builders try to use the most technologically advanced materials. At the same time, everyone first of all thinks about the minimum costs.
But sometimes traditional building materials, used for a long time, can serve as a good replacement for modern materials, allowing you to reduce construction costs. One such material is glass wool insulation. Its main application is insulation of various surfaces: floors, walls, ceilings.
To produce glass wool, sand is used, to which soda, limestone, and borax are added. The material of modern manufacture is non-flammable and soft, meets all sanitary and technical requirements that apply to building materials. To save space during transportation and storage, glass wool is compressed, and after opening the package its volume can increase 6 times.
There are well-known certified brands of glass wool in Russia: Isover, Ursa, Knauf. A domestically produced material, glass, is gaining popularity.
Advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass materials
This is the most popular variety, especially among owners of suburban areas who build houses on them. Their main advantages include:
- Very low thermal conductivity coefficient - 0.032-0.046 W. For comparison, for the same foam plastic this figure varies from 0.037 to 0.005 W.
- Convenient sizes. Ursa fiberglass insulation is available in both mats and slabs. In the first case, the most popular type is Ursa roll insulation, the dimensions of which are 1200 * 4200 mm and a thickness of 150 mm. The standard size between roof rafters and house frame posts is 60 cm. In this case, the canvas is simply cut in half lengthwise. If the pitch between the elements is different, it is cut across, measuring the required distance along the length.
- Environmental Safety. In the production of some varieties, formaldehyde-containing materials are not used.
- Easy to install. Unlike many other, cheaper types of glass wool, Ursa has a very strong structure, and therefore it is very difficult to tear.
- Fire resistance. Ursa glass wool does not burn at all.
- Durability. This insulation can withstand temperature changes from -60 to +220 degrees. It serves for about 50 years.
"Ursa" is an insulation material, the disadvantages of which include only its relatively high cost.
Isover - high quality mineral wool to choose from
The manufacturer offers two solutions: glass wool and stone wool. This is a big plus when choosing thermal insulation, since both of these materials are usually in demand in the construction of a particular facility. Izover has an excellent reputation in Russia and offers thermal insulation only with environmental quality certificates. The constant introduction of modern technologies makes it possible to improve the characteristics of manufactured products and reduce costs. The latest “new product” from Isover is the release of mineral wool with high strength and elasticity, without dust and with a minimum of “prickliness”. In terms of quality, products under this brand are unlikely to compare with more expensive competitors, but in terms of price/quality ratio, Isover mineral wool is one of the best.
Varieties of fiberglass "Ursa"
Thermal insulators of this brand are divided according to density, degree of thermal conductivity and area of application into several main classes:
- URSA Geo. Used for thermal insulation of pipelines and sewer pipes. However, most often it is used in private and industrial housing construction to insulate walls, floors, ceilings and roofs from the cold. The most popular among owners of suburban areas is the Ursa M 11 insulation, which, among other things, can be used on the floor and in interfloor ceilings. These are mini-slabs for universal use. The “Light” type is intended mainly for covering unloaded structures - roofs and walls. The URSA Geo line also includes soundproofing varieties designed for rooms with high humidity, for pipes, raised floors, etc.
- PureOn. This variety consists of 95% natural ingredients. At the same time, in terms of softness and fineness of the fiber, it is not inferior to cotton wool.
- TERRA. These are high-density boards of small sizes, very convenient for use in private housing construction.
Areas of application
Ursa slab insulation can be used as a substrate for asphalt.
Ursa universal thermal insulation is used in any construction process. Universal characteristics allow the protection to be used for complex curved surfaces.
Areas of use:
- pitched and flat roofs;
- foundations in damp places;
- walls outside, inside and as an intermediate layer;
- partitions;
- heating lines;
- highways and railway elevations;
- airfield strips;
- extensions, balconies;
- saunas and baths.
Reliable thermal insulation is set to a minimum thickness, which is comparable to thicker layers of other materials. Internal insulation made from Ursa material does not reduce the horizontal and height dimensions of the room.
Fiberglass insulation "Ursa": reviews
The opinions of those who have already used this type of insulation are mostly more than positive about it. In particular, owners of country houses like the fact that when installing slabs and sheets, virtually no glass dust harmful to health is generated. Private developers also like the fact that the Ursa material, unlike ordinary glass wool, does not wrinkle or lose its shape. It is also noted that when working with slabs and mats, pieces do not come off the canvas.
Those homeowners who have small children highly praise the PureOn variety, since it is completely free of phenol and other poisons. Ursa insulation, reviews of which are only positive, is, among other things, very easy to cut.
Main advantages
The service life without loss of properties is comparable to the operating time of the structures; the insulator ages simultaneously with them and does not require replacement. The high tensile strength of extruded polystyrene foam is its positive quality, which is why the material performs protective functions and works as additional structural elements that can withstand some loads.
When cutting, fiberglass crumbles, so you need to work with gloves and a mask
Advantages of Ursa materials:
- environmental cleanliness;
- increased noise protection qualities;
- long service life;
- resistance to temperature changes;
- wide range of applications;
- elasticity and resilience;
- fire resistance;
- ease;
- vapor permeability and biostability;
- not subject to decomposition and rotting.
There are some negative points when using it. For example, mineral wool decomposes upon direct contact with alkalis, and small fibers fall out of glass wool during the cutting process.
Extruded polystyrene foam boards
This type of Ursa insulation also enjoys well-deserved popularity among private developers and large construction companies. Most often, expanded polystyrene slabs of this brand are used to insulate the foundations of buildings and structures. The fact is that they are not at all afraid of moisture and the effects of various types of aggressive chemical elements present in any soil. Ursa slabs can be installed completely without any additional protective material.
Paroc mineral wool - excellent quality, but high price
Having opened any construction forum, in the topic “thermal insulation” you immediately come across the brand name Parok. Its basalt mineral wool firmly occupies a leading place in the user ratings, and there are many reasons for this. After all, Paroc means the same quality of products regardless of the location of the plant, and the best characteristics for all the main indicators of mineral wool.
Paroc's main focus is on energy efficiency. Basalt wool Parok allows:
- save energy, including heat;
- do not have a negative impact on the environment;
- protect from noise and dust;
- ensure fire safety.
This manufacturer has realized all the advantages of stone wool, there are practically no fakes, but there is still a drawback
Rating : 9.9 points out of 10
Reviews : “I like Paroc mineral wool the most! This is what I’m planning for the roof of my house.”
Cost of Ursa materials
The price of insulation of this brand depends solely on the variety. The cheapest is the “Geo” insulation “Ursa”. The price for it is about 900 rubles per cubic meter. But in this case, the cost also depends on the type. The above price is valid for “Light” insulation. The most expensive material in the Geo line, P-60, costs 4,600 rubles per cubic meter.
PureOne insulation can be purchased at a price of 1500-1600 rubles per cubic meter. The expanded polystyrene option costs about 3500-5500 rubles per m3.
As you can see, Ursa insulation, the price of which is quite high, is actually distinguished by simply excellent performance characteristics. The money spent will not be wasted in any case.
IZOVOL mineral wool is the best choice for walls and roofs
Izovol is another type of basalt wool that is in high demand and is used for thermal insulation of walls, roofs and ventilated facades. It has excellent physical, mechanical and operational characteristics. It is non-flammable, has standard density indicators for the material, so it can crumble during operation, causing some discomfort.
It does not have a high price; all thermal insulation is available for sale and is in demand by construction organizations. The most popular line of materials is recommended for insulating pitched roofs and attic spaces.
Rating : 9.5 points out of 10
Reviews about Izovol mineral wool : “The material showed its best side. Very easy to work with, non-allergenic, fireproof. It doesn’t cut well in terms of thickness—perhaps the only drawback.”
Glass wool Knauf
The production of insulation of the German brand KNAUF complies with GOST for the production of glass wool. The raw materials are silicate rocks and glass cullet; phenol-formaldehyde resin is used as a binding element.
Thermal insulation materials made on the basis of fiberglass are widely used. They can be used to insulate both vertical and horizontal surfaces, subject to minimal load on the material.
Knauf glass wool has several advantages:
Glass wool ISOVER
Izover glass wool is produced in slabs. In packaging, the material is compressed to 2 times its original volume, which can significantly reduce transportation and warehousing costs. The unpacked material quickly returns to its original size.
The shape of the slab allows the use of glass wool for insulating the walls of a house from the inside, thermal insulation of a pitched roof, insulation of the attic floor and floors between floors. In addition, the material is excellent for soundproofing interior partitions.
