What glue for polystyrene and facade?
From this article you will learn:
– Which glue to choose? Cement glue or polyurethane foam?
– Which glue for white polystyrene and which for graphite polystyrene?
– What is the efficiency and cost of foam glue for expanded polystyrene?
– What is the difference between mounting foam and foam glue?
– What should you pay attention to when choosing an adhesive?
Styrofoam is a material commonly used to insulate buildings. It is most often chosen for insulating buildings, due to its optimal properties combined with a favorable price (compared to other insulation methods), easy installation, widespread availability and low water absorption. Execution of the facade involves a lot of work and money, which is why the right choice of materials is so important. Remember that we make facades for years. Any apparent savings in choosing a cheaper material can bring costs in the form of higher energy bills or construction crew labor. It is also worth checking the current programs for co-financing thermomodernization. The EU and national authorities place great emphasis on construction that minimizes heat loss.
Which glue to choose? Cement glue or polyurethane foam?
There are two methods of sticking polystyrene:
- for cement glue - loose in a bag to be mixed with water
- for polyurethane glue (in foam) - which is ready to use - we only need a foam gun
Gluing polystyrene with cement glue is a traditional method that has been known for years, but it entails a lot of additional costs. The glue for cement polystyrene itself is cheaper than foam glue, but we still need water and electricity to work. In addition, it has worse insulating and adhesive parameters than polyurethane foam glue.
Even 10-15 years ago, many more construction teams used cement glue. Today, the proportion between the glue in the bag and the glue in the foam is completely different. What's more, every year it changes in favor of foam adhesives. This is due to the fact that working with foam polystyrene glue is much easier and faster, and the facade has good insulating properties.
Which glue for white polystyrene and which one for graphite polystyrene?
Can foam glue be used for white and graphite polystyrene?
Adhesives for expanded polystyrene in foam can usually be used for both white and graphite polystyrene. Each time you choose an adhesive, check the label for what type of polystyrene the adhesive can be used for. In addition, foam adhesives can be used on most building materials, such as wood, ceramics, metal or brick (which is another advantage over cement adhesives).
What is the performance and cost of foam polystyrene glue?
Efficiency from one can of glue is about 10-12m2 (depending on the wall). A can of glue in a DIY store costs about PLN 35-40 gross, i.e. about PLN 3-3.5 / m² of glued facade. To this you should also add the cost of a foam gun (about PLN 50-60) and a foam cleaner (cost about PLN 20). The gun should be cleaned with a cleaner after finishing work. A well-maintained gun should suffice for a facade of approx. 150m²
What is the difference between mounting foam and foam glue?
Many people use these products alternately, but should it be so? Mounting foam is an insulating product that is designed to fill the empty space. Of course, it also has adhesive properties, but they are not as strong as in foam glue. Another difference is expandability. Assembly foams (even low-expanding ones) have a much greater increase (post-expansion) than foam adhesives. The use of mounting foam for gluing may be associated with repulsion (lifting) of materials due to foam expansion. To sum up, we use foam adhesives for gluing, and we use mounting foam for all sealing or installation of windows or doors.
What to look for when choosing an adhesive?
When choosing an adhesive for expanded polystyrene, pay attention to:
- insulation parameters of the product
- range of temperatures at which polystyrene can be glued
- time of gluing polystyrene boards and curing of the glue
- packaging capacity and efficiency
- what type of polystyrene is it intended for
A universal solution is the use of SAXBO polystyrene adhesive - it is a versatile foam adhesive that can be used both for bonding EPS and XPS polystyrene, as well as polyurethane boards (PUR, PIR) to typical construction substrates, such as: brick, concrete, metal, drywall, wood, ceramics and bitumen surfaces.
Its modern formula provides excellent insulating properties (λ0.034W/m²K), high initial fixing strength in a wide temperature range (from -5°C to 30°C) and high efficiency up to 12m².